Smoky Mountain News | August 26, 2020

visit Page 9 Cyber attack closes Haywood County Schools Page 11

CONTENTS

On the Cover:

Several Western Carolina University students could be in hot water after posting videos on social media containing racial slurs. WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown called the video content “racist and bigoted” and assured the Catamount community that the students would be held accountable. (Page 4)

Two Western Carolina University students hold signs during a Reconcile Sylva event held on campus Monday, Aug. 24. The event drew about 200 people. Holly Kays photo

News

New billboards oppose Confederate statue

Heath Shuler steps off the political sidelines

President Trump thanks Mills River business

Jackson commissioners table billboard vote

Cyber attack closes Haywood schools ....................................................................11

In-person instruction suspended at Macon schools ..............................................11

Jackson County gave N.C. its first female senator ................................................12

Persistence in the fight for voting rights

Opinion

If you stay home, just keep quiet

Maggie Valley Band releases new EP, returns to stage ......................................18

Outdoors

Millennial Campus welcomes students despite erosion issues ........................22

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CONTACT

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S UBSCRIPTIONS

Student videos with racist language spark anger at WCU

University investigating potential Code of Conduct violations

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Apair of videos that appeared on social media over the weekend elicited strong reaction from many in the Western Carolina University community who decry their contents as racist.

“Over the weekend there have been several videos of students, Western Carolina University students, displaying behavior that is racist and bigoted,” said Chancellor Kelli R. Brown in a video message published Sunday, Aug. 23. “This behavior disappoints, angers and frustrates me to no end.”

TWO VIDEOS

Statements issued by the university did not reference any specific video, but social media comments on those statements linked two such videos. The first features three white females and begins with one of them performing a rap that includes the ‘n’ word. It then cuts to a second person, who says that, ‘(if they can) call you a cracker, you’re allowed to call them a n___.” The third woman states that it’s acceptable to use the word as long as you end it with an “a,” not with an “er.”

A second video shows two white male students explaining that when they use the OK symbol, all they mean is “damn, that’s nice,” and that they’re not “being f*in racist” and using it as a symbol of white supremacy. However, they do this while making ample use of the ‘n’ word and conclude by saying “if you do know some n__ gals who want to come over and f**k man, let me know.”

The videos appeared on the students’ personal accounts, but they were later shared by others who tagged WCU on those posts. University officials have also received calls and emails from students, alumni and other members of the Catamount community about the issue, said WCU Chief Communications Officer Bill Studenc.

The university is investigating the matter as a possible violation of the Code of Student Conduct, which also includes a process for addressing prohibited conduct. University officials are considering a number of potential charges, Studenc said.

“The timeline for reaching a resolution will depend upon how that process unfolds,” said Studenc. “Students who are being investigated for possible violations of the Code of Student Conduct have the right of due process and can request an appeal of any sanctions that may be handed down as a result of an investigation.”

In her statement on Sunday, Brown said that the university is “taking active steps” to address the incidents but is not able to disclose “specific actions taken against a specific student(s).”

“With that in mind, our inability to communicate specific actions should not be construed as inaction,” she said.

However, many in the campus community want to see action now. Replies to WCU’s Facebook posts on the matter are full of comments demanding that the students be expelled.

GATHERING ON CAMPUS

In an event planned and advertised prior to the videos surfacing, the anti-racist group Reconcile Sylva came to campus Monday, Aug. 24, in order to reach out to college students who might be F

A freshman student takes the mic to share her thoughts on the recently posted videos with those attending an Aug. 24 Reconcile Sylva event at Western Carolina University. Holly Kays photos

“We recognize that a public acknowledgement to condemn this appalling language is needed for us to move forward. The words utilized in the videos cannot be reflective of our future.”

— Student Government Association statement

200 people turn out for the event behind A.K.

During the hour-long event, 20 different students, staff, faculty and Reconcile Sylva members take the mic to talk about racism.

interested in joining the group’s efforts. Unsurprisingly, the videos loomed large in the hour-long discussion.

“I think they should be expelled,” said Kelly Brown, a leader in the group, during an interview. “It’s hate speech.”

The event drew about 200 people who stood spaced out around the fountain area behind the A.K. Hinds University Center on campus. Reconcile Sylva leaders started off by talking about the negative effects of racism and the organization’s efforts to combat it. Leaders then offered the mic to anyone present who wanted to speak on the topic. A steady stream of students, as well as some faculty and staff members, took them up on that offer.

The first student to speak was a Black freshman woman who said it was “numbing” to see the videos and to think that people she has classes with and sees around campus are saying these kinds of things behind her back.

“It was a lot for my people,” she said.

A Black male student said that the incidents showed that the community should be doing more to educate people about race issues.

“It’s kind of like an oxymoron,” he said. “You still have idiots on campus where we’re doing education.”

A Black woman who is a second-year graduate student pointed out that nobody would have seen the videos if someone hadn’t seen them and saved them.

“White people, hold your friends accountable,” she said.

REACTION FROM CAMPUS LEADERS

In response to the “reprehensible” videos, Head Football Coach Mark Speir announced that he would pause the team’s athletic activities in order to focus exclusively on “creating change on our campus though the promotion of racial equality, awareness and respect.” The football season has been postponed due to COVID-19, but the team is still practicing.

“The football program’s culture is built on love and respect,” Spier said in a statement

posted on Twitter. “During this pivotal moment in time, we will devote our energy and effort to promote those same values throughout our entire campus community.”

The Student Government Association, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate have all released statements condemning the videos.

Faculty Senate Chair Kadie Otto said they revealed the students’ “ignorance, immaturity and narrow-mindedness.”

“As the Chair of the Faculty Senate, I would ask these students: Who are you? What can be said of your integrity? Who do you want to become? How can we assist you in developing character?” she wrote.

To those who were hurt by the videos, particularly Black students, Otto referred to a quote from civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

In its statement, the Staff Senate condemned the “dehumanizing and unacceptable behavior” the videos displayed and called for decisive action from the university.

“The Staff Senate supports the WCU administration in taking the strongest possible action to maintain our campus and community as a place that is safe and welcoming to all people,” the statement read. “WCU is a community of learners. We are a closeknit community of care. We are a community which lives through an articulated set of values which guide our interactions, including our commitment to inclusion and equity. What we have seen in these videos violates every tenant we proclaim.”

In a letter issued Aug. 23, the Student Government Association pointed out recent changes in key leadership positions at the university and said that “the justifiable calls to action that have been heard across campus will be answered.”

“We are disappointed to be communicating a message condemning remarks that should never be present in our community,” the letter reads. “Yet, we recognize that a public acknowledgement to condemn this appalling language is needed for us to move forward. The words utilized in the videos cannot be reflective of our future.”

Paid for by Seniors for a Safe and Sane America

Ingles Nutrition Notes

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

SUGAR-FREE NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE?

Foods and drinks that are high in added sugar often lead to consumption of excess calories and dental caries so it would seem like "no sugar added" or "sugar-free" products would be a better choice, right?

Many products marketed as "no sugar-added" or "sugar-free" get their sweetness from a chemical compound known as polyols or sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols can be found naturally in some foods like stone fruits (peaches, plums) as well as vegetables (cauliflower) and mushrooms. Polyols can also be made chemically,we can recognize them on an ingredient list with their -ol ending: mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol. Sugar alcohols appear under "carbohydrates" on the Nutrition Facts panel but aren't a sugar or an alcohol but a "low digestible carbohydrate", which means your body doesn't recognize them as a sugar. Polyols don't have the same caloric impact of sugar; sugar (a carbohydrate) has 4 calories/gram and polyols can have just 0-3 calories/gram.

The bad news is that these polyols can play havoc with your digestive system. For many people, and especially you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), polyols can cause a variety of issues - what we often call "GI distress".

What's the bottom line?: Sugar-free and no-sugar added may affect your digestive system. Be sure and read the ingredients and check the nutrition facts label.

Sources: https://polyols.org/polyols-benefits/ https://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/what-are-fodmaps/

Heath Shuler steps off the political sidelines

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF W RITER

Even Hollywood screenwriters would be hard-pressed to craft a more quintessentially American story.

The son of a postman, a small-town boy raised in a poor rural mountain community finds gridiron glory in high school, earns a scholarship to one of the country’s most vaunted college football programs and is drafted into the National Football League with the third overall pick. After a short pro career, he returns home to finish his degree, pursues real estate development, knocks off an eight-term incumbent congressman, serves three terms of his own and retires – all by the age of 42.

Heath Shuler’s been relatively quiet on the political scene since leaving Congress in 2013, but in 2020, Shuler is writing another chapter in that story — opining on the possibility of returning to politics, keeping tabs on the race for his old seat, advocating for green energy in his native Western North Carolina and stepping off the sidelines to endorse Joe Biden’s presidential bid.

“I think without a doubt, one of the biggest concerns that I have is the morality of the presidency right now,” said Swain County native Shuler. “I met the president before he became the president. We’ve got to be able to take back the integrity of that seat.”

A CREATURE ONCE ROAMED

Shuler’s maintained a Twitter account since 2017, mostly reliving memorable moments in University of Tennessee football history and commenting on the current state

“I think without a doubt, one of the biggest concerns that I have is the morality of the presidency right now. I met the president before he became the president. We’ve got to be able to take back the integrity of that seat.”

— Heath Shuler

Shuler campaigned as a socially conservative Washington outsider. Taylor, he said, had lost sight of the 11th Congressional District’s interests.

Chief among those interests was CAFTA, the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement that Shuler said in a later press release had hurt working families by shipping more manufacturing jobs south of the border. Taylor missed the vote on CAFTA, which ended up passing 217 to 215.

Taylor, and his many businesses, had also become entangled in a number of shady financial transactions but it may have been his support for a half-billion-dollar road project through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, called “the Road to Nowhere” and opposed vehemently by conservationists, that proved among the most damning.

On Nov. 7, 2006, Shuler, with his 2-yearold daughter in one arm, entered the ballroom of the Asheville Renaissance Hotel to the opening strains of his college fight song, “Rocky Top,” and acknowledged his 54-46 percent victory over Taylor.

“It’s an exciting time for the people of Western North Carolina,” Shuler said in a Nov. 8, 2006 story by Smoky Mountain News reporter Michael Beadle. “Our country deserves better. We’re going to get there.”

Shuler was part of a 31-seat pickup in the House for Dems, giving them control of the chamber for the first time since the Newt Gingrich-led “Republican Revolution” in 1994. That election also resulted in House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s elevation to Speaker of the House — the first woman, and the first from west of the Rockies.

of college athletics. He’s rarely commented on anything political — Shuler noted the passing of his friend, Rep. John Lewis, this past July — but on March 2 of this year, Shuler’s tweet was frank and clear.

“We don’t need a socialist or a narcissist. We need a President who can unite America and work with both parties. I’m all in for @JoeBiden.”

For those keeping score at home, the socialist is Bernie Sanders, the narcissist is President Donald Trump and March 2 was one day after several of Biden’s Democratic Presidential Primary opponents, including South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigeig and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar dropped out to endorse him.

In spite of Sanders soldiering on with a second quixotic quest for the nomination, Shuler’s endorsement wasn’t all that surprising, considering the turf he’s staked out near the conservative edge of the Democratic Party since the day he announced he would run for Congress, back in 2005.

“Heath was a true representative, because as Biden said the other night, ‘I’m not just going to be a Democratic president, I’m going to be a president for the American people,’” said Myrna Campbell, who was one of Shuler’s

first campaign volunteers back in 2005.

Campbell, now the chair of the Haywood County Democratic Party, ended up as Shuler’s director of constituent services. As such, she was familiar with the people calling Shuler’s office.

“We always had a number of calls from Republicans who truly supported Heath and were pleased with some of the things he did,” she said. “There were Democrats who got disgruntled with him because he didn’t always vote the way they wanted him to vote, but he truly represented the district, and I think his votes reflected the electorate.”

The most volatile issue at the time may have been the Affordable Care Act, which Shuler voted against.

“We got 10 times the amount of phone calls from Republicans against it than from anyone in support of it,” Campbell said. “I always admired [Shuler] because of the heat he got for that.”

Beating Republican incumbent Charles Taylor was an upset of the highest order; in office since 1991, Taylor had risen to become chairman of the Interior and Environment subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Outspent by a margin of more than 2-to-1,

Generally opposed to abortion, gun control and same-sex marriage — the old “God, guns, gays” triumvirate that divided Democrats of the day — Shuler quickly became a rising voice in the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of relatively conservative Democratic representatives in right-leaning districts.

In 2008, he handily defeated Buncombe County Republican Carl Mumpower with 62 percent of the vote, joining a Democratic wave that resulted in the election of Barack Obama.

Two years later, Shuler again prevailed 5446 over Republican nominee Jeff Miller, but Shuler’s party took a shellacking nationally, losing the House by giving up a whopping 63 seats.

