Sept 15, 2011 by Yancey County News

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Conference play Friday for Cougars

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www.yanceycountynews.com vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v Sept. 15, 2011 W Vol. 1, No. 36

Friday services set for Charlie Proffitt

Charlie Proffitt, a Hardscrabble resident who was known for his community service and as the co-host of “The Sunday Gospel Jubilee” show on WKYK, died Tuesday. He was 39. “He was number one, to be straight honest with you,” said West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ricky Chandler. “He was a real good fireman, a good husband, and a good father. He loved being a firefighter.” Proffitt was a sergeant with Proffitt the North Carolina Department of Corrections at Mountain View Correctional Institution. In 1989, Charlie began co-hosting “The Ed Ball Gospel Sing,” on WKYK and

Ray Rapp ‘disgusted’ at marriage amendment

By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News

State Representative Ray Rapp is adamant that there is no need for the state Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between only a man and a woman, as passed by the legislature this week in a special session. “We’re down here just giving North Carolina a huge black eye in terms of the global economy, while we’re trying to recruit these businesses and industries and manufacturers to our state. I just don’t think its healthy for any of

us. I think it’s time for us to take a step back from these kinds of activities.” Rapp, who represents parts of Ya n c e y C o u n t y, said his issue with the amendment is twofold. “Here we are. We call a special s e s s io n in w h ic h we’re spending, in just the three days $150,000, where the primary item on the agenda was to pass this amendment to ban gay marriage. We already have a statute on the books about this, we have for 15 years which hasn’t been challenged. See page 5

WTOE, and after Mr. Ball’s death Charlie and his father co-hosted what became “The Sunday Gospel Jubilee.” Burnsville Mayor Danny McIntosh said the loss of such a vibrant member of the community at such an early age was tragic. “Charlie wasn’t diagnosed with leukemia until some short months ago. Charlie was the picture of health; a really great young man. Its just a tragic thing.” West Yancey VFD had scheduled a benefit spaghetti dinner Saturday Sept. 17, from noon-7 p.m. to raise money Proffitt and recently retired firefighter Jay Black, who is also battling leukemia. The dinner will go on as scheduled, officials said. The menu will include spaghetti, garlic bread, drink and

desert for $10 per plate. Proffitt was a lifelong member of Bald Creek United Methodist Church, where he had served as a trustee, and he had also served as secretary at West Yancey VFD and on its board of directors. Chandler said many fire departments have plans to send fire trucks to Proffitt’s funeral on Friday, and crews from Asheville and Enka Candler have agreed to bring equipment and answer emergency calls that may occur during the service to allow firefighters to attend the funeral. “You couldn’t ask for no better firemen,” Chandler said of both Proffitt and Black. “Anything I asked, they were there to do.” See the complete obituary inside.

Could grapes save our farms? By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News

man who has made wines and viticulture an important focus in his life says that our Appalachian mountains are ripe for growing one of the most popular and beneficial grapes in the world. “The 600-millionyear-old Appalachian Mountains provide us with a unique grape-growing environment,” says Chuck Blethen, a popular speaker on wines and winemaking and the author of “The Wine Photo by Jonathan Austin Etiquette Crista Thomas Hughes has been protesting Guide on the Burnsville Town Square, holding up sign with messages about the Yancey D e f e n s e Against County Department of Social Services. Hughes says DSS took her children away Wine Snobbery.” from her after her then-husband was convicted in a sexual abuse case. “I plan to be out here every day for six weeks,” she said.

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Top schools honored by school board

Photo by Jonathan Austin

The principals from Yancey County Schools honored for excellence in education were honored Monday at the monthly school board meeting. Here the principals pose for a photograph with the boardmembers. Front Row: Alton Robinson, Principal, Bald Creek Elementary School; Shane Cassida, Principal, Burnsville Elementary School; Michele Laws, Principal, Micaville Elementary School; Angie Anglin, Principal, Clearmont Elementary School; Rick Tipton, Principal, East Yancey Middle School; Andrea Allen, Principal, Bee Log Elementary School; Doris Deyton, Principal, South Toe Elementary School. Second Row: Dr. Tony Tipton, Superintendent; and board membersMike Orr, Jack Tipton, Rhonda Boone, Shelia Ramsey, and Bill Whiteside.

Debate team seeking judges

The Cougar Speech & Debate team is looking for people willing to serve as judges during debate tournaments. Judge training will be provided and scheduling is very flexible. If interested please contact Coach Tom Surber at 828-284-4642.

Heritage FFA kickoff planned

Heritage FFA kickoff for student, parent and supporters will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 6 –8 p.m. at the high school. The program is designed to show all the exciting

opportunities FFA has to offer Students can learn about all the activities FFA has planned for this year. Parents can learn exactly what FFA is all about stop relying on what you think FFA is or think its still the same as it was when you were in school because its not. Learn why and how students should become involved. Learn why so many students have found our activities in the past beneficial and how they are using what have learned through the FFA to be sucessful - Trust you will come away with a changed opinion of just exactly what FFA is.

Also learn how you can support your student in their interest. Supporters can learn how to make an impact in a student’s life. Learn how you can use your time and talents to support our activities and make a huge difference for the students. Please RSVP to the high school by Sept. 19.

Instrument donations needed

Musical instrument donations are urgently needed for the Cane River Middle School and East Yancey Middle School band programs! If you have a used band instrument in your attic or closet, please

consider donating it to the band. These instruments will be repaired and loaned to students whose families can not afford to get one on their own. Instruments can be dropped off in the main office at either middle school. If you would like a receipt for a tax deduction mailed to you, please leave your name and address inside the case. We appreciate your help to ensure that all students have the chance to play a musical instrument regardless of financial situation. For questions contact Christine English at jcenglish@yanceync. net, 682-2202 or 682-

2281.

Yard sale to benefit Micaville school

A Community Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24 beginning at 7 a.m. at Micaville Elementary School. The sale will be held rain or shine at the school, located on N.C. 80 South. Items include: baby clothes, toys, teen clothes, adult clothes, household items, and many other items will be available for sale at discount prices. A variety of refreshments and homemade foods to include: breakfast items, biscuits w/gravy, cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, water and soft drinks,

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: ___________________________________

