The Art of Music Festival has been a cornerstone of the music scene in Haywood County for years now, and this year promises to be one for the record books with a stacked lineup featuring bluegrass legends like Rhonda Vincent and Dan Tyminski. Check out the details inside. (inside section) Balsam Range photo
News
Haywood commissioner rebuked over Helene misinformation............................10 WCU appoints Henley as band director ..................................................................14 Education briefs..................................................................................................................15
HCS considers change to student athlete transfer policy....................................16 Group discusses hazards of drunk driving, potential new laws..........................17 Breeden sworn in, Young appointed chairman........................................................20
Opinion
Proposed state aid package is an insult ..................................................................22 Mencken’s vision ..............................................................................................................23 Letters to the Editor ..................................................................................................22-23
A&E
Heart is the hero: A conversation with Oliver Wood..............................................24 HART presents ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’..........................................................30
Outdoors
WNC skier shares love of sport with family, community................................32-33 The Joyful Botanist: Bogged down in winter............................................................34
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CROSS-CONTACT OR CROSS-CONTAMINATION –WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Cross-contamination is the term used when pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) that may result in food borne illnesses (food poisoning) are transferred from:
1. a surface to another surface - e.g. using the same cutting board to prepare raw meat and cooked meat
2. equipment to a food - e.g. using the same knife to cut raw meat as you use to cut up fresh vegetables for a salad
3. a food or beverage to a person – e.g. drinking raw milk that hasn’t been pasteurized.
Cross-contact is the term used when an allergen is transferred from a food to another food that didn’t have that allergen. For example, if someone has an allergy to peanuts and they asked for a salad to be made without peanuts but there were small pieces of peanut still in the salad, that is cross contact and could result in a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Another example might be if someone had celiac disease and couldn’t eat foods with gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye) and dined at a restaurant that wasn’t following safe food handling practices and their gluten-free sandwich was made on the same surface as a regular wheat bread sandwich, they would experience cross-contact and be “glutened” and may experience illness.
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
@InglesDietitian
Leah McGrath - Dietitian
recent as 2023, are also available, each with different stories.
These Chicken Soup books are great gifts for the holidays for several reasons. The stories have wide appeal and are appropriate for all ages. Precocious readers will also find the stories “Santa safe,” meaning no secrets as to the identify of St. Nick are revealed. A part of each purchase goes to help Toys for Tots, so buying the book allows for some holiday almsgiving.
Ink-and-paper gifts: four holiday books
BY JEFF MINICK
Sometimes beauty strikes without any warning at all. We round a curve on an unfamiliar mountain road and look down into a valley crowned by a rainbow. Some stranger we pass on the street leaves an afterglow of allure that lasts the rest of the morning. A granddaughter on the cusp of womanhood singing to herself in the next room brings tears of joy and sorrow at the inexorable passage of time.
And sometimes, for some of us, the beauty of a book can give us pause for wonder.
Recently, my public library set up a display stand of Christmas books for adults. There I was drawn to Natasha Fried and Lena Tabori’s “The Christmas Almanac” (Welcome Books, 2003, 240 pages), as gorgeous a compendium of Christmas tales, recipes, old paintings and cards, history, and knick-knacks as I’ve ever seen. Some of the information is dated, like where to get the best Christmas wreathes or the tastiest mailorder hot cocoa, but the other accoutrements easily make up for these small flaws. The page edges are gold-gilt, the paper heavy stock, and many of the pages themselves are works of art anddesign. Unless I’m mistaken, “The Christmas Almanac” is out of print, but you’ll find a Santa’s sleigh full of secondhand copies online.
Enticed by Fried and Tabori, I then picked up Caroline Kennedy’s “A Family Christmas” (Hachette Books, 2007, 333 pages). This one, too, appears out-of-print,
though again copies are available online.
Here are far fewer illustrations, and these are more subdued but with their own attractions, but if you’re looking for holiday classics as well as for stories and poems familiar only to the Christmas aficionado, then you’ve come to the right book. A letter from President John F. Kennedy, Caroline’s father, appears tucked between Francis Church’s well-known and sweet “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” and Mark Twain’s “Letter from Santa Claus” to his beloved daughter Susy. You’ll find Christmas stories by writers like Pearl Buck, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Vladimir Nabokov, and Truman Capote, verse from poets like Countee Cullen, Billy Collins, César Vallejo, and Marianne Moore, song lyrics, and slices of history set around the holiday.
Some of the articles and information Kennedy compiled here were unfamiliar to me, and several brought a smile. The brief piece “NORAD (North American Air Defense Command) Tracks Santa” reminded me of those times as a parent I heard the radio reports around Christmas Day about the location of Santa’s airborne sleigh. “Santaland 2006,” which is taken from “Santa’s Guide for the Macy’s Santa,” was fascinating with its explicit instructions for Macy’s Santas, especially on how to answer the typical questions posed by children.
but unlike the others also pricey, this is a splendid collection of sheet music and comments on the music. It’s spiral bound for ease of use, and the notations are made for many instruments, even accordions. In my online meanderings, I discovered the book reproduced in its entirety online. Search for the “Merry Christmas Songbook” by its title, scroll down through the offerings until you see georgerichards.net, and you’re in business.
Finally, with cold and flu season upon us, the Chicken Soup books — and not just the Christmas ones — make for superb decongestants. Open one of these compendiums, read a few pages, and unless you are feeling a bit stony-hearted that day, one of these sentimental stories will get the tears flowing and so relieve those clogged sinuses.
So, there you have it, some paper-andprint gifts for the Yule season.
A final note: The Magi are a part of the stories and songs in these books, that trio of wise men who traveled from far away to pay homage to a babe in the manager, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In “The Christmas Almanac” and “A Family Christmas,” the editors also included “The Tale of the Magi,” O. Henry’s tale of a young married couple who sacrifice their greatest earthly treasures each for the other. That story ends with these lines:
“And here I have told you the story of two children who were not wise. Each sold the most valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other. But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ones. They are the magi.”
If you’re after carols and wintertime songs, look for “The Reader’s Digest Merry Christmas Songbook.” Out of print as well,
“Christmas Is in the Air” (Chicken Soup for the Soul, 2020, 352 pages) brings readers “101 stories about the most wonderful time of the year.” Editor and publisher Amy Newmark, who has revitalized the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series over the last 15 years, brings together the feel-good stories which are the hallmark of these collections. Gratitude, kindness, overcoming obstacles, and the unexpected joys of the season are some of the themes of these personal accounts. At least two other editions of Chicken Soup Christmas books, one as
In the last three months, a small army of Magi have appeared in our mountains, offering toil, talent, and treasure to those needing help. These Magi came under the guise of family members, friends, neighbors, and strangers, and they too bore gifts, water and food, clothing and shelter, hope and love.
This year, let’s remember and honor them by making our Christmas a Thanksgiving as well.
(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)
Holiday 5 fun gift exchange ideas G
ift-giving is a significant component of the holiday season. Families can embrace traditional gift-giving, but those who want to add a touch of whimsy to gatherings with loved ones can consider these five creative and fun ways to exchange gifts.
1. Play the plastic wrap game. To exchange small stocking stuffer gifts, compile gift cards, cash, small toys, candy, and even some larger gifts (all participants can chip in and one person shops for the gifts). The designated person in charge begins rolling up the gifts in the plastic, adding one every few rolls. Turning the ball 90 degrees while wrapping helps make a more round, finished gift ball. To play, the person with the ball puts on oven mitts and tries to unwrap as much as they can to access the gifts, while the person to the left is attempting to roll doubles on dice. When doubles are made, that person passes the dice to the left and starts his or her own attempts to get at the gifts in the plastic ball. The game ends when all the gifts are revealed, whether everyone has had a chance to unwrap or not.
2. Plan a white elephant gift exchange. A white elephant exchange is like a secret grab bag. Everyone brings a wrapped gift, and then takes turns choosing a gift based on the number they’ve been given. When the gift is chosen, the person opens it. The next player can select a fresh gift or steal one of the presents that’s already been opened.
3. Host a make-and-take craft party. With this type of exchange, participants will engage in some form of crafting for the duration of the event, whether it’spottery, painting, epoxy resin pouring, or even knit crafts. At the end of the night everyone can swap their creations with another or keep their own crafts as gifts.
4. Give the gift of a group outing. Instead of exchanging material gifts, focus on sharing experiences with friends and family. A trip to watch a sports game or a theater performance can be an excellent way to spend time together, and something a person may not be inclined to do on his or her own. Certain venues will offer discounts on group tickets, so everyone can pool their resources.
5. Host a DIY cookie and cocoa exchange. Cookies, cocoa and the holidays are a perfect combination. A gift exchange where participants supply ingredients for these sweet treats, share their favorite recipes and then put together the finished products can make for an entertaining and festive afternoon. Each person can fill a cookie tin with baked cookies to take home and mason jars filled with homemade hot cocoa mix and marshmallows can be an additional gift to enjoy later on a chilly evening.
There are plenty of fun ways to exchange gifts during the holiday season.
Gifts for music lovers
Danish author Hans Christian Andersen once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Music is a universal language that can bridge cultures and unite people from all over the world in compelling ways. Is it any wonder that so many people are inspired, soothed and encouraged by music?
No two music fans are the same, so it’s not always easy to find the right gift for the budding rock star or audiophile on a holiday shopping list. Tuning into these individuals’ love for music is a great way to grab gifts they are sure to enjoy.
cians, there’s no shortage of options at a local bookseller.
• Custom-molded earplugs: Hearing loss is nothing to take lightly, and music fans who frequently play or attend concerts need to prioritize protecting their hearing. Custom-molded earplugs will conform to the wearer’s ear shape, offering ultimate protection.
• Luxury headphones: A luxury set of headphones can provide amazing audio for the best listening experiences.
• Audio interface: A loved one who
• Go vinyl: Vinyl albums predate cassettes, compact discs and digital music. But there are still some artists who release on vinyl, and many music fans say nothing beats the sound of a record playing on a turntable. Find an artist the recipient loves, and visit a local music shop to track down a vinyl version of one of their albums.
• Purchase an instrument: Has a budding musician had his or her eye on an instrument upgrade? Sweep in and be the holiday hero by purchasing a brand new one according to the specs desired.
• Photo history book: Browse a local bookstore and a you will find a range of books that are geared toward music fans. From biographies of famous artists to compilations of album cover art throughout the years to songbooks for aspiring musi-
wants to start making their own recordings will need an audio interface. This device connects a computer to music instruments and other audio equipment allowing one to play, record and process sound.
• Approved fanny pack: Stadiums are cracking down on the types of bags concert-goers can bring in. Therefore, a stadium-approved clear fanny pack can be a great gift for someone who is frequently watching live music.
• Masterclass membership: Sometimes there’s no better tutor than the professionals who have been there. With a Masterclass subscription, a music lover can learn how to write songs, sing or even play music from well-known music stars.
Gifts geared toward music enthusiasts will hit all the right notes this holiday season.
ROAD KILL GRILL spice rub
Tuning into these individuals’ love for music is a great way to grab gifts they are sure to enjoy.
What to get the sports fanatic on your holiday shopping list
Diehard sports fans are a passionate lot. That passion is something to keep in mind come the holiday season, when shoppers typically must find the right fit for everyone on their list. Such an undertaking is no small task, as veteran shoppers know that the right gift for one person on their list rarely aligns with the perfect fit for another loved one. But when it comes to finding gifts for sports fans, the options are endless.
while loved ones who can’t wait for softball season to start each spring may consider a new bat the best gift they receive this holiday season. Whatever sport sparks your favorite athlete’s passion, there’s sure to be some gear that can help them take their game to the next level.
• Tickets: Perhaps nothing sparks sports fans’ passion more strongly than seeing their favorite team in person, and that’s even more true in a post-pandemic sports landscape.
• Gear: Some sports fans are spectators, while others can’t wait to compete. Some new gear can be just what fans in the latter group are hoping to find under the tree this holiday season. Avid golfers may love a new driver or golf bag,
Popular sports like football, baseball and basketball have traditionally sold lots of tickets, but even sports like college volleyball and Major League Soccer have set attendance records since fans were allowed to return to stadiums after
the removal of pandemic-related restrictions. The demand for tickets to live sporting events has spiked as a result, and Team Marketing Report noted National Football League tickets increased by nearly 9 percent in 2023 and Major League Baseball tickets increased by 3.5 percent in that same year. Such increases have priced some fans out of the market, which is why tickets can make for such a great gift this holiday season. The gift of attending a game in person is something a loved one won’t soon forget.
• Apparel: Proud sports fans want to show their true colors, and nothing makes it easier to do so than team apparel. According to Statista, the global sports apparel market generated roughly $213 billion USD in revenue in 2023. A jersey with the name and number of a loved one’s favorite player can make for the ultimate apparel gift, but don’t overlook T-shirts, hats, outerwear, or other options this holiday season.
• Television: The popularity of watching sports is undeniable and the proof is in the financial pudding. For example, Statista reports the annual value of the NFL’s deal with ABC/ESPN/Disney to broadcast “Monday Night Football” was approximately $2.7 billion in 2023. That figure underscores how much fans love watching their favorite teams, and they need somewhere to do so. There may be no quicker route to a sports fan’s heart than through a new television to make the viewing experience that much better. The prices on 4K UHD televisions have dropped considerably in recent years, so a new TV can make the perfect gift for the sports fan in your life. Split the cost with fellow loved ones and then enjoy watching your favorite sports fan react upon seeing his or her new television under the tree. These are just a few of the many gifts to consider for the diehard sports fan on your shopping list this holiday season.
Haywood commissioner Ramey rebuked
Helene misinformation prompts outcry from fellow commissioners
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
Editor’s note: this story contains strong language.
Since his election in 2022, Haywood County Commissioner Terry Ramey has been known for lying — about his delinquent taxes, about his votes, about being assaulted — but this time, his acquiescent appearance in a YouTube video that spread misinformation about the county’s powers to circumvent state law has Ramey’s fellow commissioners receiving death threats and Haywood’s state representative calling for Ramey’s resignation.
“Serve with them or step down,” Rep. Mark Pless told Ramey at during a Dec. 2 meeting of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. “You can’t fight this fight, and you can’t be in the best interests of Haywood County doing what you’re doing.”
The statement by Pless came at the conclusion of more than two hours of public comment filled with outright lies about the county’s power to “waive” state building codes and Ramey struggling to defend himself.
MISINFORMATION STATION
On Nov. 26, an out-of-state YouTube “personality” named John Ward released a video filmed at the Smoky Mountain Events Center featuring Ramey and several others. In the video, Ward claims that nonprofits had brought tiny homes and campers to Haywood County for victims of Hurricane Helene and that they wanted to set them up in a covered area at SMEC, but red tape was getting in the way.
That “red tape” is the state building code, which does not allow for such a setup. But at several points in the video, Ward egged on the compliant Ramey by urging him to force a commission vote to override state codes and urged viewers to contact the “other four” commissioners to encourage them to do the same.
“So right now, I think that the biggest thing is the county commissioners is going to have to vote to approve that,” Ward said.
