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vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v Dec. 8, 2011 W Vol. 1, No. 48

Commission gets earful from faithful By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News Nearly 200 people turned up for the December meeting of the Yancey County Board of Commissioners and a revival broke out. The courtroom in the courthouse was packed mostly by people who apparently turned out after word spread that Commission Chairman Johnny Riddle had decided to limit the invocation spoken to start each board meeting to non-sectarian prayer, meaning prayer that does not advance the beliefs of a specific faith. To some, that meant that Riddle wanted to stop any and all reference so Jesus when the invocation was spoken, limiting the invocation to words that only appeal to broad religious principles or beliefs. Riddle preempted the discussion, standing to address the audience about five minutes before the start of the meeting. “I know why the majority of you Matthew Kallback/Yancey County News are here,” he said. “I don’t know The Burnsville Christmas parade kicked off over the weekend, lead off by a county sheriff’s just exactly what’s in question. I don’t know if it’s my faith that’s vehicle. The parade marks the official start of the Christmas season in Burnsville. in question, or the way I have done this,” he said, referring to his apparent decision to limit the scope of the invocation. “I know what my faith is, and I know what it is to have eternal salvation,” he said. But as a commissioner running public meetings of the Though it may be hard to to do well. So if you own a county board, he said he had to believe, The Yancey County business or do a service and you check his faith at the door and do News is entering its 12th month want to advertise but feel you the peoples’ business. as a newspaper. In January we will can’t afford it, give us a call. celebrate our first anniversary. We will work with you, and in But we want to celebrate some instances, let you name the The State Bureau of early, and as Christmas is fast price for an ad going forward to Investigation is “on the ground in approaching, we thought it Christmas. We’d much rather not Yancey County” as of Wednesday appropriate to offer some gifts. worry about making a profit right investigating the 2010 General We all want Yancey to survive now than to see local business Election, The Yancey County and thrive, and one way for that to suffer from a lack of advertising. News has learned. happen is for our local businesses See page 3 The bureau is investigating

A gift for the county, for you and for businesses

“I’m not going to push my faith on anyone” while acting in his official capacity, Riddle said. He’s always willing to talk with people about his faith and the basis of his beliefs, “but not here.” Riddle said the issue of the invocation arose after County Attorney Donny Laws showed him details of a federal lawsuit decided and affirmed earlier this year out of Forsyth County in which two people sued that county because they felt the prayer used to open a county meeting “unconstitutionally endorsed a particular belief or faith.” After considering the ruling, Riddle said he approached Pastor Jonathan England, who had been attending commission meeting to speak the invocation, and asked “if he could pray differently.” “That was my mistake,” Riddle said. “I shouldn’t have asked a man to pray differently than he’s been led to,” he said, and in classic call-and-response, members of the audience replied with “Amens.” Riddle said he decided to limit prayer without consulting other commissioners because he was chosen by those other representatives to be chairman. “There’s only a couple of ways to take care of this,” he said. The meetings could begin with a formal moment of silence for contemplation, prayer or consideration. Or, Riddle said he himself could speak the invocation, limiting it to nonsectarian prayer. See page 9

SBI in town for election probe allegations that absentee ballots may have been misused in the election. A source familiar with the investigation said “there is a tremendous potential for federal authorities to come in, based on See Page 11

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Dec. 8, 2011

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Your Schools

Superintendent Tony Tipton’s weekly report National Board Certified Teachers: Congratulations to Kelly BooneCRMS, Wade Shehan –EYMS, Belinda Burleson - MES/STES and Denise Marlow – MHHS for earning National Board Certification! National Board 10-year renewal - Congratulations to Shelley Bailey and Dawn Robinson, both from Clearmont. Saturday School: Beginning the week of December 5th, 2011, any time school is closed MondayThursday due to bad weather, Yancey County Schools will plan on having Saturday School. The first day of any week we have to close due to weather will be a “NO DAY”. Any other day missed in that week will either be called an Optional Teacher Workday or a Teacher Workday. We will automatically be scheduled to have school that Saturday with a dismissal time of 11:30 a.m. for Elementary, 11:45 a.m. for the high school, and 12:00 noon for the middle schools. All employees will work until 2:30 p.m. or have the option of taking 1/2 day annual leave. If we have to cancel that Saturday due to weather, then Saturday will be an Annual Leave Day or a Teacher Workday. This is designed to help our 10 and 12 month employees with their hours and pay. The status of the days due to weather will be evaluated on a caseby-case basis. By going on Saturdays in the winter months, we should be able to avoid going on Saturdays when the weather is warmer in March and April. Clarification for Teacher CEUs for License Renewal Literacy applies to all educators including Student Service Personnel and is not meant to limit or restrict the renewal credit process. Students who are College and Career Ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language (located in the ELA Common Core State Standards (CCSS), page 7) defines and offers a portrait of a literate graduate. It is critical to note that although the description is taken from the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, they are applicable and taught to every student at every grade level, and all teachers share in the development of literate graduates. Skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language undergird and are prerequisites for all forms of 21st century literacy, including: Informational Literacy Media Literacy Information, Media, and Technology Literacy Visual Literacy Civic Literacy Financial, Economic, and Entrepreneurial Literacy Health Literacy Environmental Literacy

Mars Hill College gets $250,000 grant

Mars Hill College has received a prestigious $250,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to endow funding for the Southern Appalachian Archives, housed at the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies on the campus. Chief among the goals for the grant is to help meet the requirements of a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The N.E.H. grant, received by the college in November of 2006, provided a $500,000 federal contribution, contingent on a 3-to-1 match to be raised by the college by July, 2012. The $2 million total is to create endowment funds for a full-time archivist, and preservation and programming costs for the Archives. According to Dr. Kathy Newfont, associate professor of history and faculty chair of the regional studies department at Mars Hill College, the A.V. Davis Grant represents a significant gift in a six-year fundraising

campaign to endow the Southern Appalachian Archives and to raise matching funds for the NEH Challenge Grant. “This grant is so important to securing the future of our unique archival collections, and to enabling us to develop programming related to those collections,” she said. “Thanks to AV Davis and other challenge grant supporters, we will be able to preserve and provide access to these unique collections for present and future generations.” Cataloging and creating access to the Southern Appalachian Archives is one of the primary tasks of Dr. Karen Paar, director of the Ramsey Center and archivist of the Southern Appalachian Archives. Her position as archivist was made possible by an endowment through the N.E.H. Challenge Grant. “We are extremely grateful to the A.V. Davis Foundations,” Paar said. “This very generous gift has virtually guaranteed our success with the N.E.H.

Challenge Grant for the Southern Appalachian Archives. As we move closer to our fundraising goal, we will be able to turn our attention more fully to preserving and providing access to these wonderful archival collections, as well as encouraging student use of these materials for research.” The holdings of the Southern Appalachian Archives include photographs, documents, sound recordings, and artifacts which document aspects of mountain life and culture of interest to scholars here and abroad. Among many other collections, the Archives includes: the Ruskin Collection of Cherokee documents and artifacts; the James G.K. McClure Farmers Federation Collection, which contains almost 3000 photographs of western North Carolina agricultural life in the early to mid 1900s; and the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection, comprised of Lunsford’s letters, memorabilia and over 2,300 handwritten ballads and folksongs.

