Smoky Mountain News | December 24, 2025

for 2026 races Page 6

Outdoor 76 celebrates 15 years in business Page 30

CONTENTS

On the Cover:

Bristol is known as the home of the “Big Bang of Country Music,” but a new album highlighting a series of recordings laid to wax in Asheville a couple years prior to that big bang is putting Asheville into the conversation as the birthplace of country music. The Smoky Mountain News dives into the story behind the “Asheville Sessions,” recorded in 1925, that have now been released to the public. (Page 22) Donated photo

News

Swain County jail’s inspection failures highlight statewide issues........................4 Western North Carolina braces for 2026 races........................................................6 Federal government prods NCDMV for voter registration change....................10 WCU professor secures NCInnovation funding for new medical device........14 Lumbee gain federal recognition..................................................................................15 Jackson library exit critics cite Yancey chaos, dubious ‘list’..................................16 Attorney finds Hooper violated Jackson TDA attendance policy........................19

Opinion

Administration puts military in a tough spot..............................................................20

Never forget what happened January 6......................................................................20

A&E

Blue Ridge Big Band celebrates NYE........................................................................26 The V8s return to Sylva....................................................................................................27

Outdoors

The art of adventure: Outdoor 76 celebrates 15 years........................................30 HCC hosts spring hunter safety courses ................................................................33

E

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S UBSCRIPTIONS

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Swain County jail’s inspection failures highlight statewide issues

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Between 2017 and 2025, Swain County Law Enforcement Center failed 13 of 16 biannual inspections, according to Disability Rights North Carolina.

The existence of one or more documented violations requires the sheriff to submit a plan of correction to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services detailing the steps that will be or already have been taken to remediate each issue. But according to documents provided to DRNC, plans of correction haven’t mitigated chronic noncompliance.

DRNC defines “failed” as when the Division of Health Service Regulation, housed under DHHS, “cites a facility for noncompliance with the Jail Rules, meaning that the inspection found the facility was not following one or more of the Jail Rules.”

The failures actually put the jail on the same level as many other county jails in North Carolina. Among those in The Smoky Mountain News’ fourcounty coverage area, the jail in Macon failed 100% of 16 inspections conducted from 2017 to 2025. Jackson, having failed 11 of 15, had a marginally better eight-year track record. Finally, Haywood’s jail, without available 2017-2019 data, passed half — six out of 12 — inspections from 2020 to 2025.

IMPORTANCE OF SUPERVISION

All North Carolina jail officials must make safety rounds twice per 60 minutes, with no more than 40 minutes between each round — and more often if there are health issues, behavioral factors or suicide watch.

minute gap between rounds in early 2025.

In both inspections the year prior, “the video surveillance system and the two-way communication system located in the Master Control room were discovered to be locked and non-functional,” observed the DHSR officer. According to a May 2025 article in The Sylva Herald, since 2019, Jackson County Detention Center has recorded “at least six” fatalities.

The Macon and Haywood jails each held a better supervision record than Jackson’s, though in early 2024, the former was cited for a faulty dorm two-way communication system, and the latter for round breaks of up to 65 minutes.

Cochran told the Smoky Mountain Times that during a round 24 minutes before Lomas was found unconscious, he was sitting on a bench in the holding cell.

SWAIN INSPECTION HISTORY

The Swain facility’s 2019 POC noted officers had been “reprimanded” for missing rounds. That seemed to do the trick; it had no issues with supervision in 2020, only failing due to inadequate sanitation. The jail received a passing mark the next year, but any success was short-lived: SCLEC failed both of its 2022 inspections, once on account of supervision.

the entire 24-hour period under review.”

Swain County then failed its first report of 2024 — while housing 40 people with federal convictions. Inspector Charles Brown noted that “the documented supervision rounds were not provided at the time of inspection.”

McCoy, responsible for the latter 2024 inspection, found “no deficiencies,” giving the jail a second passing mark. At that time, the contract with the USMS had the jail renting 41 beds.

It was not McCoy, but North Carolina Chief Jail Inspector Chris Wood, who conducted SCLEC’s first 2025 inspection. Then still operated by Cochran, who has since retired amid serious sexual assault charges in both Swain County and on the Qualla Boundary, it was flagged for a number of immediate issues. As for supervision, the March 26 report ran into the same obstacle: no records were readily available.

“The administrator of the facility stated that she would email supervision rounds to the inspector. Inspector has not received supervision rounds as requested,” the document read.

The jail’s litany of other violations — including failure to check fire extinguishers, a damaged intercom, moldy ceilings and unusable entry locks — were not fully addressed until days after its second 2025 inspection, signed in September. This timing was ostensibly permitted by DHSR, given the state’s eventual acceptance of the POC submitted by Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland and approved by jail administrator Christopher Grant.

Effective supervision — which includes both rounds and video observation, alongside two-way intercom communication — is routinely cited as one of the most important factors in mitigating suicide risk and better ensuring the safety of incarcerated people.

Jackson County’s 2017-2019 jail violations were to the tune of “two citations in 2017 for multiple missed rounds, [and] failure to enter cell blocks to directly observe people in custody,” DRNC noted. What’s more, Melissa Middleton Rice’s 2019 death by suicide “following a traumatic domestic dispute” occurred in the Jackson jail’s booking area, said the nonprofit — “after being left alone without observation.” More recently, the county has incurred on-and-off citations for supervision inadequacies, with one 74-

Still, DRNC highlighted the Swain County Law Enforcement Center in particular for its routine failure to adequately perform safety checks — despite multiple corrective plans that promised to re-educate detention officers.

October 2025 marked the most recent jail death in SMN’s coverage area, which took place at the Haywood County detention center. There have been two deaths at SCLEC since 2018, a relatively low figure among the state’s counties.