“Well, it would have to be approved by the county commissioners, and I’m just one of five, so it would be up to everybody to see what they wanted to do,” Ramey replied.
The problem for Ramey is that there was no agenda item proposing such a vote on the Dec. 2 commission meeting agenda, nor could there ever be. County commissioners do not have the power to override state law.
Ramey then offered another baseless proposal for the accommodation of the dwellings.
“Well, we’ve got to go through all the hoops to get all the zoning ordinances covered,” he said.
Although municipalities have zoning ordinances, Haywood County does not.
Ward doubled down in a subsequent video. On Dec. 1, one day before the commission meeting, he posted the names, phone numbers and email addresses of the other four commissioners — Jennifer Best, Chairman Kevin Ensley, Tommy Long and Vice Chairman Brandon Rogers — and urged viewers to forward them a threat right out of the playbook of so-called sovereign citizens, who believe certain laws do not apply to them.
“Call your local FBI field office and have the county officials involved arrested under citizens arrest … for felony conspiracy against rights in violation of title 18 USC section 241, felony deprivation or rights under color of law … [and] section 242, insurrection and rebellion against the constitution of the United States, perjury and violating oath of office, crimes against humanity, and domestic terrorism for refusing to allow tiny homes …”
Commissioners, who had already been receiving threats related to the first video, began to receive more.
Haywood County Commissioner Terry Ramey is facing at least one call for his resignation. Cory Vaillancourt photo
BAD BLOOD
The commission meeting began with a larger-than-normal crowd prepared to harangue commissioners for their supposed failure to act.
Sheriff Bill Wilke, the county’s chief law enforcement officer and of late its chief antimisinformation officer spoke first, recapping an Oct. 4 press conference in which he decried the Helene lies being circulated on social media. Wilke said he was “alarmed” that new rumors were again circulating about people living in tents or otherwise out in the cold because of commissioners. He directed his deputies to double check and said there were “zero” people living in tents.
were dropped due to the inability of Ramey, who represented himself, to provide any evidence.
Ramey’s contrarian behavior continues; early in the meeting, he voted no on nominating Ensley for his second consecutive term as chair and also voted no on nominating Rogers to serve his second consecutive term as vice chair. Both were reelected in November with overwhelming majorities, had taken their oaths of office earlier in the meeting and are perceived as stable, capable, experienced elected officials who have in the past four years guided the county through COVID-19, Tropical Storm Fred, the loss of a major employer and now Hurricane Helene.
UNINTENTIONAL INTENTIONS
As the meeting progressed into the public comment portion of the agenda, more than a dozen speakers from as far as Boone and Bessemer City presented even more lies to commissioners, who were in no mood to entertain them.
Several people directly contradicted Wilke’s assertion about the tent population, but chief among the claims were that an existing “primitive camp” state statute would allow for tiny homes and campers to be utilized at SMEC and elsewhere. Pless later told commissioners that he’d learned the statute couldn’t be interpreted that way.
Amanda Fowler, a pastor at Canton Wesleyan Church who also appeared in Ward’s first video alongside Ramey, said she believed they would be in full compliance with the law to utilize the dwellings but also acknowledged the commotion Ward’s first video had created.
“Obviously this has caused a stir within the county that was unintentional,” Fowler said.
Fowler expressed her desire to help people move out of the cold, but with no one unwillingly residing in tents, she didn’t elaborate on why living in a camper was living “out in the cold” or how the opensided structure at SMEC would make them any warmer.
When Ward got his chance to speak, he
repeated lies about FEMA’s presence in Western North Carolina, saying FEMA is now looking for property to accommodate temporary housing but that FEMA “should have been here two days into this, not two months into this.”
“They were,” Ensley shot back.
Tommy Miller, of Canton, said he owns a nonprofit and had interacted with people living in tents as recently as Nov. 30.
Beverly Banks, the respected and tireless longtime operator of a local food bank, said she’d seen infants and toddlers in dire straits.
“I deliver food in this county. I delivered body warmers this morning to babies, three-year-olds that are outside. It’s 20 degrees when I saw them this morning,” Banks said. “I understand that there are ordinances that are standing [in the way of getting] those babies into campers. I understand there are community members sitting in this room who have land for those campers. So my question to you is, as I continue to feed them, how do we get them into warm shelters that are temporary until we can figure out how to make that happen?”
As the next speaker began her comments, Long interrupted her and asked Wilke to chase down Banks and ask her for more information.
“Sheriff, could you get the address and the names of those places where there’s
SEE RAMEY, PAGE 12
“Serve with them or step down. You can’t fight this fight, and you can’t be in the best interests of Haywood County doing what you’re doing.”
Rep. Mark Pless
Wilke again issued pointed criticism of keyboard warriors like Ward.
“There are social media antagonists who are saying things about our county that are not true,” he said.
Ramey, meanwhile, has been an outcast on the all-Republican board since shortly after his election; he didn’t pay his property taxes for nearly 15 years before being elected, lied about it, lied about setting up a payment plan, still owes thousands and threatened The Smoky Mountain News for reporting on it all. Commissioners issued an initial rebuke of Ramey in January 2023, telling him to pay his taxes and stop threatening the media. Ramey responded by filing assault charges against this reporter, which
But it didn’t end there. Commissioners then stripped Ramey of his position on the SMEC board, to which Ramey objected. Ensley, who’d served on the SMEC board for 14 years previously, took on the task and said it was because the SMEC board had requested another commissioner besides Ramey to serve.
The SMEC board has seen substantial turnover during Ramey’s time there. Ensley hinted that SMEC staff and board members had also been receiving misguided calls or threats related to Ward’s video.
“That board is an all-volunteer board,” Ensley explained to Ramey. “They’ve been inundated in the last week with things they shouldn’t have been inundated with.”
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In an unusual turn of events, Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) showed up at the Dec. 2 meeting of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners to defend commissioners and express disapproval of Ramey. Haywood County government photo
babies sleeping on the ground?” he asked. Wilke later returned to the podium and said that names and addresses were not provided “for fear of the government.”
INTENSE TENSION
Commissioners then moved on to the constituent concerns portion of the meeting, where they were uncharacteristically frank in rebutting falsehoods and highly critical of Ramey’s role in fomenting — or at the very least, failing to quash — the lies spread on Ward’s videos that resulted in more lies from the speaker’s podium earlier.
churches.
Best, usually reserved, singled out Fowler’s comment that “the stir in the community that was unintentional.”
“Ma’am, I can assure you that when I received 160 calls in one day, that’s not unintentional,” Best said. “When one of my fellow commissioners stands and says, ‘It’s not me, it’s the other four,’ that’s not unintentional.”
Best’s subdued outrage is understandable; in 2022, she was one of several targets of a sovereign citizen plot to pay bounties for the kidnapping of public officials who refused to surrender to a “tribunal.” Two perpetrators were convicted on federal charges of making interstate threats in 2023.
Again, Best said, she’d been threatened over lies in the video.
are the type emails and texts we were getting from your people,” Ensley said. “I don’t get it.”
The normally staid Ensley, his anger on full display, went on to dox the person who sent the text, which is a public record.
As Best continued her remarks, she directed her frustration squarely at Ramey.
“Saturday night, I sent out a text message and I said, ‘I want to go look for these people.’ I have a text message that says, ’Because of really kind people there’s nobody out there,’” she said, alluding that the message had come from Ramey.
“So you can’t have it both ways, Terry — either we’ve got people cold and on the ground, or we don’t. What you’ve done [has] accomplished — let me finish — absolutely nothing,” Best said over Ramey’s interruption.
“For people who are not from around here who come in, you’re a little late to the party,” Long began, adding that volunteers had worked exceptionally hard in the immediate aftermath of Helene to provide basic needs to victims. “Some of the misinformation is just based on the fact that you’re not from around here. The accusations against the commissioners sitting here are unfounded.”
Long reminded the room that the county doesn’t have any zoning ordinances, reiterated his calls for Miller and Banks to provide more information on purportedly unsheltered people and finally opined that there may be fewer unsheltered individuals in the county now than there ever were prior to Helene due to the efforts of FEMA and local
“I’m too much of a lady to read the text message I got last night,” she said. “I’ve shown it to my fellow commissioners. It is the most distasteful thing I have ever seen and accomplishes nothing.”
Later in the meeting, Ensley addressed Ward directly.
“Mr. Ward, these are some of the things that we got, that your people sent us,” he said, noting that he would indeed read the threat to Best out loud.
“’Hey Jenny, you stupid c-u-n-t’ — I’m not gonna say it — ‘why people who lost every f-u-c-k-i-n thing has been abandoned by their government, FEMA, not to be able to live in the tiny houses the Amish built — not you, not FEMA. There is a special place in hell for you, Kevin, Brandon and the last twat Tommy. All of you are,’ — he’s got little piles of poop [emoji] across [the screen] — those
“What I done?” Ramey asked.
The terse exchange continued with Best laying out the situation in stunning clarity.
“We have people who need housing,” she said. “But a storage building per the North Carolina Building Inspector, with no toilet and no place to cook a basic meal, which would require refrigeration and a microwave, is not adequate.”
She told Ramey to quit dividing the board and work toward a resolution and lambasted him for calling in a “YouTube person.” Ramey accused Best of lying and said he had “no idea about that video.”
Best cited a relevant regional example of what happens when county government oversteps its authority. In 2022, Cherokee County government agreed to a $48.5 million settlement over multiple DSS lawsuits alleging constitutional violations. The county’s insurer would only pay half, leaving the county responsible for $24.25 million and leaving taxpayers with a massive tax hike of 11 cents per $100 in assessed property value to cover the cost.
“When we do that,” she said, “when we step out and we say, ‘We’re going to be rogue commissioners, we’re going to do what we want to do, when we want to do’ and we end up in a lawsuit, ain’t nobody saving us, Terry.”
Ramey tried to deflect the blame and said he’d never met Ward until Ward somehow showed up at his house one day and asked to be taken to the fairgrounds to shoot a video. Best asked Ramey why he didn’t stop the misinformation in that moment.
“I’ve not spread no misinformation,” Ramey said. “Wait a minute. [Ward] did say, ‘You’ve got people that can vote, you need to get them to vote,’ Terry,” Best responded. “Tell it all — you never stopped his misinformation.”
People began shouting from the gallery. Ensley threatened to have them removed.
Rogers began his remarks by acknowledging that he was about as small-government as they come but would adhere to his oath.
“I had to put my hand on a Bible just a few minutes ago to uphold the Constitution and
Jennifer Best, a Haywood County commissioner since 2020, issued pointed criticism during a Dec. 2 meeting. Haywood County government photo
follow the law,” he said. Ensley had done the same thing just before Rogers, using his deceased daughter’s Bible.
In response to rumors he’d heard, Rogers took it upon himself to seek out unsheltered people and said he’d met two families living in tents who wanted to stay in tents.
“Being a Constitutional guy,” Rogers said, “I am not going to tell them they can’t do that.”
Rogers called out more ridiculous rumors he’d heard, including that campers were banned in the county, that the county and FEMA were seizing property and taking children from their parents and that 24 infants in the area had already frozen to death.
“It’s sad that I try to sit in church on a Sunday morning, trying to worship my Lord and pray and spend time with my family, and your phone is buzzing so hard that you can’t even concentrate on the service because of misinformation is being spread,” he said.
Speaking directly to Ward, Rogers went on to say that he wished Ward had called him to get the facts. Instead, Ward had called on Ramey.
“To put out a video tells me you just want to be an internet sensation or internet hero instead of really wanting to help,” Rogers said. “Next time, maybe reach out to the local folks. Maybe bring a shovel or a hammer and try to help, like we’ve done. I’ve personally done that myself. I’d like to ask you if you’ve done that.”
Long then digressed into the monetization of sensationalism, specifically on Ward’s YouTube channel, and accused Ward and an unidentified woman accompanying him at the meeting of grinning and laughing when Rogers mentioned being unable to worship.
‘EVERYBODY KNOWS IT’S A LIE’
After more than two hours of discussion — civil, but not without spurts of venom — the meeting became even more unusual after a stunning rebuke of Ramey delivered by Pless, who was a Haywood County commissioner for two years before his election to the General Assembly, having served with Ensley, Long and Rogers but neither Ramey nor Best, who replaced him. Pless was just reelected to his third term in the state house.
Known as a blunt speaker and quickly gaining a reputation as an influential maverick, Pless acknowledged that he’d disagreed with commissioners many times and cast dissenting votes more than anyone else. But once he drew near to the podium, Pless wasted no time in defending commissioners from the lies spread about them and their authority.
“The problem is, these people are casting on you something that’s not yours,” he told commissioners. “Because of state law, you don’t have the authority to bypass [building codes],” he said. “We are the ones who can bypass it … There’s people in
this room that have been told that and yet they still came today to try to demoralize you and talk bad about you and try to force you into a corner, and they’ve been told that’s not your decision — that’s my decision.”
Pless went on to explain that controversial Senate Bill 382, purportedly a flood relief bill that actually contained no immediate flood relief, would give commissioners the authority to bypass the code requirements that some had been calling for. The bill, however, is in what Pless called “a precarious position.”
One of three western house Republicans to vote ‘no’ on the bill, Pless told The Smoky Mountain News last week that he wasn’t sure if he’d side with fellow Republicans in attempting to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, citing unspecified disagreements with various portions of the bill.
“If it stays in the current situation, there’s a good possibility that that relief will not come,” Pless said, foreshadowing a critical override vote next week but keeping his cards close to his chest.
Republicans can’t afford to lose more than a vote or two if they’re to override Cooper’s veto.
Pless continued, voicing his disappointment with a host of performers in what he called “a show.”
“The day that the floods were happening I was in Canton, in a rescue boat, risking my life to get to people, while they’re sitting in Boone, Bessemer City, who knows where, but now they come in here riding a white horse, because they need recognition,” he said, subsequently targeting Fowler. “How can you be a pastor of a church and talk down to people, just in your tone? I’m really good at talkin’. A lot of you have known me for a long time. Sometimes I step across the line, sometimes I do it intentionally, sometimes I don’t. But nonetheless, they knew what they were saying.”
Pless again reminded commissioners that in the past he had disagreed with them more than perhaps anyone else but never made a production out of his dissent like Ramey had by appearing in the video. Ramey, he said, had turned on the people who were there to support him.
“And Terry, this is to you. You can sit there all day long, and you could say you ain’t stirred up nothing. Everybody knows it’s a lie. The bad part is, these people are going to turn on you the second that you don’t do something they want to do. I had high hopes for you. I had really high hopes for you,” Pless said.
“You’re a scrapper. It’s all you do. You just fight. You don’t know when to stop, you don’t know when to quit. The signal of being a man, or a woman,” Pless said, with a nod to Best, “when you assume this role here is you put aside your personal opinion and you do what’s in the best interest for the people of this county, not what’s going to make you a name, and not what’s going to make you important and not what’s going to make other people think that you know more than you do.”
WCU appoints Henley as director of the Pride of the Mountains and Athletic Bands
Western Carolina University announced the appointment of Matt Henley as the next director of
Bands and director of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.