Mayland book club meets Friday Mayland Community College’s Book Club, BOOKWORMZ, will meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 9, at the college’s Main Campus in Spruce Pine to discuss the novel The Elephant’s Journey by Jose Saramago. Anyone who has read the book or who is interested in the Book Club is welcome. For more information call 765-7351 or 1-800-4-MAYLAND, ext. 216 for more information. EVERY DAY, your neighbors are calling, writing or dropping in our office to plop down $25 to subscribe to the Yancey County News! Why? Because they say they’ve never had a newspaper like this in Yancey County, and they appreciate it! (And we appreciate them!) So if you want to subscribe, just fill out this form and mail it in! YES, begin my subscription to the Yancey County News! (Out-of-county subscription submit $35.) Mail this coupon and your check to: The Yancey County News, 132 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 NAME: _______________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________ _________________________ TOWN: _____________________________ STATE: ______ PHONE NUMBER: ____________________________________

Dec. 8, 2011

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Opinion/Outlooks

Legislative update from Rep. Heath Shuler Last week Congress was in session following the Thanksgiving district work period. It was also the first week that Members of Congress were back in Washington following the announcement that the bipartisan Joint Select Committee, or Super Committee, failed to come up with a $1.2 trillion deficit reduction plan by their November 23rd deadline. I was deeply disappointed that the Super Committee failed to meet its charge and allowed partisan politics to obstruct the meaningful fiscal reform our nation needs for long-term economic stability and job growth. For months, I have been working with a bipartisan working group of House and Senate members, dubbed the “Go Big” coalition, to urge the 12 members of the now-defunct Super Committee to “Go Big” and reach a comprehensive $4 trillion plan that puts all options on the table to reduce the deficit. Leading independent groups of economists agree that we must find at least $4 trillion in savings and deficit reduction in order to stabilize our debt and put our nation on a long-term fiscally sustainable path. The Super Committee’s failure will have wide-reaching consequences for all Americans and our economy unless Members of Congress step up to finish the deficit reduction work the Super Committee failed to complete. By law, the Super Committee was required to come up with at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by November 23 or severe automatic cuts to important federal programs would go into effect in 2013. This process, known as sequestration, will trigger painful cuts to programs like national defense, Social Security, and Medicare, but won’t address our long-term fiscal challenges or put us on the path to economic prosperity. This is simply not an acceptable solution to our deficit problem. That is why last week I held meetings with House and Senate Democrats and Republicans of the “Go Big” coalition to discuss a plan of action moving forward to come up with an effective, long-term deficit reduction solution before sequestration goes into effect. Our “Go Big” coalition is working together to produce a legislative package that would take a balanced,

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The Yancey County News is the only independent newspaper in Yancey County. It is owned, operated and published by

Susan Austin ........ Advertising/Publisher Jonathan Austin ........... Editor/Publisher who are the sole participants and members of

Yancey County News LLC 132 W. Main Street Burnsville, NC 28714 828-678-3900 jonathan@yanceycountynews.com susan@yanceycountynews.com The Yancey County News (USPS publication No. 3528) is published weekly - every Thursday - for $25 per year in Yancey County, $35 per year out of county. Published by Yancey County News LLC, Periodicals postage paid at Burnsville, NC. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Yancey County News, 132 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 Printed in Boone by the Watauga Democrat on recycled paper.

To be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.

comprehensive approach to cut the deficit by $4 trillion or more. It is our goal for this legislative package to receive an up-or-down vote in Congress by the early spring. This week I will be meeting with Democrats and Republicans from across the political spectrum seeking their input and ideas in order to craft the strongest deficit reduction package possible. Despite the Super Committee’s failure to achieve a bipartisan deficit reduction solution, there is still a strong consensus

among many in Congress on both sides of the aisle that we can and must bring a $4 trillion deficit reduction plan up for a vote. Based on conversations I have had with many of my colleagues, I am optimistic that this consensus will continue to build over the next few months to the point where a $4 trillion deficit reduction plan would be likely to pass both the House and Senate. The House will be in session through Friday this week.

Thanks for the visit to our school We would like to thank Lieutenant Daniel Hughes for teaching the D.A.R.E. (Drug, Abuse, Resistance, Education) program. The program taught us a lot about the risks you take when you use drugs. We learned that all drugs can harm your vital organs which can lead to child abuse, comas, many different cancers, and death. We also learned that there are many ways to say “NO” to drugs. The program had a positive impact on our class. Our experience with Lieutenant Hughes was special because we made a close friend with a law enforcement officer who we feel we can trust. We would also like to thank the JROCT teacher, Lieutenant Colonel John Hogan, and

the students, Cadet Austin Haney, Cadet Andy Beattie, Cadet Larissa Schoof, Cadet Caleb Robinson for presenting the flags. They talked about their experiences in middle and high school. Our class would also like to thank Justin Hoilman and McKayla Hughes for coming and being good role models and telling us about their experiences with saying no to drugs. Austin Wilson brought Chris, a drug dog, which proved his abilities with finding drug scents in hidden places. He understands only Dutch commands. He was really big and muscular. Chris was awesome!

South Toe Elementary Fifth Grade

Gifts from your community newspaper From the front You may have noticed we have begun publishing legal advertisements and creditor’s notices. We can now do that, and we can save you a lot of money if that is something you need. Creditor’s notices are usually required to settle the estate of a loved one who has died. Generally you have had to pay as much at $160 to run those in Yancey in the past, but we imagine that is too expensive for some of you, especially those of you on a fixed income. As a gift to you, and to honor your dearly departed, we will run Creditor’s Notices for the remainder of 2011 for ONLY ONE PENNY. That’s right, you can get the notice published in December, or beginning in December, for only 1 cent. If the schedule of publication requires the ad to run into January, as they must run more than once, don’t worry. If you begin its publication in December and it must extend into the new year, you still will only be responsible to pay us 1 penny. And if you have ever been to a county commission meeting and heard commissioners complain about the lack of funds, we have a gift for them, too. We have offered the county the opportunity to run any legal advertising in December, FOR THE COST of 1 PENNY. Your commissioners and the county office department heads can save you hundreds of dollars in YOUR TAX MONEY if they have legal notices that must run this year.

Check back with us in January to find out how much your county leaders chose to save by taking us up on this offer. Normally, the county might pay hundreds of dollars to run a single legal advertisement in years past. Now, we are only offering the penny special for December, or for ads that begin in December and must extend into January for legal reasons, but even after that, we will offer the county the lowest price for legal advertising, This is especially important as the county strives to collect back taxes on property, because, as you read last week, they put some property up for auction for the back taxes but no one steps forward to buy it. The county had to pay to advertise that sale, so it is out even more than the taxes if the property doesn’t sell. We will make sure the cost of the legal advertisement is dramatically lower than before. When we began this newspaper, people asked why Yancey needed two papers. Well, bringing down the cost of advertising, legal advertising and creditor’s notices is one very good reason. When there is only one newspaper, you pay what they want to charge you. Now, you have a choice, and can get your legal notices published for less out of your pocket, out of the tax bill, or out of the estate of your loved one. We hope to always give you the best value. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 678-3900. Jonathan Austin

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Obituaries Troy Dove King Troy Dove King, 64, of Elk Shoals Creek, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at Mission Hospitals Memorial Campus. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Troy J. and Chloe Angel King. He was also preceded in death by a sister: Willie Lou McIntosh. Dove was a member of Burnsville Lodge #717, AF & AM, and attended Petersons Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife of 42 years: Lena Laws King; a son: Joey King and wife, Pam, of Burnsville; grandchildren: Lucas, Nyssa, Hali and Joseph; 2 sisters: Betty Fortner of Burnsville and Jo Mason of Asheville; 2 brothers: Tom King of Burnsville and Jerry King of Leicester; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 8PM Thursday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Revs. Donald Whitson and Denny Wilson will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 11AM Friday in the Silas King Family Cemetery on Elk Shoals Creek with Masonic graverites by Burnsville Lodge #717, AF & AM. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8PM prior to the service at the funeral home.

