Smoky Mountain News | November 17, 2021

has widespread

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Harmon Den bridge will feature animal underpass Page 30

BUILDING

On the Cover:

Erik and Jaime Perkins, brothers and custom-home builders based in Bryson City, talk about their recent social media influencer status after pulling in more than 2 million views a month on their YouTube channel. (Page 6) Jaime Perkins works to pull up flooring while working on the latest custom-made home. Donated photo

News

WCU trustees mull master plan proposal ..................................................................4 Jackson to pay $725,000 in jail death settlement ....................................................9 Cawthorn’s move has widespread implications ......................................................11 Cataloochee Ski Area to open Saturday ..................................................................13

Sen. Kevin Corbin is ‘considering’ a run in NC-14 ................................................16 Maggie Valley removes Planning Board chairman ..................................................17 Business News ..................................................................................................................19

Opinion

Now we know what the COVID police will do ........................................................20 Inspiration from Mary Oliver, Sadhguru and Ted Lasso........................................21

A&E

Darren Nicholson releases new album ......................................................................22 Family, friends and gratitude: a great American holiday........................................29

Outdoors

Harmon Den bridge will feature animal underpass ................................................30

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Ten years ahead

WCU trustees mull master plan proposal

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

At a board retreat this month, Western Carolina University trustees got their first look at a draft proposed 10-year master plan update that calls for a reimagined library, beefed-up athletic facilities, and overall improvements to campus organization and aesthetics.

The university’s current master plan is less than 10 years old, but so much has happened since its 2014 adoption that the university needed an update to carry it toward the future, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Mike Byers told trustees Nov. 5. WCU engaged Hanbury, the same firm that did the 2014 plan, for the job. After hearing the presentation this month, trustees will be asked to officially adopt an

The focus areas

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

The draft master plan proposes a split library model with the research library remaining at Hunter Library, while the digital library and student collaboration space would move to a new collaborative learning commons building. Hanbury/WCU graphic

updated master plan at their regular quarterly meeting Friday, Dec. 3.

“A lot of the key fundamental land use and broad-brush concepts from the previous plan are still relevant,” said Keith Storms, president of Hanbury. “But at the same time the strategic plan has shifted a bit, so the master plan itself needs to pivot to support these strategic goals.”

If the proposed master plan is adopted, over the coming years the university will focus its development efforts on five districts described in the document.

ACADEMIC CORE

Clustered just to the east of the A.K. Hinds University Center and fountain area, the academic core would focus on collaborative learning and prompt some major shifts from the status quo — perhaps most notably at Hunter Library.

The way students do research is changing, said Hanbury President Keith Storms, and Hanbury’s analysis showed that while Hunter Library currently has 95,000 square feet dedicated to books, it only needs about 30,000. There are a lot of empty shelves, books that haven’t been touched in years and books that simply have no use anymore — outdated computer science books, for instance. It’s also badly in need of renovation.

“The library is just not accessible,” said Student Government Association President Rebecca Hart, who is a nonvoting member of the Board of Trustees. “It’s not a place students enjoy being. It’s very outdated. It smells weird. It looks weird. It’s super hard to navigate. There’s floors that most students don’t even know exist. You just stumble upon them.”

The consultants recommended moving toward a split-library model, with the pared-down stacks and research library remaining in the Hunter building. A new facility in Lot 33 behind Coulter — a “collaborative learning commons” — would offer muchneeded student collaboration space and house the library’s digital collections. While the library’s location provided a welcome refuge from center campus when it was first built, trustees said, over the years campus has grown away from it. Relocating library functions to the center of campus, said Hart, would show students that learning is a priority.

Meanwhile at Hunter, consolidated stacks and storage, together with a relocated Mountain Heritage Center and digital library, would set the stage for renovations transforming Hunter to a key component of a new STEM district. Under the draft plan,

As part of the master planning process, the consultants completed a space needs analysis that showed a shortage of more than 300,000 square feet. The university’s strategic plan calls for a “reshuffling the deck” strategy to meet those needs, maximizing use of existing infrastructure and campus space where possible.

That’s what makes the draft plan a “very

Hunter would house a research library, the engineering department, faculty commons, IT support and study space.

The currently vacant Moore Building would also be renovated and repurposed, with changes there and at Hunter triggering a domino chain of renovation and reshuffling at buildings throughout the academic core. Listed needs include but are not limited to an interdisciplinary maker space, display space and collaboration space; more lab and classrooms space for the education program; dedicated space for the hospitality and tourism program; and support space to accommodate massive online growth in the business program.

STUDENT LIFE CORE

The student life area sits in the center of campus, including the fountain and fields surrounding it as well as student-centered facilities such as A.K. Hinds University Center, Reid Pool and the Campus Recreation Center. Hart told trustees the current campus lacks welcoming space for students to hang out and study — future moves should address that issue, she said.

“We have a university center, but because we’re a regional institution, a lot of that is program space. But also it’s used by people outside the university that are coming in and renting that space,” Hart said. “It’s not really a spot for students to hang out.”

The draft plan calls for expanding the university center to provide more “living room” type areas for students and enhancing the fountain area to boost its existing appeal, while also making it a more inviting hangout space for students. Renovations to the bookstore building would make way for a new, expanded health center, and additional recreation fields as well as physical education and recreation program space replacing Camp Lab Gym are also recommended.

CAMPUS ENTRY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

This section parallels N.C. 107 from just north of the H.F. Robinson administration building to the Cordelia Camp building. The draft plan proposes a new building near the campus entrance to function as an alumni, meeting and event center, per-

good” one, said Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management Joe Walker.

“We have a lot of renovation needs, and a lot of these shuffles will help us renovate those spaces and bring those up to date for the new component,” he said.

Nearly half — 137,000 square feet — of the assessed space shortage is in athletics. The student center takes

haps also including rental space and housing the Mountain Heritage Center, currently located at Hunter Library.

While the plan does not call for any major renovations to the white administration building, consultants did recommend some “small moves” to establish a sense of arrival. Suggestions include streaming vertical purple banners down the building, nighttime uplighting and relocating the small Catamount statue in the roundabout to a pedestrian-friendly spot, replacing it with a larger mascot sculpture.

The consultants also pointed out the “lackluster” pedestrian bridge spanning Cullowhee Creek as a missed opportunity to create a “wow moment” on campus. They suggested replacing it with a wooden structure that gives off a “front porch atmosphere” and features plenty of nighttime lighting to improve student comfort and safety.

SOUTH CAMPUS ENTRY AND ATHLETICS

This area includes the southernmost campus access from N.C. 107 and the athletics facilities clustered around it. The master plan names a new football team facility, renovations to Whitmire Stadium and new locker rooms for soccer, track and field, golf and rec teams as its top priorities, with Ramsey Center renovations and a new baseball team facility coming in on the second tier. Some of the team facilities are currently located at Camp Lab Gym, but that aging building is slated for demolition, so those services will need a new home.

CAMPUS ENTRY AND OLD CULLOWHEE

Including a triangle of land at the back entrance to campus from Old Cullowhee Road, the Old Cullowhee zone has the potential to symbolize WCU’s relationship to the local community and natural landscape in which it nestles.

If a river park project in the area proposed by the community group CuRVE comes to pass, it could prove a “great catalyst for engagement,” said Morgan. Base Camp Cullowhee could potentially set up an outpost there, offering rental equipment and even guided expeditions. Ideally, she said, it would be a place for the surrounding community to engage with their backyard university on a day-to-day basis.

second with 52,000 square feet, and instructional space ranks third, with 34,000 square feet. The draft master plan sketches out four “zones” within campus — STEM district, arts district, student life core and Cullowhee connections — and calls for future moves that bring like programs together within those boundaries.

THE CAMPUS CALLING CARD

The draft master plan focuses as much on enhancing the look and feel of campus as it does on expanding program space. WCU’s outstanding natural beauty is its “calling card,” Storms said, a “distinct advantage” compared to many other schools.

Now that Scott and Walker residence halls are gone, that advantage is even stronger, with a line of sight open through the spine of campus to the mountains ringing it.

“The first thought is how do we reinforce that, build on what we already have here in the unique heart of campus and make those views more part of the day-to-day experience,” Storms said. “Why is this important? Those visual connections help the campus feel smaller.”

versity is seeking a design firm to help determine how far $60 million will go, but the highest priorities are a field sports building to replace the to-be-demolished Camp Lab Gym, a field house building replacement and Whitmire Stadium repairs, renovations and upgrades.

“We think we need a lot more, but we think we can afford $60 million,” he told trustees.

Of the $60 million, half would come from philanthropy and half from debt to be paid down with student fees. To achieve that goal, said Byers, each student would need to contribute $249 per year to the mortgage payment. Overall university fee increases are capped at 3% per year, so WCU is planning a multi-year process to get student fee revenue to the desired level. This year, Byers will ask trustees to approve an $86 increase to the current athletic fee of

Emphasizing that smaller feel will affirm WCU’s existing identity as a tight-knit, relationship-focused community and make people more willing to ditch their cars when moving around campus.

Improved traffic circulation is an important driver for the plan, which calls for trading the many small lots now scattered through the middle of campus for more easily accessible parking areas closer to its edge. “Lot shopping” causes about 40% of the traffic on some campuses, Hanbury designer Elizabeth Morgan said — pleasant pedestrian experiences and easy outskirts parking will encourage people to park their cars and become pedestrians en route to their final destination.

Making campus a more comfortable place for students to hang out will also reduce traffic, she said, because it will encourage students to find a study nook to kill between-class hours rather than traveling home.

PLANNING FOR ATHLETICS UPGRADES

The plan won’t include a mechanism to pay for the desired improvements — master plans typically don’t — but Byers said the university does hope to budget $60 million to get started on suggested improvements to WCU’s athletics facilities. The uni-

$400 per two-semester year. Two years from now, when debt equivalent to $104 per student on the existing fee retires, Byers’ office will seek to keep that capacity in the fee and add $59 to the total.

The proposal drew pushback from Student Government Association President Rebecca Hart, who is a nonvoting member of the Board of Trustees.

“I understand the facilities do need a lot of help, but we also have to understand we have a very significantly high athletic fee, and the students who are paying for this will never see this,” she said.

Byers said that six institutions in the University of North Carolina system have an athletics fee higher than WCU’s, though acknowledging that the plan would put WCU in the top three for two years — assuming no other institution raises their fee in that time.

While the master plan outlines a general direction for the university’s future as well as some specific, large projects, its core purpose is to serve as a “flexible, living document” to guide university leaders in the decade to come, said Storms.

“Based on new information things change,” he said. “We want to make sure we have principles that guide you for the future, key moves that are visionary, but also flexible to accommodate funding and different impacts over time.”

H ARD CANDY C HRISTMAS

November 26 & 27, 2021 • 10AM - 5PM

Ingles Nutrition Notes

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QUESTION: OFTEN AFTER I EAT MY STOMACH HURTS. COULD I BE SENSITIVE TO A FOOD AND SHOULD I DO ONE OF THOSE FOOD SENSITIVITY PANELS I CAN GET ON LINE?

ANSWER: Short answer - NO! There are no evidence-based food sensitivity panels and you will end up excluding food and you may be ignoring a medical issue. If you are experiencing stomach/gut related issues after a meal the first thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor or a medical clinic to check to see what may be causing this. Your physician may recommend testing to rule out various illnesses and diseases.

For more information on food sensitivities: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditionslibrary/allergies/igg-food-test

Making a dream into reality

Perkins brothers turn custom home building business into YouTube fame

BY J ESSI STONE

N EWS EDITOR

“Living the dream” is what comes to mind after spending a couple of hours with the Perkins brothers and their construction crew on top of a mountain in Nantahala.

The sun was shining overhead and the autumn colors were at their peak as the builders finished up work on another custom built house that will soon be a three-story, 2,000-square-foot mountain getaway for a couple in Atlanta. The lot offers 180-degree views of the mountains looking toward Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“You can see Clingmans Dome in the distance,” Erik Perkins says, pointing over the horizon.

A loveliness of ladybugs swarm the outside of the house, covering all the windows and siding. Jaime Perkins swats them out of his face, but they continue to gather on the collar of his shirt and his blue jeans.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

A sure sign of good fortune, the Perkins brothers have definitely seen their fair share

of it the last couple of years as the videos on their YouTube channel continue to get record numbers of views.

“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy going from being up on the side of a mountain never seeing anybody to having hundreds of thousands of people a day seeing you,” said Erik, regarding their newfound social media influencer status.

The Perkins Builder Brothers YouTube channel now has more than 347,000 subscribers and gets over 2 million views per month. Their Facebook page has 164,000

followers and their Instagram has 15,500 followers.

Jaime and Erik also know how much hard work has been done behind the scenes for years before their social media pages went viral.

“The YouTube thing meshes well with this business, but don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of work — most people give up because it’s so much work,” Erik said. “Before it started making money, my wife was about to divorce me because I was working on it all the time, but now she’s quitting her job because our YouTube business is making more money than her job so that’s incredible.”

The Bryson City natives have been operating the custom building business their father started for the last 20 years but have only spent the last two years building an impressive online brand by filming, editing and publishing their own “how to” videos on the construction sites.

In the 15- to 20-minute episodes, viewers can watch the home construction process from the time grading work begins until the final touches are made. Erik is the main cameraman and does a majority of the recording on his phone and all of the editing from his

iPad. He earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia from UNCA before he went into the family business, but found a way to utilize his skills in videography.

GETTING STARTED

When he told his brother and business partner about wanting to start making videos from the job site, Jaime gave him the go ahead, but neither knew how popular the videos would become online. In their minds, they were just building custom made homes in Western North Carolina — nothing fancy like the mountaintop mansions you see on HGTV or the dramatic renovation finishes found on Extreme Home Makeover.

“Yeah, we just sort of started winging it. For about a year we probably did more topicbased videos — how to install a piece of siding or how to frame a wall — some of those now have millions of views, but it was very sporadic in the beginning,” Erik said.

“We didn’t think there would be any interest in people watching it — it’s just custom home building with regular customers — but yeah, the interest is definitely there,” Jaime said.

“We do like this one-take kind of style where it’s not very produced. It’s really a great format for us, too, because we literally don’t have to do anything different from what we’re already doing. We just do our job and that becomes the show that week.”

— Erik Perkins

While being interviewed on a podcast called Startup Hustle hosted by Matt Decoursey, the CEO of Full Scale, Erik was asked if he’d thought about doing a start to finish video of the building process for the YouTube channel. His first thought was, “No, that sounds like a lot of work.” But the more he thought about it, the more it sounded possible.

“So about four houses ago, I said, ‘all right, let’s try this,’” he said. “I made a video about every step of the process and that’s when we really started growing.”

It’s impressive the number of videos they post, but Erik says it’s not as time consuming as one would think. At the end of the day, the main job is to produce a quality, custom house, but videoing progress and processes each day has just become part of the job.

“We do like this one-take kind of style where it’s not very produced. If it’s something that needs a little more explanation or if it’s really loud, I’ll just mute the audio and just explain it with voice over later, but yeah, there’s no real plan,” he said. “It’s really a great format for us, too, because we literally don’t have to do anything different from what we’re already doing. We just do our job and that becomes the show that week.”

Now that the crew is settling into the new workflow and getting used to the cameras rolling all the time, Erik said the team is working on developing their character roles a little more.

“You know, Jamie tells really bad jokes,” Erik teased his brother.

“Yeah, I tell horrible jokes, I talk too much and I give way too much detail,” Jaime agreed.

“Jason’s always bitching and moaning about whatever it is we tell him to do. It’s very much reality but we try to make sure that the little personality pieces get in there too,” Erik said. “And I’m the one who’s late to work or I don’t have all the tools I need and take everyone else’s.”

The formula seems to be working well — there are plenty of people who watch for the fun, the mess ups and the laughs, but there are also plenty of people who watch to learn some new skills.

YOUTUBE SENSATION

With a growing reach online, the Perkins brothers have had plenty of opportunity for growth, but they’re not looking to expand their business.

“Our actual construction business, we don’t want it to grow,” Erik said.

“We could be doing 10 houses at a time right now if we wanted to, but that’s not what we want,” Jaime added. “We’d be strung out

and losing our minds and probably our wallets too because that’s a lot to keep up with. We’d have to hire so many people to make that work.”

Erik said it’s typical for them to turn down a dozen new house requests a week — otherwise they could be booked out for years to come. With the Nantahala retreat close to completion, the construction crew has three more custom builds scheduled out plus a piece of property a few miles west of Bryson City where they plan to build up to 10 spec houses to sell. With housing options being in short supply across Western North Carolina, these potential homes will no doubt be in high demand.