Henley has been the interim director of Athletic Bands and Pride of the Mountains since July 5 and has taken over the position fully as of Nov. 25.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to
This appointment was made on the recommendation of Margaret Underwood, director of the School of Music and director of Bands, and George H. Brown, dean of the David Orr Belcher College of the Fine and Performing Arts with the support of Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and Provost Richard Starnes.
step into the role of director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University, especially after having had the privilege of spending 34 seasons with the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band,” Henley said. “Innovation has always been our tradition, and I am incredibly excited about the future of this program as we continue to push creative bound-
aries and set new standards of excellence.”
When asked what excited Underwood about Henley and why he was under consideration for the appointment of this position, she said, “Matt’s passion for the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band shines through in every rehearsal and performance, and his contagious energy motivates and inspires everyone involved. I’m thrilled to see the incredible direction Matt will take the group in the future.”
Henley is no stranger to WCU as he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the university. He was previously the assistant director of athletic bands and had duties including assisting with POTM and the two “Cathouse Bands,” which play at all home basketball games, and the dynamic “Purple Thunder” basketball drum line.
Henley has played with and instructed groups like the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Cops, Limestone College Percussion Studio, Tuscola High School Percussion Program, Showband Gifhorn, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, Army AllAmerican Band and the Bands of America Honor Band among many accolades he has garnered.
Henley is excited to bring new perspectives to the Pride of the Mountains. However,
he understands the history and legacy of those who have come before and the importance of tradition.
“The long purple line of Pride of the Mountains alumni serves as the bedrock on which we stand, and I look forward to strengthening those connections. Our rich past will undoubtedly guide us as we embrace a bright future together as a program,” he said.
Henley also sees value in how music can go beyond the boundaries of learning the art form and how it can make an impact on the lives of the students at WCU.
“Music is the vehicle we use to teach our members essential life skills that transcend the field, the stage, or the concert hall. It’s about building character, resilience and community,” he said. “I am grateful to the WCU administration for trusting me to lead this extraordinary organization, and I am eager to give back to the institution that has shaped my life in so many meaningful ways.”
Pride of the Mountain drum major McKenzie Yazan shared her excitement about Henley stepping into the role.
“The thing that excites me most about having Matt come in as director is knowing that he will change so many lives for the better. He has certainly changed mine for the better,” Yazan said. “I cannot wait to see people come out of this program transformed into great leaders, teachers and hard workers, who all know that they have a family of thousands supporting them. The ‘Pride of the Mountains’ is in great hands, and all us alumni are ecstatic to see what the future holds.”
Henley has been the interim director of Athletic Bands and Pride of the Mountains since July 5. Donated photo
WCU mourns loss of Jim Moore
The Western Carolina University community has mourned the loss of longtime friend, volunteer leader and donor Jim Moore, who died Nov. 18, at the age of 87 after a period of declining health.
Originally from Kannapolis and a resident of Sylva, Moore was a retired banking industry executive with First Union and Wachovia. He was a former member and chairman of the WCU Foundation Board of Directors, and he was a member of the WCU Board of Trustees from 1990 until 1999, serving as chair of the trustees beginning in 1997.
A 1959 graduate of Pfeiffer College (now university) with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he also had a home in Lenoir and in Fort Myers, Florida.
“For decades, Jim Moore made major contributions of his time, talents and treasure to his adopted university,” WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown said. “His generosity touched on numerous areas of the institution, including athletics, academics, the arts and the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. One of the last events that Jim attended was the Catamount Club Shootout Golf tournament at Marion Lake Club, helping to raise money for Catamount Athletics. He has been a valued member of the Catamount family, and his passing is a great loss to Western Carolina University.”
Along with his service on the Foundation Board and Board of Trustees, Moore chaired a 14-member task force formed in 2007 and charged with examining the Catamount football program and making recommendations that would lead to both short-and long-term
Jim Moore, a longtime supporter of Western Carolina University, meets with Victoria Ladd, the 2021 recipient of a scholarship he established to benefit members of the women’s golf team. A 2023 graduate of WCU, Ladd is now assistant director of the Catamount Club. Donated photo
improvements to the team.
Recipient of Western Carolina University’s Distinguished Service Award in 1999, he established an endowed scholarship in 2016 to benefit members of the Catamount women’s golf team in recognition of his friendship with former head coach Mallory Hetzel.
An announcement of arrangements will be forthcoming.
New Century Scholars inducted
Walking across the same stage on which they’ll one day receive their college degrees, seventh graders from Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties were inducted into the New Century Scholars program on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Myers Auditorium on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus.
Made possible entirely by the generosity of private donors, the New Century Scholars program guarantees support and last-dollar tuition assistance to a total of 30 inductees.
Special guest speaker for this year’s cere-
mony was Benjamin Rodriguez, a former New Century Scholar who went on to earn an associate degree from SCC, a bachelor’s from Western Carolina University and a master’s from Cameron University. He is now a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Franklin.
More than 2,500 students have been inducted into the program over the years.
For more information about the program and how to support it, visit southwesterncc.edu/new-century-scholars.
HCC announces grant for free Spring 2025 tuition
Spring and summer registration at Haywood Community College is currently open and the spring 2025 term begins on Jan. 13, 2025.
Haywood Community College has received funding to support students looking to return to the classroom who may be facing financial challenges from Hurricane Helene impacts.
The Bobcat Resiliency Grant will provide free tuition and coverage of select fees for all students entering the Spring 2025 semester. These funds are available for new and returning students. The goal is to reduce financial barriers that students may be facing to support their desire to return to the classroom. As a last-dollar funding source,
students must still ensure they have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA application. In addition to free spring 2025 tuition, students who were enrolled in the fall 2024 semester can apply for an emergency relief grant that could provide up to $2,500 per student based on need and funding available. Funds can cover financial impacts related to transportation, utility bills, rent, textbooks and more. The college has established an online form for students to submit. Eligibility is based on Fall 2024 enrollment and is available to students even if they have received emergency support from other sources. Both financial support opportunities can be applied for on HCC’s website at haywood.edu/getting-started.
HCS considers change to student athlete transfer policy
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
The Haywood County Board of Education is considering a change to its policy that governs transfers by student athletes between Pisgah and Tuscola, and with board members in disagreement on the issue, the board is welcoming public input.
“There’s a lot of issues and a lot of things that are going to have to be discussed about this and how you’re going to deal with it,” Board Attorney Pat Smathers told the board.
The change concerns policy 3620-R and would eliminate the section of the policy that allows students who transfer schools via pupil reassignment to be eligible to participate in athletics immediately after they transfer.
“That would default us back to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association rule where they have to sit out 365 days unless it is a bona fide move,” Assistant Superintendent Graham Haynes said when he explained the proposed change to the board.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) guidelines state that “after a student’s initial entry into Grade 9, and absent a change in residence for a bona fide purpose… A student who transfers from one school to another school within the same Public School Unit (PSU) shall not participate in interscholastic athletics for 365 calendar days following the student’s enrollment in the new school.”
However, while the NCHSAA guidelines say a student is ineligible for the first year after a transfer for any other reason than a bona fide move, the guidelines also allow for the governing authority of a public school unit to adopt a policy allowing immediate eligibility for students.
athletics under either the NCHSAA rules or Haywood County School Board policy.
The other category in which a student transfers between schools is considered a pupil reassignment. This happens when a student has no bona fide change in residency that warrants a jump from one high school to another, but the family requests a transfer for some other reason. In the past, a student athlete in Haywood County that requests pupil reassignment has not lost athletic eligibility, but if the school board decides to revert to NCHSAA policy, they would lose eligibility for the first 365 days after transfer.
Smathers.
He also explained that when students turn 16, they are no longer considered a juvenile and can legally live wherever they want to live.
“I’m just saying these are the issues you might have,” said Smathers. “If a student moves and says ‘I’m 16 years old, I’m 17 years old, I want to go live with my grandparents,’ is that their bona fide residence? If a husband and wife say, ‘hey, we’ve been separated for years but Johnny’s now going to go live with the other parent,’ is that a bona fide move?”
Board Member Ronnie Clark said that these complications were part of why the board had decided not to penalize student athletes from eligibility for transfer in the past.
“That’s why we left it the way it was before and I don’t think the board should be involved in this, I think it should be left to the schools, that’s my thought,” said Clark.
But Board Member Jim Francis noted that policy is the responsibility of the school board, not individual schools or school administration.
Clark then noted that the normal procedure is to have the policy committee bring proposed policy changes before the full board. Nesbitt is not on the policy committee and seems to have suggested the change of his own volition.
“There’s only one member of the board on the policy committee, so I think this is a good start,” said Board Member Marla Morris. “We’ll have 30 days to discuss before we vote on it.”
This is how the Haywood County Board of Education has run things in the past. Currently, the school board’s policy regarding student athlete transfers says that high school student athletes approved for transfer do not lose eligibility due to the transfer. This rule applies whether the student transfers for a bona fide move or under pupil reassignment.
There are two broad categories under which a student can transfer between schools within the same district. The first is what is considered a “bona fide” move. This happens when a student’s residential address changes and they are districted to a new high school under the new address — moving from Waynesville to Canton or vice versa is an example of this sort of move that might warrant a change in high schools. Under this type of transfer with a bona fide change in residency, the student athlete does not lose eligibility for
Board Member Logan Nesbitt brought up the issue of student athlete transfer policy during the Nov. 12 school board meeting when he requested adding the policy change to the agenda for first read. Nesbitt joined the board in 2020 and serves on the Building and Grounds and Special Issues committees.
“So, Mr. Haynes, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association currently adopts the 365-day rule where high schoolers have to sit out respective sports once transferring from a residency, correct?” Nesbitt asked after Haynes had explained the proposed change to the board.
“If it is not a bona fide move,” Haynes clarified. “If it falls under pupil reassignment, then yes.”
Smathers explained that the rule about what constitutes a bona fide move, or change in residency, can get muddy with situations that involve rental agreements, children going to reside with grandparents or other relatives, or parents separating.
“These are all things we’ve dealt with in past years,” said
Board Member Jimmy Rogers, who is on the policy committee, was absent from the Nov. 12 meeting. Following the discussion about the proposed policy change Smathers asked that the board vote on the policy for first read since the recommendation did not come from committee. He said if it had come from committee, it wouldn’t need to be voted on.
Chairman Chuck Francis was also absent from the Nov. 12 meeting, and Vice Chairman David Burnette said that anybody that wants to come speak on the issue should do so.
“If they want to come and have comments, they’re welcome here, and they’ll have three minutes in the public input section,” said Burnette. “It’ll give us time for everybody to do their homework in the meantime.”
The next regularly scheduled school board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at the ITC conference room located at 1161 Bryson St. in Waynesville. The board was also set to discuss the policy change at its work session beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Group discusses hazards of drunk driving, potential new laws
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
The day before Thanksgiving is sometimes referred to as “Blackout Wednesday,” a nod to the fact that it is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, a day when old friends and family are back in town with a holiday ahead to recover.
An event held on that day last week at the Historic Haywood County Courthouse aimed to draw attention to the risks of drunk driving.
WNC DWI Taskforce head Ellen Pitt spoke first at the event.
“Many alcohol vendors do special promotions like buy-one get-one-drinks,” she said of Blackout Wednesday.
In response to Blackout Wednesday, Pitt and the other speakers, which included law enforcement officers and elected officials, promised that there would be zero tolerance for drunk driving, that night and every other night.
At last Wednesday’s event, volunteers, elected officials, law enforcement officers and families who lost loved ones to
Susie, her husband, Tyler, and her son, Miles, had their lives taken on Memorial Day when a drunk driver ran a red light and collided with their vehicle.
To make a more visible statement, that evening, law enforcement across the region parked their patrol cars at the sites where people were killed or injured in vehicle collisions where alcohol or excessive speed were a factor and ran their blue lights while observing a 10-minute moment of silence.
In addition, on Sunday, Dec. 1, many of those same people gathered at the Maggie Valley town pavilion for a remembrance of those who lost their lives that featured both a slideshow of the victims and a table on which sat a candle for each person.
“That table was full of candles,” Pitt said in a Dec. 2 interview with The Smoky Mountain News.
REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS
At one point, a couple of relatives of victims who lost their lives in crashes caused by drunk drivers spoke. One was Jean DodsonHarris, who talked about the death of her sister, Susie Campbell, brother-in-law, Tyler, and 8-year-old nephew, Miles, who lost their lives only six months ago on Memorial Day when an SUV driven by 25-year-old Jordan Porter ran a red light going almost twice the speed limit and T-boned their vehicle.
“This person should have never been behind the wheel of a car,” Harris said from atop the courthouse steps, flanked by her visibly emotional father and stepmother. “It’s unacceptable.”
During an interview with SMN on Nov. 30, Harris, who lives in Forest City, talked about just how spectacular of a person her sister was. She beamed with pride as she recalled how Susie came into her life when her father and stepmother adopted her from China. Susie was born to a family in that country that chose not to keep her because of the infamous “one-child” policy. Susie was found under a bridge, brought to an orphanage and put up for adoption.
Donated photo
When she came to the United States to live with her new family, she was 3 years old, and Harris was already in her mid-twenties. Although at the time of her death Susie, then 29, lived in the Raleigh suburb of Garner a few hours away, she and Harris remained close.
“Susie and I were so close because she grew up with my children,”
SEE DWI TASKFORCE, PAGE 18
drunk drivers all spoke. Kyle Perrotti photo
Harris said.
Early in the afternoon on Memorial Day, Harris was sitting on the back porch with her husband getting ready for a cookout when she received a call from her stepmother, who was so distraught she could barely get the words out. There had been a wreck. Tyler was killed immediately, and Susie and Miles were en route to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Ultimately, doctors were unable to control
“I want to thank the founders of NADD for doing this, for never forgetting and always fighting for my family and making a difference,” she said.
UPCOMING LEGISLATION
One of the speakers at the event last Wednesday was Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), who pledged that victims would not be forgotten as he renews his quest to get a host of legislation passed in the General Assembly that he said will keep drivers safer on North Carolina roads.
Susie’s internal bleeding, and she passed away on the operating table; Miles was taken off life support a couple of days later after several doctors’ independent analysis determined he would likely never regain consciousness.
It was hard for Harris to talk about the trauma the whole family endured with the sudden, tragic loss, but one memory sticks out as being most devastating — the day that she, her father, her stepmother and her brother went to the morgue to see Susie. Harris, a registered nurse, had seen her fair share of human carnage, but she still has nightmares about that exact moment.
“It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever laid eyes on,” she said. “You’re not supposed to see a loved one like that.”
Harris fell into a sort of fugue state. There was a closed-casket memorial service, but she can’t remember anything from that day other than viewing the bodies with her family beforehand. While she may never get over losing a loved one, she also talks with extreme reverence about the kinds of people Susie, Tyler and Miles were. Like her older sister, Susie became a registered nurse and was enthusiastically exploring different fields trying to find her niche.
That ambition, that heart of service, was gone just like that.
“These were the three most loving, caring, compassionate individuals that you would ever want to know in your life,” she said. “Susie never got to figure out what she really wanted to do and experience that. Miles never got to experience so much.”