Elizabeth Higgins

Elizabeth Higgins, 81, of Burnsville went home to be with the Lord Monday, D e c e m b e r 5 , 2 0 11 a t Brookside Rehabilitation and Care. Born in Buncombe County, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Minnie Styles Whittington and the wife of Avery Higgins who died in 1988. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Jack Whittington. Elizabeth was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Burnsville and loved to listen to gospel music. Her children and grandchildren were her life. Surviving are her children: Michael Higgins and wife, Rene, of Burnsville, Shirley Sellers and husband, John, of El Paso, Texas, Danny Higgins and wife, Karen, of Burnsville and Debra Youch and husband, Larry, of Harrisburg, PA; grandchildren: Justin

Higgins, Michele Sellers and Stephanie Youch and a great granddaughter, Athena. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Revs. Robert Norris, Jim Sutton and Dick Westbrook will officiate. Burial will be in the McIntosh Cemetery on Langford Branch. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home, and at other times, will be at her home at 32 Boone Street. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Emma Jean Hughes

Emma Jean Hughes, also known as “Little Granny”, 76, of Burnsville, passed away on Friday, December 02, 2011 at her home. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Ray Bodford and Mildred Curtis Bodford and wife of the late Frank D.Roosevelt Hughes. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her life. Surviving are daughters: Kathy Hughes and Renata Hughes; son, Frank Anthony Hughes, all of Burnsville; sister, Mary Cecil Schneider of Palmyra, VA; brothers: Donald Bodford and wife, Juanita and Gail Bodford and wife, Shin, all of Burnsville; granddaughters: Jaime Duvall and husband, Mark, of Burnsville, Heather Young and husband, John, of Jacksonville, FL and Bridget Walton of Baltimore, MD; great-grandchildren: Autumn McCurry, Aaron Proffitt, Savanah Petway, Alyssa Wagner, Wesley Wagner and Noah Young. Serveral nieces and nephews also survive. Private family graveside services will be held at the Pete Young Cemetery. Rev. Russell Hughes will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Ray Childers Ray Childers, age 81, of Delpha Road, Bakersville, NC, passed away December 2, 2011 at the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, NC. He was born in Mitchell County, NC to the late Adam and Pearl Forbes

Childers. He had previously worked in Construction at Miller Engineering in Marion, NC and was a Veteran of the United States Army. Survivors include: his wife, Ima Jean Childers, sons, Gary Childers and wife Jan of Morganton, NC, Larry Childers and wife Karen of Morganton, NC, daughters, Donna Burleson and husband Danny of Spruce Pine, NC, Lisa Childers of Bakersville, NC, Betty Childers of Trieste, Italy, grandchildren, Joseph, Amber, Eli, Anthony, Angela, Jonathan, Brittany, Ryan, two great grandchildren, Cayden and Destiny. He was preceded in death by brothers, J.D. and Howard Childers, sisters, Joyce Baker and Lorene Barnett. Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 3:00PM in the Chapel of Henline-Hughes Funeral Home in Bakersville, NC. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Chad Wise will be officiating the service. Interment will follow in the Penland-Childers Cemetery on Delpha Road. Memorials may be made to: Hospice of Mitchell County, 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC, 28777.

Phillip Joe Sparks Phillip Joe Sparks, age 71 of Gurley Rd, Burnsville, passed away December 7, 2011 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, NC. He was retired as a Diesel Mechanic for Underwood and Weld. He was a member of Big Crabtree Baptist Church. He was also a member ofYancey County Rescue Squad from 1976 thru 1988

where he served as Captain for three years, and Newdale Fire Department. He was preceded in death by his father Paul J. Sparks. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lee Cook Sparks of the home, mother, Lucille Sparks, of Burnsville, NC, three daughters, Phyllis J. Sparks, Katherine Lucille Sparks, and Rhonda Sue Hensley, all of Burnsville, NC, sister, Betty Sue McFarland also of Burnsville, NC, two grandsons Willie Hensley and wife Jessica, and Joshua Hensley and wife Rebecca, two great grandchildren Autumn Hensley and Carson Hensley, and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express a special thanks to both the church family and the campground family. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 9, 2011 at 2:30PM in Big Crabtree Baptist Church with Mike Rathbone and Dean Honeycutt officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM until 2:30PM. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Mitchell County 236 Hospital Drive Spruce Pine, NC 28777. Charitable donations may be made in Phillip’s memory to the following organization: Hospice of Mitchell County 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777

The Yancey County News does not charge to publish obituaries.

Dec. 8, 2011

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Broadband ready for 2,800 in Burnsville

By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News

A representative of Country Cablevision in Burnsville said broadband Internet is “ready to activate” for more than 2,800 residents but that making the final connection had been delayed due to questions about how installation of a building on Sawmill Hollow Road would impact the environment. We were at a “dead standstill” until Nov. 28, when approval was issued for installation of the building, said Dean Russell the broadband expansion project manager with Country Cablevision. With approval now in hand, the company can ramp up efforts to connect those Burnsville residents on the finished fiber. Homes and businesses on “77 streets in Burnsville are ready for activation,” Russell said at a briefing held in Burnsville last week on the status of broadband Internet connectivity in Western North Carolina. The effort is the first part of a federally funded project to bring broadband Internet to 97 percent of the residents in Yancey and Mitchell counties. Funded by the American Recover and Reinvestment Act, Country Cablevision of Burnsville was awarded a $25.3 million in stimulus money for the initiative. Scott Hamilton, president of AdvantageWest, AdvantageWest, the regional economic development commission, opened the program at Mayland Community College’s Yancey campus with talking points about the critical need for broadband in the rural mountain areas. “Access to broadband is a critical factor in the areas of education, improved health care and job growth. Education is becoming more digital; health care is moving toward electronic

With Time

“The pain will go away, with time” “It won’t be so bad, after awhile” So say these friends of mine... But they have never lost a child. The pain will never go away Yet they say it softens some with time Our child is gone, it hurts to say We will never be “just fine.” Now we live with our memories!