“A creature once roamed the American South that many now presume to be endangered if not extinct — the conservative Democrat. For nearly a century following the Civil War, almost all white Southerners were conservative Democrats,” wrote Western Carolina University professors Chris Cooper and H. Gibbs Knotts in SMN earlier that year. “As late as 1978, more than a third of all Democrats in the South were conservatives. In most parts of the South today, however, finding a conservative Democrat is about as likely as spotting a bald eagle — they do exist but they are hard to find.”

A prescient prognostication perhaps, so Shuler didn’t exactly celebrate his victory; despite losing half of the

50-some members of his Blue Dog Coalition in the election, he challenged Pelosi for the new role to which she’d been relegated by the loss of the House, Minority Leader.

He lost that fight, but revealed to SMN’s Quintin Ellison on Nov. 10, 2010, “I knew we could not win. But it was so important that the leadership in the Democratic caucus should be made to realize why we lost so many seats.”

The very next year, newly-empowered Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly redrew Shuler’s district to exclude left-leaning Asheville, shaving 7 points from previous Democratic registration totals.

Two weeks before the filing deadline for the 2012 election, Shuler announced he wouldn’t seek reelection, citing his desire to spend more time with his wife and his children, age 7 and 10 at the time.

“It feels like time has just flown by,” Shuler, then 40, told SMN’s Becky Johnson at the time. “They are growing up, and I don’t want to miss those moments.”

In the same story, his former High School football coach, current Jackson County Commissioner Boyce Dietz, said that with Shuler, it wasn’t about redistricting, it was about family.

“I think it is a cop out a lot of the time, but I don’t really think it is with him. It really bothered him when we would go out the door on Monday morning and his kids would cry,” Dietz said. “He had a choice to make and he put his family before his job.”

Shuler went on to become Duke Energy’s senior vice president for federal affairs as his former chief of staff, Hayden Rogers, lost Shuler’s former seat 57-43 to the man who would hold it for nearly eight years and use it as a springboard to becoming President

Donald Trump’s current White House Chief of Staff this past March — Mark Meadows.

KILLING THE GOOSE

THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGES

When you’re raised in a county that’s more than 75 percent federally owned — the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a big part of that — you tend to take it for granted.

“Growing up, I thought everyone had this type of luxury — the creeks and the streams and the lakes,” Shuler told SMN last week.

“When you start traveling around the United States and traveling the world, you realize pretty quickly that we are very fortunate to live where we do, so we need to do all that we can to protect as much as we possibly can.”

His original campaign website, circa May 2006, shows a long history of advocacy on behalf of pro-green energy efficiency options like biofuels and hybrid vehicles as well as wind, solar and methane energy.

Rural communities in Western North Carolina — and their ensuing infrastructure — are often hemmed in by mountains, rivers or gorges, necessitating a strict balance between development and preservation.

“Many of those communities have lakes and have clean water. For outdoor recreation activity, the fishing that comes into so many of these communities creates a pretty strong economy,” he said. “If you’re a liberal or you’re a conservative, you should want to be able to protect all these great gifts that God gave us. If we don’t, people aren’t going to come visit and if they don’t visit, they’re not going to eat at your restaurants, and they’re not going to stay in your hotels.”

Environmental concerns are one of the

Shuler praises Biden’s veepstakes pick

In late July, then-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced that he was actively considering four Black women to be his running mate.

As speculation swirled, Florida Rep. Val Demings and California Rep. Karen Bass were considered long shots. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Obamaera national security adviser Susan Rice were perceived as frontrunners, but so was California senator and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

“I think there were a lot of great people that Biden could have chosen for the VP, but Kamala Harris I think was certainly at the top of my list,” Shuler said of Biden’s Aug. 11 announcement naming Harris.

Women are still a rarity at the top of major-party presidential tickets, despite Hillary Clinton’s nomination in 2016. But since 1972, there have been more and

biggest reasons Shuler came out early for Biden.

“If we look at what’s happening in our country today, we have not seen expansion in green energy since President Trump has been in office,” he said. “I mean, those things have really fallen by the wayside and with that comes infrastructure projects. With that comes a workforce. And if you look back during the Obama administration, you saw jobs even here in Western North Carolina — a significant amount of green energy jobs. For

more women considered for the role of vice president.

Libertarian Tonie Nathan was the first to receive an electoral vote (albeit from a faithless Republican elector) in 1972, but it wasn’t until New York Democrat Geraldine Ferraro appeared on the illfated 1984 Walter Mondale ticket that a major party had its first female nominee. Republicans followed suit in 2008 when John McCain selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Harris served as district attorney of San Francisco from 2005 through 2011, and then as California’s attorney general until winning retiring California Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat in 2017.

“You have to have someone that’s very charismatic and tough. Someone that’s extremely smart. Someone that can articulate the message for the president and also have a dialogue between the House and the Senate,” Shuler said. “I watched Kamala Harris go through the Senate, and I realized she had a lot of friends on both sides of the aisle. I think that’s helpful.”

every dollar that you spend, you create $7 of infrastructure dollars outside of that.”

Even more important than economic expansion, according to Shuler, is the basic goal of guarding against pollution. A New York Times story in May noted Trump administration rollbacks on more than 60 environmental protection regulations.

“Look what we have,” Shuler said. “I mean, certainly living in Western North

Carolina, we realized pretty quickly that we are very blessed to be able to have the outdoor space that we do.”

Biden’s goal is to “reverse all of the damage Trump has done, but go further and faster” by implementing, among other things, a net-zero emissions policy, economy-wide.

“If we’re going to have pollution killing our trees and polluting our streams with this administration, we’re going backwards,” Shuler said. “We need to move forward with better, greener energy policies.”

THE TURNSTILE DISTRICT

Mark Meadows’ March 30 resignation left North Carolina’s 11th District without a representative in the House just as Congress passed the largest federal stimulus bill in history. Meadows skipped the March 25 CARES Act vote.

Those with designs on Meadows’ seat were already at work by then. Meadows announced he wouldn’t seek reelection in December 2019. Asheville Democrat Moe Davis won his primary flat-out, and Republicans concluded their runoff by selecting Henderson County’s Madison Cawthorn on June 23.

Shuler’s kept up on all of it.

“I have,” he said. “I actually know both candidates. Once redistricting happened, it made it a very close race, and I think that this race is going to be probably closer than anyone ever anticipated.”

Court-ordered redistricting in 2019 made

the 11th District look a lot more like the one he’d known during the Bush administration.

“Typically, it is an R-leaning district,” said Shuler. “I mean, it’s plus probably nine, 10, even 14 is what they say. I think it really is probably closer to that 10.”

Those numbers are often cited, but are based on the 2016 Hillary Clinton-Trump matchup within the 11th. Pundits suggest that a comparison of the N.C. Governor’s race between then-Attorney General Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and incumbent Governor Pat McCrory put the race much closer, and a poll cited by Davis says it’s a dead heat, within the margin of error. The Cook Political Report still calls it “likely Republican.”

“You have two very, very different candidates competing for that job. I think there’ll be some differences in some spreads once they actually sit down and they debate one another and they have conversations about policy,” said Shuler. “There’s a lot of undecided voters in the 11th District. If you look at the electorate, you have really a third, a third, a third — Democrat, unaffiliated and Republican. That independent vote is continuing to grow in our communities here. Those are the voters that will ultimately decide who wins the 11th District.”

Despite his continuing involvement in his old district, Shuler said he hadn’t endorsed anyone in the 11th since he left, and didn’t plan to start.

“Except for Biden I’ve really just stayed out,” he said. “We’re in a healthcare crisis right now in our country. More than 180,000 people have died with COVID. We’ve got to

The Pastor of Walnut Creek Baptist Church, Franklin, NC is

to

PRAYER

On Sunday, August 30th at 10:15AM

Let’s Band Together as God’s People to Have a Day of Prayer for the Coronavirus, the Upcoming Election, the Riots & Unrest, and for Revival in the United States.

2 Chronicles 7:14

“When you start traveling around the United States and traveling the world, you realize pretty quickly that we are very fortunate to live where we do, so we need to do all that we can to protect as much as we possibly can.”

— Heath Shuler

get control of that. We’ve got to have a leader that can really, truly look at the medical and the science to make some of those decisions instead of making political decisions.”

Shuler’s continuing focus on the policies of the Trump administration seems tempered by his service under two previous presidents — one Republican, and one Democrat.

“I think one of the biggest problems that we have in our country today is so many of our allies have looked at the United States and laughed, whether it be at some of our policies or the way we’ve handled certain issues or commentary from the president,” he said. “I still have so many of my colleagues that I communicate with that are from Europe and other countries throughout the world and they ask me, ‘Heath, what is going on? What is the problem there?’”

It certainly sounds like Shuler’s poised to come off the bench himself; in 2015, he was floated as a possible opponent to North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who won the 2016 election and said he won’t seek another term in 2022.

Last December, a day after Meadows

announced he wouldn’t seek another term in the House, Shuler told The Asheville CitizenTimes that he wouldn’t seek his old seat, but would leave the door open to a future bid for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or N.C. governor.

“My kids were one of the reasons I ran for office, and they were also the reason not to run for reelection. People want to say that it had something to do with redistricting. Our numbers were extremely strong. We had over 70 percent approval rating in the district and that was just because, you know, you just be honest with people and you don’t look at policy based upon the politics,” Shuler said.

“Once you’re elected, regardless of which political party you’re affiliated with, you’re actually representing all 750,000-plus people here in the 11th District.”

As to his own aspirations, the next chapter in his quintessentially American story, Hollywood screenwriters and small-town reporters still don’t have a clue.

“Well, I never say never, but I kinda got in trouble the last time,” Shuler said. “I said I would never run for office and ultimately ended up doing so.”

President Trump thanks Mills River business

$1.2b Ag program feeds the hungry

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF W RITER

President Donald Trump made an appearance in Mills River on Monday, touting a food program designed to reduce food insecurity and retain jobs in North Carolina’s critically important agriculture sector.

“When the China virus struck our nation, many farmers had no place to send their crops or livestock,” Trump said, using a misleading name for the COVID-19 Pandemic. “At the same time, families across the country were in need of groceries.”

That led to the creation of the Farmers to Families Food Box program.

“Through this program, the Department of Agriculture is purchasing food from farmers, then local distributors pack and deliver the boxes,” said Trump. “Families in need get it, and they get to eat very well. We’re tremendously grateful for the 185 employees here at this facility who have packed roughly 7,000 boxes a week.”

Trump spoke from a stage behind Flavor First Growers and Packers, a Mills River business, to a crowd of about 300 people. He was joined by former Georgia governor and current Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in announcing an additional $1 billion in funding for the

“Families in need get [food boxes], and they get to eat very well. We’re tremendously grateful for the 185 employees here at this facility who have packed roughly 7,000 boxes a week.”

— President Donald Trump

N.C.-11 candidate Cawthorn to speak at RNC Wednesday

Madison Cawthorn, Republican nominee for the North Carolina 11th Congressional District seat recently vacated by Mark Meadows, will address the nation on Aug. 26 from the Republican National Convention.

“I’ll be speaking about the future of the Republican Party,” said Cawthorn, 25. “I’ll be speaking about ways I think we need to change to be more effective in the future and be a more inclusive party, one that welcomes everybody instead of just an elite few.”

Cawthorn, who was in attendance at President Donald Trump’s event in Mills River on Aug. 24, did not speak from the podium, but was the target of praise from the president.

“If I had a face like that, I would have been president 20 years ago,” Trump said, to laughs from the crowd. “Madison Cawthorn — a real star. You’re going to be a star of the party. Thank you very much. What a great guy. Great guy. He was in the Oval Office; I didn’t want my picture with him because he looks too good.”

Farmers to Families Food Box program.

“I’m so proud of the people of USDA for designing this program in a very short period of time, a record period of time,” Perdue said.

Perdue and Trump were also joined at the event by Special Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump. In a phone call Friday, administration officials said Ms. Trump had championed the program.

“This is a historic investment,” she said.

“USDA has never done anything like this, so this is a brand-new program. And with this $1 billion addition, we’re going to keep it going. And we’re going to keep feeding those in need until this pandemic passes.”

Ms. Trump reiterated the importance of the program as well as the economic boost.

“The President mentioned the enormous success: 70 million boxes of fresh produce, milk, dairy delivered from our local family farms to those who are vulnerable across the country, while, at the exact same time, saving countless jobs in terms of the distribution network, the distributors like this great facility that was having to lay people off

because the supply chain was severed,” she said.

She also called it a “win-win-win” program.

“You can’t say that about a lot of government programs, especially one of this scale that was mobilized so quickly,” she said.

But not everyone in attendance was supportive of the president.

Brian Caskey, Mayor Pro-Tem of Mills River, is a Democrat seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards in District 49. He wore a decorative mask to the president’s event, but at one point, removed it to reveal another mask beneath it — touting the Biden for President campaign.

