Smoky Mountain News | October 28, 2020

tag Page 8 Greene, Wingate run for District Court judge Page 10

On the Cover:

Wrestling and campaigning have more in common than you might think. This week, political reporter Cory Vaillancourt explores the parallels between the two forms of entertainment while watching a well-attended wrestling match in Jackson County. (Page 6) Photo by Cory Vaillancourt

News

World-class breast care available at Harris Regional ..............................................4 Council balks at updated casino expansion price tag ............................................8 Sylva to host Harriet Tubman statue ..............................................................................9 Greene, Wingate run for District Court judge ........................................................10 Rep. Corbin looks to move up to Senate ..................................................................12 Dem veep nominee Harris speaks in Asheville ........................................................13 Beasley, Newby race for Chief Justice of NC Supreme Court ..........................20 Business News ..................................................................................................................21

Opinion

Be safe, but be sure to vote ..........................................................................................22

Outdoors

Smokies seeks solutions to overcrowding ................................................................30

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CONTACT

WAYNESVILLE | 144 Montgomery, Waynesville, NC 28786

P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585

SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779

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S UBSCRIPTIONS

team at Harris Regional, a Duke LifePoint affiliated hospital, has made significant investments in breast care technology and staff in the last several years in an effort to provide world-class medical care for women in rural Appalachia.

Dr. Allison Palumbo has been at the center of this effort since joining Harris in April.

interested in breast care.”

Palumbo is definitely who you want by your side as you embark on the fight against breast cancer. Not only is it her specialty, but before she came to Western North Carolina she was deployed in Afghanistan for seven months working as the chief of general surgery at the country’s largest hospital and living on Bagram Air Field with her husband and two small children.

“I think what we’re trying to get out there is that there has been a dramatic change to what’s available here over the past six months. In the past, patients had to go to multiple different locations for services and there wasn’t a streamline approach like there is here now.”

— Dr. Allison Palumbo

Staff, technology brings breast care to new level at Harris

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR

Breast cancer is something that weighs heavy on every woman’s mind. What is my risk? Does it run in my family? Do I carry the gene? When should I get a

mammogram? Where do I have to go to get the best care?

It’s a rational fear when one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. With that in mind, the

Palumbo is a general surgeon, but she has specialized training in advanced breast surgical oncology.

“I grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania, and growing up I got to see my mom — she’s a primary care provider — so seeing her interact with her patients, that kind of initially sparked my interest in medicine,” she said.

Palumbo attended medical school at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, which is where her interest in breast surgery developed.

“During my surgery rotation, I did a more specialized rotation in breast,” she said. “The surgeon I worked with, she just had so much compassion for her patients. She would walk back with them as the patient’s being rolled back to the operating room, she would hold their hand as they were falling asleep. She just had this bond with her patients that I really didn’t see anywhere else in surgery. That really got me

“Most of the trauma patients come through that hospital. As far as the American soldiers go, they would get sent out, but a majority of our patients were actually Afghan nationals. We were their primary source of healthcare,” she said. “I was a little bit nervous going over there because I wasn’t really sure how I would be received being a female physician, but they welcomed me with open arms. They were very grateful for everything that we did over there.”

It’s hard to imagine everything she must have seen during her deployment, but she said it’s an experience during her time in the Air Force she’ll never forget. During her service, Palumbo earned three major honors — the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.

Palumbo’s background and experience made her an ideal candidate to lead the charge for better breast care at Harris — she was exactly what they were looking for to take their services to a new level.

“I think what we’re trying to get out there is that there has been a dramatic change to what’s available here over the past six months. In the past, patients had to go to multiple different F

locations for services and there wasn’t a streamline approach like there is here now,” she said. “There’s been a significant investment in new technologies that benefit our patients.”

During her specialized training, she learned how to use hidden scar techniques to minimize scarring on breast cancer patients so they won’t have to see a constant reminder of the cancer every time they change clothes. While older mastectomy techniques often included removing the nipples, new procedures can now spare the nipples for certain patients.

“The reason that we can do that is because a plastic surgeon was brought on board as well. He can offer immediate reconstruction following a mastectomy,” she said. “So after the woman has her procedures, a lot of times it’ll just look like she had a breast augmentation, which is a huge advancement over having to go through two or three different surgeries.”

One surgery for the masectory and the reconstruction also means a better-looking outcome for patients.

Breast cancer detection has also come a long way in just the last few years, and Harris now has some of the latest technology at its disposal, including 3D mammography. When Haywood Regional Medical Center installed its 3D mammography machine just a few years ago, the service was still only for patients who were referred for it, mostly due to dense breast tissue that couldn’t be seen clearly with a regular mammogram. But now, Palumbo said everyone should be using 3D mammography for early detection and to limit the number of times a patient has to come back for follow-up appointments. Having a definitive answer sooner also cuts down on the patient’s anxiety over what’s being found on the imaging.

“It’s a huge step up from the traditional 2D. It can help us detect smaller tumors before you can feel them, but it also decreases callbacks for our patients,” she said. “In the past, someone may come in for a screening mammogram and the radiologist wasn’t really sure if this is something to worry about or not, so the patient would have to be called back in for a diagnostic mammogram, where there are some additional views that are taken.”

As a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Palumbo stays up-to-date on the latest recommendations, which now says women should get a mammogram once a year beginning at 40 — and not wait until age 50 as previously stated for “average risk women.”

“That helps us detect these cancers at a much earlier stage and that is the key to treatment,” she said. “Overall survival for breast cancer patients is directly linked to the stage of the cancer at the time of diag-

nosis. So, if we can detect these at smaller and smaller sizes and before they’ve had a chance to spread to other locations in the body, we can cure these patients and that’s the ultimate goal.”

Even if you haven’t turned 40 yet, it’s never too early to start seeing Palumbo and her team at the breast care center. Harris offers an assessment to calculate a patient’s risk of cancer based on several factors. Anyone that scores 20 percent or higher on the assessment is considered high risk — meaning they should not only have a yearly mammogram, but they should also be having a yearly breast MRI.

Palumbo staggers those imaging appointments so that high-risk patients are having some kind of imaging done every six months.

“I follow those patients every six months with a clinical breast exam. I update her family history, get the next test ordered and I handle all of her breast imaging so she doesn’t have to worry about involving her primary care doctor to get that done,” she said. “Some of those patients that are high risk will qualify for genetic testing, which is something that I offer through my clinic as well.”

Unfortunately, most insurance coverage won’t cover the cost of genetic testing unless the patient is high-risk, which is why it’s important to get the assessment first.

Cancer patients at Harris are also provided with a multidisciplinary breast cancer conference, which is a fancy way to say that all your providers will sit down together to review your case and decide on a specific treatment plan moving forward.

“So the big question we need to answer is can the patient go to surgery first and then have any additional treatment, or if they need to maybe do chemotherapy before they have surgery,” Palumob said. “And so this cancer conference kind of puts us all on the same page.”

Palumbo has also brought new technology into the operating room, including something called Savvy Scout. The technology helps surgeons better locate the tumor, know where to place the incision and more accurately remove the right amount of tissue.

“The hospital has invested considerably in the technology here. Coming to a smaller facility from Tampa, I was a little bit concerned about what was going to be available here for the treatment, but at this point we have everything available to us here that I had in Tampa, which is really impressive,” she said.

Even after surgery and remission, Palumbo continues to follow her patients for at least another five years to ensure they remain in remission.

“I see them back every six months for the first three years and then every year after for a total of five years, just because a recurrence is most likely in those first, early years,” she said. “It’s not like we formed this relationship and then we do the surgery and it’s done so we really get to know your patients.”

To find out about breast care services at Harris, visit www.myharrisregional.com/ourservices/breast-care.

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

HOW TO REMAIN A "FREE-RANGE" OLDER ADULT

As we age many of us want to remain independent ("freerange") and healthy for as long as possible. Our nutritional and physical status play a big role in this. If you are elderly or if you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbors - here are some things to think about and watch for. Talk to your health care provider about:

• Appetite Loss - If you have no appetite and are skipping meals this can lead to weight loss and compromise the immune system.

• Weight Loss - Unintended weight loss can be a be a red flag of illness and disease and can make you more susceptible to illness and disease.

• Thirst - Make sure you are drinking fluids, especially water, regularly. Staying hydrated helps your body absorb nutrients, maintains kidney and bowel functions, skin elasticity and more. Dehydration can put you on the fast track to hospitalization.

• Muscle weakness or fatigue - If you develop muscle weakness or fatigue it can lead to instability, falls and injury.

FIGHTING FOR ATTENTION

When politics and professional wrestling collide

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER

Earlier this month, nearly 300 people packed the four-bay garage of the Jackson County Rescue Squad in Sylva on a Saturday night during the height of campaign season to witness a high-stakes struggle between two fierce competitors.

They’ve been fighting over your attention on the internet and the television for what seems like forever now; they’ve got their slogans and catch phrases, their soundtracks and color schemes, their gimmicks and gags, their die-hards and their haters. One’s a hero, the other’s a villain. Countless hopes ride upon the outcome but in the end only one can be victorious.

It sounds an awful lot like politics, but we’re actually talking about professional wrestlers.

“To me it’s, it’s the suspension of disbelief,” said Chad jones, a Sylva native who goes by the ring name “Outlaw Randy Wayne,” of the enduring popularity of the sport. “If it’s done right, it’s an art form and it’s definitely entertaining for people. They like to come out, they have a good time and get engaged with the guys in there working for them, and, you know, get a little rowdy. I mean, it can be dirty, you know, people can play dirty.”

Everything Jones said describes wrestling — or as it’s pronounced in these parts, “wrasslin’” — but everything he said also applies to politics.

“As far as politics and wrestling, they go almost hand in hand,” Jones said. “People get passionate about both and people get emotionally and mentally invested in both and I think that’s what you’re seeing right now, in the climate politically, in the entire country, not just in Jackson County.”

Jackson County’s been one of Western North Carolina’s political hot spots for most of the year, with ongoing debate over the fate of a Confederate statue owned by the county but prominently displayed in Sylva’s picturesque downtown.

The town wants it gone. The county doesn’t. Jones has become part of the fight to save it and staged a brief write-in campaign for Jackson County commissioner before withdrawing.

Jones organized the Oct. 10 Sylva event through his promotions company, Heroes 2 Legends Wrestling, as a fundraiser for a “stuff the bus” school fundraiser benefitting Jackson County Public Schools. They raised more than $1,450 toward that cause.

Frank Huguelet, another Sylva native who goes by “Heavy Metal Ric Savage” in the ring, pinned his opponent in a three-on-three tagteam match that night, claiming victory.

Also hoping to claim victory for Republicans like Franklin Rep. Kevin Corbin and lieutenant governor candidate Mark Robinson, Huguelet’s been active outside the ring, calling for compromise on the Confederate statue and serving as an emcee

needs. It should thus come as a surprise to approximately no one that Trump is probably the only U.S. president ever to make an appearance in a professional wrestling match.

It was at WrestleMania 23, held before more than 80,000 spectators on April 1, 2007, at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

Trump didn’t exactly wrestle, but he didn’t exactly stay out of the fray, either.

As the storyline goes, for more than a month, tensions between Trump and World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon had been building. Verbal taunts turned into theatrical stunts that culminated in an event that would be called “The Battle of the Billionaires.”

That battle would be fought through surrogates — Extreme Championship Wrestling Champion Bobby Lashley for Trump, and WWE Raw’s Intercontinental Champion Umaga for McMahon.

Trump and McMahon weren’t going to wrestle anybody, but they did both have some skin in the game — actually, it was their hair; the loser of the match had agreed to have their head shaved by the winner, live, inside the ring.

During the match McMahon and Trump, both in suits and ties, strutted around outside the ring barking out encouragement to their wrestlers while occasionally disparaging each other. Eventually, as a dazed Lashley lay prone on the canvas, Umaga came off the top rope to land a devastating slam and pin.

for several recent WNC political events.

“I’ve seen that the only difference between wrestling and politics is there’s no physical attacks,” said Huguelet. “There’s a lot of verbal attacks. You create a character, you come up with a slogan, you’ve got a catch phrase and you go out and you get your character over to crowds. It’s no different. The only difference in wrestling is we have to actually fight.”

After Huguelet’s pin, Jones, the reigning 284-day Pro Wrestling Union heavyweight champion, had to defend that title against J.D. Drake.

Before the match, Drake, in classic heel fashion, called Sylva’s women ugly and postulated that the IQ of the local populace was low, whilst simultaneously extolling his own purported virtue and virility.

“Wrestling is good versus evil,” said Jones, who as Outlaw Randy Wayne defeated the nefarious Drake to thunderous approval from the crowd. “You’ve got a good guy. You’ve got a bad guy. You’re in there telling a story, whatever the story may be, you’re in there telling the story and it’s the same thing. I mean, politics, there’s good versus evil. It just depends on your perception of who’s good and who’s evil.”

President Donald J. Trump is definitely good or evil, depending on who you ask, but according to Huguelet, Trump also has a lot of the core skills a good wrestler

Things looked bad for Lashley and Trump’s hair as the referee began his threecount, but he could only make it to two before Stone Cold Steve Austin — with utter and flagrant disregard for both sportsmanship and for the rules of professional wrestling — ran into the arena dressed as a referee, pulled the real referee out of the ring and beat him senseless.

Austin, in defense of Lashley, entered the ring and attempted to attack Umaga, but was felled by a blow to the throat.

As McMahon berated a writhing Austin for his meddlesome misdeeds, Trump took advantage of the chaos to charge at McMahon and drop him with a running clothesline. With McMahon stunned and defenseless on the ground, Trump mounted McMahon and landed several blows to his head.

The crowd, as well as the ringside announcers Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim “JR” Ross, went wild.

“Donald Trump taking down Vince McMahon!” Ross

exclaimed. “The hostile takeover of Donald Trump on Vince McMahon has happened at WrestleMania 23!”

Lashley experienced a miraculous resurgence and pinned Umaga, with “referee” Austin counting him out. McMahon was subsequently tied to a barber’s chair inside the ring.

Against McMahon’s vehement protestations, Lashley, Austin and Trump put electric clippers to McMahon’s mane. Trump made the first cut.

“You’re humiliating me!” McMahon screamed. “I’m never gonna forget this!”

At the time of his 2007 Wrestlemania appearance, Trump was a well-known property developer and reality television show host, but hadn’t yet entered electoral politics. His brief overlap with the world of professional wrestling didn’t lead to his political rise eight years later — instead, it predicted it.

“He’s a master entertainer. He knows how to work a crowd. He knows how to relate to a crowd,” said Huguelet. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a billionaire or trillionaire. If you take Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos and stick them in a bar, by the end of the night everybody’s going to be hanging out with Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos is going to be sitting by himself. It’s just a personality thing. Some people can do it, some people can’t.”

Although he may be the biggest political crossover with professional wrestling, Trump is far from the first or the most recent.

Ten years after shaving McMahon’s head, Trump appointed McMahon’s wife, WWE executive Linda McMahon, to serve as the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration — a cabinet-level position.

She left two years later, in 2019, to chair the Trump First American Action PAC, which raised $42 million this past September alone. Her husband, Vince, is now an economic

advisor to the president.

James Janos, aka Jessie “The Body” Ventura, was elected mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota in 1991 but in a testament to the drawing power of his professional wrestling career went on to win the race for governor in 1995 — as a third-party candidate, no less.

Glenn Jacobs had an equally high-profile career in the WWE as The Undertaker’s halfbrother and sometime-rival, Kane. The former champion appeared on the same 2007 WrestleMania card as Trump but now serves as

the elected mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

“Wrestling is the one thing that cuts across all levels of entertainment,” Huguelet said. “You can be a rock star and it’s cool. You can be a politician and it’s cool. Being a pro wrestler, there’s something about it that just crosses boundaries. Everybody had wrestling on in their living rooms when they were little kids. Grandpa watched it. It’s just a part of life. It’s something so uniquely Americana.”

So is running for local office. Ron Haven, a former Macon County commissioner, wres-

tled for Georgia Championship Wrestling decades ago.

Haven may very well be the last professional wrestler — wrassler — to serve as an elected official in Western North Carolina, but if he is, he may not be for much longer.

If Heavy Metal Ric Savage and Outlaw Randy Wayne follow through on notions they’ve previously expressed, we may soon see them just one seat away from having a pro-wrestler majority on the Jackson County Commission.

Council balks at casino expansion price tag

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Two years into construction of a $250 million expansion at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise approached Tribal Council Oct. 26 requesting permission to borrow an additional $50 million for the project — and council members were not pleased.

“I’d like to see something justifying why we’re giving you $38 more million for this project,” said Birdtown Representative Albert Rose during the Oct. 26 meeting. “This is a huge amount of money for just a simple resolution coming in here asking for it.”

The resolution would authorize the TCGE to borrow up to $300 million for the project. TCGE representatives told council that the project was coming in $37.9 million over the original $250 million budget but that the total project cost would be $296.9 million. They did not explain the source of the $9 million discrepancy between the two figures.

Council ultimately voted to table the resolution and then went into a closed session to discuss the project further.

REASONS FOR OVERAGE

Ground broke on the project in June 2018, and it’s expected to wrap up in fall 2021.

When the project was first approved in January 2017, council members were told that building an 800-room hotel tower, parking deck and 100,000-square-foot convention center would cost between $150 and $200 million, and they approved the TCGE to borrow up to $250 million to include contingency spending.

However, TCGE Board Member John Houser told council this week, there were no plans backing up that $250 figure — it was based on nearly nothing.

“The schematic for the plans for this project were pretty much done on the back of a napkin,” Houser said. “It was a concept.”