With that in mind, Harris has become committed to preserving their memory and also raising awareness around the dangers of drunk driving. In June, Susie’s coworkers began a new nonprofit called Nurses Against Drunk Driving. Pitt helped the nonprofit through the early stages of its formation, and since then, Harris has been an active member, doing what she can to promote its message.
As a member of the DWI taskforce, Clampitt has been a leading voice in Raleigh in the effort to combat DWIs. He sang the praises of the taskforce members, many of whom were on hand last Wednesday.
In the past, Clampitt has introduced five bills related to drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol, including one that would allow the use of portable roadside breathalyzer results for probable cause and another that would lower the legal blood alcohol content limit from .08 to .05.
Come January, he will aim to introduce those five bills under one larger piece of legislation called the Sober Operator Act of 2025. It will also include two new elements not before seen that are tangentially related to the issue. One would require for District Court sessions, where many DWI cases are heard, to be recorded as Superior Court currently is. The other would create an easily accessible database where members of the public could see stats related to DWI charges and convictions, as well as other relevant case information like reasons for dismissals or suppression of evidence. Pitt said such a database is important for several reasons.
“It helps you understand where to direct resources,” she said.
Harris said she will be happy to see those kinds of bills become law and that if even one family is spared the grief hers has suffered, changes are needed. For now, she still grieves, still awaits closure, although the process of trying the case against Porter will likely take years.
Each Sunday, she visits the gravesites of her sister, brother-in-law and nephew. Recently, she brought along her infant grandson, Beckham, who has been a ray of hope for the future, to celebrate a somber occasion — Miles’ ninth birthday.
“No one should ever have to celebrate a child’s birthday at their gravesite,” Harris said. “This should never happen to another family ever.”
Ellen Pitt heads up the WNC DWI Taskforce. Kyle Perrotti photo
Breeden sworn in, Young appointed chairman
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
The first commission meeting of December after an election usually comes with a change in leadership, and such was the case for the Macon County Commission at its Dec. 2 organizational meeting.
The board said goodbye to Commissioner Paul Higdon who had served three terms — more than a decade — and welcomed his replacement, incoming member Barry Breeden.
“We want to say thank you Mr. Higdon for all your work, this is not easy work,” said Commissioner Gary Shields. “He’s been a mentor; we’ve known each other a long time.”
Higdon has been a conservative stalwart on the board since his election in 2012 and remained true to form on his way out the door.
When asked if he’d like to say any words prior to being presented with a commemorative plaque, Higdon simply said, “no.”
“That’s my favorite word; my legacy,” he joked. “Thank you, it’s been an honor to serve the people of Macon County. I’ve tried to do it as conservatively as I know how. One of my two favorite sayings is, the government’s got enough of our tax money, they just need to know how to spend it. And conservatism’s like pregnancy, you are or you ain’t. And I’ve tried to be a conservative, and I’ll be that when they lay me in the ground.”
Macon County, it is custom for the board to elect a new chairman each year with Gary Shields serving as chairman over the last year, and Paul Higdon having served the year prior.
Commissioner Danny Antoine made a motion to nominate Young for chairman and Shields seconded the motion. The board approved Young’s nomination unanimously, but not before Shearl had voiced input on responsibilities of the chairman as well as the organization and efficiency of the commission.
“The reason why I bring this up, we’ve had many discussions about the length of our meetings and stuff and one of the biggest things with the chairman of the board is being completely responsible and intact with the agenda,” said Shearl. “I hope moving forward that our new chairman will take this role very seriously and spend a lot of time dealing with this. Because when the agenda comes out, in the past, the agenda comes out and the chairman of the board has no idea what’s on that agenda until it’s presented, and that’s the role of the chairman is to create this agenda and keep this board informed, and maybe through that process the meetings will be expedited and not six hours long.”
Young said he agreed with Shearl.
Commissioner John Shearl promised to “continue to fight for conservatism” as long as he’s on the board.
“It’s been a lot of years with you, we go back a long ways, and I appreciate your conservatism,” said Shearl. “What you stand for, your Christian values, your family, and what you’ve tried to do and what you have done for this county.”
“I appreciate the leadership that you’ve shown me, your transparency, the way that you just are what you are, and you have nothing to hide,” said Commissioner Josh Young. “That’s a hard person to be in today’s times. So, I just want to say thanks for that, and I know it’s not always favored or always the most desired, but I do appreciate it and I do appreciate your passion. Have fun with your grandkids, man.”
During the Primary Election in March, Barry Breeden beat Paul Higdon to represent District 3. Breeden then ran unopposed in the General Election.
After Breeden was sworn in and seated, the board had to elect a new chairman. In
“Thank you for the trust, gentlemen,” said Young. “A chairman, what I want to see is a high level of service provided to our citizens. Not saying that’s not happening right now, but I want to enhance that.”
Commissioner Shields was then unanimously appointed vice chair of the commission.
Following the vote, Commissioner Shearl suggested that the commission have county employee business meetings in the morning, prior to regular meetings in the evening, to prevent county employees from having to stay at county meetings until late at night.
“They can have their normal workday and go home with their family and everything else, and it would also save the taxpayers a lot of money from overtime, comp time and everything,” said Shearl. “I would like to see some kind of adjustments to this in the future for a meeting the morning of our regular county commission meeting.”
Young noted that this has been discussed and could be especially needed during the budget season, but he suggested that the board continue on in its current manner for at least the first quarter of the year before making a change to meeting organization.
Schedule + More
Thursday, Dec. 5
Shackford Hall
• 7 p.m. — Balsam Range Art of Music Kickoff
The official festival kickoff event is always a special, intimate evening of music from Balsam Range, which will also spotlight other cherished Haywood County musicians. Since its inception in 2007, Balsam Range has become one
of the most decorated and award-winning acts in the wide world of bluegrass music, including numerous International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honors.
The kickoff will also serve as a fundraiser for those affected by Hurricane Helene. A live stream of the performance will also be available for those unable to attend.
Friday, Dec. 6
Stuart Auditorium
• 7 p.m. — Jeff Little Trio
The piano rarely plays a prominent part in Appalachian or Americana music and is seldom the lead instrument. Jeff Little is an exception — and a remarkable one.
His distinctive twohanded style, much influenced by the mountain flatpicked guitar tradition, is breathtaking in its speed, precision and clarity. In 2014, Little was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
• 8 p.m. — Rhonda Vincent
An eight-time (including seven-in-a-row) “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), Rhonda Vincent had traversed the globe, spreading her message of family and melodic beauty far and wide. She also won the 2018 Grammy Award for “Best Bluegrass Album” for the record “All The Rage.”
• 9 p.m. — Balsam Range & Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble
Founded in 1944, the Pops were created as a way for the finest musicians in Atlanta to come together and perform as one entity, whether it be on the radio or onstage for public viewing.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Stuart Auditorium
• 6:30-7 p.m. — Family Bands & Changeover Clear Water Collective, New Found Gap and Sherry Welcome
• 7:15 p.m. — Upstream Rebellion
Hailing from the depths of Western North Carolina, Upstream Rebellion is rooted in the intricate musical traditions of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountain ranges. The ensemble showcases a captivating blend of bluegrass standards and original numbers.
• 8 p.m. — Dan Tyminski Band
Throughout his 40-year career, singer-songwriter and storied multi-instrumentalist Dan Tyminski has garnered 14 Grammy Awards and named “Male Vocalist of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) four times.
• 9 p.m. — Balsam Range & The Studio Band
A special grouping of some of the finest studio musicians in modern music, The Studio Band — Milan Miller, Tony Creasman, Jeff Collins and David Johnson — will showcase its various talents on several instruments as the act rolls through a slew of well-known selections and in-themoment improvisational jams.
Workshops
Saturday, Dec. 7
Harrell Auditorium
• 10-11: Milan Miller - Songwriting
• 11-1: Balsam Range - Band workshop, Q&A followed by open jam (bring your instrument)
• 1-2: Caleb Smith - Instrument building
• 2-3: Milan Miller & Missy Armstrong“Songs for your Saturday afternoon”
• 3-4: Alan Bibey - Mandolin workshop
TICKETS
A message from Caleb Smith
Before the Art of Music Festival came to fruition, we had our Winter Concert Series in Canton at the Colonial Theatre for several years. And when we decided to start the festival in Lake Junaluska, we wanted to do one big weekend of live music and coming together — a boost for local businesses, a boost for everyone in our community. All these years later since the inception of Art of Music, it remains a productive, fun experience for everyone involved. And there’s a specific reason why we call it the Art of Music, because we wanted an eclectic blend of really talented people — that’s been the main focus.
Throughout the Art of Music celebration, we’ve had everyone from Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives to Sierra Hull, Tim O’Brien to Travelin’ McCourys, Darrell Scott to the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. This event is simply about the music and collaborating with musicians we respect and admire.
With the “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent, she can be hard to pin down this time of year, seeing as she does a big Christmas show run. We’ve tried for a few years to get her here and it means so much to finally have her grace our stage at the Stuart Auditorium.
Dan Tyminski. When I was 12 years old, the first bluegrass that I ever heard — I mean real bluegrass — was a cassette tape that was given to me. One side was the Hot Rize “Untold Stories” album, the other was Lonesome River Band’s “Old Country Town.”
And Dan was a member of Lonesome River Band, singing and playing mandolin. He also is a great fiddle player, banjoist and guitarist — he’s one of those guys that can play everything. But, it was his singing that really influenced me as a performer.
For Balsam Range, we’ve done a lot of great things worldwide, but our favorite accomplishment over the years is what we’ve done in Haywood County. With any project you undertake, there’s a bit of nervousness that goes along with it, especially since the Art of Music is a big production. But, it always seems to come together and we’re proud of that.
The Art of Music is a labor of love that continually pays off with unforgettable moments and a true sense of the holiday by coming together as a community to honor and celebrate our region.
Thank you for attending.
• Visit balsamrangeartofmusicfestival.com or call 800.222.4930.
• For tickets and lodging information at Lake Junaluska, call 800.222.4930 or visit lakejunaluska.com.
Art Of Music Festival Director/ Balsam Range Tour Manager/Publicity: Mandy Tenery
Writing: Garret K. Woodward
Cover Photo: Rhonda Vincent
Blue Collar Dreams
Still Pickin’ and Grinnin’ After 18 Years
It was almost 18 years ago when five musicians gathered in a kitchen at a Canton home. The idea was simple, a pickin’-n-grinnin’ session to scratch that musical itch to jam and harmonize. The mood was purposely casual, with no intentions of anything to come of the hangout except fellowship and playing for the sake of playing.
But, all things worthwhile tend to appear when you least expect it, especially in the case of Haywood County bluegrass juggernaut Balsam Range. With the timeless template for the “high, lonesome sound” — guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass and fiddle — the group has grown from humble beginnings in Western North Carolina into a marquee act from coast-to-coast and beyond.
“The early days were full of excitement, hope, long hours, and much effort — setting out-of-reach goals, building dreams and strategies to achieve them,” lead singer/fiddler Buddy Melton reminisced. “We are told our whole lives to follow our dreams, [and] dreams only die if we start looking at all the difficulties it takes to achieve them — focusing on the dream, those difficulties are merely steps that help us climb to the top.”
Since its inception in 2007, Balsam Range has become one of the most decorated and award-winning acts in the wide world of bluegrass music, including the following International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honors: “Entertainer of the Year” (2014, 2018),
“Album of the Year” (2013, 2017), “Song of the Year” (2011, 2015) and “Vocal Group of the Year” (2014, 2015), with Melton named “Male Vocalist of the Year” (2014, 2018) and Tim Surrett “Bass Player of the Year” (2018).
“I remember how wonderful it made me feel when I first heard Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, then Bill Monroe, then the Stanley Brothers,” banjoist Marc Pruett said. “Earl’s banjo playing went straight to my 10-year-old heart, and each time I get to step onstage with my banjo, I try to play with a feeling that will make others get that same spinetingle that I got then. There is perfection in the music ‘of the old guys’ that still moves me — I still study it, and I still learn.”
Coming into 2025, the quintet — including Melton, Pruett, guitarist Caleb Smith, bassist Tim Surrett and mandolinist Alan Bibey — is gearing up to not only release new music, but also once again hit the road, touring majestic theaters and backwoods gatherings — all in the name of bluegrass music.
The band started as a way to not create a band. It was more just a bunch of people that got off the road, who wanted to jam.
Caleb Smith: Yep. That's very true. So many things with Balsam Range have happened organically. And the things that happen organically are usually really cool. That’s not to say that a lot of work hadn't been put into Balsam Range, because there has been. But, for the most part, the organic compound of Balsam Range has allowed us to be free and to be creative.
And over the years, people have liked what we've created. We’ve always said, “Let's just do it until we can't do it.” It’s fun and we still enjoy it, where we don't overload ourselves with shows per year. And you’ll be putting out some new music next year?
Caleb Smith: Yeah, we are. We released “Kinetic Tone” last year at the festival and have had a handful of No. 1 singles off of it. It's still getting a lot of airplay and people dig it. But, we will probably release new music in the spring or early summer. It's such a tossup right now. The music business is so weird. Do you put out two or three singles and then put out an album? Or just put six or eight singles out next year and then create an EP at the end of the year?
We don't know, but we’re really looking forward to the future.
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It’s good to be the queen
A
conversation with Rhonda Vincent
In art, as in life, what matters most is following your heart, never compromising your beliefs and holding steady to a strong sense of integrity.
With those three attributes as your foundation, it is only a matter of time and place before your wildest dreams
come to fruition. It’s about hard work. It’s also being aware that success — true success — is a slow burn that comes to those with patience, persistence and passion.
And it is a culmination of all these things that makes up the heart and soul of Rhonda Vincent. Dubbed the “Queen of Bluegrass,” the 62-year-old singer/mandolinist is a magnetic force of nature, especially onstage with her band, The Rage.
An eight-time (including seven-in-arow) “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association, Vincent had traversed the globe, spreading her message of family and melodic beauty far and wide. She also won the 2018 Grammy Award for “Best Bluegrass Album” for the record “All The Rage.”
Vincent remains a vital, vibrant bridge between the originators and pioneers of the music created by Bill Monroe and where we stand today in the modern era — a crossroads of the neo-traditional and progressive bluegrass camps, come hell or high water.
You’re been in bluegrass since you were three years old. What sets it apart from other genres of music?
Well, there’s an authenticity in what we do. It’s real. What you see is what you get. These days, people can create any sound they want. But, when you come to see us — and come to see bluegrass — what you hear in the studio is what you’ll hear from us in person, over the phone, at a concert. You’re hearing that same quality, and I think that’s rare and that’s why people are migrating towards us — it’s a real, authentic sound. You find that in bluegrass, in acoustic music and nowhere else.
There’s a recent surge in the popularity of bluegrass. I sometimes
think that might be attributed to the notion that “real country music” these days points more towards bluegrass than what “pop country” is on the radio.
People are walking away from pop country and gravitating towards bluegrass because a lot of that old country sound is only found in bluegrass these days.
It’s the realness, that honest songwriting of old country that has always been part of bluegrass. Absolutely. People always say, “Oh, country music is dying” or “I don’t like country music.” Well, there are different levels and different kinds of country music, different styles.