“We were asked to come out at the very last minute, elected officials in Henderson County, and we came out to represent our community,” Caskey said. “Our community is hard-working farmers. The president came out here today to basically take credit for the good work that our farmers are doing when the fact is, he hasn’t really helped them out much at all.”

Caskey, the only Democrat on Mills

River’s Town Council, explained that the county’s farmers rely on migrant labor.

“Our agriculture committee sent a letter to [former congressman and current White House Chief of Staff] Mark Meadows, and to senators Tillis and Burr, asking them to establish a pathway to citizenship,” he said. “There has been no action taken on that. Meadows voted against it, and it sits in the Senate, so we’re still waiting for any kind of action at all.”

Meanwhile, Caskey said, migrants are being harassed and farmers can’t find labor.

“I guarantee you later this summer you’re going to see a lot of tomatoes sitting on the ground in the fields, and a lot of corn that maybe didn’t get picked and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “In this community, we’re very disappointed in this president.”

Commissioners table billboard vote

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Jackson County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Aug. 18, to table a vote terminating its lease agreements with Allison Outdoor Advertising after the company’s president Claude Dicks implored the board to consider other options first.

“With regards to taking down some of the billboards, it would ultimately in our opinion hurt the Jackson County business community and local organizations that we currently work with, so please if you would table any potential vote today,” Dicks said during the public comment portion of the meeting. “Allow me to work with you guys to come up with a win-win solution.”

Two hours prior to the meeting, Dicks emailed commissioners expressing those same sentiments and included an attachment outlining some potential solutions. First and foremost, Dicks said, Allison Outdoor is revising its copy acceptance policy to distance the company from ‘hot button issues,’ with the updated policy disallowing billboards that feature “political/non-commercial speech pertaining to ‘hot button’ issues” such as “race, religion, sexual orientation or any other topics which are politically sensitive.”

“Had this portion of our policy been in place a few weeks ago, none of this would have come up,” Dicks wrote in the email.

Allison is also open to renegotiating its leases with the county, or to purchasing the land containing the billboards outright, reads the list of proposed solutions. The company is willing to give the county up to four weeks per year of free billboard space to use for public service announcements.

“As a company, Allison Outdoor has been helping Jackson County businesses for over 60 years,” the proposal reads. “And during that time we have run a lot of local public service campaigns to help promote events, issues and other matters to spread goodwill throughout the community… Please let’s find a workable solution to keep

these billboards up.”

The discussion came after a request from the racial justice group Reconcile Sylva to lease a pair of billboards on land owned by the county beside Mark Watson Park was denied. Allison Outdoor told the group that the terms of its 1976 lease with the county prevented it from displaying the proposed artwork.

The first piece in the two-panel display was to read “Dear Sylva, have you talked to your child about racism? Reconcile Sylva Now,” while the second was to read, “Black Lives Matter. Confederate Statues Don’t.”

Allison Outdoor denied the request based on a provision in the lease agreement prohibiting use of the billboards for “political ads or issues, or for promotion of subjects which are politically sensitive or which might tend to imply the County of Jackson has taken a position in regards to a political matter.”

Outdoor. It receives $50 per year for the downtown site and $2,200 per year for a second site along U.S. 441, where the Jackson County Emergency Management Department is located.

During the work session, most commissioners agreed that the best course of action would be to terminate the leases completely. However, after receiving Dicks’ suggestions they decided to discuss the matter further before taking a vote, as Adams said he and County Attorney Heather Baker had been unable to review Dicks’ suggestions prior to the meeting. The lease requires six months’ notice prior to termination.

“I would still point out to the board that

When approached by Reconcile Sylva about the matter, County Manager Don Adams said that it seemed Allison Outdoor had managed the lease appropriately, but in a follow-up discussion with county commissioners during an Aug. 11 work session, he said that being asked to weigh in on the specific language of an ad had put him in a very uncomfortable position. He recommended that the board either update the lease to make Allison Outdoor solely responsible for adjudicating content or get out of the billboard business altogether. Reconcile Sylva, meanwhile, changed its plan to lease a more expensive billboard space along U.S. 441 in the Savannah area of Jackson County.

The county has two leases with Allison

at the end of the day, no matter how we renegotiate this lease, the billboard would remain on county property and whether we allow Allison Outdoor Advertising to make the final call on what’s appropriate subject matter or whether we wish to put restrictions ourselves, this board if we wish to continue needs to be willing to turn this issue over to Allison Outdoor and not be involved in what subject matter would be on the billboards,” he said.

Commissioners intend to discuss the matter during a Sept. 8 work session and will likely vote during a regular meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. Meetings are livestreamed and available on the “Jackson County North Carolina Local Government” channel on YouTube.

In-person instruction suspended at Macon schools

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR

After students and staff were exposed to positive cases of COVID-19, Macon County Board of Education decided to suspend face-to-face instruction at Union Academy, Mountain View Intermediate School and Macon Middle School beginning Aug. 26 through Sept. 11.

Highlands, Nantahala and Macon Early College will continue on with their current plans. Franklin area K-4 will continue on with their current plan throughout the remainder of this week and will then be reevaluated. These decisions were made following an emergency meeting of the Board of Education Monday evening.

The spread of the virus has caused many staff members to be in isolation when they

receive a positive COVID-19 test and others who’ve come into contact with a positive case have had to quarantine while waiting for their test results. This has created a staffing issue at several of the schools.

“The suspension of instruction was not based on an outbreak of positive cases. The suspension of instruction is due to the loss of staff due to quarantine,” the press release from Macon County Schools stated.

Even before Macon County students resumed classes Aug. 17, administration was already seeing the impact of staff returning to school. During an Aug. 17 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin confirmed that Friday, Aug. 14, a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 and that other staff members were exposed on

Monday, Aug. 17, after parents who had tested positive entered the school building.

On Aug. 19, Macon County Schools notified the public that members of Macon Middle School, Mountain View Intermediate School and South Macon Elementary School Cafeteria Teams tested positive as well, which impacted the school’s ability to serve meals to students. Luckily, volunteers stepped in to provide brown bag lunches for everyone.

“These individuals have been in quarantine since the beginning of the week and have not been on campus to expose students,” the press release said. “As a precaution, for faculty and students at MMS, MVI and South Macon, members of our cafeteria teams have been sent home to quarantine according to contact

Cyber attack closes Haywood County schools

BY BOYD ALLSBROOK C ONTRIBUTING WRITER

Internet technology has become the backbone of schools in the time of COVID-19. E-learning has allowed students to carry on their studies while safely at home on a historic scale. However, this reliance on technology has its pitfalls; school systems are now more vulnerable than ever to cyber attacks.

Early Monday morning, the Haywood County Schools IT department noticed corrupted files and a ransomware message.

“When that happens, you just go through standard protocols and shut everything down,” said Superintendent Bill Nolte. This necessary step added to the brewing confusion by severely limiting the school system’s ability to communicate with students and parents. “We’re fairly well known as a school system that posts a lot of information and puts out a lot of press releases. But when we shut everything down, we shut down our servers, our landline phones, and our internet.’

Ransomware is a type of virus that shuts you out of your own files and then asks for payment for their return. It’s most often downloaded through unsolicited spam emails, though corrupt ads online can also install the software behind the scenes.

“They sent us a nice message,” said Nolte. “We did not read it. But it was clear that it was a ransomware message. We won’t read it until it’s safe to do so.”

Remote learning was canceled for Monday and Tuesday, and teachers were given optional workdays. “We don’t want our devices, either on campus or out on loan, to compromise other people,” Nolte added.

After canceling classes via text, a meeting with state cyber experts, the SBI, FBI, National Guard, Microelectronic Center of North Carolina (MCNC) and others was

tracing protocols.”

On Aug. 20, Highlands School Principal Brian Jetter announced that one of the school’s custodians had tested positive for COVID-19. Even though the individual was in quarantine since the week prior and was not on campus to, all of the custodial team was sent home to quarantine and be tested according to contact tracing protocols.

On Aug. 22, Macon County Schools was notified that a staff member from Franklin High School as well as a student at Mountain View Intermediate tested positive for COVID-19. They are under quarantine and the health department is doing contact tracing.

Just a couple of hours later, the school system sent out another press release stating that a number of Franklin High School administrators, support staff, and teachers are under quarantine as a result of the posi-

held at 11 a.m. Outside experts began arriving at HCS at midday Monday.

“We have three people who are still with us this evening and who will be working into the night,” Nolte said in a Monday afternoon interview. Another meeting was held at 10 a.m. the following morning.

“We hope by tomorrow, certainly by Wednesday or Thursday, we’ll have a good handle on what really has been compromised. We know there are some files but we’re not really sure,” he said.

When asked if they had any clue who was behind the attack, Nolte laughed.

“Oh, that’s going to take some work, now. They hide behind multiple layers of servers across the world. We certainly have had communication with SBI and FBI, and we’ll help them try to find out who it was. But that’s not our first priority right now.”

Right now, the focus for HCS is getting school back up and running. When asked when this might be, Nolte didn’t know, though he was hopeful: Google Classrooms, the primary tool for students and teachers, has not been compromised. However, several actions on that application involve communication with Haywood County Schools’ servers.

“We want to make sure we don’t turn on anything that would cause more problems. Once we work through the details of making sure that we can use internet connections and servers and laptops and iPads then we should be able to open again. We don’t know when that will be yet,” said Nolte.

To confused students and parents accustomed to more clear and direct communication with HCS, Nolte said, “The one thing we ask is that people be patient with us. We will certainly be communicating but it will not be the robust communication that we typically have. We’ve had a very real ransomware attack, and one of the things that was attacked was our ability to communicate.”

tive case of COVID-19 identified at Franklin High School.”

“The staff members under quarantine will not be allowed to return to school for 1014 days. These staff members are essential to the safety of our students. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the students at Franklin High School that face-to-face instruction be suspended through Sept. 11, 2020. At that time, conditions will be re-evaluated.”

By 5 p.m. that day, the school was notified that a student at Macon Middle School tested positive for COVID-19 and is under quarantine.

On Aug. 23, a student at East Franklin Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19 and is quarantined. Contact tracing is currently underway through the Macon County Health Department. Any student or staff member identified through the contact tracing will be notified.

The lady legislator

Jackson County gave N.C. its first female senator

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Now 75, Cashiers resident Ann Austin was just 3 years old when her grandmother died following a sudden cardiac episode.

“I remember going to her funeral or memorial,” said Austin. “I remember being on the sidewalk outside the church and knowing that she was important.”

As Austin grew up, she would come to learn just how important her grandmother — Gertrude Dills McKee — had been to her community, her county and her state.

Hailing from the tiny town of Dillsboro and living out her adult life in Sylva, McKee became the first female member of the N.C. Senate after she was won the 1930 race to represent Jackson, Haywood and Transylvania counties. She proved popular enough to repeat the feat three more times, serving additional terms in 1937-39 and 1943-45. She was re-elected in 1948, too, but died a few days after Election Day.

“It’s kind of remarkable,” said Austin. “In 1930 here’s this tiny little town of Dillsboro, and this woman ends up being the first woman senator of North Carolina. It just amazes me.”

It’s hard to say why it was that way, said Austin. Maybe it had to do with that mountain work ethic, the idea that life is hard and that getting the job done is more important than the gender of the person responsible for doing it.

“But she was not a pioneering woman,” Austin clarified. “You don’t see her out with a hoe digging out a hardscrabble existence on subsistence farming. She was part of a privileged family. Some people say that one reason she had so much time to do all of this (politics) was that she always had a lot of household help.”

When McKee first won her seat, women had only had the right to vote for a decade, and McKee was ready to break the next glass ceiling. But despite the unorthodox nature of her life’s trajectory, said Austin, McKee wasn’t a “rabblerouser.” She relied instead on her personal charm and strong community relationships to get things done.

“She went to Peace College in Raleigh and was extremely bright, but she was also extremely personable,” Austin said. “Everybody enjoyed being with her. She had the ability to inspire people, and she had strong contacts with her church and with her community and with all these clubs and families, so she was just pretty much a person in the right place in the right time, it seems like.”

McKee grew up the second of three daughters, and Austin speculates her lack of a brother may have had something to do with the sense of strength and empowerment she held as an adult — she didn’t grow up seeing the world around her constantly defer to a male sibling. Additionally, McKee’s father may have provided a role model in her political ventures — in 1889, William Dills represented Jackson County in the N.C. House of Representatives.

But McKee’s most important training ground was the array of women’s clubs and organizations with which she involved herself before she ever ran for office. According to NCPedia, during World War I she helped direct Liberty Loan and Salvation Army drives, also organizing the War Savings Stamps Drive. After the war she served as president of the N.C. Federation of Women’s Clubs, the N.C. Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Southern Council of Federated Club Women, with Gov. Angus McLean appointing her to the N.C. Education Commission in 1926.

McKee was also involved in the Suffrage Movement that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and in that conviction — as in all her political ambitions — she had the support of her husband, Lyndon McKee. If he’d been a resistant kind of husband, said Austin, her grandmother’s story would likely have turned out much differently.