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Opinion

Shuler urges bipartisan effort on deficit reduction U.S. Representative Heath Shuler joined fellow leaders of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to send a letter to the members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or “Super Committee,” advocating that Republicans and Democrats work together to achieve a balanced, bipartisan solution that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years. “People in Western North Carolina and across the country have sent a clear message to Congress: put aside the partisan bickering and get something accomplished,” said Rep. Shuler. “The members of the ‘Super Committee’ have a rare opportunity to do just that by working together to produce a longterm plan that will reduce the deficit and put stability back in the economy. Now is the time for Congress to stop thinking about the 2012 elections and start doing what’s right for the American people.” The 12-member bipartisan, bicameral “Super Committee” was created by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and tasked with identifying a minimum of $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions before the end of this year. The letter from the Blue Dog Coalition urges the Super Committee to go even further and cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years. “Trimming $1.2 trillion from the deficit is an important first step, but we must go bigger and bolder to achieve long-term fiscal stability,” said Rep. Shuler. “The best deficit

reduction plans out there, including the Blue Dog Benchmarks of Fiscal Reform, would cut the deficit by $4 million over 10 years, stabilize the debt, reduce the size of government, and bring long-term certainty to the economy. I urge the Super Committee to take a serious look at these proposals as they move forward.” Here is the text of the letter: September 14, 2011 Dear Members of Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction: On August 11, 2011, we sent a letter to every member of the Committee, urging you to work with your colleagues to achieve a balanced, bipartisan solution that will ensure the United States remains the world’s leading economy. We have spent the past month with our constituents back home. As Blue Dogs, we represent diverse districts that span the country, yet we heard one consistent message: quit the partisan bickering and get something accomplished. Congress and the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction have a rare opportunity to put our fiscal house in order at a time when the public is paying close attention to our deficits and debt. Leaders of both parties will urge you to retreat to the stale party positions and

talking points. Political operatives, with an eye toward November 2012, will turn this into a battle of Democrats versus Republicans. Now is the time to take a time-out from the 2012 elections, put party affiliations aside, and work together for the sake of our country’s future. The Budget Control Act of 2011 charged you to find $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions, but we urge you to think bigger and bolder. We believe that the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction should report a plan to Congress that would truly stabilize the debt as a share of the economy, and cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years. The roadmaps to achieve this goal are plentiful and bipartisan. In March, the Blue Dog Coalition outlined the “Blue Dog Benchmarks of Fiscal Reform,” which would cut the deficit by $4 trillion over ten years, stabilize the debt, and reduce the size of government. These benchmarks were based on the Fiscal Commission Report, but there are other large, bipartisan plans that achieve the same goals. The ideas are out there. Now we just need to prove that Congress has the political will. We are heartened by the tone and optimism of your opening statements at the first official Joint Committee meeting. We stand willing to work with you to achieve big results for the future of our country.

Registration opens for UNC Asheville’s Super Saturday classes for grades 3-8 Registration is now open for UNC Asheville’s acclaimed Super Saturday program for creative, highly motivated and/or academically gifted 3rd-8th graders, which begins on Oct. 15. The 27 courses cover topics including photography, robotics, wildlife exploration, engineering, creative writing, animation, setpainting, folk dancing, French, martial arts and much more. The Super Saturday program has allowed more than 12,000 children from

across Western North Carolina explore their special interests through hands-on learning on the UNC Asheville campus. Young artisans can choose “Hand Built Pottery,” or “Knots, Braids & Weaves,” while other creative students may prefer “Cartooning,” “Fractured Fairy Tales,” or “Improv for the Theatre.” Budding scientists and engineers can explore lasers and holograms in “Physics is Phun,” or choose “Engineering” to disassemble cell phones and hair dryers. “Learning Basic Magic” and “Science for Girls,” are also likely to be popular. UNC Asheville Super Saturday classes are taught by faculty members, other area professionals, experienced crafters, and upperlevel students.

Super Saturday courses are generally open to students in grades 3-8; some courses are restricted to certain grades. Classes meet from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays from October 15-November 19. All students are welcome to attend; the mail-in registration deadline is October 8 and on-line registration closes October 9. Late registration for courses that are not filled will be available in-person only on October 15 in Carmichael Hall. Tuition is $69 for each sixweek course. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. For more information or to register, call UNC Asheville’s Cultural Events and Special Academic Programs at 828/251-6558 or visit cesap.unca.edu/super-Saturday-program.

Overmountain Victory Celebration The 20th Annual Overmountain Victory Celebration will be held September 1518th at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Milepost 331 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Spruce Pine allowing you to witness Revolutionary War history. Thursday September 15, will be School Day where area school children will participate in various demonstration from 9 a.m. -2:30 p.m. (reservation required). The public will be able to take an evening tour by candlelight through a Revolutionary War period encampment Friday and Saturday evening from 7:00pm9:00pm and catch a glimpse of history. Firing demonstrations will be held Saturday every hour on the hour from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Re-enactors will demonstrate crafts and skills throughout the day. Then at 3 p.m. witness a battle re-enactment at the Orchard at Altapass. Sunday morning at 9:00am they will have a Posting of Colours ceremony at 9 a.m. and a Drum Head service at 10 a.m.

For more information call 765-12

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Obituaries Charles Ray Proffitt

Charles Ray “Charlie” Proffitt, 39, of Hardscrabble, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of Bobby and Linda Stiles Proffitt. In 1989, Charlie began cohosting with Ed Ball, “The Ed Ball Gospel Sing.” After Mr. Ball’s death, he and his father co-hosted what became “The Sunday Gospel Jubilee”. He also worked part time at WKYK as an announcer. Charlie was a lifelong member and former trustee of Bald Creek United Methodist Church and a 16-year member of West Yancey Fire Department, where he served as secretary and on the board of directors. He was employed by the North Carolina Department of Corrections as a sergeant with Mountain View Correctional Institution. He was an avid sports fan, but more than anything he loved spending time with his girls. Surviving, in addition to his parents is his loving wife of 18 years, Dawn Francis Proffitt; two daughters, Mackenzie and Cadie Proffitt; brothers Mike Proffit and wife, Valencia, of Hardscrabble and Randy Proffitt and wife, Jeanne, of Burnsville; father-in-law Doug Francis and wife, Trish, of Burnsville; mother-in-law, Ann Greene and husband, Buddy, of Chesney, S.C.; and nephews Matthew, Jason, Robbie and Steven Proffitt. Funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, in Bald Creek United Methodist Church. The Revs. A.J. Moore and Mike Shuford will officiate. Burial will follow in the Cane River Baptist Cemetery with honors conducted by the NCDOC honor guard. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Thursday at Bald Creek United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Bald Creek UMC Memorial Fund C/O Nan Proffitt, 43 Beechwood Lane, Burnsville, NC 28714 or American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park Bldg 1, Asheville, NC 28801.

Edith Gortney Wyke

Edith Gortney Wyke, 90, of Burnsville, died Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at Fleshers Fairview Health Care Center. A native of Mitchell County, she was a daughter of the late Jesse and Vennie Grindstaff Burleson. She was also preceded in death by husbands Paul Gortney and Leroy Wyke; daughter Helen Borkowski, four sisters and four brothers. Surviving are her children, Lois Hughes of Lenoir, Leona Paterson and husband, Jerry, of Greensboro, Glenn Gortney and wife, Nancy, of Burnsville, Carolyn Laws and husband, Delmar, of Burnsville, and Nancy Radford and husband, Ross, of Fletcher; two sisters, Mary Hughes of Statesville and Elberta Buchanan of Bakersville; 12 grandchildren and 23 greatgrandchildren. Funeral was Tuesday with the Revs. Danny Hardin and Michael Gortney officiating. Burial was in the Silvers Chapel

Marjorie Young Fox

Baptist Church Cemetery in Bakersville. Memorials may be made to Fleshers Fairview Health Care Employee Fund, P.O. Box 1160, Fairview, NC 28730.