We love & miss you Mom and Dad

In loving memory of Andy Austin 5/30/88 – 12/9/10

medical records and telemedicine; industries like software development and technical support are moving toward a distributed workforce that can live where they want as long as workers have high speed access.” Joe Freddoso of MCNC, an independent, non-profit organization tasked by the state with getting schools, community agencies and hospitals connected using broadband technology, said a recent study showed that while 80 percent of American homes have at least one Internet user, 25 percent of households with school-age children have no Internet, 42 percent of rural households don’t have broadband, but 66 percent of Americans use the Internet as a “critical part of their job.” He said he is often asked why there is such a focus on bring broadband access to rural areas, and the reason is that the rural populations in the country increased 10.4 percent from 2000 to 2010. “More than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 require (job) applicants to apply online,” he said. “JetBlue’s customer support representatives work at home” using broadband connections, he added. Equally important, though, is the ability for broadband to improve education, he said. “You’re not going to impact teaching and learning” without a broadband connection that allows for fast transmission of data, he said. Others speaking at the meeting included Hunter Goosmann of ERC Broadband; and Ken Maxwell of Frontier Communications. State Sen. Ralph Hise and State Rep. Ray Rapp also attended. Regarding the broadband expansion, Russell, from Country Cablevision, said the project has directly or indirectly created 45 jobs, and that mapping for the system is finished in both Yancey and Mitchell counties. Design work is complete in Yancey, he said,

and almost complete in Mitchell. As of Nov. 30, Russell said approximately 130 miles of strand had been hung in Yancey County, 70 miles of fiber, and 3 miles of underground fiber. The fiber, which is glass or plastic strands bundled into cables, must be carefully spliced to allow the transmittal of light, on which data is moved, and he said splicing has been completed for 17 nodes, or street cabinets, at which multiple homes can be connected. Once the controls and operating systems are installed in the prefabricated building on Sawmill Hollow, “we will be ready to connect new customers in these areas,” Russell said. Russell said French Broad Electric has helped with the construction of the network, and $88,000 has been paid to the electric cooperative “Setting 28 poles,” but he said French Broad “will not allow us to be on their transmission poles.” He said the start date for installing fiber in Mitchell County is early in 2012, but that the work under way to widen U.S. 19 “is a big headache.” Ken Maxwell of Frontier Communications said that “the ripple effect of having a strong broadband network is huge at the consumer level.” He said Frontier, the largest rural telecommunications company in the nation, “understands the need” for residential and business broadband, and that in late 2010, “the demand for bandwidth grew 30 percent in six months” in the region. The company has expanded six times the bandwidth as of July 2010, and space remains for additional growth. “We invested $10 million in infrastructure improvements” and added 10 new broadband sites, he said. “We are growing; we are adding; we are expanding.”

Merry Christmas ! Consider giving a subscription to the Yancey County News in someone’s stocking this year. Just call us at 678-3900 for details. Only $25 in Yancey County

Dec. 8, 2011

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UARA Racing

Bassett is dogged in third year with UARA By Kassie Hughes A young Ronnie Bassett Jr. made his first appearance at a UARA event on Sep. 19, 2009, at Dillon Motor Speedway and caught the attention of all that were there. Bassett brought home a 13th place finish following in the tracks of some of the UARA’s best like Kyle Grissom, Brandon McReynolds, Danny O’Quinn Jr., Jamey Caudill and Matt McCall. Bassett returned to the UARA in 2010 for his rookie run. He had an average finish of 11.44 in 2010 with his highest finish being second at Lonesome Pine Speedway. He finished second in the rookie chase to Robert Johnson and 8th overall in the 2010 points. Looking back onto the 2011 season, Bassett will remember his first UARA career win and a final seventh place finish in the Championship points. Bassett had a 5.42 average finish for 2011. After winning the pole at Tri County, Bassett lost the lead to save tires and pull off one of the most exciting finishes of the 2011 season. Throughout the race, Andy Mercer and Garrett Campbell battled back and forth with the lead, Bassett anxiously awaiting his moment. With only 25 laps to go his spotter, Richy, told the young driver “here kitty, kitty, kitty” and the rest was history. The win at Tri County was certainly one of many highlights to Bassett’s season, however his second win didn’t take quite as long. After taking a race off for family time at Disney, he was back in victory lane during the IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE, YANCEY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Administrator / Executor notice Having qualified as Executrix of the estate of Emma Jean Hughes of Yancey County of North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before 5th day of March 2012 or this notice will be pleaded in bar aof their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. This the 7th day of December 2011 Renota C. Hughes 328 Wind Wood Drive Burnsville, NC 28714

Ronnie Bassett Jr., in Number 4, has made a name for himself in three years running with the UARA. next event. Bassett fought his way through the field from 13th starting spot during the UARA-STARS Slawson Transmission 150 at Anderson. Not only did he pull off the win and Phantom’s 1st place award, but he was also awarded the Holley Performer award for gaining the most positions throughout the race. Other awards Bassett won throughout the season were G-force shift of the race during both Rockingham events. This award is given to the driver whose driving skills and great saves on the track impressed the UARA officials. Racing Electroncis 2nd place award at Greenville, three Circle Wheel 4th place awards (Newport, Rockingham, and Hickory), Joe Gibbs 7th at Rockingham , and two Safety Kleen 12th awards (Kingsport and Newport) were also given to this talented driver. After the amazing season that he and the Fat Head Racing team had, Bassett decided to take a different route for the 2012 season. Next year, Ronnie will be driving with his family’s race team, Bassett Racing. Racing along with Ronnie Bassett Jr will be younger brother Dillon who will be competing for the Rookie of the year title as big brother makes a bid for the 2012 Championship. Fans need to watch out for the Bassett Brothers in the 04 and 44 racing machines because win is on there minds and determination in their hearts.

For Sale

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The Yancey County News does not charge to publish obituaries.

Dec. 8, 2011

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Defining cyberbullying, its roots, and solutions

This is the first in a three part National Science Foundation series addressing ‘Bullying in the Age of Social Media.’ “I was cyberbullied at age 40 by someone that tried to beat me up in high school,” says a person posting on a website that chronicles stories of people intimidated through digital communications. But I ended up winning the fight, he says. “They held that grudge for 28 years before Googling me, figuring out my employer and sending porn to everyone in the company directory, including clients, with poorly forged headers to look like it was coming from me. My employer was very understanding, but some clients were not.” The person telling this story posts under the screen name “Worth.” His is one of a growing number of digital incidents causing scholars to examine and define a new type of seemingly invisible and often anonymous, virtual aggression called cyberbullying. It’s a problem primarily among adolescents and it’s growing faster than parents, educators or policymakers can effectively respond. “Cyberbullying and mischief appears to increase with age through childhood and adolescence, so that it is a bigger problem in high school than in junior high,” says University of Arizona’s Sheri Bauman, one of a number of investigators studying the causes and effects of cyberbullying. “Given that bullying has existed throughout history, it surprises me that we have yet to develop really effective strategies to prevent it.” Traditional bullying and bullying behavior long have existed, but cyberbullying is a relative newcomer. According to a University of Arizona study conducted by Bauman’s colleague Robert Tokunaga, about 2040 percent of all youths report experiencing it at least once in their lives - although some contend the numbers could be higher. “I think students underestimate their experiences with bullying because it is not fun to view yourself as a ‘victim of bullying,’ no matter how it is defined,” says Justin Patchin, co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center website. “It is basically suggesting that you are weak or unpopular or inferior in some way. Many people view victims in this light so teens might be reluctant to put themselves in that box.” Moreover, with increasing access to the Internet, cyberbullying doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Recent surveys report that at least 80 percent of adolescents own the technology, primarily computers and cell phones, necessary to engage in or be victims of cyberbullying, with