Many hoped that North Carolina would become the 36th state to ratify the amendment, giving it the final, affirmative say on making women’s right to vote part of the U.S. Constitution. In the spring of 1920, McKee was one of two women the local party elected as delegates to the State Democratic Convention, held in Raleigh April 8. Two other women were chosen as alternate delegates.

“At the State Democratic Convention, women suffrage was the big issue as expected. There was some resistance to the seating of the women delegates by antisuffragists, particularly those from east of Raleigh,” reads a chapter in “Gertrude Dills McKee: A Biographical Analysis” by Joan Wright Ferguson. “An editorial in the Raleigh News and Observer noted that, ‘women participating in the convention was considered a step so advanced and so radical that it seemed almost an impossibility. But it was a fact.’ The women had changed their tactics and arguments, having ‘thrown away all sentiment in the matter of woman suffrage, only making claim of the square deal for women as well as for men.’”

It was a monumental occasion, but when it came before the General Assembly the vote failed by two. North Carolina wouldn’t officially ratify the amendment until 1971, but the very next day Tennessee provided the final affirmative vote needed to make women’s suffrage the law of the land.

In Jackson County, local leaders were receptive and enthusiastic about this new development, with the Board of Elections chairman at the time requesting that all registrars “be especially courteous and alert in letting the good women of the county have an opportunity to register,” Wright wrote. Throughout the 1920s, Wright continued, women were urged to participate in party councils and conventions.

In 1930, McKee made history after agreeing to run for the District 32 Senate seat, which included Jackson, Haywood and Transylvania counties.

“For more than a year many Democrats of Jackson County, also of Haywood and Transylvania counties, have urged me to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for State Senate from the Thirty-second Senate District,” McKee wrote in a March 13, 1930, statement reported by Wright. “After much thought and considerable hesitation I have decided to allow my name to go before the Democratic primary in June. Many of my friends have been aware of my indecision and genuine reluctance to enter the political field, and here, in justice to those who have advocated my candidacy, I feel that I should make this definite statement: If nominated and elected it will be my earnest purpose to represent and serve my district to the best of my ability.”

McKee became the first women to even be nominated for a state Senate seat, and she ended up defeating her opponent James F. Barrett by 3,652 votes. She carried her home precinct of South Sylva by only two votes, but she won her historically Republican childhood hometown of Dillsboro by 47 votes and claimed majorities in all three counties in the district, including Barrett’s home county of Transylvania, Wright wrote.

In 1931, she became one of two female members of the N.C. General Assembly, the other being Mrs. B. Frank Mebane, a House of Representatives member from Rockingham. That same year, there were more than 150 women serving as legislators in more than 40 of the 48 states in existence at the time.

During her time in the legislature, McKee sat on a variety of committees and chaired the Public Welfare Committee during each of her three terms, according to NCPedia. On that committee, she helped develop welfare programs that other states ultimately used as models to create their own. And as a member of the Education Committee, she secured passage of a bill to ensure that all children be given at least a sixth-grade education.

Austin said she’d long thought of her grandmother as a tireless leader who thrived on doing the work she loved. But now she knows that McKee’s responsibility weighed on her, as shown in a letter she wrote to her friend Anna Candler following Candler’s recovery from a long illness.

“Tomorrow we are off to Raleigh again — I stop in Statesville on the way back to speak to a luncheon meeting of the Women’s Club Thursday, then I expect to come home and do nothing but rest and look for you,” McKee wrote. “I must warn you that you are going to see a much changed Gertrude. My hair is white and I show the strain of a hard winter’s work.”

It was hard work, but it paid off — for the North Carolina of 1931, and for all the generations that have come since.

“My grandmother has been such an inspiration to me, and to many others,” said Austin. “To be sure, she was a groundbreaking political figure. But it was her qualities of integrity, loyalty and service to her fellow man that make her life such a compelling story. That, along with her legendary humor and wit.”

Persistence in the fight for voting rights

Honoring N.C.’s first female legislator

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

Lillian Exum Clement was a native of Black Mountain and the first female legislator in the Southeast. She was the fourth woman in North Carolina to pass the state bar exam and the first practicing female attorney without male partners.

As part of the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, The League of Women Voters Asheville Chapter honored Clement, known to her contemporaries as Exum, or simply Ex.

“I am, by nature, a very timid woman, and very conservative too, but I am firm in my convictions. I want to blaze a trail for other women. I know that two years from now there will be many other women in the legislature. But you have to start a thing, you know,” Exum was quoted as saying in the Raleigh Observer after she arrived in Raleigh to join the State Legislature in 1921.

She did indeed “start a thing.” After winning the democratic primary with an allmale electorate in her district, the 19th Amendment passed later that year, and Exum was able to vote for herself in the general election.

For her first, and only term in the state house, Exum had an impressive congressional record. Among the 17 bills she introduced were bills to ensure privacy in voting booths on Election Day, create standards for sanitation in livestock barns and tuberculin testing for cattle herds, and to reduce the number of years of separation required for divorce (on grounds of separation) from 10 to five.

When Exum was married in 1923 during her term, the General Assembly had to enact a new law to change her name for roll call, having never encountered this issue.

Exum died in 1925 from complications of influenza.

“We honor the sacrifices of the women that came before us to secure women’s right to vote through passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and in the 100 years since have continued to work for equal access to the vote for everyone,” said Kelly Fowler, president of the League of Women Voters Asheville Chapter.

FACES OF HAYWOOD

THE FIGHT CONTINUES

Women are only one group of voters in the United States that have had to fight long and hard for the right to vote. Black people in the United States did not win full voting rights until the Civil Rights Act of

Joey Fuseler, Mast General Store

“It is times like these when you realize the value of your chamber of commerce investment. The Haywood Chamber is a resource for information and support that is there not just now, in these unprecedented times, but all the time. The chamber staff can help make connections for businesses and holds many events to create and strengthen networking ties among members in the community.”

—

Joey Fuseler, General Manager in Waynesville

1964. While Native Americans were deemed U.S. citizens in the Snyder decision of 1924, individual states were able to keep them from voting for several more decades until the Civil Rights Act was passed. Several states still do not automatically restore voting rights after time served for felony convictions.

Despite all the work that has been done by citizens for voting rights and likening itself to the gold standard of Democratic political governance, the United States ranks 25th on the Democracy Index, put together each year by the Intelligence Unit of The Economist. There are a combination of factors driving this low democracy rating, factors that most Americans recognize.

“The barriers to women voting are universal for all voters, especially in Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. These barriers include misinformation campaigns about how and what’s needed to vote. Young women (and men) who are new to voting can be especially vulnerable to misinformation, for example, how to register as a college student,” said Fowler.

According to Rachel Clay, Southeastern Regional Coordinator for the Campus Vote Project, the 2013 F

Supreme Court Case Shelby v. Holder is one major cause for infringements on voting rights in recent years. This case overturned the necessity for “preclearance,” or federal oversight, of new elections and voting laws in selected areas that had a history of discrimination in voting.

“This decision essentially nullified the Voting Rights Act of 1965, getting rid of the formula which placed North Carolina under preclearance so that all of our election laws had to be reviewed for their discriminatory impact. This cleared a bunch of states, particularly in the South, to introduce whatever election legislation they wanted to and North Carolina, honestly waiting in earnest for this moment, was the first state to do so,” said Clay. “N.C. legislators introduced a myriad of voter suppression laws.”

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, hundreds of measures making it harder to vote have been introduced in state houses since 2013. These measures include things like strict photo ID requirements, limitations on who can provide assistance at polling places, reducing early voting days, closing polling locations, purging voters from state voting rolls and drawing election districts in ways that diminish the power of voters of color.

About 56 percent of the voting age population voted in the 2016 presidential election, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This ranks the U.S. 26 out of 32 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. According to the Pew Research Center, almost all countries ahead of the U.S. in voter turnout have automatic voter enrollment.

THE WORK TODAY

Part of the work League of Women Voters does is to help inform people about voting.

“This requires educating everyone to know how to check their registration status, to know early voting dates and locations, and how to obtain and cast an absentee ballot,” said Fowler.

In addition to the everyday barriers to American voters, this election cycle will include a global pandemic. Fowler said the League of Women Voters is currently participating in 21 lawsuits in 18 states to hold election officials accountable for failure to mitigate the effects the COVID-19 pandemic — disproportionately affecting Black and Indigenous communities — is having on elections.

“These lawsuits aim to maintain a variety of voting options, including in-person voting, so that COVID-19 mitigation cannot be used as a pretense for disenfranchisement,” said Fowler. “We are also supporting several efforts to prevent voter purges and to defeat vote dilution and racial gerrymandering in state and federal courts.”

Fowler says the League’s biggest concern for this election cycle is misinformation.

“We’re concerned that the negativity and misinformation will turn people off from voting or instill fear and panic about whether their vote will count or will they be safe in casting their vote.”

If you stay home, just keep quiet

If you don’t vote, then just shut up. You don’t even really deserve the right to be heard. Especially when you consider the treatment many in this country endured before — and after — they earned to right to vote.

Over the last several weeks our staff has written nearly a dozen stories on the passage of the 19th Amendment and the obstacles faced by those early women, Blacks and Native Americans fighting for the right to vote. All women were ignored for too long, but the battles by women of color and Native Americans to gain this most basic right continued long after the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment. If you haven’t read those stories, there is another in today’s edition or you can go to our website (www.smokymountainnews.com) and google “women’s suffrage.”

It’s nearly unimaginable to me how so many Americans were disenfranchised and screwed over for so long and yet there wasn’t more violence, more upheaval. Perhaps, though, that helps explain why today it is all coming to a head, why the floodgates of anger over the treatment of minorities has come to a head.

It was 1848 when the Seneca Falls, N.Y., convention for women’s rights was held. At this time there was already an organized movement to change the laws that kept women out of the ballot box and out of political life. It was 72 years later — nearly two generations given the life expectancy in those days — before the 19th Amendment was passed.

For Native Americans, it was the 1924 Snyder Act that

Democracy is not a spectator sport

To the Editor:

Would you be able to vote if you had to pass a literacy test? Can you count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap? Can you count the number of jelly beans in a jar? These were some of the tests that were required for Black citizens prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Can you imagine the pain and trauma many people endured when trying to exercise their rights as American citizens and were denied?

The late congressional Rep. John Lewis actually shed his blood in his efforts to draw attention to the fact that people of color were not allowed to vote. He was beaten, insulted and his life threatened along with many others involved in fighting for civil rights and voting rights in the 1960s.

Do you take your right to vote for granted? Do you exercise that vote every time there is an election? In addition to John Lewis and others fighting for voting rights of minorities, think of the thousands of Americans who have served and died in military service defending democracy and our right to vote.

I recently interviewed Payson Kennedy, who co-founded the Nantahala Outdoor Center in 1972. He was a faculty member of the University of Illinois in the 1960s. In early 1965, Kennedy took some students in a Volkswagen van to Selma, Alabama. They

officially gave them U.S. citizenship, but elections boards in Jackson and Swain counties here in the Western North Carolina mountains didn’t let members of the Eastern Band vote until 1946 — 22 years later. It finally happened because returning Native American veterans who served in World War II demanded it. Protests were led by the Steven Youngdeer American Legion Post 143 on the Qualla Boundary. Utah and New Mexico didn’t let Native Americans vote until 1962. Ludicrous.

For Blacks in this country, the right to vote wasn’t really guaranteed until 1965 — 100 years after the North won the Civil War and the 14th and 15th Amendments were passed. That was when the Voting Rights Act got through Congress and was signed by President Lyndon Johnson, finally outlawing literacy tests and poll taxes and blatant intimidation that was long accepted, particularly in the South.

Thirty years after the Civil War — in the late 1890s — Southern Democrats were openly running as white supremacists and enthusiastically supporting violence against Blacks. In 1898 in Wilmington, N.C. — a day after the election — at least 60 Blacks were murdered and many others banished from town as the Democrats staged a bloody coup, even forc-

LETTERS

stayed in a housing project and every morning John Lewis, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael and Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to them. At noon they marched to the courthouse in Selma to register Blacks to vote but they were refused. Kennedy said the speeches and marches all emphasized non-violence. They were asked to remain non-violent despite taunts and threats. Protestors today should follow their example.

The marches that Payson Kennedy and his students participated in, plus the famous “Bloody Sunday” march from Selma to Montgomery on March 7, 1965, led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This act prohibited racial discrimination in voting and was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson.

Kennedy is puzzled why people don’t vote when so many people put their lives on the line for this right. He believes our country is in a crisis today probably as bad as any other time in recent history.

In a letter written days before his death to be read on the day of his funeral, John Lewis repeated something he often said: “If you see something that is not right, you must say something and you must do something.”

