Smoky Mountain News | May 5, 2021

Swain teen chases mountain bike career Page 30

Page 17

CONTENTS

On the Cover:

If passed, legislation introduced by Western North Carolina Republican representatives would allow municipalities within Haywood County to levy their own occupancy tax to be spent on tourism marketing. While Bryson City was originally a part of the bill, the town has now been removed. (Page 6) Swain County TDA photo

News

Sylva board mulls Allen Street solution ........................................................................4

Sylva moves toward tax rate increase ..........................................................................5

Summer school to address pandemic learning loss ..............................................10 Haywood school board approves budget ................................................................11

Transparency concerns could impact DWA contract ..........................................12

Merchant group forms in Canton ................................................................................13

Profits up at HCA, ratings down at Mission ............................................................14 HCA breaks ground on new Franklin hospital ........................................................17 Decision time coming for Haywood budget ............................................................19

Opinion

The heart and soul of public education ......................................................................22 Sitting in the mess can be worth it..............................................................................23

A&E

Grace Potter to hit Maggie Valley stage ....................................................................24 God and Mammon is insightful and beautifully written..........................................29

Outdoors

Swain teen chases mountain bike career ................................................................30

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Sylva board mulls Allen Street solution

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Despite their proximity to multiple slope failures on and around Allen Street in Sylva, two trouble spots that appeared in late 2020 are unrelated to the others, according to a recently released engineering report.

“At this time we believe the tension cracking showing up is more related to a localized failure associated with the fill slopes that form Allen Street in that loca-

both immediately downhill from properties on Bobwhite Lane. In response, the town commissioned a second study from KEG, this one focused on the newer failures.

tion,” Ian Johnson, senior engineer for Kessler Engineering Group, told the town board April 22. “We did not feel at this time that they’re related to other failures that are happening on the property below.”

The Town of Sylva has been facing an expensive remedy for Allen Street since last spring, when minor road cracks on the portion of road uphill from Bryson Park turned into major vertical displacement, causing a 150-foot portion of the road to remain closed ever since. At the town’s request, KEG performed a study of the situation, and staff researched potential repair costs, estimating that a solution — to include horizontal drains and soil nails — would cost nearly $500,000.

Then, in the second half of the year two more areas of tension cracking appeared,

According to data KEG gathered in November and December, tension cracks in the new slope failure area were 15 to 25 feet long and included multiple cracks roughly parallel to the slope face, but no vertical displacement was observed. It’s a less severe situation than the first one studied, and Johnson recommended addressing it with soil nails or ground anchors but said that dewatering measures such as horizontal drains were not necessary.

At least not yet.

POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE MOVEMENT

Engineers also observed a bowl-shaped failure located downslope between Allen Street and Chipper Curve Road. It exhibited a scarp 10 to 15 feet high and extended downhill to Chipper Curve, where concrete jersey barriers along the roadway retain its lower portion. This failure is located on private property and so outside the scope of KEG’s investigation — but it proved impossible for engineers to ignore.

While that failure does not appear to be

related to the cracking below Bobwhite Lane, there is significant potential for the instability surfacing downslope from Allen Street to cause the town-owned road issues in the future.

“Speaking with the property owner down there and figuring out a long-term game plan with them is likely an important part of the overall solution for that area,” said Johnson.

While the current cracking on Allen Street doesn’t appear to be related to what’s happening downslope, future shifting there could impact the situation on Allen Street — a key consideration for commissioners who could be asked to spend $1 million or more in road repairs on behalf of a town whose annual budget has never exceeded $5 million.

“For me that’s the tough thing,” said Commissioner Ben Guiney. “Do we want to spend all this money and stabilize Allen Street and just have it collapse from underneath?”

“I think that conversation would need to be had in conjunction with the other property owners,” said Johnson. “They certainly have a problem with their property, and if it exacerbates and moves up the hill, it will affect yours.”

The thin, wooded strip of land between Allen Street and Chipper Curve Road is owned by Jackson Paper, whose factory sits on the other side of Chipper Curve. Public Works Director Jake Scott told commissioners that, while Jackson Paper is “willing to explore options,” the company is not willing to do any remediation at the moment.

“I don’t know why they would,” said Guiney. “It’s going to be a lot of money. The worst-case scenario is Chipper Curve Road is not usable, and they don’t use Chipper Curve Road much anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just did nothing.”

Chipper Curve is a state-maintained road, so the next question is whether the N.C. Department of Transportation is prepared to chip in to keep it open, should the landslide issues progress. A statement from DOT Division 14 Maintenance Engineer Wesley Grindstaff indicates that the department is willing to participate to some extent.

“NCDOT has committed to removing the material as it is deposited into the state maintained roadway, and also may participate in cost-sharing of the portions of the repairs within our maintenance right-ofway,” he said.

Commissioner David Nestler asked about Jackson Paper’s legal responsibility in the matter.

“What obligation does a property owner have to maintain their property to where it doesn’t wash out a publicly owned street?” he asked.

In response, Town Attorney Eric Ridenour pointed out that because unstable fill slope from the road cut appears a major contributor to the issues on Allen Street, that question could be turned around toward the town.

“If the failure is a result of the road being cut, then that would be on us, because technically we created it,” he said.

PLANNING ACTION

The town board has yet to decide how to proceed with the project and has not yet seen any cost estimates for the proposed remedies. Completing the report was a necessary first step before requesting bids, as contractors typically require documentation regarding the extent and source of the problem before submitting bids to fix it. Because the slope failures appear to be unrelated to each other, Nestler asked whether it would be possible for the town to take care of the initial, larger one first and then work to get more stakeholders on board before working on the area below Bobwhite Lane.

From an engineering perspective, said Johnson, the projects could indeed be done separately, though the town might realize a cost savings if it did them simultaneously. But Scott said that, practically speaking, it would be a bad idea to separate them.

“I think it would be foolish to assume that the second failure won’t continue to worsen, and repairing one without the other would be foolish in my opinion,” he said. “It would cost less, certainly, but I don’t know that gets us any further down the road.”

Sylva moves toward tax rate increase

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

During an April 29 work session, four of Sylva’s five board members signaled their approval of a draft budget totaling $4.9 million, 18 percent more than the budget approved last June. It includes a tax rate increase of 1.5 cents per $100 of property value and $400,000 in America Rescue Plan funding.

“I also want to show my appreciation for the staff, for all they’ve done,” said Mayor Lynda Sossamon, adding her approval to that of the board’s voting members. “I know this is hard, and I’m sure they count every penny, because they want to not charge residents any more than we have to, but then again I feel like everything here is justifiable.”

The budget process comes on the heels of a countywide property revaluation that bumped Sylva’s value by 14.5 percent. Had the tax rate stayed the same, Sylva would have received about $345,000 more in property tax revenues, but rising costs quickly ate up that capacity, including $177,000 in salary and benefit increases to existing personnel.

Requests for additional positions in the police and public works departments are driving the proposed 1.5-cent increase. Police Chief Chris Hatton asked for two more officers on his force of 14, and Public Works Director Jake Scott requested a parttime employee to help with trash collection. The rate increase would fund the sanitation job and one of the two requested officer positions.

While most board members support the new positions and agree that a tax increase is the best way to fund them, Commissioner David Nestler disagrees on both counts. He believes that the data does not support a need for more officers, and while he concedes that a tax increase is the only way to fund a new officer, he maintains there is enough fat in the budget to shave half a cent off the proposed rate increase.

“We’re seeing an increase in our budget regardless from (the revaluation), and I do not think we should raise taxes in addition to people having to pay more,” he said. “I think there’s enough left in this budget to come up with the money for a part-time sanitation worker.”

In particular, Nestler questioned the fact that the line item for police overtime is $10,000 higher than the amount listed in the current year’s budget.

“One of the big selling points of this tax hike was that the amount we were spending

for overtime on our police officers was essentially what it would cost to add a position,” he said. “But I’m seeing in our expenses that we did not decrease our budget for overtime expenditures for officers. We increased it by $10,000.”

Dowling replied that it will take time to hire the new officer and fill currently vacant positions, and those new hires will have to go through training — other employees must fill those shifts in the meantime. The existing force is also behind on training due to COVID-related delays. Additionally, she said, the next fiscal year will include two Greening Up the Mountains festivals because the April event was postponed to August for 2021. That event adds an extra shift for every officer in the force.

“I think that’s a decrease we’ll see in the future,” she said.

“You don’t want to get caught short, and hopefully we’re not going to have to use it,” added Commissioner Ben Guiney. “I would say there’s a good chance we would have used even more overtime if we didn’t hire another officer.”

“I get your point — budget for it and if we don’t use it, that’s great,” Nestler replied. “Except that we’re billing taxpayers for it.”

Nestler then questioned a series of smaller line items, seeking to find $25,000 of unnecessary spending to offset half a cent from the proposed rate increase.

Every year the town budgets $100,000 for streetlights, he said, and every year it spends significantly less — this year’s total will likely come to about $80,000. But Dowling said that the town is adding new lights to Mill Street this year, and it’s unknown how much cost they’ll add.

Among other line items, Nestler also questioned the $2,500 for board and mayor travel expenses and $3,000 for the Main Street Association retreat. The pandemic brought those expenses to zero for the current year, and Nestler asked whether it was likely that travel would resume in the coming year. Dowling replied that she expected many of the trainings to move back to an in-person format.

However, Nestler was alone in his belief that the budget could stand to lose $25,000. The remaining board members told Dowling they supported the draft she’d presented, including the rate increase and new hires.

Dowling will deliver a formal budget presentation during the board’s May 13 meeting, and commissioners will vote on a final version June 10 following a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27.

by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

Try SomeThing new Fruits & Vegetables at ingles Markets

Meyer Lemons - Meyer lemons may look very similar to a regular lemon; but their peel is usually softer and not as bumpy, and the fruit itself is often smaller than a traditional lemon. Meyer lemons are juicier and less acidic than a traditional lemon and are wonderful if you are inclined to make lemon curd. (Did you know lemon curd only has 3 ingredients? Lemon juice, sugar and egg! To reduce the sugar (and carbohydrates I often make it with a sucralose/Splenda and sugar blend.)

English Cucumbers - Also known as a hothouse, seedless or "burpless" cucumber. Do you find that the seeds of traditional cucumbers give you indigestion? An English cucumber may be the answer! English cucumbers have small or no seeds, are long and narrow, and their skin is usually thinner and less bitter than a traditional cucumber. I don't peel them for salads. The taste of English cucumbers is also more mild than traditional cucumbers. I like to make salad with thin slices of English cucumbers, sliced radishes, and cilantro tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Arugula - Known as "rocket" in Europe. Arugula has a peppery taste that is perfect when eaten fresh in salads or in sandwiches. Technically arugula isn't a leafy green but a member of thebrassica family - related to the mustard plant. (https://lettuceinfo.org/products/arugula/). My favorite salad is just arugula dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Canton, Waynesville to consider room tax increases

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT

P OLITICS E DITOR

Atax bill sponsored by two western Republicans that’s currently making its way through the North Carolina General Assembly has the potential to bring even more room occupancy tax money to the town of Maggie Valley, but as other municipalities across the county and the region consider asking for potential inclusion in the bill, there’s concern over implementation and administration.

North Carolina’s room occupancy tax system has been in place for quite some time, and operates on a fairly straightforward principle. Whenever someone rents from a lodging establishment, a tax above and beyond the nightly room cost is levied and then spent on marketing or tourism-related expenses.

In Haywood County that figure stands at 4 percent. At least three serious attempts were made in the last eight years to raise the rate to 6 percent, but all three times they were shot down by then-Rep. Michele Presnell, RBurnsville.

“To stay competitive, business owners could find themselves in a position where they would need to lower prices to keep consumer prices unchanged,” Presnell told The Smoky Mountain News back in 2013. “As for the argument that out-of-towners pay the tax and the tourism market can withstand increased prices, why couldn’t business owners raise prices without the tax? That way, they could invest in more jobs, higher wages, more products and services for their customers, etc. — it would be their choice, not the TDA’s.”

Now, the man who replaced Presnell, Rep. Mark Pless, R-Haywood, is a primary sponsor of House Bill 412 along with Bryson City

Republican and fellow Western North Carolina representative Mike Clampitt.

When the bill was first filed on March 25, it was originally written very narrowly to allow Haywood County commissioners to increase that 4 percent rate to 6 percent, should they so choose. Another provision of the bill would have allowed the Town of Bryson City to levy its own occupancy tax, should that governing board so choose (see BRYSON CITY, p. 7).

But after the bill came out of the Committee on Local Government on April 27, it had completely changed and was written even more narrowly, which counterintuitively broadened the discussion to other Haywood County municipalities.

As rewritten, H412 now deals only with the Haywood County town of Maggie Valley, a tourism juggernaut. Instead of allowing county commissioners to debate a 2-point increase for the whole county, the new bill would give the town of Maggie Valley the option to create its own Tourism Development Authority board and levy a 2 percent room occupancy tax of its own within town limits, above and beyond the countywide 4 percent (see MAGGIE, p. 8).

Although municipal TDA boards are uncommon, they’re not unheard of; Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, has worked along-

out to the Haywood County towns of Canton and Waynesville.

“They have both expressed an interest,” Pless said. “They haven’t said ‘Yes, put me on it’ yet but they’re going to talk about it at their next meetings and if they decide to do it, then we’ll just amend it and add their names to it. Now that the language is in there, it’s pretty simple to fix.”

Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites said he’d had an extended conversation with Pless regarding Waynesville’s possible inclusion in the bill, and that aldermen would likely consider the issue at a future meeting. One downside, Hites said, is that much like in other local government units, Waynesville struggles with getting enough volunteers for the various boards and committees it already has.

“If the town could act as its own TDA in this particular situation, I think that would be a bonus,” said Hites.

Waynesville Alderman Jon Feichter, who serves on the Haywood TDA board, said that the professionalism shown by TDA Executive Director Lynn Collins and her staff make the whole administration of the room occupancy tax look easy — but it’s not.

side the town of Franklin’s TDA for years and thinks it’s worked well.

“You’re probably to some degree duplicating some of the same efforts, but again, as a municipality, I have no issue with municipal administration,” Corbin said. “They have their own needs, and they’re obviously they’re promoting within the city limits, whereas the county is promoting everywhere, including in the city limits.”

Pless, a fiscal conservative who was a stickler about spending during his brief tenure as a Haywood County Commissioner, justified introducing the tax bill as a responsibility that’s part and parcel to his role as a legislator.

“My job as a representative is to represent the people in Raleigh, and this is the approach I have taken with it — they ask for [a bill] and if it’s not something that goes against the Constitution or goes against my moral beliefs, my job is to bring it home, so to speak,” Pless said. “So by entering it for them, it is their responsibility to levy [the room tax]. That’s not my job. My job is to make it available.”

“Of the concerns that I have, the biggest one is the administration of the funding and having a municipal TDA board,” Feichter said. “What I have realized in fairly short order during my brief tenure on the TDA board is that promoting tourism effectively requires knowledge, skills and expertise, and the town doesn’t have any of those things. How are we going to fill that gap? That’s a major concern.”

Feichter also expressed concern that since the bill only applies to municipal town limits — as opposed to the zip code method used by the county’s TDA — it could lead to a competitive advantage for lodging establishments outside town limits that compete with lodging establishments within town limits.

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said that although his town doesn’t have a ton of rooms within municipal limits, his board would consider the issue at its next meeting.

Pless said he’s made the same options available to his constituents in Yancey County in a separate bill and has also reached

“Our acting town manager is polling the board,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. “My understanding in talking with Rep. Pless is that he needs a sort of consensus before our next board meeting, so each board member is getting polled for their support on this issue.”

Bryson City removed from room tax legislation

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR

The Town of Bryson City has been removed from a piece of state legislation that would have allowed the town to levy its own occupancy tax and establish its own tourism development governing board.

House Bill 412 — sponsored by Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Rep. Mark Pless, R-Canton — was originally filed March 25 with language that would allow Bryson City to levy an additional 3 percent tax, but now the bill is called “Maggie Valley Occupancy Taxes” and there’s no mention of Bryson City.

“We got pulled from the legislation,” said Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton. “We didn’t tell them to do that, so I don’t know the reasoning behind it.”

When reached for comment about the change on Monday, Clampitt said Bryson City was originally included because he was told the Bryson City Board of Aldermen and the county’s Tourism Development Authority didn’t seem to be cooperating well together when it came to “sharing” Swain’s occupancy tax revenue. After some further communication, he said those issues have worked themselves out since the bill was filed in March.

“Bryson and Swain have had their working relationship improved,” Clampitt said.

It also became clear to Clampitt after HB 412 was introduced that not all county and town representatives were on the same page about the proposal, which can make it difficult for local legislation to pass the General Assembly.

On April 16, Clampitt received an email from Swain TDA treasurer Ed Ciociola regarding the proposal for Bryson City to levy its own occupancy tax on top of the county’s 4 percent tax. The exchanges were copied to the local media as well as Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin.

“The TDA is required to spend its tax revenue to promote tourism in Swain County and we operate under that limitation. After reading the brief article in The Smoky Mountain News about Bryson City’s desire to enact a separate occupancy tax on visitors who choose to lodge in town, close to our downtown businesses, rather than out in the county, it is clear that we have some government officials contemplating a decision to raise taxes on incomplete and inaccurate information,” Ciociola wrote. “The News has quoted a specific statement from Mr. Clampitt alleging a lack of cooperation on the part of the Swain County TDA.” Ciociola went on to say that Clampitt nor

Corbin had consulted him as the TDA treasurer to verify those “sharing issues” with Bryson City. He claimed the TDA spends more than 90 percent of its advertising and marketing budget promoting Bryson City and downtown businesses.