When 25-year-old Joseph Lomas died in SCLEC in 2020, the Smoky Mountain News reported that he’d previously been placed in a holding cell “so he could be treated by a nurse for what appeared to be alcohol withdrawal.” Such symptoms observed in an inmate would require staff to conduct four or more safety checks each hour, no more than 20 minutes apart. Former sheriff Curtis

In early 2023, Swain’s detention center passed; DHSR inspector Roger McCoy found “no deficiencies.” At the time, the county was being paid to house 27 people with federal convictions through a contract with the United States Marshal Service.

A few months later, however, McCoy documented significant violations.

Upon his visit, the inspector wrote that USMS was funding the jail for 23 of its beds, though he only observed a “total of three staff working the jail, all female officers, no male officers working the jail this shift.”

Additionally, he wrote, “1. There were no rounds conducted for a duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes, specifically from 2:15 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. 2. Only one supervision round was documented/conducted for the entire facility during the hours of: 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m. … 3. Pods B and D lacked any documented rounds for

Amid Cochran’s scandal, Swain County law enforcement has been navigating unprecedented territory these past few months, which Kirkland told SMN delayed POC process. Kirkland, then Cochran’s second in command, assumed the responsibilities of the highest law enforcement officer in the county.

Meanwhile, the jail, formerly under the responsibility of Leanna Arch, endured its own administrative turnover.

“Chris [Grant] came in, and that stuff hadn’t been completed yet by the previous administrator, and he had to go back and put that together to get it cemented,” Kirkland said of officers documenting their regular rounds in the jail.

The first 2025 POC addressed many of the issues but noted the department’s inability to find supervision logs.

“At this time I do not have the ability to pull rounds. County IT is working with Guard one to get the correct software for my computer and get it set up so I have access. I should have access in the next two weeks from my understanding,” Kirkland wrote, dating the item’s F

completion to Oct. 1.

DHSR officer Telia White finally had eyes on documentation during the second biannual inspection, discovering five supervision violations in multiple building wings throughout a 24-hour window beginning Sept. 17. The most significant instance of noncompliance was D-pod’s 101-minute gap between what are supposed to be semihourly rounds. White advised that this issue “be addressed with staff immediately.”

“I have spoke to the Detention Officers and trying to make sure things are done as they are supposed to be done. I will be

and strengthens death penalty enforcement while narrowing pretrial release options and ordering mental health evaluations in the case of a violent offense. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden has warned that the law will overcrowd Charlotte jails, and a state DHHS official told The News & Observer that it’ll increase inpatient treatment demand.

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson has already canceled a $1.9 million annual agreement with ICE, active since 2019 to house detained individuals, in anticipation of a surge in his jail’s local population.

watching and following for the future to ensure everything is being done as it is supposed to be done,” Kirkland wrote in a second plan of correction, signed Dec. 5 and currently awaiting DHHS acceptance.

Kirkland alleged the inadequate supervision was a result of SCLEC having been “extremely understaffed.”

“I know at one point in time we had six or seven openings,” he told SMN.

According to the sheriff, now “at least seven or eight people has been hired in the detention center since I took over, and it might even be a few more than that.”

Kirkland said his second POC supervision comment was not in reference to disciplining wrongdoers, but rather to training green detention officers.

Understaffing is a rampant statewide problem in both jails and prisons. Vance County’s detention center was mandated to depopulate in April due to violations that included only nine jail staff supervising 140 incarcerated people.

Overcrowding is also a common issue; in 2023, more than a quarter of the state’s jails exceeded maximum capacity for at least a month. And although the Swain jail typically is filled to 80% of its upper limit, a law passed by the General Assembly in late September could certainly create additional strain.

“Iryna’s law,” penned by state legislators in the wake of the stabbing death of young Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, eliminates certain bail options

THE SOLUTIONS

To further bolster SCLEC staffing rates, Kirkland has focused on both hiring people — and keeping them.

“Our retention rates seem to be getting better,” he said.

The new sheriff said he’s also been making improvements in other categories where the jail was not in compliance.

“We have purchased the whole brandnew control board for the detention center, which comes with new intercoms and new locking mechanisms,” he said, noting that the department had worked with county commissioners to approve a budget capable of funding it.

County law enforcement has also been “fixing some cameras, blind spots and stuff like that, as we’re moving forward. So that that should be getting installed here real soon,” he explained. Still, Kirkland said, “everything [in the jail] is outdated,” and it’ll take some time to see tangible progress on all standards SCLEC had violated upon inspection.

According to DRNC, why SCLEC — and so many jails across North Carolina — should hold a long-term record of non-compliance boils down to inadequate DHSR tools to enforce its own regulation.

“Jail closures are the Secretary’s only tool to force compliance with the Jail Rules, and it is an impractical, extreme measure that is difficult to impose,” the organization stated.

State DHHS officials did not respond to SMN’s request for comment.

Western North Carolina braces for 2026 races

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT

P OLITICS E DITOR

Western North Carolina’s next election cycle is already shaping up amid a volatile mix of entrenched incumbents, disaster recovery fallout and deepening national divides, with competitive races stretching from the U.S. Senate on down to county-level offices.

While marquee statewide contests appear to be headed toward familiar General Election matchups, cracks are emerging down the ballot, where public trust and institutional legitimacy are demanding attention from voters now more than any other time in recent memory.

Some western districts long considered safely Republican now show signs of strain, even as Democrats struggle in places to field full slates.

Judicial races remain largely uncontested, but local contests, especially for county commissions and sheriff, reflect communities still reckoning with crisis, controversy and accountability.