Filmmaker Michael Moore stated: “Democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a participatory event. If we don’t participate in it, it ceases to be a democracy.” When you exercise your right to vote, you’ll be doing your part to

ing the mostly white town council to resign and appointing themselves as the new aldermen (the book, Wilmington’s Lie, was released this year by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Zucchino and is both shocking in its story and gripping in its detail).

Voter registration

You can visit the board of elections office in your home county or download a North Carolina voter registration form and instructions at https://dl.ncsbe.gov/voter_registration/ncvoterregform_06w.pdf.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

So here we are in 2020 and the killing of unarmed Blacks by police has led to an awakening regarding the vestiges of institutional racism. Violent riots, despite what some say, don’t move anything forward. Civil protests, marches and dialogue will raise awareness but that’s about it.

The ballot box is where it needs to happen. Americans of all persuasions need to vote, let the chips fall where they will, and then continue voicing their opinions on the important issues facing this country. Given the battle fought by so many to obtain voting rights, it’s almost criminal to not take this civil duty seriously. If you stay home, then stay out of the debate. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

maintain our democracy. Use your right to vote or lose it.

Mary

A. Herr Cherokee

What should we publicly honor?

To the Editor:

In my opinion all plaques, markers, statues and monuments honoring those who served the Confederacy should be removed from public squares. Simply adding context or additional statuary allows the object honoring the Confederacy to remain … and that’s the problem. There is a horrific backstory connected to these statues which goes unacknowledged or unaccepted by many. Yet, in the light of historical fact, no one could support the continued public display of Confederate monuments.

At the core of all things Confederate is the preservation of human enslavement. So paramount was this issue that it was enshrined in the Confederate constitution. Article 1, Section 9, states: “… no law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed.” It continues in Article 4, Section 3, “… the institution of negro slavery, as it now exists in the Confederate States, shall be recognized and protected by Congress and the Territorial government(s) …” Re-read that. Let it sink in. Property in people of African descent is protected in the

foundational document of the Confederacy. Every Confederate soldier or government official would have sworn to uphold the constitution.

Now, take a second look at these statutes. All who served the Confederacy in any capacity, regardless of economic status, would have pledged to protect the “right of property in negro slaves.” All Southerners knew, at its core, what the fight was about. Other rationales were contrived, such as “state’s rights” or “home and hearth” to make the call to arms more virtuous or morally respectable, something noble. And while it’s true that most Confederate soldiers did not practice enslavement, they were, nonetheless, willing to fight to preserve it.

In historical reality, Confederate monuments honor those who took up arms to secure the right of white Southerners to force labor upon enslaved people who were legally designated as property, like other farm animals or equipment. That is the glaring historical truth. Do you actually want that represented on your courthouse lawn or capital square?

Having Confederate ancestors, as I do, is nothing to be proud of and should certainly not me memorialized. Sadly, this history happened, and rest assured it can’t be erased. But it is imperative now that we, as Americans, ask ourselves what in our history is worthy of communication. What should we publicly honor?

Craving a president who smiles with his eyes

Awhile back I noticed President Trump does not smile with his entire face. It struck me one day when I saw a photo of him with his signature closed-mouthed grin. The expression did not leave the jaw area. There was no twinkle in the eyes or lift of the cheekbones. I started watching more closely and yep, no smiles or laughs. I even Googled “pictures of President Trump smiling,” and of many images, there was one photo where he sort of looked like he was truly smiling while walking hand in hand with Melania.

The 2020 election is clearly heated. I’m not typically outspoken about my views, but even quiet souls have a boiling point. At the very least, I would like a president who smiles in a way that appears decent and gracious, as opposed to indifferent and cunning.

When I watched the speeches at last week’s Democratic National Convention, I felt inspired and hopeful, like something actually could change in this country—a bounty of Democratic and Republican powerhouses talking to the screen with conviction, yearning to make this country more kind, tolerant, healthy and innovative.

The montage on Jill Biden resonated with me. As they say, “Behind every great man is an even greater woman.” When Joe routinely asked her to marry him, she kept stalling, wanting to ensure Joe’s little boys, Beau and Hunter, were OK with her entering into their sweet trinity and becoming “Mom.” That alone says so much about who she is as a person. When she was second lady, she continued teaching English and writing at Delaware Technical & Community College. She is thought to be the only second lady to hold a paying position while her husband served as vice president. Knowing she would be the first lady offers additional confidence in the Biden campaign.

I was impressed with former Vice President Biden’s speech as well. I’ll admit he wasn’t my favorite primary nominee, but after watching him last week, my mind shifted.

In addition to his robust political experience, positive global reputation and ability to manage a team, the personal grief he’s experienced is extraordinary—with the death of his first wife and baby daughter in a 1972 car accident, then the death of his son, Beau, in 2015 to brain cancer. It’s challenging enough to lose one close family member, much less three. After his wife and daughter died, he was a single dad for five years, taking the nightly train from D.C. to Delaware to tuck his boys in at night.

Grief changes a person. I know because I lost my mom when I was too young. Her

death changed me. Grief makes a person more aware of each day. It makes a person seek a greater purpose for being here on earth. It increases one’s compassion, empathy and gratitude.

Aside from being a good guy, Biden is a great politician. He was the fifth youngest senator elected in the nation’s history. In 1994, he cosponsored the Violence Against Women Act. After the devastating Sandy Hook Shooting in 2012, he helped craft 19 actions for reducing gun violence. Biden served as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations and nurtured relationships with other world leaders. He was vice president and confidante to President Barack Obama. While in this office, he used his Senate contacts to pass the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation. He engineered a bipartisan agreement on tax increases and spending cuts to avoid a fiscal cliff crisis. He oversaw the 2009 Recovery Act after the 2007-2008 recession. Biden was the first to introduce a climate change bill in the Senate, the Global Climate Protection Act of 1986. The Obama-Biden administration helped secure and deliver the Paris Agreement. That’s just a snippet of Biden’s career.

There were other great speeches at last week’s Democratic convention. The Obamas never fail to encourage and move an audience with their intelligence and eloquence. Kamala Harris’s speech proved she will be a true advocate for women and people of color. I always enjoy Governor Cuomo and the powerful, straightforward way he delivers a message. Bernie Sanders spoke directly to his supporters telling them to get out and vote, that Biden can bring about change and hope. Mike Bloomberg held nothing back as he communicated his thoughts, and so it was with all of the speakers. The theme of the convention was authenticity. Every speaker delivered an honest and articulate plea, saying, “Please, let’s work together to save our nation.”

If ever we need a person in the Oval Office experienced with global relations, domestic economic repair and climate change, it is now. Biden’s personal characteristics and ability to smile genuinely are cherries on top. And let’s briefly talk about faith, a sensitive topic that can greatly affect a person’s vote. Biden is a lifelong devout Catholic whose philosophy of life comes from the church’s teaching “we are our brothers’ keeper.” Meanwhile, President Trump used the Bible as a prop and acts in direct opposition to Jesus, who was drawn toward the weak, hungry, and the poor, who opposed violence and hatred. I realize people have differing opinions and that there will always be two sides of the aisle, but I hope that ultimately, good prevails over evil. (Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)

It’s ‘bout time I learn there’s just more to life

Maggie Valley Band release new EP, return to stage

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF W RITER

With its latest EP, “Something New: Vol 1,” the Maggie Valley Band is breaking new ground, whether it be sonically or what lies within the creative spirit of the emerging Haywood County act.

In recent years, the sibling duo of Whitney and Caroline Miller (amid a rotating cast of guest backing musicians) have transitioned from an acoustic ensemble pushing the boundaries of folk and mountain music to a melodic entity that constantly stokes the hot coals of Americana and indie-rock stylings.

It’s about the idea of “serving the song,” rather than force it into a cookie cutter formula or particular genre, which may pigeonhole the artistic desire. And though the sights and sounds of the MVB might be more electric nowadays, the sense of purpose and evolving talents behind them — the hell or high-water mentality — remains stronger than ever.

Smoky Mountain News: With the pandemic and shutdown, how did it affect you, personally and professionally? To simply stand still and not be traveling or taking the stage?

Whitney Miller: Professionally, we felt like we were losing so much time. Finances? Yes. But, even more the time. So much of show biz is so weird with a “hit while the iron is hot idea.” We’re wondering if things will ever even be the same.

Personally, we were at a loss of what to do. Our routines and norms gone. That rhythm of life, way too much time to think and not do. But, we keep believing there’s a reason, there’s a lesson here we’ve got to take from all this. This doesn’t have to be a waste. It’s how we use this time that will make the difference.

Caroline Miller: It’s hard. Feels like our world has been flipped. We used to play as much as humanly possible and do whatever we could to work an extra gig in. One time, we did 26 shows in 25 days in 20 different states. That’s how we roll. That’s what we love. Now, we’re benched and we have to not even think what’s best for our careers. We have to think what’s best for our community, our elderly parents. It’s painful, but at the same time makes us so appreciative of what’s really important in life — people. Selfishness and politics can’t be our responses right now. It has to be love and selflessness.

It’s kind of like when a parent tells their kids to do something and the kid resists, but then eventually comes around in their own time. I feel like our music did that to us. We wanted to evolve from the beginning, but our music decided on its own when it would.

— Whitney

tones in it. We highly value personal growth. Character growth — in our lives and in art we enjoy — is almost always the thing we talk about most. So, it makes sense that our music changes as we do.

SMN: As an independent act, when you look at the landscape of the music industry — onstage, in the studio, finding creative and financial stability — what do you see?

WM: It’s only going to get harder. With fewer venues able to hold on, bands will be competing for fewer stages. It will be a tough recovery, but we can’t quit. What would we do? Not that there aren’t a lot of great things in this life, but when asked what else would we want to do, both of us can’t think of anything — music is the only thing.

CM: Our world is on pause. Yet, everyone feels that way. I do believe live music will come back because everything does in its time. I think what keeps us going is just focusing on what we can do, not what we can’t. We filmed a music video, we made an EP. We’re going to keep focusing on that and leave the rest.

Our circumstances don’t really make us who we are, it simply shows us what’s in our hearts. The song “Something New,” Whitney wrote about how we try to start something new to rid us of the real problem — of working through things.

We both would encourage others to work through the tough things and not avoid the hard things. If you can’t understand another person, does that mean you should stop talking and listen more? Then do it. Embrace the hard things. Whatever the rest of 2020 holds, it won’t all be bad.

Want to go?

SMN: What spurred on this latest evolution of the band? The sound seems more ambitious, where the genre lines are blurred. Was that the intent of this latest chapter or is that how the group has changed as time has gone on?

WM: We wanted to change it up from the beginning, not to say we won’t switch back around. It’s kind of like when a parent tells their kids to do something and the kid resists,

but then eventually comes around in their own time. I feel like our music did that to us. We wanted to evolve from the beginning, but our music decided on its own when it would.

CM: I think it’s where we’ve been going. I remember seeing David Mayfield shred an electric guitar at The Grey Eagle back in the day and it changed my idea of what we were limited to. Then, we worked with him and he put some electronic beats in and out, some Black Keys

In celebration of the groups new EP, “Something New: Vol. 1,” The Maggie Valley Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Elevated Mountain Distilling Company in Maggie Valley. There will also be a SOWO Car Show onsite at the distillery. Admission for the entire event (music and car show) will be $5, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.themaggievalleyband.com.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

But long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it

Pulling onto Lake Street last Saturday afternoon, an odd sense of self flowed through my veins while cruising through Rouses Point, New York. My hometown until I left for college, the tiny Canadian Border community had seen better days. And yet, Saturday was another happy occasion for my family, who has lived in that town for generations.

Looking into the rearview mirror of my truck, I quickly fixed a few out of place hairs and adjusted the collar on the dress shirt. My little sister was getting married in an hour and I had to make sure I was presentable for her special day. Turning off Lake Street, it was a trek across the bridge over Lake Champlain and into northern Vermont.

Located at the southern tip of Isle La Motte, Vermont, the Fisk Farm was founded in 1788 and has remained a historical, cultural and social hub of sorts for the small island. It was also exactly where my sister had envisioned proclaiming her love for her significant other in front of a small group of family and friends.

Coming into 2020, my sister, Kate, was a single mother of a 6-year-old, my niece, Lucy. A hardworking educator in the local school system, Kate’s walked a tough road raising her daughter and creating a safe and nurturing home and life for the two of them.

And it was right before the pandemic and shutdown that a familiar face from the past reached out to reconnect. His name is Josh, and he’s someone I’ve known pretty much my entire life. Not only did Kate and I go to elementary, middle and high school with him, we were teammates during the basketball and cross-country seasons, too. As well, for a brief period, he and Kate dated in sixth grade.

Even after high school and the impending entry into adulthood, Josh and I kept in touch. We’d cross paths whenever I was home for spring break or the holidays during college, or when I wandered back to the North Country from time to time while I chased after a career in the written word, onward into the last eight years of living in Western North Carolina.

Thus, Josh and Kate started dating preCovid. None of us knew about it, and it remained a secret for a few months while they hunkered down together during the shutdown. Soon, the shelter-in-place orders were lifted as everyone popped their heads out of their homes and started to catch up with each other over this, that, and the other.