Ciociola then provided a list of spending that has benefited the town of Bryson City. Swain TDA Director Mary Anne Baker verified that the information he provided was correct.

He said the TDA had contributed to the renovation of the recreation park swimming pool that will benefit tourists and locals alike. The TDA also contributed to the construction of a pavilion at the new Great Smoky Mountains Event Park that will be available to schools, businesses, citizens and visitors in Bryson City and Swain County.

The TDA pays for and donates office space for the Swain County Chamber of Commerce inside the fly-fishing museum and funds the free museum in Bryson City at no cost to the chamber. TDA funds also pay for the free fresh-water aquarium in downtown Bryson City that is available to local residents, school groups and visitors.

OCCUPANCY TAX

The TDA recently purchased lodging tax compliance software and offered the data to the town of Bryson City to help Bryson City identify properties within the town that are collecting overnight rental income but only paying residential revenue rates to the town for town services rather than the commercial rate.

The TDA is currently helping to fund the construction of a historic grist mill in downtown Bryson City being built by county employees. The TDA continues to pay thousands of dollars every month toward the loan for the prior construction of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad turntable used for the restored 1702 steam engine, which brings thousands of visitors into downtown Bryson City every year. The TDA pays for flower beautification in downtown and the Christmas decorations in town every year.

“Collectively these TDA contributions total well over $200,000, so to say there is a ‘sharing issue’ can only be based on either bias or a lack of correct information,” Ciociola wrote. “Given the specific governing regulations for a TDA to spend occupancy tax revenue for the express purpose of promoting tourism to their respective area, it is difficult to see how Bryson City could do more to promote our town than is already being done by the current Swain County TDA at no cost to the town.”

Mayor Sutton said the idea for a new 3 percent occupancy tax for Bryson City had more to do with the town looking for a new revenue stream to complete some bigger projects that need to get done.

“This was not about being unhappy with the TDA,” he said. “This was just one of many irons in the fire as we were looking more at specific projects we’d like to do.”

For example, Sutton said the town would like to enhance Island Park for tourism use,

Room tax dollars have been on the steady climb in Swain County as Bryson City has become a tourism hotspot.

but right now the property can’t be utilized because of the cost to complete the project. It would require constructing a causeway over to the island to get equipment over to it, and that structure could only stay up for one year, which limits the timeline for construction.

“We’d like to try to use TDA money for that. We’ve done some engineering work and tried to get grant money for it. We thought we could use FEMA money for it, but it ended up being a lot less than what we were

“This was not about being unhappy with the TDA. This was just one of many irons in the fire as we were looking more at specific projects we’d like to do.”

— Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton

initially told, so the scope of work on Island Park is really a big high-cost item that we can’t afford out of the regular budget,” he said. “The island needs a lot of bank restoration to make it safer and we’d like to get power over there, and maybe even a pavilion if possible.”

However, Clampitt said even if Bryson City eventually did establish its own room tax, the vast majority of the funds have to be spent on advertising — not infrastructure — another indicator that the town and county needed to get on the same page regarding these issues before a legislative proposal can be made.

Clampitt replied to Ciociola stating that his original comments about the lack of cooperation between the TDA and Bryson

City were the words that were expressed to him by the town leaders directly.

“I have to take town and county leaders at their word — I’m not gonna go behind people’s backs,” he said Monday. “They (the town) need a plan in place for the room tax.”

Baker said Ciociola’s correspondence with Clampitt was not representative of the TDA board’s position as a whole.

“Ed is the treasurer of the TDA, but his communication with Clampitt was from a position of constituent and did not represent the opinions of the TDA. Only Jeremiah Wiggins (chairman) or I can speak on behalf of the TDA board, and that would only take place after the group was consulted to obtain a consensus,” she said. “The Swain County TDA has not discussed an official position. However, any injection of financial resources into an otherwise economically disadvantaged area, particularly given the fact that the burden is shouldered by non-residents, has to be a good thing. The prospect of having incremental dollars to support the tourism industry in Bryson City and Swain County is exciting and could allow the Swain TDA to deploy further tourism drivers inside of the county like Nantahala Gorge, Fontana Lake, Deep Creek, the Swain County Event Park, etc.” Either way, the email exchanges did seem to indicate some degree of dissension among stakeholders. Sutton said the town aldermen and county commissioners were planning to meet in the near future to discuss the issue.

“We’re going to meet with the county in the near future about occupancy tax to make sure we’re all on the same piece of music,” he said.

Swain County has seen substantial tourism growth over the last several years. Even during the pandemic the Swain TDA saw record growth, collecting about $1.8 million in occupancy tax revenue. In comparison, 2019 collections surpassed $1 million in Swain County for the first time.

No plans for town room tax in Sylva

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

While Sylva’s leaders have considered the idea of a town occupancy tax a couple times over the years, so far they’ve always walked away from the discussion deciding that it wouldn’t be the right move for the small town of 2,700.

Town Manager Paige Dowling said she looked into it several years ago and concluded that the process involved likely wouldn’t be worth the small amount of revenue the town would receive from the limited lodging in its jurisdiction.

More recently, Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh floated the idea as part of a March 25 budget work session. Despite a significant increase in property values stemming from the 2021 revaluation, the town board is considering raising the tax rate, partially due to a request from Police Chief Chris Hatton for more officers. The town already has more officers per capita than neighboring towns, but Hatton said that number is deceptive. Tourism activities and proximity to Western Carolina University significantly increase the number of people flowing through town, heightening demands on his force. If tourism is driving the need for more officers, Gelbaugh’s thought was, perhaps tourists should pay the tax to support them, not town residents.

The comment was an off-the-cuff remark Gelbaugh floated as one of many discussed that day as the board grappled with its budget conundrum, and it turned out to be a dead end. After doing some research, she determined that hiring additional officers — even if those officers were necessary due to tourism increasing the number of people in town — would not fit the legal restrictions governing occupancy tax proceeds.

It’s not unusual for municipal leaders to eye occupancy tax as a potential lifeline in the face of budget shortfalls, said Jackson County TDA Director Nick Breedlove, but Gelbaugh is correct in her conclusion that such funding isn’t suitable for routine budget line items

like police officer salaries.

“To tap into occupancy tax for budget shortfalls is shortsighted,” he said. “If it’s truly used for destination marketing, which is what it’s supposed to be used for, that is a terrific thing, as it generates jobs for local residents.”

In 2019, said Breedlove, the Jackson TDA received about $1 million in occupancy tax funding and used it to generate $207 million in visitor spending. Visitor spending creates sales tax, which in turn creates general fund

In order to use an occupancy tax, Sylva would need to create a TDA board, pay for a marketing plan, develop branding and fund salaries for any staff required, including a director and a finance officer.

revenues for towns and counties. Jackson County receives $9.5 million each year in sales tax dollars spent by visitors.

“If you’re starting to tap into any portion of those funds, you’re going to lessen the visitor spending in your destination, which hurts the retail, the restaurants, the small businesses, and the sales tax that pays for essential government services like the sheriff’s office, health department, teacher supplements and more,” he said. “That’s where it becomes a slippery slope.”

Talk — and action — about tapping into those dollars for non-marketing purpose is “a worrisome trend that we’re seeing nationwide,” Breedlove said.

To levy an occupancy tax, cities and counties must gain approval from the N.C. General Assembly in the form of a statute that outlines the specific rules for that jurisdiction, including the amount of tax to be levied, allowable uses for the funds and the structure for overseeing those efforts. While each piece of legislation is specific to the city

or county named, the legislative committees tasked with evaluating proposed legislation look for uniform provisions in the bills they consider.

These include a county rate that doesn’t exceed 6%, or a city rate that doesn’t exceed 6% when combined with the county rate; a provision that at least two-thirds of the proceeds must be used to promote travel and tourism with the remainder available for tourismrelated spending; and the requirement that net revenues be administered by a TDA.

That first provision leads Breedlove to believe that any municipality in Jackson County would have a difficult to impossible time getting legislative approval to levy an occupancy tax. While Jackson County collects only 4%, its governing legislation allows it to collect up to the maximum, 6%.

In a rural area like Jackson County, Breedlove said, it’s more efficient to collect via a countywide organization anyway.

“The challenge with smaller towns setting up occupancy tax is they have just enough money to do very little with,” he said. “In other municipalities I’ve seen levy additional taxes — they don’t have the research, insight or understanding for how to properly program funds.”

In order to use an occupancy tax, the town would need to create a TDA board, pay for a marketing plan, develop branding and fund salaries for any staff required, including a director and a finance officer. It’s hard to start a TDA — for the first three years of its existence, Jackson’s organization was run entirely with a volunteer board. Breedlove, who started his job as executive director on a contract basis in 2016 and was hired as an employee in 2017, was the organization’s first paid worker.

“It’s taken us until now to become very successful,” he said.

Maggie Valley occupancy tax on the horizon

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

Maggie Valley may have the opportunity to create its own Tourism Development Authority for the purpose of promoting tourism in the town if House Bill 412 becomes law. Both the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen have expressed support for the idea.

The bill is sponsored by Western North Carolina Republican Representatives Mark Pless and Mike Clampitt. Filed in March, it originally included all of Haywood County as well as Bryson City, raising the occupancy tax from 4 to 6 cents in Haywood and creating a new tax for the town of Bryson. In the original bill, revenue from the tax could only be spent on a sports park, an amphitheater or a convention center. For Maggie Valley, these specific spending requirements didn’t make sense.

“It originally was going to be for Haywood County. And there were several people that opposed that because they couldn’t figure out what it was, what it was for and what it was going to be used for,” Pless said.

After the original bill had been filed, Pless said he tried to set up a public meeting with the TDA so the public could come ask questions or voice concerns about the bill. A date was not agreed upon and according to Pless, TDA Executive Director Lynn Collins did not like the bill.

When the bill came out of committee, it had been updated to include only Maggie Valley, now titled the Maggie Valley Occupancy Tax. According to Pless, the Town of Maggie Valley had expressed interest in having its own occupancy tax when the bill was introduced in its original form, so when issues began to arise with levying a higher tax in Haywood County, the bill was edited to be solely for the Town of Maggie Valley.

Maggie Valley may have the opportunity to levy a 2 percent occupancy tax within its town limits.

“Mark Pless has listened to a smaller community and he understands that A, we desire this and B, that we’ve proven that we can manage this properly,” said Maggie Valley Mayor Mike Eveland.

The new version of the bill gives the Town of Maggie Valley the ability to levy a 2 percent occupancy tax and create its own TDA to determine distribution of the tax revenue. At this point, the bill only permits the occupancy tax within Maggie Valley Town limits, not its extra territorial jurisdiction, which extends up Jonathan Creek Road.

“As the bill exists now, it does not include the ETJ, but it would be great if it included the ETJ,” said Town Manager Nathan Clark. “What’s good for Maggie Valley is good for its larger, surrounding area.”

Included in the legislation is a list of other towns that have created a TDA in order to spend revenues from an occupancy tax in the same manner laid out in this bill. Clark said that Maggie Valley could look to those towns for examples of what relationship a Maggie Valley TDA should have with the county TDA and how to set up the system for Maggie Valley to work in the best manner.

“If the bill passes this year, it will probably be one to two years before we move forward on creating a TDA,” said Eveland.

Eveland has made it clear he wants to have specific, achievable projects on the table before creating a TDA and levying the occupancy tax. According to the bill, occupancy tax revenues will be remitted to the TDA quarterly. Two-thirds of the revenue from the occupancy tax must be used to promote travel and tourism in Maggie Valley. The other third may be used for tourismrelated expenditures, which can include capital expenditures.

The Board of Aldermen expressed support for the bill at its May 4 agenda setting meeting, noting that this had been something Maggie Valley has been interested in doing for years.

“This has been going on for a long time, the 2 percent topic of discussion, everyone in Maggie has been in favor for a long time,” said Eveland. “Pless has given us the ability to control our own destiny.”

Staff writer Cory Vaillancourt contributed to this story.

Summer school aims to address learning loss

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

As much of Western North Carolina bounces back from the devastation of COVID-19 — lower case counts, rising tourism numbers, successful vaccination campaigns — schools in the region are looking toward a longer, more intensive summer school program to put its students back on track.

In April, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Summer Learning Choice for NC Families, an “act to establish school extension learning recovery and enrichment programs in each local school administrative unit to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on at-risk students.” The purpose of the program is to provide in-person instruction on specific subjects, as well as offer additional enrichment activities, to students in kindergarten through grade 12 to address learning losses and negative impacts students have experienced due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year. The bill requires school districts to prioritize at-risk students for the program, and admit students not deemed “at-risk” as space allows.

“We know that our students, even though we’ve been very fortunate to have had students mostly all face to face this entire year, that there are gaps in instruction and that there are learning losses that have stemmed from COVID and from quarantine and those

types of things,” said Angie Dills, chief academic officer for Jackson County Schools.

The bill requires 150 hours, or 30 days of instruction over the course of the summer. It sets out a summer program that will look more like the regular school year than summer programs of the past by including all grades K-12, regular school transportation, meal service for each day of instruction and a period of physical activity.

Grades K-2 will receive in-person instruction in reading and math, as well as one enrichment activity per day, such as sports, music or art. Grades 3-8 will receive instruction in reading, math and science, as well as one enrichment activity per day.

intendent for Haywood County Schools, social-emotional learning support could be done by guidance counselors, if enough elect to work through the summer program, or it can be incorporated into programs taught by classroom teachers.

“We believe as an educational institu-

High school students will receive instruction in end-of-course subjects, credit recovery courses and elective courses. The bill also requires in-person, social-emotional learning support for all students in the program.

According to Jill Barker, assistant super-

tact parents and invite them to participate in the summer program, participation is voluntary. Kindergarten students who do participate in the program will be exempt from retention. Students who were retained for the 2020-21 school year will be reassessed for promotion eligibility at the end of the program.

Schools in Western North Carolina are finalizing program details for the summer, with districts required to submit a plan to the state no later than 30 days before the last day of instruction in the regular school year.

Though summer school this year will be longer and help a broader swath of students than in years past, school districts will not have to pay the cost of running these programs. ESSER funds — the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund intended to address the impact COVID-19 has had on schools and part of the CARES act — will be used to pay the costs of this year’s summer school. These are federal grants given to the state and split up among LEAs in North Carolina.

tion, that is the right thing for kids considering what they’ve been through,” said Dills.

All instruction will be in person, except for certain courses offered through the North Carolina Virtual Public School.

Though it is the responsibility of the LEA to determine which students are at-risk, con-

As school systems in the region plan for the extended summer program, they are gauging how many staff members will elect to work this summer. According to Barker, Haywood County Schools has put out an interest survey to all staff, and they are replying whether they are interested in working. Macon, F

Haywood school board approves budget

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

Haywood County Schools Local Expense Budget is set to look very similar to years past, with the COVID19 Pandemic causing only a few exceptions.

The Board of Education approved the 2021-22 local expense budget proposed by school administration on April 19.

“This is a COVID-19 year, a very unusual year, so we did not want to completely revamp the budget,” said Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte. “We’re on a very good trajectory over the last couple years of spending less fund balance and getting to an actualized fund balance. We may spend some fund balance this year, we may not. And then next year hopefully we’ll be closer to where we need to be on the actualized budget.”

The 2021-22 budget allotments are very similar to that of the 2020-21 budget. However, due to a decrease in student numbers, several line items decreased by 3.5 percent from the previous year. There are currently 6,765 students attending Haywood County Schools, down from 7,100 last year. Nolte said this is consistent with public schools around the country following the COVID-19 disruption of normal school activities.

The school system receives $2,291.33 per student, in local funding.

Administration estimates 433 charter school students in Haywood County, whose funding allotments are given to Haywood County Schools and then remitted to the charter schools. Haywood County Schools will remit $800,000 of funding to charter schools in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Projected revenues from fines and forfeitures are likely to decrease significantly this year because courts have not been in session regularly. ABC revenues are projected at $41,500 but could be as low as $20,000. Nolte said because those numbers are not determined, money from both sources will not be spent until it has been received. With more than $3 million in the fund balance, the total estimated local expense budget is $16,909,493.

The primary focus points for the 2021-

Haywood and Jackson County schools all believe they will have enough staff members elect to work this summer to run a successful program.

The bill states “local boards of education are encouraged to find ways to incentivize highly effective teachers to participate in the program, such as increased compensation and varied contract durations.”

For all teachers in North Carolina who have completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification or have received a past teaching bonus for reading or math in grades 3-8, there will be a signing bonus of $1,200. Jill Barker at Haywood County Schools,

22 budget are to recruit, maintain and support employees in their passionate and productive work, limit expansion items in the Local Current Expense Budget and adjust the budget as appropriate to account for unexpected impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

In total, 53 percent of the budget is allocated to instructional services, 41 percent to system wide support services, and 6 percent to non-programmed charges.

Salaries account for 46 percent of the budget, 17 percent to employer provided benefits, 17 percent to purchased services, 14 percent to supplies and materials, 5 percent to transfers and 1 percent to capital outlay.

The biggest line item in the budget goes to non-instructional support. This includes public utility costs, office support, overtime pay, communication services, computer software, custodians, substitute teachers, building repairs and more.

Other large items include $1,807,140 for classroom teachers, and $937,265 for central office administration.

The 2021-22 capital budget is $900,000, the same number as for the two previous years. That money will go toward routine repairs to school buildings and maintenance costs.

The child nutrition fund for the 2021-22 school year is $4,473,569 — a 6 percent increase from the previous year. That increase is based on the state estimated increase for labor, benefits and food costs. Meal prices are not set to increase for next year.