The Primary Election contests to be held in March 2026 will ultimately decide who appears on ballots in the November 2026 mid-term General Election, which is widely expected to be a referendum on President Donald Trump’s handling of the domestic affordability crisis, foreign policy, the Epstein files and — at least in WNC — the recovery from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the region almost exactly 15 months ago.

US SENATE

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis decided back in late June not to seek reelection, further bolstering Democrat hopes of flipping the seat — an outcome that could have national implications.

Two-term former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who has never lost an election in his long political career, faces a field of five relatively low-profile Primary Election challengers and is expected to prevail.

On the Republican side, former RNC Chair and current Hurricane Helene Recovery “czar” Michael Whatley — appointed by President Donald Trump in January to oversee rebuilding efforts — also faces a field of five challengers, although Waxhaw attorney Don Brown seems to have strong support from the grassroots wing of the party.

“Of course, we’ve been in the race longer than anyone, and I’m the only candidate to challenge Tills [before he dropped out], but we’re in an emergency situation with our national debt,” Brown told The Smoky Mountain News Dec. 21. “That’s the driving issue I’ve been talking about on the campaign trail. The debt is exploding by $37,000 per second. Republicans need a plan to attack it, and I’m the only candidate in the race with a plan.”

Two other issues — medical freedom and “out-of-control” federal judges — round out Brown’s appeal to voters.

The late entry of Michele Morrow into

(R-Henderson), has faced heavy criticism over his failure to satisfy the needs of his constituents in the wake of Helene and will face former Green Beret and Helene hero Adam Smith of Fairview.

Smith is best known for helping to turn a Harley Davidson dealership into a helicopter landing zone in the immediate aftermath of Helene and has been critical of Edwards’ response to the storm, which killed 108 people and caused $60 billion in damage across the region.

“While my team, volunteers, myself and a multitude of other nonprofits on the ground were actively working in disaster relief and rescue to provide supplies, I never saw [Edwards] until the president showed up. Then I saw him for 15 minutes. Then I didn’t see him again,” Smith told SMN back in September.

Libertarian Jason Groo, of Greensboro, has also filed but doesn’t have a primary opponent, so he’ll advance to the General Election without having to do much campaigning.

Candidates on the Democrat side have been active for almost a year now, seeking opportunity in the wake of Edwards’ failures and downgrades to his district by national observers.

the race is expected to shake things up a bit. Morrow, who lost the state superintendent of public instruction race to Democrat Mo Green by 2 points last November, has called for the public execution of prominent Democrats, including former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

If Cooper and Whatley do prevail, they’ll be joined on the November ballot by Libertarian candidate Shannon Bray, who’s run for a variety of offices over the past several cycles.

CONGRESS

Incumbent Congressman Chuck Edwards

Mental health professional Zelda Briarwood of Canton was among the first to declare a candidacy for the seat, and Fairview farmer Jamie Ager has been campaigning steadily since at least summer, but that hasn’t stopped several others from jumping in — cancer researcher Paul Maddox of Burnsville, physician Richard Hudspeth of Skyland and civil engineer Lee Whipple of Asheville.

This particular race has already been zesty. It’s likely there will be more spice in the coming months.

STATE SENATE

There are no contested Primary Elections for the state Senate in SMN’s overage area, but both Senate seats will be contested in the General Election. Powerful and popular Republican Kevin F

JUDICIAL RACES

As usual, meaningful competition in judicial races remains scarce. Of the eight judicial races pertinent to SMN’s core coverage area, there are only two contested Primary Elections. Four judges will earn terms with no opponents at all.

Democrats are keen to retain Justice Anita Earls’ seat on the state’s heavily politicized Supreme Court. Earls has no primary opposition but will face Republican Sarah Stevens in November.

Three seats on the Court of Appeals are up this cycle. For seat 1, Democratic incumbent John Arrowood of Raleigh gets a free pass for the Primary but will face either Matt Smith of Monroe or Michael C. Byrne of Raleigh in the General.

For seat 2, Democratic incumbent Toby Hampson of Raleigh will take on Republican challenger George Cooper Bell of Cornelius.

election in 2022, Ramey has been known mostly for lying — over his delinquent property taxes, his votes on the commission and during a blowout commission meeting last December over his appearance in a YouTube video that spread misinformation about the county’s powers to circumvent state law, earning Ramey’s fellow commissioners death threats and a call from Pless to step down.

Ramey has also been tied to the operations of Haven on the Hill, an ersatz campground for Helene survivors known mostly for allegations of mistreatment and misappropriation of donations. Most recently, the operator of the campground, James Lunsford — who currently faces trial on federal gun charges — has been accused of selling donated campers on Facebook marketplace.

Corbin, who represents the westernmost district in the state, will face Democrat Tom Downing, of Cullowhee, in November.

Downing is known for his passionate public comment and advocacy for the Fontana Regional Library system in Jackson County and has also spoken out on the Republicanled Jackson County Board of Elections’ recent decision to close an early voting site at Western Carolina University. The 50th District is solidly red.

A small portion of Haywood County is included in the 47th District and represented by Sen. Ralph Hise (RMitchell). With no Primary Election opponents, Hise will again face Linville Falls Democrat Frank Patton Hughes III, whom he defeated by nearly 30 points in 2024.

STATE HOUSE

Macon County Republican and House Majority Whip Karl Gillespie doesn’t have a Primary opponent in District 120 but will face Highlands educator and Democrat Caleb Brown in the General Election.

Members of Gillespie’s western House caucus, however, weren’t so fortunate.

Haywood County Republican incumbent Mark Pless will face a strong challenge from fellow Republican and Haywood County School Board member Jimmy Rogers for the District 118 seat, after another Haywood Republican who’d been actively campaigning, Ken Brown, decided not to file. The winner will face Haywood County attorney and former judge Danny Davis, a Democrat, in a district that also includes Madison County.

Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) has faced health challenges this year but filed to run in what many people think is one of the best chances for Democrats to flip a house seat in the west; he’ll be opposed in the Primary by Sylva musician Mike Yow and Savannah Ferguson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians planning board from Whittier.

For seat 3, Republican incumbent Craig Collins of Gastonia will face the winner of the Democratic Primary between Raleigh residents James Weldon Whalen and Christine Marie Walczyk.

In the Superior Court, Waynesville’s Roy Wijewickrama will retain District 43B seat 1 without opposition.

In District Court, Lake Junaluska Republican Donna Forga, Bryson City Democrat Justin Green and Waynesville Democrat Bill Jones face no opposition through November.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Republican District Attorney Ashley Welch has a free pass to another four-year term. Welch has not faced an opponent of any sort since the 2014 Primary Election.

HAYWOOD COUNTY

Although a number of Haywood County seats are up this year, there are only four contested Primary Elections.

The Democratic Primary Election for Haywood County commission isn’t one of them. Librarian Carly Pugh, of Waynesville, and former commissioner Mike Sorrells have both filed, but Democrats could have fielded up to three candidates, so both Pugh and Sorrells will advance straight to November.

“I think that I want to practice what I preached when I was a social studies teacher, that is to say, I want to emphasize the importance of local government and participate — and encourage other people to do the same,” Pugh told SMN Dec. 21.

This marks the second cycle in a row where Haywood County Democrats have failed to fill all available slots on the ballot, putting them at a significant disadvantage in November, when voters may choose any three candidates.

The Republican Primary, however, will be highly competitive.

Commissioner Jennifer Best decided not to run again, opening up one of the three seats.

In 2024, Ramey was investigated for the mistreatment of his horses after an anonymous tip. A Buncombe County veterinarian said the horses had “poor body condition scores.” The equine issue draws another parallel with Lunsford, who pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty himself in 2019.

Over the past 35 years, Ramey has been sued dozens of times, mostly for nonpayment of bills owed to vendors or contractors. When asked for a list of county property taxes Ramey still owes, Haywood’s outgoing tax collector Sebastian Cothran provided to SMN a total of more than $2,000 — and growing. Some of the bills date back as far as 2008. Despite earning a small salary for his “service,” Ramey has made no attempt to pay his overdue taxes.

Into that mess step four other Republicans — Florida native Tiffany Collins, Canton restauranteur Howard Knepper, Haywood School Board member and Haywood Vocational Opportunities manager David Burnette and retired Town of Waynesville Public Services Director Jeff Stines.

Voters may choose any three Republicans who will advance to November’s General Election and face the two Democrats.

Stacy Cutshaw Moore, of Waynesville, and Kristina Watson, of Canton, will compete in the Republican Primary for register of deeds after longtime Democrat incumbent Sheri Rogers said she wouldn’t seek reelection. There is no Democrat on the ballot for the position, so either Moore or Watson will advance to November unopposed.

Jeff Haynes, formerly chief deputy in the Haywood County Sheriff’s office under prior Sheriff Greg Christopher, was appointed to the position of clerk of courts after Hunter Plemmons resigned several weeks ago. Haynes, a Democrat, faces no opposition and will earn his first four-year term.

For a time after Hurricane Helene, Haywood Sheriff Bill Wilke became the county’s unofficial ‘chief misinformation

Cory

Transylvania County Democrat Mark Burrows, a Democrat, will take on the winner of that contest in November. Burroughs lost to Clampitt by nearly 11 points in 2024, but the Civitas partisan index has now designated the 119th District as “leans Republican,” perhaps leaving an opening for Burroughs.

Two-term incumbent Tommy Long, a former paper mill employee and district director of a seven-county region for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, will seek a third term. First-term incumbent Terry Ramey has also filed.

Ramey’s tenure has been marked by division and ostracism from fellow Republican commissioners; since his

Current Sheriff Bill Wilke, who replaced the retiring Christopher in 2022, appears to have a serious Republican Primary opponent — challenger Mark Mease, formerly a HCSO patrol captain who now works narcotics for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal police.

PAGE 8

Wilke has taken a strong stand on drug trafficking, making several high-profile busts; however, he became nationally known for his even stronger stand against misinformation that began to circulate in the aftermath of Helene. Mease has thus far run a relatively sophisticated campaign on social media, but his supporters have already clashed with Wilke’s — promising a heated contest.

The winner of that contest will face Waynesville Police Officer Tyler Howell, a Democrat, in November.

A forum with all three candidates will be hosted by the Smoky Mountain News at the historic Haywood County Courthouse on Jan. 7.

Finally, there’s the tax collector race — Haywood County remains the only county out of 100 in North Carolina that still elects its tax collector. Cothran, the current tax collector, made headlines in 2022 as one of the youngest elected officials in the state, but has decided not to seek reelection.

The man Cothran defeated, Greg West, has changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and will try to get his old job back. Standing in his way are Emily Sapp of Lake Junaluska and Andrew Ferguson, who ran for the position unsuccessfully in the 2016 Republican Primary Election.

“I’m running because the collections office needs long-term stability. We must elect someone that’s qualified, understanding and committed to the future. I’m the candidate that will accomplish this for Haywood County,” Ferguson told SMN Dec. 19.

JACKSON COUNTY

This past year has been marked by political and cultural upheaval in Jackson County, where Republican commissioners have come under fire for their potentially illegal removal of interpretive plaques on a confederate monument and their unwillingness to heed the desires of their constituents in the Fontana Regional Library dispute. Those acts — and a substantial property tax increase — seem to have energized Jackson Democrats, who hope to flip one or more seats on commission and halt the withdrawal from the FRL system.