By late May, I’d decided to come back to the North Country and spend the summer in my old stomping grounds. It was a silver lining amid all the chaos and unknowns of yesterday, today and tomorrow. And throughout this period, I not only rekindled connections with others, I was also able to spend quality time with Josh, Kate and Lucy: barbecues, bonfires and beach bumming.

Summer rolled along and it was decided that Josh and Kate wanted to get married. August 22 soon appeared and there I was standing in the back of a small gathering at the Fisk Farm: making sure the background music was working properly, but mostly taking in the whole scene unfolding before my eyes.

It was something to just kind of look around and observe. My rough-around-theedges father seemed softened and in awe of the moment. My sentimental mother was filled with tears of joy. With a kiss to seal the nuptials, Josh and Kate walked back down the aisle and into the next chapter of their lives together.

The wedding reception was held at Josh’s parents’ home in nearby Champlain, New York. It was the same house I remembered when I would go over there as a kid to play video games or listen to music. A large white

tent was situated in the driveway of the farmhouse, soon filled with laughter and drinks held high.

The next few hours were a joyous blur of champagne toasts, heartfelt speeches from both families, dancing and numerous camera flashes from seemingly every direction. We ate and drank to our heart’s content. We smiled and fondly remembered the past. We saluted each other to a bountiful life of love and adventure.

As the midnight hour appeared, I found myself sitting at one of the tables underneath the big white tent. Those left at the reception were either still dancing or situated around the bonfire in the backyard. I cracked a cold Molson Canadian can and sipped with gusto.

And it was in that moment when The Tragically Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” came over the

speakers. An anthem of sorts in the North Country, the melody echoed across the farmhouse property and out in the darkness of the surrounding neighborhood.

I sipped the Molson and listened, “So, I’m at your house this morning, just a little after nine, ‘cause it was in Bobcaygeon, where I saw the constellations reveal themselves, one star at time ….” The T-Hip always seem to conjure and capture the ideal feeling of wherever one may find themselves, either by chance or by circumstance.

Shifting my glance from those near the bonfire, I focused on Josh and Kate in the distance. They held each other close, two souls in harmony, ready to take on whatever life throws at them. For me, I now have a brother-in-law, more a brother-in-arms. And I couldn’t be happier.

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

On the street

Cashiers Designer

Showhouse

The annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse will run through Sept. 5 at 144 Cove Drive in Highlands.

Designers and landscapers representing the Southeastern region will bring trending design to Cashiers.

Throughout the week, showhouse attendees will view the work of the talented designers; enjoy a variety of workshops, book signings and panel discussions from creatives across the country.

Admission is $30. www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org/showhouse.

Open call for artist grants

Artists in all disciplines are eligible to apply for grants to support their professional and artistic development through a partnership of the North Carolina Arts Council and Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center.

Artist Support Grants will be distributed to eligible applicants by Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in the following counties: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Applications for the grants are available at www.coweeschool.org. The deadline is Sept. 30. Grants will range in awards from $500 to $1,000. www.coweeschool.org/nc-arts-council.

Artist grants now available

Artists in all disciplines are eligible to apply for grants to support their professional and artistic development through a partnership of the North Carolina Arts Council and Asheville Area Arts Council, Haywood County Arts Council, Arts Council of Henderson County, Tryon Fine Arts Center, Rutherford County Recreation, Cultural, and Heritage Commission, and the Transylvania Community Arts Council.

Artist Support Grants will be distributed to eligible applicants by Haywood County Arts Council in the following counties: Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania.

Applications for the grants are available www.haywoodarts.org/grants-funding. The deadline is Sept. 30. Grants will range in awards from $500 to $1,000.

For information or questions, contact Leigh Forrester, executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council, at www.haywoodarts.org or 828.452.0593.

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Grassroots Arts Sub-grants

The Jackson County Arts Council is now accepting applications for Grassroots Subgrants.

The JCAC administers the Grassroots Arts Program Grant in accordance with current guidelines, policies, and requirements outlined by the North Carolina Arts Council. Funding for these subgrants come from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of Natural & Cultural Resources.

The Grassroots Arts Program Sub-grant provides financial support for Jackson County community groups and nonprofit organizations that offer programs and projects that enhance the arts for county residents. Grassroots Sub-grants are awarded to organizations in all cultural disciplines through a competitive application and review process.

The applicant organization must be based in Jackson County and produce its programming in Jackson County. Sub-grants are not awarded to support fundraising activities. Grassroots grants are matching

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) 8 p.m. Aug. 29. Free and open to the public. www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Tyson Leamon 6:30 p.m. Aug. 29 and Bona Fide Band 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Silas Reed 7 p.m. Aug. 28, Sly Sparrow 7 p.m. Aug. 29 and Larry Joe Lambert 7 p.m. Sept. 5. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• The Haywood County Arts Council “Artist Member Show” will be held through Aug. 29 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in Waynesville. Featuring 42 artists, the show is a celebration of our community, allowing

grants that must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the receiving organization.

The JCAC is required to spend a set percentage of our Grassroots funding on Multicultural programming that reflects African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American cultures.

To qualify for a Grassroots Multicultural Sub-grant, the artist or presenter and the content of the art material should both belong to one of the groups listed above. Any organization can apply for multicultural funds to conduct art programs/events that meet these standards. Fill out the regular application for multicultural funding.

Interested organizations can obtain application information at www.jacksoncountyarts.org or by email at info@jacksoncountyarts.org. The deadline for acceptance of applications is Sept. 15.

For more information, contact the Jackson County Arts Council at 828.507.9820 or by email at info@jacksoncountyarts.org.

locals to share their great work at the height of the summer season. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The “Haywood County Medical Exhibit: 1870-1950” will be held at The Shelton House in Waynesville. The showcase will run through October. Admission is $7 adults. $5 students. Children ages 5 and under free. Admission includes Shelton House. 828.452.1551 or www.sheltonhouse.org.

• The Great Blue Farms Brunch & Blooms will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays through Sept. 12 at 1101 Briartown Church Road in Nantahala/Topton. Admission is $75, which includes a tour, brunch, all flowers, supplies and container to take home your floral masterpiece. www.greatbluefarms.com or 828.508.1502.

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

Jefferson’s education, books, reading and gifts

For five years, just after we were married, my wife and I were house parents for a sorority at the University of Virginia, responsible for the upkeep of the building and for the safety and behavior of the 20 young women who resided in the old brick home.

We sometimes faced mild disciplinary problems within the sorority, but the fraternities were by far our worst nemesis. The sorority house abutted an alleyway behind an Episcopalian church, and the alleyway led from the bars to fraternity row. On weekend nights that alley became a stream of drunken frat boys who often smashed bottles against the house, shouted obscenities, and relieved themselves by the fence. During my tenure there, I was spat upon, threatened, cursed too many times to count, and was once knocked unconscious.

the slaves at Monticello, discusses at length the role of the clergy in education, and looks at the rift that was already taking place between the New England states and the South.

As Taylor points out in his Introduction, because of its diversity today, “there is more

In no way should you associate this time for reading with school, but treat it instead as you might some special enjoyable activity like playing basketball, swimming, or dancing. All students have required reading for school, and you must see they do that reading, but because they associate literature with a classroom, some come to dislike reading.

Reading Alan Taylor’s Thomas Jefferson’s Education (W.W. Norton & Company, 2019, 426 pages) brought back memories, some painful, some humorous, of those long-ago days.

Here is just one of Taylor’s many description of riotous students shortly after Jefferson founded the University of Virginia:

“In early 1826, students doubled down on their vices, for dissipation seemed more even more alluring than when it defied efforts to control them. Venturing into Charlottesville, they haunted taverns and confectionary shops (which served alcohol). A student noted, ‘Here nothing is more common than to see students so drunk as to be unable to walk.’ A visitor to Charlottesville reported awakening at 3 a.m. to rowdy students playing ‘drum, fife, and clarions… aided by their Bachanalian clamours of applause.’ Breaking into the courthouse, students ‘rang the bell violently for 20 minutes as a solo.’ Riding back to the University, they tore down a fence and rebuilt it to block the road.”

The vast majority of these students were the sons of planters, young men whose wealth and position in Virginia society were surpassed only by their arrogance. Many of them scorned tradesmen as beneath them, brutalized the slaves employed by the University and in the town’s hotels, displayed a fierce sense of personal honor, and saw no reason whatsoever for a “gentleman” to obey the regulations of the school.

In addition to this study of aristocracy, Taylor provides us with insights into Jefferson’s personal education as an adolescent and as a student at William and Mary, gives numerous sketches of various family members and friends, examines the lives of

to celebrate in what the University has become than in how it began. But we could benefit from cherished parts of Jefferson’s legacy, including the pursuit of democracy, a devotion to rational inquiry, and a determination to pursue the truth wherever it leads. If that pursuit leads us to conclude that he fell short, the burden is on us to do better.”

Thomas Jefferson’s Education gives us a fascinating look into our colonial and postrevolutionary past as well as into the founding of the University of Virginia and the life of Jefferson himself.

•••

Since the theme here is education, and since our own system of education today is, to put it mildly, in a state of flux, I am including here some tips for parents, grandparents, and guardians on reading and books.

Whether your student is homeschooling, distance learning, or sitting in a classroom, try to set aside time each day for reading outside of your school schedule.

So make this reading time outside the classroom a pleasure. Focus on the student’s interest. If 8year-old Johnny likes to create battles with his toy soldiers, go to the library and find him ageappropriate books on warfare. If 12year-old Miranda loves basketball, softball and soccer, hit the library again, where she’ll find both fiction and nonfiction sports books galore.

For teens, consider start-

ing a book club. Teens feel the need for peer companionship more intensely than the younger set, and here is an ideal way to blend friends, books, literary discussion, and pleasure. You’ll need an adult instructor to prompt discussions with questions and to keep those discussions on track. Throw in some popcorn and other snacks, and you’re helping to forge friendships and create readers.

As for the pre-K crew, awaken their imaginations with the delights of nursery rhymes and fairy tales, reading aloud to them from books with colorful pictures. If there are older siblings in the home, get them into the act. Their participation will improve their reading and entertainment skills while helping educate the little ones.

Reading, author Kate DiCamillo once stated, “should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.”

Agreed.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. minick0301@gmail.com)

Erosion issues ongoing at Millennial Campus

State issued 16 notices of environmental violation in 14 months

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Despite multiple outstanding environmental violations, a new student housing complex located on Western Carolina University’s Millennial Campus off Killian Road welcomed its first group of tenants this month.

Called The Husk, the 500-bed development was envisioned as a public-private partnership that would increase student-housing opportunities at a time of explosive growth for the university at a location situated just barely off the main campus. In December 2018, the Board of Trustees of the WCU Endowment Fund entered into a 40-year ground lease with ZP No. 335, LLC — a limited liability corporation whose listed address and contacts mirror those of Zimmer Development Company — entrusting that corporation with building and operating the planned development.

LACK OF LOCAL CONTROL

Work on the project started in 2019, and it wasn’t long before community members began to notice mud flowing from the construction site, down through Long Branch and into the Tuckasegee River. On June 17, 2019, the site received its first of many notices of violation from the N.C. Department of Water Quality. The aggregated results of multiple public records requests and documents provided to The Smoky Mountain News show a

total of 10 notices of violation issued by the Division of Energy, Mining and Land Resources and six such notices issued by the Division of Water Resources.

The issue has come up in multiple Jackson County Commission meetings, with commissioners expressing anger and frustration over the situation but finding themselves unable to do much other than to appeal to the state. The state has control over the project, not the county.

“I think we all agree if this was a problem we had direct control over, we wouldn’t be sitting here talking about it,” said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan during an Aug. 18 meeting. “The reality is this is a state problem. We have no jurisdiction over it. We have no control over it. We have no ability to intervene in this project, change the course of the outcome. There’s very little we can do. I know it’s frustrating.”

As students were moving into the completed buildings, many of the violations were still in effect, according to Jackson County Building and Code Enforcement Director Tony Elders. The violations described within them had not yet been sufficiently addressed by the developer.

“So when they get ready to move people in, if things in and around that place have not been taken care of properly, they’re still going to move in?” asked Jackson County Commissioner Boyce Deitz during an Aug. 4 meeting.

“Yes sir,” Elders replied.

“Well once that happens — really, am I wrong? — a lot of people that’s been damaged by this and they’ve done nothing else to hold their feet to the fire,” said Deitz.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has the authority to issue stop-work

orders in cases where off-site sedimentation causes severe damage to adjacent lands or severely degrades a lake or natural waterway. The DEQ did not do anything to halt the project until Aug. 14, when it filed for injunctive relief. Injunctive relief is stronger than a stopwork order, as it halts all work except for corrective actions until it is removed, while a stop-work order expires after five days.