The child nutrition program operates independently of other school programs. Revenues for the program include money from meals and supplemental items sold, USDA cash reimbursements and USDA donated commodities. Fifty-seven percent of the budget goes toward labor and benefits, 37 percent toward food and supplies and 6 percent to overhead.

The free breakfast and lunch given to students during the COVID-19 Pandemic is set to expire on Sept. 30. If an extension is not made, school lunches will then return to normal prices.

Angie Dills at Jackson County Schools and Josh Lynch, Director of Curriculum at Macon County schools all said they were working hard to put out a plan to compensate teachers competitively.

“We do know that teachers are exhausted,” said Dills. “It’s been a very long, hard year. And so we wanted to be able to reward them with the compensation for summer programming in a way that they were still motivated to work and it’s completely optional out of our teachers to work in our summer programming. So we are in the midst of planning, getting our staff on board, getting students registered and in on details now kind of as we go.”

Transparency concerns hobble DWA contract renewal bid

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT

Despite more than three decades of service to Waynesville’s downtown municipal service district, the organization charged with managing it now finds itself in the fight of its political life.

“I moved here because it’s not a Disney World. It’s not a Pigeon Forge. It’s not an Asheville,” said Mike Coble, a former Marine and current downtown business owner. “I love the fact that it’s still kind of a quiet, sleepy, elegant town and for me to be successful we have to keep our expectations high. We have to be a little bit proactive. We don’t want to change just to change, but if we don’t do something, we’re not going to be as successful.”

Coble has emerged at the forefront of a group of concerned citizens that recently announced it would compete with the Downtown Waynesville Association for the contract to manage the town’s municipal service district, which expires on June 30.

Concerns about the performance and the leadership of the DWA aren’t new, but have increased in recent weeks with confusion over longtime Executive Director Buffy Phillips’ employment status as well as a marked lack of transparency in regard to finances and board actions.

During a meeting on March 23, Phillips purportedly gave notice of her intent to resign at some future date. Multiple phone

calls made by The Smoky Mountain News to Phillips and DWA board Chair Carolyn Brunk from March 24 through March 26 were ignored and have yet to be returned, almost six weeks later. The board’s secretary, Olivia Carver, has since resigned but declined to comment on the proceedings of the March 23 meeting when reached by SMN.

On March 27, a story in The Mountaineer reported that Phillips would indeed step down.

A more recent Mountaineer story continues to assert that Phillips will soon retire, but neither Phillips nor Brunk have confirmed that to SMN, and minutes from the March 23 meeting have yet to be produced.

Mountaineer Publishing CEO Jonathan Key is vice-chairman of the DWA board.

A public records request made by SMN on March 24 for meeting minutes and financial documents was only partially fulfilled on April 27, one day before a public hearing on the DWA’s performance was held by Waynesville aldermen.

That meeting saw several DWA board members, including downtown business owner Teresa Pennington and Haywood County Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick, speak positively about the DWA, but also saw some criticism over the DWA’s apparent lack of direction.

“I’ve been part of the DWA for 20 years. I wanted to hear some of the other people

Mother’ s Day

make some comments because I would like to understand some other concerns of the citizens. As part of the statute, you as the town can actually take this on as yourself or contract with a private entity,” Kirkpatrick told aldermen, asking for greater oversight. “I think it’s important for whoever you appoint as the private entity to provide some specific direction as a town board.”

“If they do not comply with the public records requests, then I feel like they are not showing in good faith that they are willing to work with the town. I would not vote to give them the contract.”

— Alderman Anthony Sutton

When Coble addressed the board, he said he’d formed a nonprofit that was about to take on a minor beautification project on Waynesville’s quaint but neglected Wall Street because he’d seen no results from the DWA over the past few years.

“If they do not comply with the public records requests, then I feel like they are not showing in good faith that they are willing to work with the town,” he said. “I would not vote to give them the contract.”

Sutton also said that if SMN’s public records request of March 24 isn’t fulfilled, he’d take the same course.

Alderman Jon Feichter, who has a long family history of involvement with the DWA and once served on its board, said he was encouraged by the passion of people for the downtown district during the meeting.

“I think that the request for proposals is going to generate a fair number of responses and it will be up to the board to figure out which one represents the best vision for downtown over the next four or five years,” Feichter said. “I think that the competitive process is going to demand that anybody who submits a proposal is going to have to put their best foot forward, they’re going to have to come with their ‘A-game’ and ultimately that’s gonna be good for downtown Waynesville.”

But Feichter also expressed concern over the lack of transparency on the part of the DWA and said it would be a factor when the DWA submits its proposal for contract renewal.

In North Carolina, the only remedy for a public records request that isn’t fulfilled is in a court of law. According to Frayda Bluestein, the David M. Lawrence Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the DWA is a public body subject to the same public records and open meetings laws as municipal governing boards.

“One of the things I’m concerned about here in Waynesville is I do not see a clear direction. I do not see transparency in regards to our downtown association. I am not against the DWA, I think it’s a great organization, I think they’ve done some great things in the past,” he said. “I’m not negating the fact of what they’ve done but I do support a bid process, I do have a 501(c)(3) that is ready to do the RFP for it. I’ve looked at the budget extensively and I think we can do a lot more with the money we have.”

Coble said he wasn’t quite ready to reveal the board members on his nonprofit, called Start Now LLC, because of fears of retaliation.

During the meeting, Alderman Anthony Sutton honed in on the transparency problems. When reached later, Sutton expressed concern.

Guidance provided by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources says that records of the sort that have been requested by Sutton and SMN — meeting minutes, agenda packets and the like — are to be retained permanently by the custodial organization. Statutes also provide criminal penalties for the destruction of records, which could mean trouble for the DWA if they’re not available for production.

Feichter said the possibility of the DWA expending its limited funds on an avoidable legal defense instead of downtown revitalization is an unacceptable outcome.

“I came away feeling that even though there was large support for the DWA, there was also large support for holding them more accountable for what they’ve done in the past and what they might or might not do in the future,” he said. “So during that meeting, I did request five years’ worth of meeting notes so that we can judge what they have done during this last contract period, so I’ll be able to do a personal evaluation to see if it is a good fit for the coming five years.”

If he doesn’t receive the records he requested, Sutton said he wouldn’t support a contract renewal for the DWA.

“There is no gray area in this question. It is cut and dry. Black and white. Produce the information that is requested,” Feichter said. “Unless there’s some kind of unique circumstances, like the records were swept away in a flood or something like that, the fact they have not produced those records is unacceptable.”

Aldermen are expected to consider the wording of the RFP at the next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 11.

A biker takes a jump at a bike park similar to the one Asheville YouTuber Seth Alvo is building within Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Park.

Merchant group forms in Canton

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT

P OLITICS E DITOR

The Haywood County town of Canton hasn’t always been a major tourist destination, but with downtown revitalization well underway and a major mountain biking park about to open, all that’s about to change, and a group of concerned citizens want to make sure the town takes full advantage of the interest soon to come.

“We have a lot of work to do with regards to getting ready for the opening of these parks with regards to better signage in town, some sprucing up, some beautification projects like bike racks,” said Jeanne Forrest, a Realtor who along with Wildflour Blue owner Kelly Allred and Southern Porch proprietor Michaela Blanton Lowe is one of the founders of a group called CNCM — Canton North Carolina Merchants.

Forrest said the group will raise money and work alongside the town on small revitalization projects and also hopes to help with the 5th of July and Labor Day events Canton is known for, as well as addressing the town’s faded public art projects.

While Forrest’s group hasn’t formally incorporated, she said they will have some help from Waynesville businessman Mike Coble, who’s started a nonprofit that can help CNCM apply for grants it wouldn’t normally be able to access (see DWA, p.12).

“I had a phone call,” Coble said. “It was Kelly who reached out and said, ‘Mike, I have a business in Waynesville and I have a business in Canton. I need to be successful in both. This is a countywide situation. What else can we do?’”

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said he’s supportive of both the way the group came together and its goals.

“I think the next step in Canton’s revitalization is the formation of, for lack of better

words, a downtown merchant association. There have been several attempts in the past to form one. They have not been successful. I hope this time that it does work. It could help in promoting businesses and events and bringing people downtown,” Smathers said. “I’ve always supported the idea. However, something I think myself and the board agree on is that this needs to come organically from the merchants. As a government entity, we will support and we will do everything we can to help, but I think to succeed it needs to come from the merchants themselves and not from the government. From the bottom up, not top down.”

Smathers also said he’s not opposed to pursuing a municipal service district similar to the one that’s existed in Waynesville since the mid-1980s, albeit with the same bottom-up mentality as the merchant association.

“I think it’s something that if brought forth from the merchants, if it’s is something that they would like to address, I think it’s definitely something we would look at,” he said. “I think it has proven to be a successful model in Waynesville and other municipalities, but again, if the merchants brought that to us, I think the board absolutely would look at it as a tool that could help not just revitalize, but have a sustained downtown effort for businesses.”

And with the emergence of Berm Park, a mountain biking facility on the eastern edge of town slated to open this fall or spring, Smathers said he too plans to make sure the experience is one to remember and one that will keep bikers, their friends and families thinking about Canton year-round.

“I think what you’ll see is the town go out of our way to make sure that when people go to Berm Park, we’ll direct them to Canton. It’s a natural fit simply because it’s the closest place to shop and eat and drink. We don’t want people to come and be disappointed,” he said. “We want people to come once, and come back again, and then tell their friends. So we’ll as a town work through an entity like this and others like the Chamber of Commerce, and we’ll will put forth a plan and a strategy to attract people downtown and provide them an experience that will make them want to come back.”

Profits up at HCA, ratings down at Mission

ures collected immediately prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY P ETER H. LEWIS ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG

HCA Healthcare, which owns and operates Mission Hospital in Asheville, reported this month that it made $1.4 billion in profits for the first three months of 2021, more than double the amount for the same period last year.

The new figures follow HCA’s report in February that annual profits rose to a record $3.8 billion in 2020, despite the pandemic, based on what the company called “solid cost management.”

The independent, nonprofit Leapfrog Group says its ratings reflect a hospital’s ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Mission received an “A” grade in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog assessment; it is unclear when the Fall 2020 data were collected.

A detailed breakdown of the Leapfrog grading system can be found here.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also downgraded Mission Hospital’s overall rating, to four stars compared to five last year, and reported that patients gave Mission a three-star rating.

The proxy statement also revealed that HCA’s board recommended against a shareholder proposal to increase the 20 percent weighting of quality of care on executive compensation.

The proposal “would not provide meaningful information to stockholders, would not be a good use of the company’s resources, and is unnecessary,” the HCA directors said in the proxy statement.

National Nurses United, the labor union that represents nurses at Mission Hospital and 18 other HCA Healthcare facilities across the country, called HCA “the poster child of a corporate hospital chain that has prioritized profits above the needs of patients, nurses and health care workers.”

In a proxy statement filed last month with the Securities and Exchange Commission, HCA stated its primary objective is “providing the highest quality health care to our patients, while making a positive impact on the communities in which we operate.” But it rewards top executives far more on meeting financial performance targets than on meeting quality of care metrics.

A year after announcing that its senior leaders would take 30 percent pay cuts during the pandemic, HCA reported last month that total compensation for its chief executive, Sam Hazen, rose nearly 12 percent, to $30.4 million in 2020. Total pay for other senior HCA executives also rose significantly during the pandemic.

Nancy Lindell, director of public and media relations for HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division and Mission Hospital, declined to break out the performance of HCA’s western North Carolina division or disclose the financial compensation for local hospital executives.

PROFITS UP, RATINGS DOWN

On Thursday, the Leapfrog Group downgraded Mission Hospital to a “B” rating in its Spring 2021 Hospital Safety Grade assessment, based on performance meas-

CMS uses a five-star quality rating system to measure the experiences Medicare beneficiaries have with their health plan and health care system. The latest ratings are based on data collected after HCA took over the Mission system.

CMS says, “the overall star rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care.”

“The patient survey rating measures patients’ experiences of their hospital care,” CMS says. “Recently discharged patients were asked about important topics like how well nurses and doctors communicated, how responsive hospital staff were to their needs, and the cleanliness and quietness of the hospital environment.”

Detailed ratings for the CMS grading can be found here.

PROXY STATEMENT CONFIRMS PRIORITIES

According to a formula included in the proxy report filed by HCA, the Nashvillebased system calculates executive stock grants and bonuses — which typically exceed base salary — on a formula based 80 percent on financial performance and stockholder gains, and just 20 percent on meeting industry targets for quality of patient care.

As a public company, HCA is required by law to prioritize making money for shareholders over other goals. Before HCA acquired it in 2019, Mission Health was a nonprofit corporation required to make quality of patient care the top priority.

HCA raised prices for most medical care by 10 percent soon after taking control of Mission, but it also achieved profit targets in part by reducing staffing, cutting other non-labor costs, and other “efficiencies.”

MISSION EARNS ACCOLADES FOR CARE

Despite this week’s decline in ratings, Lindell, the HCA-Mission spokeswoman, said Mission continues to receive accolades, including recent recognition as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital for the 15th time, and Magnet recognition for professionalism, teamwork and patient care.

The Magnet Recognition Program is operated by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which allows nurses to recognize nursing excellence in other nurses.

Asked about the significant pay increases for Hazen and other top executives despite pledges that they cut their salaries, Lindell wrote in an email to Asheville Watchdog: “Last spring we announced that many leaders across HCA Healthcare were taking a reduction in salary until the height

of the pandemic passed. It was during that period that hospitals across the country had canceled services and closed many areas within hospitals.”

In a letter to HCA employees, Hazen said he would donate 100 percent of his salary in April and May to the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, which supports colleagues in times of natural disasters, illness, injury or other hardships, Lindell wrote.

Other HCA senior executives took a 30 percent pay reduction, and top corporate, division and hospital executives took 10 to 20 percent reductions, Lindell said. “As part of our efforts to protect our colleagues and their families, HCA Healthcare offered pandemic pay to those staff members who worked in areas of our hospitals that were closed due to the pandemic.”

According to its proxy statement, CEO Hazen’s 2020 base salary was reduced $109,010 as a result of HCA’s pledge to cut salaries during the pandemic. But because of stock grants, bonuses and retirement benefits based in large part on cutting costs and hitting profit targets, his total compensation soared by more than $3.6 million in 2020.

HCA Healthcare last year returned to taxpayers the $6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds it received as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

PHYSICIAN AND NURSE DEPARTURES

The reports of HCA’s record profits come as some Mission employees in the Asheville area complain of what they say is chronic understaffing and lack of adequate resources. As reported by WLOS-TV earlier this year, dozens of physicians have left HCA/Mission since the takeover. While some departing staff cited unhappiness with HCA management, it’s unknown how many of the departures were planned before HCA took over.

HCA-Mission has declined to give numbers for staffing before and after the sale, or to give details on staffing ratios, including the number of patients each nurse is required to assist.

Nashville-based HCA, which operates 186 hospitals in the United States and England, acquired Asheville’s Mission Health System in a $1.5 billion deal that closed Feb. 1, 2019. The background and details of the sale are still protected from public scrutiny by perpetual nondisclosure agreements approved by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Mission Health’s board of directors.

With its flagship hospital in Asheville, HCA’s North Carolina division includes seven hospitals and numerous clinics that serve 18 mostly rural counties in western North Carolina. It employs some 12,000 people.

(Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Peter H. Lewis is a former senior writer and editor at The New York Times. He can be reached at plewis@avlwatchog.org)

WAYNESVILLETIRE,INC.

Nature never did betray the heart that loved her. —William Wordsworth, 1798

In the 21st century numerous man-made dangers stalk our lives. These range from automobile accidents to agricultural pesticides. We have developed safety laws, vaccines, and medicines to give us a chance to survive. We have enacted policies to protect life forms necessary to our survival, as well. In the circle of life, we are all interconnected.

At home and at our work place we can help to save our food supply and overall quality of life. One major step is eliminating pollinator-killing chemicals from our property. The damage is being done to a key component of our web of life itself—bees, butterflies, other pollinating insects, and birds. If we cause these pollinators to go extinct, our whole food system will collapse. The decline in pollinators and other beneficial insects is increasing. For example, a scientific study from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation points a finger at neonicotinoids—also called neonics—a group of insecticides chemically like nicotine. Just like the negative impact of nicotine on human health, neonicotinoids are bad for insects. The European Union banned their outdoor use in 2013.

The development and production of pesticides is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Its main players are powerful and influential. Fertilizers and pes-

Curves to Cure What Ails You

A Recipe for Saving Our Food Supply

ticides have enabled farmers to keep almost 8 billion people fed every day. However, that achievement is not without cost.

And pesticide and herbicide use is not necessary: agronomists and other scientists, working with sustainable farmers, have proven that no-till or small-machine-till farming and planting native grasses as cover crops in fields after harvesting improves the soil while it keeps the topsoil from being blown or washed away. The Audubon Society is working with ranchers in the western US to plant native grasses for cattle and other livestock—millions of acres so far. These grasses create necessary habitat for birds while their roots, which grow much deeper, hold soil in place AND “sequester” or hold in carbon so it doesn’t get into the air and made our planet hotter.

Win-win-win for homeowners, businesses, and local government: 1) You’ll help preserve your already-threatened food supply. 2)You’ll save money by making home remedies for pests and diseases, and by using native plants, which are more resistant to pests and diseases. 3) You’ll help ensure a livable future for today’s children.