Brownlow Luther Moffitt

Brownlow Luther Moffitt, 83, of Hughes Gap Road, Bakersville, died Sept. 7, 2011, at his home. A native of Mitchell County, he was born Sept. 4, 1928. He was the son of the late Isaac and Sylvia Moffitt. He was a member of Bakersville Masonic Lodge # 357 AF&AM and Odoms Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. He was loved and well known as elected sheriff of Mitchell County for 12 years. He also was known as dealing with many people as lumberman and sawmill operator for many years. He also worked with Ford Motor Company for some time owned and operated a motel in Woodlawn. In his younger years he served in the Army and was employed by the city of Elizabethton, Tenn., as a bus driver. Brownlow loved and enjoyed life to the fullest, never a stranger to meet, all to become his friends. He had a very special love for politics and the county he served. He was preceded in death by sister, Etta Hughes, brothers Vester, Fred, and Jess Moffitt, and wife Lennis H. Moffitt, who died in June 1997. Survivors include his wife Georgia G. Moffitt; two daughters, Janice McKinney, and husband, Gary, and Jeannene Garland, and husband, Floyd, all of Bakersville; one grandson, Ryan B. McCann and fiance, Tracie Miller, of Bakersville, one granddaughter, Jessica Williams and husband, Darren, of Montross, Va., one stepson, Randy Boone, of the home, two step-grandchildren, Tracy and Cynthia McKinney, of Erwin and Unicoi, Tenn., one surviving brother, Toye Moffitt and wife, Georgia, of Unicoi, Tenn., one sister Faye Matheney, of Concord, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service was Friday, Sept. 9, in the chapel of Henline – Hughes Funeral Home with William Ellis, Darren Williams, and Jessica Williams officiating. Interment was at Middle District Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Mitchell County 236 Hospital Drive Spruce Pine, NC 28777.

Marjorie Young Fox, 89, of Newdale, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at the Brian Center in Spruce Pine. She was the daughter of the late Lat R. Young and Nora Robinson Young. She was also preceded in death by husband, Brady Fox; son Mike Fox; infant grandson William Michael Fox II; brother Ray B. Young; sister-in-law June Young; and brother-in-law Lawrence Towe. Marjorie was a woman of strong character, values and determination. She was very devoted to her family and loved spending time with them. She enjoyed flower gardening as a hobby when her health allowed it. Marjorie loved to talk and share stories of her time in the Army Signal Corps in the early 1940s at Long Branch, N.J. She lived life in spite of many health problems and will be missed greatly by her family and friends. Survivors include daughter Anita Fortner and husband, Larry; grandson Michael Fortner of Bakersville; sister Betty Towe of Newdale; daughter-in-law Brenda Fox of Tennessee; and two nephews, John and Alan Young of Tennessee. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Newdale Presbyterian Church Cemetery with a memorial service to be held at 2 p.m. in the church. Rev. Mike Brazelle will officiate. Memorials in Marjorie’s honor may be made to Newdale Presbyterian Church.

Oppy Louise Bennett

Oppy Louise Bennett, 83, of Weaverville, loving and devoted wife and mother, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. Surviving are her husband, Ward Bennett; a son, Larry and his wife, Susanne; granddaughter, Kaci; grandson, Cody; sister, Daisey and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Bailey and Edwards Cemetery on Coxes Creek. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

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Rapp sees amendment as a big waste of time

A reader sent in this photo of two coyotes in his Bolen’s Creek yard. He said they were eating pears on the ground, and that neighbors related how coyotes had been seen eating other fruit that was littering the ground.

Folk festival set in Burnsville Oct. 1

The 26th Annual Music in the Mountains Folk Festival that takes place indoors at the Burnsville Town Center on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 5:30 pm and on. The Festival, “dedicated to the preservation of mountain music and culture” includes music from all over our mountain region including bluegrass and traditional music, ballad singers, storytellers, and dancing. You won’t want to miss one knee-slapping, hand-clapping minute of this evening’s fun! Some of the performers this year include Ira Bernstein, fiddle and dance; Southern Road, hot local bluegrass group; Bobby McMillon, ballad singer and storyteller extraordinaire; Bob “Happy Feet” Aldridge, traditional dancer; Bob Willoughby and Steve Millard, great fiddle tunes and songs; Suzannah Park and Nathan Morrison, world-class singers of many traditions; and ETSU’s Old-Time String Band, from the only school for traditional

music in America. The evening’s emcee is Fred Park; master storyteller, musician and dance historian. Food and refreshments will be available Tickets are $14 adults, and $12 for students and seniors 65+. Save $2 and buy your tickets in advance at the Burnsville or Spruce Pine TRAC Galleries through Friday, September 30. The Music in the Mountains Folk Music Festival is sponsored by the Toe River Arts Council in part by a Grassroots Art Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. For more information contact the Toe River Arts Council at 828-682-7215 or 765-0520, or email us at HYPERLINK “mailto:trac@ toeriverarts.org” trac@toeriverarts.org Our complete schedule can be viewed on our website at HYPERLINK “http://www. toeriverarts.org” www.toeriverarts.org

From the front Rapp was speaking Thursday by telephone from Raleigh. “If you want to talk about something that deflects attention from the absolute critical need of creating jobs, then unleash a culture way. It’s hurtful, particularly for those in the mountains with its creative economy and artists. This puts a wet blanket on the kind of environment of creativity we are trying to nurture,” he said. Rapp said he has heard from business leaders across the state who are against such legislative action. He said they are telling him: ‘Don’t make people think about North Carolina in this context. Don’t get us involved in the turmoil that will ensue.’ When I listen to my conservative brethren talk about this, it’s putting the government in our bedroom, where we don’t need them.” Rapp said he believes the issue is less about Christian morals and more about cynicism. “I come out of a faith tradition of respecting all individuals. No matter where you stand on this issue, the fact of the matter is, we spent three days to debate something that’s already law. That money could have been better spent.” “When we’ve got hurricane victims, an unemployment rate over 10 percent, when our schools have been hit harder than they ever have in the history of this state - we are ranked 49th in the nation on per pupil spending - and we spend three days debating whether we should ban gay marriage, it’s crazy,” he said. Proponents of the amendment “say any judge can arbitrarily overturn the law. I say, if a federal judge overturns it, it doesn’t matter whether its an amendment or a statute; federal law always trumps state law.”