Chair Mark Letson, the only commissioner to vote against the withdrawal, has filed for reelection but predictably has three Republican Primary opponents, David Rogers of Sylva, Jarrett Crowe of Cherokee and Jon Brown of Sylva. Brown is fresh off a loss to Perry Matthews for the Sylva commission in November but did vote to pass a resolution of support for the FRL as the debate swirled.

Also fresh off a loss is former Forest Hills mayor Marcia Almond, who was defeated by Republican Ron Mau in her reelection bid last November; along with fellow Democrat Bobbi Hopp, Almond’s filed for chair.

“I was compelled to run because there needs to be changes on our board of commissioners,” Almond said. “We need to change direction and look at fiscal responsibility and doing something beneficial for the county.”

Jackson elects its commissioners by district — something not all Western North Carolina counties do. The District 1 seat, currently held by Todd Bryson, has four Democrats and two Republicans lined up, likely due to Bryson’s decision not to run again.

John Herrera, German Vivas, Casey Wallawender and Julie Extine Painter will compete on the Democrat side, while Anthony Sequoyah and Steven Sutton will compete on the Republican side.

District 2 Republican commissioner John Smith has filed for reelection; Smith has come under fire like fellow Republican commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper for skipping meetings of the advisory boards on which he serves, missing five of six Jackson County Public Library Board gatherings in 2025. He also likely violated the law by skipping statemandated ethics training, but he faces no Primary Election competition. Democrats seeking to unseat him in November are Sean Bridgers and Frances Owens.

Clerk of Court Kim Poteet, a Democrat, advances without Primary opposition, as does Republican contender Rollie James. Register of Deeds Shandra Sims, also a Democrat, has no opponent in 2026.

Republican Sheriff Doug Farmer will face Brandon Elders in the Primary Election, but as no Democrats filed, the winner of the Primary will earn the job for the next four years.

MACON COUNTY

Macon County also elects its commissioners by district. Incumbent Republican Commissioner John Shearl is seeking his second term in District 1, but will face Don Willis of Franklin and Joey Wilson of Highlands. Democrat Russ Lunn is unopposed and will face the winner in November.

District 2 has drawn a large field of candidates due to its two incumbent Republican commissioners, Danny Antoine and Gary Shields, deciding to hang it up this cycle.

Two Democrats, Terry Bell and Janet Jacobs Greene, will advance to the November contest unopposed.

Former Franklin Town Council member David Culpepper, who declined to seek reelection to that board last November, looks to get back in the game with his candidacy.

“The things I want to say and talk about aren’t being said,” Culpepper told SMN. “I don’t want power. I desperately want reason and logic to be cool again.”

He’s joined on the Republican ballot by Kellie McConnell Burns, Nick Lofthouse, Danny Reitmeier, Dylan Castle and Jason Salmon.

Castle, a pastor, has been an ardent supporter of FRL withdrawal. Salmon, on social media, has said he’s “not afraid to express [himself] openly about not liking black people.”

Republican Clerk of Court Shawna Thun Lamb is unopposed and will move on to another term in November, as will Republican Register of Deeds Todd Raby. Republican Sheriff Brent Holbrooks will face fellow Republican Bob Cook in the Primary; however, as no Democrats have filed, the winner of the Primary will take the job.

SWAIN COUNTY

Like in Jackson County, Swain voters elect its county commission chair. Also like in Jackson County, Swain County is in the midst of generational upheaval.

In June, law enforcement had to be called to a commission meeting after a hot mic during a closed session captured audio of commissioners threatening each other with violence during a heated discussion. Commissioner David Loftis, who is not up for reelection this cycle, was ultimately removed from the meeting but the name of the commissioner he argued with wasn’t disclosed.

November.

Kirkland, however, is seeking to a seat on the commission but will compete with incumbent Phil Carson and challenger Lisa Stevenson Barker in the Republican Primary Election. Voters may choose any two candidates.

Democrats face the same situation; three, including Bradley Hall, Chris Reed and Erika Smith, will compete for two slots on the November ballot.

Word is, two or even three unaffiliated candidates are actively working to gather signatures for their own candidacies. Filing for unaffiliated candidates is March 6, 2026. Shortly after the commission conflagration and shortly before Seagle’s resignation, Swain County’s longtime Republican sheriff Curtis Cochran resigned from office after credible allegations of sexual misconduct were leveled against him.

Republican Brian Kirkland was appointed interim sheriff and will seek a full four-year term. He’s opposed in the Primary by Wayne Dover.

Democrats have put forth two candidates, David Southards and Douglas “Tank” Anthony.

Swain’s Clerk of Superior Court race isn’t much of a race; it features only one candidate, Republican Allyson Wike Barnes. Ditto for the Register of Deeds — Democrat Diana Williamson Kirkland is likewise unopposed.

In August, Republican commission Chair Kevin Seagle resigned without explanation.

County Manager Lottie Barker recently submitted her resignation, effective in two months. Barker withheld public records related to Seagle’s resignation.

Seagle was replaced on an interim basis

Swain County also has two board of education seats up this year, currently held by Republicans Lisa Stoltzfus Loftis and Robert Taylor. Taylor is not seeking reelection, but Loftis is.

“I just want to continue to serve the Swain County community, the parents and the students for another four years and be available for them for any questions, concerns or help I can give them,” Loftis said.