“These won’t be high dollar, but they’re not going to be basic either because we have to build a house that’s interesting — that gives us the freedom to design a house that we think will be a good build for the show,” Jaime said.

“Yeah, it’s got to have some unique details and some curb appeal. It can’t just be a square box,” Erik agreed.

So that’s the next challenge for the Perkins brothers — how can we build eight to 10 homes in a neighborhood that are similar but not duplicated.

Then there’s the social media aspect of the business that is growing as well. It’s at a point where Erik can no longer manage it all on his own and has had to hire freelancers to help manage the business’ online presence now that it is taking on advertisers and corporate sponsors. It’s a great problem to have.

“That’s really the bread and butter of what a YouTuber does,” Erik said. “There’s several big companies that just give us free stuff for our builds and pay us to use their products like this siding company, the decking, and Lowe’s provided a sponsorship of all the plywood in this whole house.”

So many people look at YouTubers and think, “I could do that.” To those people, Erik says, “Well you better plan on making a hundred videos before you get paid a dime and even then you may never get paid a dime.”

Social media is a fickle thing. You never know what people will resonate with and when one video that you least expect could blow up the internet. The moment when one share becomes a thousand and then a million.

“You could make 200 videos and post them regularly and they could even be pretty decent and you’d just never get more than a thousand subscribers ever,” he said. “Maybe you make one video that just takes off or something like that, but I don’t know, sometimes it’s just luck. I was just stubborn enough to just keep trying.”

DANGEROUS WORK

The construction crew enjoys a lot of laughs and cutting up together on the job site — it’s what keeps the work enjoyable — but it’s not always fun and games. It’s dangerous work and safety is critical.

Jaime became the focal point of a series of videos on the Perkins Brothers YouTube channel last year after he lost four of his fingers while using a power tool. How-to videos quickly ceased as family and friends focused on his recovery.

In a video from a hospital bed, Jaime shared what had transpired in his woodworking shop at home early that morning. He was using a jointer — a woodworking machine used to joint together flat boards. He had the jointer still running when he and a friend began using a different machine and forgot to turn the jointer off.

“The jointer is like a table. I’d set some boards on it and because my earmuffs were on and the vacuum was running, I neglected to notice the jointer was still running. The guard wasn’t covering the knives,” he said. “I reached across the jointer to pick up the wood and before I could have any reaction, it sucked my hand into the machine.”

With his left hand wedged in between the cutter head and the infeed table, fortunately the machine stalled. Jaime was able to reach the off switch and unplug machine. Had it not stopped, the damage to his hand would have been far worse. Jaime’s friend was able to help him pull his hand out from the machine. He doesn’t remember everything from those few moments, but he must have screamed out in pain because his wife heard him from upstairs and came to check on what happened.

“This was a very preventable mistake. I tell everyone to be safe on the job and I feel like I’m as cautious as anybody, but this was a bad mistake,” he said. “I try not to beat myself up about it and stay positive.”

“We didn’t think there would be any interest in people watching it — it’s just custom home building with regular customers — but yeah, the interest is definitely there.”

— Jaime Perkins

FUTURE PLANS

Every day on the construction site is a new adventure and presents a new problem to be solved. No two builds are ever the same and there’s no one particular fix for the challenges the crew faces each day — that’s half of the excitement of following the team throughout the process.

“We just tried to put a microwave in, but the trim we already did last week was all in the way so we had to rip it all off and put it all back together,” Erik said. “There’s no textbook way to do everything that we do. Even though we’re repeating a lot of the same processes, every house is different. Same process, different scenario.”

After watching a few of their videos, it’s easy to imagine the Perkins Brothers showing up on cable TV with their own reality show one day. They have the talent, energy, personalities and good looks needed to make good TV.

Perkins Builders fans watched as Jaime went to the doctor to take the bandage off for the first time. His hands shook in nervousness as he tried to hold the camera steady. It’s the first time he saw that he lost four fingers at the knuckles. He experienced excruciating pain as the bandage was removed because it had stuck to the stitches on his fingers. Even through the traumatic event, Jaime thanked his crew for continuing work at the job site and all his friends, family and supporters who were quick to organize a Go Fund Me page to assist his family with medical expenses.

“I hope to remind people of the dangers of being in the trade that we’re in where you work around dangerous machines. I want to encourage people to be safe,” he said. “I have read hundreds of your comments and it reminds me to be thankful for what I still have and I thank God that I didn’t get injured worse than I did.”

By June, Jaime was putting a video together about the first time returning to use the jointer in his woodworking job with some new safety precautions in place, including adding a light to indicate when the machine is running. He openly shared the mental and physical struggles during his recovery process, but he stayed positive about the situation with support. Danner sent him a pair of slip-on work boots so he could begin easing back into work. Sitting around at home was not something Jaime was used to and he was eager to get back to the job site as soon as possible.

Today, after several intense surgeries and a year of healing, Jaime wears a metal prosthetic device over his left hand that allows him to have about 90 percent use of his hand. He’s thankful to still be able to do what he loves.

“There’s just something really satisfying about getting something done,” he said.

Erik said they auditioned for a reality show deal a while back but didn’t get it. Now that they’ve found a good niche on YouTube, the Perkins brothers aren’t so sure whether they want to continue to pursue the reality TV route, though it’s still a possibility. They are currently in discussions with a network, but a confidentiality agreement prohibits them from giving any more details.

A TV show would completely change what they are doing now. Instead of those one-take videos with the conversations off the cuff, a TV show would take more time, more takes and scripts to memorize. The TV show would become the job as opposed to the building business being front and center.

Erik and Jaime agree that the right situation would have to come along for them to reconsider the sweet spot they’ve worked so hard to find. Until then, they’re content to continue growing the YouTube audience.

Follow The Perkins Builder Brothers on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Jackson to pay $725,000 in jail death settlement

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Nearly three years after a Sylva woman was found dead in the Jackson County Detention Center, the county has agreed to pay $725,000 to settle the resulting wrongful death lawsuit.

Melissa Middleton Rice, 49, died by suicide on Jan. 18, 2019, after being left alone in the jail’s booking room to wait for the magistrate. Jail logs show that a patrol officer entered the room at 6:15 p.m. to detail the list of charges she would face and serve a restraining order but that nobody checked on her again until 7:06 p.m., when a detention officer found her in an area of the room not covered by surveillance cameras, with no pulse and a phone cord wrapped around her neck.

Rice’s death marked the third suicide in five years to occur inside the Jackson County Detention Center. Charles “Chuckie” Moose died on Nov. 21, 2014, and Steve Ross died on March 13, 2015, both by hanging.

Officers did check on Rice at least twice per hour as required under state law, but the lawsuit alleged that Rice should have received the four times per hour checks required for inmates who are suicidal, mentally ill, intoxicated, violent or erratic.

While handcuffed in the patrol car on the morning of Jan. 18, 2019, Rice had tried to set her clothes on fire using a cigarette lighter and a one-dollar bill, the lawsuit claimed. Public documents show that in a restraining order Magistrate Judge Albert Reagan granted mere hours before Rice’s death, her ex-husband reported that she had threatened suicide. The lawsuit also alleges that multiple officers that day had noted that Rice smelled of alcohol.

In a response filed March 24, 2020, the defendants admitted that Patrol Officer Ridge Parris smelled alcohol on Rice when he responded to the call but denied most of the other allegations used prove that Rice qualified for the more rigorous monitoring protocol.

The original lawsuit, which Rice’s son and estate administrator Matthew Dillard filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in February 2020, named 12 parties — Sheriff Chip Hall, 10 employees in his department, and Hall’s insurance company Western Surety Company. As litigation continued, charges were dismissed with prejudice against Western Surety, Mark Junaluska and Patrick McCoy — bailiff deputy and captain, respectively, at the time of Rice’s death — while then-Deputy Sgt. John Buchanan and then-Detention Lt. Sheila Akins were added as defendants.

The dispute was scheduled for a September trial, but the parties asked for a continuance in order to partake in a planned Sept. 8 mediation process. In an Aug. 16 order, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger granted that request. According to the mediation report, all remaining defendants participated in the mediation, and the case was completely settled as a result. However, the parties evidently continued to

debate the terms, because an Oct. 26 motion requested an extension of time to file the official stipulation of dismissal because “the parties need additional time to complete the terms of the settlement.” The stipulation of dismissal was filed on Nov. 1, and the case dismissed with prejudice against all parties.

Public court records do not state the terms of the settlement, but Jackson County Attorney Heather Baker confirmed that they include a $725,000 payment from the county. The county’s liability insurance will cover the settlement, though taxpayer funds will pay the deductible. As of press time, the deductible amount was not available.

Of the 11 parties named when the suit was settled, seven worked in the detention center at the time of Rice’s death. Of those, none still work for the county. Personnel documents code the departures of Emily Couvillon, Sheila Akins, Justin Nicholson and Kaitlyn Bradley as voluntary separations, while those of Aniyah McMullen and Kayla Elliot are recorded as resignations. Shondra Collini, a detention sergeant at the time of Rice’s death, was dismissed from that position on July 1, 2019, because “services are no longer needed,” according to the personnel action form filed on that date.

Buchanan has also left county employment, quitting his position on Oct. 31, 2019.

The only people named in the final documents of the lawsuit who still remain in county employment are Parris, Stephen Watson and Hall. Hall is an elected official whose employment is determined solely through election results. His term ends next December, and in August he announced he would not seek re-election.

“It’s been an honor and pleasure to serve as your sheriff the past seven years,” reads a letter announcing his decision. “I have discussed this with my family, and we have decided after 34 years of service with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office the time has come for me to retire.”

Hall did not return a phone call requesting comment for this story.

Going rogue: Cawthorn’s move has widespread implications

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

Western North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn has become known for saying some surprising things to further his political agenda, but Cawthorn’s most recent statement is by far his most surprising.

“I believe we have a unique opportunity to increase conservative leadership from North Carolina,” Cawthorn said in a video posted around 7 p.m. on Nov. 11. “I have every confidence in the world that regardless of where I run the 14th Congressional District will send a patriotic fighter to D.C. Knowing the political realities of the 13th District, I am afraid that another establishment go-along-to-getalong’ Republican would prevail there. I will not let that happen. I will be running for Congress in the 13th Congressional District.”

WNC’s 11th Congressional District has been among the most wildly unpredictable in the country since near the end of Mark Meadows’ tenure in 2019, but now voters west of Asheville are slowly coming to the realization that Cawthorn’s improbable 2020 victory wasn’t the end of the instability — it was only the beginning.

In December 2019, four-term incumbent representative and chair of the influential House Freedom Caucus, Mark Meadows (R-Asheville), shocked the political establishment when he announced he wouldn’t seek another term in Congress.

Meadows did so with only about a day remaining in the filing period, catching most politicos flat-footed. That was on purpose, though — Meadows pushed a friend of his wife’s, Maggie Valley Realtor Lynda Bennett, to the front of the line by giving her advance warning of his intentions.

That little maneuver boxed out some viable candidates, and left others literally speeding to Raleigh to file their paperwork before the deadline. But not Bennett — once Meadows made his announcement Bennett was ready to go, with a website, a press release and an endorsement from the Asheville Tea PAC all issued before most people had even gotten out of bed that morning.

Bennett’s running start didn’t scare off 11 other candidates on the Republican side, including retiring Sen. Jim Davis of Franklin, Meadows’ acolyte Wayne King and a charismatic 24-year-old from Henderson County who’d failed out of college and only ever worked at Chick-fil-A, albeit briefly.

As the shortened campaign season began — Meadows’ announcement came on Dec. 19, 2019, with the Primary Election slated for March 3, 2020 — Cawthorn began garnering more and more attention amongst local Republicans due to an attractive pro-Trump message delivered in an attractive package.

Cawthorn’s first minor victory came that

night, when the then-unknown placed second in the Primary Election, just 2.3 points behind Bennett.

The fact that he’d bested Davis, a respected public servant with decades of experience and substantial name recognition, was met with amazement by most.

It wasn’t quite enough, however; Bennett had failed to reach the 30% threshold to avoid a runoff, so one was scheduled between her and Cawthorn for June 23.

The extra time only gave Cawthorn more opportunities to spread his message, just as Bennett’s campaign continued a series of missteps that began with her shady entry into the race and continued with a sham endorsement from a two-day-old PAC, a series of poor public performances and a refusal to debate her inexperienced opponent.

Even a million dollars in PAC money and the full support of the President of the United

Rep. Madison

Cawthorn’s surprising announcement came on Nov. 11.

Primary Election with more than 47 percent of the vote in a field of five, thus avoiding a runoff.

Over the next four months, Davis and Cawthorn battled it out in debates, candidate forums and mailboxes, on television, the radio and the internet.

And there was plenty to talk about — weeks after his runoff victory, The Smoky Mountain News was first to report on sexual harassment allegations against Cawthorn by a former classmate.

Then, social media posts surfaced suggesting that Cawthorn held racist or white supremacist views.

Then, it was stolen valor accusations over his rejected application to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Then, it was more sexual harassment allegations and a letter of repudiation from his peers at the very Christian, very conservative Patrick Henry College.

None of it, however, stuck.

Cawthorn’s apologies, denials and explanations satisfied voters in his deeply conservative district, as much as Davis tried to make light of them.

Late in the campaign, a resurfaced tweet from Davis about wanting to stomp the “scrawny pasty necks” of conservatives ignited a firestorm and dealt a final blow to the campaign of a man many considered eminently qualified but thoroughly unlikeable.

Democrats had high hopes for Davis despite the district’s solid-red status, but were ultimately disappointed by his performance, a 12-point loss to Cawthorn on Nov. 3.

Cawthorn celebrated the victory with a tweet of his own two hours after the polls closed, directed at Davis.

It said, simply, “Cry more, lib.”

Although his performance on Election Day may have been predictable, what happened to Cawthorn next wasn’t.

As he was being sworn in on Jan. 3, 2021, Trump was still disputing the results of an election that saw his party lose the House, the Senate and the Oval Office. Three days later, Cawthorn spoke at Trump’s “stop the steal” rally on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., where he opined that the crowd had “some fight in it.”

States couldn’t salvage Bennett’s poorly run campaign and as the runoff drew near, Cawthorn’s momentum surged, with some Republicans even saying they wouldn’t support the Trump-endorsed Bennett if she beat Cawthorn.

She didn’t. In fact, she didn’t even come close. Bennett tallied fewer votes in the runoff than she did in the Primary Election, and Cawthorn handed her a decisive loss by a two-to-one margin.

The loss was a major embarrassment for Trump, and for Meadows, who in March became Trump’s chief of staff after abandoning his seat and leaving it completely vacant throughout the rest of 2020.

Democrats had watched the contest closely since Meadows, who was likely undefeatable in his district, announced his departure.

Retired Air Force colonel, attorney and moderate Democrat Moe Davis won his

Some in that Jan. 6 crowd went on to participate in the most serious incursion into the U.S. Capitol since the British burned it down in 1814.

Telling The Smoky Mountain News that in retrospect he may have added a few lines to his Ellipse statement and that he was in no way advocating the violent overthrow of the U.S. government, Cawthorn has since held firm to the “big lie” ideology pushed by the twice-impeached Trump.

Convictions against some of the insurrectionists have since been handed down, even as a bipartisan select committee of the House continues to investigate the incident and issue subpoenas.

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was subpoenaed but failed to appear as ordered, was indicted on contempt charges on Nov. 12, surrendered on Nov. 15 and will be free at

S EE CAWTHORN, PAGE 12

least through his arraignment on Nov. 18. Meadows, along with his former chief of staff Ben Williamson, have also been subpoenaed. Meadows ignored his, and will likely see contempt charges referred to the U.S. Department of Justice. He could face proceedings similar to Bannon’s.

Cawthorn hasn’t been subpoenaed and said he wouldn’t outright commit to answering the call if he was, even after explosive, anonymous allegations in Rolling Stone suggested Cawthorn was part of the planning process — something Cawthorn vehemently denies.

Insurrection-related business aside, Cawthorn has continued to court controversy throughout the year. He was caught with a firearm at Asheville Regional Airport back in February, and then was warned by law enforcement — but not charged — after bringing knives to a series of schools and school board meetings early this fall.

He’s warned of bloodshed over baseless election conspiracy theories, called insurrectionists “political prisoners” and expressed skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness while disregarding and opposing mask mandates. He’s also grown ever closer to Trump, visiting Mar-a-Lago and appearing with him at a New Jersey fundraiser.

Legislatively, perhaps his most noteworthy actions have come in voting against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, both of which passed.

In May, it was reported that he’d missed the most votes of any first-term member of Congress this session.