Other complicating factors included the high demand for construction services at the

time the project launched. The TCGE sent out the bid package to more than 20 contractors but only received three bids back. Then, when the casino gave its input as to what specific features it required of the facility, the cost began to escalate, said Houser.

“Then retail was assigned to us, and boom, we had to redesign the whole place. Totally. That cost a lot of money,” he said. “It was the right thing to do, but that’s how we ended up so much over.”

The board has seen almost a complete turnover in membership since 2017, Houser added. However, Jim Owle was the chairman then as he is now.

The retail project Houser referred to is actually a separate undertaking that’s a partnership between the tribe — not the casino — and Connecticut-based Experientia Development Partners. Tribal Council authorized the $58 million project in May 2018, pledging $9 million for a parking garage and $3 million in pre-development expenses. In January, the body approved an additional $2 million in return for a 5 percent equity stake.

The two projects are managed by separate entities and have separate budgets. However, they intersect in physical space, and so when the retail project was approved the TCGE had to redesign its hotel/convention center project. The retail component added more than $30 million to the original project, Houser said.

“The changes in the scope and concept of the property, moving from two buildings on a concrete slab to a stacked building with two college-size basketball courts inside and all the other things that go along with that, then we had to get an access from the existing casino all the way down to the parking garage and the retail,” he said. “That was not in the original concept because retail wasn’t a part of this project.”

Houser said that the additional funds are necessary but allowed that the TCGE was “extremely disappointed” to be over budget.

“We spent six months or more on value engineering trying to look for places to reduce, cut back,” he said. “I think we whittled away $12 million out of the project, but we still didn’t get down to where everybody

would like for us to be.”

OBJECTIONS FROM COUNCIL

Still, council members made their displeasure clear — the $37.9 million increase represented a 15 percent jump from the originally budgeted project. Owle said that when the retail project got approved, the TCGE had to redesign all its water and sewer plans, prompting Wolfetown Representative Bo Crowe to ask when exactly the TCGE knew the project would go over $250 million and why they had waited so long to tell council. The question resulted in a terse exchange between Owle and Crowe.

“Once you knew it was going to be over $250 million, the work should have stopped,” Crowe said. “The work should have stopped. That’s when it should have come back to council.”

Council members were also upset by the lack of documents backing up the one-page

“We hit a home run on the garage costs, because they should have been about $20,000 per space and we got them for $13,000, so that was a heck of a good deal,” Houser said.

“You didn’t leave out the rebar this time did you?” asked Painttown Representative Tommye Saunooke, a reference to a pair of parking garage collapses that occurred on casino property in 2015 and 2016.

“Gosh I hope not Tommye,” Houser replied.

Birdtown Representative Boyd Owle was the only council member to speak in support the resolution, putting forth a move to pass.

“It’s an investment,” he said. “We’re giving you money, but we’re going to get that back and we’re going to disburse it out. I don’t understand why we’d want to stop a project of this magnitude that’s going to have an impact on our tribe going forward.”

The project is expected to bring in $17 million per year plus profits from conventions. The yetto-be-finished facility already has $15 to $20 million worth of pre-bookings.

“Once you knew it was going to be over $250 million, the work should have stopped.”

— Bo Crowe

resolution to expand the project’s funding.

“I think we need to have something more than just one piece of paper to know what happened today,” said Wolfetown Representative Chelsea Saunooke. “We need more documents behind this one sheet.”

While TCGE members did provide council with additional documentation, they did so only after the body explicitly asked. The information was not included with members’ agenda packets.

“Hopefully there will be an investigation on the TCGE that will bring up why this is going on,” Rose said.

The TCGE has already had a forensic investigation completed on its dealings, Houser responded. The results showed that the project is actually coming in below market value, despite the increase over the original budget.

Principal Chief Richard Sneed told council members that the loan would be serviced through gaming revenues and the tribe is well able to afford the expense, as its debt to income ratio of 1.4 is far lower than that of most casino operations.

Voting to table the resolution were Big Cove Representatives Richard French and Perry Shell; Painttown Representatives Tommye Saunooke and Dike Sneed; Wolfetown Representatives Chelsea Saunooke and Crowe; and Birdtown Representative Rose. Against tabling were Chairman Adam Wachacha, Vice Chairman David Wolfe, Birdtown Representative Owle and Snowbird Representative Bucky Brown. Yellowhill Representative Tom Wahnetah was absent.

While the move to table prevailed, Council will likely revisit the request in the near future. The body’s next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.

Sylva to host Tubman statue

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Aplan to host a sculpture of Harriet Tubman at Bridge Park next year met enthusiastic approval from the Sylva Board of Commissioners Oct. 22.

“This sounds absolutely wonderful. What is it we can do to help?” Commissioner David Nestler said following a presentation that Marsha Lee Baker of the Jackson County NAACP gave during the meeting.

The 9-foot bronze sculpture Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom, from Emmywinning Cashiers artist Wesley Wofford, is currently displayed at the Newburgh Free Library in Newburgh, New York. It depicts the courageous Underground Railroad conductor as a woman in her 20s, a snapshot of a storied life that lasted more than 90 years. It is tentatively scheduled to appear in Sylva next fall, should grant funding come through.

“Wofford depicts Tubman as the role model and hero she is,” reads a description of the piece from the National Sculpture Society. “Tubman, confidently leading a slave girl on The Underground Railroad to freedom, leans into the wind, bracing herself against the elements. Her eyes are cut formidably up, anticipating the next part of the journey. The wind illustrates the peril of the journey and is a metaphor for the intense opposition Tubman faced.”

Wofford created the piece following a commission request for a private building in Dallas, Texas, but when photos of the sculpture went viral he decided that more people should have a chance to see the piece. So, he made a copy.

“We were inspired after that social media explosion to put together a traveling monument to access everyone,” he said. “Harriett Tubman to me is the quintessential American hero and the type of figure that should be in our public squares.”

The traveling exhibit debuted in February at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama — months before the summer protests that launched a nationwide debate as to the role of public art in society. Since February, the statue has been to the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May, New Jersey; the courthouse in Tubman’s hometown of Cambridge, Maryland; and then to its current home in New York.

The sculpture proposal met with unanimous approval from town board members, who for much of the year have been dealing with a more contentious statue-related issue. In July, the board voted 3-2 to ask county commissioners to remove a prominently displayed Confederate soldier statue from town limits, a request that county commissioners denied Aug. 4 in a 4-1 vote. However, town commissioners were uniformly supportive of the NAACP’s request.

“I would feel honored to have a sculpture of that caliber in our county and in our town,” said Mayor Lynda Sossamon.

The Jackson County NAACP has been around since 2015, and Baker said that she

would “wager a bet that this project Journey to Freedom is the biggest, most exciting opportunity we’ve had in our first five years.” The organization has two grant proposals underway in hopes of funding rental, cleaning, insurance and surveillance for the statue.

2,400-pound bronze cast by Cashiers artist

Wofford is charging locations $2,000 per month to display the statue, a purposely low amount designed to give access to smaller communities, like Sylva. The money goes to pay back the loan used to fund the cast — 2,400-pound bronze sculptures aren’t cheap. In addition to statue rental, the NAACP will have to pay for the statue to be shipped from its previous location as well as $60 per month for insurance. The organization is also budgeting for a security camera as well as $500 to clean the statue, should that be necessary.

Baker applauded the town’s offer of Bridge Park as the location for the installation. Western Carolina University’s Intercultural Affairs Department would plan events and activities around the sculpture’s arrival to extend its influence well past its physical presence in the county, Baker said, and Bridge Park is the perfect place for that.

Originally from Georgia, Wofford moved to North Carolina in 2002 after a career at the forefront of the makeup effects industry in Hollywood, California. His work earned him an Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as an Academy Award. Today, he pursues sculpture full-time from his studio in Cashiers.

The town has been trying for years to increase displays of public art in the downtown area, creating a public art committee in 2017 for that purpose. The committee had its first success in 2018, when a $10,000 grant from Jackson County funded a 22-by53-foot mural on the side of Mill Street’s Ward’s Plumbing and Heating building, but the town board later decided to disband the committee and seat public art efforts under the auspices of the Main Street Sylva Association instead.

Who will preside over District Court?

Greene, Wingate run for judgeship

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS E DITOR

Kaleb Wingate and Justin Greene both earned their law degrees at North Carolina Central University in Durham, but they have different perspectives when it comes to the current criminal justice system and how they plan to serve Western North Carolina if elected to serve as a district judge.

As the Republican on the ticket, Wingate has repeatedly labeled himself throughout his campaign as the “conservative, constitutional” candidate this district needs to serve on the bench.

“I am proud to be a conservative, constitutional, common sense candidate for District Court judge. I think it’s important to know where candidates stand on issues, but my job as a judge will be to rule on the facts of the case and not base decisions on people’s personal beliefs,” he said.

Greene on the other hand has made it clear how he feels about judge races being partisan.

“I hate it,” he said. “If I’m even in court for any reason, the last thing I want is for the judge to be thinking about my politics. Being a judge is not a political position.”

This is Greene’s second run for District Court judge in the seven-county district. The Bryson City native ran for the seat in 2010 when he was 30 years old. Now that he’s 10 years older and 10 years wiser, he said he can understand now why age and experience matter when running for this type of position.

“I ran for District Court judge in 2010 and I was the same age (my opponent) is now. A lot of people said I was too young to do this and I said that wasn’t true,” he said. “But the fact is in hindsight, that criticism was absolutely valid. In the last 10 years I’ve had

to do all kinds of law — custody cases, I’ve argued with tough lawyers on both sides — and there’s something to be said for that experience. And not just court experience but life experience. I’m in a different place than I was 10 years ago. Now I have two children —  18, 11 — I’m more patient and you have more forethought as you get older. You see things differently.”

On the cusp of turning 32, Wingate has been criticized this time around for his age and lack of experience. The Haywood County native says voters should look at the quality and quantity of his experience in the courtroom and not his age.

“I was an assistant district attorney in Haywood prosecuting cases for four to five years,” Wingate said. “I’ve prosecuted thousands of cases in seven counties. That’s a lot of experience — and I was in District Court for a majority of that time and the last two years I spent in Superior Court handling serious felonies.”

Wingate then went into private practice after leaving the DA’s office, a move he said has given him experience in criminal defense as well. He has also turned the tables on his opponent by pointing out that Greene has spent his career as a defense lawyer with no time as a prosecutor.

“It’s important to look at a case from all sides — from the state’s perspective and the defendants’ — as an ADA you’re immersed in criminal law every day. I would try five to six cases in one day so I really got a lot of experience in a short amount of time so it’s not just about years,” he said. “A large part of my time in private practice has been with DSS cases — I haven’t had a lot of experience in child custody outside of that.”

Greene says his years of experience on the defense side have been broad and all-encompassing. He’s practiced law in Bryson City since 2006. He was a DSS attorney for Swain County from 2010-2014 and has been a DSS attorney for Graham County since 2018. He’s

also worked with the Guardian Ad Litem program. Whether you’re on the defense or prosecutor side, he said, the lawyer is charged with proving the same underlying issues.

“I like the idea of helping people and my job gives me that opportunity. People need lawyers — not all of them are criminals,” he said. “There’s so many different types of

Candidates for District Court Judge

JUSTIN GREENE

• Age: 40

• Hometown: Bryson City

• Education: Double major in history and English at UNC-Chapel Hill; law degree from North Carolina Central University.

• Professional background: Practicing law since 2006. DSS attorney for Swain County from 2010-14; DSS attorney for Graham County since 2018.

KALEB WINGATE

• Age: 31

• Hometown: Waynesville

• Education: Tuscola High; degree in construction management and business administration from Western Carolina University; law degree from North Carolina Central University.

• Professional background: Assistant District Attorney in Haywood District Court for almost five year; private practice as a defense lawyer.

things involved —  family, criminal, land titles, real estate, adoptions, landlord-tenant issues, civil cases — I’ve handled all these types of cases over the years. I take cases here where I believe in someone’s cause and want to help out. We have a need for that in our community.”

Wingate and Greene also differ with how they view their role as a District Court judge. They both acknowledge their first priority is to rule on the laws as they are currently written, but it gets a little more complicated when it comes to a judge’s role in advocating for improving the laws and supporting reformed criminal justice programs.

Greene said he’s served on a number of advisory councils and boards that work toward improving the criminal justice system and said he would continue to do so if elected District Court judge.

“One major issue across the district is recidivism of criminal defendants. You see the same people over and over again and nothing changes, which should lead us to changing our approach. If you do the same thing over and over again expecting different results, well that’s the definition of insanity. We have to be more creative in approaching these issues,” he said. “And when making decisions in court as a judge, you have to be aware of the circumstances of the people that come into your court and their records and how often you see them.”

In his time serving on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and other advisory roles, Greene said the board always includes a District Court judge and other advocates to address recidivism.

“The people involved want to improve things — they want to solve some of these problems,” Greene said.

Wingate said it would be his job as judge to ensure all communities are safe, ensuring everyone’s constitutional rights are being protected and that District Court is running as efficiently as possible.

“This is where that experience as a prosecutor comes into play. I’ve seen court days in the 400- to 500-docket numbers, and you have to learn to manage caseloads,” he said. “As a judge, I will encourage everyone to work together with the state and other attorneys to move

cases along because the longer a case is pending the worse it is on all the parties involved in the case.”

A major change in the 30th Judicial District happened a couple of years ago when Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts led the charge to implement a Pre-trial Release program in Haywood and Jackson counties. The pilot program began in 2019 with the goals of reducing the local jail population, decreasing recidivism rates and increasing the efficiency of the court system.

The program put into place a new decision-making framework for law enforcement and judges to use when it comes to issuing citations and setting bonds. Participating law enforcement were given a Cite or Arrest Pocket Card meant to encourage the increased use of citations instead of an arrest for certain misdemeanors and the issuing of summons instead of warrants. The program also included updating the old Local Bail Policy magistrate judges used to determine how to set someone’s bond.

The program was evaluated quarterly by professors at Western Carolina University and results showed improvements within the court system, specifically with fewer secured bonds and more non-financial conditions for pretrial release, fewer pretrial bookings at the jails and shorter jail stays for those who are booked pretrial.

On the other hand, the program has been criticized by some in the community who think it’s a way for criminals to get off easy with a lower bond even though the program is geared toward low-level misdemeanors and for people without a previous record.

Greene said he’d heard good things about the program and WCU’s analysis showed improvements in the backlogged courtrooms.

“WCU shows it’s working. Folks hadn’t reoffended more than before the policy was implemented,” he said. “But at the same time, we have to be aware of the community’s safety when issuing bonds. It’s always a balance.”

Wingate worked as an ADA when the program was in the pilot stage. Whether or not the program stays in place in the future, he said, he would continue to act in the best interest of everyone involved, agreeing with Greene that the considerations for bond amounts is a balancing act between the risk someone poses to the safety of the community and themselves, their prior history and the strength of evidence in the case.

“We have to take all of that into consideration during the process,” he said.

When asked if he witnessed anything problematic with how the program played out in court, Wingate said he couldn’t specifically comment on that.

In a debate held in Murphy, both candidates spoke at great length about specialty court programs like drug court, veterans court and family court. Greene and Wingate would both like to see treatment courts available to people in the far western counties but also agreed that resources to get those services here are limited. Counties like Buncombe have had great success with their treatment court, but they also have more funding and a smaller geographic district to cover. The 30th Judicial District covers seven rural counties,

which would make it difficult to offer the same services to all constituents.

Wingate expressed his support for a drug court, acknowledging that a majority of people with drug-related charges would be better suited for supervised treatment in lieu of jail time.

“Addiction is a disease and it needs to be treated,” he said.

However, Wingate said he would only be in favor of implementing the program if services were available to people in all seven counties.

“I will work hard to establish treatment courts in our district, but funding will need to come from Raleigh and D.C. to establish those and I would insist upon services in all communities. Someone in Bryson City should be treated the same way as someone in Waynesville,” he said.

Currently, judges can refer someone in the district to drug court in Buncombe County, but Wingate said it takes a lot of work on the Clerk of Court office to get those cases transferred over to another county right now so it doesn’t happen often. He said he’d also be open to looking at transit opportunities to ensure someone in Graham County could attend a drug court in one of the other counties.

Greene agreed that a lack of resources would be the biggest obstacle to establishing any kind of treatment court because participants require continuous monitoring, more so than typical probation.

“Participants have to go to court once or twice a month. When you have a defendant on probation, you don’t see them unless they get in trouble again,” he said.

While Greene would love to see a program in the district, he said it could take a while to happen. In the meantime, he said there are ways to incorporate some of the drug court stipulations into the current probation system as a way to make incremental improvements sooner.

“We can set review dates for probationary hearings. If you have a minor drug crime, rather than a conviction, you can get 90-96 probation and if you comply, you can get the charge dismissed. There’s potential to do that with deferred prosecution agreements and require people to go to treatment,” he said.

“So, we can start incorporating some of those ideals now.”

Greene understands Wingate’s logic regarding offering these services in every county, but he said it’s just not realistic given the geography, population and the need in certain counties.

“No way that will ever happen. Some of the smaller counties won’t get it because drug courts are mostly funded by counties. There’s not enough court time in smaller counties or enough need. It’s pointless to wait for all counties to get it to offer it.”

There are six District Court judge seats in the district. If Wingate wins the election, five of those six judges will reside in Haywood County. That’s an important factor in this election, Greene said, because judges have to move around the spread-out district often.

“Electing me preserves something of a geographic character, which is an important issue outside of Haywood County,” he said.