However, this action will likely have little practical effect on the project. At this point, the structures are all complete with the exception of the pool house. The pool itself is approved for occupancy, and Zimmer has temporary certificates of occupancy for all buildings except the pool house. Those certificates are good for 90 days, with final ones issued when zoning approval for final landscaping and such is completed.

CONTINUED VIOLATIONS

The violations in question have to do with erosion issues. Contractors have repeatedly failed to contain mud on the site, causing departing dirt to color nearby waterways various shades of brown, especially during heavy rainfall.

Ken Brown, executive director for the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, grew up on a 78-acre property that includes the very land where the new apartments are located. He remembers when Long Branch, which flows right through it, was wider, shallower and good for fishing. Increased development in the area has forced the stream to become narrower and deeper, creating a whole different kind of aquatic ecosystem. Add in the continued onslaught of mud from the Zimmer project, and it’s become unrecognizable. All that sediment has

had a detrimental effect on the ecosystem there, he said.

“The only way a bedrock mountain watershed carries such a turbid sediment load is from unmitigated soil disturbance,” he wrote in a July 5 post to WATR’s Facebook page.

Public records show that in 2019 the project garnered notices of violation from DEMLR on June 17, July 17 and Nov. 13. This year, DEMLR issued such notices on Jan. 1, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, April 20 and Aug. 7 — just a week before move-in was scheduled to begin. The Division of Water Resources, meanwhile, issued notices of violation on June 19, July 31 and Nov. 4 of 2019; as well as Jan. 21, April 8 and July 9 of 2020.

The issues on the site came to a public head on Halloween last year, when a landslide originating from the Zimmer site resulted in extensive damage to a student housing development located downhill. One of the 12 small houses owned by Sherri Deitz was condemned after the landslide knocked it off its foundation, and all the homes had to be temporarily evacuated, with extensive mud removal required. Nobody was injured.

Another, smaller housing project from Zimmer, constructed on the opposite side of Little Savannah Road from The Husk, has also violated environmental rules. The Division of Water Resources issued a notice of violation to The Helm apartments on Aug. 17. The document states that the project violated turbidity standards and illegally discharged waste into the water.

Multiple penalties have been issued and according to public records total at least $105,000. However, Zimmer is contesting the fines in court. The process of assessing and issuing penalties is a slow one, so fines have not yet been issued for F

Smokies cyclist dies following accident

A cyclist passed away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week following an accident on a downhill section of Cades Cove Loop Road Sunday, Aug. 16.

Harold D. Pardue, 60, suffered severe head trauma and was unconscious following the accident at 10:58 a.m. He died as a

result of those injuries on Monday, Aug. 17. Pardue, of Elkin, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Park rangers provided critical care at the scene of the accident for approximately 30 minutes before American Medical Response emergency responders transported Pardue by ambulance to a landing zone, where he was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by Mountain Area Medical Airlift. all notices of violation given in the project.

“Extraordinary rain events in the spring and summer of 2019, on occasion, overwhelmed the erosion and control measures,” reads a petition from Zimmer contesting one of the fines in question, dated June 3, 2020. “On those occasions when the site was found to be out of compliance, Zimmer promptly corrected and addressed deficiencies. Zimmer believes it should not have been subject to civil penalties for noncompliance.”

Brown doesn’t buy that defense.

“Never in one given day on a rainy day has that site been in compliance enough to keep soil from leaving the site,” he said in an interview for a March 4 story detailing the erosion issues.

Records show one instance in which Zimmer did not correct violations by the mandated deadline. On April 20, DEMLR issued a notice of violation stating that an April 14 inspection revealed violations of the N.C. Sedimentation Pollution Control Act and of the Construction Stormwater Permit. The notice informed Zimmer that it was required to correct the violations within seven calendar days of its April 23 receipt of the notice. However, according to a follow-up communication sent May 12, when the site was inspected on May 6 — nearly a week after the May 1 deadline to correct the violations — those violations were still ongoing. The notice informed Zimmer that it could be fined up to $5,000 per day for failing to correct the violations.

“The Division has lost confidence in your ability to prevent future water quality violations due to repeated violations and noncompliance with DEMLR,” Division of Water Resources Regional Supervisor Landon Davidson wrote in a July 27 email to Jeffrey Zimmer of Zimmer Development Corporation and Joe Walker of WCU, provided to The Smoky Mountain News by Brown. “Please respond to this email by July 31, 2020 and provide an explanation as to why the site remains unstable, why erosion from the site continues to impact surface water and how these issues will be addressed.”

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

County leaders are frustrated about their inability to compel Zimmer’s compliance with environmental standards, and in recent weeks the discussion in commissioners’ chambers has turned to the question of how to prevent such a situation from occurring in the future.

“There’s not much we can do about the

past and not much we can do about the present, but in the future we do have opportunities for change,” McMahan said during an Aug. 18 meeting.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, the Jackson County Planning Board will hold a public hearing on an ordinance amendment that would require developers of multi-family developments to have erosion control measures in place before obtaining building permits from the county. The proposal was “very well received” when introduced during a previous Planning Board meeting, County Attorney Heather Baker told commissioners Aug. 18.

The planning board could vote next month to recommend that commissioners adopt the ordinance. If that happens, commissioners could hold a final public hearing in October to consider the amendment before voting on final adoption.

“Speaking as an individual on this board, you can’t get the wording to us fast enough for us to change it for you,” said Commissioner Mickey Luker during an Aug. 4 meeting.

The county is also considering pursuing legislative change on a state level. During an Aug. 11 work session, commissioners discussed proposing a change to state law that would give counties the option of taking responsibility for local soil and water inspections rather than reserving that responsibility for the state in the case of projects like the Millennial Apartments, which is considered a state project due to its location on WCU Endowment Foundation land.

“Maybe we can just get some traction on that and rally with some of our colleagues around the state to see if we can’t get some control or at least in the future be more in the driver’s seat,” said McMahan during the Aug. 18 meeting.

For its part, WCU says it has also learned some lessons from the ordeal.

“We have been greatly disappointed by the violations and the ineffectiveness of the contractor and developer to address the issues with their site work, and we made our disappointment known throughout the project,” said Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Mike Byers. “We believed that our agreement (ground lease) did not provide us with enough leverage to litigate successfully and in a way that would offer the greatest possibility of rectifying the problem quickly.”

In the future, said Byers, the university will add language to its ground lease agreements that will improve its ability to influence the developer “in a number of ways” — including mitigation of regulatory issues.

Learn to grow ‘sang

A free seminar on ginseng production will be offered 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, via Zoom.

Topics will include state regulations for growing and hunting ginseng, plant physiology, present and historical use of ginseng and comparing Asian versus American ginseng. Major time and emphasis of the pro-

gram will be dedicated to woods-simulated cultural practices such as site selection and preparation, sowing, harvesting, drying the roots and seed stratification.

The program is offered through the Macon County Extension Center. Register on Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/ginseng-production-tickets-115231454382.

Practice yoga SUP style

A beginner-level stand up paddleboard yoga class will be offered 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at the Sylva pool.

Yoga postures will be from the seated or kneeling position to encourage stability while on the board, and all equipment will be provided. Social distancing will be required with masks at participant discretion. Attendees should wear water-appropriate clothing.

Register by 5 p.m. Aug. 29 at www.rec.jacksonnc.org. Cost is $10. Jenifer Pressley, 828.293.3053, ext. 7.

Input wanted on statewide trail project

The N.C. Department of Transportation is seeking input for a plan to develop a trail system that reaches across the state.

The Great Trails State Plan would link local and regional trails in all 100 North Carolina counties, building upon existing

Silver Run Falls closed for maintenance

The Silver Run Falls Trail in the Nantahala Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest closed for maintenance Aug. 24 and is expected to reopen Sept. 5.

A crew from the Conservation Corps North Carolina is completing

trails to identify one overall trail network that is focused on connections to state parks and populated areas.

Members of the public are encouraged to fill out a pair of online surveys before they close Sept. 30. An interactive map survey is available at ncgreattrails.altaplanning.cloud, with a survey online at www.ncdot.gov/divisions/bike-ped/greattrails-state/Pages/great-trails-survey.aspx.

When I take the Census, I’m making sure that I’m counted and that I make a difference for my community.

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641

641

(3/10 Mile North of the Courthouse) 828-456-HAUS (4287)

(3/10 Mile North of the Courthouse)

828-456-HAUS (4287)

828-586-HAUS (4287)

Drive through Winter Lights

The annual Winter Lights event at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will be offered as a drive-thru experience this year due to COVID-19.

Guests will navigate through a 1-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus to see exhibits covered in thousands of lights. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Upon arrival, guests will select a special radio station that features the sounds of their favorite holiday tunes to accompany the show from inside

GSMA publishes children’s chapter book

A new fictional chapter book for young readers is now available from the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

Puzzles can be found on page 30

These are only the answers.

Singing Creek — by Morgan Simmons with illustrations by Don Wood — tells the story of a talented crayfish with big ambitions named Molly McGee. An aquatic resident of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Molly hopes to record her very own music album, and, to achieve her dreams, she recruits other native aquatic species to join her band. Just as they’re about to record, however, a mysterious stranger with a bad reputation appears, and Molly’s dreams take an unfortunate turn.

their vehicle.

To better accommodate guests, the Arboretum has extended show dates and times, with the event running daily 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. from Nov. 20 to Jan. 10, 2021. Incoming gates close at 10 p.m. When purchased in advance, tickets are $25 per vehicle and $30 at the gate. Rates are higher for commercial vans and coaches. Arboretum Society members receive a $3 discount, and discounted pricing is available on Tuesdays. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1 at ncwinterlights.com. Proceeds directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.

Written first and foremost to be entertaining, the book also teaches young readers about aquatic life in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“We wanted to bring the characters to life and make them attractive, but also represent the truth about aquatic life,” said Lisa Horstman, lead publications specialist for Great Smoky Mountains Association, who designed the book. “The goal was to treat the readers with respect and value their intelligence, since there is a lot to be learned from the book.”

Author Morgan Simmons, a native of the area, spent 28 years telling true stories of the Smokies as a former Knoxville News Sentinel reporter. Singing Creek is his first foray into fiction. The book is available in the park’s visitor center bookstores and online at www.smokiesinformation.org/singing-creek.

WNC Calendar

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society (CHHS) is presenting a free pet food drive-thru event from noon2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. The drive-thru will take place in the parking lot of the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center located at 355 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. Pet food will be distributed for two hours or until all food has been donated. Call CHHS at 828.743.5752 or email info@CHhumanesociety.org.

• Sylva First United Methodist Church will host an Open Door Meal “To Go” from 5 - 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, and Tuesday, Sept. 1. Guests are asked to drive into the church parking lot and stop in the area indicated. A church volunteer will deliver the free prepared meals to the cars. This method of serving is in keeping with the governor’s policy of no group gathering during the current pandemic.

• The North Shore Cemetery Association will be hosting a downscaled version of the Reunion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Deep Creek Picnic Shelter north of Bryson City. There will be no organized services or agenda. Participants should bring lawn chairs and other items necessary for an outdoor picnic while maintaining social distancing.

• The 2020 “Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race, Walk and Fun Run” originally scheduled to take place at Lake Junaluska at Easter and rescheduled for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, has been canceled due to COVID-19 and the restrictions on group gatherings.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Award-winning professor and consultant Dr. Betty Farmer will be offering an online workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m on Friday, Aug. 28, focusing on emotional intelligence. This workshop will be offered online via Zoom. Registration fee for this workshop will be $139. Contact Julia Duvall at 828.227.7397 or email jduvall@wcu.edu.

• The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, on center stage in the performance hall of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. The board also will hold committee meetings and discussions beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, in various locations in the Bardo Arts Center. The meetings will be streamed live over WCU’s YouTube channel.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will be offering a live online Digital Marketing & Public Relations Certificate program Sept. 18 – Nov. 6 (6 Fridays) from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Registration fee for the full program is $640, individual workshops are $119 each. For more information and to register, visit pdp.wcu.edu or email jcthompson@wcu.edu.

• Get schooled in the Smokies with one of the varied programs offered through the University of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field School this fall. Programs will be held on Saturdays, Aug. 22 - Nov. 7. Courses cost $69 apiece with the exception of Fall Nature Photography, which costs $99. They are led by a variety of experienced and skilled instructors. For a complete course list or to register, visit aceweb.outreach.utk.edu/wconnect/ace/ShowSchedule.

• SCC’s Small Business Center will offer expanded counseling opportunities in more than 40 different categories that are uniquely suited for small businesses in Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary. Interested businesses are encouraged to apply for the program by visiting southwesterncc.edu/sbc.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

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

CIVIC GROUPS & CLUBS

• The meeting of Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society that is normally held on the first Thursday of the month is once again being postponed. The society will continue to evaluate month to month and resume meetings when it is safe for all to be in such a gathering.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• Waynesville Yoga presents a “Two Week Journey to Self Discovery” with Amber Kleid beginning Sept. 13. The program will explore setting boundaries, designing your future, your creative self, simple acts of self-care and kindness, mindful eating and more. For more information, or to register, visit waynesvilleyogacenter.com.

grants to support their professional and artistic development through a partnership of the North Carolina Arts Council and Asheville Area Arts Council, Haywood County Arts Council, Arts Council of Henderson County, Tryon Fine Arts Center, Rutherford County Recreation, Cultural, and Heritage Commission, and the Transylvania Community Arts Council. Applications are available www.haywoodarts.org/grants-funding. The deadline is Sept. 30. www.haywoodarts.org or 828.452.0593.