As a freshman member of the minority party in a government under unified Democrat control, Cawthorn’s effectiveness on the floor of the House was never expected to be the hallmark of his first year in office. Instead, it’s his role as a culture warrior for a Republican Party now locked in a full-on embrace of right-wing populism that has given him national notoriety.

That hasn’t escaped notice back in his district, where 2022 election opponents began appearing – both Democrats and Republicans – before Cawthorn had even served three months in office and before the decennial census prompted a redraw of congressional districts.

On Nov. 4, the North Carolina General Assembly approved new maps for its state House, Senate and congressional districts. Due to population growth, North Carolina gained an additional seat in Congress.

All 13 existing congressional districts were affected by the remap as 14 new ones were crafted.

Cawthorn’s district came back with a new name (NC-14) but as still just as red as ever, and most observers assumed he’d just continue to coast to victory after victory until it was time to make the next logical move in his nascent political career.

Rumors about Cawthorn’s true intentions began circulating on the afternoon of Nov. 10, after a story in the

NC-14 third quarter candidate fundraising totals*

DEMOCRATS

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara...................$933,087

Eric Gash........................................$230,161

Jay Carey...........................................$34,692

Katie Dean........................................$43,312

Bo Hess...............................................$8,873

Brooker Smith.....................less than $5,000

REPUBLICANS

Rod Honeycutt.....................less than $5,000

Bruce O’Connell................................$12,397

Wendy Nevarez..........................................N/A

*2022 cycle to date, as of Sept. 30, 2021 per fec.gov. Does not include loans.

Candidates who haven’t raised more than$5,000bythedeadlinedonotneed to report fundraising data to FEC. Source: fec.gov

Carolina Journal, written by former NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse, revealed that polling had been conducted on behalf of Cawthorn in North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District.

According to the story, Spry Strategies founder Ryan Burrell confirmed the existence of the poll.

That same evening, Cawthorn told dis-

trict county chairs on a call that he was exploring the possibility of running in the new 13th, as opposed to his current district, but that nothing was finalized.

“He said he was contemplating the decision of running in the new 13th District or his current district, and that he had constituents in both, and then he opened it up for conversation,” said Michele V. Woodhouse, the Republican chair of Cawthorn’s district who arranged the call. “I think it speaks to his transparency that he would approach the people he works for every day before talking to anyone else.”

Michele V. Woodhouse is related to Dallas Woodhouse through her husband.

Despite premature reports that Cawthorn had already made up his mind, his announcement on Nov. 11 made it official.

“This was not an easy decision. Whichever path I choose, I am losing friends, neighbors and constituents. But this decision was not flippant or based on personal preferences in the slightest,” said Cawthorn. “It is a tactical move to ensure North Carolina’s conservative fighting spirit is strengthened.”

The 13th District is a brand-new creation — an open seat — that came about as a result of the state’s recent redistricting process. Cawthorn’s current district changed only slightly from its current incarnation.

Nonpartisan mapping website northcarolina.redistrictingandyou.org shows that in 2020, Donald Trump took 56.1% of votes in the old NC-11, and 53.8% in the new NC-14.

S EE CAWTHORN, PAGE 14

Sylva election results prevail following

canvass

Election night results for the Sylva Board of Commissioners race remain unchanged following canvass conducted Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Two provisional ballots were cast in the town election, and one absentee ballot was received after Election Day tally. Updated results following canvass show that Natalie Newman picked up one extra vote, bringing her to 141, while totals for the remaining candidates were unchanged. Newman and incumbent Mary Gelbaugh came out on top and will represent town residents on the board through 2025.

Initial reporting from The Smoky Mountain News stated that canvass was to occur on Friday, Nov. 12, a statement made based on information received from the Jackson County Board of Elections. However, canvass actually occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 9, said Elections Director Lisa Lovedahl in a later statement. For this year only canvass was held seven days after Election Day instead of the typical 10 days due to census impacts on some North Carolina municipal districts, Lovedahl said.

Newman and Gelbaugh will start their new terms with a swearing-in ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9.

Cataloochee to open Saturday

Snowmaking is underway at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, with opening day scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20.

The ski resort plans to open at 8:30 a.m., with ticket windows opening at 7:30 a.m. Tube World in Maggie Valley will take a little longer to be ready, with Cataloochee aiming for a mid-December open. Visitors should double-check the website at cataloocheee.com before driving up the mountain this weekend to confirm that the ski resort has opened as planned.

The expected Nov. 20 opening date pulls even with 2020, which also had a Nov. 20 opening date. The ski resort opened Nov. 3 in 2019, Nov. 11 in 2018 and Nov. 20 in 2017. The earliest opening day in the ski resort’s history occurred in 2012, when it opened on Oct. 31.

Continued investments in snowmaking technology allow the ski area to get the most out of the winter, with an average season length of 125 days. Hours and rates are posted at www.cataloochee.com.

The new NC-13 went 60.2% for Trump.

Three counties from the old NC-11 (Polk, Rutherford and McDowell) have been incorporated into the new NC-13, but they only account for around 37,000 of the nearly halfmillion votes cast in the district in 2020.

The rest of NC-13 includes Burke, Cleveland and Gaston counties, and the western edges of Mecklenburg County. Cawthorn lives in Henderson County, which remains in NC-14.

Residency in a given congressional district isn’t necessary to run in that district. A clause in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution sets the minimum qualifications for membership in the U.S. House of Representatives at 25 years of age, seven years of U.S. citizenship and residence in the state in which the district is delineated.

“You elected a fighter, and I’ve fought day and night to defend our values in a town that despises principled and fearless representation,” Cawthorn said. “This move is not an abandonment, in fact quite the opposite. It is a move to take more ground for constitutional conservatism. In my heart I represent North Carolina as a whole not some arbitrary line that some politician drew this cycle.”

Cawthorn’s jump from his current district to a completely new one is a rare or possibly even unprecedented move, says Dr. Chris Cooper, the Madison Distinguished Professor of Political Science & Public Affairs and Director of the Public Policy Institute at

Western Carolina University.

“I’m racking my brain and scouring every congressional history on my shelf and I can’t find a single example of a sitting member of Congress choosing to shift districts for any reason other than being redistricted out of their district, or redistricting changing the partisan make-up in a radical way,” said Cooper. “The notion that an incumbent would choose to leave a safe seat for an even safer seat would never have occurred to me. But it is 2021 and this is Madison Cawthorn we’re talking about so I guess the rules must not apply.”

In 2020, Cawthorn won his seat in Congress by beating a well-qualified Democrat by more than a dozen points. Internal polling among Republicans in his current district suggests he’s still extremely popular there, despite (or perhaps because of) his high-profile speech at Trump’s “stop the steal” rally.

A conservative firebrand closely tied to Trump, Cawthorn currently lives in a district that is about as safe as it gets, making his decision to leave an interesting one indeed.

Cawthorn’s unexpected candidacy in NC13 set up what should have been a bruising internecine conflict with Tim Moore, a 10term Republican rep from Cleveland County who is also in his fourth term as Speaker of the North Carolina House.

Moore was widely rumored to be interested in the seat, which had been widely rumored to have been drawn just for him, but an hour after Cawthorn’s announcement Moore made an announcement of his own.

“While much of the speculation about my

potential congressional candidacy has been driven by the media and political pundits, I have been humbled by the folks in our region who expressed their wishes for me to represent them in Washington,” he said. “While I have given it consideration, right now I am focused on the issues at hand that impact all North Carolinians.”

Cawthorn’s stare-down with Moore was brief but impactful, like a cinder block lobbed into a pond.

The Charlotte Observer issued a scathing editorial on Nov. 13, calling Cawthorn an extremist who had fearmongered his way into power. Moore, the subject of Cawthorn’s “establishment go-along-to-get-along Republican” crack is no moderate himself, but the Observer’s editorial sardonically notes that because the NCGOP has refused to rein in its right wing, Moore’s chickens have now come home to roost.

The ripples from Cawthorn’s decision continue to expand outward amongst those who were jockeying for Moore’s gavel, as well as for a dozen other state Senate and House candidates looking to move up, or around.

Cawthorn, the youngest legitimately elected member of Congress ever, now has no reason to believe he won’t become the next representative from North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, given the partisan demographics.

It’s a similar situation in NC-14.

Cawthorn would have faced nominal but steadfast opposition in the Primary Election from Republicans Wendy Nevarez, Bruce O’Connell and Rod Honeycutt.

Honeycutt may have distinguished himself slightly from the rest of the field by earning the endorsement of George Erwin.

Erwin is a retired Henderson County Sheriff who was once a big proponent of Cawthorn’s but has since changed his mind and been vocal in expressing what he says are Cawthorn’s failings.

Regardless, all three were facing an uphill battle in the Primary Election against the politically-connected, well-funded and wellliked incumbent Cawthorn, but now the rumor mill is spinning furiously with speculation on other Republicans interested in the newfound opportunity in NC-14.

Chief among them is three-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson).

Shortly after the insurrection, Edwards called out Cawthorn not once but twice and was thought to be contemplating a run against him, but Edwards hasn’t responded to inquiries by The Smoky Mountain News about his intentions.

There are also two other powerful Republican incumbents in the neighborhood, and it would make perfect sense if one decided to run in NC-14.

During the redistricting process, Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) and Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watagua) were drawn into the same district, but both also reside in the new NC-14. Ballard’s office said she was unavailable for comment due to ongoing state budget meetings, and Hise has not returned multiple calls from SMN.

Michele Woodhouse, past chair of the NCGOP’s 11th District and current chair of

its 14th District, has also been widely rumored as a potential candidate.

“On behalf of the NC-11 GOP leadership, we have the utmost respect for Congressman Cawthorn’s conservative service to NC-11,” Woodhouse said in a statement. “As newly drawn NC-14 District Chair, my top priority is the election of a conservative fighter to stop the Biden/Pelosi America last agenda!”

The morning after Cawthorn’s announcement, Woodhouse appeared live on WWNCAM with host Mark Starling but made no commitments either way.

Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) told SMN on Nov. 15 that he, too, was considering a run in NC-14 (see CORBIN, p. 16).

Then, there’s the Democrats — six of them, at last count. Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara became the first to announce her candidacy back in March, but was quickly followed by Josh Remillard, Jay Carey, Eric Gash, Bo Hess, Katie Dean and Brooker Smith. Remillard has since announced that he’ll follow Cawthorn to NC-13.

Cawthorn’s departure won’t make it much easier for any Democrat to flip the seat, but they may try to gain traction with rightleaning independents disappointed in Cawthorn’s departure.

Granted, other Democrats, or Republicans, may jump into the race now that Cawthorn’s out of it. It will all come down to the candidate filing period, which runs from Dec. 6 through Dec. 17.

That means Western North Carolina will likely be in for another sensational Primary Election in 2022, reminiscent of the way Cawthorn came into prominence in 2020.

If the recent history of NC-11 looks to be something of a sideshow, the future of NC14 might just be the whole dang circus — complete with a guy in a chicken costume.

“Madison Cawthorn, best known for supporting a violent insurrection against democracy on Jan. 6 and [being] a no-show Congressman who skipped out of 22% of votes in his first year in the House of Representatives, has now chickened out of running for a second term in Western North Carolina,” said David Wheeler, in a press release issued moments after Cawthorn’s announcement.

Wheeler is the president of American Muckrakers PAC, better known as firemadison.com. Since shortly after Cawthorn’s election, the PAC, which has raised more than $40,000 according to its June 30 report, has had only one goal: to dog Madison Cawthorn.

According to Wheeler, they’ll begin sending out volunteers to Cawthorn events dressed in a full-on chicken costume, reminding voters of their claim that Cawthorn has “chickened out” of his commitments to voters in NC-14. Those volunteers may even end up handing out buckets of fried chicken.

Reaction from other Democrats has been a bit more subdued.

“I think that Cawthorn’s actions are a clear statement to the citizens of Western North Carolina that opportunism and branding are far more important to him than actually representing the people of our region,” said Matt Ballance, Dem chair of the NC-

11/NC-14 district. “Our citizens want a workhorse, not a show horse. And the biggest show horse in the North Carolina Republican Party just turned his back on his home district. Voters will remember that.”

Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, the first Democrat to enter the race, calls Cawthorn’s move “consistent” with the approach he’s taken since his election.

“This is just another flagrant example of him prioritizing his political agenda and building his political brand over doing the job that he was elected to do,” said BeachFerrara, who’s raised almost triple the money of the rest of the current Democratic field, combined.

The most significant event in NC-14, she said, is not Cawthorn’s departure, but rather the new maps. Beach-Ferrara believes the district is now truly competitive, even with the relatively small decrease in the number of Republican voters. She also won’t change the way she’s running her campaign, despite the district’s new dynamics in the absence of Cawthorn.

“I got in this race to deliver the leadership that we believe Western North Carolina deserves, and we believe that starts with getting out there and meeting people where they are. That’s why we’re knocking doors in every county across the district and doing a lot of listening,” she said. “We are hearing very consistent stories from people all across the district about what’s going on in their lives right now and what they need and what they want for themselves and their children and their family.”

Republican Rod Honeycutt, who entered the race late after retiring from the Army as a colonel just this summer, says his campaign won’t change much either.

“We’re going to keep meeting at one to four different venues a day, continue to tell our message,” Honeycutt said. “We are running on knowledge we’ve gained and leadership experience we’ve gained through 37 years of service with foreign policy and military policy in the forefront, but now focusing more on the issues of Western North Carolina.”

Other Republicans, in both NC-13 and NC-14, aren’t giving Cawthorn the warm sendoff or welcome he probably expects.

Former Cherokee County GOP Chair Shannon Greathead shared on Facebook her displeasure, writing that Cawthorn had “disappointed a great many of [his] supporters,” and that he was now “part of the swamp.”

Susan Tillis, a resident of the 13th Congressional District and wife of U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, took to Twitter on Nov. 12, opining that “… those of us in the new 13 didn’t need any intervention and we are capable of making our own decisions.”

And in what may be the final act of Cawthorn’s carnival, pending lawsuits filed over the new maps, which give North Carolina Republicans 10 of 14 congressional districts in a state that Trump won by exactly 1.34 points in 2020, may just render Cawthorn’s rogue moment moot.

The candidate filing period for the 2022 General Election begins Dec. 6 and ends Dec. 17. Check back with The Smoky Mountain News for updates on candidate filings as they occur.

Sen. Kevin Corbin is ‘considering’ a run in NC-14

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS EDITOR

Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s decision to leave his 14th Congressional District seat open has already produced a “ripple effect” of electoral implications across the region, but now that the big splash is over, there’s at least one Western North Carolina Republican thinking about dipping his toes into the water.

“I have told people that I will consider it. At this point, I will tell you I’m giving it a very, very serious look,” said Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin).

Corbin learned about Cawthorn’s move to the newly-drawn 13th Congressional District like most others across the state and country — in the media. Since then, he said his phone “has literally rung off the hook” with calls from voters across the district asking him to run.

“My first response, frankly, was ‘No, I’m very happy at the Senate. I’m in a position to do a lot of good for my district,’ and that’s what it’s all about for me,” Corbin said. “So I don’t know that I’m interested, but I’ve had a lot of people call, a lot of people offer their help, a lot of people wanting to work for that campaign, toward that end.”

Corbin was elected to the N.C. Senate in November 2020, after fellow Franklin Republican Sen. Jim Davis announced his

retirement. Prior to that, Corbin served two terms representing North Carolina’s 120th House District. He’s also been a Macon County commissioner and school board member during what’s been a lifetime of public service.

Over the past few days, Corbin’s been in talks with two congressmen he counts as good friends — Greg Murphy and Dan

Sen. Kevin Corbin speaks at the Cruso Fire Department in the aftermath of deadly flooding this past summer.

Bishop — because he served with them in the General Assembly.

“We’ve talked about the practical, day-today implications of being a congressman, what it means, how much time it involves, how much time away from your family, the travel, the disruption to your personal life, those kinds of things,” he said.

Corbin becomes the first Republican not already in the NC-14 race to say publicly that he’s considering it, but a Primary Election field of three other Republicans already exists.

As of now, rumors surrounding senators Deanna Ballard, Ralph Hise and Chuck Edwards as well as NCGOP NC-14 Chair Michele Woodhouse remain just that — rumors.

“I feel I

have a good background in government, so

I feel

like I could hit the ground running.

That’s one reason I’m considering

it.”

—

Sen Kevin Corbin

“Having served as a county commissioner as a school board member, and now in the General Assembly, obviously I feel I have a good background in government, so I feel like I could hit the ground running. That’s one reason I’m considering it,” he said. “I will make an announcement one way or the other before the filing period begins.”