I mean, I did a duet album with Gene Watson, one of the greatest classic country singers that there is. And we found this incredible audience at Country’s Family Reunion. There’s an audience for this kind of music and, as you say, a realness to it. Gene is as good as it gets when you’re listening to classic country music.
It’s not that it’s dying or that it’s gone, it’s just different styles. And with the Internet these days, you can seek it out.
You’ve spent most of your life in this industry. What does bluegrass and being a performer mean to you these days?
Oh, it’s my life. I grew up doing that. It continues to be my life. It’s my livelihood. It’s what pays the bills. You need to love what you do. You have to work and you have to make a living in life, that’s just a given. So, whatever you do, make sure you love it.
If you’re going to do this, you first of all have to love the music and the passion for the music. And that’s something every person I travel with, they would play music no matter what, no matter where we are in life.
Come and experience the spectacular mountain scenery and the crisp clean air within walking distance of Waynesville’s quaint and vibrant town center. The seven unique rooms and suites, each with a private en-suite bathroom and fireplace, assure your stay will be a memorable one.
Never met a stranger
A conversation with Dan Tyminski
When it comes to pure talent, character and curiosity within the bluegrass and Americana realms, you’d be hardpressed to find a musical journey as wide and wondrous as that of Dan Tyminski.
At age 57, the singer-songwriter and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist has meticulously navigated a life of marquee moments and unparalleled success — from his native Vermont those many years ago to the bright lights of Nashville and beyond.
For Tyminski, it’s being the signature voice on the traditional number “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” for the blockbuster 2000 film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” to collecting 14 Grammy Awards, many of which were the result of his 30-year (and counting) stint as a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station. Not to mention his work with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley and more.
And yet, in conversation, Tyminski is humble and gracious — and perhaps happily surprised — about his journey thus far. He remains in awe of the people, places and things he’s continuously interacting with, where a deep sense of gratitude remains intact.
When the “O Brother” soundtrack was released, you were at the center of this high-water mark for bluegrass. And it seems now we’re at another high-water mark, with many new acts selling out arenas. What do you see when you look out at the current landscape of bluegrass?
It's amazing to watch bluegrass music. And it's kind of seeming to me like it's becoming cool again. To see the amount of young people going out to hear acoustic music blows me away. It fills my heart and makes me happy. I can't say enough positive things.
And I'm seeing trends with our shows, [with a] bunch of new people coming out to hear music. It's the best thing for bluegrass music. People are getting brought into circles of music that they wouldn't be otherwise. So, it's a huge boost for the music.
At this juncture in your career, what
is it about bluegrass, this music that you've not only dedicated a good portion of your life to, but also are just aa enamored by today as ever?
First of all, that's what I had access to. [Bluegrass] was the first musical situation I could really dive into myself. I heard a lot of live music growing up. My parents took me to fiddle contests, square dances and country bands and also bluegrass festivals.
And when I found myself going to a [bluegrass] festival and hanging out for two or three days, there was a
end up in the early years traveling around playing music. I [also] never considered that I would be in a position to have to raise a family playing music. I never considered that my entire household would have to be sustained from bluegrass music.
It's not a solid living for most people who choose it — it's a tough living. You have to be dedicated, be willing to travel and make concessions in a lot of your life to be able to play this music. And when you love it, you don't consider anything like that.
For me, I knew what I was when I
community of people with a support network and a love for this music — just being together and supporting each other.
There was a community that I've never felt anywhere else. And I think there still is. I still go to bluegrass festivals and I still feel that same community. For me, it was just the acceptance and the love from everybody in the music — a high sense of community.
Your debut album, “Green Mountain Bluegrass,” is coming up on 40 years since its release. You were a teenager when you put it out. What were your aspirations then? What were the things you wanted to do coming out of the gate?
I never really thought about the end game. I didn't consider where it would
was a kid. I was probably six or seven years old and I just knew I was into music. I knew I was going to play music. People told me I was going to play music. I was singing and starting to play a little bit.
And all those years traveling around, I kind of got to watch it unfold in the same way everyone else did. I didn't have a lot of aspirations to become famous. It was never about that.
Then there was a point in my career where I remembered becoming aware that it was no longer about learning the craft and getting better at the instrument, where it became about presentation — realizing I was actually taking the music I practiced and now presenting it to other people. It's not just whether you do a good job playing the song, it's whether or not you've entertained someone.
Proposed state aid bill is an insult
The number is $53.6 billion. That’s the estimate from the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management for the damage Helene inflicted on Western North Carolina. Those are just dollars; in the bigger picture, lives have been lost, transformed and forever changed.
But that money is needed to start rebuilding some of those lives and to continue the forward momentum with what will be a years-long recovery. Most of the money will come from the federal government, but the state must also do its part.
And that’s the problem right now. We need relief money. We also need our state legislature to act responsibly. So far, the current leadership in Raleigh has failed Western North Carolina on both counts. It seems legislative leaders are more interested in playing politics by including relief money in a bill that also strips power from their adversaries. Can we just once, just once, get a clean vote, no encumbrances and no political jousting, on a bill to help those who need it the most.
Helene hit hard, damn hard. We who call WNC home are still living with the damage. Some of us just lost power and water, or perhaps our business or job went south for a while; others, a lot of others, lost everything — family members, homes, all possessions, businesses, roads and bridges to remote communities, a way of life.
So, what do our legislative leaders do? In early October the state passed a bill with $273 million for storm relief efforts. Later that month, it passed another bill with $604 million for relief. Sounds like a lot of money, but remember, total damage sits at an estimated $53 billion.
Then the Legislature reconvened in November and passed
Israeli visit is pure hypocrisy
To the Editor:
A recent edition of a local paper described the visit of an Israeli envoy to bring relief supplies to our area after Helene.
Yet, the same country, Israel, bombs Gaza daily killing thousands of Palestinians with bombs made in the United States. At latest count over 44,000 killed, by some estimate more than half are women and children, with daily bombings of elementary schools and hospitals.
They also use their military to block relief aid to starving children. Yet the same Israel, which blocks relief supplies to starving children, sends an envoy to bring relief supplies to one of the richest countries in the world.
What hypocrisy!
Paul Strop Waynesville
Knowing the difference: fact versus opinion
To the Editor:
A few weeks ago Smoky Mountain News
Editor Scott McLeod wrote an interesting article spelling out the differences between
a third bill, this a 131-page measure with all kinds of political retribution built into it, and a one-paragraph mention of an additional $227 million from the Rainy Day Fund for WNC. That fund, by the way, contained $4.4 billion before Helene struck.
On the first reading of that final bill, three state representatives representing our region — Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Bryson City), and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) — all voted no, the only Republicans who stood up for the people of WNC. Pless said the bill “appears to do nothing for Western NC.”
Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers had this to say about the measure and the support from our three GOP lawmakers: “What you saw was fundamental, principled leadership and doing right by the people of Western North Carolina. That was not a hurricane relief bill; it was a bill that was trying to be marketed as one. Even when talking about the money, it just shifts money. It doesn’t allocate where it goes. It was a bill that was done behind closed doors, very quickly and not involving even the Republicans, even our own legislators. This is a bill that should not have been passed and should not exist and should be vetoed. And if it was Democrats doing it, I would say the same thing.”
The bill contains all kinds of political retribution. Here’s
LETTERS
folks who choose to read or listen to media sources that provide facts and those who get their news from media that primarily give opinions. There’s nothing wrong with opinions if they are backed up by facts. Otherwise, they’re just noise.
Unfortunately, the explosion of social media in the past two decades which favors opinions (much easier, cheaper and safer than hard-nosed reporting) has obliterated much of the print and online media outlets like local and regional newspapers. McLeod mentions the New York Times, USA Today the Wall Street Journal and local newspapers as solid, respected sources of news. They certainly are. But most people no longer get their news that way. Network news that once gave us Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley and Edward R. Murrow have gradually faded with time and have been victims of technology as well. This unfortunate drift could be countered if civics, critical thinking and media literacy courses were mandatory in schools to educate folks on how to sort out fact from fiction. Fortunately, there is renewed interest in these sorts of classes.
The three important issues in this presidential campaign were the economy, immigration and foreign policy. Since the economy seemed to be the deciding issue in the election, I’ll use the economy as an example
what our political reporter Cory Vaillancourt wrote in last week’s Smoky Mountain News about it: “Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the gubernatorial race by more than 14 points, so the bill stripped Stein of the power to appoint members to the State Board of Elections and to appoint chairs of the county boards of elections, giving those powers instead to newly-elected Republican Auditor Dave Boliek. The bill also limits the power of the governor to appoint appellate court judges and appoint a majority of members to the State Utilities Commission, halts the automatic appeal of utility monopoly Duke Energy’s rate hikes and prevents the governor from increasing the state’s paltry weekly unemployment benefits, which Gov. Roy Cooper did in the aftermath of Helene.”
Gov. Cooper subsequently vetoed the bill because of its lack of funding for WNC and the political implications. On Monday, Dec. 2, the GOP-led Senate overrode the governor’s veto on a strict party-line vote. The House will vote next week, and I certainly hope those WNC Republicans who voted no last time can withstand the browbeating they’re sure to take from the GOP-led House leadership. If they vote no again, the governor’s veto should stand.
And then, perhaps, legislative leaders will do what is needed for our region and quit holding onto money that was squirreled away specifically for this purpose: it’s the state’s Rainy Day Fund, and by god, we had a rainy day on Sept. 26-27, a rainy day for the ages.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
of how opinions skewed the truth. Even though a recent Harris poll showed that while most people were doing well, themselves, they thought the rest of the country was in a recession, the stock market was down and the unemployment rate was at a 50-year high because this was the “opinion news” they constantly heard on right wing news and social media. The economy is actually doing quite well although many are still not participating. Inflation is down from near 9% in 2022 to 2.4% now and the stock market is at all-time highs. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the cost of bacon and eggs which became stand-ins for inflation in the presidential campaign, will return to 2020 levels. This is the same reason new cars no longer cost $2,000 and gas is not 27 cents a gallon like in the 1950s.
Personal income, on average, has kept up with inflation since Biden became president.
In a May 2024 Congressional Budget Office report (the most recent available), the agency concluded that “for households in every quintile (or fifth) of the income distribution, the share of income required to pay for their 2019 consumption bundle decreased, on average, because income grew faster than prices did over that four-year period.”
During Biden’s tenure, unemployment averaged 4.16% and 15.8 million jobs were created. These positive facts got lost in the maelstrom of opinion “news” that described
Biden’s economy as “terrible” and “a disaster.” So, it’s no surprise that the age-old political strategy of “throw the bums out” worked better than an explanation of how the economy works.
It’s true that neo-liberal policies that sent jobs overseas since the 1980s hollowed out much of the middle class. But this started long before Trump and Harris faced off and both parties share the blame. Biden’s CHIPS, Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law actually injected funds into infrastructure projects and regional economies to start addressing this problem. But again, the party in power is caught holding the bag and without a chair when the music stops. To some degree this also happened to Trump in 2020 with COVID, although his mismanagement of the pandemic also contributed to his loss.
There is a global move to the right which has also influenced our country’s electorate. So, the pendulum swings, but it was far from a MAGA “realignment” or a “Trump mandate” since he will have paper thin majorities in Congress. Now that the dust has settled on the vote count, it turns out Trump won by just 1.6% over Harris in popular votes (really the best indicator) while Biden beat Trump by 4.5% in 2020 (unless you believe the opinion fueled fiction that the election was stolen). Clearly, Biden didn’t have a mandate, either.
Editor Scott McLeod
Mencken’s vision
When I asked a friend in the north of England what people there think of our recent election, he did not hold back.
“The chief reaction here generally is one of utter incredulity,” he wrote. “There’s a sense of bewilderment at the number of people, apart from his most rabid supporters, who could actually vote for the creature, allied to a sense of wonder at a political and legal system which could allow it to happen.”
That seems to be a familiar reaction within the United State as well — that is, among those who trusted too much that the people would not re-elect someone with as garish a personal and political history as Donald Trump.
Some have reposted on social media how the Baltimore Sun’s famously caustic columnist, H. L. Mencken, seemed to have predicted it 104 years ago, in a column savaging both major party presidential nominees in the 1920 election
“On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron,” he wrote.
Does that apply to the present?
Trump is, it’s true, spectacularly and willfully ignorant of essential history, and it would be flattery to call his unscripted speeches banal, but he is too shrewd and cunning to be a moron.
Trump’s particular genius in “the little arts of popularity,” as Alexander Hamilton described demagoguery 237 years ago, is the answer to those asking how he won.
He played to the voters’ distress over legitimate grievances, such as food prices that haven’t come down as inflation eased, and the flagrant disregard at the border for our immigration laws. He also skillfully applied the lesson of American history that bigotry has often been the stock and trade of a certain class of populists like George Wallace.
For Trump, transphobia has served the same purpose. His ads declaring that “Kamala is for they-them, President Trump is for you” were devastating.
Conspiracy theories, nativism and antiscience are hardly new American phenomena. The first American third party, the AntiMasonic Party, actually nominated a presidential candidate who carried one state, Vermont, in 1832. An anti-immigrant, antiCatholic movement called the Know Nothings elected 43 members of the 1855 Congress before self-destructing over slavery. Turning inward after World War I, Congress passed blatantly bigoted immigra-
tion quotas.
Recognizing this vulnerability in the American nature, Trump won re-election simply by persuading the voters that he cared more about them than Kamala Harris did. That is the long and short of it. There are legitimate, serious grievances. Food prices have been profiteered, but Trump’s tariffs will make them worse and add thousands of dollars to the prices of popular cars partly manufactured in China or Mexico.
“Elites” do have too much power, but the ones who abuse it are the billionaires who now control more wealth than half the population and assume they own the presidentelect. Hollowed-out factories are real, not imaginary, and the gig economy has nothing to offer the workers left behind. We over-emphasize college; as David Brooks writes in The Atlantic, “Schools should prepare people to build things, not just to think things.”
Four years ago, during Trump’s first term, Condoleezza Rice, the former Republican secretary of state, expressed a warning: “We forgot,” she said, “that while globalization had tremendous macro benefits, it left a lot of people behind. They are desperate and feel disrespected. It’s not surprising, then, that a populist can come along and say, ‘Those people never had your interest at heart,’ and they believe it.”
Punitive tariffs won’t fix that. They’ll reignite inflation instead and could easily collapse the economy, much like the SmootHawley tariff of 1930 made the Great Depression significantly worse.
Puffed up by his imaginary “landslide,” Trump recognizes no guardrails. The people must look to the Congress, especially the Senate, to provide one.
When I wrote Thom Tillis to urge him to judge Trump’s nominees warily — this was before other Republicans forced the ghastly Matt Gaetz to bow out — the senator’s answer was less than reassuring.
North Carolina’s senior senator is afraid of being primaried from further right in 2026. He replied that the voters had sent “a clear message” and that he looks forward to “confirming his nominees as quickly as possible.”
Electing Trump to make everything right is like beginning a home repair with a wrecking ball.
But here it comes.