Those of us who have gardens and lawns have the power to make a small “push back” in favor of the bees and butterflies. Rather than purchase a manufactured herbicide to keep weeds in check on patios or along the sidewalk, mix up a natural weapon, one that contains vinegar. Spray it on in the morning, weeds are dying by evening. For common diseases of plants as well

as certain insect pests, use Neem oil. Every small step makes a difference. Start with helping the pollinators, expand your efforts to Recycle-Reduce-Reuse, and advocate for renewable energy. Each action strengthens your muscles and builds a better neighborhood for us all.

WHAT HOME GARDENERS CAN DO:

1. Make this recipe for weed killer: 1 gallon vinegar, 2 cups Epson salt, and ¼ cup Dawn dishwashing liquid. Limit its use, especially when including salt. When no rain is forecast for a day or more, pour a little or squirt on weeds between pavement, along the edge of patios and lawns. Spray it on in the morning, weeds are dying by evening. Warning: Don’t let it run into the soil of plants you want to keep.

2. For diseases such as fungus and for harmful, non-native insects, buy Neem oil concentrate, which is approved for organic gardens. Mix, use, and store ONLY according to the directions. Avoid spraying flowers—just the leaves. Warnings: Do wear a mask and do wear gloves and long sleeves. Inhaled neem oil coats the lungs! Neem works on dozens of plants but harms others; read the list on the bottle.

• More information: “How to Use Neem Oil to Prevent Garden Pests” – Mother Earth News — www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/pest-control/how-to-use-neem-oilzw0z1304zkin

WHO SAYS—THE EXPERTS:

• “Audubon Conservation Ranching teams up with Panorama Organic Meats to Bring Grassland Birds Back.” www.audubon.org/news/ofburgers-and-birds-partnership-nearly-double s-audubons-impact-ranches-across

• www.audubon.org/news/innovative-bill-wouldpromote-regenerative-ranching-california

• www.audubon.org/news/what-world-conservation-ranching

• For classes by Haywood County Extension on growing native plants: haywood.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/02/learn-howto-grow-native-landscapes

• For what you don’t raise, buy local fruit and vegetables, beef, pork, fish and seafood; and flowers! Haywood Historic Farmers Market http://waynesvillefarmersmarket.com

• “Ten Things You Always Wanted to Know about Neonics” – Natural Resources Defense Council — www.nrdc.org/experts/daniel-raichel/ten-things-you-always-wanted-knowabout-neonics

• “Country-specific effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees and wild bees” –A research report in Science — science.sciencemag.org/content/356/6345/1393

Mary Thomas, First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Creation Care Alliance of North Carolina, and wncclimateaction.com volunteer; and Mary Jane Curry, Climate Reality Leader and wncclimateaction.com volunteer three decades.

HCA breaks ground on new Franklin hospital

Cost estimates increase to $68 million

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

HCA Healthcare officially broke ground last Friday morning on a $68 million facility to replace Angel Medical Center in Franklin.

The new 82,500-square foot hospital, located at the intersection of U.S. 441 and Hunnicut Lane, will be a 30-bed facility with three operating rooms, one endoscopy suite, and a 17-bed emergency room that will include three dedicated behavioral health beds.

“This construction project builds on and supports the vision for healthcare in our communities. A new facility here in Franklin will allow us to provide current patient care services while focusing on the health of the community for years to come,” said Karen Gorby, CEO of Angel Medical Center, during remarks at the ceremony.

“When you think about hospitals, rural hospitals across the country it’s rare to hear of new hospitals being developed — or even renovated — they are closing. We’re just so pleased to partner with the teams here in Franklin in this development, in this project,”said Greg Lowe, President of HCA North Carolina Division.

Construction is estimated to take 14 months, which means the staff could be moving in by July 2022 and could be open to the public by fall of 2022. Gorby said she’s excited about all the new technology and space that will be available within the new facility.

“This new $68 million state-of-the-art healthcare facility offers the most up-todate clinical services and integrates the latest wireless technology available. It will provide larger rooms, better lighting and healing views, and the capacity to allow for the latest technologies to be incorporated into the hospital,” according to a press release from HCA.

As a critical access hospital, Gorby said AMC is only allowed to have 25 inpatients at one time and an additional five patients at a time for observation, which is why they will only be licensed for 30 inpatient beds in the new facility.

Gorby said the new ER will provide a separate space for behavioral health patients “to provide a more therapeutic environment” — something that isn’t available in the current facility. The space will provide those patients with more privacy as they await evaluation or to be transferred to another behavioral health unit. While behavioral health beds are in short supply in Western North Carolina and across the state, she said HCA’s plans to construct a 120-bed behavioral health facility in Asheville should help cut down on patient

wait times in the ER.

The cost of the new hospital has increased substantially since the original estimate back in 2017. The price tag increased from $43 million to $68 million because HCA tacked on more technology improvements.

“Initially we had planned on it being about $43 million and then with the transition to HCA, we’re going to replace a lot of the equipment like a new MRI and a new CAT scanner so then we had to go back to the state for another Certificate of Need to spend the $68 million, but it’s all good — it’s great for the community,” Gorby said.

There’s excitement about the new facility, but many people in the community want to know what will become of the 60-yearold building closer to downtown Franklin. The existing hospital cost approximately $6 million to construct and was opened in 1974 with the help of the community. Community members raised $1 million in a project known as “Operation Heartbeat” to provide matching funds for federal government grants and Hill-Burton loans, according to AMC’s website.

HCA hasn’t announced any plans for the current hospital, but county and state leaders have thrown out ideas to turn it into a behavioral health/rehabilitation facility for the far western counties or some kind of transitional facility for people experiencing homelessness.

“We’re still working to develop a plan for the old hospital and when we get closer to moving into the new hospital, we’ll be able to talk about what our plan is,” Gorby said. “We’re still not clear what the use will be, but as soon as we figure that out, we’ll let everyone know.”

Even before HCA purchased Mission Hospital and its affiliates in WNC, Mission announced it would soon close the labor and delivery unit at AMC because of financial constraints. The decision was highly criticized by the community and local officials since residents would have to travel 25 minutes over Cowee Mountain to deliver at Harris Regional or more than an hour to Asheville to deliver at Mission.

When asked about what services might be expanded or brought back at the new hospital, Gorby said shifting demographics would determine what services are needed in Franklin.

“It goes back to demographics here and the biggest population area growing is 65 and over. If demographics change, we’ll look at providing additional services based on that change,” she said. “Right now, we’re really focused on building our orthopedic program, general surgery, urology and some of our other key areas of services that help our patients.”

HCA Spokesperson Nancy Lindell added that it will be interesting to see how COVID19 impacts rural health care in the coming

years as people have been fleeing larger cities during the pandemic.

“People are leaving the cities so demographics may change — you never know,” she said. “I think this hospital and rural hospitals everywhere will play a big role in how the demographics of our country change.”

Growing up in a city, Gorby said it wasn’t unusual for expecting mothers to drive an hour to get to the hospital of their choice.

“We do see pre- and post-natal patients here but it’s surprising how many people from this market go to Mission to deliver,” she said. “I grew up in a big city and when I had my children, I drove over an hour to get to the hospital I wanted.”

Gorby said AMC is still working to recruit new providers, with more surgeons coming on board this summer.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

289 Access Road, Waynesville ∙ 452­4343

32 Asheville Hwy, Sylva ∙ 586­8950

188 Georgia Road, Franklin ∙ 349­4534

49 McDowell Street, Asheville ∙ 254­7716

35 NC Hwy 141, Murphy ∙ 835­8389

Decision time coming for Haywood budget

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT

P OLITICS E DITOR

Although the recommended budget won’t be presented for another two weeks, Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead took the opportunity on May 3 to present commissioners with a picture of what it might look like — on the heels of a historic revaluation that saw property values increase by nearly 20 percent countywide.

Property taxes are usually a local government’s largest source of revenue, and that’s certainly true in the case of Haywood County. They’re calculated by taking a property’s assessed value, dividing it by 100, and then multiplying that number by the tax rate.

Normally, it’s the rate that taxpayers complain about, as it can be changed by municipal governing boards during the budget process each year. But this year, property values driven by Asheville’s red-hot housing market will generate roughly 17 percent more revenue for Haywood County on the existing tax rate of 58.5 cents.

Based on current budgetary spending, commissioners could drop the tax rate all the way down to 50.78 cents and still have enough money to pay for everything the county needs in a regular year.

That’s not likely to happen, as salaries and health care coverage costs increase every year, however, the county is not likely to keep the rate at 58.5 cents, either.

Additionally, sales tax collections — which were expected to tank last year during the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic — have done the exact opposite.

Morehead said that sales tax collections were up almost 16 percent, something he called “unreal.” Some months, he said, were up more than 20 percent.

Commissioners will now set about the task of deciding between needs and wants, and between how much of the revenue surplus they should keep and how much to return to taxpayers in a 2021-22 budget that’s very much focused on employee compensation.

Although they’re still waiting on the results of an employee compensation study, Morehead estimates increases associated with that study could amount to around $2.3 million. County employees will still receive merit pay of up to 2 percent, as well as a COLA adjustment of 2 percent and a Christmas bonus.

During the last budget year, employee health care coverage costs should have risen about 5 percent, but that increase wasn’t funded due to concerns over revenue during the pandemic. This year, the county’s got some catching up to do, so costs will rise 11.7 percent for active employees and 8.7 percent for county retirees.

Vehicle replacement is a constant worry for most local governments, especially since vehicles used for public service often have pricey modifications that push the sticker price well above what a private citizen would pay on the lot. Last year the county replaced 15 vehicles at a cost of $700,000, but this year 24 new vehicles are needed, including two ambulances totaling more than $500,000 alone.

Various county departments have also made additional staffing requests, some of which will likely be funded and some of which not. Morehead’s preliminary budget approves six of 10 requested positions in the Sheriff’s Office — all telecommunicators. Animal Services should see both of their requested positions funded, and the county Health and Human Services Agency should see four of seven requested positions funded.

The Tax Assessor’s office, along with county EMS, won’t likely see funding for their requests for three and one positions, respectively.

Per state law, county and municipal budgets must be approved by June 30. This week, individual budget meetings will take place, with the recommended budget presentation scheduled for May 17. The first public hearing will take place on June 1, with possible budget adoption scheduled for June 7.

Urgent pipe replacement coming to U.S. 19/23

A deep pipe failure under the eastbound lanes of U.S. 19/23 between Clyde and Canton near Crawford Memorial Gardens will have traffic down to one lane in each direction for about one month.

N.C. Department of Transportation shifted both directions of traffic into a one-lane pattern on the existing westbound lanes. Speed limits have been reduced and orange markers separate traffic, increasing the need for drivers to remain alert.

NCDOT engineers are working to develop and award an emergency repair contract to rectify the issue as soon as possible. Engineers anticipate starting the construction as early as next week and completing the operation within one month. A contract crew will bore a new drainage pipe under the highway using a trenchless installation method and abandon the failed old pipe by filling it with concrete.

Transportation officials ask that drivers slow down, avoid distractions and obey all posted signs when driving in work zones such as this one.

Rotary to hold fundraiser in Waynesville

The Waynesville-Sunrise Rotary Club will hold a “Cup of Sunshine” fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 6, and Friday, May 7 at Orchard Coffee, 39 Depot St., in Waynesville.

Patrons will receive an original handcrafted mug, filled with coffee, for a suggested donation of $20. All the mugs were designed and created by Western Carolina University’s Ceramics Program, and the artisans will be present for a meet and greet from 9–11 a.m. on May 6.

Proceeds will support local community development projects and service work. Past projects funded by the Rotary Club include Haywood Pathways’ Holy Cow Food Truck and Myr-Ken Women and Children’s Shelter Technology Center, the Haywood County School bus camera program, Broyhill Children’s Home computer program, and the Waynesville Middle School Student of the Month program.

For more information, contact Waynesville-Sunrise Rotary Club president Lane Perry at lanegravesperry@gmail.com.

Wrestling with life’s challenges

On Saturday, May 8, Heroes 2 Legends Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep will present an exciting evening of entertainment at the Jackson County Rescue Squad featuring the region’s finest grapplers, along with a few important life lessons presented by Samantha AsheHayes of Life Challenge WNC, a Christian nonprofit serving women through a residential addiction treatment center. Several

matches are scheduled to take place before reigning Pro Wrestling Union Heavyweight Champion Outlaw Randy Wayne defends his title belt against a challenge from Dexter Hardaway. Johnny Harris and Bam Bam Malone, Christian Wrestling Federation wrestlers from Texas, will also appear. Sponsored by Taylor Wedding Co., Jackson’s General Store, Computer Nerds, Rick’s Full Service Car Wash, Bogarts of Sylva, and Backwoods Bakery Wood Fire Pizza. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bell time 6 p.m. Admission $5 at the door, first come, first served. Youth group rates available. Proceeds from the event will benefit Life Challenge of WNC. Hosted by Heavy Metal Ric Savage.

Skyrunner selected for broadband work

The Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas, Inc. recently announced it selected Skyrunner as the awardee of its Request for Proposal to expand broadband in the Fines Creek and Crabtree communities in Haywood County. This award is pursuant to funding received by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The creation and evaluation of the RFP was done in partnership with the Southwestern Commission Council of Governments and Haywood County.

The ERC has been a long-serving broadband and technology advocate for Western North Carolina.

Canton mayor selected as ‘Outstanding Rising Leaders’

Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials with Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, and Columbia, S.C., Mayor Steve Benjamin.

Smathers joins the group at a time when state and local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to the pandemic and as they take on a critical role in implementing the American Rescue Plan recently signed by President Biden. Smathers, his local team, and his peers in the new class of leaders were recognized for their unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity as they work to build back better in their communities and reject the idea that policymakers can or should want to turn the clock back to a prior era.

These leaders’ work will build on policy recommendations that NewDEAL Leaders help develop, including the release of reports on education and climate change, as well as recommendations from the NewDEAL Forum Renewing American Task Force, which has provided guidance for state and local leaders to address affordable housing, childcare, broadband access, entrepreneur-

New vaccinations continue to slow

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Vaccinations continue to slow down in the four-county area and in the state as a whole, but case counts are dropping too, with the 981 new cases reported statewide May 4 — marking just the fourth time since October that figure has fallen below 1,000.

Data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians show that, as of May 3, 38.3 percent of the combined populations of Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties had received at least one dose of vaccine — slightly below the statewide figure of 39.3 percent. The regional figure represents just a 0.5 percent increase over the 37.8 percent who were fully vaccinated as of the previous week, April 26. By comparison, in the week between April 12 and April 19, the percentage of partially vaccinated people in the four-county area leapt by nearly 5 percent.

The slowdown is due to a decrease in demand, not a decrease in doses. At this point, vaccination providers have ample doses on hand, and appointments are readily available.

“As we move into vacation season, we want to focus on specific populations in our community that may not have had the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to now,” said Haywood County Health Director Sarah Henderson. “In the weeks ahead, we will be conducting a vaccine clinic for teenagers. We want to encourage our younger population to be vaccinated prior to summer gatherings and returning to school in the fall. As vaccination efforts

ship, mass transit and the social safety net.

“We are in a unique moment for state and local leaders as we must find solutions for the urgent challenges created by COVID-19 while not losing focus on longer-term issues that will also affect North Carolina’s economic security for decades to come,” said Smathers.

“I look forward to sharing lessons with and learning from other leaders who are setting the standard for effective governance. I am excited and humbled to be part of NewDEAL’s efforts to expand opportunities for Americans in communities nationwide.”

May is Mental Health Month

Vaya Health is encouraging Western North Carolinians to check up on their own emotional wellbeing in May as the nation observes Mental Health Month.

Established in 1949, Mental Health Month is part of a national movement to emphasize the importance of good mental health for individuals and communities, fight stigma and provide support to loved ones. While one in five people will experience a

shift, we want the community to remember that we are here and that everyone that wants to be vaccinated can be vaccinated.”

Currently, only people 16 and older are eligible for vaccination. However, youth ages 12 to 15 could soon sign up for a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, pending action from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On March 31, Pfizer released the results of Phase 3 clinical trials in 2,260 teens age 12 to 15, saying the trial showed the vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 within that age group. National media are reporting that the FDA is expected to decide within days on whether to grant emergency use authorization to administer the vaccine to 12-to-15-year-olds.

According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, people 18 and younger make up 22 percent of the population in Swain County and 16.4 percent in Macon County, falling between those two figures in Haywood and Jackson counties. Despite slackening vaccination progress, case numbers remain low. Over the seven-day period preceding May 3, Haywood County reported 55 new cases, Jackson 19 and Swain eight. Macon County had the highest number of new cases in the region, at 93. The county is currently battling four outbreaks, two at nursing facilities and two at residential living facilities.

As of May 4, 45 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the 17-county Mountain Area Preparedness Coalition, of whom six were in the intensive care unit.

To sign up for a vaccine appointment, visit www.myspot.nc.gov.

mental health disorder during their lifetime, many Americans who had never had mental health challenges found themselves struggling for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased isolation and societal upheaval, according to the nonprofit organization Mental Health America.

“We all go through times when we struggle — it’s a very normal human condition,” said Christine Elliott, a licensed counselor and director of Member Services Care Coordination at Vaya, based in Asheville. “The good news is that mental health disorders are treatable, and everyone has the capacity to increase their resiliency to heal and ‘bounce back’ from life challenges.”

In WNC, tools and resources are available that can support the mental wellbeing of individuals and improve the health of entire communities. Anyone can call Vaya’s Access to Care Line at 800.849.6127 for help in a behavioral health crisis or for information about local treatment options, including services for adults and children who receive Medicaid or who are uninsured. This free, confidential service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Learn more at www.vayahealth.com or visit www.mhanational.org/may.