If he does go, Western North Carolina will need a new senator. Corbin said he’s confident the district will be in good hands even if they aren’t his, but also said he wouldn’t try to recruit anyone for the job, saying that’s the job of voters in his district.

Planning Board Chairman removed from post in Maggie

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

David Williamson was removed from his position as Planning Board Chairman for the Town of Maggie Valley following a 3-2 vote by the Board of Aldermen Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Alderwoman Twinkle Patel made the motion to remove Williamson from the board. Patel was joined by both Phillip and Tammy Wight for the majority needed to pass the motion. Mayor Mike Eveland dissented, as well as Clayton Davis, who said he needed more information.

Williamson was sworn in as a new member of the board on Oct. 14, though he has previously served as chairman of the Maggie Valley Planning Board. At the Oct. 14 meeting he was also appointed as chairman of the board on a motion made by Jim Heffron. Up until the Oct. 14 meeting, Jeff Lee had been serving as planning board chairman. Planning board chairs serve one-year terms and are determined by the volunteer board itself.

At the Nov. 9 Board of Aldermen meeting, Jeff Lee read a statement to the board detailing what he considered inappropriate behavior by the new chairman during the October meeting when Williamson “personally attacked” Lee.

Lee’s first complaint about Williamson centered on another board member, Connie Dennis. At the October board meeting, when approving September meeting minutes, Dennis said that during the meeting she had to recuse herself from a vote and that Lee should have had to do the same. Dennis referenced an article in the Mountaineer that contained information about Lee that would have been grounds for recusal. When Dennis brought the issue up at the October meeting, Town Planner Kaitland Finkle noted that any conflict of interest objections must be raised before the hearing or before the vote takes place.

“I had spoken with the newspaper editor personally,” said Lee, “and with written text to correct the false information. I also advised the board that I would be the first one to dismiss or recuse myself in a conflict of interest if a conflict of interest ever arose. I also advised Ms. Dennis that I took her inappropriate, unethical attack personally, and that this was unacceptable.”

In Lee’s second complaint about Williamson, he recounted an exchange between himself and Williamson during the October planning board meeting following a recommendation on the initial zoning for a property at 4561 Soco Road for Luxury 1 Investments LLC. The request was for C-1, high density zoning, which would allow for a maximum of 64 units. According to Finkle, the developer’s plans for the property involve townhomes.

According to meeting minutes, Williamson asked Lee if he wanted to recuse himself. Lee said, “absolutely not,” that he knew nothing about the parcel or what developer Frankie Wood wanted to do with it. Williamson proceeded to ask Lee at least two

more times, whether he would like to recuse himself, to which Lee said no, citing lack of reasons to do so.

“This personal attack of a fellow planning board member was bullying, badgering and created a hostile work environment,” said Lee. “I advised the chairman this was much bigger than just the personal attacks. Then I asked, as the planning board chairman, what message are you sending to our neighbors in this audience? As a town representative are you building Goodwill? How do we move Maggie forward when the public witnessed the hostile bullying and badgering of a fellow board member? I am formally requesting that the board of aldermen take action ASAP.”

Following Lee’s statements, the board discussed the issue. Mayor Eveland said he didn’t know if it was appropriate to handle the matter that evening and suggested the board should wait to make a decision.

“We put them on the board to be impartial and hopefully at least get along and put a good front to the town,” said Alderman Phillip Wight. “And I don’t think the way that our new director took the torch and acted accordingly, it’s very insulting. It’s kind of disgusting when you hear that. And especially for the other people in the audience. So it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to ask for his resignation tonight. He serves at the pleasure of the board, and I don’t think he’s acted within the conduct of anything.”

“I don’t think it’s becoming of our board to have that behavior,” said Tammy Wight.

Patel agreed that the behavior was unprofessional and asked for his resignation.

“I think on any town board, we need to be ethical and not have any personal issues and put that aside,” she said.

The motion passed 3-2. Town Attorney Craig Justus noted that asking for his resignation would not be as definitive as simply removing him from the board, and Tammy Wight made a motion to remove him.

Williamson told the board about his past experience with zoning and said that he felt he had a lot to offer the board as it moves forward with developing a Unified Development Ordinance.

“The question that came up, that led to the three questions [asking Lee to recuse himself] was, was Mr. Lee in association with someone who had business before the planning board. I did not raise an objection. I did not say ‘Jeff, you have to recuse.’ I asked Jeff, ‘do you want to recuse?’ He was quoted in two newspapers saying that he was working with Frankie Wood who has applications. And that night had an application before the planning board. The mere ethics of it would say that we just need to have that settled. I appreciate the feelings, but you’ve asked for my resignation, and you do not have it,” said Williamson.

After some more discussion, Patel made the motion to remove Williamson from the planning board. Patel, Tammy and Phillip Wight voted in favor while Eveland and Davis voted against the motion. The motion passed.

HCC awarded $1.196 million labor grant

Haywood Community College was selected by the Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, to receive a grant in the amount of $1.196M for Project UP, a program to support the development of shortterm training programs in construction.

The grant is part of the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative and is designed to build the workforce in our area and upskill the talent of those participating in the program. Twenty-three grants were awarded, two of which went to North Carolina.

“Providing opportunities to gain critical job skills is the heart of our mission as a community college,” said HCC President Shelley White. “We are excited to have been selected for this grant and look forward to strengthening partnerships and building new relationships through Project UP.”

HCC will partner with the Haywood County Detention Center, Southwestern Workforce Development Board, and construction, plumbing and HVAC businesses in the county to implement a training program to target local workforce needs. This initiative will provide a pathway of rehabilitation for individuals who’ve been incarcerated and re-entry into the workforce with GED certification and job skills training. The program will also serve as a pipeline of entry-level talent in the construction industry for businesses.

Courses offered will be open to anyone in the community looking to gain credentials and advance their career. In addition, this program will assist employers in meeting workforce challenges by helping to fill the shortfall of construction workers projected in North Carolina.

For more information, call 828.564.5128 or email ddburchfield@haywood.edu.

Harrah’s to host career expo

The inaugural Mountain Community Career and Resource Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort Conference Center, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee.

More than 25 regional employers representing hospitality and tourism, technology, health care, manufacturing and professional services will showcase their career opportunities and many will conduct on-the-spot hiring. Job seekers are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and dress to impress. Anyone needing a new resume or updates to an existing one are encouraged to contact their local NCWorks Career Center to work with a career advisor. Interview and elevator pitch preparation are also available.

Additionally, community resource organizations covering Western North Carolina will be on hand to provide information on their services. Multiple door prizes will be awarded during the expo. Face coverings are encouraged but optional for vendors and attendees regardless of vaccination status.

For more information, call 828.586.4063 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), or 828.488.2149 (Tuesday, Thursday), or email ncworks.8500@nccommerce.com.

Cashiers seeks award nominations

Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its Spirit of Our Community Awards.

Nominate someone for the Annual Spirit of Our

Southwestern Commission names next director

Russ Harris will take over as executive director of the Southwestern Commission.

Harris, who previously served as director of community and economic development, will replace Sarah Thompson. Thompson was recently named as the vice president of impact-economic opportunity of the Dogwood Health Trust Foundation after 10 years with the Southwestern Commission.

Harris was directly involved in acquiring funding for projects throughout the region in key areas such as broadband, water and sewer infrastructure, and agriculture. He helped to create the Southwestern NC HOME Consortium, which will bring additional funding for housing into the region.

The Southwestern Commission is the Council of Governments for the seven western counties of North Carolina, the 17 municipalities therein, and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Ice cream truck opens in Franklin

Community Awards, including Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Educator of the Year, Arts & Culture Advocate of the Year and the Evergreen Award.

The deadline for applications is Friday, Nov. 19. Each year, the Chamber hosts these community awards to recognize deserving individuals who dedicate their lives and talents to positively influence Cashiers area communities.

Winners will be selected by committee and featured in the 46th Annual Cashiers Christmas Parade, to be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Festivities will follow at The Village Green.

For more information, call 828.743.5191 or email office@cashiersareachamber.com.

Renovations underway at Waynesville Inn

Raines, one of the Southeast’s premier hospitality management, development, and investment groups, has announced the completion of its first phase of an overall multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa, now coined Waynesville Inn & Golf Club.

The property was purchased by Raines in April with plans to fully renovate and restore the existing guest rooms, golf course and restaurant, as well as expand the experience with new construction additions, including practice facilities, golf cottages and more.

The group recently celebrated the completion of Phase One, which included the full interior renovation of Golfview, featuring all new flooring, fresh paint, updated furniture, fixtures and equipment, as well as new artwork.

Phase Two will include a similar renovation to the property’s Brookside building, enhancements

and redesign of the food and beverage outlets, a new arrival experience and other amenity related improvements, will begin in 2022.

Construction on the golf course is also already underway. The total renovation is expected to take approximately 16-24 months to complete.

“We are incredibly excited to have begun the thoughtful and extensive restoration of this iconic landmark of Waynesville and Western North Carolina,” said Gavin Philip, senior vice president of Woven by Raines. “We feel this property will become a sought-after home for both our members and Inn guests for many years to come.”

New leadership at Harrah’s

Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos recently announced two promotions within its regional leadership team. Adam West has accepted the position of assistant general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Enoch Ferguson has accepted the position of regional vice president of finance.

West, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, joined Harrah’s Cherokee in 1997 as a member of the Hard Count team. He has since held many roles with increasing levels of responsibility in diverse areas including Cashiering, Planning & Analysis and Casino Operations. Adam holds BSBA and MBA degrees from Western Carolina University.

Ferguson started his career at Harrah’s Cherokee in October 1997 as an accountant and has since served as accounting manager, regional financial controller and regional director of finance. Enoch is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BS degree in accounting from WCU.

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Sweet Caroline’s Mobile Ice Cream Truck.

Owner Carla Whitley has added an excitement to Franklin that is hard to match with her music playing, adorably painted, mobile ice cream truck.

“I used to joke that my dream job would be to retire as a little old lady and hand out ice cream around town and just deliver smiles. For years now I have joked about this, until a few months ago I thought ‘why not now?’” Whitley said.

Sweet Caroline’s Ice Cream Truck is available for weekday and weekend parties, festivals, business and neighborhood events. Call 828.526.6462.

Legal Aid opens Murphy office

Legal Aid of North Carolina recently announced that it has opened an office in Murphy.

According to Managing Attorney Suzanne Saucier, “Legal Aid has represented clients from Murphy to Manteo for decades. We’re excited to say that we now have a brick-and-mortar location in Murphy. This location will help us to improve service to Cherokee, Clay and Graham Counties.”

Legal Aid’s new office in Murphy is in a building on the grounds of St. William Catholic Church, at the corner of Hatchett Street and Andrews Road. Legal Aid will share the space with Catholic Charities, although the two entities are unrelated.

The Murphy office is a relocation of Legal Aid’s branch office in Hayesville, which it recently closed after 20 years in operation.

To apply for assistance, call 866.219.LANC or visit legalaidnc.org.

Now we know what the COVID police will do

I’ve had mixed feelings about the “COVID police” since the beginning of the pandemic’s lockdowns.

As governors enacted shutdown orders and the country went into lockdown in March 2020, people began asking who would enforce the laws, how stringent would punishments be?

Now we know. A Buncombe County court found the Rise ‘n Shine café owner guilty of willfully defying Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 138 prohibiting sit-down dining. The eatery opened from May 16-19, 2020, and the order was in effect until May 22, 2020. After a jury found the restaurant guilty last week, the judge ordered its owner to pay a $1,000 fine and spend one year on unsupervised probation. The case was appealed after a similar ruling from a judge in July. The restaurant’s lawyers argued that it was struggling to stay in business and so chose to open. It is the only business in Buncombe County taken to court for defying the state’s shutdown orders.

Remember how surreal it got back in April and May of 2020 when we’d walk down usually busy streets lined with restaurants and bars and no one was open? Owners got cre-

Development does not fit Waynesville

To the Editor:

I find myself perplexed over the “housing crisis” in Waynesville. It seems all our town does is help big developers push more and more into rural neighborhoods. The public is being deceived into believing there is need for more, even when housing magazines/websites show numerous vacant homes. When will enough finally be enough?

This so-called crisis has spurred development approvals on Plott Creek (against that community’s wishes), Buchanan Drive/Allen’s Creek (against that community’s wishes), the former Bi-Lo property, the old Hospital, and now Sunnyside Road (against that community’s wishes). Where are all these people coming from? There are no factory or business opportunities. There is no draw for young families with children (or who might want children) because we lack activities for youth to participate in outside of school. Our native residents are either dying out, selling out or moving out, due mostly to a town that doesn’t listen to its people when they speak out. We have been shown again and again that “quantity” means more than “quality.”

The development proposed for Sunnyside screams “urban sprawl,” can you hear it? It does not suit our neighborhood, it does not suit Waynesville. It is too much! Even if people do come, why would they stay? The very things they move here for are being taken away and is making Waynesville exactly what they are leaving behind.

Sure, some people want a second residence and might come and purchase another house, but they will not live here year-round. Waynesville’s first priority should be to its people who do reside here all the time.

ative and tried all forms of carry out, but the truth is the income businesses lost and the wages lost by laid off employees won’t ever be regained.

Rise ‘n Shine, it was reported in court, was the recipient of $118,000 of the federal aid that was offered to help businesses affected by the shutdown. So, the owners took advantage of what the government offered but also defied government orders aimed at slowing the spread of the pandemic.

My libertarian heart sways toward the “live and let live.” I almost always disagree with laws that deny rights related to personal matters (like sexuality, for instance, and even drug use).

As the pandemic spread, however, I was in the camp that advocated for small group gatherings, outside meetings, staying home, wearing masks, etc. For me, it was personal responsibility, doing my small part to try and slow the spread of the virus. For a society to have as many freedoms as we enjoy, citizens

LETTERS

On Oct. 8, I requested of town staff (in the development offices) a copy of Chapter 15 of the Land Development Standards, Technical Review Committee (TRC) notes, and anything the developer for the Sunnyside monstrosity had submitted to date. The secretary who answered my call as well as another female in her office coached me where to look for Chapter 15 on the website and I realized it had not been updated. The secretary went on to tell me that there were not minutes taken at the TRC meeting to pass on and there was nothing more submitted by the developer since the meeting on Sept. 30. That same day, she did forward me the agenda packet from the Sept. 30 meeting. I worked with what I had.

Taking what we could find from the small amount of assistance I was given and prior to the next scheduled meeting, my husband and I wrote and submitted a letter, clearly outlining several problems with what had been submitted for review. Before I went to the town offices to turn in the letter to forward to the Planning Board, I received the agenda packet for the Oct. 18 meeting.

It’s important to keep in mind that I had requested information to appeal intelligently to my local governing board. I wanted to be able to get this information to my neighbors so they could do the same. Even though I tried to get assistance I could not. However, the letter that I wrote was readily given to the developer in a timely manner so they appeared very accomplished and prepared in front of the board. The neighborhood residents were allowed to speak for an allotted 3-5 minutes (give or take), however town staff and the developers did not have to adhere to a time limit. Why should the developer have more voice than the citizens?

After the Oct. 18 meeting had been closed

must also take personal responsibility for their actions. Otherwise, the system falls apart and chaos ensues. This pandemic has been responsible for 18,463 deaths in North Carolina, 763,000 in the U.S., and 5.1 million worldwide. If more people had acted responsibly from the beginning, the death toll would not have grown so large. Now, as the economy staggers to recover from pandemic-related decisions made by the government and by businesses large and small, many likely regret some of the choices that were made very early.

As vaccine mandates have ramped up, I’ve also found myself in the middle: I think everyone should get the vaccine, but I’m not firing employees who are also friends who choose not to.

This pandemic has done plenty to divide us. It has thrown fuel on what was already a heated political divide that somehow must be tamped down. Thankfully, the COVID police aren’t brandishing debilitating punishments to businesses who defied the orders. In the end, we are all in this together, and that’s the only way we’ll find a path out.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

and the citizens had exited the room, a reporter was interviewing my husband outside the board room. A quorum was still inside with town staff, the developer and town council. They began talking about the development again, which leads to the question of whether that would be a breech of state open meeting laws?

This is bound to make you wonder why it appears town staff and boards are non-neutral when it comes to big developments. Why did town staff not comply with citizen requests? Are these things intentional or an oversight? Despite what town staff exchanged in an email to the developer and town boards, I have time stamped documentation on my

De-mock-racy and gerrymandering

To the Editor: Folks, it is gerrymandered maps time again.

Once again they are being drawn to give Republicans an unfair advantage in a state where both parties are approximately equal. The final maps are no surprise as they give the Republicans a 10-4 or 11-3 advantage. This is not democracy. This is de-mockracy.