even more youth having access at school, libraries or after-school programs. But being a bully or being bullied is one thing; the consequences of the behavior are another matter entirely. Victims of cyberbullying frequently suffer from a host of negative problems. They have lower self-esteem, higher levels of social anxiety and school absenteeism, as well as greater involvement in drinking, smoking and significant life challenges, according to researchers. “Both cyber and traditional b u lly in g a r e p r e d i c t o r s o f depression and suicide attempts, and those risks exist for both perpetrators and targets,” says Bauman, a professor and director of the School Counseling master’s degree program at UA. “Cyberbullying occurs in young people from all socioeconomic groups,” she says, “including students with disabilities. Chronic bullying and cyberbullying behaviors, for both perpetrator and victim, may persist into adulthood as well.” This may explain why Worth claims to have been cyberbullied at age 40. But there’s a question: does Worth’s experience meet a consensus definition of cyberbullying that would allow parents, educators, researchers and policymakers to effectively address the issue? Last year, Bauman, acting as principal investigator with funding from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, convened an International Cyber Bullying Think Tank in Tucson at the University of Arizona. Twenty-one scholars from eight countries and six U.S. states - psychologists, sociologists, counselors, communication specialists, educators and experts on public health - gathered to define cyberbullying, discuss sampling and research design, examine existing measures and plan future projects. Their biggest challenge: agreeing on a clear and unambiguous definition. After three days of discussions, think tank participants left with what one participant called “dissent” in coming up with precise wording. Marilyn Campbell, an attendee from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, says, “It is important to have a consensus definition of cyberbullying for prevention and intervention efforts.” A consensus definition has practical uses “such as in policies or legislation or for research.” Campbell, an associate professor in the School of Learning and Professional Studies, Faculty of Education at QUT argues school anti-bullying policies may not define cyberbullying with

sufficient precision. “The nuances of words are important for effective prevention and deterrence, with policy enforcement requiring clarity and precision in language,” she says. “School policies may be practically and legally ineffectual if the language used is too vague and does not address the foreseeable risk.” Generally, the language for school policies runs the gamut. Yenton Primary School in Birmingham, England, has a policy that says Yenton school officials believe that all people in the community have a right to learn in a supportive and safe environment without fear of being bullied. “We believe every individual in school has a duty to report an incident of bullying, whether it happens to themselves or to another person,” the policy reads. It goes on to list types of cyberbullying, including text messages, video clips, mobile phone calls, emails, etc. “Yenton’s policy does not define cyberbullying,” says Campbell. “They only recount behaviors, which can be difficult as they acknowledge. They might miss some behaviors and as technology changes so do the ways people can bully.” In the United States, the Richland School District in West Richland, Wash., has a very comprehensive school policy that says the district is committed to a safe and civil educational environment free from harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyberbullying. “The terms harassment, intimidation and bullying shall mean any intentionally written message or other visual communication, verbal communication or physical act, gesture or omission, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing

characteristics,” the policy begins. It goes on to define bullying and cyberbullying as acts with the intent to create “a substantial and unjustifiable risk of, creating the threat of, or with the natural end result of physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student, staff member, volunteer, patron,” etc. “The Richland policy is very legalistic and would probably not be all that helpful for parents or students,” says Campbell. “There is a middle way of defining cyberbullying.” So what is cyberbullying? At minimum, researchers say cyberbullying is a subset of aggression that primarily occurs with adolescents. Aggression, as an academic and research construct, refers to intentional behavior that hurts or harms another person. Bullying, meanwhile, refers to aggression where there is also an imbalance of power and repetition of the act; or a “systematic abuse of power.” “Cyber aggression and cyberbullying correspondingly refer to aggression and bullying carried out via electronic media-mobile phones and the Internet,” says Peter Smith, a professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. “As such, they are mainly phenomena of the 21st century.” In fact, a 2010 study of cyberbullying found more than 97 percent of young people in the United States have some sort of Internet connection, which is a different measure than owning the technology. The study found youth had access to instant messaging, chat rooms, email, blogs, texting, social networking, online gaming and other media associated with the Internet boom. Definitions of cyberbullying typically start with three concepts: intent to harm, imbalance of power and usually a repeated action, although some experts replace “repeated action” with “specific targets.” See page 11

Dec. 8, 2011

â&#x20AC;˘ yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS

Burnsville turns out for annual Christmas Parade

photos by Matthew Kallback

Dec. 8, 2011

l Salvation Army Family Store

The Salvation Army Family Store is under new management with new winter store hours. We are open Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first Wednesday of every month is senior citizen’s day – ½ off all clothes in store weekly colored dot sales.

Captain: Kenneth Clewis • Store manager: Cathy Laws Store clerk: Dan O’Neil • Social worker: Miranda Self Part-time clerk: Tammy Jackson

We have new coats/scarfs and accessories! We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and Happy New Year!

From Page 1 “That’s what I’ve decided to do,” he said, and those in attendance who chose to speak against his decision would have their chance later during the public comment portion of the meeting. “You can scream at me or yell at me then,” he said. But “we’re here to do the business of the county. That’s what we’re here to do.” He also thanked the crowd for attending the commission meeting, and urged them to turn out the first Tuesday of every month, rather than just when they felt their faith was threatened. During that public comment, several in attendance stood to address the prayer issue. “We’ve got to make sure we control our government, folks,” said Anthony Robinson, a fixture at the commission meetings who often speaks about his fears for the future of the county. He related a parable suggesting that those who run for office “seem to not give us what they promised us” during the campaign. Bill Grover, another frequent commission meeting speaker, said he had “prayed to God for 20 years” to have such a large crowd turn out for county meetings. Having a crowd attend each meeting would force leaders to do as the people see fit, Grover suggested, because a visible turnout makes politicians stop and count the heads in the seats. “The crowd is the people who voted him in.” But Grover held up his pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution and said it is the backbone of government. “When they say ‘separation of church and state,’ they don’t mean get rid of God,” he said, “far from it.” What it means is that “all faiths must be supported equally,” with prayer “not to each religious leader,”

Prayer debated

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like Jesus, Buddha or the like, but by “talking directly to God.” But the Rev. Rick Woody disagreed. Ta k i n g a c o u r t issued Bible from the commissioner’s table, he said, “Before the Constitution was written, we had this. This is the book I go by.” Referring to Chairman Riddle, Woody said, “I’m not questioning his faith. Using Jesus’ name; that’s the problem.” Woody then turned to the audience and the meeting began to resemble a sermon, with the preacher speaking and the audience reacting with more ‘Amens’. “I want to tell you folks, when we throw Jesus out, we’re in trouble.” Speaking to Riddle, he said, “You’ve opened up a can of worms. It’s going to reach up and bite you. Not only will we fight for what I’m talking about, we’re willing to die for what I’m talking about.” The commission meeting was opened with a prayer that did seek guidance in Jesus’ name. During commissioner time toward the end of the meeting, Commissioner Michelle Presnell made a motion to keep “saying prayer the way we (always) did, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Dale England. Asked for input, County Attorney

Donny Laws said that if the commission asked people to appear at the meeting to say a prayer, there must be “a diverse mixture” throughout the year. “It’s not diverse (if kept solely) within Christianity,” he said. “There’s nothing that says you can’t pray in the name of Jesus Christ,” he said. “You just can’t only have Jesus Christ.” At that point, Bill Jones in the audience told Riddle and commissioners that “we’ll stand behind you if a lawsuit comes; all the churches in the county. But I promise you, you will commit political suicide” if prayers cannot or do not refer to Jesus, he said. Riddle told him and the audience that if the community will support the commission as Jones said, he’d feel more comfortable. “I’ve been through two lawsuits” as commissioner, he said, and he didn’t look forward to another. The board then voted unanimously to pass Presnell’s motion. In other business, the board asked that the county manager study and be prepared to report on the feasibility of the county taking over operations of a license tag office in Burnsville. The tag office closed earlier this year, and the board has been told that the state has no intention of further

seeking a private operator to run the office. Without county intervention, the county will have no tag office, the county manager and DOT boardmember Wanda Proffitt. The board also received a report from the auditors who performed the annual yearly audit of county finances, and were told most everything appears within standards, but that the county must continue to grow its fund balance. See next week’s YCN for more on the general business of the monthly meeting.