Yard sale to benefit Micaville school

Sept. 13. It will start at 6:30 For more information, p.m. at the Town Hall in contact Ricky Ray at 828A Community Yard Sale Burnsville. For information, 467-4998 or Martha Huskins will be held on Saturday, call Alice Wiley at 682-6854. at 828-208-0188. Liberty Hill Baptist Humane Society plans Sept. 24 beginning at 7 a.m. at Church Fall Festival big flea market Micaville Elementary School. Liberty Hill Baptist Church is The Yancey County Humane The sale will be held rain or shine at the school, located on hosting its annual Fall Festival Society will hold a giant flea in the church parking lot from market Sept. 30-Oct. 3The at N.C. 80 South. I t e m s i n c l u d e : b a b y 2 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. the Taylor Togs building in clothes, toys, teen clothes, 17. Admission is free and Micaville. Donation drop-off is adult clothes, household everyone is invited. Activities include crafts, Wednesday and Saturday items, and many other items will be available for sale at games, dunking booth, pie from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., through discount prices. A variety of throwing contest, hay rides, Sept. 24. The market will be open 8 refreshments and homemade gospel music and more. There foods to include: breakfast will also be a dessert contest a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 30 and items, biscuits w/gravy, for the adults. Enter your Oct. 1, and 1 p.m.-4 p.m Oct 2. For more information, call cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, homemade desserts by 2 p.m. water and soft drinks, nachos, to be judged by secret ballot. 682-9510. Hotdogs, baked beans, mac hotdogs, coffee, desserts, etc. Mountain Dulcimer and cheese will be served and will be sold. Group begins Family-friendly activities all the yummy desserts made Dulcemer craftman and include train rides, clowns, for the contest. Liberty Hill player David Wiseman will Baptist Church is located on lead a Dulcimer class at etc. for the kids. Mountain Piecemakers Hoot Owl Road off U.S. 19 in OAAK Gallery beginning Mitchell County. Please bring Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.. Class is Quilt Guild meeting The next monthly meeting a non-perishable food item for limited to six people. For information, call 675of the Mountain Piecemakers donation to the Shepherd’s Staff. 0690 Quilt Guild will be Tuesday,

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UARA Racing

Drivers battling for position with only five races to go By Kassie Hughes and Tony Stevens As the 2011 racing season dwindles down for the UARA-STARS, the competition is getting tougher with only five races left in the season, the first of which is this Saturday night at Ace Speedway. Brennan Poole has dominated the first half of the season, landing four wins, three runner-up finishes, and no finishes outside of the top five. Despite his success, Poole has yet to visit victory lane at Ace Speedway. He currently sits 171 points ahead of rookie George Miedecke in the point standings. With the large gap between the two drivers, Miedecke is focused on claiming his first win rather than securing a points title. Miedecke and his team overcame adversity during the last two events, replacing a rearend at Anderson immediately before qualifying and finishing fifth and blowing a motor during Friday practice at Lonesome Pine,

only to come back and win the Sunoco Pole. “After testing this past week, I am really excited about the race,” Miedecke said. “Our car is pretty good, so I would say we’re cautiously optimistic.” Pressure or not, Miedecke recently overtook Kyle Grissom as the runner-up in series points after Grissom’s tech infraction at Lonesome Pine cost him a full event’s worth of points.

Grissom, like Miedecke, has also shifted his focus to winning races instead of points. “I know the championship is pretty much over, so I’m totally focused on just winning now,” said Grissom, who won earlier this season at Hickory. “I just hope we can carry the momentum we have into Ace. It’s a very tricky track, so it’s going take a few laps to bring back the feel. I think we really need to repeat our

performance from last year when we won.” The UARA visits Ace Speedway only once during the 2011 season, but drivers consistently refer to it as one of the smallest, tightest, and trickiest “bullrings” on the circuit. At .400-mile, the long straightaways lead into paperclipstyle turns, making handling and tire management a premium. The long straightaways also place the emphasis on a strong motor program according

NASCAR fans invited to driver media events To celebrate the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, championship-contending drivers will visit with fans at the NASCAR Hall of Fame every Tuesday afternoon through Nov. 15. A d i ff e r e n t N A S C A R Sprint Cup Series driver will participate each week in an afternoon of local and national media opportunities. Visitors to the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be allowed to join the media for a 30-minute question-and-answer session

at the beginning of each visit. In addition, two fans will win the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes as the driver participates in national radio and television interviews. Contest details are available at www.NASCARHall.com. This is the schedule of drivers appearing for the media opportunities. All appearances are scheduled for 2 p.m., though the Hall of Fame said all times and drivers are subject to change. Sept. 13 Kyle Busch

Sept. 20 Ryan Newman Sept. 27 Denny Hamlin Oct. 4 TBD Oct. 11 Jimmie Johnson Oct. 18 J e ff G o r d o n and Kurt Busch (time to be determined) Oct. 25 Tony Stewart Nov. 1 Carl Edwards Nov. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski Nov. 15 Kevin Harvick The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. It is located in downtown Charlotte.

The Yancey County News does not charge to run obituaries. So when you are faced with the task of honoring your loved one, remember to ask your advisor to email the obituary to us. Send a photograph, too, and we will run it at no charge. Yancey County News - 678-3900

to Ace Speedway graduate and UARA race winner Ronnie Bassett Jr. “Good handling and a strong motor are both really big when you go to Ace,” said Bassett, whose brother is dominating the weekly limited late model division a t t h e s p e e d w a y. “You have to have the speed rolling through the center of the corner but you also have to have the motor to pull you up out of those tight corners and down the straightaways. Both are probably equally as critical. It’s a very unique racetrack.” A number of local drivers have filed tentative entries for the event including Ace Speedway regular and 2004 UARA Champion Jason York and former track champion Rodney Cook. UARA regular Garrett Campbell nearly won at the facility

earlier this year and the added pressure of a dwindling schedule means other tour drivers searching for their first win this season have fewer opportunities. Friday is the Times News Night at the speedway. There will be the Extremes, Street Stocks and Mini Trucks racing along with the UARA “Happy Half Hour.” Friday admission will be $5. Grandstand gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 8 p.m. The UARA-STARS will share the track on Saturday night with the Virginia MiniCups, the Southern Ground Pounders and the Ace Speedway Extremes. The prices are Adult $15, Senior / Student $10 and 12 and under is Free. Grandstand gates open at 3 p.m. for the Saturday night paint swapping, foot stomping excitement.