This is a continuation of years of being unrepresented by our members in the General Assembly. I still feel that our “representatives” do not know or care about the needs of my community.

office and cell phone of calls made/received to/from the town development office on the dates I have said. I also received agenda packets to my personal email from town staff. If I had not requested, why would they have sent anything?

Wake up Waynesville! Start asking the questions. Start interjecting yourself at town meetings to help maintain what’s left of our town. It could be your neighborhood next.

Charlotte Rogers Waynesville

N.C. resembles dictatorships around the world: the politicians are choosing their voters instead of the voters choosing their members of the General Assembly. In 2018, The Supreme Court ruled that this state’s maps were drawn with “surgical precision” to disenfranchise minorities, to say nothing about them being politically gerrymandered. They were ordered to redraw them. Through slick political maneuvering and calculated delays by Republicans, truly “fair” maps were never drawn. Here we are nearly four years later and nothing has changed.

Since our politicians are shy about meeting with and answering questions from their bosses (us), feel free to send them their job evaluation. They may not listen to your concerns, but it will annoy the heck out of them.

Inspiration from Mary Oliver, Sadhguru and Ted Lasso

“Sometimes I need Only to stand Wherever I am To be blessed.”

— Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. She never fails to stir emotion with her reminders that our existence is tragically short and we must work to create a life we love.

I recently listened to a podcast featuring Sadhguru, an Indian yoga guru and author. He said spirituality is in the here and now, not in an elusive afterlife.

Whether you believe in heaven or not, we can all work to make our time on earth as joyful and purposeful as possible. Lift itself can be a spiritual experience.

Sadhguru also said, “There are not good and bad people; only joyful and miserable people.” I feel that statement says a lot about why the evil in our world is often backed by individuals who are suffering from their own misery.

Along with Mary Oliver and Sadhguru, I’ve found a third muse lately. His name is Ted Lasso. You’ve probably heard of his wildly popular show currently trending around the world. My boyfriend and I were a little late to jump on the Lasso bandwagon, but once we did, I was hooked.

In fact, I became so enamored with every character on the show, I began jotting down motivational one-liners. Below are a few of my favorites:

• The harder you work, the luckier you get.

• Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.

• If you’re with the right person, even the hard times are easy.

• Be curious, not judgmental.

• Most of the time change is a good thing.

• Every disadvantage has an advantage.

• If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.

• Problems are like mushrooms. The more you leave them in the dark, the bigger they get.

When it comes to TV, I’m a sucker for darker shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Stranger Things.” It’s been a long time since I was pulled into a comedy. That being said, Ted Lasso isn’t all giggles. There are a number of deeper themes and storylines woven throughout. Nonetheless, I find myself laughing and smiling during each episode. Additionally, the overarching goal for Coach Lasso is to make his players and others in his life better versions of themselves, and that philosophy inevitably influ-

ences the viewer.

In an attempt to create a better version of myself, I’m working to reconnect with nature. We’ve been hiking over the past few weekends. Even though the temperatures were a bit frigid, we suited up in hats and gloves and braved the windy elements to enjoy this beautiful world we live in. I’m a fan of cold weather hiking. The paths are quieter and more tranquil than in the warmer months.

As we trekked along the Cataloochee Divide and other trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the bright orange leaves swirled, no longer able to cling to their branches. Our dog, Ringo, happily frolicked around smelling parts of nature we humans could never detect.

Each time I finish a hike, my nerves feel calmer, my shoulders more relaxed. It’s impossible to perseverate on silly, stressful thoughts when you’re one with nature, breathing in fresh air and looking out upon a layered vista that looks like a painting. Similar to hiking, I’m working to make a daily walk with Ringo a routine. He just turned one. I’ve let his hyperactivity overwhelm me many times during the past year. In an attempt to stop being frustrated by his puppy antics, such as chewing things and pulling items off counters, I’ve begun taking him outside routinely to play fetch or go on a walk. The results have been very satisfying. I enjoy him so much more now that I’m not trying to keep him inside all the time.

What I’ve also discovered is that our daily walks are not only good for him but for me as well. They’re like a type of walking meditation. With it just being the two of us, I take time to breathe and look around, to notice things I’ve never seen or paid attention to before.

This entire time I’ve been waiting on Ringo to change his behavior but as soon as I changed my behavior, he’s become the puppy of my dreams. Funny how that happens. We’re quick to point the finger elsewhere when if we take a look at ourselves, we often find the change we are seeking.

The pandemic has taken a toll on most of us. Even those who didn’t battle the illness feel transformed and worn down. It’s as if we’re all attempting to re-acclimate after COVID. And for many, life will never feel the same. The naivety and predictability that once existed now feels precarious. For me, the silver lining is that life feels more special, every moment and experience more meaningful than before. I’m trying to embrace the day-to-day and the small moments within those days because ultimately, that’s all we truly have. Small moments that collectively combine to create our one and only precious life.

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

Larry E. Bryson, former Chief Deputy Haywood County Sheriff's Office, announces that

I INTEND TO BE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF IN HAYWOOD COUNTY IN THE UPCOMING 2022 ELECTION.

My career began in 1976 and I have worked for Sheriffs Jack Arrington, Tom Alexander and Bob Suttles.

During my 35 years of law enforcement experience in Haywood County, I have held the following positions:

• Detention Officer • Deputy Sheriff

• Detective • Drug Agent • Chief of Detectives

• Chief Deputy • Acting Sheriff

I look forward to serving the people of Haywood County again.

Larry E. Bryson

Paid for by Committee to Elect Bryson Sheriff 2022

Darren Nicholson on new album, new chapter

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

On his way from performing at a Sunday church service in Highlands to an afternoon gig at Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, Darren Nicholson pulled over somewhere outside of Cherokee, right where there was enough cell service to conduct a phone interview.

There’s a lot going on in Nicholson’s life these days. At 38, the Canton-based artist recently celebrated his 20th year as a professional touring musician, with the last 15 spent as the mandolinist in Balsam Range — arguably one of the most successful, award-winning bluegrass acts of the 21st century thus far. And yet, Nicholson has always been someone on the move. Aside from the whirlwind touring/recording schedule for Balsam Range, he will soon release his fourth solo album, “Man On A Mission” (out Nov. 26). The Americana/country album is not only his debut for the storied Mountain Home Records (Arden), it’s also a life marker for Nicholson — a sincere, intricate soul in pursuit of the fruits of life, whether that be love or camaraderie, hard work or creative fulfillment.

It’s not that Nicholson’s internal light went completely out a few years back. It was just really dim amid a plethora of personal obsta-

cles. The light was down to a small ember that wasn’t getting enough spiritual oxygen from its surroundings.

But, in his renewal as of late, Nicholson now carries a deep sense of rejuvenation in his heart and soul — onstage and in the studio.

Smoky Mountain News: You’ve had this long, bountiful career with Balsam Range and its label Mountain Home. What does this solo project with Mountain Home mean to you?

Darren Nicholson: Well, it’s like family over there, because bluegrass is a small enough world where you kind of know everybody. But, doing an electric record and kind of delving into the Americana/country world [with “Man On A Mission”], I don’t know everybody [in that scene].

As far as the record label, I needed more support, more than just something I was trying to do myself. I wanted to make sure it was something that they were interested in, and they certainly were. I asked Jeff Collins to produce it, who has worked for the label for years. [With Jeff], I wanted to really get out of the box a little bit. I know what a record sounds like when I make it. I trust myself and my own producing. I just wanted to have somebody else in there to get me out of my comfort zone a little bit and push.

So, what do you do with them? I did a solo record and had a ball doing it.

SMN: And what I’ve always appreciated about you is that your unique sound is a culmination of all your influences — bluegrass, country, rock, roots and mountain music.

DN: Well, you can pay homage to the roots and tradition, and also be cutting edge and new at the same time. People think you have to be one thing or the other thing, but you don’t. Marty Stuart is a prime example of someone who’s always got a foot in the past and stood in the future at the same time — and he makes it work.

I was brought up on traditional bluegrass, country and mountain music. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t write a new song and that doesn’t mean I can’t push myself and create something new, too. I can’t get away from sounding like myself, but I’m going to create new music. And, hopefully, when you do that, you got your own sound — if you’re not growing, you’re dying.

SMN: Whether it’s conscious or subconscious, you saying “if you’re not growing, you’re dying” makes me wonder if that’s an underlying theme of “Man On A Mission” — this journey you’ve been on the last few years of finding yourself again.

DN: Yeah, for sure. This is a dream record for me. The lyrics “big dream wishes” is in the song “Man On A Mission” — that’s what this record is, a dream. Sometimes you do things because it feeds your soul and it pushes you to be better.

And so, I’m big dream wishing on this record. It has inspired me and fired me up again, [waking up] each day and going for something new, trying something different and not being stagnant, you know?

Balsam Range Art of Music

Darren Nicholson will join his band Balsam Range for its annual Art of Music Festival, which will take place Dec. 2-4 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.

Alongside two performances by bluegrass icons Balsam Range, there will also be appearances onstage by Chloe Agnew, John Driskell Hopkins, Blue Highway, Jeff Little Trio, The Cleverlys, Atlanta Pops Orchestra, and more.

For information on the Art of Music, to purchase tickets, a full schedule of events, performers and activities, go to balsamrangeartofmusicfestival.com.

For more on Nicholson, how to purchase his new solo album “Man On A Mission,” and to find out upcoming tour dates, click on darrennicholson.net.

I got to do all these songs I’ve written, where I just didn’t hear them in a bluegrass context. I had these songs, and I think they’re great songs. But, they’re not bluegrass songs.

I feel like this is an awakening. We all go through periods. Life ebbs and flows. We go through good periods and bad periods. This is a lifestyle change for me. I’m tapping into a new energy, a new creativity, just a new way of thinking.

I love the quote, “when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” It’s not that anything in my life is that much different. I’ve still got a lot of same people in my life. I’ve got the same family. I’ve got the same friends. I’ve got the same music jobs.

But, I’ve just got a different attitude. Nothing has really changed except my attitude, how I appreciate things and value things more now — I just want to do better.

SMN: When you walk out the front door each day, you make a conscious decision how to approach the world. And you also realize the only thing you can control in life is how you react in a situation.

DN: Exactly. I’m in control of that. I can’t control other people, places and things. But, I’m in control of how I react to it. You can deal with things negatively or you can figure out how to let things go and move forward. Let go or be dragged — I guess I just got tired of being dragged.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Ode to GWAR, ode to heavy metal integrity

Standing in the photo pit last week between heavy metal icons GWAR and a sold-out roaring audience was something to behold — more so a spectacle of unknown depth and artistic merit.

Aside from the vocal thrashing of lead singer Blothar (aka: Michael Bishop) layered atop a foundation of razor-sharp guitars, drums and bass of endless melodic depths, the ensemble is a wild-n-out, must-see showcase of space oddity, hard rock and die-hard music freaks.

“There’s just stuff exploding [everywhere]. Our amps blowing up and drum set flying apart. We’ve got slaves working behind the scenes to make the show happen or they suffer the wrath of their lords and masters,” guitarist Pustulus Maximus (aka: Brent Purgason) told The Smoky Mountain News. “And when I see the smiles on those faces in the crowd, that’s the cue to change it up and do something disappointing — because the last thing I want to do is entertain anyone.”

Whether you take Pustulus’ words at face value or simply suspend belief and dive headfirst into the legend and lore of GWAR, what does remain is a well-oiled musical showcase of unrelenting sight and massive sound now entering its 38th year — on the road and in your face.

Throughout the insanely theatrical performance, the musicians perform numerous stage settings of death and destruction, of pillaging and conquering, usually ending in

onstage and be done with it.”

Formed in Richmond, Virginia, by lead singer Oderus Urungus (aka: Dave Brockie) in 1984, GWAR has spent decades acquiring a reputation as one of the most vile and outrageous concerts one might ever come across, either on purpose or by accident. At the core of GWAR is a genuine ethos of tension and release, of finding yourself in the chaos that is everyday life, for good or ill.

But, back then (and even to this very day), GWAR were labeled social pariahs by parental groups and media outlets, something that only increased the band’s range and fanbase — across the country and around the world.

Although true to its own unique style, tone and stage presence, GWAR was forged from the heavy metal and punk influences of the 1970s and 1980s, which to Pustulus (a lifelong rock-n-roller) are the likes of Motorhead and AC/DC — two groups of artistic integrity and pure attitude in an often-diluted music industry.

“You’ve got to have integrity. It’s the only thing that once you sell it, you really don’t ever get it back. [For me], it’s just about the music and the art — nothing else,” Pustulus said. “GWAR gets accused of selling out and all kinds of other shit. But, if that was the case, then why do I have to go back to work at Burger King every time I come back from tour?”

HOT PICKS

1

The inaugural ThirstyCanvas Art Auction will kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at The Gem Taproom below Boojum Brewing in downtown Waynesville.

2

Acclaimed hard rock act The Hooten Hallers will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville.

3

Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Troy Underwood at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.

4

There will be a special stage production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” by Kids at HART at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

5

Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Urban Soil Duo w/Eric Chesson & Sarah Reinke at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19.

the audience getting sprayed in wave after wave of fake blood and real insults.

“I don’t think country [music] fans want to get blood sprayed on them as much as rock and heavy metal fans do. So, it kind of boils down to that,” Pustulus said. “[Next year] will be 10 years [for me in GWAR]. [By then], I will have made it as the longest running lead guitar player of the band. At that point, I could possibly quit [or] kill myself

With the untimely passing of Brockie in 2014, GWAR continued on. Bassist Beefcake the Mighty took over as lead vocalist and became Blothar. The lineup may have shifted, and so perhaps the sound, too. But, the mission and show never once lost a step.

“We didn’t want someone who was a carbon copy of Oderus Urungus. And that would have been impossible in order to fill anyways — his voice was so unique,” Pustulus said. “So, we did the next best thing and took the reincarnated soul of Beefcake the Mighty. It just seemed important to keep [the singing] in the family — someone who’s not only familiar to the band, but also familiar to the fans, and to the creative part of the original sound and art.”

At the dark heart of GWAR and its galactic quest to annihilate and capture its listeners remains a rebellious entity that has endured decades of trials and tribulations — where nowadays sold-out appearances are the norm and the visual quality of the live experience is second-to-none.

“When we started in the 1980s, kids were looking for something. There’s was a lot of rebelling going on — some of it was misguided, some of it productive,” Pustulus said. “Rebelling is why they got into [GWAR]. They were people who may not have felt like they fit in at home or may not have fit in at school. When you’re in this crowd, you’re generally accepted — we will give you a home, at least temporarily until we sell you into human trafficking.”

(Garret K. Woodward is the arts and entertainment editor for The Smoky Mountain News. He’s also the music editor for Smoky Mountain Living magazine and a contributing writer for Rolling Stone. You can reach him at garret@smokymountainnews.com.)

Lazy Hiker welcomes Underwood

Local singer-songwriter Troy Underwood will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin. Underwood specializes in soul, rock and Americana music. You’ll hear an array of original material and some of your favorite cover melodies. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Nathan Hefner (piano/vocals) Nov. 20 ($10 cover) and Bob Zullo (guitar/vocals) Nov. 27 ($10 cover). All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host an Open Mic Night 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on

Rock, blues at Water’n Hole

The Hooten Hallers.

the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Pleasantly Wild Nov. 19. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All events are free and begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Cam Cokas (singer-songwriter) Nov. 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Troy Underwood Nov. 20 and Shane Meade (singer-songwriter) Nov. 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Urban Soil Duo w/Eric Chesson & Sarah Reinke Nov. 19. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Acclaimed hard rock act The Hooten Hallers will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in Waynesville.

The Columbia, Missouri, trio are a highenergy blues-rock band known for hard-traveling and wild live shows, with a seemingly endless tour schedule. The myriad of influences in their music incorporates elements of rhythm and blues, rock-n-roll, honky-tonk, jazz, soul and punk, with a thematic penchant for the strange and unexplained.

• Long’s Chapel Methodist Church (Waynesville) will host the Voices in the Laurel children’s choir “Songs of Hope for the Season” concert at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Tickets available at voicesinthelaurel.org.

ALSO:

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Aces Down Nov. 19, Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) Nov. 20, Shane Meade (singer-songwriter) Nov. 26 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) Nov. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. rathskellerfranklin.com.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.

Their live shows take the listener on a seamless ride from unapologetically raucous blues on the lap steel and bass sax, to a sweet three-part harmony country ballad, to a romping dance number.