In 1986 Ronald Reagan beat Democrat Walter Mondale by 18.2%. Now that was a mandate! And there were over 4.5 million less votes cast this year than in 2020. A closer look at the numbers reveals that while Trump got more votes than in 2020, Harris lost far more Biden votes. Maybe these voters stayed home because they were frustrated trying to sort out fact from fiction and didn’t know what to believe.
Glenn Duerr Waynesville
Guest Columnist
Martin Dyckman
Heart is the hero
A conversation with Oliver Wood
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Since its formation in 2004, The Wood Brothers have become one of the premier, marquee acts in the vast sonic realms of Americana and indie-folk in this ongoing whirlwind that is the topsy-turvy 21st century musical landscape.
Initially, the outfit was a duo consisting of siblings Oliver Wood (guitar) and Chris Wood (bass), their vocal harmonies this seamless blend of ancient tones only revealed within family blood and soul — the message within being that of honesty and authenticity, all through this keen lens of constant creative discovery and improvisational prowess.
Not far down the line of The Wood Brothers continued trajectory, multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix came into the fold around 2011. Since that juncture, the trio has conjured, created and cultivated a totally unique sound and swagger of their own.
At its core, The Wood Brothers are a kaleidoscope of musicality, one where roots-rock, Delta blues, folk and jazz elements collide and soar across the live stage, ultimately radiating out onto the audience this genuine message of purpose and compassion.
Smoky Mountain News: What does the current landscape look like for y’all? What are you seeing, where does it stand?
Oliver Wood: Well, in some ways, it’s business as usual. It’s the evolution of our music juxtaposed with the evolution of the world around us. Chris and I started as a duo, and we were traveling in a minivan. And now we
have a trio with Jano Rix, who is like two musicians in one.
So, our band has sonically grown quite a bit over the years. And I think we’ve established a sound of our own that I’m real proud of. We’ve evolved in such a way that has been sustainable and feels natural and organic. It sounds kind of cheesy to say [this], but we’re enjoying a slow rise to the middle, as opposed to a meteoric rise of any kind, [one] that could be fleeting of any kind.
Over the last 20 years, we’ve just gotten a little bigger. And I feel like, in doing that, we’ve been able to really stay true to our music. We’ve never tried to make music for other people or entities or corporations or anything like that. We’ve always kind of followed our hearts when it comes to the music and tried to keep it sounding like Wood Brothers music — no matter what the situation.
SMN: With bands that start out organically, sometimes there’s no intentions, no expectations. When you and Chris decided to start this project 20 years ago, was there any intent?
OW: Honestly, in the early days, I think, if nothing else, our subconscious intention was for my brother and I to bond. We grew up in Colorado and we both went different directions. He went to Boston, then New York. I went to Atlanta and we started working. We were in completely different circles and we really drifted apart musically. We lost connection, just brotherly connection.
We just got super wrapped up. And it was awesome, because those were times that we
both got to grow and figure out who we were without any family baggage. So, we always think of that as actually a really healthy thing that we kind of established, “All right, this is who I am. This is what I do. This is what kind of music I am. This is what kind of person I am.”
And then we got together. I was almost 40 [years old] when we started The Wood Brothers. [With] the way we came together, we weren’t feeling competitive. We didn’t feel like we had this baggage.
SMN: It must’ve been a mutual respect, too.
OW: There was a mutual respect. We were doing different and great things, but we both have the same roots and appreciated the same stuff. It was fun for us to get together and say, “Hey, let’s hang out and make sounds and see what we come up with.”
We got really excited about just bringing together our styles, our experiences and our new influences. Seeing what happens. And, in the meantime, it allowed us to grow close as brothers.
And it’s been really great to sort of, with intention, try to stay creative. It’s cool to listen back to what we did before and say, “Screw that. We already did that.” We want to do something we haven’t done yet. Let’s get weird.
SMN: It’s like that Guy Clark quote, “Do you want to be an artist or do you want to be a star?
OW: Yeah, because you have to play these songs for your whole career. And there’s going to be people who only want to hear those
songs. And you better be in a frame of mind where you can still sing those and mean it.
Want to go?
Acclaimed Americana/indie-folk act The Wood Brothers will hit the stage Dec. 6-7 at The Orange Peel in Asheville. Both performances begin at 8 p.m. with Jobi Riccio opening the two-night run. Doors at 7 p.m. The show is for ages 18 and over. Tickets are $36 in advance, $41 day of show. There’s also a special two-day pass for $65 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to theorangepeel.net.
SMN: What does it mean for you, 20 years down the line, that the band is not only still here, but it’s still growing — something that people really care about?
OW: I feel a lot of pride. Like all of us, I get pretty burnt out on the lifestyle and leaving our families at home — that part can really wear on you. And I think the redemption side of it is, “Hey, look what we’ve built and it’s a legacy.” It will last forever, this music. The satisfaction comes from, “Hey, this makes people happy and this can heal people.” And people come up and say, “Thank you for sacrificing your time. This is really important to us. This has got me through a tough time.” Or, “I lost my parent.” Or, “I had a terrible breakup.” Or, “I’m fighting cancer and this is getting me through.” Then, you realize this is as important as any job — whatever we sacrifice is worth it.
The Wood Brothers will play Asheville Dec. 6-7. Shervin Lainez photo
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
for the
‘And night comes so quiet, it’s close on the heels of the day’
HOT PICKS
1
The 41st annual “Lights & Luminaries” will return from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 13-14 in the streets of downtown Dillsboro.
2
Haywood Community College (Clyde) will host the “Home for the Holidays” concert with the Blue Ridge Orchestra at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the auditorium in the Hemlock Building.
Thanksgiving morning. The streets of downtown Waynesville are quiet save for a slight, crisp breeze whirling through from the mountain ridges cradling the community. Emerge from bed and peer out the window blinds onto the cloudy sky holiday unfolding in real time.
Lace up the running shoes and head out the front door. A three-mile jog meandering down to Frog Level, along Sulphur Springs Road and back to my humble abode. Three miles of much-needed exercise to justify the massive plate of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy to be consumed in the coming hours. Not to mention cold beer and football on TV. Trot steadily through neighborhoods and duck down side streets. Pass by old abandoned buildings and newly constructed lots. Aged brick and fresh timber side-by-side, for now at least. Soon enough something else will take over the space of the place and usher in the next chapter of whatever and whoever will inhabit the property. “Progress with a vision” as our town motto states.
Similar sentiments ricocheting throughout the hallways of my mind about people either thousands of miles away or six feet under. Beloved faces and moments shared. I haven’t forgotten them, nor the junctures and crossroads of our respective lives, either on purpose or by happenstance. Cherished bygone days, now dusty and somewhat fuzzy on the edges. Thanksgiving Day. What’s always so wild, to me at least, is that during the rest of the year, this day and the days thereafter onward to New Year’s seem so far away — so distant on the horizon — especially when you’re hiking a mountain on the first warm day of March, being happily lazy on a riverbank in mid-July or admiring the foliage in early October. Time doesn’t wait for anybody.
Then, when the holidays arrive, the festive season just seems to fly by like some freight train to destinations unknown, yourself simply standing there trying to grasp onto the fleeting moments and memories of friends and family. Take mental notes of what you saw, felt or smelled, what you overheard and who you interacted with. Never forget who was there and why they mean so damn much to you. These are the only intrinsic things worth holding onto.
When this day of days rolls around, I tend to also think of those dearly missed who are long gone from this earth. Grandparents and great aunts and uncles, the jovial elders who
held court at the head of the dinner table, usually the ones to say grace before the big Turkey Day feast.
I think of home, back up in the North Country. Those Thanksgivings of frigid Upstate New York temperatures and fresh snow. Football on the TV and hearty conversation perpetually echoing out from the kitchen, the smells of incredibly delicious dishes wafting into the living room, my mother saying “dinner will be ready soon.” I still crave her signature sausage stuffing.
As a kid, I had two duties on Thanksgiving. One was helping elderly relatives out of their cars and across the icy driveway of our farmhouse. The other was to take the heavy winter coats from each guest and place them neatly on my parents’ bed upstairs. Oh, the other thing was to also make sure to help my dad with firewood when need be, the large metal stove in the living room crackling all evening, my father sipping a glass of wine after a long day.
Thanksgiving throughout my college years and young adulthood hovered around the long trek back to the North Country from my school, some 300 miles from home in Hamden, Connecticut. Rocket towards the farmhouse via Interstate 91 North through Hartford, Connecticut, onto I-90 West in Western Massachusetts, hook into I-87 North in Albany, New York, onward to Clinton County and finally pulling into the farmhouse driveway. Home again.
Those holidays were raucous occasions with old cronies, many now not seen in years. But, back then, it was Thanksgiving Eve shenanigans in local dive bars in our hometown (Rouses Point). Belly up to the counter at age 21 and order a cold Labatt Blue beer. Get some quarters to play some pool or darts. Dollar bills to select The Tragically Hip on the jukebox. Catch up with those you left behind following high school graduation. Solidarity once again achieved.
Skip ahead to 2012. I was 27 years old and a fresh face to not only The Smoky Mountain News, but greater Western North Carolina, too. That first Thanksgiving here was spent alone. Chowing down on a foot-long ham sandwich from Subway, only to wash it down with a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboys. Look out the window onto a silent town, wondering if this latest life move was the right one. Finish the meal and think about tomorrow. Other Thanksgivings spent with one of
3
A full-length stage version of “The Nutcracker” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University.
4
Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host “A Kilted Christmas” w/Eireann’s Call (Celtic/ world) 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12.
5
The annual “Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale” will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Maggie Valley United Methodist Church.
closest friends and his family at their home in Knoxville, Tennessee. Watching the annual Detroit Lions holiday game on TV. Stuffed to the gills with a homemade meal much-needed by a scruffy writer like myself, one who’s constantly on the road and on assignment. Which reminds me, I need to call them and wish their family well this season.
Last Thanksgiving, my girlfriend, Sarah, and I found ourselves at her father’s cabin in the tiny unincorporated community of Grantham, North Carolina. The log cabin is surrounded by vast tobacco fields and pig farms, military planes zooming by overhead periodically from nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Less than a month later, her father would succumb to his battle with cancer, making that holiday together that much more special in our hearts.
With this being my 12th year living and working in Western North Carolina, similar encounters throughout the holiday season happily occur in my wanderings and ponderings throughout this region. This go-round, it was my sixth Thanksgiving with my best buddy’s family here in Haywood County, where all of us landed at the Lake Logan Retreat Center this year for a feast of food and fellowship.
Sitting in the lodge, eating and partaking in hearty conversation, I looked over at Sarah and smiled. Our second holiday season together. Another moment chiseled into my memory. Like most things in life, you just have to look and be aware of those moments. And I’m thankful for that.
The gratitude remains. Another Thanksgiving holiday where I find myself surrounded by genuine love and support from those who truly care for me and my well-being. And the feeling is mutual. So is the gratitude for traveling and the written word, by which I’ve been able to survive and thrive altogether.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Writer and teacher Nickole Brown is set to lead a writing workshop at City Lights aimed at helping people process the hurricane’s traumatic impact.
Thursday December12th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 5th Ginny McAfee Americana • 8pm to 10pm
Wednesday, December 11th ‘Peter Gray’s Many Faces’ Book Signing with Author & Private Investigator, Francois McKinnon Friday, December 6 th Smashing Mouths 3rd Annual Holiday Special Benefit for Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes 8pm to 11pm Smashing Mouths proudly presents the third annual Smashing Mouths Holiday Special at The Scotsman! Bring your friends and enjoy an evening of festive cheer, refreshing libations, and some of the best music from the 90s and 2000s. We will be raising money for Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes, a local nonprofit endeavor to provide gifts to youths and families in need right here in Western North Carolina.
Gratitude
backcountry of Montana. Garret K. Woodward photo
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host an “Open Jam” 6 p.m. every Tuesday and the “Christmas Jazz & Country” concert featuring Glenn Basham, Michael Collings & Friends 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets are $20 per person. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Paul Koptak (singer-songwriter) Dec. 7. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Jesse Velvet (rock/soul) Dec. 7 and DJ Kountry (pop/hip-hop) Dec. 14. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.
• Calvary Road Baptist Church (Maggie Valley) will host the “Sounds of the Season” concert with the Haywood Community Band 4 p.m. Dec, 14. Free and open to the public. Donations accepted to provide scholarships to student musicians attending college and band camps. haywoodcommunityband.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Lydia Hamby 5 p.m. Dec. 13. For tickets and reservations, go to cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/livemusic.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” on select dates. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host its annual “CareNet Benefit Concert” 3 p.m. Dec. 8. Free and open to the public. Donations welcome. 828.524.3119.
• First United Methodist Church (Franklin) will host the “Caroling Bells” concert featuring Brasstown Ringers 5 p.m. Dec. 8. Free and open to the public. Donations welcome. franklin-chamber.com/events.
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Rock Holler Dec. 7, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Dec. 13 and Charles Walker Dec. 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 Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience (classic rock) 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and Colter Wall (Americana/country) 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14. For tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Haywood Community College (Clyde) will host the “Home for the Holidays” concert with the Blue Ridge Orchestra at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the auditorium in the Hemlock Building. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students. For tickets, go to givebutter.com/3kndnb.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” on Thursday evenings, “Sunday Bluegrass Residency” from 10 a.m.
Ready for ‘A Kilted Christmas’?
Featuring Celtic/world musical ensemble Eireann’s Call, the “A Kilted Christmas” concert will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center.
The show features the band’s unique and powerful take on Christmas throughout the Celtic world. Songs range from driving rock to the sacred and from rollicking dance tunes to the hilarious. The family friendly event features dancers and a dramatic/humorous narrative to create a memorable event.
Call
Boojum welcomes Jesse Velvet
Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is pay what you can, starting at $15 per person. Donations welcome.
Dina’s Taco Truck will also be onsite during the event.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org or call 828.452.2997.
Asheville rock-n-soul outfit Jesse Velvet will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.
Known for its “gritty funk, feel good rock and southern soul,” the band is a mashup of numerous genres with a thick thread of real deal rock-n-roll music running through its dynamic, melodic core.
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.0350 or go to boojumbrewing.com.
Jason Bonham returns to Harrah’s
Rock icon Jason Bonham will bring his “Led Zeppelin Experience” once again to the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
Son of the late John Bonham, Jason conjures the legend and lore of his father’s cherished work behind the drums for Led Zeppelin. The performances are magnetic, electrifying and thunderous — the true essence of rock-n-roll music.