Rep. Corbin looks to move up in Senate District 50

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF W RITER

Since last fall, events in North Carolina’s 50th Senate District have largely been overshadowed by an attention-grabbing race in the 11th Congressional District, but the bigger story is that one of Western North Carolina’s most powerful voices won’t return to Raleigh next session.

looks poised to claim Davis’ seat, with Macon County commissioner Karl Gillespie a likely shoo-in for Corbin’s House seat. If that all comes to pass, it will be the third time in the last 10 years that a Republican Macon County commissioner joins the General Assembly.

make it safe for all of us to be able to do that.”

Where she deviates from conservative sentiments on the issue is in regard to red flag laws.

never made it out of committee.

“That bill would expand Medicaid,” Corbin said. “There’s a small premium on it and to give you an example, if a person was making minimum wage, it’s about $20 bucks a month.”

“I am a strong proponent of citizen legislators — those individuals who bring their talent and energy for public good. I believe they should hold their seats for a limited time so others can then step forward with their unique perspectives and skills,” Franklin Republican Sen. Jim Davis told a crowd assembled at the Macon County Republican Party headquarters on Sept. 7, 2019.

With that, the fiveterm Davis — whose worst electoral performance since his narrow 2010 victory still resulted in an 8-point win — endorsed Rep. Kevin Corbin for the seat.

For his service, the former Macon County commissioner Davis was gifted a handsome white rocking chair by the party, but didn’t get to sit in it long — less than four months later, Davis was motoring to Raleigh to file for the congressional seat suddenly vacated by then-Rep. Mark Meadows. Davis finished in third place, just short of eventual Republican nominee Madison Cawthorn, and presumably returned to that rocking chair.

Corbin, who spent decades on the Macon County School Board and the Macon County Board of Commissioners, was first elected to his current house seat in District 120 in 2016 and then reelected in 2018. Both times, he earned more than 72 percent of the vote.

Macon County’s Republican machine has been efficient, if nothing else; Corbin

Standing in the way is Canton Democrat Victoria Fox, in her first run for office. Fox attended Wayne State University in Detroit, where she also worked as an outreach coordinator for at-risk women and girls dealing with poverty, homelessness, drug addiction and sex trafficking.

“I have been a homemaker for the last 10 years with my children, and not because that was necessarily what I wanted to do,” Fox said. “We ran into that issue that a lot of working families run into in North Carolina — the cost of daycare is so expensive that one of us wound up having to stay home because wages just don’t equate to being able to cover the cost of daycare. My husband has always just out-earned me at every turn. So financially it made sense for me to be the one to stay home and look after the kids.”

That’s why Fox is focusing on issues that affect working families in North Carolina, especially Western North Carolina. She’s for declaring broadband a utility, which would make it more difficult for telecoms to refuse to provide high-speed internet to rural customers.

She’s also pro-choice, pro-labor and an advocate for higher wages — a consistent issue in rural Appalachia.

Another consistent issue in rural Appalachia is that of gun rights; as a Democrat, Fox may be more conservative on the issue than national Dems, but she’s still to the left of where many WNC voters fall on the issue.

“I’m Second Amendment-friendly. We’re licensed legal gun owners. My stepdad was a member of the NRA for most of his life. I come from a long line of hunters and fishermen in Michigan, where they give kids a day off of school every year for opening day of rifle season,” she said. “I fully back everyone’s constitutional right to own a weapon. My goal isn’t to take people’s rights to own any form of a weapon away from them. It’s to

“We all know that one person in our family that has no business owning a weapon,” said Fox. “Those are the people that we want to prevent from gaining access to weapons, so things like red flag laws, enhanced background checks and registration, I know that tends to be a hot-button topic among legal gun owners, because why should they have to register every gun they buy? The fact is that protects you as a gun owner too.”

Meet the candidates

KEVIN CORBIN

• Age: 59

• Residence: Franklin

• Occupation: Insurance agency owner

• Political experience: Two terms, NC House

VICTORIA FOX

• Age: 35

• Residence: Canton

• Occupation: Homemaker

• Political experience: First campaign

Perhaps the biggest issue of the campaign cycle in WNC remains the state’s continuing refusal to accept Medicaid expansion.

“You see these really hyper-partisan politics that we’ve always seen in Washington. It’s something for me that’s relatively new in the last 10 years to see it filtered down into the state level. That causes a problem for us here at the state level, whether you’re Republican or Democrat, whether you agree with the Affordable Care Act or not and the Medicaid expansion that comes along with it. I mean, you’re talking 500,000 North Carolinians and to have Republicans who are simply denying people access to care because Republicans in Washington are telling them, that’s a problem.”

The problem for Fox is that her opponent Corbin is one of the few Republicans that actually supports Medicaid expansion. In April 2019, he sponsored H655, which

Corbin’s also been working to open up broadband access; he sponsored another bill that would have allowed local governments to offer service of their own, but like Medicaid expansion, that, too, went nowhere fast. However, the GREAT Act has brought funds in the form of grants to providers.

“We asked for a hundred million, didn’t get it, but we got $30 million. I’ve been working with Sarah Thompson of the Southwest Commission, had several conversations with her, she is working with all seven counties, Haywood west,” said Corbin. “So far everybody that’s applied for [grants] has gotten them.”

On the subject of red flag laws, Corbin remains opposed.

“I think we already have some laws in place that flag people. Any of us can report someone for suspicious activity and law enforcement, based on the laws that are already on the books, can investigate and arrest and do whatever they need to do,” he said. “There were some [red flag bills] introduced this past session, and they went into committee. I chair insurance, and state and local government [committees] and some of those came to our committees. We didn’t hear them. There just wasn’t an appetite among our Congress to hear those.”

And as far as somehow becoming disconnected from his constituents, Corbin says he’s followed a few simple rules during his four years in state office that keep him firmly grounded in the west.

“My wife will tell you, I don’t turn down any opportunity to meet with people. First of all, I come home every weekend,” he said. “I think in four years, I spent one weekend in Raleigh, because I don’t live in Raleigh. I don’t want to. I live in Western North Carolina, so I come home every single weekend. And that gives me Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I will probably be engaged with constituents at three to five events. I don’t say no to anything.”

Dem veep nominee Harris speaks in Asheville

California

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF W RITER

Democratic vice-presidential nominee/California Senator Kamala Harris visited Western North Carolina last week, reminding voters of the importance of getting to the polls on or before Nov. 3.

“We were supposed to be here last week, and it was so important that we come so we recreated the schedule to be with you,” Harris told a small crowd of masked Democratic supporters.

The Biden campaign has devoted plenty of resources to North Carolina in recent weeks. Presidential polls remain neck-and neck in the state, and with just under a week remaining until Election Day, more than 3.2 million of North Carolinians have already voted.

Harris was forced to cancel a planned trip to Asheville and Charlotte on Oct. 14 after two staffers tested positive for COVID-19, but that didn’t stop her from returning Oct. 21 to speak at an event at UNC-Asheville.

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, who spoke before Harris appeared at the socially distanced outdoor event in a campus parking lot, revealed that she’d assembled a top-ten list of reasons for people to get out and vote.

“Number 1,” she said, “electing the first woman vice president to these United States.”

Harris was then introduced by UNCAsheville student Alison Grace Sink.

“It is empowering to see people in power care about young people and to come visit,” Sink told The Smoky Mountain News after the event. “I think it will have a crucial impact on young voters.”

As of Oct. 27, more than 85 percent of North Carolinians aged 18 to 29 who have already voted are “first time or infrequent voters,” according to NextGen North Carolina, a progressive advocacy group focusing on the youth vote. Generation Z and Millennials represent 24 percent of all votes cast in the state.

Piggybacking off Manheimer’s remarks, Sink also said she thinks Harris’ visit will have an impact on women voters as well.

“As a woman myself, I find it to be super inspiring and that it shows women have a place in politics,” Sink said. “I believe it will be impactful for undecided women to see a woman on the presidential ticket.”

Harris went on to disparage President Donald Trump’s record on handling the Coronavirus pandemic, on supporting public schools, on rushing to confirm a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and on health care.

“This is stranger than fiction,” said Harris. “Have you ever heard that expression that fact is stranger than fiction? We’re living it. We’re living it, sister. And so what are we seeing? Right now, in the midst of a public health pandemic, Donald Trump and Bill Barr are in the United States Supreme Court trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.”

For voters primarily concerned with health care, Harris said that Biden is the best candidate.

“This is why we need Joe Biden to be elected President of the United States,” she said. “He will expand health care, bring down the cost of premiums, bring down the cost of prescription drugs, lower Medicare eligibility to age 60.”

Before boarding her plane, Harris had a lot to say about North Carolina’s role in the upcoming election, telling SMN on the tarmac at Asheville Regional Airport that the state remains crucial for a Biden/Harris victory.

“We need North Carolina and that’s why I’m here, that’s why he’s been here,” she said. “The people of North Carolina are very much going to be a very big part of deciding this election, so we’re here to encourage the vote,” Harris said. “Vote early. But also, we’ve been here to listen to folks because we know the people of North Carolina want the kind of support they deserve from their president.” Western Carolina University student Madelyn Ricket contributed to this report.

Beasley, Newby race for Chief Justice of NC Supreme Court

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

Cheri Beasley has served as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court since she was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper in February 2019.

Her republican opponent, Paul Newby, has served on the Supreme Court of North Carolina since 2004, making him the longest serving member of the court. Before that, he served as an assistant United States Attorney in Raleigh for 19 years. Justice Newby has taught courses for the United States Department of Justice and is currently an adjunct professor at Campbell University School of Law. Newby is the lone republican currently on the court.

Chief Justice Beasley has served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of North Carolina since 2012. She has been a judge for over 20 years. First as a District Court judge in Cumberland County where she served for a decade before being elected to North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2008. Before becoming a judge, she worked as a public defender in Cumberland County. Beasley is the first Black woman to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

When Beasley was appointed to the position of chief justice in 2019, Newby, who had publicly asked to be appointed to the position, derided the governor’s decision.

“Sadly, today Governor Cooper decided to place raw partisan politics over non-partisan judiciary by refusing to honor the timetested tradition of naming the Senior Associate Justice as Chief Justice,” Newby said. “The governor’s decision further erodes public trust and confidence in a fair judiciary, free from partisan manipulation.”

The opioid epidemic has ravaged North Carolina for years now and is a continuing issue for many families in Western North Carolina. What should the courts be doing to deal with the problem in a constructive way?

Paul Newby: I am supportive of drug treatment courts. We’re not talking about high level dealers, we are talking about folks that are addicted and they have a desire to lose their addiction, they’re willing to go through a drug treatment court and then you bring in all the different organizations that administer to these kinds of folks, try to help them overcome their addictions. And you sort through that group to determine who has the best outcomes. And then you encourage, there are choices involved and treatment regimens and things like that. But one, there’s got to be more public awareness of what a significant problem this is. There are things under the existing law that we in the judicial branch need to think through in conjunction with district attorneys, judges, local stakeholders who know their local group much better than we would ever know them from Raleigh. Then trying to determine what’s best

for each area. Then Raleigh should be there to equip and empower these individuals to pursue what they think are the best processes in each area.

Cheri Beasley: Well, we really must. Right now we have 26 drug treatment courts across the state. There was a time when we had at least one drug court, and sometimes more than one, in every single county across the state. Unfortunately, we don’t have that any longer because the state no longer funds them in that way. We just have to get back there. It is pertinent, especially now because we know that there was an opioid problem before the pandemic. What we also know is that during the pandemic, the opioid crisis and substance misuse as a whole is up. We know that alcoholism is up. So we can ill afford not to provide opportunities through our courts for people to receive treatment, and for there also to be some accountability as well. Courts really ought to be a part of helping people be successful in their lives. My goal is to work to make sure that we have more substance abuse courts and more mental health courts. We have four mental health courts in North Carolina now, and we just need them everywhere.

What is an accomplishment you are particularly proud of, or you feel exemplifies your career?

Newby: I grew up in Jamestown, NC. Mom was a school teacher, dad was an hourly worker. Met my first lawyer when I was a Boy Scout working my way to Eagle, I had no idea I would have the honor, the privilege now of serving on the Supreme Court for 16 years, and for that I am very thankful for the people for electing me twice and giving me that honor, that privilege to serve on the court.

In 1865, a union soldier stole North Carolina’s original copy of the Bill of Rights. And in 2003, as an assistant United States

Justice Alliance where we are partnering with clergy across the state and faith leaders to train them, to recognize legal issues, and then to be able to refer people to legal assistance at no cost to them. Also, the opportunity to hold legal clinics, even virtually in places of worship and faith organizations. Little did we know that a year ago when we started the Faith and Justice Alliance that we would be in the middle of this pandemic. And all of that is compounded by heightened racial tensions. I think it’s a really wonderful intersection of law and faith and justice at a time when people are really experiencing some of the greatest needs ever.

Does racial bias exist within the North Carolina Court System? If so, what can be done to address it?

Newby: Our state constitution, since its inception says this: all courts shall be open. Every person for an injury done shall have remedy by due course of law. Right and justice shall be administered without favor, denial, delay. That’s Article one section 18.

Attorney, right before I got elected to the court, I orchestrated the undercover sting operation that got it back. I’m a history person, my children say it’s because I’ve lived most of it, but I love history.

So why is North Carolina’s Bill of Rights significant? There were 14 original copies, one for the federal government, one for each of the 13 colonies. North Carolina was the only state to have considered not ratifying, we did that in 1788, and we did it because there was no Bill of Rights. North Carolina communicated with the National Government ‘we’re not going to join unless there is a Bill of Rights.’ To be a part of recovering that significant portion of North Carolina history that had been gone for 138 years, I’m grateful to have had that opportunity.

Beasley: There are quite a few things that I’m proud of. I’m really thankful that so much of my work as Chief Justice has been around making sure that we instill trust and confidence in our courts. One of the best ways I think to do that is to be able to help people navigate through the courts better. We know that more than half of the people who come to our courts come representing themselves. Knowing that, it’s really important that we have enough tools available for them to be able to navigate it. One of the things we’ve started is NC guide and file. Any person, any lawyer or anyone who represents themselves can go to this portal and they can complete complaints or answers for absolute divorce, domestic violence, protective order, adult name change, small estates, and summary ejectment or evictions.

We’re looking to add more areas of the law as well, but anybody can go to this portal, fill out this interview, and then have a document that can actually be filed with the court and then actually heard.

I’m also really proud of our Faith and

Under that state constitution, there is equal justice. The symbol of the judicial branch is lady justice, she is blindfolded, can’t see who comes before her, rich or poor. Is perception important? Of course it is. Public trust and confidence is vital, foundational to who we are. People have to know that when they come before the courts, they are going to be treated the same, regardless of skin tone, or gender, or ethnicity or anything else.

In terms of me actually characterizing, right now, does our system have embedded, some type of bias? That’s inappropriate for me to comment on. I can’t make a policy statement when there are cases that raise that issue that come before the court. So as a sitting justice, if the state comes forward to say ‘well we don’t think bias played a role in this case’ and I’ve already made a pronouncement, I’ve pre-judged without explicit evidence with regard to that. It’s a disservice to the people, but more importantly under the judicial code of ethics, I can’t make that kind of statement.

Again, perception is important. I want to be clear about this. Through the open world program through the Library of Congress, I meet with judges from all over the world. And the perception of America is that we have the fairest judicial system in the world. A lot of that has to do with our jury system which takes power from judges and gives it to we the people.

So my humble point is embedded in both the state and federal constitutions are protections of individuals and just as I read article one section 18, that justice is to be administered without favor or denial or delay, that’s the promise that all are treated the same in equal justice for everyone.

Beasley: You know, it does. And while I don’t think that it’s intentional, I think it does happen and we’ve already begun to have really important and constructive conversations about being introspective about our own implicit biases as court leaders and judges and district attorneys and clerks of court. But the other thing too, is we really have to take

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action around that. The conversations are really important, but we’re working now to implement measures to make sure that we’re making some changes so that the outcomes of court cases in our courts are not disparate. We’ve already begun with some continuing education for judges. We will do that for everybody on implicit bias and that will be continuing. So that’s not just a one-time thing, but we will also be working on other kinds of measures to make sure that court leaders can recognize when it’s happening.

Why are you the right person for this job?

Newby: Experience. I have practiced law for over 40 years, have served on the court for 16 years. Traditionally experience is important in this role in terms of understanding the inner workings of the court, as well as understanding our complete judicial system. I have practiced in just about every area of the law. That’s important because I understand what it’s like to have an office practice and be a transactional attorney. I’ve closed real estate loans, I’ve searched titles, I’ve spent time in the Clerk’s office, in the register of deeds office. I have hands on, boots on the ground experience with regard to transactional work, but also with regard to litigation, which is courtroom work. I have been in private practice representing individuals, I have represented the government, and I have also been involved in corporate law where I was the general counsel of a company. I was in-house counsel. I have not just read about or written about, I have actually practiced in just about every area of the law. I bring a very practical series of experiences that are vital for the chief justice. The chief justice works on all different types of statewide rules in court, trying to ensure that the process leads to equal justice for all. In addition to that I have written the only book on the state constitution, I teach at Campbell Law School. I teach

lawyers and judges and I take very seriously the role of mentoring.

To me, what you’re looking for in a Chief Justice is someone who is not able to dictate the way things should be done, but encourage, and I might even use the word, inspire people to do the right thing, and frankly, to leave our illustration of justice better than we found it.