Listeners often detect hints of George Thorogood, Morphine, and Tom Waits, but anyone who has seen The Hooten Hallers live knows that this power trio is unlike anything they’ve experienced before.

Free and open to the public. For more information, click on thehootenhallers.com.

• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or southern-porch.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack County Nov. 18, Dottie The Band Nov. 19, Carolina Freightshakers Nov. 20 and Tricia Ann Band Nov. 26. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host The Lads AVL 6 p.m. Nov. 20. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host The Hooten Hallers (blues/punk) 10 p.m. Nov. 20. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.

Want to learn the dulcimer?

The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players have resumed in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva.

The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns, and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.

Pic’ & Play has been playing together since 1995. The more experienced members welcome new players, help them navigate their instruments, and guide them through some of the basics of tuning, strumming, and playing.

The mountain dulcimer, also known as a fretted dulcimer or a lap dulcimer, is a uniquely American instrument. It evolved from the German scheitholz sometime in the early 1800s in Appalachia and was largely known only in this region until popularized more broadly in the 1950s.

For more information, call Kathy Jaqua at 828.349.3930 or Don Selzer at 828.293.0074.

On the table

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• “BBQ & Brews Dinner Train’’ will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Craft beer pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.

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

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

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

‘Tinsel Trail & Appalachian Christmas’

The 41st season of The Shelton House will continue with the “Tinsel Trail & Appalachian Christmas” celebration, which will be held Dec. 5 to Jan. 1 at the historic home in Waynesville.

Aside from Candlelight Christmas tours of The Shelton House decorated for the holidays, the opening of the “Tinsel Trail” will be Sunday, Dec. 5. The evening also includes a visit from Santa Claus from 5 to 7 p.m. Hot chocolate and treats will be offered, too. Holiday tunes will be played from the front porch for folks gathering on the lawn to sing-along.

Decorate your business, organization,

Christmas in Sylva

The Main Street Sylva Association (MSSA) will be hosting holiday festivities this year downtown.

Downtown Sylva will start in November with two big local shopping days. On Saturday, Nov. 20, the MSSA will host a Sidewalk Sale. As well, Saturday, Nov. 27 is Small Business Saturday.

The Jackson County Arts market will be running from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the holidays.

The official holiday festivities will kick off with the Tree Lighting at 6:30 Friday, Dec. 3, with special music from the kids of Wonderworks Learning and Arts Center. Families can also take selfies with the Christmas Bear beside the tree.

The Sylva Christmas Parade will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. This year’s theme is “Downhome Christmas,” and the Grand Marshals are “Frontline Healthcare Workers.” Anyone interested in participating can access the parade application and information at townofsylva.org. Applications are due Tuesday, Nov. 30.

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Jackson County Parks & Recreation will host a Holiday Fireworks Display at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, which will be visible from downtown Sylva. Folks can arrive early to hear a live concert on the porch of the Jackson County Chamber and Visitor Center at 6:30 p.m.

The Main Street Sylva Association is a nonprofit entity formed with the mission to spur economic development in the town of Sylva.

For more information, go to mainstreetsylva.org or contact Main Street Economic

church or family Christmas Tree for the “Tinsel Train” on the grounds of The Shelton House. How will this work? The Shelton House will purchase trees, which will then be sold for a sponsorship fee of $250.

The Shelton House will set up the trees with bases, provide basic lighting and a sign for each sponsor. Each organization can decorate its tree in whatever fashion they choose. Groups are also welcome to share a sponsorship and/or decorating the tree. The sponsorship is tax deductible. For more information on a “Tinsel Trail” tree sponsorship, call 828.452.1551 or email dannehl@sheltonhouse.org.

Dillsboro’s ‘Lights & Luminaries’

Development Director Bernadette Peters at mainstreet@townofsylva.org or 828.586.2719.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will a holiday celebration and market at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

ALSO:

• “Winter Wonderland Nights” will return at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in Franklin. Downtown will feature living window displays of the holidays, live sounds of the season outdoors at the gazebo and inside stores, free holiday attractions (weather permitting), refreshments, hot cider, great sales from local merchants, and much more. franklin-chamber.com.

• Cashiers Christmas Parade will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Cashiers Crossroads. The theme is “Santa’s Favorite Christmas Characters.” Live broadcast at live.thehighsouth.com. Hosted by Cashiers Cares, the Post Parade Party will be held at the Village Green’s Commons Hall. There, youngsters will have an opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy refreshments and receive individual treat bags. Sponsored by the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. cashiers411.com.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood Street in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. mountainmakersmarket.com.

The annual “Lights & Luminaries” will return from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3-4 and 10-11 in the streets of downtown Dillsboro

Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song. Over 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios.

Each night, shops will stay open way into the night providing free refreshments, musicians and singers performing in individual shops. The sound of hooves will echo through the night with old-fashioned horse and buggy rides (tips much appreciated). Children can share their wishes with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa’s Workshop in Dillsboro’s Town Hall.

With retail shops offering a variety of quality arts and crafts, unique gifts, clothing, gourmet foods and wine, and specialty Christmas items, the festival also provides a

A Franklin Christmas

With the theme of “A Season for Giving,” the Franklin Chamber of Commerce has announced the annual Christmas Parade celebration will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, in downtown.

The chamber will continue the extended route onto Highlands Road so that spectators can self-distance. No walkers will be allowed, and no items may be handed out, including candy, coupons, etc.

“These precautions are in place for the safety of our community,” said Franklin Chamber’s Executive Director Linda Harbuck.

Entries will line up along Church Street behind the courthouse. The route begins by pulling out on the top of Town Hill beside

unique holiday shopping experience. Entertainment the first weekend includes Twelfth Fret (Americana) from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, and singer-songwriter Anna Victoria from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. For the second weekend, award-winning dulcimer player Mathew Dickerson will perform Dec. 10-11.

Free parking and shuttle transportation for the event will be available at Monteith Park each night of the festival. Sing along with carolers. Take the children to see Santa Claus at Dillsboro’s Town Hall. Have some hot chocolate or hot cider. All the restaurants will be open late.

For more information, call the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 800.962.1911 or click on mountainlovers.com. To learn more about new happenings, go to facebook.com/dillsboronc.

Town Hall and will proceed down Main Street, turning left at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company onto Porter Street. Then turn left onto Palmer Street. The route will turn onto Highlands Road extending the route to enable social distancing and end at the Franklin Flea Market.

As noted above, due to safety concerns, candy will not be passed out this year. In addition, all horses must wear a manure bag/horse diaper.

Entry forms can be picked up and returned at the chamber office located at 98 Hyatt Road. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24. The chamber will be closed Nov. 25-26.

For additional information, contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce by calling 828.524.3161.

Gallery Zella.

Stecoah Drive-About Tour

The annual “Stecoah Arts & Crafts Drive About Tour” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26-27 at featured studios in Bryson City, Stecoah and Robbinsville.

The self-guided driving tour highlights artisans who have built a livelihood with their creative talents. The tour includes Nantahala School for the Arts (Southwestern Community College), Gallery Zella, Stecoah Artisans Gallery, Yellow Branch Pottery & Cheese, Taylor’s Greenhouse, Wehrloom Honey & Essentials, Junk ‘n’ Style, and Hunting Boy Wood Carving. stecoahvalleycenter.com.

‘Hard Candy’ holiday craft show

The annual “Hard Candy Christmas” arts and crafts show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26-27 inside the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University. This mountain tradition started in 1987 in Franklin with eight local artists. It has grown to dozens of original artisans who sell their work at great prices. Expect a dazzling display of fine hand-crafted creations such as Father Christmas dolls, fresh mountain greenery, and folk dolls. The ornament collectors always find new additions for the tree.

Admission is $5 for a two-day pass. Children under 12 are free. Parking is also free. For more information, click on mountainartisans.net.

Handmade Holiday Sale

The 12th annual Handmade Holiday Sale will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at the Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Enjoy shopping, free snacks, and holiday cheer. There is no entry fee to the event. If you would like to buy handmade items onsite, artists appreciate payments made by cash or check, although some do accept cards. This event features high-quality, hand-

made gifts created by students, staff, and alumni. Items for sale include artwork, candles, ceramics, wearable accessories, woodwork, and a variety of other handmade craft items. Get an early start on holiday shopping by supporting local artists.

This event is presented by the WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center and is located throughout the Bardo Arts Center lobby and Star Atrium. arts.wcu.edu/handmade. Free parking is available onsite. Masks are required.

ThirstyCanvas Art Auction

Hosted by the Curatory Gallery, the inaugural ThirstyCanvas Art Auction will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20, at The Gem Taproom (below Boojum Brewing) in downtown Waynesville.

Doors open at 3 p.m. The auction begins at 6 p.m. Over 50 artists of diverse styles, mediums, themes and influences. Live music will be provided by Ashley Chambliss (4 to 5 p.m.) and TMJ (9 p.m. until close).

The ThirstyCanvas Visual Arts Fund was developed by the Curatory Gallery (located at 120 Miller Street in Waynesville) to provide financial aid, professional development and mentorship opportunities to promising young artists in Western North Carolina.

All proceeds from the auction sales go

directly toward the college scholarship and senior residency programs put forth by the Curatory Gallery.

“The foundation and glue to our continued efforts in the various exhibitions, projects, school scholarship opportunities, and artist development/LGBTQIA+ support services are largely held together by donations from our artists, collectors, and members of the communities to whom we serve. It is truly a humbling honor,” said Curatory Gallery owner/artist Ashten McKinney.

The event is free and open to the public. All ages until 8 p.m. Ages 21 and over after 8 p.m. Donations encouraged and accepted for the arts funds. Special thanks to Patterson Concepts and Blue Ridge Elevators for their support. curatorygallery.art or thirstycanvas.art.

Shop the corner of Fourth and Main Streets in Highlands for unique, inspiring gifts from Acorns and the Old Edwards Spa Boutique.

Purchase gift cards on property or online at OldEdwardsInn.com. give gifts of

On the stage

WCU to present ‘Nutcracker’

The Bardo Arts Center will present the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville, which will be returning with a stage production of the “Nutcracker” at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

Showtime will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. This magically festive, full-length “Nutcracker” production features professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated company.

In this classic ballet, Clara’s holiday dream comes to life, sneaking downstairs at midnight with her beloved new Nutcracker doll. Swept up in a fantasy toy-soldier battle, she saves her Nutcracker from the Mouse King. She is then whisked away to enchanted lands of snow and sweets, dancing the night away with a colorful host of captivating characters. To learn more and/or purchase tickets, click on arts.wcu.edu/nutcracker.

‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ at HART

There will be a special stage production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” by Kids at HART at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

The hour-long musical is based on the 2008 Broadway production and the 1989 animated feature film. The Kids at HART cast contains approximately 32 actors led by Shelia Sumpter.

HART is also pleased to announce that the intricate underwater photography of Dr. John Highsmith will be on display in the theatre lobby for all to enjoy. Highsmith, who maintains a dental practice in Clyde, has displayed his work throughout the country and is a longtime supporter of Kids at HART.

The cast is under the direction of Sumpter with Candice Dickinson, music direction by Maria Frost, stage management by Nichole Sumpter, and numerous other volunteers.

Tickets may be purchased online at harttheatre.org or by calling the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322.

Family, friends and gratitude: a great American holiday

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I raided my public library, brought home an armload of books having to do with Turkey Day, and am delighted to share them with you here.

First up is “Fat Chance Thanksgiving” (Albert Whitman & Company, 2001, 32 pages). Written by Patricia Lakin and illustrated by Stacey Schuett, this children’s book tells the story of Carla and her inner-city family. When a fire destroys their apartment building, Carla’s only possession that survives the flames is her book, “A Pilgrim Thanksgiving.” The book becomes a sort of talisman, inspiring her to try and put together a Thanksgiving dinner in the lobby of their new apartment building. “Fat chance,” her mother tells her.

things we’re fond of get broken. But things are just things. People are more important, especially granddaughters.”

There’s a great lesson for us all of us.

For those looking for a story about the Pilgrims, there is “The Thanksgiving Story” (Atheneum Books, 1954, 32 pages). Written by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Helen Sewell, this Caldecott Honor Book follows the Hopkins family as they make their way from Southampton in England to what would become New England. Historically accurate and easy to understand, The Thanksgiving Story can be shared with K3rd grade crew.

Of course, good books about Thanksgiving for older readers can also be found. Of the four I picked up at the library

is — the worst accident at a sporting event in the United States.”

A few days before this catastrophe, a Virginia newspaper published “Origin of Thanksgiving Day,” poking gentle fun at America’s obsession with football:

“We ought to do something to make ourselves solid with posterity,” remarked one of the Pilgrim Fathers.

“That’s so,” replied his companion. “How would it be to inaugurate a national holiday that will be a convenient time for football games?”

In a chapter titled “Thanksgiving’s Godmother,” Kirkpatrick provides an excellent mini-biography of Sarah Josepha Hale who, when widowed at age 34, leaving her to provide for four children and one on the way, eventually became editor of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” which under her guiding hand “became the most widely read periodical in the United States on the eve of the Civil War.”

Carla goes door to door, explaining her plans to her neighbors for a shared feast, and by Thanksgiving Day the long table in the lobby is loaded with dishes like lasagna, black-eyed peas, Irish stew, fried okra, and of course, turkey and stuffing.

“Fat Chance Thanksgiving” can remind children — and the rest of us — that Thanksgiving is about friends, family, neighbors, and gratitude.

Enriched by the paintings of Ben F. Stahl, Charlotte Herman’s “The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story” (Albert Whitman & Company, 2003, 32 pages) features a child, Katie, and a family get-together at her grandmother’s house for the holiday. During the meal Katie drops and breaks a white gravy boat treasured by Grandma. Katie bursts into tears, but then this wise grandmother takes her by the hand and leads her to her memory cupboard, which is filled with broken objects — toys, lamps, clocks, china — all of which mean much to her. “Every object here has a story to tell,” she says, and then shares some of those stories with her granddaughter.

Grandma ends by telling Katie, “Sometimes, no matter how careful we are,

— I didn’t read these, but browsed through them — my favorite is Melanie Kirkpatrick’s “Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience” (Encounter Books, 2016, 280 pages).

In this lively volume Kirkpatrick covers everything from the first Thanksgiving to “Turkey bowls,” football games played on Thanksgiving Day.

In her chapter on these sports contests, Kirkpatrick has collected many fascinating facts and anecdotes, just as she does throughout the rest of the book. Here, for example, we learn that “in 1893, one hundred twenty thousand athletes played in five thousand Thanksgiving games across the country ….” In 1900, in what later became known as the Thanksgiving Day Disaster, hundreds of fans in San Francisco climbed onto the roof of a factory near the field of a football game. The roof collapsed, with 23 people dying and many more injured. “The Thanksgiving Day Disaster was — and still

Though she became most famous for writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” through her editorials and a massive letter writing campaign Hale conducted a campaign to have Thanksgiving became a recognized federal holiday. Though this didn’t happen in her lifetime, she did more than anyone else to make a national Thanksgiving become a reality.

In “Readings for Thanksgiving Day,” Kirkpatrick includes two of Hale’s pieces as well as parts of articles, letters, and stories from writers as varied as Abraham Lincoln, Laura Ingalls Wilders, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the following chapter, “Thanksgiving Recipes and Bills of Fare,” she takes us on a brief but fascinating tour of the dishes and menus Americans have prepared over the last two centuries for this feast day.

All of these books recognize the importance of gratitude, of being thankful less for our material possessions and more for our family, friends, and neighbors. As Grandma says at the end of “The Memory Cupboard,” “We have lots more Thanksgiving memories to make.”

May all of us make good memories this Thanksgiving.

(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)

Highway bridge plans welcome wildlife

Harmon Den bridge will feature animal underpass

BY HOLLY KAYS

OUTDOORS EDITOR

Abridge replacement project underway in the Pigeon River Gorge will temporarily close a section of Interstate 40, but once completed it will make the highway a safer thoroughfare not only for vehicles, but for wildlife as well.

“When the road was built, wildlife weren’t being considered, and now we have these opportunities with the replacement of these structures to consider them,” said Liz Hillard, a wildlife scientist who is one member of the diverse team behind the reimagined bridge.

The bridge now under construction at Harmon Den is one of five the N.C. Department of Transportation has slated for replacement. Georgia-based Kiewit Infrastructure South landed a $19 million contract to replace the first of the five, the bridge at Exit 7 that has been in use since 1965. The closure is scheduled to start Saturday, Nov. 20, and to continue into May, when Kiewit plans to have the new structure in place. Intermittent lane closures will continue through the project’s end in May 2023.

The finished product will feature not only a brand new four-lane bridge, but also a twolane underpass made specifically for wildlife — the first of its kind in the state.