Loftis will face fellow Republicans Jason Lambert and Josh Oliver. Voters may choose

Dannie Shuler and Brandy Monteith, both Democrats, have also filed but will advance directly to November, when voters will be able to choose any two of the four

The 2026 Primary Election will be held on March 3, 2026, but early voting begins Feb. 12, 2026. Absentee balloting begins on Jan. 12. The deadline to register to vote is Feb. 6, although same-day registration is available during early voting — but not on

Unaffiliated candidates must file petitions and signatures no later than noon on

The 2026 General Election will be held

To learn more about voting, to check your party affiliation or find your polling place, visit ncsbe.gov.

Look for full campaign coverage from The Smoky Mountain News beginning in January.

Feds prod NCDMV for voter registration change

BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR

North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has strengthened the process by which it allows people with a driver’s license to register to vote in an effort to prevent noncitizens from illegally participating in elections.

The changes were instigated following scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, which prompted an internal investigation by the DMV. The initial inquiry that led to the change was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. Over the last several years, there has been a concern — especially among Republicans — that in some states, DMVs may be encouraging non-citizens to register to vote.

Over 1,700 noncitizens in Oregon were found to have registered to vote despite not showing proof of citizenship. In that case, over two dozen people actually voted illegally, but that isn’t the case in North Carolina, the DMV investigation determined. The Oregon investigation was instigated at the state level when a think tank called the Institute for Responsive Government filed a formal inquiry.

In North Carolina, the state board of elections launched a program to gather missing data for 103,000 registered voters in July.

“Those examiners could avoid these illegal registrations,” the letter reads. “What is more, it means DMV examiners are proactively registering ineligible voters and having them sign an electronic block, impermissibly adding them to the voter rolls.”

“Such actions undermine the integrity of our elections,” it continues.

The letter ultimately presented a series of questions, which aimed to determine exactly how the process to determine whether someone is eligible to vote works. Ferguson requested a response by July 18.

Tine wrote back on Aug. 28, saying his department had conducted a “thorough investigation” that didn’t reveal systemic issues but did find two instances where errors occurred due to “examiner oversight.” He noted that the NCDMV implemented a new process whereby the Board of Elections liaison is immediately informed when errors are identified to ensure that the noncitizen doesn’t slip the through the cracks and wind up with an official voter registration.

In October, NCSBE Director Sam Hayes requested the NCDMV provide full social security numbers for registered voters who are DMV customers in an effort to clean up the voter rolls. At that time, DOJ alleged that the state was in violation of federal law because the voter registration form didn’t require a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a person’s social security number.

“The Registration Repair Project aims to ensure that North Carolina’s voter rolls are as accurate and complete as possible, bring them into compliance with recent state court rulings and settle a pending lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice,” the board said in a news release.

On July 10, Russ Ferguson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina who was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in March, sent a letter to NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine. Time is a former state representative appointed in May by Gov. Josh Stein who in 2015 changed from being a Democrat to unaffiliated. The letter mirrors language often used by President Donald Trump, saying that honest elections “unmarred by errors or suspicion” require clean voter rolls.

Ferguson notes that DHS passed along the results of its investigation, saying there was a problem, a “common theme” of the NCDMV automatically registering “aliens” to vote. In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections verifies all voter registrations before approval, but the DMV can initiate that process and provide eligible citizens with registration materials.

According to the letter, an NCDMV employee said during an interview that he thought the problem was a “glitch” in the software. However, the investigation also determined during that interview that the system isn’t entirely automated since human workers fill out the initial form that indicates whether someone may be eligible to vote or not.

The letter offered brief explanations of five instances ranging from November 2018 to May 2024 when noncitizens were marked down as eligible for voter registration. In some cases, errors were corrected the same day, and in one case, a voter registration application was filled out and processed.

“Since the online system doesn’t verify citizenship status, the registration went through,” the explanation notes. In some other cases, the person or a family member went back to the DMV to let employees know they shouldn’t have been marked as eligible to vote.

Ferguson wrote back again on Sept. 25 and copied the other two U.S. attorneys whose jurisdiction is in North Carolina. The letter says that although Tine claimed two issues were due to “examiner oversight,” all five issues could have been resolved by “examiner attention.”

to vote.

“Your proposed solution is to alert the State Board of Elections after the fact when, by happenstance, someone outside the DMV identifies a problem,” Ferguson said in the letter.

The letter posed follow-up questions for each of the five cases identified during the NCDMV investigation. For some cases, it was asked whether discipline was meted out for employees who erred, and in some cases, Ferguson wanted to know whether the state board of elections was alerted to cancel processed voter registration applications.

Tine’s letter had mentioned that there was a system error from Nov. 19, 2018, to Feb. 13, 2019, that caused the DMV to issue one person an ID containing “false citizenship information.” Ferguson drilled down on that concern.

“Was every noncitizen who utilized the DMV system during that three-month period permitted to register to vote?” Ferguson asked. “Were others, such as minors and felons, also permitted to register to vote during that period? If so, what action has the DMV taken to proactively audit those who registered during that three- month period and remedy these problems?”

The letter also identifies one more case where a noncitizen was registered to vote that was quickly discovered, bringing the total number to six. In that case, a woman F

brought her husband to the DMV with her to help translate. He advised the DMV employee that his wife is not a citizen and shouldn’t be permitted to register or vote.

“[The woman] has said she marked and signed only where a DMV employee directed,” the letter reads. “Despite her efforts to the contrary, the DMV employee still registered [her] to vote. When she noticed this error, she removed her name from the voter rolls herself. Can you please investigate why she was registered to vote, who did that, and why the DMV did not notify the State Board of Elections to remove her from the voter rolls?”

Ferguson claims that the DMV’s “shortcomings” are especially concerning since the department had recently launched a pilot program that allows people to receive DMV services, including voter registration, at automated kiosks. Ferguson asked what has been done to ensure only “eligible individuals” can register to vote when they use a kiosk, some of which aren’t located at DMV facilities.