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Dec. 8, 2011

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Outdoors

Beware dangers in hunting One evening during one of the breaks of a hunter education class I was teaching, a kid and his grandfather came up to me. “I want to deer hunt. What kind of gun do I need?” Without hesitation I responded, “Your Granddad’s.” While it seemed I was just coming back with a quick response to garner a smile, I was truly being sincere. While hunting consists of shooting at animals as part of the process, the real joy is the connections the hunter makes. Experiencing the hunt and bringing the most joy from the experience comes from the meld between you and God, nature, family, our forefathers, and memories. Stories I share of my grandfather and father are not just vehicles to carry on who they are and what they did, they become part of who I am as well. When I share these stories with my kids, it also becomes a part of who they will become. When black bear hunting, I cannot help but think of President Teddy Roosevelt and his passion for the great bruin or Daniel Boone and his storied encounter with the beast in the Great Smokies. The buffalo hunt my father and I went on included a hike to a tall mount that stood out amongst all others on the horizon. When we reached the top, not only did we have a fantastic view of the Dakota pothole region, but there, right at the flattened peak, was a circle of stones. Around the circle were other smaller circles of smaller stones. When we returned to the hunting guide and inquired about the area, he told us that was an ancient ceremonial ground for the Indians who lived in the area. I could envision the tribes hunting the herded bison just as my dad and I were. Sitting in cover on the edge of the field, anticipating the coming of a strutting gobbler with fanned tail is enough to set any hunter in flurried heartbeats of anticipation. The thought of Benjamin Franklin’s pursuit to make the wild turkey our national symbol for its courage and meaning to our land brings a sense of historic proportions to the hunt. The turkey provided nourishment to the pilgrims on

Bill Howard’s

Outdoors

their original plight into the new world. Even the Thanksgiving story of pilgrims and Native Americans centers itself around the bird. To think while sitting in a tree waiting on the whitetail to sneak his way into shooting distance was likely precluded by a Cherokee, Catawba, or Tuscarora several hundred years prior in the same location can be both overwhelming and comforting. So, as I watch and remember my son shooting the old Ithaca shotgun, I realize that the bridge from my son, to me, to my father and to my grandfather has been completed. I also know that one side of that bridge is a long road of that has been paved over time with blood, sweat, pain, tears, joy, and accomplishment while on the other side is a road yet to be cleared but already well planned. So when you ask “what is the best gun?”, know in advance the best gun is one that is well used and experienced.

Trail workshops set The USDA Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina announced that it will host multiple workshops next year to address management of non-motorized recreation trails across the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie, and Croatan National Forests. “Referred to as the Non-motorized Trails Strategy, this effort gives partners the opportunity to identify sustainable forest trail systems,” said Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard. “I believe this initiative will produce high-quality trail systems that will better serve our visitors and the land.” Public workshops for Pisgah and Nantahala National Forest trails start in early January 2012. The Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests meetings start in summer 2012. A complete list of meeting dates and times is posted at: www.fs.usda. gov/goto/nctrailstrategy. Representatives from a wide range of trailuser groups, individuals who represent local communities and ecotourism, or individuals not represented by larger user groups are invited to collaborate in the process, which is expected to take up to a year to complete. The result will be recommendations for a comprehensive trail management plan for each national forest in North Carolina, along with a stronger community of volunteers to assist with these efforts. The Forest Service initiated this process because use of forest trails in North Carolina is increasing every year. Resources used to maintain trails have been static or decreasing. The emphasis will be on high-quality experiences on sustainable trail systems.

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Bill Howard is a Hunter Education and a Bowhunter Education Instructor, a wildlife representative and the BCRS program chairman for the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, and an avid outdoorsman. He can be reached at billhoward outdoors@gmail. com.

Do you have great photographs of a memorable family events? An anniversary, birth, graduation or other special moment? Share them with us and we’ll show the world. \And if you just have a great photograph, share that as well to let everyone see your photographic skills! Email them to Jonathan@yanceycounty news.com

Cyberbullying and its roots From page 7

While traditional bullying uses these defining characteristics, there is controversy as to whether all these concepts apply to cyberbullying and in what capacity. For example, the possibility of misunderstanding intent exists more with electronic communication than with traditional bullying because of reduced social cues, social scientists say. The inability to see a smile or a wink on the face of a friend who sent an electronic message could result in the communication being construed as cyberbullying. “There are also problems with the imbalance of power criterion,” says Smith, who led the NSF-sponsored International Cyber Bullying Think Tank’s definition subcommittee last year. In traditional bullying, this is usually taken as being in terms of physical strength or psychological confidence in a faceto-face confrontation, or in terms of the number of bullies against one victim. “These are not so clear in cyberbullying, which is not face-toface,” he says. “There may nevertheless be an imbalance of power either through the anonymity of those committing the act, or if the perpetrators are known by the victim to have relative physical, psychological or numerical strength offline, then an imbalance of power may still be a factor i n t h e v i c t i m ’s perception.” Smith says in some cases, greater technological expertise could also contribute to an imbalance of power, such as the ability of a bully to develop a website and post mean things about a classmate or a friend. “Although it is easy enough to send emails and text messages,” he says, “more sophisticated attacks such as masquerading,

or pretending to be someone else posting denigrating material on a website, require more skill.” In one notable example, a 13-yearold Missouri girl, Megan Meier, committed suicide after being harassed through a popular social networking website by a boy she liked. The cyberbully, it turns out, was not a boy at all, but instead was the mother of one of Megan’s former friends, who created a false identity to correspond with and gain information about Megan. The mother later used that information to humiliate Megan for spreading rumors about her daughter. The incident clearly involved issues of anonymity, masquerading and the greater relationship skills possessed by the mother, not the fact that the mother was an adult, which traditionally creates a power imbalance with adolescents. The third concept, repeated action, also gives some researchers pause. Due to the nature of cyberbullying, the act or behavior may repeat itself without the contribution of the cyberbully, they say. For example, an abusive video on a mobile phone may occur only once, but if the person receiving the image forwards it to anyone else, it could be argued that this falls under the category of repetition. Additionally, if something abusive is uploaded onto a Web page, every hit on that page could count as a repetition. Consequently, the use of repetition as a criterion for traditional bullying may be less reliable for cyberbullying. “At this point w e d o n ’t h a v e a standard definition of cyberbullying that is used in research,” says Jina Yoon, an associate professor of educational psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. She says studies of

cyberbullying use different definitions-a situation that can lead to challenges when developing plans or policies that seek to prevent it. So where does this leave Worth, who was bullied at age 40? Was his experience cyberbullying? Yes, but not really, says Patchin. “Many people would call this cyberbullying, and it fits within our definition, but we focus on the behaviors among adolescents. Most researchers reserve the term ‘bullying’ for repeated harassment among adolescents.” Patchin, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, formally defines cyberbullying as willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones or other electronic devices. “When we measure the behaviors among teens, we tell them that cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly harasses, mistreats, or makes fun of another person online or while using cell phones or other electronic devices. “ We h a v e t o be careful about just labeling these incidents without really understanding the relationships,” says Yoon narrowing on the characteristics of cyberbullying. “We don’t know the history of these two individuals.” “One could argue that the perpetrator is behind the computer with an obvious intent to hurt Worth, which makes him or her more powerful than the victim,” she says. But maybe cyberbullying doesn’t necessarily fit. “I have heard a broader term such as electronic aggression, which might describe the case better.” Worth’s experience exemplifies the current state of cyberbullying research. It remains in need of a consensus definition with social scientists struggling to find one. Next week: Recognizing a cyberbully.