Beasley: Well, I have the experience. I have served as a judge now for 21 years. I’m actually the second longest serving judge on the Supreme Court, with the longest serving justice being Justice Michael Morgan. And I think experience matters. I’ve served on three different courts. I served as a district court judge in Cumberland County for 10 years and presided in all of our courts, juvenile, civil, criminal, and traffic. I served on the North Carolina Court of Appeals for four years. Of course, I’ve served on the Supreme Court for seven years with the last year and a half being chief justice. I do believe that judicial service matters, given that the chief justice leads the Supreme court. That’s really important. Of course, the Supreme Court is the highest court and so it hears really important cases, but the chief justice also leads the entire court system.

It’s important to understand the functionality of the court. I also believe that in these difficult times, understanding and appreciating that the cases that come before the court are not just cases. These cases impact people’s lives. It’s important to understand that and have an appreciation for that. The disposition of cases is very important, but it’s also important to understand that as court leaders and as the Chief Justice, she really does have an obligation and a responsibility and an opportunity to make things better for people through court systems across the state. We can say that the chief justice is only supposed to lead the court system and to oversee the budget, but I believe her role really is far more complex than that.

I believe that the chief justice has an opportunity to do more. That’s really what my goals have been and what my service has been about as Chief Justice, to make sure that we’re making changes in our courts. We must acknowledge that there are disparities based on race, gender, and the other isms. It’s not fair to folks to say, ‘oh, this doesn’t exist. We don’t need to do anything about it or acknowledge it.’

We must acknowledge it and we must take action. I think that distinguishes me from my opponent, and I think it’s critically important if we expect, for people in Western North Carolina, and across the state to believe in our courts, that we have to acknowledge that there are problems. The chief justice must take responsibility and be willing to make some changes.

If you are elected as chief justice how would you lead the courts through the Coronavirus Pandemic to keep North Carolinians safe, and the system still running?

Newby: We’ve got constitutional promises that again, Article One Section 19, but there’s others as well that say the court shall be open. Now the Supreme Court over the 200 years of our jurisprudence has interpreted that as the courts are always accessible. We’ve gone through seven, eight months without any jury trials. Justice delayed is justice denied. In civil and criminal cases there are victims wondering when the perpetrator will be tried, convicted and punished. Defendants sitting in jail, wondering when their case is going to come up. On the civil side, people who were wronged and need a civil recovery. We have some significant issues. We had a backlog already before March, and now we have a very significant backlog.

My approach is to enable the local stakeholders, resident superior court judges, the chief district court judges, local defense attorneys, the clerks of court, and figure out how we can proceed. This virus has forced us to do some things virtually, but we can do both. This is not an either or. If you look at the federal courts, they have continued to have jury trials, so have South Carolina, Tennessee and other states. Now we’re going to have to play catch up and that’s never good.

What I’m being told by judges across the state is they have been ready for months to proceed with appropriate safeguards. And yet they have been denied that opportunity. I would immediately empower the local senior residents to proceed according to their view

or what they think is prudent for their area. Again, it’s not one size fits all, justice delayed is justice denied, and yes, we have the promises of life, but we also have the promises of Liberty and pursuit of happiness.

How will you continue to lead the NC courts through the trials of the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Beasley: Technology really has been important. We have been holding virtual hearings across the state, and I think that’s been really important in keeping people safer. Certainly at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. All of our arguments have been virtual, but in our local courts, they’re virtual in many instances as well. We’ve also prompted a rule change and legislation during this period of time where I had issued an order allowing for email service so that those who serve documents don’t have to increase contact with folks. After I issued the order, we now have legislation that’s effective as of Oct. 1 allowing for email service.

In terms of where we are with e-courts, I’m thankful we’ve not lost any footing or any ground.

We’ll begin to implement e-courts in Wake, Harnett, Johnston, Lee and Mecklenburg at the beginning of 2021.

In terms of where we will go with this virus, the virus unfortunately will dictate that. We understand that there are great possibilities for surges during the cooler months, so we’ve just got to be mindful.

I’ve been monitoring the virus and consulting with public health officials, literally weekly, because it’s been important to make sure that we’re making the responsible decisions.

I have halted jury trials and now all of the senior resident superior court judges across the state have submitted plans for the resumption of jury trials in a safe way.

Monitoring the pandemic is really important to determine how best to proceed safely. I’m always balancing safety with the need to go forward on cases and with the understanding that when we have a slowdown in our court cases, that really is impacting people’s lives. I don’t take that lightly, it’s very serious. But I also know that we must slow down the spread of COVID-19.

I think the public, in fact, I know the public expects us to proceed safely and people really do understand. It’s disheartening to have delay, but people really do understand that it is necessary.

CHARACTER MATTERS

• An Advocate For The Working Class

• Treats Everyone With Respect

• Never Fired From A Job

• Devoted Family Man

• Community Minded

Alan Jones

Mark Pless

his wife filed a domestic violence claim against him; subject of DSS investigation; fired from Haywood EMS; allegations of sexual harassment; citizens report combative, disrespectful behavior in his role as a commissioner.

Who Do You Think Will Best Represent Mountain Values and Haywood County in the NC House District 118?

COVID-19 cluster found in Jackson

The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster associated with a social gathering.

The state defines clusters of COVID- 19 in workplace, educational and other community settings as a minimum of five cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible linkage between cases where cases were present in the same setting during the same time-period.

Seven people who attended a social gathering on Oct. 18 at an apartment have tested positive for COVID-19. The investigation is ongoing. All positive individuals are following isolation orders.

The health department is working to identify any additional close contacts of these individuals.

In the past two weeks, North Carolina has seen an increase in COVID-19 clusters from social gatherings such as parties, family gatherings, weddings and funerals. Jackson County is seeing a similar trend.

Animal Services limited in Macon

Due to COVID-19 cases within Macon County Animal Services and in preparation to continue essential service delivery at Macon County Public Health, Macon County Animal Services (a section within Macon County Public Health) will be limiting services until at least Nov. 2, 2020.

Macon County Animal Services will continue to provide essential services including conducting bite investigations and caring for and treating animals in their care. Macon County Animal Service’s lobby will be closed to the public. Animal surrenders, adoptions, picking up stray animals and responding to nuisance calls will be discontinued until Nov. 2. Those who are looking to adopt or re-home animals are encouraged to reach out to Appalachian Animal Rescue Center should they need these services.

The announcement was made just days after the health department issued a press released stating that four employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Jury trial resume in district

After months of delay, jury trials resume on a limited basis this week in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the state’s seven westernmost counties and overseen by District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch.

The first jury trials in the district started Monday in Haywood County.

In March, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley ordered a statewide halt to jury trials to help

“We know that our community wants and often needs to come together. We also know our community does not want to spread COVID-19 to the ones that they love. If you choose to gather, please make smart choices. Wear a mask, maintain distance, limit your gatherings to a small number of people, gather outside as much as possible and wash your hands,” said Deputy Health Director Melissa McKnight.

combat coronavirus spread. She extended the restriction through Oct. 15. Though jury trials have not taken place, North Carolina’s judicial system has continued its day-to-day functions, such as accepting pleas, holding traffic court and granting protections to victims of domestic violence.

In anticipation of the gradual resumption of jury trials, Beasley directed senior resident superior court judges, in consultation with local officials, to craft court safety plans. The judges retain discretion to suspend jury trials in their counties in connection with COVID19, based on local needs and conditions.

Haywood County has adequately sized courtrooms, as well as a jury assembly room that provides still more space, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Jones said. Jurors will be seated in both the juror box and in the audience area of the courtroom, providing 6- to 10foot distancing; additionally, the courtrooms have been refigured with safety in mind.

The one-week restriction for jury trials has shaped the types of cases that can be heard.

“Those selected for trial are factually brief and do not require a large number of witnesses,” Jones said.

After Haywood’s session, Jackson and Clay counties are scheduled to hold jury trials for one week each, beginning Monday, Nov. 2.

Assistant District Attorney John Hindsman Jr. said Clay County has adequate space for court proceedings, but jury selection will move from the courthouse to the recreation center/gym.

Haywood County has a second session for jury trials beginning the week of Nov. 9. Cherokee County will hold jury trials the week of Nov. 16, in the usual venue. Macon, Swain and Graham counties start jury trials in the new year.

the residents, churches, and businesses of Haywood County for their generous and overwhelming support of the 2020 HCM Fundraising Campaign.

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8 Locations Serving you in Western North Carolina

1700 Russ Avenue, Waynesville, NC · 452-2216

219 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC · 252-8234

1453 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC · 667-7245

3270 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, NC · 684-9999

746 East Main Street, Franklin, NC · 524-4464

8005 NC Highway 141, Murphy, NC · 837-0460

30 Highway 107, Sylva, NC · 586-0425

3533 US 441 North, Whittier, NC · 497-6211

of the Environment and Community

Being Proactive rather than Reactive with Growth

Supporting Our Schools and the Future of Our Children Work to Improve Broadband

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MARK JONES C OUNTY C OMMISSIONER

To answer all of those who would say “I can’t believe you would vote for Trump.”

Well folks listen up! I’m not just voting for him. I’m voting for the Second Amendment. I’m voting for the next Supreme Court justice. I’m voting for the Electoral College, and the republic we live in. I’m voting for the police, and law and order. I’m voting for the military, and the veterans who fought for and died for this country. I’m voting for the flag that is always missing from the Democratic background. I’m voting for the right to speak my opinion and not be censored. I’m voting for secure borders. I’m voting for the right to praise my God without fear. I’m voting for every unborn soul the Democrats want to murder. I’m voting for freedom and the American Dream. I’m voting for good and against evil. I’m not just voting for one person, I’m voting for the future of my country! What are you voting for?

Renovations completed at Sequoyah course

Sequoyah National Golf Club, The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and KemperSports recently announced the completion of a bunker renovation and regrassing project that began in March.

Capillary concrete bunkers were installed throughout the course and existing fairways, tees and green surrounds converted to Zeon Zoysia by the Robert Trent Jones II Design team and Southeastern Golf. The move will allow for yearround premium playing conditions on the awardwinning Robert Trent Jones II layout. The course reopened all 18 holes for play the first week of October.

“We’ve invested in the future of the golf course with these upgrades and we’re very pleased with the finished product,” said Sequoyah National golf board chairman Curtis Wildcat. “With these improvements, we believe Sequoyah National is now the finest public mountain courses in the southeast.”

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2009, Sequoyah National is ranked No. 39 in Golfweek’s 2020 list of the “Best Casino Courses in the U.S.” For more information, visit www.sequoyahnational.com.

HCC Small Business Center has good year

Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center experienced a successful year in the midst of a pandemic when small businesses and the community needed access to resources the most.

As a result of year-end reporting based on data such as hours of counseling provided, businesses started and more, the center was ranked 11 out of 58 community colleges. Along with providing much-needed resources, the Center is instrumental in collaborating with community partners and resource providers.

Center Director Katy Gould has also found ways to help small businesses and increase small business center services available by bringing guest counselors on board to help with specialized topics such as accounting and marketing. The SBC rounded out the year with an average of 763 attendees at nearly 85 free seminars and webinars. Over 385 hours of counseling was provided to more than 181 clients on average per fiscal year.

As a result of these services, an average of 122 jobs was created or retained, and almost 30 small business launched during this time period.

Visit sbc.haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information.

Select Bank comes to Franklin

Select Bank & Trust, 30 Hyatt Road, was recently welcomed into the Franklin business community at the former location of Entegra Bank.

Select Bank & Trust was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Dunn offering a broad range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services.

“Our goal for some time has been to further expand the markets. This branch, and the other two branches we’ve recently converted in Sylva

and Highlands will serve as an expansion of our footprint into Western North Carolina,” said CEO & President Bill Hedgepeth. “Finding established locations with experienced employees in communities like these fit into our strategic plan perfectly and we are looking forward to serving these new customers.”

Drop by and visit with Branch Manager Meka Ashe and her staff, call 828.524.1000 or visit www.selectbank.com.

MoveMore Fitness moves to new location

MoveMore Fitness, Franklin’s premier 24/7 access fitness center, recently opened at a new location at 41 Bates Crossing.

In addition to free weights and cardio equipment, the gym specializes in group training, personal training and nutrition coaching. MoveMore is owned by Travis and Lindsay Wright, with Matt Harlfinger acting as the general manager.

MoveMore offers group training classes such as kickboxing, functional training, pilates, spin and even aerobic dance class. The gym offers competitive rates and discounts to emergency service personnel and teachers.

Schedule and rates can be found at movemorefitness.co or call/text 828.333.7297.

Special Liberty Project opens in Franklin

The Special Liberty Project recently opened its first East Coast Retreat Center and new headquarters in Franklin.

The expansion gives the Special Liberty Project its first opportunity to offer all of its nature-centric, healing programs for every member of the veteran family at one facility and on the East Coast. The non-profit currently offers its programs in San Diego and Arizona.

burgers are seared to lock in natural juices, so they are always juicy, never dry.

Online ordering through www.cleavers.kitchen is an easy way to place your order. Delivery service is available with a minimum order of three burgers within the city limits.

Highlands banker applies for new charter

Richard “Tony” Potts, a long-time Highlands banker, and local investor Robby Roberts, announced that they, along with several other organizers, will file an application with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks and the FDIC to charter a new local bank in Highlands. The proposed name is Highlands Banking Company.

According to Roberts, they anticipate opening in early April of 2021, pending meeting equity requirements and final regulatory approvals.

SLP is currently the only program-oriented nonprofit serving the entire veteran family - Gold Star Parents, Spouses and Children, Suicide Widows and Veterans. The new Retreat Center allows the organization to serve the veteran family in one place.

“We are excited to bring our organization and programs to the beautiful Smoky Mountains where we can serve veterans and their families with our programs,” said Jessica Merritt, SLP’s chief executive officer and a Navy wife. “Expanding to the East Coast where there is so much need while offering every program at one location is a dream come true.”

WCU to offer project management class

Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth & Enrichment will be offering an online Basics of Project Management workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 12, via Zoom.

Todd Creasy, director of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law, in WCU’s College of Business. will serve as workshop instructor.

The registration fee for this workshop is $125. Register for the entire certificate for $640.

For more information and to register, visit pdp.wcu.edu and click on Event Planning.

Franklin welcomes new burger joint

Cleaver’s, Franklin’s newest burger joint, is located at 349 Westgate Plaza and is co-owned by Kevin Covell and Josh McCoy.

Cleaver’s offers traditional and unusual burgers focused on take away service. Limited inside seating is also available. There are six signature burgers and nine meats to make your own. Meats are sustainably raised and harvested. The beef is 90/10 lean and the game meats are 95/5 lean. The

“We feel there is a need for a bank that is locally owned and managed in Highlands. We plan to meet that need with responsive personal service, local decision making, and innovative technology,” Potts said.

The proposed management team includes Roberts as chairman and CEO, Potts as president, Susan Gibbs as COO and Deanna Mote as CFO. Other organizers and proposed board members include Ted Gammill, James Tate and Jimmy Garner. For questions or additional information about the proposed bank and organizers go to the website www.highlandsgroupnc.com.

New restaurant in Sylva

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce recently held a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony for new members at The Table - A Made From Scratch Eatery.

Located at 646 West Main Street in Sylva, The Table features made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch. Their offerings include gluten-free, dairyfree, and vegan fare plus all the traditional foods. They serve Sunday brunch starting at 10 a.m. They also offer take-out and patio seating. The Table is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, call 828.477.4534.

Fish Tales Outfitters relocates

Fish Tales Outfitters has relocated to a new shop at 29 East Main Street in Downtown Franklin. Fish Tales is a full-service fly shop offering top quality rods, reels, accessories and gifts at prices to meet everyone’s budget. It offers guided fishing trips throughout Western North Carolina which include both float trips and ‘walk & wade” trips. From beginners to experts, they have you covered. Co-owners Ernie King and Josh Berg are extremely excited to be a part of Franklin and represent the incredible outdoor activities that the area offers. The shop can be reached at 828.421.0732 or by visiting www.fishtaleswnc.com.

Trump is the President we deserve

To the Editor:

How insulting Joe Biden is to the American public … us the voters, the ones who deserve to know what our candidates think, how they speak, what they look like and who they are.

But, not so with presidential candidate Joe Biden. Biden puts a daily lid on his appearances on the campaign trail and slips out for a few campaign stops here and there. When asked if he would pack the Supreme Court, he denied that voters have a right to know his thoughts before casting their ballots.

On the other hand, President Donald Trump is not only in the candidate scene every day, he stops to take press questions whenever he steps out of the White House. We have no question about what Trump thinks or where he is going with his policies. He challenges media misinformation and explains where the distortions are wrong. There are press conferences, cameras and media at Oval Office and committee meetings. There is unprecedented transparency in the Trump administration and campaign. The kind of candidate and President we deserve and expect is like Donald Trump, not daily basement hiders and lid refuge retreaters like we see in Joe Biden. Thinks about the voters. Choose a transparent President Donald Trump or we will get a presidential administration like Joe Biden that is hidden away, cloaked in secrecy and probably unseen in public except for a few national events.

Joanne Lindquist Glenville

This is why I will vote for Trump

To the Editor:

I am not a big Donald Trump fan. However, this man is the one who proved in 2016 that America was sick of business as usual in Washington. He and his cabinet have undeniably accomplished a lot in four years and despite what I think about him as a person, I can take four more years of him and his cabinet as opposed to a future that could possibly destroy America. So when I vote “R” in November, I’m voting not for a person, I am voting for: secure borders, respect for our flag, one nation under God, the Second Amendment, capitalism and the American dream, the right to speak and not be censored, our policemen and our veterans, and continued lower taxes for small business

Herb Isley Waynesville

For better health care, vote Democrat

To the Editor:

It’s so past time we shared health care with all North Carolinians

There’s a history of health care failures in

Editors Note

The number of political letters we have received from readers in our coverage area (Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, along with the Qualla Boundary) during this election season has been almost overwhelming. We’ve worked to get all of them in print, but we’re not quite going to make it. If you submitted a letter and it is not in this edition, it will be in the Opinion section on our website.