Tickets start at $49.50 per person. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
to 1:30 p.m. and the “Salon Series” w/The Secret Sisters (Americana) 8:30 p.m. Dec. 19 ($50 per person). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Fancy & The Gentlemen (Americana/blues) Dec. 7 and Woolybooger (folk/blues) Dec. 14. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Fancy & The Gentlemen (Americana/blues) Dec. 6 and Woolybooger (folk/blues) Dec. 13. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Lara Herscovitch 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 6 p.m. Dec. 6. 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 “A Little Piece Of The Holidays” w/Karla Harris & The Tyrone Jackson Quintet 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Smashing Mouths (rock/alternative) Dec. 6 and “Yachty Or Nice Holiday Event” w/DJ Captain Kipper 7 p.m. Dec. 14. 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 Seth & Sara (Americana) 6 p.m. Dec. 13. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host the “Three Times A Lady” Christmas concert 7 p.m. Dec. 6 (tickets are $15 per person) and “Christmas With Mark Lowry & Friends” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 (tickets start at $28 per person with seating upgrades available). 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month and a Christmas cantata “A Carol To The King” featuring the local community choir 6 p.m. Dec. 8. Both events are free and open to the public. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Karaoke Night w/Lori Dec. 5 (free), Tricia Ann Band Dec. 6, Blackwater Station Dec. 7, Jon Cox & Ginny McAfee (Americana/country) Dec. 12 (free), Johnnie Blackwell Band Dec. 13 and Jon Cox Band (country/rock) Dec. 14. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
Jesse Velvet. File photo
Jason Bonham will play Harrah’s Cherokee Dec. 13. File photo
Eireann’s
will play Waynesville Dec. 12. File photo
On the street
Dillsboro’s ‘Lights & Luminaries’
The 41st annual “Lights & Luminaries” will return from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 13-14 in the streets of downtown Dillsboro.
Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song. Over 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios. Each night, shops will stay open way into the night providing free refreshments, musicians and singers performing in individual shops. The sound of hooves will echo through the night with old-fashioned horse and buggy rides.
Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a
‘Lights & Luminaries’ returns to Dillsboro Dec. 6.
With retail shops offering a variety of quality arts and crafts, unique gifts, clothing, gourmet foods/wines and specialty Christmas items, the festival provides a unique holiday shopping experience.
• “Polar Express” train ride will roll down the tracks on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, 800.872.4681 or gsmr.com.
• “Christmas Wonderland” hayrides will be held through mid-December at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. Limited seating available. For a full schedule and/or to purchase tickets, go to darnellfarms.com.
• “Christmas Light Show Drive-Thru” is running everyday through the holidays at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park in Bryson City, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. greatsmokies.com/events.
ALSO:
• “Ice Skating at The Yard” will be 4-8 p.m. Fridays and 1-8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at The Yard on Depot Street in Bryson City. For more information, go to facebook.com/theyardbc.
• Bryson City Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in downtown. This year’s theme is “The Wonder of Christmas.” Free and open to the public. greatsmokies.com/christmas.
• “Enchanted Island Of Lights” will be shown 5-10 p.m. each day through Jan. 3 at the Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee. visitcherokeenc.com/events.
• “Ice Skating & Food Trucks” will be offered Dec. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 at the Cherokee Islands. visitcherokeenc.com/events.
• Cherokee Christmas Parade will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Cherokee Visitor Center. Free and open to the public.
letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music will also be held on Front Street.
Free and open to the public. For more information, go to dillsboronc.info.
visitcherokeenc.com/events
• “Winter Wonderland Nights” will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, in downtown Franklin. The event will feature living window displays of the holidays, live sounds of the season outdoors at the gazebo and inside stores, free holiday attractions (weather permitting), refreshments, hot cider, great sales from local merchants and more. franklinchamber.com/events/winter-wonderland.
• “Cowee Christmas” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. The event will include a snowball fight, lunch, holiday cheer, kids activities and a visit from Santa. Free and open to the public. coweeschool.org/events.
• “Christmas At The Cove” will be held from 36 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Cove in Franklin. Pictures with Santa, hot cocoa, mulled cider, s’mores, fire pit and holiday crafts. Free and open to the public. franklinchamber.com/events.
• Olde Mountain Christmas Parade will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7, on Main Street in Highlands. highlandschamber.org.
• “Santa In The Park” will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7, 14 and 21 at KelseyHutchinson Founders Park in downtown Highlands. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center (Robbinsville) will host a bevy of holiday events, including “Have Breakfast With Santa” (including cookie decoration and ornament craft) from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 ($8 per person, bring your own camera). For more information, 828.479.3364 or stecoahvalleycenter.com.
SNOW
JCTDA photo
‘Cold Mountain Christmas Craft Fair’
The inaugural “Cold Mountain Christmas Craft Fair” will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Lake Logan Retreat Center in Canton.
Holiday shopping, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating and more. Live music by The Moon & You (3-5 p.m.). Guests will experience a charming holiday event in a pristine gem of Haywood County. Mile-long Lake Logan is surrounded by the Shining Rock Wilderness and Pisgah National Forest, making this a premier destina-
tion for Southern Appalachian hospitality, adventure and down-home family fun.
Folks can enjoy a glass of warm cider by the fire or embark on a winter hiking adventure using one of the on-campus trails. Lakeside cabin rentals are available for families and friends who would like to make it a weekend getaway (email info@lakelogan.org).
For more information, go to lakelogan.org/event/cold-mountainchristmas-craft-fair.
Maggie Valley ‘Holiday Boutique’
The annual “Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale” will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Maggie Valley United Methodist Church. Find new and gently used clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, decor, Christmas items and unique gifts. Last year, the event raised $9,000 to fund two long-standing food ministries: Shepherd’s Table and the Food Pantry. Each Monday, Shepherd’s Table volunteers cook and deliver nutritious meals to 135 people in our community. The Food Pantry (open 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays) provides much needed groceries to the food insecure.
This year, the need is even greater because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 828.926.8036.
Haywood Arts to offer Helene support grants
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville has announced the launch of the HCAC Helene Support Grant.
Designed to provide financial assistance to HCAC artist members who have been significantly impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the application process is currently underway. Funding will range from $300 to $1,500.
The Helene Support Grant is intended for individual artists, providing critical relief as they recover from the storm’s impact on their lives and livelihoods. Eligible artists must be active members of the HCAC as of September 2024 and must be working in one of the following artistic fields: craft, literary, media, performing, visual or interdisciplinary arts.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Applicants must be an HCAC artist member as of September 2024 and be 18 years of age.
• Available to artists and creatives who have experienced loss due to Hurricane Helene, including loss of a studio, home, supplies or income.
• Applicants must have been affected by Hurricane Helene.
• “Cookie Walk & Christmas Bazaar” starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Bryson City United Methodist Church on Main Street. greatsmokies.com/christmas.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular tap-takeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. 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.
• This grant is intended for individual artists; nonprofits are not eligible for this opportunity.
The HCAC is committed to supporting local artists who contribute so much to the cultural fabric of our mountain community. With these funds, artists can begin to recover and rebuild after the storm’s devastation.
For more details about the Helene Support Grant and to submit an application, please visit haywoodarts.org/grants-funding or contact the HCAC at director@haywoodarts.org.
WCU student art showcase
The “Bachelor of Fine Art Portfolio Exhibition” will be displayed through Dec. 6 at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee.
Featuring the works of WCU’s graduating seniors from the School of Art & Design, this exhibition highlights their comprehensive course of study at WCU’s School of Art & Design and serves as a preface to their forthcoming careers as professional artists.
The art portfolios — which include paintings, photography, ceramics, installa-
tion art and other mediums — explore a wide range of topics including isolation, community, the intersection of faith/life and the destruction of Hurricane Helene and Maria.
For more information, go to wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center.
On the street
‘Christmas at Lake Junaluska’
• “Kris Kringle Holiday Market” will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton. Over 50 vendors will be in attendance. Photos also available with Santa Claus. Free and open to the public. milltownfarmersmarket.com/kringlemarket.
• “Holiday Market” will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Bascom Center for Visual Arts in Highlands. Free and open to the public. thebascom.org.
• “Christmas in the Mountains” art/craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville. The Stecoah Artisan Gallery will also offer its handcrafted Christmas gift options onsite from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Saturday, Dec. 21 (a special gallery open house will be Tuesday, Dec. 17). For more information, 828.479.3364 or stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• “Yuletide Market” will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Bridge Park in Sylva. Crafts, caroling, food, s’mores and more. Free and open to the public. discoverjacksonnc.com.
• “A Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration” will be held from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in downtown Waynesville. Hundreds of Luminaries, live music, clogging, church choirs, Santa & Mrs. Claus, storytelling, holiday treats/beverages and more. For a full list of participants and events, go to downtownwaynesville.com.
• “Holiday Night Market” will be held 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Axe & Awl Leatherworks on Depot Street in downtown Waynesville. Free and open to the public. axeandawlleatherworks.com.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. dawn@cre828.com / 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. galleryzella.com / 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes / 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. coweeschool.org/events.
A beloved annual tradition, the “Christmas at Lake Junaluska” celebration will be held Dec. 13-15 at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Enjoy carriage and trolley rides, Christmas lights, a hot chocolate bar, marshmallow roasts, music, a special service and more.
• “Holly Jolly Trolley Tour” from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at the York Dining Commons. Join Jolly Elf as you tour the lake in the Holly Jolly Trolley. Enjoy festive Christmas lights, an onboard scavenger hunt, music, hot cocoa, cider, a marshmallow roast and more.
• “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Memorial
Chapel. Feel the spirit of Advent and Christmas this holiday season during Festival of Lessons and Carols, a one-hour traditional English service featuring Scripture readings and corresponding music.
• “Carriage Rides” from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Harrell Center. Enjoy a scenic ride on a horse-drawn carriage that offers mountain views and the lakeside Rose Walk decorated for the holidays, a marshmallow roast, hot chocolate bar and more.
For more information and a full schedule of activities, visit lakejunaluska.com/events-calendar/christmas-lake-junaluska.
‘Christmas at Lake Junaluska’ will be Dec. 13-15. File photo
On the stage ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
A special stage production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Musical Extravaganza” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 13, 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 and 5 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
The show brings the beloved “Charlie Brown Christmas Special” to life in this short 90minute production. The show follows Charlie Brown as he searches for the true meaning of Christmas among the growing commercialism of the holiday.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to harttheatre.org or call the box office at 828.456.6322.
On the wall
HCAC ‘Small Works’ exhibit
The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.
The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. Other than specially curated exhibits, which occur a couple times annually, this exhibit is the only one that allows any artist within the western mountain region to participate for a small fee.
With dozens of artists participating, the exhibit promises to be eclectic. Although the only requirement is that the pieces be 12 inches in any dimension or smaller, HCAC challenged participants who are making holiday themed works to consider artistic expressions that are multicultural in nature and celebrate the many different holidays — ways of celebrating and ways of experiencing holidays.
For more information, visit haywoodarts.org.
• “Christmas at Pemberley” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, 12, 14 and 2 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to harttheatre.org or call the box office at 828.456.6322.
• “Once Upon A Christmas Star” stage production will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company and friends, the story will be told through traditional/sacred songs, dance and more.
Tickets are $15 per person in advance. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or call 866.273.4615.
• “Home For The Holidays” stage production will run Dec. 6-22 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands. Presented by the Mountain Theatre Company. For a full schedule and/or to purchase tickets, go to mountaintheatre.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
WCU presents ‘The Nutcracker’
Featuring professional classical dances and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company, a magically festive, full-length stage version of “The Nutcracker” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University.
Ballet Conservatory of Asheville (BCA) trains dancers to achieve their full potential by combining weekly technique classes, frequent master classes, and multiple performance opportunities.
Having crept downstairs at midnight on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker doll, a young girl is swept up in
fantasies of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic, and mystery. After saving her beloved Nutcracker from the King of Rats, she is whisked away to an enchanted land and dances the night away, meeting a host of enchanting and exotic characters.
Tickets are $5 for WCU Students, $20 for WCU Faculty/Staff, $25 for adults, $15 for Students/Children (Non-WCU) and $20 for Senior Citizens.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets to “The Nutcracker,” go to arts.wcu.edu/tickets. The BAC Box Office is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and one-hour before performances.
To see BAC’s full calendar of events throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, please visit arts.wcu.edu/explore or call 828.227.ARTS.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ will be at HART on select dates. Donated photo
‘The Nutcracker’ will be at WNC Dec. 6-7. File photo
Here’s to inspiration?
“What are you reading after the election?” a friend asked me last week. She asked me because she had picked a book specifically for the occasion. She was reading “Democracy in America.”
“De Tocqueville?”
“Yes,” she said. “When I had to read it for school it was boring. It’s not boring now.”
review it, so I headed to the library. There, on the New Arrivals bookshelf, was the one — “Mr. Churchill in the White House” (Norton, 2024, 301 pp) by Robert Schmuhl. It tells the story of Winston Churchill’s visits to the White House, during the presidencies of Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.
attempt another conversation. He asked immediately for the creation of a map room, and that became a daily stop for both men, who quickly called each other Franklin and Winston.
I told my friend that I was reading, oddly enough, with no conscious connection to the division in our country, a book on forgiveness. Author Fred Luskin points out on page one that forgiveness is peace, is about becoming empowered, and that everyone can learn to forgive. “Like learning to throw a baseball,” he says.
He then goes on to say what forgiveness is not. It is not about excusing unkindness or forgetting that you were hurt, or necessarily becoming friends with the other person. It is about ending the obsessive thinking. I may review that book someday. But what would I read next, in light of my friend’s question?
I headed to Blue Ridge Books, my local bookstore, in Hazelwood, one of the areas of Haywood County flooded by Helene. Here’s how you deal with mud that the floodwaters bring into your store, I found out from owners Jo and Allison. You scrape it up with dustpans. Then you mop and mop and mop.
What caught my eye in the bookstore was “Elizabeth David’s Christmas,” a surprise because I am a little bit of a Bah Humbug about Christmas. There’s so much of it! But David’s book, with its soft pale green cover sitting apart from the other bright seasonal books, spoke of comfort and joy to me. Elizabeth David is considered England’s predecessor to Julia Child. She also knows that holiday cooking can be a bit much. I bought it, but I didn’t want to
England had been at war with Hitler for two years when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The next morning, British Prime Minister Churchill decided he wanted to meet with Roosevelt. “Delighted to have you here at White House,” cabled Roosevelt in response, though he worried about the significant danger of an Atlantic crossing because of German U-boats. Churchill did not hesitate. He knew that U.S. entry into the war would make the crucial difference, would probably save Europe, and that faceto-face discussion was the best way to advance his ideas on how to conduct the war. His proposed stay of “about a week” became three weeks. Churchill came prepared with a detailed memorandum he’d written on the voyage over. The two leaders held a joint press conference almost immediately to emphasize their common cause, both men understanding that projecting a public picture of friendship was vital to morale and support for the war, and then got right to work with meetings. Informal talks often ran to 2 a.m. Churchill’s high energy and intelligence were both exhilarating and exhausting, and Roosevelt took several days to recover after this and subsequent visits.
The White House guest had a talent for making himself at home. To choose a room, he tested out every guest bed on the second floor living quarters, picking the Rose Room. He often worked propped up in bed, as did Roosevelt, and could be seen walking the halls late at night to check on a new cable or
Blue Ridge Books poetry reading
collection of narrative poems in the voice of Susan McFalls, written from her new home in the
companion to Caldwell’s debut poetry collection, “Woodsmoke.”