Dec. 8, 2011

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State Bureau ‘on the ground’ From the front

the fact that there were federal offices on that ballot,” the source said. According to the source, the State Bureau of Investigation is using details uncovered during a year-long investigation by the Yancey County News to advance the state probe. This newspaper has documented how some felons who had not regained their right to vote did vote in the Genreal Election. It has also raised the

question of why multiple ballots were sent to a single wide trailer that could not accommodate as many people as the ballot requests numbered. E q u a l l y, t h e p a p e r h a s documented how some individuals - including law officers - apparently delivered absentee ballots to voters, witnessed the ballot being cast, and then carried the ballot away from the voter, all of which is illegal.

Shelter strips officer of right to relinquish animals The Yancey Humane Society has stripped the county animal control officer of his ability to relinquish animals at the local shelter, effectively eliminating the most important aspect of the job. Shelter management said they took the step because – among other reasons - they believe the officer, Bobby Austin, is himself violating state law regarding the care of his own animals. “Deputy Austin owns animals that are unvaccinated for rabies, which is required by law,” YHS Executive Director Tim Tipton said in a statement to the Yancey County News. “On Dec. 5, 2011, Sheriff (Gary) Banks and County Manager Nathan Bennett were notified by YHS President Jane Mummert and Executive Director Tim Tipton that Animal Control Officer Bobby Austin will no longer be allowed to relinquish animals to our shelter,” Tipton wrote in a statement released to the newspaper. Both Banks and Bennett “were made aware of concerns we had about Bobby Austin back in October.” “There are several reasons we felt it necessary to take this action at this time,” Tipton wrote. They include, Tipton wrote: “1. Recent reports received by our organization as to the poor physical condition of animals owned by Deputy Austin. “2. We have had reports of poor and inadequate living environment of Deputy Austin’s personal animals. “3. Deputy Austin owns animals that are unvaccinated for rabies, which is required by law. These reports were conveyed to Sheriff Banks for investigation and resolution and no information has been presented to our organization stating these allegations are unfounded or untrue. “4. On numerous occasions Deputy Austin has relinquished animals to the shelter without completing the information on the relinquish forms. On at least five occasions he only signed the relinquishment forms completing no other information at all. He provided no information as to where he obtained the animal, the circumstances as to the animal coming in to his possession, if there was a legal owner of the animal nor did he give a physical description of the animal. All this information is a requirement of The North Carolina Department of Agriculture for an animal entering a certified animal shelter, which we are. We felt it necessary to take this action to protect our organization. This being said we are also the only animal welfare agency in Yancey County; we also took this action on behalf of all animals. “We enjoy an excellent relationship with our local law enforcement agencies and officers. This action should in no way be construed to apply to any other officers. Other officers may bring animals in for relinquishment to our shelter as necessary,” Tipton wrote.

The Yancey County News does not charge to publish obituaries.

Dec. 8, 2011

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health and beauty items. Gift baskets, magazines, DVD’s, and much much Someone to cut firewood in exchange for wood. Crafters wanted for new upscale gift shop in more! Santa will also be stopping by soon! Load for load. All hardwood. Must have truck and Burnsville. Rent your own booth!! $15 per linear foot per month. Depth of Booth varies. We sell saw. 284-4682 your products – 100% profit of your crafts goes Give the gift of reading! Subscribing to Yancey back to you. Call immediately for your application! County’s ONLY LOCALLY OWNED Newspaper can provide a year’s worth of great information! Only 828-678-0059. Attention Snow Birds! Do you find yourself $25 will get your home delivery started TODAY! wondering if the beautiful mountain home you leave Call 678-3900 to sign up NOW!

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YHS Pet Press Wildflower is a strikingly beautiful adult spayed female cat. She is a good mouser and loves people!

Lucky is an adult neutered male Walker Hound is active and fun. He loves being in the house and jogs in the park. A fenced yard would be best. Barney is a large adult neutered male cat. He is a beautiful black tabby on white. He loves to cuddle and he is really sweet.

Freckles is 9-10 month old neutered male Australian Shepherd mix. He is somewhat shy at first, so he needs patience and love.

Call the shelter at 682-9510 for more information on these or other pets, or plan to visit us at 962 Cane River School Road.

Dec. 8, 2011

Family

The cart must not be put before the horse By John Rosemond Someone recently asked if I agree with the currently popular Living p a r e n t i n g a d a g e that “rules without relationship lead to with rebellion.” No, I do not. First, a s a w r i t e r, I a m children k e e n l y a w a r e t h a t alliteration can be very misleadingly seductive. positions of ethical leadership, There have been times, for defined as “exercised for example, when I came up with the purpose of bringing out a clever alliterative phrase and the best in the people being convinced myself, temporarily, led.” Unfortunately, unethical that clever and correct were people - people whose primary one and the same. The phrase objectives are self-edification in question is clever, but it is a n d s e l f - a d v a n c e m e n t are sometimes found in not correct. Rules without relationship leadership positions. Even with the rule-giver is the case some parents are guilty of in the military, a corporation, this sort of ego-tripping. The and a properly-run classroom. distinction is simple: Ethical In none of those cases does the leaders command; unethical absence of a close relationship leaders demand. The former is between the person in authority accomplished naturally, with and those over whom he/ ease and calm confidence. The she exercises authority lead latter is characterized by stress inevitably to rebellion. The and threat (overt and implied). fact is that persons in positions Wherever found, the unethical of leadership cannot afford to leader is a very insecure person enter into relationships with the who abuses the responsibilities people they are leading. Mind of leadership by “lording over” you, they are going to HAVE other people. The natural response to relationships with those people. That’s unavoidable. But they ethical leadership is relaxed should be careful not to enter submission. This is true of INTO relationships with them. adults, and it is true of children. The effective leader knows that The research shows that relationship boundary has to obedient children score highest exist in order for him/her to be on scales of happiness and seen and properly responded to adjustment. These happy kids understand, intuitively, that as an authority figure. When the thin line between their parents do what they do having a relationship and being not out of self-interest but out in a relationship is crossed of genuine love and concern for by a person in a leadership their present and future welfare. position - and parenting is a So, even when they don’t leadership role - authority is agree, they submit. The ethical leader wants sacrificed. In fact, it is correct relationship but does not rush it. to say that when someone who has established a close His aim is to bring out so much relationship with someone else “best” in the people he is leading then tries to exercise authority that they are eventually qualified over that person, resentment is for relationship with him. So the the inevitable outcome. When private advances through the the understanding is “I’m your ranks and becomes an officer, friend” and the friend then tries the salesperson is eventually to set limits on the befriended, promoted to sales manager, and the latter’s reaction is going to be the child eventually becomes somewhere between confused a truly grown-up responsible and angry. In short, rules with adult who is in a peer-to-peer relationship lead to resentment relationship with his parents. Rules with ethical leadership and possibly rebellion. lead eventually to relationship. But mere leadership is not enough. The only people But the cart must not be put qualified to establish rules, before the horse. Family psychologist John limits, and expectations over Rosemond answers’ questions other people are those in at rosemond.com.