Thanks to all who took the trouble to sit down and put your thoughts to paper. We’ll be working late election night — Tuesday, Nov. 3 — to get election results in our Wednesday, Nov. 4, edition. It may be delivered an hour or two later than usual, so we’ll apologize in advance for that.

— Scott McLeod, Publisher and Editor

Vote Democrat and support all Americans

To the Editor:

I have a tendency to speak my mind. I have intentionally not done so during this election as I believe that there are enough opinions flying around. I have held my tongue and kept my peace. But after seeing the advertisement taken out by the Jackson County Republican Party in the Sylva Herald and The Smoky Mountain News, I can no longer be silent.

The Jackson County Republican Party states that Republicans are not only voting for Trump but are voting for the Second Amendment. The inference is that those who don’t agree with them are against that amendment. Many gun owners believe there should be some reasonable restrictions placed on gun ownership. I am one of them.

They state that they are voting for the next Supreme Court Justice. That is fine, but the Supreme Court should be split between justices with liberal and conservative leanings so that decisions are made on the basis of law and rather than ideology. The current administration is packing the Court with ideologues.

They say they are voting for “the Republic we live in.” We all live in this republic and are voting for what we believe to be the best course for governance.

They mention that they are “voting for the military, and the veterans who fought and died for this country.” What about the

North Carolina! It’s so past time we shared health care with all North Carolinians! As my husband and I were treated medically, both of us recently, I am reminded of how thankful, at our age, we have Medicare and a Medicare supplement so we can afford to be treated. In today’s world of Covid, cancer, heart issues, mental issues, child health concerns, and on and on, it’s difficult to imagine how tragic it would be not to have access to health care.

North Carolina’s hard-earned tax dollars are already paying for improved health care for all North Carolinians. Because the N.C. Republican-controlled state legislators have refused to expand Medicaid, we are one of only 11 states that are still forfeiting state tax receipts, yours and mine, to the tune of $4 billion per year, $40 billion over the past decade, to other states for their health care. That’s right, our tax dollars are paying for health care for people in other states.

On top of this, more of our tax dollars must be used to foot the bill for those without medical insurance who have little choice but to visit Emergency Rooms that are more expensive than regular doctor visits. Folks, we’re actually paying double. (Many of us remember that N.C. Senator Tom Tillis led the original refusal to expand Medicaid when he was Speaker of the state House.) How fool-

veterans who may disagree with their politics? They seem to believe that others do not respect veterans. We should remember that we never can repay them and we never should forget.

They say they are voting for the right to speak their opinions and not be censored. I fail to see where anyone is being censored considering that their advertisement was placed and published in the paper.

The JCRP states that they vote for the right to praise their God without fear. I see no churches burning or ministers arrested and imprisoned. I have seen mosques bombed, temples burned, Muslims, Jews and Sikhs harassed because of their religion. The only Christian churches that I can remember having been bombed, happened decades ago, but then they all had predominately Black congregations.

The JCRP accuses the Democrats of murder, imply they are not true patriots, and are evil because Republicans are voting “for good against evil.” And they state that they are “voting for freedom and the American Dream.” I am voting that way, too. I am free to choose how I will vote, but my vision of the American Dream is far different from theirs.

Our politics has devolved into an “us against them” attituded. Whatever happened to the concept of “We the People”? The advertisement placed by the Jackson County Republican Party is the most blatant and disgusting example of this divisiveness that I have observed in this election period. Their last statement in the advertisement is that they are “voting for the future of my country.”

Well, so am I, and my vision of my country includes all of the people, not just those with whom I agree.

ish, cruel and short-sighted. With Medicaid Expansion, over 500,000 of our citizens who are most in need would be eligible for health care they so desperately could use.

It’s so past time to expand Medicaid in North Carolina! Vote for Democrats and make health care a priority for North Carolinians. We deserve it and are already paying for it!

NC Rep. Joe Sam Queen and Gov. Roy Cooper have been fighting hard to expand Medicaid but they need our help. Make 2021 the year Medicaid Expansion is finally passed in NC. Vote Democrats up and down the ballot! They care about our health care!

Carolyn Cagle Sylva

Let’s get back to normalcy

To the Editor:

In normal times, we are not unduly impacted by the actions of our elected officials, whether they are state or national officials. But these are not normal times. Few people on the planet questioned the rationale of closing down our economies to save the world from a deadly pandemic, especially after seeing the horrific video images coming out of communist China. But, now that we know that the so-called “pandemic” is hardly

deadly, with 99.75 percent recovering, it seems that we would benefit in every way imaginable by returning to normal activities, allowing our children to play without masks and stop pandering to fear.

The path for North Carolinians couldn’t be clearer. If we re-elect Roy Cooper, we are headed for more and more draconian measures, with his advice just three days ago to snitch on people in our community who are not wearing masks. He appears to be following a political agenda, that is probably illegal, as the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that executive orders by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to combat COVID-19 are unconstitutional and invalid. Thus, Gov. Cooper’s directives should be challenged in our courts too.

Or we can elect Dan Forest governor on November 3 and see our path quickly come back to more normal, reasonable behavior, based upon ideas of attaining herd immunity, sooner rather than later.

Ruth Rendely Otto

Be safe, but be sure to vote

To the Editor:

I must have been 7 or 8 years old when I first realized my grandma

hung out a special flag every July 4, Memorial Day — any national holiday. It was simply four stars representing my dad and his three brothers who all enlisted after Pearl Harbor to fight for democracy. One wounded shortly after landing on Omaha Beach. One survived 25 bombing raids over German held Italy … and so on.

Back home, folks ate meat maybe once a week. They drove 35 miles an hour to conserve gas. They handed in pots and pans for metal drives. They prayed for the safety of their loved ones. They sacrificed as a nation and were led by a heroic man who, a victim of polio before we had a vaccine, couldn’t walk across a room unassisted.

Yet our nation pulled together and rose to the moment’s need. So, I have to wonder — what is so darn hard about wearing a mask for a small part of the day if it keeps this virus from spreading and saves lives and liberates the economy? By New Years

Day we may have over 300,000 dead in 10 months, five times Vietnam’s dead over 10 years. Our leader — the president — thinks pulling a mask off while high up on a balcony is leadership. I don’t think so.

We have been fortunate — in Haywood County — to have few cases but still a small number of tragic deaths. It hit home to me when I learned that the nursing attendant — a 39-year-old man — who helped care for my mom at her nursing home in Asheville died of Covid. No pre-existing conditions.

Now we face a greater challenge. The last time folks rejected an election result and grabbed their guns 700,000 Americans died in the Civil War. That’s when we were only 30 million people. Today that would be the equivalent of 7 million dead.

Vote early, be safe, and resist the hatefilled conspiracy theories and rumors that seek to overthrow our democratic process. Our democracy needs you.

Stephen Wall, MD Waynesville

To those who are undecided

To the Editor:

If you believe permanent one-party rule is desirable; big cities should always determine who becomes President; the judiciary should be stacked to ensure the “correct” ruling; there is no need to be concerned about election irregularities involving “privileged” candidates; it is good for giant corporations to restrict and control the flow of information rather than allowing a free exchange of ideas; government corruption is no problem and the less looked into the better; people’s convenience outweighs a child’s life; violence, bullying and intimidation are legitimate forms of political discourse; billionaires should buy elections; open borders are good; and foreign influence in government is nothing to be concerned about, then vote Democrat.

If you believe hatred and envy will never build a good and just society; racism is still racism regardless of the color or lack thereof; the goal of education is education and

free inquiry, not indoctrination and groupthink; a person is innocent until proven guilty; people without accountability are prone to corruption; the mainstream press has been derelict in its duty; tech giants should not be allowed to run the government; religious convictions are not bigotry but anti-religious animus is; we should not encourage organized crime by having open borders; peace is preferable to war if there is a way to avoid it; our leaders should not be in a position to be blackmailed, then vote Republican.

David Parker Sylva

Sad to feel unsafe in America

To the Editor:

I keep hearing conservatives say that the Democratic Party is the party of hate and divisiveness. However, I recently learned from a friend of mine, whose family immigrated from Mexico, about a scary encounter her mother recently had with a group of Trump demonstrators.

She was going to the grocery store one day and saw a group of people outside the store with Trump signs, flags, etc. As she walked by them, they looked directly at her and made the “Heil Hitler” sign. She was obviously very disturbed by this, as were her children. They’re starting to feel that Mexico is a safer place for them to be, in spite of the violence from drug cartels around their former community.

How is this the America that we’re living in? How did we end up with a president that inspires these types of people? How is it that his supporters call the other side hateful and divisive when literally every other sentence that comes out of his mouth pits one part of this country against the other, as well as against people from other countries? I am furious that my friends, who are good people, no longer feel safe in America. I am furious that I too am starting to no longer feel safe in America.

And I’m sad. Sad for this country. Sad that Americans are so focused on hating other Americans simply because of the political party that they’re registered under. And sad that the rural, white voters who often support Trump, don’t realize that they have more in common with the Hispanic immigrants that he so demonizes than they do with the man himself, or the other billionaires that he truly supports through his policies.

Rachel Smith Whittier

No need for more fighters in Congress

To the Editor: Madison Cawthorn’s website states: “Send a fighter to Congress.”

In fact, the term “fight” is referenced several times throughout his pitch: fighting against liberals, conservationists, “left-wing socialists,” AOC and “the Squad,” the

AHCA, gun control proponents, the nebulous “left” and apparently anyone who holds opinions contrary to Mr. Cawthorn. The candidate has sworn 100 percent allegiance to the divider in chief in the White House, who for the past four years has provoked chaos, mistrust, and hatred among the people of this country. Mr. Cawthorn appears more than ready to fall in line. I suggest we don’t need another representative from the 11th District of North Carolina in Washington with a chip on his shoulder.

Send a fighter to Congress? No thanks. We have enough there already.

Robert Michael Jones Sylva

Take your faith into voting booth

To the Editor:

In my faith tradition when someone is baptized, everyone in the congregation renews their promises to God and their neighbors. I love the service of Holy Baptism. For me the most powerful line is “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” The congregation responds, “I will with God’s help.” This line informs how I try to walk in the world. If I look to scripture to guide my life, it is the Great Commandment that gives me direction “You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Unfortunately, there are many issues facing our community that illustrate that our current leadership is not keeping love of neighbor and the dignity of every human being in the forefront of their decision-making process.

The North Carolina Legislature, specifically under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger, has left 500,000-plus North Carolinians without access to medical insurance because of the refusal to expand Medicaid. The fact that the Republicans hold a majority in the state House and a super majority in the state Senate has allowed them to kill any effort to expand access to medical services that folks in Western North Carolina desperately need. It is time to flip the Legislature so that medical care for our neighbors becomes a priority.

Votes for Alan Jones for N.C. House 118, Joe Sam Queen for N.C. House 119, and Victoria Fox for N.C. Senate 50 are votes for Medicaid expansion, for a living wage, for preservation of our natural environment, and for so many more ways to love and care for our neighbors. I take my faith into the voting booth — I encourage you to do the same. When you are voting, think of the Great Commandment — “You shall love

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 24

Ann Holtz Waynesville

Greens think your vote does matter

To the Editor:

Do you believe that your vote doesn’t matter? Your vote doesn’t matter to the Democrats. Here’s an example. The Green Party spent tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours gathering tens of thousands of signatures to gain ballot access in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Then the Democrats, with their well-financed lawyers, took the Greens to court to have ballot access denied over technicalities.

The Republicans believe your vote doesn’t matter. They install glitchy voting machines like in Georgia that result in long lines and legal challenges. Paul Weyrich, a Heritage Foundation co-founder, stated over 30 years ago, “I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people …. As a matter of fact our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.”

The Greens believe your vote matters, so they support policies that the majority of Americans support. Greens believe your health matters with support for universal healthcare. They believe your finances matter with support for a $15 minimum wage. They believe your environment matters with support of the Green New Deal. he Greens believe Black Lives Matter with support for community control of the police.

Make your vote matter. Help the Greens maintain ballot access in North Carolina. Help the Greens get 2 percent of the vote in our state. Protect your right to vote third party. Protect ballot access for the Greens. You deserve more choices than Democrat or

Republican.

Vote Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker for President and Vice President. Your vote does matter!

Donna Boxman Waynesville

Pull together and win this war

To the Editor:

Don’t you get it? Mask (keep your germs to yourself), socially distance (don’t stand close to each other), wash ( send germs down the drain), stay home (unless absolutely necessary). As of this morning (October 19), no matter how you choose to rationalize it, there are almost 221,000 deaths from Covid in the United States — our formerly United States of America.

If we had practiced these simple rules early enough and locked down long enough in the first place, we would not be treated to empty words from D.C. We would factually, measurably, truthfully, be in a far better economic, educational, and personal place now. It is a given that some would still contract the disease and die, but these internationally, per capita, excessive numbers are totally uncalled for.

Covid-19 should not still be increasing. Yes, this is a war. We’re all tired of it but note: in both past world wars, Korea, and yes, Vietnam too (though by then we were all very tired of war), we unified. We pulled together. Fathers, husbands, sons were fighting on the front lines. We all knew someone who was wounded or had been killed. Blue Stars hung in military family windows. Sadly sometimes blue changed to gold, announcing a son, father or husband had been killed. Gold Star families were next door or down the street.

We did not panic, we were one nation! Our government asked and our nation’s factories retooled. Our flower gardens became vegetable Victory Gardens, moms’ kitchens became canneries, and ladies knitted

sweaters, socks, scarves and caps for the troops. Men not in service shared the ride to work so gas and tires could be saved. Many women went to work (shared rides, rode a bus or street-car) going to offices and factories, taking the place of men serving in the military. Kids worked in paper drives, peeled foil from gum and cigarette packs, fought over which kid got to stomp a rare tin can flat to put aside for a metal drive, saved great balls of string and rubber bands (I never figured out why) and even picked fluff from some kind of weed that would be filler for “mae wests,” which were flotation devices for our fighter and bomber pilots of the day. That was then, this is now. We can and should pay attention to present information, knowledge, and science, and should ignore internal and external divisiveness. So, vote as if your lives and your families lives depend on it, because they do. Let me remind you, social justice is not socialism. The memories above are how social justice worked. We were and are one nation. We didn’t tolerate fascists back then and we don’t tolerate fascists, or communists, or socialists or any other kind of “ists” now. No matter your political party, we are the United States of America. Now we’re all on the front lines. Just as we pulled together in the past, pull, dang it, pull! You don’t have to like it. Just do it and help resolve this. Beat this Covid enemy. It is a common, nationally divisive, weakening enemy. Beat this just like we beat our common enemies in the past.

Shirley

Ches Franklin

Filling High Court seat now is wrong

To the Editor:

Filling a Supreme Court vacancy a week before the election is wrong. Spray as much rose water on it as you want, it still stinks.

Joanne Strop Waynesville

Moe Davis is the qualified candidate

To the Editor:

There were 8,820 bills and joint resolutions submitted to Congress in 2019. Twothirds were submitted in the House. Our representative should be someone who has shown the ability to study, analyze, and has the initiative to act in the best interest of Western North Carolina’s citizens and not be a rubber stamp for a political party. Which candidate is the best to represent WNC?

Madison Cawthorn … home schooled, denied admission to the Naval Academy, dropped out of college after one semester (poor grades), thought about online courses but has not shown initiative to try.

Col. Moe Davis …. Shelby High School, Appalachian State University, J.D. Degree from N.C. Central University School of Law, L.L.M degree from the University of Virginia, JAG military attorney.

Madison Cawthorn has not shown the initiative required to handle the volume of work to be an effective representative. Col. Moe Davis has shown the ability to handle the required study to be an effective voice for WNC and the moral courage to stand up for his beliefs.

Col. Davis is the only qualified candidate. LeRoy Roberson Waynesville

McDowell great choice for school board

To the Editor:

I support Randy McDowell for a seat on the Haywood County Board of Education. I am a retired educator (college professor) and I believe that education shapes our future. I feel especially invested in our schools because I know how hard teachers work and how vital their influence is. I also know that support

staff are especially significant to students and that their roles should be affirmed. They all work as a team to support the important work of raising children who will be our leaders one day.

After attending Pisgah High School, Mr. McDowell went on to graduate from Mars Hill University.

I served on the committee from Down Home NC that interviewed Mr. McDowell about his candidacy. His honesty and directness impressed us. At first, Mr. McDowell read his prepared statement, then answered many questions. I knew he would contribute much to the board.

Mr. McDowell knows the system’s strengths and needs. Not only did he go to Haywood County Schools, his children did, too. Now he has a vested interest in his grandchildren’s experience. Over many years, he has interacted with students as a school bus driver and as a sports coach. In addition, it is important to note that Mr. McDowell is well-known and highly regarded in his community. He has a leadership role at Harris Chapel in Canton.

Candidate McDowell, speaking with authority and conviction, emphasized these goals: meaningful diversity (and antiracism) training for all school personnel; active recruitment and retention of teachers and staff of color; a school culture that encourages stepping outside of comfort zones; and administrative support for educators who teach for equity. He loves all children, whether from hard-working blue collar families or privileged professional parents. They all need to learn how to get along in the same world.