This time, Ferguson requested a reply by Oct. 17, and Tine wrote back on Oct. 28. In this letter, the final in the string of correspondences, Tine makes one crucial point clear: the DMV doesn’t actual register people to vote, contrary to language in Ferguson’s letters that seems to claim otherwise.

“The DMV cannot and does not register voters. Federal and state law require the DMV to help facilitate voter-registration applications, but North Carolina’s county boards of elections are the only entities that can actually register an individual to vote,” Tine’s letter reads.

Tine claims that protocols are designed with that in mind, including a function in place since June 2016 that produces an error message if an examiner attempts to proceed with a voter registration application for someone who is listed as a noncitizen in DMV records. In addition, when completing the voter-registration application, the first thing a person is asked is whether they’re a citizen, and then at the end they are asked to review the details on their form, including citizenship status. Finally, the person is asked to attest, under penalty of perjury, that the information is true.

“The likelihood of an ineligible voter being able to submit a voter registration application through this process is very low — only if the non-citizen lies about their citizenship status or if an examiner misidentifies the customer as a citizen,” Tine wrote.

Tine said that the fact that the investigation only turned over a small number of individuals who’d “erroneously” registered to vote proves that the protocols in place are effective and there isn’t evidence of a widespread problem.

“While the ideal number of erroneous voter registrations would, of course, be zero, six out of millions of applications the DMV has processed in an exceedingly low error rate,” Tine wrote. “Moreover, it is my understanding that none of these voters has ever actually voted in an election in North

Carolina.”

That said, the DMV did take some corrective actions, including circulating a bulletin reminding examiners of the need to retract applications if they mistakenly initiate a registration for a noncitizen, as well as training to reiterate that point.

The department has also hired more examiners statewide and is “committed to hiring dozens more,” Tine said, to ease the burden on employees. This was made easier in August when the state legislature passed HB 125, a mini-budget that authorized 64 new DMV license examiners. On Dec. 17, a month and a half after Tine’s last letter, the department celebrated 149 new examiners who’d finished their training over the last six months or so, many of whom were already on the job, according to DMV Communications Director Marty Holman.

“These graduates will bring significant value to DMV offices across the state of North Carolina,” Tine said at that time.

“Every new examiner means shorter lines, quicker service, and a better experience for customers. We still have work to do, but I’m proud of the progress we’re making to improve every part of the DMV.”

In his letter, Tine said other changes are in the works, too.

“We are in the midst of a major modernization effort to streamline the technological processes that examiners use, including the voter-registration component, in the hopes that smoother technological processes will reduce examiner errors,” Tine wrote, adding that the department is also pursuing a solution that would allow it to integrate citizenship checks into the online and kiosk voterregistration application systems.

A press release sent out by the U.S. Attorney’s office on Dec. 2 described the solutions Tine had laid out in his last letter.

in North Carolina are accurate, fair and irreproachable — and that the public has confidence in them — to protect the foundation of our democracy,” Ferguson said in that release. “We must ensure that our voter rolls are precise and do not include minors, felons or illegal aliens. The DMV, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of voter registrations in a given year, plays a central role in that process. We appreciate the agency’s cooperation to improve processes so that only eligible voters are added to the rolls.

In an interview with The Smoky Mountain News, the U.S. Attorney said that the dust-up with the DMV came out of the nationwide initiative to “shore up voting rolls and make sure only eligible people were voting.” Ferguson said they conducted interviews with the individuals who were improperly registered to vote, all of whom are in the country legally, and that they weren’t even aware they’d been registered and that there was “obviously no criminal intent” on their part, adding that he also doesn’t think there was anything nefarious on the part of any examiners either. However, he was still concerned that people were “slipping through the cracks.”

Ferguson thinks Tine and his DMV were “super cooperative” and said he appreciated the department’s willingness to do its own investigation following his request. All the same, he considered that there were consistent mistakes being made that were indicative of “systemic problems.”

“Making sure those cracks are calked up is important, and there was no real effort to do that,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson considers that there were two key problems: first, there were no “red flags” that popped up when someone who should have been ineligible to vote began the process at the DMV; second, the examiners,

where the DMV figured out that person should not have been registered to vote and fixed the error on their end … but the DMV never communicated to the state board of elections that that person should be removed from the voter rolls,” Ferguson said.

Holman, the NCDMV communications director, said that it’s important to remember that the DMV can issue and accept voter registration applications but that the final stamp of approval happens at the board of elections.

“We take our role in the voter registration process seriously and want to help the board of elections meet their mission,” Holman told SMN. “We want to make clear what our role is and we want to do that job as best we can and help the board of elections do their job.”

Ferguson ultimately considers that the investigation of the DMV that led to the new changes was worthwhile since “our democracy rests on people feeling confident in their elections.”

heavy workload and are doing the best they can, could be error-prone.

“And then there was a disconnect between the DMV and the state board of elections, where there were some cases

“Any size of problem is too big,” he said. “One erroneous vote is too many because we’ve just got to have an airtight election system, so I think it speaks to a larger problem, and I’m very glad that we got some solutions from the DMV to make sure that that everyone feels like their vote really matters and the elections are fair, accurate and safe.”

The state board of elections did not respond to emails requesting comment or information regarding voter registration procedures.

Professor secures funding for new medical device

Martin Tanaka, a professor of engineering and technology at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, has a knack for creating innovative gadgets as a biomedical engineer. He has two patents for medical devices: one to help with rotator cuff surgery and another for a surgical tool for nasal surgery.

Now, thanks to funding from NCInnovation, Tanaka is going for his third.