The heart and soul of public education

Igot home from work yesterday after running a couple of errands. It was approaching 6 p.m. My wife, a teacher, was scrunched over her computer at our kitchen island, still working, still all in, too busy to even chat. OK. I changed from my work clothes, did a couple yard chores, tinkered around with my motorcycle. At 6:45 I came back and was just closing her laptop as I walked in, finally ready to relax.

This morning Lori’s out of bed before the sun, off to Lake Junaluska for a brisk walk so she can get to school at something very close to 7 a.m., her normal time. She’s an ESL teacher, and many of her students congregate in her classroom before school starts.

My wife’s a dedicated teacher, and I see it every day. There’s the regular work, and then there’s phone calls, afterschool meetings, translating for parents, helping younger teachers, helping students with the personal challenges facing those who don’t speak English, and more. She gets a lot of satisfaction out of her job, and her entire mood is directly influenced by the ups and downs of her students.

She’s not alone, as there are so many highly motivated and dedicated public school teachers in this country. This is National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-7. Thank them for what they do, especially in this last year as every educator

Identity groups are unexplainable

To the Editor:

Attempts to explain or absolve any identity group of voters are subject to inaccuracy. Evangelical voters are accused of voting for a non God-fearing, Ten Commandment breaker, chaos causing, sower of hatred man who is the opposite of their Christian doctrine. Evangelistic voters actually voted for a man who closed our borders to illegal migrants, brought businesses back to the U.S., ended our dependence on other countries, made us energy independent, reduced unemployment and put America first. Those accomplishments sound Christian, compassionate, caring and concerned to me.   Supposedly, these same voters — following their leader — deny science, intellectualism and experts. What science are we talking about? Perhaps it is denial of scientists like Dr. Fauci who for over a year has been the government expert about Covid and has flipflopped on his advice numerous times. Instead the deniers may believe in the many qualified and credentialed scientists who take an opposite, well-verified view than Fauci. Are evangelical voters anti-intellectuals and experts? Intellectuals and experts are not necessarily only those chosen by a few elites who

in this country grappled with remote learning, schedules that have been a moving target since the pandemic started, and all the normal and pandemic-related psychological baggage children and adolescents bring with them to school every day.

My own children had many such teachers during their time in Haywood County Schools, and I witnessed first-hand how so many went above and beyond their job description every single day. For many, teaching is a calling, and they just do whatever it takes to help their students achieve. The best leave lasting influences that stay with us our entire lives.

I was one of those weird kids who loved school, enjoyed learning, couldn’t wait to get there. The arc of my early life was very much guided by the influential teachers I had as a child and as an adolescent. There was Mrs. Chambers, first grade at the sweltering elementary school in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who patiently tried to straighten out my confusion with yellows and oranges, blues and greens; Miss Fitch, third-grade at Aquidneck Elementary in Middletown, Rhode Island, who

LETTERS

deem them to be so.

We can only presume to understand any identity group. Minorities seem to vote for Democrats in high percentage when the Democrat promises to them are rarely met, i.e., Democrat Lyndon Johnson’s over 50-yearold war on poverty is a war that is never finished. Perhaps the minority identity group responds best to any mention of fighting poverty that is a Democrat campaign promise in every election cycle.

In 2020 an identity group of dissatisfied people voted for a presidential candidate who hardly left his basement to campaign, failed in primaries and drew a sickly number of attendees at campaign events. This group voted for a man who supports the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force Recommendations, a socialist document for progressive systems to address climate change, criminal justice, the economy, education, health care and immigration. Each category recommendation includes government control, redistribution of wealth, high taxes in the name of equity and unity. Biden’s severely radical path guided by his handlers, chosen cabinet and agency heads, mostly progressives or socialists, sees equity as something determined by skin color. Unity does not include keeping Donald Trump’s successes supported by over 74 million voters.

read my poem in front of the class and complimented my writing; Mrs. Ashley at College Lakes Elementary in Fayetteville, who didn’t rat me out for giving answers to my friends during a math test but kept me after class and challenged me “not to fall to their level but rise to your own;” and Mrs. Sykes, high school journalism teacher extraordinaire at Pine Forest Senior High in Fayetteville, who had everything to do with the fact that I’m sitting here today writing this column for The Smoky Mountain News.

We still don’t give teachers their due respect, still don’t treat them like the professionals they are. I bumped into a principal pal the other day, during school hours, and jokingly gave him a hard time for being away from school. He came back, asking why are educators always called out when they are away from school during school hours while other professionals aren’t treated the same? He was right.

I’m a public school advocate who believes our school system is this country’s great unifier, the one big part of life almost all of us have in common. It shapes our attitudes about this country and the world we live in. The heart and soul of the system are the teachers who spend so many hours each day and each week with our children. A sincere thanks for what you do. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

But Biden does accept, sometimes as his, the Covid vaccines made possible by Trump’s warp speed initiative that produced a vaccine in less than one year. Perhaps this dissatisfied identity group saw that Biden’s presidency would radically change America which they thought most necessary. Maybe they wanted to see an administration that would clear out and clean out any vestiges of the hated Trump including his supporters, aides and col-

leagues.   I do not know. My point is that to denounce or criticize any identity group is futile. Identity group thought processes are not standard, in any given norm or the opposite of a norm. We all are in an identity group so let’s not think one knows the other. It just is not so.

Sitting in the mess can be worth it

I’m not the traditional church-going type. “Christianity” is an antiquated, laden term of which I’m not a fan. My faith is unique, evolving. My God is changing and alive with the times. My Bible is a book of stories, metaphors and poetry. It is not a hard and fast guidepost. I love learning about various religions and the history of the church, but I can be a skeptic when it comes to the intentions of modern-day institutions.

God is vibrantly present in my daily life, so I know God is real. Though religion as an umbrella concept can be overwhelming, punitive even, there are certain churches and pastors that mean a lot to me.

Churches are opening after being mostly shut down or virtual for over a year. Throughout my life, I’ve only attended one church with regularity and that is Long’s Chapel. The people of this church, including former and current pastors, have walked with me through early motherhood, my mom’s death, divorce, moving, job changes, life challenges, new relationships and much more. Former and current pastors, Chris Westmoreland, Tim McConnell, Chuck Wilson and Justin Lowe, were beacons of light during my darkest days of grief. They and my two little boys were the only sources of brightness. Without them, I would have continued to stumble around in the dark.

I’m also affectionate toward First United Methodist of Waynesville. My boys went to preschool there and continue to participate in activities sponsored by them, such as Wilderness Trail. I mention Long’s Chapel and FUMC by name because both accept people for who they are, flaws and quirks included. They love fiercely and allow me to be who I am, messy faith and all.

This past Sunday we attended inside church for the first time since early March 2020. I was impressed with Long’s Chapel’s protocol for making attendees feel safe. Pastor Chris’ message resonated with me. The message centered on the story of David and a post-battle victory period where David learns of his best friend’s death.

David went from the high of winning a battle to the low of losing a brother. He had to somehow readjust to the new normal. Pastor Chris coined these stages as orientation, disorientation and reorientation. In my own life, I’ve walked through these phases time and time again. Beyond that, I couldn’t help but think of all of us when lis-

tening to Pastor Chris’ words.

The world, especially Americans, went from a place of relative homeostasis (orientation) to significant uncertainty and loss during the pandemic (disorientation) and now we’re in a period of readjustment (reorientation). It’s been a trying year and life may never be as it was before COVID19. For me, it’s helpful to put a name to the stages we’ve traveled and view each as individual entities with unique effects, responses and layers of growth.

Church wasn’t my only reminder we’re in a period of reorientation. Saturday morning we walked to Waynesville’s Historic Farmers Market, located in the HART Theatre parking lot. It felt great to see people around one another, enjoying beautiful weather, live music and nature’s bounty. When we arrived, young actors were leaving a Saturday rehearsal for an upcoming stage production of “Sister Act,” another reminder life is slowly returning to some type of normalcy.

Later that day I attended my older son’s soccer game. It was the first time in many months the athletes played without masks. The decrease in case numbers led Gov. Roy Cooper to remove the mask mandate for kids when playing sports. It made my heart happy to see entire young faces, not simply their eyes.

Saturday evening, a group from The Smoky Mountain News served dinner at Haywood Pathways Center. We wore masks and stayed safe, but nonetheless it was fun to serve and be around new people in our community. Sunday morning as I scrolled through social media, I saw prom photos from the weekend’s festivities, yet another reminder that students are feeling the comforts of normal end-of-year events.

This place of reorientation is delicate. It feels wonderful to do normal things; yet, we have to remain vigilant and alert. This virus has tricked us before; it can trick us again.

I didn’t think I’d exit the weekend with a new life principle, but I did. Orientation, disorientation, reorientation. The thing is, we can’t rush through the disorienting moments in an attempt to land in a happier, easier place. We must sit in those uncomfortable messes until we do the work, sort through the feelings and learn the lessons. It’s hard to do. We’ve been doing it for over a year. We are tired. But remember this — when we emerge on the other side, life can be sweeter, but we must allow our eyes to see it, our hearts to feel it.

(Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer and digital media specialist for The Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living, and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)

On my way

A conversation with Grace Potter

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

At 37, Grace Potter has already positioned herself as one of the finest stage performers and singer-songwriters of the early 21st century. A signature blend of soul, rock, folk and pop sensibilities, she left her native Vermont as a teenager and never looked back.

After a short stint at St. Lawrence University, she soon found herself fronting a rock ensemble (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals), a group that quickly garnered a large following — rumbling across every big stage and major festival from coast to coast, atop opening for the likes of The Black Crowes and The Rolling Stones.

But, The Nocturnals eventually broke apart in recent years. As did her marriage to the drummer, who also co-founded the band with Potter. The melodic walls she spent countless tours and endless miles building up came crumbling down. It left Potter retreating from the spotlight, disappearing from behind the microphone until she could find her true self again.

In conversation, Potter is candid and introspective, a presence of genuine sincerity and unrelenting passion. Nowadays, she’s wiped the slate clean of her personal and professional demons, finally embracing her aweinspiring, intricate and sometimes turbulent musical past — all while moving toward her artistic destiny of stardom with a clear head and fresh vision.

“At the end of the day, music came back as a healing messenger. More than anything else, it was the tool I used to help me process everything that had happened.”

— Grace Potter

Smoky Mountain News: You’ve been a touring musician most of your adult life. What was your takeaway from everything coming to a halt this past year?

Grace Potter: It came at a really interesting time. I had just crawled out from under the rock that I’d been living under for four years. I took this big step back from music, one in which I really didn’t have any intention of ever coming back to music.

When I started pulling away [from music] after [The Nocturnals] broke up and everything sort of fell apart, it felt whatever was unraveling in my life was caused by music.

Then, when [my 2019 solo album] “Daylight” was finally was released, I worked myself up into being excited about getting back out on the road, sharing this album and processing all of it with the world, because that’s how it’s always been — out on the road, seeing where the songs land in other people’s lives.

It was a pretty devastating moment when the [2020] tour got postponed indefinitely because I had already postponed my whole career indefinitely. In some ways, it was even more jarring than it needed to be.

But, in other ways it was kind of a return to form because I really love being home. And I found an incredible depth to my private life. I was able to retreat back into that in a way that felt not too crazy for me.

SMN: So, there was a point where you were actually tempting the idea of walking away from everything?

GP: Yeah. When the band broke up and my marriage had fallen apart, my relationship with music was less than awesome. It was this thing where I felt like I didn’t ask to be “musically gifted.”

I have a gift and it’s not something that I worked very hard at. It’s just there. It’s just the thing I do. I can’t explain it, but it’s something that, when I was a really young kid — four or five [years old] — people were picking up on the fact that I had this kind of inherent musical ability. [And] it turned into a little bit of a performing monkey thing, you know? So, I had this weird resentment toward music.

I didn’t ask for this, and suddenly [as an adult] it’s my responsibility to acknowledge

and share my gift with the world. The whole thing is so completely narcissistic and leads to awful sort of self-isolating emotions.

[And yet], it’s just not true. It’s not music’s fault that things fall apart. But, in my mind, at the time, I hadn’t had a chance to process everything. And so, that four-year window was really an open window that I had left for myself to just understand my relationship with music, understand my talent, my sort of perverse attitude towards it, because it was wrong.

Want to go?

A special intimate drive-in performance by Grace Potter will be hosted by The Grey Eagle at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. A socially-distanced concert, all Covid-19 safety protocol will be followed and enforced. The show is all ages. Gates open at 6 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to www.thegreyeagle.com, click on the “Calendar” tab.

At the end of the day, music came back as a healing messenger. More than anything else, it was the tool I used to help me process everything that had happened.

SMN: How much of you still identifies with that young girl coming out of Vermont [in the early 2000s], just starting out as a performer?

GP: Oh man, more than ever now. It’s crazy, dude. These [current] solo shows? I feel like I’m 15, 16, 17 [years old again] at my first Farmer’s Market gigs — it’s so similar.

[The audience now] is in their pods, which is exactly how a Farmer’s Market is laid out. And those are the first gigs that I ever played, in the Mad River Valley and up in Stowe, [Vermont], playing arts and crafts fairs and Farmer’s Markets.

I also feel that indulgent ability as an artist to play the crowd better. I can hear what everybody wants. I can invite them to make requests and have this conversation with the audience, as opposed to having a conversation with a band where I’m like, “Do you guys know this song?” or “Can we do this song?” I don’t have to ask anybody. It’s just me again. It’s such a return to form. I didn’t expect it, but I was really excited when it happened.

And as a songwriter, my journey has been a to find my own voice again, which was the last five years of my life — [it’s] moving forward [knowing] that I’m the only person who can create this voice, this perspective.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

The best things in life are truly free, singing birds and laughing bees

Woke up this morning with the thought of the impending summer, impending “state of being” for all of us slowly sliding back towards to some sense of normalcy amid “all this.”

Packing up the truck in my native Upstate New York and heading back to Western North Carolina, it feels like the calm before the storm of what’s to come this summer, and moving forward.

A friend texted me yesterday asking about plans in late July. I responded truthfully, saying, “I’m pretty much booked up every weekend through November.” I sent the text and caught myself in that moment, where my thoughts immediately drifted towards, “Don’t forget to slow down. Don’t forget what you learned and harnessed during the shutdown.”

My mind is racing towards every bright light and opportunity that exists in my

beloved music industry. But, my heart is trying to pull back the reigns and aim for a balance between my personal and professional life, a balance that always heavily tipped towards my career than my private endeavors.

I’ve always chosen the written word over anything else in my existence. That mindset, at least I feel, is how you succeed in the creative realms, where you have to live and breathe your passion to find financial footing and career advancement.

But, to that point, the shutdown proved that you can find a balance between chasing your dreams and not lose sight of building personal relationships, of making time to be in nature, of taking steps back from the daily chaos of your life to find calm and silence on your own (and in your own time).

It’s perfectly fine (and admirable) to be happily busy and productive, especially when you truly love what you do. But, don’t kill yourself in doing so. Easier said than done, right? I know firsthand how to completely lose sight of your personal dealings because your only focus is work and pushing ahead.

For us in the music industry and the written word, a lot of that comes from always scraping by to get by, so you’re always in survival mode. Before the shutdown, right around January 2020, I was completely burned out, physically and emotionally.

The previous year was the most productive year of my career. I wrote hundreds of articles and covered 26 three-day music festivals in 32 weeks. It was insanity, but I seemingly couldn’t turn down any opportunity, seeing as a lot of those festivals came to be with Rolling Stone knocking on the door asking if I would drive endless miles to attend a gathering.

Why would I ever turn down those chances? A true dream come true, especially after years and years trudging through this industry to make a name for myself. So, I jumped on any and all opportunities. And by January 2020, I was delirious, completely exhausted.

I remember grabbing some coffee with my newspaper publisher (a dear friend and mentor) and telling him how tired I was, how I wanted to take a few steps back from everything to clear my head, restart the computer within. He agreed.

It was suggested that I take a long trip somewhere and just not write articles or answer emails for a period of time. I made a decision to do so and prepared to pull the plug on my career for the first time since I was 21 years old. Pull the plug and plug it back in once I found myself again.

Well, the ship off date was to be early March 2020. And we all know how the rest of that year turned out, eh? I was shocked and confused as we all were as to how everything eventually panned out. But, aside from the obvious nature of the chaos and unknowns of the shutdown, the plug had been pulled on my daily existence, whether I was ready to take the plunge or not.

My beloved music industry stopped and, for good or ill, I could finally take a moment to catch my breath and clear my head. And I did. I hiked more last year than ever before. I escaped into the Great Smokies and Adirondacks on a daily basis. I was able to return to my native North Country during the summer months for the first time in years. I got to see my niece blow out her birthday candles for the first time. I was able to attend summer barbecues with old friends and small family gatherings that nor-

mally I wouldn’t be around for.

In essence, I was able to make quality time for people and things that I’d usually not be able to commit to. I was present, and living “in the now.” And it felt amazing. I could focus on other things besides writing and live music.

After a year of this, I’ve been able to find this much-desired balance between my personal and professional life, where before the lines were so blurred because of doing what I loved that, well, I loved doing it so much that I became distracted from many things I should have given attention to: love, friendship, peace of mind, etc.

Throughout this past year, I’ve been interviewing all kinds of acclaimed musicians, asking about how the shutdown affected their lives, on and off the stage. They all pointed to the same things I felt, experienced, and have written about above.

Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers telling me how he won’t tour as much anymore, won’t kill himself to be on the road constantly, to spend more time with his family and friends back at home. Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters, in reference to the music industry, saying, “It’s not, ‘When will we return to normal? It’s ‘What’s next?’” Grace Potter saying how she’s come full circle in her life with the shutdown, being able to process her past and make sense of “it all.”

To which, a few days ago, when I interviewed Charley Crockett, he mentioned how the shutdown has stopped him from running around like a chicken with its head cut off, that he’s realized how fast and hard he was going “to not be left behind” by the music industry.

Wild stuff, right? With all of which circling back to what I’ve been saying this whole time. That said, as much as I’m ecstatic to see my industry friends and live music peeps once again, to have plenty of shows to look forward to again, to hit the road once again to destinations unknown, I have to not lose sight of myself like the “before times.” I have to never forget the lessons learned and feelings experienced during the shutdown. The idea that “it is OK to not be OK” and to know when to slow down and smell the roses. Keep the steady pace of progress and passion, but know when to let go of the gas pedal from time to time.

Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

Franny Tacy — A Trailblazer In The World Of Hemp

· BY SUSANNA SHETLEY ·

CBD was relatively unknown to the world a few years ago. Today, you can purchase a variety of CBD products at every pharmacy, convenient store and roadside stand, but not all products are equal. Franny Tacy, owner of Franny’s Farmacy, has been in the hemp business a long time and knows that purity and sourcing matters. People depend on CBD for serious conditions such as pain and anxiety management, so the product must live up to its potential.

Raised on a farm in Tennessee, agriculture has been in Franny’s blood since childhood. In college and graduate school, she majored in forestry and education. After teaching for four years, she moved to Asheville and took a job in pharmaceutical sales where she managed a $10 million territory for over 12 years. It was at this point when she became frustrated with what she calls the “unhealthcare system.”

Her heart and soul were called back to the land and over the following three years, she evolved from “pharma to farm” and quit her corporate career to focus on building a new business. In 2021, Franny bought uncultivated land in Leicester, N.C. to create Franny’s Farm. In 2017, Franny planted hemp varieties for food and fiber and unbeknownst to her, became the first female hemp farmer in North Carolina. In 2018, she pivoted and began cultivating hemp varieties grown for cannabinoid production and opened her first Franny’s Farmacy Dispensary in downtown Asheville.

Fast forward a handful of years and Franny is now CEO of a franchised company with 11 locations and more on the way. The company’s logo is ‘Seed to shelf, hemp and health.’ As the business grew, it remained committed to the health and wellness of their customers through in-

novative organic farming, a network of principled partner producers and institutions, and traceable seed-to-shelf hemp and CBD products.

“I have one heck of a team,” Franny said, when asked how she manages her company. “We’re small but very dialed in.

known as the entourage effect.

Through her years as a speaker, businesswomen, entrepreneur and farmer, Franny has learned that taking care of herself is as important, if not more important, than the ins and outs of running multiple businesses.

We have a lot of systems of efficiency in place. With franchising, that’s what you have to do, focus on systems, reports, accountability and pull through.”

Franny is a trailblazer in the worlds of hemp farming and CBD production. She’s given a TED Talk on hemp farming and been featured in numerous publications including Franchise Times, Hemp Grower, Green Market Report, The Marijuana Times, Vitamin Retailer and many more.

Franny’s products are unique in that they are extracted from organic hemp plants. They do not use fillers or unnecessary ingredients. According to Franny, her products go beyond the “CBD isolate” (AKA, a single cannabinoid) to provide exposure to an array of cannabinoids, creating a more pleasurable experience

“To run my business, I have to take care of myself first,” says Franny. “I start and end each day with an hour of meditationand yoga. I eat healthy. I sleep well. Taking care of myself first allows me to take care of everything else with clarity, stability, energy and passion. I am my own grounding rod.”

Franny is excited to announce her next three franchise owners are female. She encourages women to make their own path. In fact, she ended her Rumble interview with a call to action.

“Calling all women who want to work with us! We’re badass. Let’s get out there and do it."

Learn more about Franny’s story, farm and products by visiting www.frannysfarmacy.com.

Rumble is a weekly e-newsletter created by women, for women and about women. It is published by The Smoky Mountain News and delivered to your inbox each Thursday. The goal is to offer readers a beautifully curated email that will inspire and motivate women to live their best lives. By hearing the challenges and successes of other women, we hope you will find an opportunity to live, love, learn and grow in your own unique way.

On the beat On the street

Cowee welcomes Mountain Heart

Acclaimed bluegrass/jam act Mountain Heart will perform on the lawn at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Historic Cowee School in Franklin.

The band has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played, its name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group’s creation.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Jay Brown (guitar/vocals) 7 p.m. May 22. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Echo 13 May 7, J.J. Hipps May 8, TMJ May 14 and Joey Fortner May 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will host a Mother’s Day concert with members of the Tuscola High School band from 1 to 2 p.m. May 8 in the Gallery & Gifts showroom. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Historic Cowee School (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (bluegrass/jam) on the lawn at 7 p.m. May 15. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-16. Under age 6 free. Rain or shine. Tickets available at the Franklin Chamber, www.coweeschool.org, or at the door.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute

Mountain Heart, or its individual members, have been nominated for Grammys, ACM, and CMA awards. The band has also been nominated for, and won, multiple IBMAs.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-16. Under age 6 free. Rain or shine. The Flying Cloud food truck will be onsite. Tickets available at the Franklin Chamber, www.coweeschool.org, or at the door.

set) May 15. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Prophets of Time May 7 and Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute set) May 14. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Steve Heffner May 7, Kate Thomas May 8, Bird In Hand May 14 and Shane Meade May 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Tricia Ann & The Wolfpack May 7. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Ashley Hess (pop/soul) 7:30 p.m. May 8. Admission is $18 per person. For tickets, call 828.524.1598 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Outlaw Whiskey May 8. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.926.7440 or www.valley-tavern.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.4750 or www.facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

Spring at the Rickman Store

The arrival of spring marks a new season of weekly festive gatherings at the Rickman Store in Macon County.

Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to visit this historic building every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting May 8.

This year, the Rickman Store proudly joins eight other sites in Macon County that have been selected for inclusion in the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area that promotes the must-see destinations for traditional and contemporary art. Our local artists, writers and craftsmen exhibit their work and creations in this friendly venue.

Celebrating strawberries

The 21st annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.

The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy local music, local food, fresh fruits and vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, childrens play area, hayrides, fishing, camping, and much more.

Volunteers and Mainspring staff have invested a great part of the winter restoring and making necessary repairs to this beloved building. Many friends and donors have made valuable additions to the collection of antiques and artifacts that allow visitors to step back in time to enjoy the experience of the traditional general store that Tom Rickman ran for 69 years since 1925.

As part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails, the Rickman Store will continue welcoming musicians for its weekly afternoon jams. Masks are required indoors but the option of playing outdoors on the porch is available.

The Rickman Store is located seven miles north of Franklin by N.C. 28, in the heart of the Cowee-West Mill Historic District, next to the Old Cowee School on 259 Cowee Creek Road.

For more information, call 828.369.5595 or visit “Friends of the Rickman Store” on Facebook.

Admission is free. Donations accepted for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. For more information, call 828.488.2376.

• “G&LW Wholesale Gem Show” will be held May 14-16 in Franklin. The trade shows are produced in many major trade centers across the United States for the convenience of wholesale buyers. For the past 43 years, G&LW’s multiple show venues have been, and continue to be, a top gem and mineral buyer destination. 601.879.8832 or www.glwshows.com.

• Friends of the Greenway (FROG) will host the Frog Fair arts and crafts gathering from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the FROG Quarters, located at 573 East Main Street in Franklin (at the Town Bridge). Over 25 vendors will be onsite. Area musicians will perform throughout the day, with a sitting area also provided. For vendor information, email frog28734@gmail.com.

On the stage

Last call for ‘Say

Goodnight, Gracie’

Starring Pasquale LaCorte as George Burns, “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will be held over for more performances following a high demand for tickets. The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

The production is being staged in the Fangmeyer Theater, with CDC protocols in place. The flat floor of the theater makes it possible for patrons to be in pods spaced six feet apart.

“Say Goodnight, Gracie” is an evening with one of the entertainment industry’s most celebrated figures, George Burns. The show offers an unforgettable tour through a century of entertainment. Audiences will be transported with treasured video clips, audio and pictures from the life of these comic icons. All seats are $20 general admission.

Door opens 30 minutes prior to the performance.

To make reservations call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 at any time and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you would like held and the performance date on the recording.

ALSO:

• The comedy mystery “Clue” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2:30 p.m. May 9 and 16 at Swain County High School Performing Arts Center. Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, “Clue” is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. Advance tickets may be purchased at swainhs.seatyourself.biz.

Haywood Arts celebrates Smokies flora

The exhibit: “Celebrating the Flora of the Smoky Mountains” will run May 7-31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom on Main Street in Waynesville.

The exhibit will showcase our beautiful native wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and trees, all from local and regional artisans.

Free and open to the public, for more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.

Sylva Sandwich Competition

Presented by the Sylva Art & Design Committee, the inaugural “Sylva Sandwich Competition” will take place during the month of May at participating restaurants around the community.

Establishments include Big Nick’s BBQ, Cosmic Carryout, Front Street Takeout, Guadalupe Cafe, K+M Seafood, Lucy In The Rye, Lulu’s, Mad Batter, South of Philly, White Moon, and Paper Mill Lounge.

Scan the QR code at participating restaurants and vote for your favorite “SADC” sandwich. All entry fees and donations from the competition will help fund a new mural at a downtown Sylva business.

• “Pig Roast & Wine Tasting” charity event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pork sandwiches, raffle items, local art, and more. All donations to benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot. Stay for dinner and take advantage of latehour shopping. www.mountainlovers.com.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.

Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) has now added outdoor seating on the East Street side of the building. The popular beverage spot is open seven days a week with 16 taps flowing, including beer, cider, ginger beer and nonalcoholic options. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

Shelton House now open

The Shelton House has launched its 2021 season, promising to bring more “History, Heritage and Crafts” to the residents and visitors of Western North Carolina.

With hopes of a better season, warmer weather and Covid-19 vaccines, The Shelton House is committed to bringing safe, family friendly events, and museum tours to its beautiful campus.

The Shelton Campus is comprised of The Shelton House “Museum of NC Handicrafts,” the Shelton Carriage House Gift Shop filled with arts and crafts from local artisans, the early 19th century Barn and Event Center (re-opening year round with a new HVAC system and renovations in June, 2021 for rental options in Haywood County), Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market, and the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART).

The Shelton House will open for its 41st season from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday for tours and/or visits to the Gift Shop. House Tours are held on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Gift Shop open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Special events and tours are offered throughout the season. Group tours can be arranged year-round by calling 828.452.1551 or contacting them at info@sheltonhouse.org.

• Aug. 21-22: Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend. Open call for community organizations, artisans, crafters and sponsors. If interested, call 828.452.1551 or email info@sheltonhouse.org.

• Oct. 29-31: A Haunting on the Hill. A

“Spooktacular” event for young and old on the grounds of the Shelton House.

• December: Candlelight Christmas tours of The Shelton House decorated for the holidays.

• Dec. 5: Appalachian Christmas and opening of the Tinsel Trail.

• Dec. 5 to Jan. 1: Tinsel Trail open. Decorate your business, organization, church or family Christmas Tree on the grounds of The Shelton House.

The Shelton House is always looking for volunteers to help with events, tours, the gift shop, archiving, computer work, and much more. If you’re interested in helping out, call 828.452.1551, email info@sheltonhouse.org or stop by during open hours. www.sheltonhouse.org.

• “Outdoor Pottery Sale” from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Cowee Pottery School in Franklin.

ALSO:

• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician. Leashed pets welcome. Outdoor event. Current Covid19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. 828.488.7857.

• Open call for artists to sell their work in the Carriage House Gift Shop at the historic Shelton House in Waynesville. 757.894.2293.

Insightful and beautifully written

Thirty years ago or so, perhaps in Time Magazine where he was a long-time essayist, I read a Lance Morrow article on the subject of honor. His piece so impressed me that I read it multiple times, and later photocopied it and passed it on to the students in my Advanced Placement English Language and Composition class as an example of stellar writing.

Over the years since then, I’d lost track of Lance Morrow until now. I didn’t follow him on his website, www.lancemorrow.com, which includes descriptions of his books and quite a few of the essays he’s written in the last 30 years. Only when his latest book, God and Mammon: Chronicles of American Money (Encounter Books, 2020, 169 pages) arrived in the mail did I recollect what pleasure I took in reading his words.

The coronavirus overwhelmed Wuhan, where it started, and spread to Italy and Spain and elsewhere on the globalized planet, crisscrossed by 93,000 flights daily (the flight paths as densely interwoven as the string around a baseball), and Trump in the Oval is delivering an address

and his wife got out of bed, they found their kitchen door, which they always locked, wide-open. Nothing was missing in the house, “but now I sleep with the shotgun standing in a corner — loaded, with the safety on.”

All of this in just two pages.

In God and Mammon Morrow examines the role of money in American culture by looking into the lives of persons as diverse as Booker T. Washington, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Luce, and Edith Wharton, and then noting their thoughts and actions regarding wealth. He seeks to demonstrate that throughout American history money and morality have often walked hand in hand, a union that is in a sense the quintessential core of the American Dream.

Not all of the figures and events he brings into play are from the past. Here is Oprah Winfrey, once poor and now one of the richest women in America. Here is Donald Trump with his brash ambitions and millions of dollars. Here are the pandemic and the death of George Floyd.

And here is Lance Morrow himself, slipping in and out of this long essay, sharing bits and pieces of his own life and writing always in that wonderful prose that has made him a national treasure.

Morrow’s description of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic reveals this man’s immense talents:

“But, all at once, the narrative line of Trump’s presidency, the money success in which he gloried until a moment ago, has been disrupted.

What’s new at the library?

All Fontana Regional Library locations in Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties are now open for walk-in browsing without an appointment.

Because of high demand and limited capacity, some special sections may still require a reservation, such as computer labs and study

to the nation in which he sounds like a sullen adolescent who has just wrecked his father’s Cadillac.

“The country goes to sleep in a mood of foreboding.”

Crammed full with facts, striking similes, and concise language, that paragraph is typical of the writing we find in the rest of God and Mammon

In addition, Morrow also brings a lifetime of learning to these pages. On the first page of Chapter 12, for instance, he mentions George Floyd, Joe Biden, Thomas Jefferson, the stock market, Donald Trump, and the upcoming election. He weaves all of these people and events together, takes a quick look at why both the Left and the Right believe for different reasons that the United States may be facing a coup d’état, and segues into some observations on people leaving the larger cities from fear of violence and crumbling infrastructures. He concludes by noting that one morning, when he

rooms. These reservations can be made in advance or on a walk-in/as available basis.

Visitors who come into the library starting in May will find that things look more like they did before the pandemic, even as masks are still required for everyone ages 3 and up, and additional cleaning measures are in place.

Following CDC and NCDHHS recommendations, there will no longer be a quarantine of returned library items, and some of the upholstered chairs and furniture will again be usable,

Finally, Morrow offers readers a feast of information by providing several dozen sketches of famous Americans and events from the past. His defense of Ulysses Grant, who according to Morrow, belonged to “an American Culture of Character,” is a brilliant five-page synopsis of the man who defeated the South and who was later maligned as overseeing a corrupt government. In discussing our shift to “an American Culture of Personality,” he looks at Bob Dylan, Ernest Hemingway, Donald Trump, and others who invent themselves through what F. Scott Fitzgerald once called “gestures of personality.”

God and Mammon is the type of book that acts like fireworks in my brain. As I read it, those explosions livened up my mind, sent my thoughts in all sorts of directions, and brought revelation after revelation. An example: though I have read Booker T. Washington’s autobiography Up From Slavery and a biography about him, and have researched him a bit online, I never understood how brilliant he was in pushing blacks to excel in the manual arts and the professions. He saw more clearly than most, especially his critics, the connection between money and resources and greater freedoms for his people.

In his Epilogue, Morrow ends with a couple of questions that did give me pause. He first quotes “two famous exit lines:” The Great Gatsby’s “So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into the past” and Gone With The Wind’s “Tomorrow is another day.” He then writes:

“We have had enough of the past.

“We have had far too much of the present.

“Into what strange world will the future lead us?

“And will it be wonderful?”

Time will tell.

(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, Amanda Bell and Dust On Their Wings, and two works of nonfiction, Learning As I Go and Movies Make the Man minick0301@gmail.com)

as social distancing allows. Curbside pickup will continue as an option at all library locations.

A new service that is now available is wireless printing. Anyone can now send a print job to a library printer from anywhere using any device, and then come to the library to pick up and pay for their printout.

For more information about using the library, call your local Fontana Regional Library location or visit www.fontanalib.org.

Get out and ride

You don’t need to be an elite competitor to enjoy life on two wheels. Check out these local opportunities to plug into the cycling community.

n A no-drop group ride leaves from the Tsali Recreation Area Trailhead in Swain County most Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Call Tsali Cycles in Bryson City ahead of time to confirm the week’s schedule. 828.488.9010.

n A group road ride will leave at 6 p.m. Tuesdays through the end of October from Motion Makers Bicycle Shop in Sylva to tackle a 25-mile out-and-back ride to the Balsam Post Office. Organized by Motion Makers. 828.586.6925.

n A women-only mountain bike ride starts at 6 p.m. Mondays from the Ledford Parking Lot at Bent Creek Recreation Area in Buncombe County. Join the private Facebook group for Motion Makers Women’s Group Rides at bit.ly/3urZ2zq for more information.