• The Jackson County Arts Council is now accepting applications for Grassroots Sub-grants. Interested organizations can obtain application information at www.jacksoncountyarts.org or by email at info@jacksoncountyarts.org. The deadline for acceptance of applications is Sept. 15. 828.507.9820 or info@jacksoncountyarts.org.

F OOD & D RINK

• The Great Blue Farms Brunch & Blooms will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays from Aug. 8 through Sept. 12 at 1101 Briartown Church Road in Nantahala/Topton. Admission is $75, which includes a tour, brunch, all flowers, supplies and container to take home your floral masterpiece. To register, visit www.greatbluefarms.com or call 828.508.1502.

A&E

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Tyson Leamon at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 and Bona Fide Band at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Silas Reed 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 and Sly Sparrow 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29 and Larry Joe Lambert 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host live music semiregularly on the weekends. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Mountaintop Art & Craft Show (previously the Village Square show) will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 29-30 in downtown Highlands at K-H Founders Park. The free event features regional potters, jewelers, woodworkers, fine artists, etc. Call 828.787.2021.

• The annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse will be held Aug. 5 - Sept. 5, at 144 Cove Drive in Highlands. Admission is $30. For more information, click on www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org/showhouse.

• The Haywood County Arts Council “Artist Member Show” will be held through Aug. 29 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in Waynesville. Featuring 42 artists, the show is a celebration of our community, allowing locals to share their great work at the height of the summer season. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The “Haywood County Medical Exhibit: 1870-1950” will be held at The Shelton House in Waynesville. The showcase will run through October. Admission is $7 adults. $5 students. Children ages 5 and under free. Admission includes Shelton House. 828.452.1551 or www.sheltonhouse.org.

• Part of the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville, the Kids at HART program will offer classes in acting, directing and musical theatre dance. Registration is currently underway. Classes will run Sept. 14 through Nov. 16. Visit www.harttheatre.org or email kidsathartwvl@gmail.com.

• Artists in all disciplines are eligible to apply for

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

• Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville is offering lunch on Saturdays, “Lunch with us” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring fresh seasonal menu with outdoor seating weather permitting. 828.452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Bryson City Wine Market offers a glass of wine and a Market Plate Monday through Saturday as well as special flight tastings from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.

ON STAGE & I N CONCERT

• The Tanya Tucker show scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has been postponed. Harrah’s actively working to reschedule the show for a future date. Fans are encouraged to hold their tickets and they will be honored at the rescheduled show.

Outdoors

• Alarka Expeditions has launched the Pandemic Blues Series, which features four different outings into the great outdoors along with the option to purchase a Tshirt. The last outing is Tuesday, Sept. 1 Five Miles of Silence. For more information or to register, visit www.alarkaexpeditions.com.

• Enrollment is now open for the Eco-Gardening Certificate of Merit Program at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville, with an overview of the program planned for Thursday, Aug. 27. Participants earn their certificates through a 120-hour program including courses in ecology, permaculture, wildlife gardening and more. To apply, visit www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/certifications/blue-ridge-naturalist-registration.

• A beginner-level stand up paddle board yoga class will be offered 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at the Sylva pool. Register by 5 p.m. Aug. 29 at www.rec.jacksonnc.org. Cost is $10. Jenifer Pressley, 828.293.3053, ext. 7.

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

• A free seminar on ginseng production will be offered 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, via Zoom. The program is offered through the Macon County Extension Center. Register on Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/ginseng-production-tickets-115231454382.

• Tremont Institute is offering support and resources for schools this year as they prepare for teaching and learning during a pandemic. The annual Teacher Escape Weekend will this year be offered as a virtual workshop, with sessions Sept. 11-12 and Sept. 25-26 at a cost of $50 per weekend. Register at gsmit.org/educators/teacher-escape.

• A new weekday dropoff program for children ages 6 to 9 will begin this fall at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Outdoor Adventure Kids — or OAK — is a safety-first approach to exploring the natural world with other kids. The program offers two options. The Sassafras Class meets three days per week — 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 8 to Nov. 19. The ecoEXPLORE Class meets Fridays only, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sept. 11 to Nov. 20. Space is limited and registration is required at www.ncarboretum.org/education-programs/youth-family-programs/oak-drop-off-program.

• Get schooled in the Smokies with one of the varied programs offered through the University of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field School this fall. Programs will be held on Saturdays, Aug. 22 - Nov. 7. Courses cost $69 apiece with the exception of Fall Nature Photography, which costs $99. They are led by a variety of experienced and skilled instructors. For a complete course list or to register, visit aceweb.outreach.utk.edu/wconnect/ace/ShowSchedule. The Smoky Mountain Field School is offered by the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

• Registration for the fourth annual Cades Cove Loop Lope is now open, with plans moving ahead to hold the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s only footrace on Sunday, Nov. 8. The event will offer 5K and 10-mile options, with participation limited to 750 people. A virtual race option will be offered as well, allowing runners to complete the mileage at the time and place of their choosing. Sign up to run or volunteer at www.looplope.org.

• The annual Winter Lights event at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will be offered as a drive-thru experience this year due to COVID-19. The Arboretum has extended show dates and times, with the event running daily 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. from Nov. 20 to Jan. 10, 2021. Incoming gates close at 10 p.m. When purchased in advance, tickets are $25 per vehicle and $30 at the gate. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1 at ncwinterlights.com.

H IKING CLUBS

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate 6mile hike, with an elevation change of 700 ft., to Bee Cove Falls in South Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 29. The hike is limited to no more than ten people, with four people per car, wearing masks while driving and congregating. The club will meet at Cashiers Recreation Park at 10 a.m. Call leaders: Mike and Susan Kettles, 743-1079, for reservations.

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

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TOWN OF FRANKLIN POLICE OFFICER

The Town of Franklin is accepting applications for Police

Police Department. The position will perform a wide variety of services directly and indirectly related to the enforcement of law, maintaining peace and dignity of the community and assisting the public. Work will include patrolling the Town during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; preventing, detecting, and investigating disturbances and crime; performingprehending suspects; and executing related assign-

his/her authority shall be responsible for the enforcement of the laws of the State of North Carolina, and the ordinances of the Town. Applicants must have a high school diploma/GED or greater, must have completed basic law enforcement training and possess a

driver’s

license, and have completed requirements established by the NC Justice Training and Standards Com2- or 4-year degree is preferred. Base salary is include fully covered employee health insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance. The TOF utilizes a progressive pay plan while also providing 5% towards the successful candidate’s 401K. (828) 524-2516 ttallent@franklinnc.com

INSTALLER TECHNI-

CIAN Carolina Mountain Cablevision, Inc., located in Waynesville, NC, is a privately-owned telecommunications company and is currently seeking resumes for an Installer Technician. We are looking for experienced cable TV or FTTP Installer or Cable Technician to help us grow our network and subscriber base. The applicant must:

• Have experience installing TV, phone, and internet services for residential and commercial accounts

• Have experience with hand tools, power tools, hydraulic equipment, ladders, etc.

• Have a good driving record

• Be self-motivated and dependable with the ability to work independently

• Be quality and service focused

• Be able customers and members of the public in a professional, courteous manner

• Be available for “On Call” Duty on weekends and overtime as needed with little notice • Live in or close to Haywood County, NC

• Be able to pass a drug test and background check This person will be responsible for the installation of telephone, cable, and internet service from the utility pole into a customer’s home, will install and set up modems, digital equipment, etc. in a customer’s home, and be able to detect, trouble-

as they occur with the services offered to a customer. We will be accepting resumes until August 31, 2020. Salary is dependent on level of experience. Anyone interested should e-mail their resume to sanders@ccvn.com or fax it to 828-536-4510. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage veterans to apply. sanders@ccvn.com

Pets

RETRIEVER/DALMATION MIX DOG –SANTIAGO 1 year old bouncy boy; loves to hike, play with toys, and splash in water. Smart, sweet; crate-trained. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

TORTOISE SHELL

CAT, VIOLA About 2 years old, beautiful, friendly girl. I love to engage in conversations and sit on your lap. (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

USE HAPPY JACK® KENNEL DIP™ TO CONTROL FLEAS, TICKS, MANGE, & STABLE FLIES & MOSQUITOES WHERE THEY BREED. N.C. CLAMPITT HARDWARE 488-2782. (WWW.KENNELVAX. COM)

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Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com

• Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com

• Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com

• Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com

• Steve Mauldin - smauldin@beverly-hanks.com

• Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com

• Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com

• Brooke Parrott - bparrott@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

Christie’s Ivester Jackson Blackstream

• George Escaravage - george@IJBProperties.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com

• Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com

• Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty

Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net

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

Log & Frame Homes - 828-734-9323

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com

Mountain Home Properties- mountaindream.com

• Cindy Dubose - cdubose@mountaindream.com McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Nest Realty

• Madelyn Niemeyer - Madelyn.niemeyer@nestrealty.com

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

• Holly Fletcher - holly@hollyfletchernc.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 Rogers - davidr@remax-waynesvillenc.com

• Juli Rogers - julimeaserogers@gmail.com

The Smoky Mountain Retreat at Eagles Nest

• Tom Johnson - tomsj7@gmail.com

• Sherell Johnson - sherellwj@aol.com

WNC Real Estate Store

• Melanie Hoffman - mhoffmanrealestate@gmail.com

• Thomas Hoffman - thoffman1@me.com

SUPER CROSSWORD

79"Psst" cousin

80Navigate

84In a lax way

86Taking a long time to grow, just like some velvety plants do?

89Born earlier

90Sci-fi craft

92Daisy's kin

93-- Palmas

94Wound protector that causes sorrow?

98Hot pepper variety

101Folk tales

102MPG org.

105Suffix with salt

106Hairless inmates in an old English prison?

116Related to the kidneys

117GI tour gp.

118Tyke, in Baja

dispenser

40Glass plate

41Cause of a stuffy nose

46Speed at which a Roman emperor walks?

53Diner dispenser

54Bucolic

57Many '90s music sales

58Auditoriums

59Mailed item containing a bill from a nail salon?

63Replies to irritably

65Imprint

66On the safe side, at sea

67-- B'rith

69Skywalker's mentor

70Attach a certain package covering to a corkboard?

75Chorus voice

78A.J. of auto racing

119Sis, e.g.

121Restricted-access computer linkup

124Product for scrubbing your noggin?

129Wash lightly in advance

130Beige-like

131Painter Watteau

132Mountains between France and Spain

133River of myth

134Most orderly

DOWN

1William Howard --

2Pelvic bone

3Big name in skin care

4Suffix with Tokyo

5SFO guess

6Camera type, in brief

7Work fill-ins

8Mexican flower

9Get aligned

10Up to, in brief

11Port-au-Prince's land

12Highway bridge

13Skillet, say

14Trauma-trained pro 15Singer Day

16Rains heavily

17Verdi's "very"

18Reach

19Ruhr city

24Bill the -- (comics character)

29All fired up

32Billy the -- (outlaw)

33& so forth

34Gussy up

35SUV biggie

36Gene stuff

37Alway

41Motor noises

42QED part

43Paquin of "True Blood"

44Sweetums

45Dismal

47Hotshot

48"-- -La-La" (Al Green hit)

49Old writing scroll

50And

51Dressed (in)

52Juan's "this"

55Dole out

56Theater mogul Marcus

60Interloped

61Center or Pen lead-in

62Like prisons

63Weaken

64Bit of a chill

67Beer and tea

68Quarterback great Joe

71Org. for 68-Down

72Lad

73"Easy there!"

74Big head

75See 27-Across

761970 hit by the Kinks

77Chuck of NBC News

81Tahiti, e.g.

82Sweetums

83Fuel brand up north

85Be incorrect

86Many an heir

87Salty waters

88Hotshot

90American hwys.

91Feudal lords' estates

95Kay-em link

96Lawn turf

97"Golly!"

99"Life of Pi" director Lee

100Teachers' gp.

103Larder

104Farewells, in French

106Linda in 1998 news

107Actor Fonda

108Step into 109Dancer's handrail

110Actor Delon

111Riatas, e.g.

112Kin of Ltd.

113Film director Christopher

114Actor Davis

115Claims on homes, say

120Writer Harte

122Ark.-to-Ill. dir.

123Suffix with Nepal

125Opera part

126Hydrocarbon ending

127-- glance

128NSFW part

ANSWERS ON PAGE

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

Rentals

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SUDOKU

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

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