Katherine Bartel Waynesville

Trump has failed to keep America safe

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to Ted Carr’s letter in the October 21 edition of your paper. Unlawful, destructive acts by Trump supporters are at an unprecedented level and, true to form. Carr’s reference to “rioting and destroying property in Seattle, Portland and other cities” was right out of the Trump playbook.

When they can’t effectively defend their actions, Republicans follow Trump’s lead to divert attention to other hot topic issues. Trump has repeatedly refused to condemn vigilante violence from his own supporters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon, a choice that extremism experts say amounts to an open invitation for more of it.

In a Yahoo/YouGov poll conducted immediately following the 2020 Republican National Convention in August, 56 percent of registered voters said they expect more violence if Trump is re-elected. I’d say the percentage would be significantly higher if the poll were conducted today.

Diversion isn’t going to work this time, Mr. Carr. Keeping America safe is one of his basic duties and Donald Trump has failed

in that capacity. You can claim that he’s the “law-and-order” president, but history will be the judge. I predict he’ll be remembered as the most corrupt, lawless president in modern times — quite possibly in the history of the country and you’ll be remembered as one of his most devoted supporters.

Myrna Campbell Haywood County Democratic Party Chair

Experience makes Greene a better choice

To the Editor:

In most professions work experience is a major factor as to whether you get the job or not. I believe experience in the courtroom is especially important for a judicial position and that’s why I cast my vote for Justin Greene for District Court judge.

While Kaleb Wingate seems to be a fine young man with lots of family friends, I do not think he’s experienced enough to be on the bench at this time. He worked for less than five years in the DA’s office and he’s only been in private practice since 2019.

Justin has 15 years of civil and criminal trial experience in all seven counties in District 30 and he is currently serving as legal counsel for both the Department of Social Services in Swain and Graham counties. He’s served in that capacity for the Swain County DSS since 2010.

In addition, Justin has endorsements from two respected retired District Court judges — Steven Bryant and James Downs. A District Court judge must know many areas of the law and that type of knowledge is only gained through experience. Justin Greene will be ready on day one. I urge you to cast your vote for him.

Beth Elsey Waynesville

The world needs the U.S.

To the Editor:

Of all the childhood films I can still bear to watch as an adult, I love “Superman.”

There’s something about an awkward cornfed kid from Kansas who becomes an almost omnipotent yet benevolent alien being known simply as Superman. When tragedy strikes, and it often does, Superman is there to save the day.

It is a great allegory for America the superpower, which once regarded itself as the benevolent hegemon in a bipolar world pitting liberal democracy and capitalism against the communist authoritarianism of the USSR. But just as Superman goes missing from Metropolis for a time, so too have we gone missing — missing from world affairs, leaving a void of leadership in the liberal world order of which we were the principal architect. Look at how much we have changed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and especially in the last four years. We now eschew NATO as a nominally transactional institution, worthy only to the degree that others provide us largesse for their protection.

The Trump years were not good for us or the world (except Russia), but fortunate-

ly they’re almost over (projected electoral college estimate: Biden 358; Trump: 180). The incoming administration will have its hands full from the start: an pandemic, an economy bludgeoned by COVID, and extreme partisan polarity. Meanwhile, the Republican Party will be banished from the corridors of power to conduct an autopsy of its autopsy, where it will labor to painfully ungraft itself from Trumpism.

However things look at the end of January 2021, America should not run headlong to extinguish whatever wildfires it sees around the world when its own house is ablaze. A proper reintroduction to the world is vital and should happen soon, but first the Biden administration should look to course-correct our domestic woes. The pandemic and racial strife of 2020 beg immediate attention; as do their sequellae: widening inequality; historically high unemployment; surging per capita debt; and health, food, and housing insecurity.

Only when the time is right should the U.S. begin to pursue its foreign policy agenda. First among these must be climate change, which will require of the U.S. domestic bona fides. By setting ambitious carbon emissions targets, the US can showcase to the world its commitment to keep global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius by 2100. Rejoining the Paris Climate Accords will also add to the legitimacy of that international agreement and provide guidance to multinational corporations and investors that the world is committed to reducing CO2 by means of regulation, coop-

eration, innovation, and incentivization.

Many foreign policy challenges abound: renegotiating the JCPOA with Iran, limiting North Korean aggression and nuclear proliferation, addressing violations of autonomy in Hong Kong and human rights of Uighurs in Xinjiang by an ascendant China, a reconsideration of the TPP trading block, mending fences with our European allies, and strengthening international institutions to hold accountable nationalist leaders of illiberal democracies. That’s a lot, and I didn’t even mention the Arab States.

If the U.S. was instrumental in ridding the 20th century of fascism and communism as ideological currencies, then its burden in the 21st century is to expose the bluster and harm of nationalist movements and serve as a bulwark against the Chinese system of authoritarian capitalism — all while navigating humanity through the challenges of a warming planet, rising sea levels, an increasing global population, a decrease in fisheries and arable land, and the certainty that our timeline for mitigating climate change is shrinking.

While that may sound like a job for Superman, wouldn’t it be ironic if it was not some corn-fed boy from Kansas, but a cornfed boy from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who in his twilight years after much personal tragedy and reflection, and despite his stuttering and lack of command of oratory, was the man to lead us forward into what historians would later call “The Great American Century?”

William Hite Waynesville

Cooking on The Mountain

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

The drive to The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center in Highlands sets the stage for its seclusion from the outside world.

Tourists crowd the winding two lanes that thread through the red, yellow and orange hues of fall. All of this makes the trip slow going, giving a person ample time to take in the beauty of the season.

When we finally arrived at The Mountain, we came upon a sign that said “Authentic Italian Cooking Class,” set up in a field with a sprawling garden, a giant greenhouse, warm mint tea and a flock of chickens just a stone’s throw away.

After driving up the mountain to check-in, catching glimpses of the stunning views through breaks in the forest along the way, we hurried back down to the farm to join the cooking class we had come for.

Miranda, resident farmer at The Mountain, led the group around the farm, describing what grew in different beds during different seasons. We harvested greens and calendula for salad, sunchoke and fresh eggs for a souffle and butternut squash for risotto.

She explained to us how you know that sunchoke roots are ready for harvest when the plant above ground dies and turns brown, at which point it returns all of its nutrients to the root.

She showed us clover plants at the corners of the beds that help bring nitrogen and nutrients back into the soil and explained the medicinal properties of Calendula. She told us how butternut squash need a warm, dry place to rest after they are harvested so their skin can harden. This is what helps them last through the winter.

She showed us the mushrooms they had already foraged, in preparation for the event, from the surrounding forest. Maitake, also known as hen of the wood, and Laetiporus, or chicken of the woods.

To be exact, I had landed in a heaven manufactured for aspiring chef-botanists.

Miranda later told me that although the farm is a relatively new project at The Mountain, they have big goals. They want to work towards supplementing a greater portion of food for the kitchen at The Mountain so they work in close concert with Kitchen Manager Jenn Tuft.

In addition, they are participating in Farmer’s Markets in Highlands and Cashiers and have become the de facto public relations arm of The Mountain. Miranda said she hopes this involvement in the community will lead to more opportunities to collaborate and make connections.

Once we had gathered what we needed, we headed back to the top of the mountain to cook. Under the direction and leadership of visiting Italian Chef Sandra Stefani, we fell into the chaotic routine that is cooking a large meal. Some of us cleaned sunchokes, whose skin comes off simply by scrubbing them in water,

some of us peeled potatoes, some of us cleaned greens, and some of us peeled and chopped butternut squash.

All the while Chef Stefani was making a stock with onion and the peels of the butternut squash. This was one of countless things she taught us throughout the class. That risotto is not determined by what you put in it, but by the stock it is cooked in. Butternut squash risotto cannot be butternut squash risotto if you simply put pieces of squash in your dish. It must be cooked in a stock made with butternut squash.

So, while we prepped away she boiled onions and the peels of the squash in a giant pot. The smell began filling up the whole kitchen as the liquid turned more and more golden. Eventually she would strain nothing from the stock, but simply puree everything in the pot to reserve as much flavor as possible.

We boiled sunchokes and potatoes in lemon juice and water; made a vinaigrette from herbs, onion, lemon juice, and olive oil; sautéed chopped butternut squash in small batches in big paella-like pans until the prep work was mostly done.

As we put together the souffle Chef Stefani explained that separating the egg yolks from whites was vital to the construction of a souffle. After several of us had gotten a serious arm workout, and the egg whites could form stiff peaks, we folded them into the rest of the souffle batter.

Chef Stefani later told us about her journey from Italy to The Mountain. She found her first restaurant job at 20 years old as a coat check attendant in Washington D.C. who, because she didn’t yet speak English, would sometimes slip up and say, “Can I catch your goat?” Instead of, “Can I take your coat?”

From that point, she climbed her way through the restaurant and cooking world as a hostess, maitre’d, wine connoisseur, emergency chef on the day of President Reagan’s

inauguration, trained cook and chef. She went on to have her own restaurants and cook for a fundraising event for President Obama. Her story is fascinating.

During the class her ability and comfort in the kitchen were communicated without words. Her easy command meant everyone in the class was hanging on to each specific direction as she showed us the secrets of risotto.

What started out as grains of rice, shallots and white wine was slowly coaxed to life through each spoonful of golden, butternut squash broth. By the time Chef Stefani topped the finished risotto with a dollop of Mascarpone it was a perfect cushion of Umami.

Chef Stefani showed us how to roll spinach and cheese into pre-pounded cuts of veal after which she seared them in the pan, deglazed it with marsala and poured the remnants onto the rolls of veal to be baked in the oven.

We learned that to season ingredients as valuable and high quality as the foraged mushrooms too heavily would be a “crime.” It would be “to bastardize them,” she said.

While there were several batches of mushrooms, we used only a pinch of minced garlic in the first batch to help season the pan, and olive oil throughout.

She taught us that she never washes her mushrooms. Ever. You can brush dirt off of them if necessary, but when you wash mushrooms, they absorb far too much water.

To say those mushrooms changed my life would be an obvious hyperbole, but if you’ve never eaten chicken of the wood, you’re doing yourself an egregious disservice.

After all of our attentive cooking with Chef Stefani we had created a fresh green salad with citrus vinaigrette and a potato and sunchoke souffle, butternut squash risotto, fontinaspinach stuffed veal rollatini with sautéed wild mushroom, and ricotta gelato with pistachio and fig.

Somehow the end result was even more than the sum of all the parts we had put together throughout the evening. Perhaps it was the addition of perfectly paired wine or the captivating sunset we got to watch while eating.

After the whole affair we enjoyed our dessert in the main lodge beside the fire with port and warm conversation. Miranda from the farm, Chef Stefani, Kitchen Manager Jenn, and others indulged us with conversation ranging from their personal stories of how they came to be part of The Mountain to the underground lymph connections of mushrooms. From how the microbiome surrounding The Mountain determines foraging and crop capabilities to truffle dogs.

Sunday morning, we went for a hike to Chinquapin Mountain and then wound our way off The Mountain, back into the real world. By early afternoon, the whole experience felt like a dream. One full of Italian cooking, professional chefs, intelligent farmers and gelato with a view. The perfect local adventure in a quarantine riddled world.

For more information about The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center and the events available there, visit www.themountainrlc.org.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Ode to the front porch, ode to the pink couch

Iawoke to the hammering of nails and the sound of a cement mixer. Opening the front door, it was a steep drop of a few feet to the cold dirt below. The old front porch was long gone. The new front porch now in the midst of construction.

For the last eight years, I’ve lived in a small one-bedroom apartment in downtown Waynesville. It’s one of four rentals in an old two-story house. My humble abode is filled with shelves of books, vinyl records, guitars and a cozy bed.

All I need. All I want. No frills. No fuss. The rent is inexpensive and my landlord is truly good folk. The apartment also came with a large wrap-around porch: a place to perch myself and decompress, to simply watch the world flow by my field-of-vision.

The first day I moved to Waynesville back in August 2012, I remember sitting on a musty pink couch that was leftover by the last renter of the apartment. I guess the renter forgot to dispose of the tacky couch, so there it sat on the weather-beaten, paintpeeling and creaky porch.

After putting down my first and last month’s rent, getting my electric connected and such, all that was left in my bank account was $33, at least until my first paycheck with The Smoky Mountain News, which was several days away.

I was 1,100 miles from my native Upstate New York. Twenty-seven years old and leaving everything behind in hopes of a fresh start in Western North Carolina. With that $33, I got a Subway sandwich and six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Sitting on the porch, I

happily consume pieces of my heart for the foreseeable future.

And there were all those cold afternoons when the Waynesville Christmas Parade would (and continues to) lineup in front of my house. I’d stand on the porch and watch the local high school marching bands rehearse their routines in the parking lot next door, all while an endless stream of floats and fire trucks pass by.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about two old friends who aren’t physically on this planet anymore. Louie and Papa Jack. Both were homeless in downtown when I met them. White beards, a little rough around the edges, and with a sharp wit about them.

Early on with the newspaper, I befriended Louie, which led to the friendship with the Papa Jack. They’d each come visit me and sit on the pink couch. I’d hand them a tallboy and we’d just chat about nothing and everything, usually right when the sun was hanging low over Balsam Gap.

One afternoon, Papa Jack, who at the time was living upstairs in my building, wandered by the front porch heading for the mailbox. He stopped and leaned against the porch railing. With a sly grin, he goes, “What’s new in the world, Mr. Journalist?”

As the newest resident of Haywood County, I didn’t know a single soul when I relocated here. So, the front porch became the place where I would constantly host folks, all in hopes of making a connection with another kind soul.

consumed the starving artist’s go-to meal with gusto: life is about adventure and chance, and this new chapter would emerge as all of those things.

As the newest resident of Haywood County, I didn’t know a single soul when I relocated here. So, the front porch became the place where I would constantly host folks, all in hopes of making a connection with another kind soul.

It became the after-hours spot once last call was announced from the downtown Waynesville establishments, the ole saying “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here” implied by the bartenders as we nighthawks headed for the porch and whatever cold suds were lingering in the refrigerator. Some of my closest friends in this region (and of all time and space) became that way from time spent on the front porch. There were even a couple of love interests sparked from sitting on the pink couch and discovering the inner beauty of a femme fatale who’d

And I told Papa Jack the latest happenings in the town, county and greater Western North Carolina. He shook his head and laughed at the absurdity of life, politics and social happenstance. Inviting him up to the porch to join me for a beer, he sat on the pink couch and, unprovoked, proceeded to tell me his entire life story.

Sitting in my camping chair, I listened intently to his tale of being a young kid in rural Virginia, leaving home as a teenager, all the trouble he got into and out of, and how he ended up becoming a sniper in Vietnam, which led to a lifelong struggle with PTSD and drug addiction, now an old man alone, but seeking inner peace and stability in a haphazard existence.

He finished his beer, looked up at the sunset over Balsam Gap in the distance and smiled. Getting up from the pink couch, he thanked me for my time and hospitality, and headed back upstairs to his apartment.

The next morning, I found out he had passed away. A day later, what was left of his possessions was now on the curb, his beatup recliner ending up on my porch for a few years, next to the pink couch as almost a memorial to his gentle spirit.

And thus, here we are. The weatherbeaten, paint-peeling and creaky porch is no more. And I was sad to see the pink couch tossed into the contractor’s trailer headed for the dump. Though the past kept tugging at my heart and soul, it was time to replace both.

Lately, I’ve been hopping out of my front door and onto the cold dirt below. Popping open my camping chair, I’ve been placing it where the pink couch used to be. Sitting on the chair, I strap on my trusty acoustic sixstring and pluck a tune or two. Porch or no porch, the space remains: a place to perch myself and decompress, to simply watch the world flow by my field-of-vision.

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

On the street

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

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

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends and Scoundrel’s Lounge Nov. 6. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

ALSO:

• The Ghost Town in the Sky parking lot (Maggie Valley) will host a drive-in concert series with St. Paul & The Broken Bones (soul/rock) on Oct. 29. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The Dirty Dead Halloween Party Oct. 31 and The Pony Express Nov. 7. All shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host a Halloween party with Jelly Beet Connection 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and Anna Victoria 7 p.m. Nov. 6. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds will host a drive-in concert series with Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires (rock/Americana) Nov. 5, Martin Sexton (folk/soul) Nov. 7 and Keller Williams & Friends (jam/acoustic) Nov. 13. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com.

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

• An artist demonstration will be hosted by painter Jennifer Sharkey from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main Street in Waynesville. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Blue Ridge Heritage Craft & Quilt Exhibit will be held through Oct. 31 at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main Street in Waynesville. 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 seventh annual “Hillbilly Show & Shine” will be held Oct. 30-31 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Car and bike shows. Live music. Craft booths. Food and beverage vendors. Admission is $10 per day. Free parking.

• The annual Swain County “Trick or Treat” event will be held this year as a drive-thru from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at the East and West elementary schools. The candy will be donated by the Swain County Tourism Development Authority. Volunteers are needed and should call 828.508.2795.

Waynesville art walk, live music

“Art After Dark” will continue from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in downtown Waynesville.

Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors.

It is free to attend Art After Dark. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

• There will be “Spooky Storytelling” with master storyteller Tim Hall around the fire pit in front of the Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians at 140 Fry Street in downtown Bryson City. The storytelling will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October, weather permitting. Look for the yellow house with fall decorations and benches just down the tracks from the train depot (behind the train museum). Free. Donations welcomed.

• The drive-thru “Trunk of Treat” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the West Canton Baptist Church, located at 75 Lowe Street. Wear costumes. Stay in car. Each child will get a bag of candy. www.westcantonbaptist.org or 828.648.5561.

• The annual “Polar Express” train ride will kick off the holiday on Nov. 6 from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.