Making it happen

Swain County teen chases professional mountain bike career

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Austin San Souci was just 2 years old the first time he rode a bike.

“He never had training wheels. He just took off,” said his father, Tyler San Souci. “We sort of supported that all along.”

Now 16, Austin has expanded his aspirations far beyond the backyard of his parents’ Bryson City home. The Swain County High School student spends much of his time on the road, working toward his ultimate goal of becoming a professional mountain bike rider.

Last year was Austin’s first racing downhill, his chosen genre within the mountain biking family. The results were encouraging, to say the least. In 2020, during the four-part Downhill Southeast Series, he posted first, second, third and seven-place finishes, delivering an overall first place ranking based on total points earned during the series.

But 2020 was a weird year for everyone, and that includes mountain bikers. Most national races were canceled last year, so Austin could only compete in regional events.

“There’s definitely a bunch of riders that

he’s up against in his class this year that he wasn’t last year, because nobody traveled,” said Tyler.

PURSUING THE DREAM

This year will be different. In addition to traveling longer distances to compete against riders from a wider geographic area, Austin is competing against more experienced athletes. In 2020, he was a Category 2 racer, but this year he is racing in Category 1, which includes the most skilled riders in his age group.

The season is just beginning, but Austin has already competed in two Category 1 races this year, placing ninth out of 26 at the March 13 Pro GRT race in Windrock, Tennessee, and fifth out of 27 during his most recent competition, the YEE-HA! Downhill Mountain Bike Race in Massanutten, Virginia, which was the first stop on this year’s Downhill Southeast Series.

His ultimate goal is to compete in the Junior World Cup competition next year, which will be the first year he’s old enough to enter. To participate, athletes must either be part of a Union Cycliste Internationale team or receive an invitation. The San Soucis are working that problem from both ends. Austin’s coach hopes to get the team UCI status sometime this year, and by traveling and competing as much as possible, Austin aims

to attract enough attention to merit an invite even if the UCI status doesn’t come through.

Despite his early affinity for biking, Austin’s early competitive efforts focused on motocross, not cycling. He competed from fourth through seventh grade.

He tried his first bike race just three years ago, when he was 13 years old. That was the 2018 Fire Mountain Inferno, held at the then brand new Fire Mountain Trail System in Cherokee.

The experience proved pivotal.

“That’s where I realized I wanted to start racing mountain bikes more and really found my love for the sport,” he said.

Competitive mountain bike racing is a diverse field consisting of several different genres. Austin’s Fire Mountain ride was an enduro race, a competition in which the downhill segments of the course are timed and added up at the end of the race, while the uphill segments are mandatory but not timed. The rider with the fastest cumulative downhill time wins.

These days, Austin competes in a related but distinct genre known as downhill racing. These courses don’t have any untimed uphill portions — they’re all downhill. Athletes ride the course one by one, and each ride is timed. The fastest time wins.

“Downhill is a really physical sport,” said Austin. “Most people think that riding your

n A women-only, beginner-friendly mountain bike ride meets at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Rice Pinnacle Trailhead at Bent Creek Recreation Area in Bryson City. This no-drop, social ride is beginner-friendly and will return to the parking lot no later than noon. Expect 6 to 8 miles. Join the private Facebook group for Motion Makers Women’s Group Rides at bit.ly/3urZ2zq for more information.

n A two-hour night ride through Asheville leaves at 8 p.m. Thursdays from the corner of Craven Street and Emma Road. This social ride is suitable for all skill levels and typically covers 10 to 15 miles. Bring lights and plan for hills and a slow pace. Organized by Asheville on Bikes. Membership starts at $25 per year. www.ashevilleonbikes.com.

n The Nantahala Bike Club will sponsor a community social ride on Saturday, June 5, on the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin. Friends of the Greenway will have hot dogs, drinks and food for sale and a social ride will follow. The event aims to highlight improvements and future vision for the greenway. www.nantahalabicycleclub.com.

bike down a hill is probably the easiest thing to do, but downhill consists of extremely technical courses full of rocks, roots and really hard features. It can be anywhere from really, really fast, high-speed and shattery, to super slow and technical.”

BEYOND THE RIDE

A self-described “adrenaline junkie” Austin loves the high-risk feel of the downhill genre. Or, to put it simply, “I really like to go fast.”

But he’s learned the hard way that there’s a lot more to it than hopping on the bike and gathering speed. He’s had only one serious injury so far, a fall that resulted in a concussion and broken arm right before a race. It was his own fault, he said — he’d been riding all day without eating

or drinking enough, and as a result he was riding sloppy, making small mistakes that added up into one big injury.

“It really taught me that I can’t just go out and ride,” he said. “Going out and riding is fun, but you also have to pay attention to your body, or otherwise you won’t be riding.”

There’s more to success in the professional mountain bike world than solid riding. Racecraft, said Austin, is “probably one of the most important aspects” of his riding. It includes how he handles himself at events and personal routines he observes to boost his performance — everything from shaking hands to eating healthy.

“It’s more than just the sport,” he said. “It’s how people see you as a person that

San Souci negotiates a downhill at during a race at Windrock Bike Park in Tennessee, where he does much of his training these days.

between competitions, but the school works with him so that he can keep up with his studies while on the road.

“I love watching his progression,” said Jeremy Hyatt of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, an avid mountain biker and driving force behind the Fire Mountain system. “We’re very proud of him, and we’re glad that Fire Mountain got the spark started for him.”

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

Western North Carolina’s robust portfolio of mountain bike trails certainly played a role in Austin’s early development in the sport. That initial experience at Fire Mountain sparked his love for downhill competition, and riding the trail system at Tsali Recreation Area was a convenient way to indulge his passion close to home. While he spends more time these days riding the downhill courses at Windrock Bike Park in Tennessee, Austin still maintains a fondness for his local trails. For beginners especially, proximity is key, and Hyatt has seen lives changed through the closeto-home trails at Fire Mountain.

Repairs proposed for Wilson Lick cabin

A multi-phase restoration project is proposed for the historic Wilson Lick cabin in the Nantahala National Forest in Macon County.

It’s also about the village surrounding him. Austin is candid in admitting that he’d never be able to pursue his dream of a professional mountain biking career without strong parental support. When he’s traveling, training and riding, his dad is right there with him, supporting his son while also balancing his business and his marriage to Austin’s mother, who typically stays home with their 11-year-old daughter while he’s on the road.

There’s also the local bike shop, Tsali Cycles, which has consistently supported Austin’s dreams, giving him advice and discounts and connecting him with Canfield Bikes, his current bike sponsor. Swain County High School is in on it as well — Austin’s missing a lot of school as he travels

repairs to restore the cabin as close to its original condition as possible.

“I’ve seen over and over and over again cases of folks that hadn’t been on a bicycle in 20 years racing for the first time,” he said.

Biking is a lifetime sport, he said, and going forward he’d love to see team opportunities for young people who don’t have much interest in ball sports but may thrive on the thrill of enduro and downhill racing.

“I think we can leverage Fire Mountain,” he said. “I think we can leverage this groundswell of activity into something.”

Which, on an individual level, is exactly what Austin hopes to achieve this year. His momentum is growing, and he aims to ride it to the finish line.

“If I’m going to put all my eggs into this basket,” he said, “I really need to make something happen.”

Built in 1913, the cabin was the forest’s first ranger station and has been open to the public as an interpretive site since 1967. Due to age and exposure, the allwood log and single structure is beginning to deteriorate. Forest Service engineers and historic preservation specialists have determined that a comprehensive set of repairs and renovations are needed to prevent irreparable damage to the structure. The project would include a full assessment and report as well as interior and exterior

The Forest Service is accepting public comment on the proposal through May 14, 2021. Send comments to sm.fs.r8ncnancom@usda.gov. Direct hard copy comments to Steverson Moffat, Planning Team Leader, Nantahala National Forest, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, NC 28906 with “Wilson Lick Cabin” on the subject line or envelope.

Drink beer for a cause

A nonprofit supporting wilderness rescue crews in Western North Carolina will hold a fundraiser next week in conjunction with Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

From May 10-15, $1 for every 7 Clans Blonde Ale draft purchased will go toward the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund. Those who wish to learn more about the organization can stop by an information table that will be set up May 14-15. www.wncwildernesssafety.org.

TVA grant to reduce Lake Junaluska litter

A $4,400 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority will help Haywood Waterways Association support commu-

collection boom to reduce trash in Lake Junaluska.

“If we contain trash before it reaches the lake, we can reduce the amount of trash in the lake,” said Jim Pearson, a Lake Junaluska resident and frequent cleanup volunteer, “which would greatly reduce the workload required to clean the perimeter of the lake.”

County’s Adopt-a-Stream program. Much of the money will go toward purchasing a

Celebrate the Tuck

In 1995, two trash booms were installed at the lower end of Richland Creek to capture trash before it entered the lake, but after many years of sun exposure and high-flow events, the booms succumbed to age. Friends of the Lake and the Junaluskans collected donations to replace one of them, but two are needed.

The TVA grant will help fund that much-needed second boom.

The structures can range in cost from a few thousand dollars to almost $10,000.

An Earth Day celebration originally planned for April 24 has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 8, at Monteith Park in Dillsboro.

The Tuckaseigee Watershed Eco-Fest, sponsored by the Watershed Association of the Tuckaseigee River, will offer opportunities to get close-up, hands-on experience with stream insects and to learn more about WATR’s work to protect the Tuckaseigee River. www.watrnc.org.

Build community outdoors

Outdoor Mission Community, formerly known as Outdoor Mission Camp, has a stockpile of outdoor gear available at its resource center and a robust schedule of community events planned to get people outside over the coming months — and plenty of opportunities for volunteers too.

Upcoming events include:

n A contemplative canoeing excursion for beginning to occasional paddlers on Saturday, May 15.

n A beginners’ backpacking trip for women May 23-24.

n Opportunities for volunteers to serve as wilderness educators in June and cook for

Clean up N.C.

local camps in July.

n A hike with Big Brothers Big Sisters on July 17.

n A BBBS boat safety and padding picnic Aug. 7 at Lake Junaluska.

Regardless of interest, there’s a way for outdoor lovers of all stripes to plug in. Help with gear, cleanup, backpack repair, lead a trip or help recruit. Gear available for partners and future partners to borrow includes backpacking gear, canoes, bikes, car camping sleeping bags, maps, books and more.

info@outdoormissioncommunity.org or 336.583.9932.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Neighborhood Cleanup Challenge is seeking volunteers to participate in communities across the state May 8-16.

Participants can collect trash solo or with a group. For every 25 pounds collected (a bag holds an estimated 15 pounds), NCWF will plant a native tree. The goal is to collect 25,000 pounds over the course of the challenge and 70,000 pounds for the year. The group or individual that removes the most pounds of litter will be recognized with a “golden” trash grabber. Register at bit.ly/331Qxiu.

More than 5 million pounds of litter collected this year

Collections from this year’s N.C. Department of Transportation Spring Litter Sweep totaled more than 1.4 million pounds, far surpassing the record of 939,000 pounds set in 2019. In total, N.C. Department of Transportation crews, contractors and volunteers have collected 5.3 million pounds of roadside litter this year.

DWR launches data tool

“The people of North Carolina have come together like never before to keep our state clean,” said state Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette. “I thank each and every volunteer that helped us reach this extraordinary goal. We had a great effort during the Spring Litter Sweep, and I hope to see even more out there for the Fall Litter Sweep.”

The Fall Litter Sweep is scheduled for Sept. 11-25. Plan to participate, and in the meantime reduce roadside litter by securing loads before driving, holding onto trash for proper disposal and recycling when possible.

A new mapping and data tool from the N.C. Division of Water Resources is now available, providing easy access to several commonly searched locations and data types.

Available information from the DWR Locater Map includes monitoring/sampling locations, permitted sites with related laserfiche links, 401/Buffer/Wetlands information, the impaired waters list, surface water classifications and shellfish growing areas. This all-in-one application offers important location information and can be customized based on search needs.

Access the tool through the DWR landing page at www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources.

Explore Cades Cove vehicle free

Vehicle-free Wednesdays at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park begin this week, giving cyclists and pedestrians the chance to enjoy this popular area without battling cars and motorcycles.

No motorized vehicles will be allowed on Cades Cove Loop Road on Wednesdays through Sept. 1, and non-motorized users are encouraged to spread out use throughout the day by planning afternoon and early evening visits. Limited on-site parking often fills to capacity during the early morning hours.

This summer, the park expects to launch new tools to avoid these parking issues. Tools will include information systems that allow visitors to find out if parking lots are full before entering the park and shuttles to bring people from Townsend to Cades Cove.

The park piloted the vehicle-free Wednesday program last year, and after receiving generally positive feedback from visitors, managers decided to continue it this year. In 2021, staff will manage on-site parking to improve visitor safety, minimize impacts to campground operations and reduce roadside parking on nondurable surfaces.

By state law, all cyclists 16 and under

Get the NPS app

must wear a helmet, and helmet use is encouraged for riders of all ages. Bicycle rentals are available at the campground

A new app is now available to help visitors explore all 423 national parks in America.

store near Cades Cove Campground on a first-come, first-served basis during summer and fall. 865.448.9034.

The National Park Service app was created by park rangers with visitors in mind. It includes interactive and downloadable maps, tour schedules and locations of interest. While in the park, visitors can access self-guided tours to learn more about the park and create and share a virtual postcard to stay informed of alerts and closures.

The free app is available from both Apple and Google Play.

Spend summer on the trail

Four temporary seasonal trail work positions are available in the Nantahala Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest for youth ages 15-18 over the coming summer season.

Positions include two crew members and two crew leaders with the Youth Conservation Corps. Youth will learn, work and earn together for eight weeks June 21 through July 31 on projects that help conserve the area’s natural resources. Work projects vary depending on location and current needs but may include building trails and campground facilities, planting trees, collect-

ing litter, clearing streams, improving wildlife habitat, building fences and office work.

The positions involve hard physical labor, and crews work in the woods away from towns. Applicants must be 15 by June 19 and must not turn 19 before Aug. 1. Apply by May 17 at www.fs.fed.us/working-withus/opportunities-for-young-people/youthconservation-corps-opportunities.

Hike Panthertown

Explore Panthertown Valley near Cashiers with a 5.6-mile guided hike offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8.

Callie Moore and Kasydi Dunaway of MountainTrue will lead this excursion, looping via the Panthertown Valley, Little Green and Mac’s Gap trails. Rated as moderate in difficulty, the hike includes unique golden sandbed streams, long-range views, waterfalls and rock outcrops.

Participants should bring their own food and water and must wear close-toed shoes. No pets. Masks are required upon arrival and during gathering and instruction, but not while hiking at least 6 feet away from others.

Cost is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Sign up at bit.ly/2S67xlx.

Guidebook author to speak on WNC lookout tower hikes

Learn to fly fish

Hiking guide author Peter Barr will present his new book about North Carolina’s lookout towers at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in the picnic pavilion outside the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. In the 1920s and 1930s, forestry organizations built dozens of lookout towers in Western North Carolina to serve as the backbone of the local firefighting system. Many still survive, and they represent some of the best destinations for hikers who want to see the incredible vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Exploring North Carolina’s Lookout Towers: A Guide to Hikes and Vistas is part hiking guide and part photography collection, also including stories about the history and folklore of the towers and their inhabitants.

Register with Kristina Moe at 828.524.3600 or kmoe@fontanalib.org.

A series of beginning fly fishing lessons starts this week at Lake Junaluska, scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, May 7, 14 and 21, with a Saturday field trip to the West Fork of the Pigeon River May 22.

Each of the four classes are offered separately and are designed for people who are new to fly fishing or want to brush up on the fundamentals. Topics will include casting, fly tying, reading the water and more. Local angler Tommy Thomas will teach. An intermediate course will be offered in June, with dates to be announced.

Cost is $10, with no fishing license required. Loaner rods are available. Register with Ian Smith at 828.452,6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

Pedal to school

May 5 is National Bike to School Day, and the region will celebrate throughout the month with youth biking programs, skills clinics at schools, training for physical education teachers and community bike rodeos.

Bike to/at School Day is a way to support unchanging community goals in a time of great change, whether the goal is to strengthen community connections, promote physical activity, advance road safety, reduce motor vehicle trips, celebrate the benefits of walking and rolling or something else. Local events are organized by The Safe Routes to School Program in Western North Carolina, which is housed at the Jackson County Department of Public Health and serves Jackson, Haywood, Macon and Swain counties.

Learn more or register yourself, your school or your neighborhood at btsdwnc.weebly.com.

Bring social media to the farm

Learn how to use social media to promote your farm business during a one-hour seminar at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 6. Offered by EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, the session will provide a step-by-step guide to add those tools to existing marketing plans. Register at bit.ly/3arhpwd.

WNC Calendar

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resource classes at Central Haywood High School will be having a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Saturday, May 8 (except Sunday). Location is the school greenhouse (across from the Pigeon River) located at 60 Hyder Mountain road in Clyde. Prices range from $1$10. 828.627.9944.

• Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to visit this historic building every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting May 8. For more information call 828.369.5595 or visit Friends of the Rickman Store on Facebook.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• The Small Business Center at Haywood Community College will offer a free three-part Social Media Marketing Summit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, at the Regional High Technology CenterAuditorium. Visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information or to register today. Seating is limited and preregistration is required for attendance.

• Learn how to use social media to promote your farm business during a one-hour seminar at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 6. Offered by EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, the session will provide a step-by-step guide to add those tools to existing marketing plans. Register at bit.ly/3aRhPwD.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• The Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter, in partnership with AARP Mountain Region, will be hosting the Buncombe County Alzheimer's Community Forum, a community-focused virtual listening session from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 to hear from local area residents. Attendees can participate via video/webinar or through a toll-free number. There is no charge, but registration is required. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/BuncombeForum or call 800.272.3900.