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Cougars face first conference test at Hendersonville By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News The Mountain Heritage varsity football coaching staff was busy after school Thursday diagnosing the Hendersonville style of play and choosing how they might stifle the explosive Bearcats offense. “Last year we killed them by putting pressure on them,” Coach Joey Robinson said. “We frustrated them.” The Cougars hope to continue that on Friday when they travel to Hendersonville for their first conference game of the season against a fast and talented foe. The Bearcats have rolled across three evenly matched opponents so far this season, with their only loss coming against powerhouse Asheville High School at Asheville. “They’re much faster than North Buncombe,” said Robinson. “We’ve not seen a team this fact since Lincolnton” in the playoffs last November. The Cougars came away with a tough 14-13 win over North Buncombe last Friday. “I thought we played well defensively” against the Blackhawks, Robinson said. North Buncombe was able to move the ball well against the Cougars - rolling up 320 offensive yards - but the Heritage defense shut them down in the red zone for most of the evening. “I don’t want to take anything away from North Buncombe, but we did a lot of things wrong” that let the Blackhawks stay in the game, Robinson said. Austin Rice rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cougars, but the victory was sealed by a point after kick by Israel Magana. “He won the game for us,” Robinson said, but the coach also credited long snapper Jay Howell for his consistent ball handling. “He’s done a phenomenal job all year.” North Buncombe kept themselves in a hole throughout the game by squandering their timeouts to avoid delay of game penalties. “They had a lot of people switching positions” before getting set offensively, Robinson said, but he said the Blackhawks’ offensive confusion was predictable because they put in a new offensive scheme for the game. That left them relying on their kicker for point production as the first half wound down and they couldn’t stop the clock.

North Buncombe’s best chance came in the second half when they perceived a mismatch on the Cougars’ right side and hit with repeated sweeps in that direction. “That hurt us,” Robinson said, but “we were trying to adjust” and in the end, the fact that the Blackhawks rolled up a lot of yards didn’t matter as they couldn’t get the ball across the goal line enough. The Cougars had the last possession, and a first down sealed North Buncombe’s fate as - with no time outs - they watched the clock run out. But Mountain Heritage expects this Friday’s game to be a different story. Hendersonville is “more athletic,” Robinson said, and will probably show a spread offense intended to create seams for both runners and receivers to exploit. But they may mix that with a spread I formation. Robinson said Hendersonville’s junior quarterback Grant Rivers “is a good looking kid” who can throw the ball long and has good legs. And as for receivers, “they have plenty of people who can catch,” the coach said. “They throw deep; they stretch it out” with big plays, he said. The Bearcats are “very well balanced,” have speed, and can generate big plays, he said. So the Cougars defense will have to be adept at reading plays and penetrating the offensive line to contain the Hendersonville backfield and rattle their confidence. Who’s the biggest threat on the Hendersonville team? “Toss a coin,” the coach replied. Friday’s game is at Dietz Field, located on N. Church St. in Hendersonville. Be aware that I-240/I-26 will be closed in the Hendersonvillebound direction at 6:30 p.m. in West Asheville, so either plan on clearing the Smokey Park Bridge interchange by then or taking an easterly detour through the open cut to River Ridge where you pick up I-40 to I-26. Exiting for Hendersonville, you can either take the U.S. 25 exit at Fletcher and arrive from the north, or go to Exit 49B and take Four Seasons Boulevard downtown. North Church is a one way street south, so if you are traveling Four Seasons Boulevard, turn right on King or Main to go north to the stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Photos by Jonathan Austin

Sept. 15, 2011

• yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS

Area man says Yancey is ripe for growing amazing grapes See page 10 From the front

When Blethen and his wife moved to Madison County he says he looked around and was amazed at the amount of south-facing slopes that would be perfect for growing grapes. “Most of the local farmers claimed that the weather is too cold or the altitude is too high to grow grapes in this region,” Blethen has written. But he countered: “Grapes will grow at high altitudes - like the grapes growing in the French, Swiss, Austrian, Italian and German Alps at 5,000-8,000 feet. One vineyard in Argentina is producing fantastic grapes (and wine) at 9,800 feet! The secret is to select the right grape to grow in these conditions.” Others have seen the potential in the soils of the Tar Heel state, going back to the 1500s, when French explorer and navigator Giovanni de Verrazano discovered muscadine grapes growing in the Cape Fear River Valley. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Thomas Jefferson noted North Carolina taking the lead with wine culture in the 1800s, estimating its “wine would be distinguished on the best tables in Europe, for its fine aroma, and chrystalline transparence.” The 1840 Federal Census listed the state as the number-one wine producer in the U.S.; it remained one of the highest-ranked until Prohibition in the early 1900s. In the last two decades, grape growing has returned, exploding in the piedmont of the state, but fear of failure due to elevation and temperature seems to have kept mountain farmers wary of investing their property and time in grapes. Blethen, now the executive director of the Southern Appalachian Viticulture Institute (SAVI), says the cold hardy variety of muscadine eliminates those doubts, though he admits the soil needs treatment and disease must be controlled for our hills to become plentiful with vineyards. According to SAVI, “Most of the soils in the mountain counties of North Carolina are residual soils from 600 million years of weathering granite. These soils tend to be low pH, high in aluminum ions, and be either hard-pan red clays or extremely rocky residual soils. ‘Rich soils,’ those dark soils with lots of humus, tend to occur in bottom land and are not particularly good for grapes because the low lands are also where cold air accumulates and causes frost damage to vines. The best farm sites for grapes are on the south or southeast facing slopes – not on the bottom of the valleys or on the top of the mountains,” he says. And if the right grape is grown, SAVI says “the mountains of Western North Carolina represent an ideal location for propagation of vineyards and wineries. The job creation possibility is large and the potential for agri-tourism income and tax revenue for the state is significant.” Adam McCurry, an agriculture technician with the Yancey County Extension Service, said the agency can’t recommend growing muscadine “until its been proven,” but added: “I hope (Blethen) does great with it. He

Photo by Jonathan Austin/Yancey County News

Cynthia Yancey shows off some cold-resistant grapes on her farm at the Yancey-Madison county line.

seems to have his ducks in a row. He seems to be the type of person who can do it, if anyone can.” Such diversification in agriculture is what will spell the future for Yancey and other counties that once were heavily supported by the tobacco crop. “It’s going to take a multiversed plan to replace tobacco,” McCurry said. “If this is part of it, fantastic.” Blethen has put his money where his mouth is. “I began propagating the wild mountain muscadines using a little-known viticulture technique called greenwood cuttings,” where the vine is cut in June and the cutting grown in temperature controlled greenhouses. “It worked.We sold some of our propagated grapevines to local farmers who wanted to see if they could successfully grow them at their respective altitudes, too. If they survive this coming winter, these farmers plan to start serious acreages of the wild mountain muscadine.” Blethen put in two 200 foot rows of muscadine at his Marshall home in 2009. “If all goes as planned, we will have brought to the forefront a native grape ... that is perfect for the mountains - a high-altitude, coldhardy, disease-resistant grape that can be grown naturally, organically or bio-dynamically. The potential for a wide range of products is exciting - juice, wine, grape seed oil, preserves, pies, table fruit, raisins, balsamic vinegar and other value-added products,” he said. “The unique thing we have going here is native, coldhardy muscadine that we are propagating in our greenhouse. These are disease resistant; perfect for organic farms.”