• 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.

Soul singer rolls into Maggie Valley

Americana/folk sensation Martin Sexton will perform a drive-show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

In 1988, Sexton moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and began playing on street corners and at open mic nights around the city. Sexton released a collection of self-produced demo recordings in 1991 called “In The Journey.” The album was released on an 8-track cassette, with Sexton selling 15,000 copies to fans.

He was given the National Academy of Songwriters “Artist of the Year Award” in 1994. In 2001, Sexton launched his independent record label, Kitchen Table Records, and released a concert album called “Live

‘It’s a Small, Small Work’ exhibit

The Haywood County Arts Council annual show, “It’s a Small, Small Work,” will be held Nov. 6 through Jan. 9 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville.

The 2020 exhibit will feature 47 artists and almost 300 individual works of art for sale. The show provides a unique opportunity for budding artists to exhibit their work, as well as the opportunity for more seasoned artists to test their boundaries.

All pieces submitted are exactly 12” or smaller in every dimension, including base, matting, and frame. All artwork is for sale, priced at $300 or less, and must have been created in the last two years. Commission will be the gallery’s usual 60 percent (artist) to 40 percent (HCAC) split.

The Haywood County Arts Council’s small work show was launched in 2008 to demonstrate that original artwork is affordable and fun. Most businesses, homes and apartments can accommodate smaller works of art — and the show promotes buying local

Wide Open” to wide critical and commercial acclaim, with the studio record “Seeds” released in 2007.

In 2008, he released a second live album called “Solo.” Subsequent records included “Sugarcoating” (2010), “Fall Like Rain” (2012) and “Mixtape of the Open Road” (2015).

In 2017, Martin joined Chris Anderson (upright and electric bass) and Boo Reiners (multi string instruments) to create The Martin Sexton Trio.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Social distancing and Covid-19 protocol will be in place. Meals are available to pre-purchase. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com.

and regional work to help support artists in Western North Carolina.

www.haywoodarts.org or 828.452.0593.

Fall for Waynesville

The Fall for Waynesville street festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, on Main Street.

Musicians and entertainment will be located throughout Main Street. There also will be children’s activities, including two tents for pumpkin painting, which will be held by renowned artist Teresa Pennington.

Some restaurants will be putting tables on the street for dining, with other businesses also placing their merchandise outside for customers.

Though the annual “Treats on the Street” Halloween celebration will be cancelled for this year, local businesses will still be dressed up and handing out candy.

Social distancing and safety protocols will be followed. Presented by the Downtown Waynesville Association.

www.downtownwaynesville.com.

Finding joy and exploring a museum

Near the beginning of Katherine Center’s novel What You Wish For (St. Martin’s Press, 2020, 309 pages), school librarian Samantha Casey suffers an attack of epilepsy while driving and runs her car into the side of a 7-Eleven. She suffers bruises and requires stitches for her cuts, but she is chiefly distraught at the return of her epilepsy after so many years. When the principal of the school, Max Kempner, who is her best friend and a sort of father figure to Sam — everyone at the school adores this man — visits her at home, he gives her some advice that becomes the theme of this sweet novel:

“Okay. Listen close. Pay attention to the things that connect you to joy.”

It wasn’t what I expected him to say. I leaned away and turned to frown at him. “What does joy have to do with anything?”

“Joy is important.”

Was it? “I don’t know. Not having car accidents is important. Joy seems pretty expendable.”

But Max just smiled. “It’s one of the secrets of life that no one ever tells you. Joy cures everything.”

Max then goes on to tell Sam that joy is an antidote for fear, anger, boredom, and sorrow, and that while we can’t make ourselves feel joyful, we can do something joyful: “You can hug somebody. Or crank up the radio. Or watch a funny movie. Or tickle someone. Or lip-synch your favorite song. Or buy the person behind you at Starbucks a coffee. Or wear flower hat to work.”

When Max dies of a heart attack at his 60th birthday party — no spoiler alert needed, this happens in Chapter One — the board replaces him with Duncan Carpenter, a teacher Sam had known and loved from afar several years earlier. She is both thrilled and apprehensive about Duncan’s arrival, remembering him as one of the finest teachers she’d ever known, a goofy man who won the hearts of his students and his co-workers with his juggling, handstands, eccentric outfits, and made-up games and parties. She’s also afraid, however, that he’s married by now with children to the woman he was dating when Sam resigned and took the job at the Kempner School in Galveston, Texas.

But the Duncan she knew has disappeared. The new Duncan Carpenter wears a three-piece suit, never smiles or makes jokes, and is determined to radically transform the school, seemingly obsessed with security, locking the place down during the day, hiring more guards, repainting the hallways and classrooms a dismal gray, canceling all field trips, and making life miserable for

teachers and students. By his memoranda — and there are lots of these — he sucks the joy out of the school.

And once Sam discovers the reason for this behavior — to say more would damage the story — she, Max’s wife Babette, and Sam’s best friend Alice put their heads together and concoct a plan centered on joy to help Max rediscover himself and how to truly live.

Do they succeed?

love and joy, they inspire us to do the same ourselves.

If you’re in the pits, if you’re feeling lower than an ant’s belly, or if you just want a good story filled with light rather than darkness, pick up a copy of What You Wish For.

And now for a complete change of direction.

You’ll need to read the book to find out.

But likely, many of you need to read What You Wish for the same reason I did. In our troubled times, joy sometimes seems a commodity in short supply. The COVID-19 virus, the lockdowns, the closed schools and churches, the violent unrest in some of our cities: every day the headlines bring gloom and darkness. The masks we wear have a depressing effect on all of us. When’s the last time you got a smile from a grocery store clerk?

Katherine Center’s book is a gentle but powerful reminder that we possess the power to seek out joy, if only by force of will. Love, true love, Sam tells us, “is only for the brave,” and she would say the same thing of joy. As we watch Sam and Duncan fight for

Maybe you’re a homeschool dad looking to teach your children some history. Maybe you’re a mom in charge of your children’s distance learning through a public or private school. Or maybe you’re a history buff always looking to explore new material.

Let me point you to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas (www.pacificwarmuseum.org).

This one-of-akind museum contains tens of thousands of artifacts from our war against the Japanese in the Pacific, live demonstrations, and additional thousands of letters, journals, and oral histories in its archives collection.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to travel to Fredericksburg to partake of these treasures. On the museum’s site, students will find lesson plans, lectures and discussions, and even distance learning classes. Visitors to the site can listen to oral histories of those who fought in the war or served on the home front, watch numerous videos, and absorb the enormity of a war fought over the world’s largest ocean.

I’d never heard of this museum until a friend and editor suggested I research it, and as I explored that site, The National Museum of the Pacific War blew me away. Take a look and see what you think.

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

Tubers walk the path at Deep Creek, which has seen an enormous increase in usage this year. NPS photo

SAVING THE GOLDEN-EGGED GOOSE

Smokies seeks solutions to overcrowding

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has gotten a lot busier since its creation in 1931. In 1932, its first full year of existence, the park received only 300,000 visitors — these days, annual visitation is more than 40 times that figure, coming in at 12.5 million last year.

“Over the years we’ve been applying a lot of Band-Aid fixes to help manage congestion and crowds, but it’s time to really pull off those Band-Aids and start to work together to see how we can make this place sustainable and protected in the long term,” said Dana Soehn, management assistant for the park.

Soehn spoke during a morning meeting Oct. 22 that was one of four online sessions offered last week with the goal of gathering creative suggestions from members of the public as to how to solve congestion issues at some of the park’s most crowded locations. More than 100 people participated in the sessions, held via Zoom, and during breakout sessions built into the agenda they provided a variety of suggestions for the park to consider — some specific to particular locations within the park and others applicable to the park as a whole.

During the same call Oct. 22, Superintendent Cassius Cash said that while the park doesn’t usually seek public input

Be heard

until it’s developed several specific alternative solutions to an issue, in this case it was coming with a blank slate, aiming to “tap into as much bandwidth of ideas and outcomes as possible.”

PALPABLE TENSION

Something has to be done, National Park Service representatives in the meeting agreed, because the situation has gotten out of hand. Over the last decade, visitation to the park has increased by 32 percent even as staffing has decreased by more than 10 percent.

On busy days — which have themselves become more numerous over the years — it’s not uncommon for people hiking the Laurel Falls Trail to wait in a line several hundred yards long in order to reach the standingroom-only rock below the falls, said Soehn, backing her words up with photos clearly showing the congestion. On a busy Saturday in early November, park staff witnessed a line of more than 80 people waiting for the bathroom at Clingmans Dome.

At the historically lesser-used Big Creek and Deep Creek entrances in North Carolina, use between June and August this year increased by more than 20 percent over the same period in 2019. The existing parking areas were too small to accommodate the onslaught, and visitors left behind muddy pits marked with tire tracks and damaged signage, at Big Creek completely demolishing a splitrail fence and at Deep Creek usurping picnic

An online survey taking input on proposed solutions for congestion issues in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open through Saturday, Oct. 31. Feedback will be summarized in a report that will serve as the basis for a high-level feasibility analysis, during which park staff will assess proposed solutions for each area. Some solutions will be selected to pilot as soon as 2021, while other proposals requiring a deeper planning effort will take longer to consider.

The survey is available at bit.ly/smokiescrowds

areas and campgrounds as overflow parking. This spring, the park spent $1 million on a road repair project at Deep Creek, but so many people parked on the shoulders of the road in the following months that “in just one busy summer at Deep Creek so much of our investment has been damaged,” said Soehn.

“These are very real challenges,” she said. “Visitors are experiencing the tension across the park. Park Service employees are feeling the tension. Our volunteers that try and help manage this are feeling the tension. And it’s time to pay attention to that tension.”

TOOLBELT

Charles Besancon, a national parks planning consultant with Global Park Solutions who presented during the meetings, said that the Smokies is far from being the only national park to face severe crowding issues. The parks draw heavy interest from foreign travelers as well as domestic ones, he said — in 2018, 36.7 percent of international visitors to the U.S. came to see national parks and monuments, and that percentage has increased every year since 2013.

The five main approaches parks use to deal with crowding issues are adding capacity, using electronic systems, instituting public transit systems, deploying visitor demand management measures and making traffic improvements, he said.

Each approach has its pros and its cons — there is no one size fits all solution.

Adding capacity — by expanding parking or adding roads and trails, for example — directly addresses the issue but is expensive and can end up just kicking the can down the road, as increased capacity generally fuels increased use.

Electronic systems like signage or kiosks with current information about congested areas in the park can help visitors make better decisions about where and when to visit, but many out-of-region-guests are so excited to visit their desired area that they’ll ignore the messaging and pursue their original plan.

Public transit goes a long way toward relieving congestion on the roads, but it’s expensive and can cause new congestion on once-quiet trails that are now an automatic stop for anyone riding the shuttle.

Parks can also use traffic improvements such as adding turn lanes, roundabouts and stop signs to mitigate road congestion. Some such solutions are cheap and easy to implement, while others are expensive and require onerous planning.

Finally, visitor demand management such as higher prices during peak hours and reservation systems can reduce volume and improve visitor experience, but they make access more difficult and often rub locals the wrong way — not to mention, the Smokies’ unique history makes charging entrance fees almost impossible.

“The question is, how do you keep from harming the goose that laid the golden egg?” said Besancon.

ENTRANCE FEES NOT ALLOWED

Among participants in the forums, there was substantial interest in the issue of entrance fees. At most of the nation’s larger national parks, it costs between $25 and $35 per car for a seven-day entrance pass, with the individual park keeping 80 percent of that revenue.

That’s not possible in the Smokies. When Tennessee passed legislation deeding Newfound Gap and Little River roads to the park in 1951, it included language that prohibited ever placing a toll on those roads. Meanwhile, a 1992 federal law prevents the park from charging entrance fees at other points so long as the main entrance remains fee-free. If the park were to ever charge a fee, said Soehn, the Tennessee legislature would first have to remove that 1951 deed restriction.

Participants in the sessions struggled with that reality.

“Why are we allowing people to flood into the park so much and take advantage of it when all these businesses around the area are making an economic boom from it?” asked Austin “Gus” Zimmerman, a 24-year-old Pigeon Forge resident, during an Oct. 22 small group discussion on issues at Deep Creek. “And the park can’t really take that much advantage of it.”

Zimmerman, a Tennessee resident, said that he planned to contact his state representatives in support of repealing the deed restrictions.

During a separate meeting held later that day, Jenni Veal, tourism development and marketing coordinator for the Southeast Tennessee Development District, stopped short of calling for the legislature to adopt entrance fees but lamented the lack of financial benefit the park gains from its immense popularity.

“There has to be more of a connect between the tax dollars that are coming in from tourists and the infrastructure that our parks need,” she said. “It floors me that there’s not enough staffing in our national parks. Somehow there’s got to be a way to help support the park that people are coming from all over the world to see.”

The park could benefit from beefing up its partnership with local and state-level tourism organizations in order to better communicate the issues it’s facing to the public, she said.

RESULTS OF THE BRAINSTORM

With entrance fees off the table, participants came up with a variety of other ideas for the park to consider.

During the Deep Creek breakout session Oct. 22, participants suggested creating a new trail for tubers so they wouldn’t interfere with the hikers’ experience. Perhaps the park could then conduct an environmental impact statement as to the effect of various recreation activities on the environment and charge use-specific fees for activities

Melonas named new head of N.C. national forests

Allen Nicholas retired in September after nearly five years in charge of North Carolina’s national forests, and James Melonas will now take his place as forest supervisor for the National Forests in North Carolina.

“The National Forests in North Carolina are a truly special place and I am honored to have this opportunity to return to North Carolina and the Southern Region of the Forest Service,” said Melonas. “I am excited to reconnect and meet with the incredible employees, partners and volunteers in North Carolina as we work together to steward these wonderful forests.”

Melonas has previously worked as the deputy forest supervisor in North Carolina, working under Nicholas until departing in 2017 for a

with the highest impact.

“That’s definitely something I haven’t heard,” breakout group facilitator Susan Sachs commented on the suggestion. “I’ve been facilitating these meetings for a few days now, and that’s a new one.”

In a separate breakout group held later that day discussing the park as a whole, middle Tennessee resident Tammy Lambert said that she had reservations to stay at Mt.

position as forest supervisor for the Santa Fe National Forest. He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service since 2005, when he got his start as a presidential management fellow. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs with an emphasis on environmental policy and natural resource management from Indiana University. Prior to joining the Forest Service, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi.

Melonas will be based in Asheville and will start his new job Nov. 22, overseeing the more than 1.25 million acres included in the Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie and Croatan national forests. James Melonas

ment.

“I almost would suggest to keep that a permanent installation, as in just make a bigger parking lot for vehicles, and allow for people to hike and bike it as much as they want,” said Zimmerman. “And then even add in little shuttle buses for people with disabilities so they can come through and see the park as well.”

Participants in the sessions also voiced support for roundabouts and turnarounds that would allow vehicles to escape before getting stuck in traffic jams. There should be more law enforcement presence at busy areas, they said, and improved Leave No Trace messaging. Developing an app that informs people when individual parking lots and trailheads are full could help relieve extreme congestion as well.

LeConte Lodge the next week but was worried about finding a place to park for the adventure.

“Getting reservations there is like winning the lottery,” she said. “Our main concern is where do we park, getting there in enough time that we’re not parking our vehicle along the road and hoping it doesn’t get hit while we’re staying up there.”

What if the lodge ran a shuttle from its offices in Townsend so that people could park there safely and get a ride up to the trailhead, she asked?

Overall, feedback from the sessions indicated support for using reservations systems to manage visitation at some of the park’s busiest areas, and participants were open to instituting shuttle services as well, particularly at regularly overwhelmed areas like Clingmans Dome and Cades Cove. This year, the park instituted a pilot program in Cades Cove prohibiting all vehicle traffic there on Wednesdays, and multiple participants voiced enthusiasm for that develop-

“One thing that stands out to me at this point is the desire for real-time data to help manage expectations about the current state of traffic before people arrive in the park,” Soehn said in an email after the input sessions. “Currently, apps like Google Maps that many people rely on outside the park don’t work well in the park due to connectivity issues. People are really hoping we can find some innovative technical solutions to allow this type of capability so people can make better decisions about timing their trips and choosing their destinations.”

Soehn told participants that the park would be putting the ideas it receives into two “buckets,” hoping to implement some of the “lower hanging fruit” as early as next year while evaluating and prioritizing more complex solutions as longer-term projects.

“Our goal,” Soehn said, “is just to continue to work hand-in-hand with the park users and our gateway communities as we look for some of these congestion management solutions so that we can continue to both protect this place and provide better access for visitors.

Help out Panthertown

Friends of Panthertown is hosting a series of trail workdays this fall, and all are invited to come pitch in.

Scheduled workdays are Thursday, Oct. 29; Wednesday, Nov. 4; Thursday, Nov. 12; Saturday, Nov. 21; Saturday, Nov. 28; Wednesday, Dec. 2; Friday, Dec. 11; Saturday, Dec. 12; Saturday, Dec. 19.

No previous trail work experience is necessary. Participants will get a guided tour of the valley and meet others who also love Panthertown.

To sign up, visit www.panthertown.org/volunteer.

Clean up Fontana

A three-day cleanup will culminate the statewide Trees4Trash Neighborhood Tree Challenge taking place Oct. 31-Nov. 7.

Cleanup sessions at Fontana will be held 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7; as well as 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Fontana Dam. The cleanup is part of a slate of events hosted by the N.C. Wildlife Federation that stretches across the state and includes plantings, cleanups and giveaways.