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Writing workshops offered Some of the area’s best authors and instructors are featured in the new spring lineup of workshops from UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program (GSWP), which includes courses located in Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain and Burnsville. Courses will help hone the skills of writers of poetry and prose, including memoir, novels, and creative nonfiction. Some classes are open to interested writers of all levels; some are restricted to more advanced writers. In all cases, class size is limited and early registration is suggested. For writers of all levels: Maryedith Burrell, who has written scripts for a wide variety of network TV shows as well as some films, and acted in shows like “Seinfeld” and “Parenthood,” leads the screenplay workshop, “From Sophocles to ‘Social Network.’” The course will explore elements of visual storytelling and ways to bring characters to life. This 10-week class meets from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 14, at Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville. “Exploring Poetry’s Voices of Love” is a workshop with poet Jeff Davis which will span from Sappho, through Shakespeare and Donne, and on to modern writers. Through work in various forms, participants in this workshop will learn to give voice to the deep feelings that have inspired great poetry since ancient times. Davis is the author of the books, “Transits of Venus,” and “Natures: Selected Poems, 1972-2005,” and he hosts the radio program Wordplay on AshevilleFM. This 10-week workshop meets from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 14, at Monford Books & More, 31 Montford Ave., Asheville. Novelist Marjorie Klein, will lead a fiction workshop, “Who Knows Where or When?” to help writers create characters in settings that not only create a sense of place, but imbue both characters and plots with a depth and understanding. Author of the novel,“Test Pattern,” a Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers selection, and the recently completed “Shifting Gears,” Klein was also contributor over two decades to Tropic, the Miami Herald’s Sunday magazine. This 10-week class meets from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 14, at Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville. Brian Lee Knopp, author of the memoir “Mayhem in Mayberry: Misadventures of a P.I. in Southern Appalachia” (2010 Malaprop’s bestseller), teaches “The Devil You Know: The Art, Skill and Thrill of Writing Your Memoir.” The course involves in-class “lifestorming” sessions and writing, at-home writing and reading assignments, and a chance for “a daring rescue of the truth trapped inside your life’s labyrinth.” This 10-week class meets from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 14, at Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville. “Come to Your Senses: A Memoir Writing Workshop” will be led by Jennifer McGaha, a writer with deep Appalachian roots whose work has appeared in more than 20 magazines and literary journals. McGaha, who teaches part-time at Brevard College and is nonfiction editor for the Pisgah Review, will use a series of exercises designed to trigger memories and increase the writer’s awareness of sensory details. This 10-week course meets 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 15, at The Kellogg Center, 11 Broyles Road, Hendersonville. Poet Pat Riviere-Seel teaches “Risky Business: A Poetry Workshop,” which will push participants out of their comfort zones and explore terrain that challenges participants’ imagination, language, beliefs, to spark new poems. Riviere-Seel is the author of two poetry collections: “The Serial Killer’s Daughter” (2009), winner of the N.C. Literary and Historical Society’s Roanoke Chowan Award for Poetry, and “No Turning Back Now” (2004) which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. This 10-week course meets 4-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 15, at Mountain Heritage Center, 113 Green Mountain Drive, Burnsville. Sebastian Matthews will lead a creative nonfiction workshop, “True Stories,” which will include work in a variety of nonfiction forms including essay and memoir. Participants will read published works, workshop each other’s writing, and explore revision strategies. Matthews is author of the memoir “In My Father’s Footsteps” (Norton, 2004), and the poetry collection, “We Generous” (Red Hen Press, 2007). He teaches in the LowResidency MFA Program at Queens University, and part-time at Warren Wilson College. This 10-week course meets 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 15, at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State Street, Black Mountain.

Dec. 8, 2011

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Dec. 8, 2011

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What’stoeatattheelementaryschools? Friday, Dec 9

Monday, Dec 12

Tues Dec 13

Wed Dec 14

Thurs Dec 15

Friday, Dec 16

Breakfast Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk Lunch Beef Tacos/Fish Nuggets/Cornbread/ Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/Salad/Pinto Beans/Pineapple Bits/Mandarin Oranges

Breakfast Pancakes Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Sausage Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Ham Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Lunch Hamburger/ Cheeseburger/Pizza Stix w/Marinara/ Sunbut’r w/jelly San’wich/Carrot Stix/Corn/Peaches/ Cranberry Crunch/ Milk

Lunch Hot Dog/Baked Ham/Mac&Cheese/ Sunbut’R w/jelly San’wich/B.Beans/ Slaw/Pears/Blueberry Apple Crisp Milk

Lunch Beef Nachos/ Ham&Cheese San’wich/Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/ Salad/Peas/Fruit Cocktail Milk

Lunch Turkey&Gravy/ Stuffing/Roll/ Sunbutter w/Jelly San’wich/Mashed Potatoes/Green Beans/Peaches/ Choco Chip Cookie Milk

Lunch Toasted Cheese San’wich/Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/ Veggie Beef Soup/ Broccoli/Fruit/ Applesauce Milk

Food for thought for middle school Friday, Dec 9

Monday, Dec 12

Tuesday, Dec 13

Wed., Dec 14

Thurs Nov Dec 15

Friday, Dec 16

Breakfast Pancake&Sausage Stix/Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Breakfast Pizza/ Pancakes Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Sausage Biscuit Pancakes Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Breakfast Pizza/ Waffles Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Ham Biscuit Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Breakfast Pancake&Sausage Stix/Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk

Lunch Beef Tacos/Fish Nuggets/Cornbread/ Chix Quesadillas/ Salad/Pinto Beans/ Pineapple Bits/ Mandarin Oranges/ Milk

Lunch Hamburger/ Cheeseburger/Pizza Stix w/Marinara/ Corn/Carrot Stix/ Peaches/Cranberry Crunch Milk

Lunch Hot Dog/Baked Ham/Mac&Cheese/ Cornbread/Stuffed Crust Pizza/Baked Beans/Slaw/Pears/ Blueberry Apple Crisp/Milk

Lunch Beef Nachos/ Ham&Cheese San’wich/Chix Quesadilla/Salad/ Peas/Fruit Cocktail Milk

Lunch Turkey&Gravy/ Stuffing/Roll/Chix Tenders/Mashed Potatoes/Green Beans/Peaches/ Choco Chip Cookie Milk

Lunch Toasted Cheese San’wich/Sunbut’r San’wich/Stuffed Crust Pizza/Veggie Beef Soup/Broccoli/ Fruit/Applesauce Milk

Chowing down at Mountain Heritage Friday, Dec 9

Monday, Dec 12

Tuesday, Dec 13

Wed., Dec 14

Thurs., Dec 15