• The Haywood County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be hosting a virtual Family-toFamily class, beginning Thursday, May 8. For more information about the class, or to sign up, contact Paulette Heck at pheck812@gmail.com or 828.335.4631.

CLUBS

• The May meeting of the Western North Carolina Woodturners Club Inc. will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bascom in Highlands (323 Franklin Rd). Visitors are always welcome. The club meets in Highlands the second Saturday of every month between March and November.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Echo 13 May 7, J.J. Hipps May 8, TMJ May 14 and Joey Fortner May 15. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute set) May 15. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Prophets of Time May 7 and Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute set) May 14. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Tricia Ann & The Wolfpack May 7. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Steve Heffner May 7, Kate Thomas May 8, Bird in Hand May 14 and Shane Meade May 15. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Outlaw Whiskey May 8. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will host a Mother’s Day concert with members of the Tuscola High School band from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8, in the Gallery & Gifts showroom. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Historic Cowee School (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (bluegrass/jam) on the lawn at 7 p.m. May 15. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-16. Under age 6 free. Tickets available at the Franklin Chamber, www.coweeschool.org, or at the door.

• Friends of the Greenway (FROG) will host the Frog Fair arts and crafts gathering from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the FROG Quarters, located at 573 East Main Street in Franklin (at the Town Bridge). For vendor information, email frog28734@gmail.com.

F OOD AND D RINK

• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Current Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. 828.488.7857.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2:30 p.m. May 9 and 16. Advance tickets may be purchased online at swainhs.seatyourself.biz.

• “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. All seats are $20 general admission. Door opens 30 minutes prior to the performance. To make reservations call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 or visit www.harttheatre.org

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

• High Mountain Squares will host a series of 12 classes of instruction in Social Square Dancing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 10, at the Environmental Resource Building. Vaccines are required to participate. Call 828.787.2324, 727.599.1440, 706.746.5426 or 828.332.0001 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

• The exhibit: “Celebrating the Flora of the Smoky Mountains” will run May 7-31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom on Main Street in Waynesville. The exhibit will showcase our beautiful native wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and trees, all from local and regional artisans. Free and open to the public, for more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.

• “G&LW Wholesale Gem Show” will be held May 14-16 in Franklin. The trade shows are produced in many major trade centers across the United States for the convenience of wholesale buyers. For the past 43 years, G&LW’s multiple show venues have been, and continue to be, a top gem and mineral buyer destination. 601.879.8832 or www.glwshows.com.

• The exhibit: “Celebrating the Flora of the Smoky Mountains” will run May 7-31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom on Main Street in Waynesville. The exhibit will showcase our beautiful native wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and trees, all from local and regional artisans. Free and open to the public, for more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.

Outdoors

• The 21st annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy local music, local food, fresh fruits and vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping, and much more. Admission is free. Donations accepted for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. For more information, call 828.488.2376.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for:

n Complete listings of local music scene

n Regional festivals

n Art gallery events and openings

n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers

n Civic and social club gatherings

to participate in communities across the state May 816. Register at bit.ly/331Qxiu.

• Explore Panthertown Valley near Cashiers with a 5.6mile guided hike offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8. Cost is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Sign up at bit.ly/2S67xlx.

• An Earth Day celebration originally planned for April 24 has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 8, at Monteith Park in Dillsboro. More information at www.watrnc.org.

• A nonprofit supporting wilderness rescue crews in Western North Carolina will hold a fundraiser next week in conjunction with Frog Level Brewery in Waynesville. From May 10-15, $1 for every 7 Clans Blonde Ale draft purchased will go toward the WNC Wilderness Safety Fund. Stop by an information table that will be set up May 14-15. www.wncwildernesssafety.org

• Build a terrarium during a workshop offered 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at 828 Market on Main in Waynesville, $30, with tickets available at www.vividevent.com.

• Franklin’s Friends of the Greenway will hold FROG Fair, a spring arts and crafts fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the town bridge. Stop by FROG Quarters at 573 E. Main Street between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday to sign up as a vendor or buy 50/50 tickets. frog28734@gmail.com.

• Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a hike offered 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at Balsam Mountain Trust. Free. Limited to 10 people. Best suited for adults with some birding experience. Masks and social distancing required. Sign up with Nichole Cook at naturalist@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1063.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Ashley Hess (pop/soul) 7:30 p.m. May 8. Admission is $18 per person. For tickets, call 828.524.1598 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Jay Brown (guitar/vocals) 7 p.m. May 22. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. www.mountainlovers.com.

• “Pig Roast & Wine Tasting” charity event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pork sandwiches, raffle items, local art, and more. All donations to benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

• The comedy mystery “Clue” will hit the stage at 7

• A series of beginning fly fishing lessons starts this week at Lake Junaluska, scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, May 7, 14 and 21, with a Saturday field trip to the West Fork of the Pigeon River May 22. Cost is $10, with no fishing license required. Loaner rods are available. Register with Ian Smith at 828.452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

• Hiking guide author Peter Barr will present his new book about North Carolina’s lookout towers at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in the picnic pavilion outside the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Register with Kristina Moe at 828.524.3600 or kmoe@fontanalib.org.

• The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Neighborhood Cleanup Challenge is seeking volunteers

Market PLACE WNC

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!

Rates:

• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.

• Free — Lost or found pet ads.

• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*

• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE

• Legal N otices — 25¢ per word

• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)

• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4

• Boost in Print

• Add Photo $6

• Bold ad $2

• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4

• Border $4

Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com

p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com

Announcements

DONATE YOUR CAR OR TRUCK To Heritage For The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. Call 1-855-869-7055

BANKRUPTCY RELIEF!

Help stop Creditor Harassment, Collection Calls, Repossession and Legal Actions! Speak to a Professional Attorney and Get the Help You NEED! Call NOW 844-404-0601

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR

Running or Not! Fast Free Pick-up, Maximum Tax Deduction. Support United Breast Cancer Fdn. Programs. Your car donation could save a life. 888-641-9690

Auction

ONLINE ONLY AUCTION, Of Metal Shop Equipment, Tools and Accessories in Jacksonville, NC. Begins Closing 5/18 at 2:00pm. Auction Manager Anthony Bristow, ironhorseauction. com, 800-997-2248 NCAL#3936

Building Materials

BUYING POPLAR

BARK SIDING Buying poplar bark siding. Call for details, ask for Sid or Hannah. 828-264-2464

hannah@hctfmw.com

Electronics

REPAIR NEEDED Our IBM Typewriter, Selectric II, and Correcting needs to be repaired! Tel: 828.497.2490

Employment

OWNER OPERATORS AND DRIVERS NEEDED Dedicated, roundtrip OTR lanes with regular home time. Call CWS at 800832-7036 x 1626

AIRLINES ARE HIRINGGet FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Fi-

students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-441-6890.

FTCC - Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Part-time Surgical Technology/Sterile Processing Instructor. Parttime Respiratory Therapy Clinical Instructor. Certi-

- Curriculum 10 month.

Instructor- Continuing Ed. Division, 12months. Housekeeping Shift Leader. Grounds Tech. Groundskeeper. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https:// faytechcc.peopleadmin. com/Human Resources

7342 Internet: http://www. faytechcc.edu. An Equal Opportunity Employer

CWS- OWNER OPERATORS CDL Class A. I year driving experience. Dedicated round trips paid weekly paid per mile, regular home time. Call 1-800-832-7036 ext 1626.

WORK FROM ANYWHERE You have an internet connection? 13 positions available. Start as soon as today. As simple as checking your email. Complete online training provided. Visit for details: https://bit.ly/2yewvor

MEDICAL BILLING & CODING TRAINING.

New Students Only. Call & Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. 833-990-0354

ATTENTION ACTIVE DUTY/MILITARY Veterans Begin a new career and earn your degree at CTI. Online computer & medical training available for veterans & families! To learn more call 833-9703466

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruiting for a Processing Assistant III. Duties will include reception, copying, and providing information to the public, data entry, and other related clerical tasks. Applicants should have excellent customer service skills, good computer skills, the ability to communicate effectively in person and

by telephone, a generalcedures, and the ability to learn and apply a variety of guidelines. The starting salary is $25,847.02 depending upon experience. Applicants must have completed high school and have at least one year of clerical experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience. The Application for Employment is available online at: https://www.jcdss.org or https://www.jacksonnc. org/employment-opportunities or may be obtained at the Jackson County or the Sylva branch of the NC Works Career Center. Applications will be taken until May 14, 2021.

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train

ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certainplicants. Call CTI for details! Call 833-990-0354.

HEAD START FACILITY

Maintenance/Sanitation

Specialist: Position Summary: Provides routine and /or repairs & maintenance facilities, grounds, equipment installation.

Five years carpentry experience, working knowledge of HVAC units, plumbing & electoral experience required. Flexible work schedule up to full-time hours with to work Saturday’s if necessary. A completed application is required. Please apply by visiting www.mountainprojects. org AA/EOE

HEAD CHEF You must be Experienced, creative, and passionate. As head chef, you will run the back-of-house. You will manage the daily operations of the kitchen, oversee the kitchen staff to ensure that the highest quality of cuisine is served to our guests, and ensure that all food and labor cost goals are met. Head Chef Duties and Responsibilities Direct kitchen operations, including food preparation, cooking, and cleanup Assign tasks; supervise chefs and cooks in the preparation and presentation of food Maintain control of the kitchen to ensure that all tasks are carried out

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com

• Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com

• Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com

• Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com

• Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

• Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com

• Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com

• Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com

• Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com

• Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com

• Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com

• John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com

• Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com

• Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com

• Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

• Rob Roland - robroland@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com

• Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com

• Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com

• Steve Mauldin - smauldin@sunburstrealty.com

• Randy Flanigan - 706-207-9436

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty

• Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net

• Pam James - pam@pamjames.com

Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com

• The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

• Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@kw.com

• Darrin Graves - dgraves@kw.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com

Mountain Creek Real Estate

• Ron Rosendahl - 828-593-8700

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com

• The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com

• Ron Breese - ronbreese.com

• Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com

• Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

• Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net

• David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com

SUPER CROSSWORD

GEE, THANKS!

ACROSS

1Participated in a PAC

8Gridlock

15Muffler, e.g.

20"Amen to that!"

21Blank-faced, as a comic

22Gung-ho

23Basic items on a canal boat?

25Auto gear

26Has it wrong

27"Who is --?"

28Day, to Diego

29One hocking something

30Nonclerical

31Niche religion

32Large-scale swindle?

35Cubs hero Sammy

36Hip dwellings

37Make holy

38Glowing molten rock?

42Like acids

43Rough- -- (unfinished)

47Wintry glaze

48Dundee denial

49"How precious!"

50"John Q." actress Anne

51Place to grow grapes

54TV program about kings and queens?

58Settles up

59Assistant on an iPhone

61Suffix with hepta-

62Radius site

63Granola grain

64European city famous for post-drinking headaches?

69In history

72Pot-au- -- (French stew)

73Poem form

74"Not so fast!"

75Makes the decision

79Press-on nails?

83"Dream on!"

85Radiant

86Gun rights gp.

87Old Pan Am rival

89Tutu, e.g.

90Comic Martha

91Fill to excess

93Placards that say "I'm only human"?

961991 Wimbledon champion Michael

98Very light

99Wry grimace

100Weekly time to play some British football?

104Chapel part

105In a funk

108Hasty glance

109Mac

110District

111Flowing hair

112Schoolyard retort

113Spanning structure bought from a catalog?

117Big name in watches

118Made fit, as a suit

119Snobbish behavior

120When some early risers go to bed

121Promises

122Works for seven

DOWN

1Insult in print

2Fictional Scarlett

3Bush fruit

4Totes, e.g.

5Intense anger

6Visual acuity determiner

7It may record a fender bender

8Fateful March day

9Grown boys

10Gentle touch

11Reebok rival

12Neighbor of Andorra

13Tongs may be placed in it

14U.S. nav. officer

15Auto types

16Auto-cleaning services

17Winemaking phase

18Party hearty

19Brother, in French

24Use a couch

29Boat landing

31Like dirty chimneys

32Wii user, e.g.

33Nutrition fig.

34Viral illness

35"Good grief!"

36Club swingers' gp.

38Abbr. on an invitation

39Tony winner Kazan

40Refute

41Drug banned by MLB

42Title river in a Jolson hit

44Canyon call

45"Not so fast!"

46Pond critter

49Gung-ho

50Service song

52Emmy-winning Ed

53Cobble together

55Wetland bird

56Schoolyard retort

57Salvers

60Cote d'-- (nation in Afrique)

65Two or three

66Writer Buchanan

67Lunged toward

68Terrier type, for short

69At a distance

70Reciprocal of nano-

71YOLO part

76Smug sort

77Gull relative

78Match parts

80Loses all one's moolah

81Alert

82Tale

84Topic

88Lopsided

91In -- (as placed)

92Prefix with puncture

93Actress Wasikowska

94Electrical units

95Susceptible to being misplaced

97Magnate

98Bewildered

100Gorbachev's wife

101Perturb

102"Capeesh?"

103Software package

104Have life

105-- Hawkins Day

106Teen turmoil

107Judges to be

110Tallies (up)

111Goalie glove

113GPS graphic

114Certain URL ending

115Singer Des'--

116Lacerate

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

Resolve issues as they arise so that customers continue to receive their orders in a timely manner Make sure that all kitchen and wait staff adhere to food safety and hygiene regulations to ensure a clean and sanitary kitchen Plan menus and set prices making adjustments as needed based on the availability of ingredients Inspect raw and cooked food items to guarantee that the highest quality products are prepared and served to customers Collaborate with the general manager and owner to align kitchen operations with the overarching goals of the establishment Direct monthly inventory Maintain vendor relationships Recruit, hire, and train chefs, cooks, and kitchen staff Maintain kitchen equipment; schedule repairs and additional maintenance as needed Head Chef Require-

Associate degree in culinary arts preferred 3+ years of experience in a back-of-house manage-

experience as a chef, in addition to experience as a sous chef or line cook Strong attention to detail Creativity Ability to oversee and manage kitchen operations Ability to remain productive when pulled in many different

greyeagletaqueria@ gmail.com

HOUSEKEEPING Full Time & Part Time Available: Maggie Valley cabin resort seeks an energetic and experienced housekeeper. Weekends & Holidays a Must! Valid Drivers License required. Call 828-926-1388

FRONT DESK Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a front desk clerk. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug and background screening. Weekend availability is required! Computer knowledge is a must. Hours will vary. Please apply in person for more information.

HOUSEKEEPER

Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a part time housekeeper. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug screening. Weekend availability is a must! Please apply in person.

Home Goods

GENERAC STANDBY

GENERATORS Don’t

Wait! The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be. prepared for power outages. FREE 7-yr ext.

Schedule your Free InHome assessment today. 1-833-953-0224, special customers.

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Medical

OXYGEN - Don’t Wait! Anytime anywhere. No -

eries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! Free info kit 888-9123728

LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t reach a phone! FREE Brochure. CALL 844-9022362

DENTAL INSURANCE

From Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844496-8601 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ ncpress 6118-0219

Pets

BELGIAN MALINOIS/ SALUKI MIX – LEO

9-month old, prefer home without children or other dogs. Still requires training; very motivated to learn! Enjoys walks/ hikes. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ ashevillehumane.org

BLACK MALE CAT, MARS 8 months old; a bit timid but quickly learning to trust and love humans. Does (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

Real Estate Announcements

NEVER PAY FOR HOME REPAIRS Again! Complete Care Home Warranty, Covers All Major

Systems & Appliances.

30-Day Risk Free. $200 Off! 2 Free Months! 1-866-501-1596

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a bank threatening foreclosure? CALL now! 844359-4330

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination’. Familial status includes children under 18 living with parents or legal guardians and pregnant women. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate in violation of this law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

Entertainment

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. We instantly compare speed, pricing, service for your needs. Starting at $39.99/month! Quickly compare offers from top providers. Call 1-866-925-1505

Home Improvement

ENERGY SAVING NEW WINDOWS! Beautify your home! Save on monthly energy bills with NEW WINDOWS from 1800Remodel! Up to 18 months no interest. Restrictions apply. 1-877-287-8229

Legal, Financial and Tax

TAX PROBLEMS- Behind 10k or More on Your Taxes? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, un-

issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 855-828-0617

This and That

MILITARY SURPLUS

1960’S AND 1970’S LAND ROVERS Whole or Parts - Especially interested in series Rovers sold from Harrell’s Motor Sales in Waynesville Wanted to restore to keep local. 828-506-5733

W/C Pants/Shirts, Jackets. Military Boots ON SALE. Cold Weather Clothing, Field Gear, Sleep Bags, Packs, Bags. 828-349-3140.

REPAIR NEEDED Our IBM Typewriter, Selectric II, and Correcting needs to be repaired! Tel: 828.497.2490

Wanted to Buy

1960’S AND 1970’S LAND ROVERS Whole or Parts - Especially interested in series Rovers sold from Harrell’s Motor Sales in Waynesville Wanted to restore to keep local. 828-506-5733

Wood

LIFETIME WOOD REFINISHING SPECIALIST/PAINTER for Hire! All Hardwoods, Floors, Doors, Kitchens & More - Brought Back to Life. Pictures Available. 863-517-8390

Yard Sales

MOVING SALE Variety of tools, household items, plant stands and much more. 21 Painting Spring Lane, Whittier. Saturday May 8th. 9am -6pm

FEATURED LIST

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