During the cleanup events, volunteers will collect trash and return it to the event leader for weighing, and each person who turns in a 25-pound bag of trash will receive one tree or shrub to plant. The goal over the course of the week is to remove 3,000 pounds of trash in North Carolina and plant 500 native trees and shrubs in underserved communities and areas near water.

Due to COVID-19 protocols and space limitations, participants must register online at https://bit.ly/31dr75m.

1,500 pounds of trash hauled from Haywood waters

Fifty people participated in the Big Sweep trash cleanup Haywood Waterways Association hosted Sept. 19, removing 1,500 pounds of trash from roadsides and stream banks across the county.

Crews were organized through each of the four towns — Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley and Waynesville — and by the Pigeon River Outfitters in Canton. Assistance from Waynesville, Clyde, Commission for a Clean County and the Tennessee Valley Authority helped fund the effort.

“This was the first year Big Sweep occurred in all four towns,” said Adopt-AStream Coordinator Christine O’Brien. “It was great to see the community come together to protect our water which supports activities like fishing, swimming and our enjoyment of the outdoors.”

The trash bags filled up with common items like plastic bottles and Styrofoam but also included larger items like car parts and agricultural equipment. Stormwater runoff is the number one cause of polluted water in Haywood County, with water picking up trash, fertilizers, chemicals and other waste as it flows toward storm drains. Securing and properly disposing of trash, picking up after pets and tuning cars to reduce leaks goes a long way toward combating pollution.

Learn about the state of clean air in N.C.

Get the lowdown on the state of air quality in North Carolina during a webinar slated for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

The annual State of our Air Briefing and Press Conference is typically held in Asheville each year. Speakers at the new virtual event will include the director of the N.C. Division of Air Quality, the director of the WNC Air Quality Agency and the WNC District manager for Duke Energy.

New this year will be a presentation from a meteorologist with the N.C. Department of Air Quality who will speak about changes to air quality forecasting in the mountains as well as a talk from a representative of the Blue Horizons Project who will discuss cost-effective actions to reduce energy demand and emissions.

Registration is required at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6906898259845160720.

The garden paths will be decorated to celebrate fall and Halloween. Donated photo

“

FACES OF HAYWOOD

Explore the ghostly garden

Celebrate the spirit of Halloween with a trip to the Ghostly Garden at the Highlands Botanical Garden Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1. The garden is open free to the public from sunrise to sunset, and guests are encouraged to put on costumes and bring

Start Zumba

the family for a bewitching, self-guided walk. Visitors must wear a mask and maintain physical distance due to COVID-19. If rain is in the forecast, decorations will be taken down to keep them safe. For more information, visit www.highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2623.

A new Zumba class will start up 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. This 60-minute class is open to all ages and genders featuring a whole-body workout with easy choreographies and rhythms from around the world.

Class size is limited to 10 people including the instructor. Daily admission or membership required to attend, with a mask required to enter the building. Masks may be removed during class, however.

Register with Tom Plowman at tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov or 828.456.2030.

Waynesville rec department earns national distinction

After seven years spent laying the groundwork, the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded an honor that Director Rhett Langston likens to the “Heisman Trophy” of the parks and recreation world.

The department has received accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the National Recreation and Park Association, the only national accreditation available for park and recreation agencies.

Fewer than 1 percent of all parks and recreation departments in the nation receive this distinction, Langston said. Waynesville has the smallest population of any North Carolina area to receive it and the third-smallest in the country.

“This is a great honor to represent and provide the best possible service to the citizens of Waynesville,” he said.

Accreditation is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. It indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs safety and services.

To receive accreditation, the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department had to demonstrate compliance with 151 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. The process involved a formal application, selfassessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that resulted in a written report and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years.

Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operations to benefit the community.

For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/capra.

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce is an immensely great value for any community member or local business. As a member, I have benefited from the networking and learning opportunities, amazing resources, and advanced program offerings. Additionally, the employees of the Chamber are knowledgeable and dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly to help our business community recover from the recent pandemic. Hands down, the investments our Chamber is making in our local economy is like no other.”

— Dr. Michael Coleman

Vice President of Student Services for Haywood Community College

Get your dose of outdoor ed

Limited programming of outdoor-related workshops has reopened at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard, with a series of free activities planned for people of all ages and skill levels throughout the month of November

n Monday, Nov. 2: Salamanders from 1 to 3 p.m. All ages.

n Wednesday, Nov. 4: Intro to Fly Fishing from 1 to 4 p.m. Ages 12 and up.

n Friday, Nov. 6: Casting from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Open to ages 12 and up.

These are only the answers.

n Tuesday, Nov. 10: Primitive Outdoor Skills for Families from 1 to 4 p.m. Ages 8 and up.

Navigate like a pro

n Thursday, Nov. 12: Compass from 1 to 3 p.m. Ages 10 and up.

n Monday, Nov. 16: Nature Nuts: Raising Trout from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Ages 4 to 7.

n Wednesday, Nov. 18: Eco Explorers: Tracking from 1 to 3 p.m. Ages 8 to 12. n Friday, Nov. 20: Habitat Hike from 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 8 and up.

All programs will be held outside with masks and social distancing required. Participants must register online at www.ncwildlife.org/learning/educationcenters/pisgah/eventregistration/pageid/eventlistview.

Learn how to navigate with a map and compass during a free two-day course held 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21, in Haywood County.

Each session will be spent taking field bearings, orienting a map, collecting features to keep track of location and estimating distance. Instructors are Haywood County Director of Emergency Services Greg Shuping and retired National Park Service ranger and administrator Kevin FitzGerald.

Space is limited. Sign up by calling the Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department at 828.452.6789. A

Get certified in food safety

A ServSafe certification program in food protection will be offered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18-19 at the Macon County Cooperative Extension Center.

The program is for food service managers and supervisory staff in food service establishments. It will be taught by Kimberly Terrell, a family and consumer science agent who is a registered dietician and certified ServSafe instructor with more

than 25 years of food management experience.

Certification is based on passing the ServSafe exam and satisfies the North Carolina food code requirement for a certified food protection person in charge. Masks and social distancing will be required at this class.

The $125 registration fee is due by Nov. 2. Register at https://macon.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/food -protection-manager-certification.

Kimberly Terrell, 828.349.2048 or kimberly_terrell@ncsu.edu.

WNC Calendar

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• A drive through trunk or treat will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 at the West Canton Baptist Church, 75 Lowe St. (off Old Clyde Road), Canton. Attendees are invited to wear a costume, stay in their car, and each child will get a bag of candy. http://www.westcantonbaptist.org or 828-648-5561.

• The Friends of the Greenway will hold its Arts & Crafts Fair fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. All vendor fees, food purchases, and purchased raffle tickets will benefit FROG. The raffle drawing will be at 2 p.m., participants do not have to be present to win. Music will be ongoing during the event. Safety precautions will be in place with vendor spacing, hand sanitizer will be available, masks are required for vendors and FROG volunteers, and encouraged for all others.

• Live Forgiven Church will host a grocery giveaway from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 45 Crown Ridge Road Sylva. The event will be held curbside with safety precautions in place. It is open to anyone with shelf stable items, produce and eggs available to donate.

• Town of Waynesville will conduct its bi-annual Cemetery Clean-up beginning Nov. 9. Cemetery Staff will begin tagging items to be removed on Oct. 12, items not removed by Nov. 9, will be removed by Town Staff and stored for 60 days. For additional assistance, contact the Public Works Office at 828.456.3706.

• Macon County Public Health is currently conducting drive-thru flu vaccination clinics every Wednesday in October from 2 to 5 p.m. at 1830 Lakeside drive. No appointment is necessary to receive the vaccination.

• Dogwood Health Trust will hold its first annual meeting, virtually, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. To learn more, visit www.dht.org.

• Papertown Winter Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Bethel Christian Academy in Canton. Admission is free. Vendors are welcome, the cost is $40 for a table and chair at the Market.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Franklin’s Mobile Museum, formerly Arduino Club, will meet with masks each Saturday at 1 p.m. outdoors at the Wesley Park pavilion, at 573 NE Main St, Franklin, starting Nov. 7. We will discuss and work on various museum exhibits, this year science themed. franklinsmobilemuseum.com.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth & Enrichment will be offering an online High Impact Leadership Certificate from Monday – Friday, Nov. 9-13, with live instruction, activities and interaction. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with breaks throughout. For more information and to register, visit pdp.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7397.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• A new Zumba class will start up 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Register with Tom Plowman at tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov or 828.456.2030.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

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

• The 7th annual “Hillbilly Show & Shine” will be held Oct. 30-31 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Car and bike shows. Live music. Craft booths. Food and beverage vendors. Admission is $10 per day. Free parking.

• The annual Swain County “Trick or Treat” event will be held this year as a drive-thru from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at the East and West elementary schools. Volunteers are needed and should call 828.508.2795.

• The annual “Polar Express” train ride will kick off the holiday on Nov. 6 from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.

• “Art After Dark” will continue from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in downtown Waynesville. It is free to attend Art After Dark. For more information, click on www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

• An artist demonstration will be hosted by painter Jennifer Sharkey from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main Street in Waynesville. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Arnold Hill (rock/Americana) Friday, Oct. 23 and Mojomatic Saturday, Oct. 24 Scoundrel’s Lounge Friday, Nov. 6. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.www.froglevelbrewing.com

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The Dirty Dead Halloween Party Oct. 31 and The Pony Express Nov. 7. All shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host a Halloween party with Jelly Beet Connection 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and Anna Victoria 7 p.m. Nov. 6. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds will host a drivein concert series with Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires (rock/Americana) Nov. 5, Martin Sexton (folk/soul) Nov. 7 and Keller Williams & Friends (jam/acoustic) Nov. 13. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Event Center (Waynesville) will host a drive-in concert series with The Marcus King Trio (rock/jam) Oct. 27. All shows begin at 6:45 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by the Asheville Music Hall, tickets are available at www.ashevillemusichall.com.

Street. Social distancing and safety protocols will be followed.

• There will be Spooky Storytelling with “master storyteller” Tim Hall around the fire pit in front of the Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians at 140 Fry Street in downtown Bryson City. The storytelling will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October, weather permitting.

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

F OOD & D RINK

• A ServSafe certification program in food protection will be offered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18-19 at the Macon County Cooperative Extension Center. The $125 registration fee is due by Nov. 2. Register at https://macon.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/food-protectionmanager-certification.

• The Elevated Wines Weekend will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Village Green Commons Amphitheater in Cashiers. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbee.com/v/elevatedwines/boxoffice. Visit www.highlandswineshoppe.com/events, call 828.526.4080 or email director@cashiersgreen.com.

• 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 new flight line-up of wines to enjoy from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. The Wine Market also offers market plates for two including a wide array of delectable finger foods.

Outdoors

• Get the lowdown on the state of air quality in North Carolina during a webinar slated for 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Registration is required at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6906898259845160 720.

• Celebrate the spirit of Halloween with a trip to the Ghostly Garden at the Highlands Botanical Garden Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1. The garden is open free to the public from sunrise to sunset, and guests are encouraged to put on costumes and bring the family for a bewitching, self-guided walk. For more information, visit www.highlandsbiological.org or contact Paige Engelbrektsson, 828.526.2623.

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

Saturdays, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21, in Haywood County. Space is limited. Sign up by calling the Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department at 828.452.6789.

• Every Friday in October, 3-to-5-year-olds and their parents are invited to participate in the Knee High Naturalist outdoor education program from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands. The program is free, but attendance is limited to 10 people each session, so registration is required at 828.526.2623.

• The ninth annual N.C. BikeWalk Transportation Summit will be held online Nov. 5-6. The $50 registration fee — $15 for students — includes a year’s membership with BikeWalkNC. Register at www.bikewalknc.org/nc-bicycle-summit.

• A virtual meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, will give people the chance to weigh in on a recently released environmental assessment examining the possibility of creating a mountain bike system in the Wears Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participants can join the meeting using the link https://zoom.us/j/93025295219, A listen-only call-in mode is also available by calling 312.626.6799 and entering the passcode 93025295219#.

• Outdoor Mission Community, formerly known as Outdoor Mission Camp, is seeking volunteers to aid in trip planning, leadership, skills certifications and more, with a pair of training trips now on the calendar. Sign up for training events online at www.outdoormissioncommunity.org or contact Jamie Shackleford at 336.583.9932.

• A display of 50 powerful paintings showcasing the most remote and wild corners of the Canadian Arctic is on display through Jan. 3 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Entrance to the exhibit is free with the arboretum’s standard $16 parking fee. Face coverings are required for visitors age 5 and older.

H IKING CLUBS

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate 4.5 mile hike, elevation change 600 ft., from Deep Creek to Indian Creek in Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, Oct. 31. The club will meet in the Bi-Lo parking lot at 9 a.m. Call leader Gail Lehman, 524.5298, for reservations. Visitors are welcome.

• The Blue Ridge Heritage Craft & Quilt Exhibit will be held through Oct. 31 at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main Street in Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Ghost Town in the Sky parking lot (Maggie Valley) will host a drive-in concert series with St. Paul & The Broken Bones (soul/rock) on Thursday, Oct. 29. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com.

• The Haywood County Arts Council will host a sun spirit faces in clay art class with Jan Kolenda from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21. There will also be a Cherokee artist demonstration with Tara McCoy from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 23. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Fall for Waynesville street festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, on Main

• Friends of Panthertown is hosting a series of trail workdays this fall, and all are invited to come pitch in. Scheduled workdays are Thursday, Oct. 29; Wednesday, Nov. 4; Thursday, Nov. 12; Saturday, Nov. 21; Saturday, Nov. 28; Wednesday, Dec. 2; Friday, Dec. 11; Saturday, Dec. 12; Saturday, Dec. 19. To sign up, visit www.panthertown.org/volunteer.

• A three-day cleanup at Fontana Lake will culminate the statewide Trees4Trash Neighborhood Tree Challenge taking place Oct. 31-Nov. 7. Cleanup sessions at Fontana will be held 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7; as well as 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Fontana Dam. Register at https://bit.ly/31DR75M.

• Learn how to navigate with a map and compass during a free two-day course held 8 a.m. to noon

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

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• Add Photo $6

• Bold ad $2

• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4

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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

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Better Homes and Gardens

Estate- Heritage

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

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Lakeshore Realty

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The Smoky Mountain Retreat at Eagles Nest

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WNC Real Estate Store

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SUPER CROSSWORD

73Green shade

77Pennsylvania city with a big population of forefathers?

83Sussex loc.

86Pale --

87One making a change

88Palo --

89Piano relative

9224-hr. cash convenience

23Suit fitter in a California city?

25Holding the attention of 27Seat winners

28"Breezy" co-star Kay

29Boys and men from an Oregon city?

31Michigan city whose residents are a bit more eccentric?

36Jacuzzi sigh

37Swirly letters

38Popular cookie

39Hamm on a soccer field

41Actor Hill of "Moneyball"

45Denounce

48Plundered an Ohio city?

51Big lug

54Judd of song

57L-P middle

58"Renegade" star Lamas

59Hay bundle

61Setting of "Anne of Green Gables"

63Yang partner

64Mouse-spotting cry

65Painting exhibitor on wheels in a Maryland city?

70Sphere

71Sphere

72Debt memo

93Runoff conduit

95Part of LAPD

96Includes an Arizona city in the tally?

99Noah's Ark groupings

101Military foe

102Cleanup org.

103Not distant

106Electric car maker

110Sprite

112Speak badly of an Illinois city?

116Off-Broadway awards whose winners hail from an Idaho city?

120Film director Reiner

121Thurman of "Jennifer 8"

122Illumination

123Warehouse vehicle produced in a Texas city?

128First-aid gel

129-- -di-dah

130Negative battery poles

131City close to Minneapolis

132Antarctic explorer Richard

133Perch

134Compounds in explosives

135Perch

DOWN

1Big step

2Casual slacks

3Scorches

4Net address

5Baseball club

6In pursuit of 7"The Chase" star Marlon

8One nabbing something

9Immigrant's class, in brief

10Sgt., e.g.

11Body trunk

12Collielike pooch

13Top-grade

14Firm belief

15Do some excavating

16Make turbid

17With 105-Down, eclectic digest

18Comics' acts

24Corrida cry

26Three-sharp musical key

30"We -- please!"

32Actor Knight

33"No man -- island"

34Phone no.

35Lodger

40Impromptu

42Goose of Hawaii

43Timber-dressing tool

44Boxing blow

46Counterpart of "sir"

47De -- (afresh)

49Slanting

50R&B's Braxton

51"SOS" group

52Jack of early talk TV

53Model Macpherson

55Melancholy

56Like argon

60Smoky peak in Sicily

62Rodents in research

63Lionel Richie hit of 1983

66Actor McShane

67Lawn pests

68Mauna --

69"Lohengrin" heroine

74"-- turn up eventually"

75Executive "no"

76Greek Cupid

78Tigers, e.g.

79Make glad

80Biscotto nut

81Creek critter

82Work detail

83Latin "Behold!"

84Gas in signs

85Pasting stuff

90Snared

91Surgical probe

92Without -- (worry-free)

94College military gp.

97On edge

98Modern, in Mannheim

100Island locale

104Consent (to)

105See 17-Down

107Atelier

108Units of light

109Noah's Ark landing site

111Thwarts

113Lion of C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" tales

114Metal waste

115Em preceder

116Blurt out the secret

117Grease-filled

118Monster film lab helper

119-- B'rith

124Songwriter DiFranco

125"Baloney!"

126Above, in odes

127Bustle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

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Real Estate Announcements

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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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Answers on 34

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