Another bonus is that muscadine vines produce many more grapes than other traditional European variety. “Most of the other grapes you plant, you put in 450-500 vines per acre,” he said. “Out of that acre you typically get 3.5 to 4.5 tons per acre. But with muscadine, you only plant 200 vines per acre, and you typically get 8 to 18 tons per acre.” But the biggest benefit may be what is inside the grapes and the leaves. That’s where scientists have found resveratrol, a chemical produced naturally by the plant when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. Canadian researchers recently reported in the journal Diabetes that low-birth weight baby mice fed diets rich in resveratrol were significantly less likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by insulin resistance, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and excess belly fat. The condition is a well known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. According to Blethen and several highly regarded online sources, muscadines have 40 times the amount of resveratrol as other red grapes. Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, lower blood sugar and other beneficial c a r d i o v a s c u l a r e ff e c t s o f resveratrol have been reported, though most of these results have yet to be replicated in humans. “It’s definitely a very healthy fruit,” said John McIntyre, who works with muscadine growers at the Duplin County Agriculture Extension office. “Here in Duplin we have a group creating a muscadine smoothie” that they hope to get on the market in the near future. Not only does the smoothie have

the resveratrol, he said, but a 15.2 ounce serving contains 16 grams of protein. “Resveratrol and other oxidents are going to be in the seed and skin” of the grape, McIntyre said, “but the highest levels are going to be in the leaf. An area of interest might be in drying the leaves, grinding them up and incorporating them into a food product. That could really boost the oxidants,” he said. “I think there’s still a lot to be uncovered out there about muscadine.” Research here in North Carolina suggests that the muscadine contains oxidents that might be weapons in the fight against a variety of cancers. Dr. E. Ann Tallant and Dr. Patricia E. Gallagher, researchers at Wake Forest, have published a study suggesting that “extracts from muscadine grape seeds and muscadine grape skins inhibit the growth of human lung, colon, prostate, breast, skin, brain and leukemia cells in vitro, suggesting that further studies are warranted to investigate their potential use in the prevention or treatment of cancer.” So there are a variety of markets for muscadine-based products. Which brings us back to one simple question: Can muscadine grapes be a sustainable crop in Yancey? Blethen is upbeat, saying his vines survived the last three winters with temperatures in the single digits. “It’s been growing here for thousands of years, in the mountain counties,” Blethen said. “It takes four to five years to get production, but if you maintain the vines, they will produce for 150 years.” He was emphatic: “Once you get the vineyard established, it can be something of value that

Sept. 15, 2011

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Outdoors

One very good reason to miss opening day

With opening day of archery deer season hitting this last weekend, you would think I might have a column on a bow hunt. For a reason I cannot ignore, I had to forgo this weekend’s opening. For the last three years I have attempted to pull a tag for an alligator in Georgia. This weekend allowed me to put a check beside an item on my hunting bucket list. I was notified in August that I was successful in drawing a gator tag for zone 4, which encompasses the counties around Valdosta, Georgia. With less than a month before the hunt was to start, I had to find a place to hunt, decide what I was going to do with the gator if I was successful and find a the appropriate vendors to take care of it depending on my decision. I had to do hours upon hours of ‘online’ scouting. Looking trough different maps, contacting potential land owners, monitoring weather circumstances, and arranging my work schedule were critical in making this a successful hunt. Southern Georgia is in the middle of a drought, where many of their rivers are nothing more than small streams, often not even flowing because the water is so low. I joined a hunting forum based in Georgia, and from information gathered there, decided a lake or pond would offer me the best opportunity. I met one gentleman, Dane Lancaster, on the forum who received his first gator tag this year for zone 4 also. We talked on the phone and agreed to tackle the hunt

Bill Howard’s

Outdoors

together rather than finding a guide. He has a small camper he allowed me to stay in, which knocked off the cost of a hotel room. He also would provide a boat for us to use and would work on permissions for us to hunt several areas. I was to supply the equipment for the hunt, namely a Muzzy Gator Getter setup for the bow, as well as some lights. We decided not to use a generator for fear of scaring the gators, and went with a couple of LED Lenser H7 head lamps instead. Both of these ideas played to our favor in getting up close to the alligators. Now my wife, she had nightmares about this trip. All she could envision was some swamp people with no teeth. Their tools of the trade would be a chain saw and a banjo, and likely be using me for gator bait. When I met Dane and his wife, Sheri, I asked them to smile big for me. Seeing they each had their teeth, I told them my wife’s concerns and we all got a good laugh out of it. The hunt had its challenges. After the first evening, we saw several dozen alligators, their reflective red eyes resembling a demon resting on the water’s surface. We practiced calling, using a sound that imitates a young gator in distress. Without fail, when we made the call, eyes would surface to see what was making the commotion. Once we had a small alligator make a swim to the boat. Dane commented if we had steps, the gator would have come right into the boat. It is an eerie feeling in the swamps with the different One gator seemed to not want to wait as he noises, the glowing eyes, and the soft tried to climb into our boat. lifting fog in the middle of the darkness.

When we were pulling out that morning we heard a pop and watched the boat’s front end lower. Upon investigation, the trailer broke near the tongue. We set the boat and trailer to the side and decided to catch a few hours sleep, and then we would return with a generator and welder to secure the trailer in order to get it back to the house. After we made the repairs, we borrowed a boat from one of Dane’s relatives. Things seemed to be working against us, but we were going to give it a good try with a positive attitude regardless. Even if we did not harvest an ‘ole swamp lizard, we were enjoying the hunt and the pursuit. Around 1 a.m., we spotted a gator resting in some swamp grass. With the lights, we were able to make out most of its head. The rule to determine how big a gator is to measure from the snout to the eyes. Whatever the measurement is in inches, the total length will be that in feet. Based on this information, we estimated the gator to be about 6 feet long, easily the largest we had come across. I decided to take the shot, and we drifted in an arc behind the gator. When the body lined up, I shot the arrow through the back. After some thrashing and splashing, we pulled the gator to the side of the boat. Usually in these instances, a pistol or ‘bang stick’ will be used to dispatch the gator before pulling him in the boat. I wanted it to be strictly a bow kill, so I used a hunting broadhead to the base of the spine. If anyone ever thinks a bow and arrow will not kill an alligator, I have testament to the contrary. In the end, I had experienced something of which I had only dreamed. I met knew people and made new friends, all in the fellowship of hunting and the outdoors. I had my trophy, regardless of size, taken the way I wanted to hunt it and by knowledge I had learned rather than watched. If that is not considered a successful hunt, there is no such thing. 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 billhowardoutdoors@gmail. com.