“We are excited to be adding protections for wildlife in this and other upcoming NCDOT projects,” said Division 14 Engineer Wanda Austin. “We have worked with a wide variety of interest groups, transportation and wildlife experts to incorporate these unique features to benefit the people who drive the gorge, and the animals that live in the gorge.”

FIRST OF FIVE

The unique bridge plans are largely the result of efforts from a group that first gathered in February 2017 in Asheville. At that time, representatives from a variety of governmental and nonprofit groups came together to discuss the challenges busy roadways like I40 pose for wildlife populations. That conversation ultimately birthed Safe Passage: The I40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project, a group of two dozen federal, state, tribal and non-governmental organizations dedicated to providing safe ways for wildlife to cross I-40 and other area roadways.

The first step for Safe Passage was to fund research investigating how wildlife interact

with the road as-is — Hillard of Wildlands Network and Steve Goodman of the National Parks Conservation Association were chosen to do the work. When they approached the NCDOT for the permits necessary to conduct research along the roadway, Hillard said, the agency began including Safe Passage in discussions about the upcoming bridge replacements, seeking Safe Passage’s input on how the designs could support safe wildlife crossings. As a result, engineers, wildlife biologists and other experts have spent the past three years working collaboratively in search of the best solution for I-40’s bridges.

“The short of it is, the bridge has to be replaced and to add these accommodations, the cost is rather minimal,” said DOT spokesperson David Uchiyama. While cars drive over Cold Springs Creek, animals will be able to safely pass under the bridge via two purpose-made paths — one on either side of the stream — cutting through the riprap planned for the remainder of the bridge’s underside. A 9-foot-tall fence will guide animals away from traffic and under the bridge, with slotted structures similar to cattle guards discouraging deer and elk from walking up the ramps. While the DOT has built some culvert-style wildlife crossings in the eastern part of the state, this will be the agency’s first experience with this type of the design, Uchiyama said, and the first purposemade wildlife crossing of any kind in Western North Carolina.

“It’s the guinea pig. It’s the test run, but the plan at least in theory should work well,” said Uchiyama. “For the bridges that get built later on, we’ll take what we learned from this and apply it to those bridges.”

The Harmon Den bridge is just one of five slated for replacement in the Pigeon River Gorge. Contracts for two more bridge projects — one crossing White Oak Road and another that spans both White Oak Road and Jonathan Creek — will be awarded in April, with two more projects on the horizon after that. Wildlife crossings won’t necessarily be in the plans for all five, said Uchiyama, but the DOT will make those decisions based on the need for wildlife accommodations and site suitability in those specific locations.

FREEDOM TO MOVE

Hillard hopes the research she and Goodman did will help make the case for more frequent and comprehensive wildlife crossing designs. The researchers completed the data-gathering phase of the project last year, which included collaring elk, monitoring camera traps and counting roadkill to identify wildlife crossing hotspots and problem areas. They’ve spent 2021 analyzing the data and aim to publish it at the end of the year.

A tally of records from collision reports, DOT maintenance staff in Tennessee and North Carolina, weekly driving surveys from researchers, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission showed 162 large mammals were killed on I-40 in the last four years. Since Jan. 1, 21 deaths have been recorded, of which 13 occurred since Oct. 1. Bear account for the largest share of the roadkill

View the Pisgah vista

Hike John Rock with a guided excursion on Saturday, Nov. 20.

This hard hike begins at the Pisgah Wildlife Education Center near Brevard and is 5.6 miles roundtrip, paying off with a fantastic view. Phyllis Woollen and Steve Szczepanski will lead this Haywood County Recreation and Parks event.

Cost is $10. Call 828.452.6789 to sign up.

Explore Waynesville’s watershed

Hike the Waynesville Watershed during one of two guided hikes offered Wednesday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Dec. 1, starting at the Waynesville water treatment plant on Rocky Branch Trail.

Typically closed to the public, the forested land and reservoir it surrounds will be open to participants during these special events. The group will meet at 11 a.m., with the hike concluding by 1:30 p.m. Town of Waynesville and Haywood Waterways Association staff will lead

Delays coming to I-40

Starting Saturday, Nov. 20, I-40 will dwindle down to one lane in each direction as it approaches Exit 7 for Harmon Den, with all traffic forced to exit and detour around the bridge using the highway’s on and off ramps.

The detour will allow contractor Kiewit Infrastructure to remove the deteriorating bridge and replace it with a new structure and is expected to remain in effect well into May of next year. After the road reopens, slow-downs and lane closures should be expected until the project’s final completion date of May 2023.

To bypass the roadwork, travelers coming from Asheville can take I-26 West to Kingsport and then I-81 South to Dandridge. The NCDOT urges drivers to ignore directions from travel apps instructing them to bypass the roadwork using any exit between Asheville and Newport, Tennessee. Many of these roads are unpaved and include steep grades and sharp curves. Trucks are prohibited from taking U.S. 25/70 through Madison and Cocke counties.

— in the last four years, at least 92 bear, 69 deer and one elk have died on the highway. The figures likely represent an undercount.

“Making sure wildlife are free to move is important, so this Harmon Den opportunity is a big one,” said Hillard. “It is this unique opportunity to increase and provide wildlife habitat connectivity.”

Nearly all of Safe Passage’s 28-mile project area through the gorge traverses undeveloped public land that’s crucial habitat for the region’s wildlife. In Haywood County, the road cuts through the Pisgah National Forest, which becomes the Cherokee National Forest as the road passes into Tennessee. The boundary for the Great

this moderate-to-strenuous, 4-mile excursion. Hikers should be prepared to walk through mud and one small stream, and should bring their own lunch and water.

No dogs. Space limited. Free for Haywood Waterways members with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Sign up with Christine O’Brien at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.

Pitch in with Panthertown

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

Scheduled work days are Saturday, Nov. 20; Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 18.

No previous trail work experience is necessary. Workdays typically run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with about 5 miles of hiking on moderate trails while doing trail corridor clearing, pruning and some tread and drain work.

To sign up, email trails@panthertown.org. Learn more at panthertown.org/volunteer.

Smoky Mountains National Park sits just a short distance west of the highway.

These large swathes of land form vital habitat for diverse species ranging from bears to salamanders, but when those animals need to move from one side of the gorge to the other — whether for food, mating or seasonal migration — they face mortal danger.

“Having a place where wildlife can cross under the interstate safely is a big deal just based on resource availability and things like that,” Hillard said. “Especially when we think about the Southern Appalachians, with the changing climate getting warmer wildlife are going to be moving northward.”

As the effort moves forward, Hillard and her colleagues at Safe Passage hope to see wildlife-oriented infrastructure become the norm rather than the exception, with the dream being to build a large, dedicated wildlife overpass across the gorge. Hillard also wants to see the conversation broaden beyond mammals to consider passageways for aquatic species too. Many of the culverts and other structures in place now don’t let fish and other aquatic organisms move easily from one side to the other.

While the DOT was able to absorb the cost of wildlife crossing accommodations into its existing budget for the Harmon Den project, that won’t always be the case. Additional funding sources could be necessary for future projects. To that end, Safe Passage is collecting donations to support its efforts — but an even bigger boost could come from the federal infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed Nov. 15. The $1.2 trillion bill includes $350 million in grants for a wildlife crossings pilot program.

“We look forward to working with all the groups, whether they’re nongovernmental or advocacy groups,” said Uchiyama. “From what we’ve seen so far the collaboration has been phenomenal.”

OPEN

Fish and Wildlife Service ditches controversial red wolf rule

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that it would withdraw its 2018 proposed red wolf management rule, which conservation groups decried as a “death sentence” for red wolves in the wild.

“Wildlands Network and other conservation groups fought the 2018 proposal tooth and nail, and then for three years all we’ve heard is crickets from USFWS,” said Wildlands Network Chief Scientist Ron Sutherland. “To finally be able to put this awful, cowardly proposal to bed is supergratifying and great news for the future of the red wolves.”

A five-county region of southeastern North Carolina is the only place in the world where wild red wolves exist, the result of a reintroduction program that begin in the 1990s. But in 2018, the Fish and Wildlife Service put forward a plan in which it would cease to manage red wolf populations on private lands — meaning that, outside small areas in two of the five counties, hunters and landowners could kill the endangered animals with no repercussions. The plan also included a halt to reintroduction efforts, such as the release of additional wolves to the area.

Following the Fish and Wildlife Service announcement, the 1995 management plan will remain in effect, meaning that the agency will manage the population in all

five counties and continue its reintroduction and adaptive management efforts. It will also work with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to implement coy-

Landowners will still have the right to shoot wolves when necessary to protect themselves or others from harm, or to protect pets or livestock in immediate danger.

ote sterilization, including on private lands when the landowner enters into a written agreement, and engage stakeholders to facilitate more peaceful co-existence between people and wolves.

“Based on recent court decisions involving the NC NEP and having considered public comments submitted in response to the 2018 proposed rule, the Service determined that withdrawing the proposed rule is the best course of action at this time,” reads a press release from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The decision comes after the agency has endured years of court challenges from conservation groups, including a lawsuit introduced last November that is still active in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, claiming that new and illegal agency policies bar use of proven management measures to save the wolves. In a

2018, a federal judge presiding over a separate lawsuit ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s rollbacks on protections for the red wolf violated the Endangered Species act and National Environmental Protection Act.

However, the three-year delay in reversing the proposal has taken a shattering toll on the wild red wolf population, Sutherland said. Though a couple hundred red wolves still live in captivity, when the proposal was released in July 2018, about 35 wild red wolves remained, down from a peak of 150 wild wolves 10 years prior.

Now, there are 10.

“The species is on the slippery, crumbling edge of the literal brink of extinction, and it is so crucial that we now see positive conservation action from federal and state agencies to save Canis rufus,” Sutherland said.

Red wolves once ranged across the entire Southeastern U.S., from eastern Texas down into Florida and all the way up into Pennsylvania, but their numbers dwindled to nearly nothing as the 20th century wore on. The Fish and Wildlife Service attempted to reintroduce them to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1991, but that effort failed. The reintroduction effort then relocated to the eastern part of the state.

— By Holly Kays,

outdoors editor

Smokies volunteers honored for service

A pair of volunteer organizations within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park earned regional recognition for their service in 2020.

tips and ensuring that visitors don’t disturb elk while viewing them.

“These special volunteers exemplify gold standard service that has come to be a signature of the Smokies volunteer program,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We are deeply grateful for their service and dedication.”

The popularity of elk viewing has grown exponentially since elk were reintroduced to the park 20 years ago in Cataloochee. Since that time, the elk herd has expanded across the region and into the Oconaluftee area of the park. Visitor viewing often presents management challenges due to congestion, viewing behavior and animal disturbance. These volunteers remained on duty day after day to ensure the elk’s long-term protection.

New StoryWalk book up in Cashiers

A new book is available on the StoryWalk in the Village Green in Cashiers.

“The Big Dance,” written and illustrated by Aoife Greenham, is a fun, energetic story written on a first-grade level with accompanying activities in English and Spanish. In the story, everyone in the community is invited to the annual Big Dance. Pippa observes her friends show off their unique dance moves but worries she isn’t able to do the same. With her friends’ encouragement, she responds to the music and joyfully joins

Trot for turkey time

Keep the turkey weight off with a menu of frosty races planned for Western North Carolina surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday.

in. The book shows that even though everyone expresses themselves differently, all can participate equally.

Bright, colorful illustrations make it fun to follow along with the story throughout its 16 pages. The first page is posted near the Village Play.

New books are posted on the StoryWalk every two to three months. “The Big Dance” coincides with National StoryWalk Week, Nov. 15-19.

race costs $20 to enter, or $5 for kids and elders. Proceeds benefit Pirouettes Dance & Cheer Academy. Sign up at runsignup.com.

n The Gobble on the Green 5K will take place Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at the Village Green in Cashiers, or as a virtual event with entries due Sunday, Nov. 28. The cost is $25 or free for the fun run starting at 10:30 a.m. Sign up at runsignup.com.

n The Cherokee 5K Turkey Strut will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20, in-person at Kituwah Mound in Bryson City or as a virtual event with entries due 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. Hosted by Cherokee Choices, the

n The Cold Turkey 5K and Little Turkeys Fun! Run/Walk will take place Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, using an out-and-back route starting at the Tassee Shelter Greenway Park in Franklin. Cost is $20 or $5 for the kids fun run/walk. Sign up at runsignup.com.

n Do the Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at Weldon Outdoor Gymnasium at Lake Junaluska. Cost is $30 for adults and $15 for youth 12 and under. Sign up at imathlete.com.

The Elk Bugle Corps and Luftee Rover volunteers received the Regional Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Group, a highlycompetitive award that recognizes above-andbeyond contributions volunteers make in national parks nationwide. The 70 volunteers in the Elk Bugle Corp and Luftee Rover programs dedicated more than 2,400 hours of service in 2020, providing safe elk viewing

“This work has often been in inclement weather, or with overwhelming crowds, and the volunteers eagerly respond by arriving early and leaving late,” said Wildlife Biologist Joe Yarkovich. “Through it all, their passion to help protect the wildlife of Great Smoky Mountains shines through as an example for all of us to follow when helping the public in the most visited national park in the country.”

Nationwide, nearly 250,000 volunteers annually donate their time, skills and talents to the National Park Service. In the Smokies, more than 2,000 Volunteers in Parks perform a variety of activities each year. To join them, visit nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.

Smokies superintendent receives leadership award

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash was one of five leaders nationwide recognized with the Walter T. Cox Award for conservation excellence this fall.

The award, presented by the Clemson

and most visited national park in the U.S.” according to a press release from Clemson.

“Leading staff in providing high quality services and protecting resources during the pandemic, coupled with an extreme rise in visitation, has been challenging,” Cash said.

641 North Main Street, WAYNESVILLE, NC

641 North Main Street, WAYNESVILLE, NC (3/10 Mile North of the Courthouse) 828-456-HAUS (4287)

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

509 Asheville Hwy., Suite B, SYLVA, NC

509 Asheville Hwy., Suite B, SYLVA, NC

(Located in the NAPA Auto Parts Center) 828-586-HAUS (4287)

(Located in the NAPA Auto Parts Center) 828-586-HAUS (4287)

University Institute for Parks, is given annually as part of the George B. Hartzog Awards Program to recognize park administrators who exemplify its namesake’s distinguished career in education and public service. Cash received the award “for his sustained achievement, public service and leadership in conserving and managing public lands including the most bio-diverse

“I’ve been inspired by our staff, partners and communities as we work together to care for the park and to continue to welcome people to this space for rejuvenation and healing. It is an honor to be recognized for this work.”

A full list of honorees is available at news.clemson.edu/clemson-university-recognizes-outstanding-leadership-in-conservation-during-annual-awards-lecture-series.

Tree discounts available for military members

During the month of November, military members can receive a discount on tree seedling orders from the N.C. Forest Service.

The 25% discount is open to active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel, and it applies to the first $500 of all orders. Proof of service — valid military ID, Department of Defense Form 214/215 or National Guard Bureau Form 22/22A — is required to obtain the discount. Standard shipping rates apply.

Order seedlings at buynctrees.com or call 1.888.NCTREES.

Comment sought on environmental rule updates

A virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s “Conformity with North Carolina Environmental Policy Act” will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, via Webex.

The public hearing is part of the required rule review and readoption process required by state law. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify existing language and update the rules to reflect statutory changes, according to a press release from the DEQ. The proposed changes will not have any fiscal impacts to

state or local governments, a Regulatory Impact Analysis found.

To speak at the hearing, register at forms.office.com/g/ESsj4Jzfkq prior to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at jennifer.everett@ncdenr.gov or via mail to Jennifer Everett, 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601. Include “15A NCAC 01C” in the subject line of emailed comments.

For more information on the proposed rules, visit bit.ly/3qvjdnq. To join the hearing, visit bit.ly/3wbuddp.

WNC Calendar

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• There will be a sidewalk sale all day Saturday, Nov. 20, in downtown Sylva.

• The regular Jackson County NAACP Branch #54AB meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, online. The group will be making plans for Martin Luther King Day 2022. Email jcnaacp54ab@gmail.com to receive instructions to join online. All are welcome.

• The Franklin Chamber of Commerce will hold the Annual Christmas Parade at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28. The theme will be “A Season for Giving.” Entry forms can be picked up and returned at the Chamber office, deadline for entry is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24. 828.524.3161.

• The Housing Needs Assessment of Western North Carolina, a comprehensive assessment conducted by Bowen National Research, will be presented during an informational webinar at 12 p.m. Dec. 3. Anyone is welcome to attend and may register here, tinyurl.com/6et9unv9.