Christmas coincided with Churchill’s visit, and his first public appearance was the lighting of the White House Christmas tree. After a typically inspiring speech about “the commanding sentiment of comradeship” and the reality of the “deadly struggle,” Churchill returned to the occasion. “Let the children have their night of fun and laughter,” he said, and we adults can share in that “before we turn again to the stern task and the formidable years that lie before us.”
The American public and the press largely adored Churchill. That feeling only grew stronger with each White House visit during the war, reaching its peak in 1943, the second year of the war for the United States, when military preparation was beginning to pay dividends, and victory, though not imminent, seemed probable. Though the friendship between the two leaders could be strained, sometimes the bond was uncommonly deep. After a conference in Casablanca, Churchill said he could not watch Roosevelt’s plane take off. “If anything happened to that man, I couldn’t stand it. He is the truest friend; he has the farthest vision; he is the greatest man I’ve ever known.”
American General Dwight Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, Churchill was again prime minister, and another White House visit was in order. The world had changed. Churchill, always a military man, knew that the destructive capability of the new hydrogen bomb demanded the greatest efforts to keep the peace. And he knew that there was something to be gained from staying in the White House. Both men, in working so closely together, increased their respect for the other. Eisenhower wrote to a friend about Churchill, “I think I would say that he comes nearest to fulfilling the requirements of greatness in any individual that I have met in my lifetime.”
Encouragement is no minor gift. Eisenhower later wrote that Churchill “captured the imagination of all Americans. His indomitable courage and his indestructible belief in the society of free nations and in the dignity of free men became a symbol of our way of life. From him, America and all free lands gained added inspiration and determination to work for the maintenance of a just and enduring peace.”
Here’s to inspiration.
(Anne Bevilacqua is a book lover who lives in Haywood County. abev1@yahoo.com.)
The reading is free and open to the public. For information and/or to reserve a copy of “River Road,” call 828.456.6000 or visit blueridgebooksnc.com.
Writer
Ann Bevilacqua
Hitting the slopes
WNC skier
shares love of sport with family, community
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD A&E EDITOR
On the weekdays, Alex Masciarelli proudly works as principal of Junaluska Elementary School in Waynesville. But, on the weekends during this time of year, he’s also a member of the Ski Patrol at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley.
“With absolute confidence, I can say that being a member of Ski Patrol has supported growth in leadership skills that applies to my daytime profession,” Masciarelli said. “I’ve taken so much sage wisdom and leadership training back to my day job as a principal.”
Born and raised just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, in the suburban community of Canton, Masciarelli was just four years old when he first clicked into a pair of skies and hit the snowy slopes. It was alongside his family at storied Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.
“My memories of those days are vivid,” Masciarelli said. “The crunch of the snow under my boots. The anticipation of putting my skis on. The sound of skis gliding over the snow and the ever-present accompaniment of the squeak of the chairlift wheels turning. Those sounds have been a constant in my life for over 45 years.”
Now 51, Masciarelli’s lifelong love for skiing has not only taken him on numerous adventures across America (New
England and Montana) and abroad (Spain), it’s also become something he could share and pass on to his wife and three daughters.
“A day when the whole family is together on the mountain is so special, riding the lifts [where] we catch up on many meaningful things,” Masciarelli said. “It’s fun to see our daughters skiing with the same childlike enthusiasm that I also feel — skiing is the one thing that we all still share.”
Though Masciarelli has been skiing for decades, it wasn’t until about 14 years ago when he was asked if he was interested at all in being on Ski Patrol at Cataloochee. Curious as to the prospect of doing so, Masciarelli signed up for a “Ski with a Patroller” weekend and was immediately hooked on the notion of joining the team.
“The mere possibility [of Ski Patrol] took my love of skiing to the next level,” Masciarelli said. “Marrying my desire to help others with something I have loved most of my life.”
In February 2013, Masciarelli became an official Alpine Patroller and received the trademark red jacket. He passed numerous tests, including the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) medical course and on-hill
Alex Masciarelli is a member of the Ski Patrol at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. Donated photo
Want to go?
Located in Maggie Valley, Cataloochee Ski Area is currently open for the season, which will last roughly through late March. The mountain offers an array of skiing options and other winter activities throughout each week.
For more information and/or to purchase ski passes, click on cataloochee.com, call 828.926.0285 or email info@cataloochee.com.
training. Three years ago, Masciarelli was named as a Team Leader on one of three rotating weekend groups.
“We address everything from improving efficiency of procedures to recruiting and training the next generation of patrollers,” Masciarelli said. “I’m now patrolling alongside adult children of former patrollers, who I watched grow up at Cataloochee with my own daughters. That’s pretty darn cool.”
And each year, as winter slowly creeps in, the temperature drops and the snowflakes begin to cascade down upon the mountains of Western North Carolina, the excitement of another season at Cataloochee Ski Area grows within Masciarelli’s heart and soul.
“Being on the mountain is a multisensory experience,” Masciarelli said. “It’s everything I love. Smell of frosty air and the cold woods. Sounds of the snow, wind over the ridgetops, creak of the trees. Views of faraway mountains. As fall leans towards cold, I look forward to experiencing Cataloochee in these ways — no two seasons are ever the same.”
Ski tips
• Scout the trail map beforehand and take a picture of it on your phone to refer to when you’re on the mountain accordingly.
• Wear the appropriate gear and make sure you’re comfortable in your attire, which includes preparing for all weather possibilities, where temperatures can fluctuate at a moment’s notice.
• Take your time as you hone your skillset and don’t be shy to book a lesson to enhance your abilities.
• Make sure your friends and family are aware of your plans for the day when it comes to your ski routes and time on the mountain.
• If you’re unsure of something on the mountain, as to where to go and what trails are best for your ability, be sure to ask Ski Patrol and Mountain Hosts questions to better enhance your experience.
NCDEQ provides funding to reduce flood risks
North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint is providing funding to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Division of Soil and Water Conservation Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) to implement stream debris and sediment removal projects. DEQ is allocating over $4.7 million to 32 StRAP projects that will help communities across North Carolina prevent flooding during large storm events.
“After seeing the devastation of torrential storms like Helene, there is no doubt that flood resiliency must be a top priority for North Carolina,” said DEQ Secretary Mary Penny Kelley. “I am proud of DEQ’s partnership with the Department of Agriculture that allows us to quickly grant millions of dollars to communities improving their streams and waterways.”
“With the original allocation, we were able to award grants for 245 projects by 88 local governments, Soil and Water Conservation districts and nonprofits for stream debris and sediment removal,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler. “The partnership with DEQ provided a huge boost to fund another 32 projects in 23 more communities.”
In 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly directed the DEQ Division of Mitigation Services to develop a statewide Flood Resiliency Blueprint. The Blueprint is intended to serve as the backbone of North Carolina’s flood resiliency planning and be based on the best available science, stakeholder engagement, and sound decision-making and result in actionable projects.
The goal is to make North Carolina more resilient to flooding disasters, by limiting the extent and severity of flooding and by building systems that allow communities to recover more quickly and limit future risk. The Blueprint team is developing a decision support tool to help local governments, agencies, and non-governmental partners develop, evaluate, and prioritize resilience actions as well as plan and marshal funding to implement those priorities.
WATR hosts celebration and fundraiser party
Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River (WATR) is holding a celebration and fundraising event.
The event, which a release noted will celebrate WATR’s “past, present and future,” will be held from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Innovation Station in Dillsboro.
The event includes a WATR presentation “Looking Back & Moving Forward,” a silent auction, catered dinner, trout cookie decorating and live music by PMA Positive Mental Attitude.
Tickets are $40 for adults, 5$ for kids. Please buy tickets online in advance to help volunteers plan accurate numbers for the catered dinner, at protectourwaters-wnc.org.
WATR supports the entire watershed of Swain and Jackson counties.
A lifelong skier, Masciarelli (left) first learned how to ski on Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine (pictured). (Donated photo)
Cataloochee Ski Area photo
The Print Haus, Inc.
509 Asheville Hwy., Suite B, SYLVA, NC
(Located in the NAPA Auto Parts Center)
828-586-HAUS(4287)
The Print Haus, Inc.
641 North Main Street, WAYNESVILLE, NC
(3/10 Mile North of the Courthouse)
828-456-HAUS(4287)
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM BIGELOW
Bogged down in winter
I’ve been getting bogged down a lot this year. I don’t mean that I’ve been in a quagmire or morass necessarily, but I’ve been slogging through some incredibly beautiful wetland ecosystems in the mountains and throughout the southeastern US.
I’ve been bog stomping.
ent kinds of sedges (Juncus spp. and Scirpus spp.) and grasses (Poaceae). Wildflowers like goldenrods (Solidago spp.) and turtleheads (Chelone spp.) abound in these wetlands, including special orchids like the yellowfringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) and grass pinks (Calapogon tuberosus).
& YFRIDA YSDA
Among the many varied ecosystem types one can find in the mountains are the Southern Appalachian Mountain Bog ecotype. Mountain bogs are among the rarest habitat types in North America.
Characterized by wet, acidic soil that is often waterlogged and filled with Sphagnum moss, trudging through a mountain bog is a great way to see some rare and special plants and other wildlife.
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And it’s a great way to lose a poorly tied shoe or loose sandal. There is a special sound the wet ground makes when you step onto what you assumed was solid, only for your foot to sink into the mire with a “squish” and a “squoosh.”
That is a highly recognized sound for those who study wetlands. I once stepped without care into a spot at the “Vertical Bog” on the Blue Ridge Parkway and could see my footprint for years after.
The real trap that lures me into these boggy lands are the carnivorous — or more correctly insectivorous — plants that can be found growing in a bog. Sundews (Drosera spp.) tend to be overlooked as they are small and growing flat along the ground. Two rare species of pitcher plants live in mountain bogs, the Southern Appalachian purple pitcherplant (Sarracenia purpurea var. montana) and the mountain sweet pitcherplant (Sarracenia jonesii). And if you look carefully, you can find one of the insectivorous bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) that live in the mountain bog.
Carnivorous plants have evolved to live in the bogs as an adaptation to get nitrogen and other nutrients by consuming insects that are not available to the plants in these waterlogged, acidic soils.
These are only the answers.
Bogs are filled with life of all kinds. These ecotones, or transition zones, between wooded areas and open lands are great places for birds, insects, snakes, salamanders and other reptiles to flourish. Mountain bogs are the home of the critically imperiled bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), one of the smallest species of turtle in the world.
Mountain bogs are also home to some really cool plants, which is of course the reason that I’ve found myself trudging through them a lot this year. Cool shrubs like hazel alder (Alnus serrulata), silky willow (Salix sericea), swamp rose (Rosa palustris), shrubby St John’s worts (Hypericum prolificum and H. densiflorum) and elder (Sambucus canadensis) grow along the margins and in the hummocks.
Cinnamon ferns (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) grow along side of many differ-
In one way or another, most carnivorous plants attract insects with a sweet and sticky substance that in many ways resembles the stomach acids used by animals for digestion. The insects become stuck in the syrupy exudates and die. Their decomposing bodies then release nutrients that plants use for sustenance.
Bladderworts have a different strategy for capturing their prey. They produce little sacs along modified stems that are suspended in the water they grow in. These sacs, or bladders, have a different pressure than what is outside of them. When triggered, the bladders open up and suck in the bug like a vacuum.
I’m no stick in the mud. Carnivorous plants are cool. So is bog stomping. Just be gentle so as to not crush the plants. And careful to not lose a shoe.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Bogs are home to all kinds of unique plants.
Adam Bigelow photo
offers Cataloochee skiing lessons
Haywood County hosts wilderness navigation course
Haywood County Recreation is offering a wilderness navigation course that will equip hikers with the basics of modern navigation required to not become lost in the wilderness.
The course covers hike planning and preparation, actions to take during the hike and what to do if someone becomes bewildered. The foundations and fundamentals of traditional map and compass are presented with hands-on exercises. The information is then used to provide and introduction to modern navigation using a common cell phone app called Gaia. Participants should download Gaia prior to the course.
This six-hour course will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in Waynesville at the Allens Creek Park pavilion.
Registration deadline is 3 p.m. Dec. 9. Register at secure.rec1.com/nc/haywood-coun-
Registration is now open for another season of Cataloochee programming through Jackson County’s recreation department. Lessons are tailored to skier based on skill level.
Dates for lessons are Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb 23.
Each participant will receive a hard pass valid from 110 p.m. on the scheduled session dates.
Participants should plan to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled lesson to complete the check-in process, go through rentals and get ready for the lesson.
Cataloochee offers daily rentals (for purchase) for bibs or jackets, helmets and skis or snowboards. The mountain shop also has a variety of socks, gloves, goggles and other essentials for purchase.
The Cataloochee Ski Area opened up its season last month. File photo
The drought has held steady over the last week. ncdrought.org photo
North Carolina gets dryer
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has again classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry with a moderate drought affecting three far-west counties and most of the eastern part of the state.
Many areas, including parts of the state hit by Hurricane Helene, saw less than one inch of rain in October, and although there was some precipitation in November, the state still continued to dry out overall.
Volunteers needed for Richland Creek cleanup
from the Waynesville Recreation Center at 550 Vance Street in Waynesville.
Haywood Waterways is hosting a cleanup session for Waynesville’s Richland Creek.
The cleanup will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7.
Meet at the Vance Street pavilion located along Richland Creek down the hill
The cleanup will take place along the stream bank of Richland Creek. Gloves, trash bags, and trash grabbers will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and long pants that can get dirty and wet if you want to get into the water.
RSVP by Dec. 6 to Christine O’Brien at christine@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.
For a smoother experience, it’s recommended to visit the ski area before the program starts to take care of waiver signing and gear sizing in advance.
To register, email trevorbrown@jacksonnc.org, call 828-293-3053 ext. 9 or visit jcprd.recdesk.com/community.
Smokies to rehabilitate Cosby
Entrance Road
On Dec. 9, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park will begin a rehabilitation of the 2.3-mile-long Cosby Entrance Road from Tennessee State Route 32 to the gate of Cosby Campground. This rehabilitation will include:
• Milling and paving of the road and the picnic area and trailhead parking lots.
• Addition of two new handicap accessible parking spaces.
• Ditch and shoulder improvements.
• New road signs.
• Replacement of the Rock Creek culvert. While crews are working, the Cosby Entrance Road will be closed to the public. Following the full closure, there may be single-lane closures as necessary. The project is projected to be completed in Spring 2025.
The Cosby Campground is currently closed for the season and is scheduled to reopen on April 18, 2025.
The work is funded by the Federal Lands Transportation Program. Please refer to the park’s Current Conditions webpage for the latest information on road conditions throughout the park. nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Case No.24E001665-430Joy W. Hargette Feb 27 2025, or
Feb 27 2025, or Administrator 241 Daffodil Lane Canton, NC 28716
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001631-430 Freddy Ralph Hall Feb 13 2025, or
158 Substation Rd. Canton, NC 28716
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001358-490
Vivian Annette Paine
Feb 20 2025, or Ancillary Executor
721 N Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786
Co-Executor
307 Commonwealth Drive Ninety Six, SC 29666
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.2023E000610 -
Edith Louise Valentine
Fiduciary
Me, --"
Samuelsson who got the winning goal in the
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
SUDOKU
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