$ Wanted to Buy $ JUNK VEHICLES Pay Fair Price Will Pick Up Vehicle

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828-284-7537

Sept. 15, 2011

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HOMES & LAND

CLASSIFIEDS

Living-dining, kitchen, utility/mud room. Porch and Deck. Other homesites. Rent $600.00 month. Sell $169,000.00 Ask for Doris FOR RENT - or SALE at Lunsford Realty 678-3400 - 4.55 ACRES - BRICK RANCHER - has three $99,000.00 - 19.99 ACRES bedrooms, one bath. Big “ Survivalists Retreat” at end living room, kitchen, dining, of lane, spring water supply, utility /mud room. 1- Car plenty of firewood, wooded carport, 2-car garage. Level private. CABIN - of Three yard, meadow gentle slopes bedrooms, bath, huge living to woods. $600.00 month w/heart/heater for wood rent - $169,000.00 for sale. burning. Country KitchenLunsford Realty - ask for Dining. Deck. Needs TLC Doris 678-3400. but liveable now. Lunsford Realty 678-3400 FOR RENT OR SALE Furnished Cottage nestled NEW HOME - 4.82 ACRES 1.60 ACRES overlooks town - Custom Built Greatroom of Burnsville, yet wooded w/cathedral ceiling, wood serenity, private and quiet. floors, beautiful kitchen w/ Two bedrooms, two baths. stainless appliances, tile

counter tops. Two bedrooms, two baths, office/nursery. Huge laundry/mud room. Wrap-around porch. Private yet Close in! $199,000. Lunsford Realty 678-3400 $89,000.00 - If you can pay rent, you can afford this! Three bedrooms, two baths. Huge living w/fireplace of gas log. Dining, kitchen with center island, stainless appliances, new floor clovering. Porch. Fenced pasture for horse plus shed! 3 Miles to town! End or road PRIVATE! Lunsford Reaty 678-3400 LAND - 1.2 ACRES $7,900 NO restrictions! Beautiful knoll, 280* views. Private, yet close to town.

LAND - 1.03 ACRES Septic installed for three bedroom, site graded REDUCED $10,000.00!!!!! NO restrictions - just off 19E! Lunsford Realty 6783400 HOME FOR SALE Large Townhouse 3BR/3BA; $179,900 312 Robertson St.; 2173 sq.ft heated space, $82.00/Sqft; in-town; vaulted ceiling, fireplace, kitchendining combo, master on main, sunroom, office/den, large closets; non-smokers. Mountain views. Built 1997. 2-car attached garage.; Homeowners Assoc. cuts grass & shovels snow. Tax assess. value $225K MLS #490506 682-6074 FOR RENT Tw o t o t h r e e bedroom mobile homes. South Toe area. HUD approved. References and security deposit

required. 828-682-4705 RV sites for rent as well. WE NEED LAND! Small to medium tracts of raw landany directions. Remote with water, good hunting, or close in. Call Lunsford Realty 678-3400

SERVICES FREE MANURE: Will load. Clear Creek Ranch, Hwy. 80 South. Call to schedule pick-up, 828-6754510 Give the Gift of Music. Affordable Lessons. I will teach you Cello, Violin, Viola, Bass, (electric or standup) Guitar, Dulcimer, Piano, Accordion. THE MUSIC BOX, 128 W. Main Street, Burnsville 682-9667. WANTED TO BUY Junk vehicles; any age or condition. No title needed. Will pick up. 828-284-7522 or 828-284-7537

Yancey County News wants to hear your voice, your opinion, your concerns. Send your letters to 132 W. Main St., Burnsville NC 28714. You can also reach the editor at Jonathan@ yanceycounty news.com

Sept. 15, 2011

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Family your body registers taste may be have How more complicated than you think

Good intentions misfired once again

By John Rosemond The question of the day: Why do today’s parents have more problems with obedience than their grandparents ever thought possible? Since obedience requires that a child (a) clearly and correctly perceives that his parents are providing for him the steady authority he cannot provide himself and, therefore, (b) pays close attention to them, the answer is obvious: Many if not most of today’s parents do not cause their children to (a), so children do not do (b). The question then becomes: Why not? Because today’s parents - and especially those of the sort that consume parenting information (a) desire close relationships with their children and (b) pay lots of attention to them. Respect requires boundaries. People who do not establish clear relationship boundaries open themselves to being manipulated, exploited, and taken for granted - that is, disrespected. Not coincidentally, those happen to be complaints I often hear from today’s parents. To cut to the chase, their children do not respect them. Right. In the course of striving to form close relationships with their children, they fail to establish boundaries. This is especially true of today’s moms who, paradoxically, have no problem telling their husbands “I’m not available right now” but have great difficulty bringing themselves to say the same to their kids. In fact, if they were constantly available to their husbands, most of their husbands might like it, but they’d have far less repect for them. Their children are no different. The notion that parents should not enter into close relationships with children is radical only to someone who was not a child in the 1950s or before. As was my case, the pre-1960s parent was in close relationship with his or her spouse and/or friends, not his or her children. That’s why we emancipated earlier and more successfully and why our mental

Living

with

children health, as children, was so much better than is today’s kids’ mental health. Dependency has it’s season, but that season is finite. Concerning attention, the simple fact is that the more attention a parent pays to a child, the less attention the child will pay to the parent. In a young child’s mind, paying attention is either the parent’s obligation or his own. As a general rule, today’s parents make it clear that this is their obligation. As we are told is likely, good intentions have backfired once again. But the problem of ubiquitous child disobedience is not simply a function of good parental intentions. It is the logical consequence of the very bad parenting advice mental health professionals have been dispensing since parents began listening to them in the 1960s. They said high self-esteem was a good thing, and we believed them because, after all, they had capital letters after their names (as do I). The research now says that people with high self-esteem have low regard for others. Hello? They said that firm, “because I said so” authority was a bad thing. The research now says that the most happy kids have parents who provide firm, “because I said so” authority, along with a love that will go the distance. So much for capital letters. It takes some effort, but it is possible for parents to turn the parenting clock, in their own homes, back 60 years. I personally know some who’ve done it. Without exception, their children obey them. No surprise there. Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his website at www. rosemond.com.

Own a business? Enjoy reading the John Rosemond column? Then consider being the sponsor for this educational child-rearing advice column! Give us a call if you are interested @ 678-3900.

Science News for Kids

It was an exciting day when Thomas Finger looked inside the nose of a small black mouse. Finger had borrowed the animal from another scientist. It was not your average mouse. The mouse’s genes had been changed so that the taste buds on its tongue turned green when you shined light on them - like a secret message written in secret ink. But no one had ever looked inside its nose. When Finger finally did look there with a microscope, he saw thousands of green cells dotting the soft pink lining. “It was like looking at little green stars at night,” says Finger, who is a neurobiologist at the Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center at the University of Colorado in Denver. (A neurobiologist studies how the nervous system develops and functions.) Seeing that green starry sky was Finger’s first glimpse of a new world. If he and other scientists are right, we don’t taste things just on our tongues. Other parts of our body can also taste things - our nose, our stomach, even our lungs! You might think of taste as something that you experience when you put chocolate in your mouth - or chicken soup, or salt. But for you to taste chocolate or chicken soup, special cells on your tongue have to tell the brain that they detected chemicals that are in the food. We have at least five kinds of these chemical-detecting cells (commonly called taste cells) on our tongues: cells that detect salt, sweet compounds, sour things, bitter things