B USINESS & E DUCATION

• Haywood Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event for Women Enlightened with guest speaker, Linda Plunkett, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 18, at the Wells Event Center. This event is open to the public with the cost per ticket being $25. This price will include lunch. Call 828.456.3021 or visit our information page.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• Waynesville Yoga Center will host Yoga Basics 2, a five-week series of classes that introduce different styles of yoga. The series will start with a class from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21.

• There will be a free webinar from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday Nov. 20, sponsored by the Appalachian Dowsers that will explore this subject. The speaker is Robert Egby, a leading national expert examining the field of Geopathic stress. More information available online at https://appalachiandowsers.org. The access code for the talk will be available the day of the presentation there as well.

• There will be a free Yoga class at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. https://beyondbendingyoga.com/schedule/

• Dementia and Psychosis Behavior: What You Need to Know, a class for caregivers and loved ones of people experiencing dementia will take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. Register ahead by calling or emailing Kristina Moe at 828.524.3600 or kmoe@fontanalib.org.

P OLITICAL CORNER

• Mark Pless Meet & Greet will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 30, at the Maggie Valley Pavilion at Maggie Valley Town Hall. All are welcome. Entry will require a $30 donation at the door.

S UPPORT G ROUPS

• Dementia Caregivers Support Group, for those providing care for folks who are dealing with dementia, meets from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Haywood Senior Resource Center (81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville). For additional information call 828.476.7985. The next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 23.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

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

• Al-Anon, for families and friends of alcoholics, meets every Monday night from 7-8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 77 Jackson St., Sylva. Enter at front of church through the door to the left of the sanctuary; meeting is first door on the right. The Church requests that you wear a mask if you are not vaccinated.

• Narcotics Anonymous meetings are back "live" in-person after a year of being on Zoom only. Local meetings are 12 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at Sylva First United Methodist Church in downtown Sylva. Entrance at back of building. Also Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Cullowhee Methodist Church and Saturdays 6 p.m. at Cullowhee Methodist Church. Meetings in Haywood County, Macon County and Swain County have reopened as well. For more details, visit ncmountainna.org.

A&E

• The first ever drive-thru Christmas Light Show in Haywood County opens at the Smoky Mountain Event Center, formerly Haywood County Fairgrounds, on Wednesday, Dec. 1, and runs through the holidays. Tickets for the nightly show are available online-only at 38main.com with only 100 cars per one-hour time slot.

• The Annual ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ Art and Crafts Show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 27, inside and outside the WCU Ramsey Center. Admission is $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. Free parking and concessions are available. Visit www.MountainArtisans.net or contact Doris Hunter at djhuner155@gmail.net.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood Street in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• The Cashiers Christmas Parade to be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Registration to participate in the parade is Friday, Nov. 19. office@cashiersareachamber.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Nathan Hefner (piano/vocals) Nov. 20 ($10 cover) and Bob Zullo (guitar/vocals) Nov. 27 ($10 cover). All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Pleasantly Wild Nov. 19. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Cam Cokas (singer-songwriter) Nov. 17. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Troy Underwood Nov. 20 and Shane Meade (singer-songwriter) Nov. 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Urban Soil Duo w/Eric Chesson & Sarah Reinke Nov. 19. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open

to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Long’s Chapel Methodist Church (Waynesville) will host the Voices in the Laurel children’s choir “Songs of Hope for the Season” concert at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Tickets available at voicesinthelaurel.org.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Aces Down Nov. 19, Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) Nov. 20, Shane Meade (singer-songwriter) Nov. 26 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) Nov. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack County Nov. 18, Dottie The Band Nov. 19, Carolina Freightshakers Nov. 20 and Tricia Ann Band Nov. 26. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host The Lads AVL 6 p.m. Nov. 20. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host The Hooten Hallers (blues/punk) 10 p.m. Nov. 20. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

F OOD AND D RINK

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• The “BBQ & Brews Dinner Train'' will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Craft beer pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.

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

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

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

Outdoors

• Friends of Panthertown is hosting a series of trail work days this fall, and all are invited to come pitch in. Scheduled work days are Saturday, Nov. 20; Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 18. No previous trail work experience is necessary. To sign up, email trails@panthertown.org. Learn more at www.panthertown.org/volunteer.

• Get a tutorial in Shiitake mushroom cultivation at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, with Alarka Institute in Macon County. The program will be held outdoors, weather permitting, or safely distanced in a well-ventilated indoor space in case of poor weather. Proof of vaccination required. Cost is $65. Register at alarkaexpeditions.com. Contact 828.371.8439 with questions.

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

• Hike the Waynesville Watershed during one of two guided hikes offered Wednesday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Dec. 1, starting at the Waynesville water treatment plant on Rocky Branch Trail. The group will meet at 11 a.m., with the hike concluding by 1:30 p.m. No dogs. Space limited. Free for Haywood Waterways members with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Sign up with Christine O’Brien at Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.

• Hike John Rock with a guided excursion on Saturday, Nov. 20. Phyllis Woollen and Steve Szczepanski will lead this Haywood County Recreation and Parks event. Cost is $10. Call 828.452.6789 to sign up.

• The Cherokee 5K Turkey Strut will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20, in-person at Kituwah Mound in Bryson City or as a virtual event with entries due 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. Hosted by Cherokee Choices, the race costs $20 to enter, or $5 for kids and elders. Proceeds benefit Pirouettes Dance & Cheer Academy. Sign up at runsignup.com.

• The Gobble on the Green 5K will take place Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at the Village Green in Cashiers, or as a virtual event with entries due Sunday, Nov. 28. The cost is $25 or free for the fun run starting at 10:30 a.m. Sign up at runsignup.com.

• The Cold Turkey 5K and Little Turkeys Fun! Run/Walk will take place Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, using an out-and-back route starting at the Tassee Shelter Greenway Park in Franklin. Cost is $20 or $5 for the kids fun run/walk. Sign up at runsignup.com.

• Do the Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at Weldon Outdoor Gymnasium at Lake Junaluska. Cost is $30 for adults and $15 for youth 12 and under. Sign up at imathlete.com.

• Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months. The Wilderness First Responder certification is designed to provide the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote location. The course will be held in Cullowhee Jan. 1-9 and Feb. 21-March 1, and in Brevard Jan. 15-23. landmarklearning.org

• Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months. The Wilderness First Responder recertification course is a review and practice of evacuation and decision-making guidelines. It will be held in Cullowhee Dec. 3-5, Feb. 25-27 and March 18-20. landmarklearning.org

• Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months. The Wilderness First Aid course is a fast-paced, hands-on training designed to meet the needs of people working in remote locations. It will be held in Cullowhee March 26-27 and in Asheville March 5-6. landmarklearning.org

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 Notices — 25¢ per word

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

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

• Boost in Print

• Add Photo $6

• Bold ad $2

• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4

• Border $4

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

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

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

Employment

IN HOME CAREGIVER NEEDED Senior female in Clyde needs assistance on weekends. Flexible hours. Basic meal prep and light housekeeping preferred. Call April at 828-2765977.

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train

Online to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional Now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain applicants. Call CTI for details. 855-554-4616 CareerTechnical.edu/consumer-information (AAN CAN)

MEDICAL BILLING & CODING TRAINING.

New Students Only. Call & Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Call 833-9900354

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

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruiting for a full-time Community Social Services Assistant. Duties primarily involve transport-

Cook/Baker,

ing foster children for a variety of purposes such as visits with parents, medical appointments, counseling, education, or training. Candidates for this position should be highly dependable, adaptable, have the ability to lift children and car seats, have completed high school, interact well with children, and have a valid NC driver’s license with a good driving record. The starting salary is $24,168.16. The application for employment is available online at: http://www.jcdss. org and should be submitted to the Jackson County Department of

Street, Sylva, NC 28779 or the Sylva branch of the NC Works Career Center. Applications will be taken until November 22, 2021.

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT

Of Social Services is recruiting for a Foster Care Social Worker in Child Welfare. This position will work with foster children and provide services to families where needs have been iden-

availability after hours as

needed. The starting salary is $42,102.07, if fullyyear degree in a Human will be given to applicantselor’s Degree in Social Work and/or experience providing Social Work services. Applicants should complete an application for Jackson County which is located at http://www.jcdss.org and submit it to the Jackson County Department of

Street, Sylva, NC 28779 or the Sylva branch of the NC Works Career Center. Applications will be taken until November 22, 2021.

PREVENTION SPECIALIST: PT Jackson County (Grant Funded)

include: Familiarity with the Strategic Prevention Framework, Environmental strategies, Coalition development as well as an understanding of trauma and resilience. Preferred experience in substance misuse prevention or public health. AA/BA in Behavioral Health and/or Public Health preferred. To be

considered, you must complete an application by visiting www.moun-

Projects Inc. 2177 AsheNC. EOE/AA.

RNS AND LPNS A New Hope Home Care has immediate DAY/ NIGHT/WEEKEND

Cherokee and Franklin areas. Bonus offered for new hires. We are a home care agency providing personal care and skilled nursing services in Western NC. Please reach out to us to learn more. 828-255-4446 www. anewhopehomecare. com (828) 255-4446 jobs@anewhopehomecare.com

NOW HIRING: B. H.

Graning Landscapes, Inc is hiring in both Sylva and Canton. We are seeking a full-time dump truck driver, carpenters, masons, landscape construction crew and crew leaders, and landscape maintenance crew and crew leaders. Pay is negotiable and based on experience and knowledge. There are part time, late starting crews for those that online or in person. 828.586.8303 www. bhglandscapes.com/ employment-application.

SERVICE OPTIONS COORDINATOR Part Time, Temporary Grant Funded Haywood County. Duties include liaison with funding sources and other agencies that provide with potential clients to

assess any needs and locate needed community services. Complete Satisfaction Surveys on a regular basis and measure improvements in client situations. Complete and submit required reassessments at 6 month intervals. Applicants must have effective oral and written communication skills. Experience working with elderly, knowledge of community resources necessary. Applicants should exhibit compassion and desire to help seniors remain living independently. Candidates must have a high school diploma/GED, Val-

Please apply by visiting: www.mountainprojects. org EOE/AA

BOOTS STEAKHOUSE IN DILLSBORO Boots Steakhouse in Dillsboro is now hiring Servers, Bussers, Cooks and Dishwashers. Our employees earn top wages and we are ranked the #1 Steakhouse by Trip Advisor in the Caroliapply to: bootssteakhouse@gmail.com to schedule an in person interview. You can also call 828-631-9713 and view our website: www. bootssteakhouse.com

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CAREER AND RESOURCE Expo will be held from 9am-2pm on Saturday, November 20, at Harrah’s CheroConference Center, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC. Over 25 regional employers representing hospitality and tourism, technology, health care, manufacturing and professional services will showcase their career

opportunities and many will conduct on-the-spot hiring. Job seekers are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and dress to impress. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Sylva career center,

Wednesday, Friday), or the Bryson City career center, 828-488-2149 (Tuesday, Thursday), sending an e-mail to ncworks.8500@nccommerce.com or visiting www.ncworks.gov.

WAYNESVILLE, NC EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES We’re Hiring! Join

Team! Full and part time opportunities available. Easterseals UCP provides meaningful and exceptional services so that children, adults and families living with disabilities, behavioral health challenges and autism can live, learn, work and play in their communities. Direct Support Workers provide support to persons residing in a variety of residential settings. This staff participates in the daily routine of the home, and provides support for habilitative activities, personal care, health care, and other activities as outlined in -

School Diploma or equivalent from an accredited institution recognized by the state Department of

valid state appropriate drivers license and valid auto insurance along with a good driving record. Please visit our website and apply @: www. eastersealsucp.com (919) 865-1663 katrina. boykin@eastersealsucp. com

Home Goods

GENERAC STANDBY GENERATORS Don’t Wait! The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be. prepared for power warranty ($695 value!) Schedule your Free InHome assessment today. 1-833-953-0224, special customers.

Legal Notices

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CONTRACT 68821-01

TOWN OF WAYNES-

Sealed proposals for the following work will be received by the Town of Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina,ment Services until 10:30 a.m. local time, Thursday, December 16, 2021, for furnishing labor and materials and performing all work as set forth by the Advertisement, Generaltions and/or Drawings prepared by Bell Engineering. Immediately following the scheduled closing time for the reception of bids, all proposals which have been submitted in accordance with the above conditions will be publicly opened and read aloud. The bid opening will take place at the Public Services Drive, Waynesville, North Carolina 28786. Bidders are encouraged to attend a prebid conference on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. local time. Bidders may attend virtually via Zoom,

SUPER CROSSWORD

or attend in person at the The work to be bid is described as follows:

All necessary demolition, excavation, labor, materials, and equipment for the construction of a 100-foot long pedestrian bridge, including approximately 323 linear feet of asphalt walk installation, 92 linear feet of modular concrete block retaining wall, and 66 linear feet of handrail, as depicted in the Drawings, complete.

and Contract Documents may be examined at the of Development Services

Suite 110 Waynesville, North Carolina 28786 iSqFt 30 Technology Parkway, Suite 100 Norcross, Georgia 30092 or may be obtained from

Kentucky 40507, phone 859/255-1021 (issuing

non-refundable deposit

688-21-01—$130.00 Sealed proposals for this Contract shall be clearly

marked on the outside of the envelope as follows: “Sealed Proposal for Contract 688-21-01.

Not to be opened until 10:30 a.m. local time, Thursday, December 16, 2021.” If forwarded by mail, the sealed envelope containing the proposal must be enclosed in another envelope and

Development Services

for such mailing to reach this address prior to the scheduled closing time for receipt of proposals. Bids shall be accom-

check or bid bond made payable to the Town of Waynesville, North Carolina, in an amount not less than the percent of the base bid indicated

C-200, Instructions to Bidders, Bid Security. No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of 90 days after the date bids are opened. He may, however, withdraw his bid at any time prior to the time and date scheduled for opening of same or any authorized postponement thereof. Any bid received after the time and be considered and will be returned unopened to the share will be provided from current funds on hand, including federal funds from the American

Bidders must comply with the President’s Executive Order Nos. 11246 and 11375, which prohibit discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex or national origin. Where the President’s Executive Order No. 11246 is shown, Executive Order No. 11375 also applies. Bidders must make positive

SUDOKU

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

efforts to secure small or minority owned business enterprise participation in this Project. Bidders must comply with Title VI of the the Anti Kickback Act, the Contract Work Hours Standard Act. Bidders must certify that they do not and will not maintain or provide for their employees any facilities that are segregated or based on race, color, creed, or national origin. Bidders

of prior work under Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity) as amended. All contractors and subcontractors

-

mative action. This is to ensure equal opportunity to females and minorities, and apply the time tables and goals set forth

the United States nor any of its departments, agencies or employees is or will be a party to this Invitation for Bids or any resulting contract. This procurement is subject to the requirements outlined in the Kentucky Infrastructure Supplemental General Conditions. The Town of Waynesville, North Carolina, may consider informal any bid not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of this advertisement and/or the Spec-

any informalities or reject any and all bids.

TOWN

Medical

GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! (Ages 50 to 80). No medical exam. Affordable premiums never decrease. Policy will only be cancelled for non-payment. 833-380-1218

DENTAL INSURANCE -

al Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus

insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait!

Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-4968601 www.dental50plus. com/ncpress #6258

MEDICATION? Still paying too much? Save up to today and receive free

prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612 (AAA CAN)

Pets

BROWN TABBY CATS,ROCK & MORTAR 5-month old, beautiful striped brothers who love to play! Prefer indoor/ outdoor home we can “patrol”. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org

SHEPHERD/RETRIEVER MIX DOG (TAN), MAX 6 year old, 60-lb, active boy who loves hiking and is always happy. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org

Rentals

LOT FOR RENT for mobile home in Sylva. Small private park. $325/month (828) 331-8285

Automotive

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR,-

duction. Support United Breast Cancer Fdn programs. Your car donation could save a life. 888641-9690

Entertainment

CABLE PRICE INCREASE AGAIN? Switch

$100 visa gift card! Get call now! 1-888-520-2338

Home Improvement

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18ty & professional installs.

UPDATE YOUR HOME With Beautiful New Blinds estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation.

USA. Call for free consultation: 844-250-7899. ENERGY SAVING NEW WINDOWS! Beautify your home! Save on monthly energy bills with NEWmodel! Up to 18 months apply. 1-877-287-8229

Wanted to Buy

HOME WITH OWNER FINANCING. 2 bedroom, 2 bath on 1+ acres. Manufactured

ok. We have great credit and references. Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Haywood County or surrounding area. 864.517.6578