and savory things like meat or broth. You might call these five things the primary colors of your mouth. The unique taste of every food is made up of some combination of salt, sweet, sour, bitter or savory, just as you can make any color of paint by mixing together bits of red, yellow and blue. It’s these chemicalsensing cells that scientists are now finding all over the body. “I’ll bet you that in terms of total number of cells,” says Finger, “there are more [taste cells] outside the mouth than inside the mouth.” This gives us clues about other functions the sense of taste has in our bodies. It could also help scientists find new treatments for certain diseases. More than a feeling It’s an exciting time for scientists who study taste. Finger spent 30 years working toward this big moment. Some of the first clues came from fish. Back in the 1960s, scientists looking at fish skin under microscopes discovered that the outside of a fish’s slippery body is dotted with thousands of funny cells shaped like bowling pins. Those funny cells look just like the chemical-detecting cells on your tongue. At the time, no one was sure what those bowling-pin cells on fish skin did. But

years later, scientists found that they actually can taste. When food chemicals were sprinkled onto the fish skin, those cells sent a message to the fish brain - just like the cells on your tongue tell your brain when you taste food. For fish, being able to taste things all over their body comes in handy. Some fish called searobins use this to find their next meal. When searobins poke their pointy fins into the mud on the seafloor, they can “taste” the worms they’re looking to eat. Other fish called rocklings use these cells to sense the presence of larger fish that might want to eat them. In these cases, the buried worms and big fish leak small amounts of chemicals into the water and mud. Taste cells on the skin of searobins and rocklings detect the chemicals (sort of the way you might be able to taste what’s in the bathwater after your filthy little brother sat in the tub for a while). As Finger studied searobins, goldfish and other wet critters, he began to wonder whether land animals like cats, mice and people could also sense taste outside of their tongues. “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?” he asks. “The more information you get from your environment, the better off you are.” See page 15

Sept. 15, 2011

• yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS

Yancey County/ Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative – community forum The public is invited to attend a community forum hosted by the Golden LEAF Foundation from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Burnsville Town Center. The purpose of the forum is to continue the Golden LEAF Foundation’s Community Assistance Initiative process by establishing funding priorities and success measures. The Community Assistance Initiative is a grantmaking process targeting economically distressed counties across North Carolina and is currently being implemented in Yancey County. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Pat Cabe by e-mail at pcabe@goldenleaf.org or by calling 888-684-8404.

Legal Notice

REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF including the following to: INTEREST FROM DESIGNERS Designer Selection Committee Yancey County Board of Education The Yancey County Board of P0 Box 190 Education is seeking Letters of Burnsville, NC 28714 Interest and Qualifications from Required Information: design firms for architectural and 1. Letter of Interest engineering services for the design 2. Federal Standard Form 254 and construction administration 3. Resumés of design team members, of new additions to East Yancey including consultants, or Federal and Cane River Middle School to Standard Form 255 be located on Hwy 19E in Yancey 4. Related projects experience during County, NC. Programs have been the last 10 years, including project developed for all spaces and their description, contact names and relationships which comprise a numbers for reference, or Federal total of 1400 square feet including Standard Form 255 exam room, triage room, sick room, 5. Other information you may feel mental health counseling/ interview is applicable (maximum one page) room, lab/medication/storage room, Closing date for receipt of Letters a group mental health counseling of Interest and Qualifications shall room, lobby with attached kitchenette be no later than 5:00 pm Tuesday, for teaching purposes, staff office, September 20, 2011. clerical/medical records room, two NOTES: Yancey County Board restrooms and site development. Education reserves the right to reject Municipal water and exiting sewer any or all proposals. are available. Nothing in this document shall Interested firms shall submit a require the Board to proceed with letter of interest and qualifications design and/or construction services. Legal Notice Yancey County Schools is seeking bids for wireless solution and installation at multiple sites. To bid on project #262-RttT-995-091211, see more information posted at yanceync.net andhttps:// www.ips.state.nc.us/ips/pubmain.asp

AUTO SERVICE

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Sept. 15, 2011

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What’stoeatattheelementaryschools? Friday, Sept 16

Monday, Sept 19

Tuesday, Sept 20

Wed., Sept 21

Thurs., Sept 22

Friday, Sept 23

Breakfast Breakfast pizza, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk

Breakfast (half student day) Pancakes, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk Lunch Hamburger on whole grain, cheesburger on whole garin, max pizza sticks w/marin, sunbutter w/ jelly s’wich, corn, carrot sticks, peaches, blueberries, 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

Lunch Hot dog w/whole grain, baked ham, mac and cheese, cornbread, sunbutter w/ jelly s’wich, baked beans, cole slaw, pears, blueberry apple crisp, milk

Lunch Cheesy beef nachos, hot ham and cheese s’wich, sundowner with jelly sandwich, tossed salad, vegetarian beans, fresh fruit, fruit cocktail, milk

Lunch Toasted cheese sandwich, sunbutter s/wich, sundowner with jelly sandwich, vegetable beef soup, broccoli, fresh fruit, applesauce, milk

Breakfast Breakfast pizza, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk Lunch Turkey pie, barbecue rib s’wich, sundowner with jelly sandwich, quickbaked potatoes, green beans, Mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, milk

Lunch Beef tacos, fish nuggets, cornbread, sundowner with jelly sandwich, tossed salad, spicy pinto beans, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, milk

Food for thought for middle school Friday, Sept 16

Monday, Sept 19

Tuesday, Sept 20

Wed., Sept 21

Thurs., Sept 22

Friday, Sept 23

Breakfast Sausage biscuit, breakfast pizza, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk

(half student day) Breakfast Biscuit w/jelly, chicken biscuit, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk Lunch Hamburger on whole grain, cheesburger on whole garin, max pizza sticks w/ marin, sunbutter w/ jelly s’wich, corn, carrot sticks, peaches, blueberries, milk

Breakfast Sausage biscuit, waffle sunwich, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk

Breakfast Sausage biscuit, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk

Breakfast Pancakes, chicken biscuit, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk

Lunch Cheesy beef nachos, hot ham and cheese s’wich, mega chicken quesadilla, tossed salad, vegetarian beans, fresh fruit, fruit cocktail, milk

Lunch Toasted cheese sandwich, sunbutter s/wich, mega stuffed crust pizza, vegetable beef soup, broccoli, fresh fruit, applesauce, milk

Breakfast Sausage biscuit, breakfast pizza, cereal, animal crackers, juice, fruit, milk Lunch Turkey pie, barbecue rib s’wich, mega chicken tenders, biscuit quick-baked potatoes, green beans, Mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, milk

Lunch Beef tacos, fish nuggets, cornbread, mega chicken quesadilla, tossed salad, spicy pinto beans, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, milk

Lunch Hot dog w/whole grain, mac and cheese, cornbread, mega stuffed crust pizza, baked beans, cole slaw, pears, blueberry apple crisp, milk

Chowing down at Mountain Heritage Friday, Sept 16