The Western Carolina University professor received $1 million worth of funding from NCInnovation to develop an innovative device to treat lymphedema. Lymphedema

researchers and four students, two from WCU and a pair from Southwestern Community College, to help develop the device. The team will work with clinicians and patients to refine the design, optimize its performance and prepare it for clinical testing.

Tanaka expressed gratitude to the College of Engineering and Technology Dean Randy Collins, WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and NCInnovation Western Regional Director Meagan Coneybeer, among others, for their role in helping secure the grant.

“The Chancellor's been very supportive of the work that we've been doing here in the college and also helping us to create this new environment that's supporting research, product design and development,” Tanaka said. “It's providing all the things that this project requires.”

“It's super gratifying because it's making an impact on people's lives.”

— Martin Tanaka

Before becoming a professor, Tanaka spent 11 years working on commercial products, including an instrument cluster for the Mercedes-Benz M Class SUV.

“For me, it takes me kind of back to my roots of being able to design and build commercial products,” Tanaka said. “Now, being able to work on a cutting edge, new technology that doesn't exist in the world is very exciting for me.”

The idea behind this project came from Tanaka’s work on a compression garment donning device he and a team of capstone students designed for lymphedema in 2011.

“It's super gratifying because it's making an impact on people's lives,” Tanaka said. “[This funding is] extremely important because my project would not be done if I didn't have it. The idea would have just sat in a file in my drawer, probably until I retired.”

Tanaka will employ two full-time

The plan behind the project is to not only reduce pain and poor health caused by lymphedema, but to also take a weight off patients' shoulders emotionally. Tanaka said breast cancer patients who suffer from lymphedema often become reclusive, embarrassed by the disfigurement.

Tanaka hopes that feeling will be a thing of the past.

“NCI is focusing on North Carolina, but this is a problem around the world,” Tanaka said. “The solutions that we're working on will not only benefit North Carolinians, but will also benefit the rest of the world, too.”

DMV launches consecutive online renewals for IDs

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles announced the launch of consecutive online renewal options for state ID cards, allowing eligible customers to renew online for a second time without an in-person visit. This final provision of Senate Bill 245, signed into law by Gov. Josh Stein on Sept. 30, completes a series of enhancements that have allowed nearly 80,000 additional transactions to be completed online in the nine weeks since they were made available.

North Carolinians with a non-REAL ID state ID card can renew online two times in a row. A REAL ID state ID card can be renewed online a second time in a row if the customer has had an in-person transaction since their last renewal. For many people, that in-person transaction was to get a REAL ID, but it could also have been for a name change, or an in-person address change or duplicate for a lost ID. More information about NCDMV online services can be found at NCDMV.gov.

Call for applications for Swain County manager

Protest group funds local hunger relief

A weekend rally organized by Hands off Haywood commenced with the presentation of a $2,500 check to Haywood Christian Ministries in Waynesville, highlighting a direct link between protest activism and local hunger relief.

Hands off Haywood organizer Mary Ford told the crowd that demonstrators have faced insults and “more middle fingers since March than we have in our entire lives” while taking to the streets on a weekly basis earlier this year but said the group’s focus has remained on democracy and community support. Ford described how the group began collecting donations after federal decisions in late October threatened SNAP benefits, straining local food resources.

“We’re out here standing in solidarity for democracy, but we’re also out here standing for our community and helping our community,” Ford said.

With that, Ford presented a for $2,500 to Haywood Christian Ministry, which will help the organization carry out its Christ-centered mission “to help everyone achieve economic stability by promoting food security, growing financial capacity, and building resilient communities.”

Blake Hart, speaking on behalf of Haywood Christian Ministry, said the organization saw a sharp increase in demand when SNAP benefits were suspended earlier this year, with weekly pantry visits jumping from about 600 to as many as 1,000.

“It’s support like this that has made it possible to continue on, to continue giving food to our neighbors,” Hart said. “One of the biggest things that we can do at times like this, when all seems bleak, is to come together, to unite and to work together in a mutual sense for all of our neighbors.”

Swain commissioners voted 4-1 to accept County Manager Lottie Barker’s 60-day resignation. The county will accept applications until Jan. 5, 2026.

The county manager serves as chief administrator of county government and maintains responsibilities for administering all departments under the general control of the five-member board of commissioners.

A bachelor’s degree and local government experience are required, or an equivalent amount of education, training and experience in local government management that would allow the candidate to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

Applicants may apply by mail to 50 Main St., Suite 300 Bryson City, NC 28713, or by email to lisa.bryan@swaincountync.gov. For any questions, call 828.488.9273, ext. 2218 to speak with Lisa Bryan. To view the full job description, visit swaincountync.gov/download/county-manager.

Lumbee gain federal recognition

On Dec. 18, the Lumbee gained their sovereignty. This new status was the product of a bill that inserted into the National Defense Authorization Act. With federal recognition, the tribe of more than 55,000 can expect significant funding from the Board of Indian Affairs for programs such as education, housing and health care.

“Words cannot adequately capture how meaningful and impactful this formal federal recognition is for our Lumbee tribal members, yes, but also for all the other native tribal members who call North Carolina home,” said N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs Chair Greg Bryant.

However, that sentiment was not shared by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

“Once recognition becomes a political decision rather than a documented determination, it places the legitimacy of federal recognition into question,” EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks told The Smoky Mountain News days before NDAA passage.

Swain County to hold bimonthly public forums

Swain County commissioners voted Dec. 16 to hold a public forum during its work session — occurring each first Tuesday of the month — on a bimonthly basis.

Anyone can speak, regardless of whether they’ve submitted a question in advance, though an answer from commissioners may not be readily available. As with public comment, a sign-in sheet will be provided, and each question and answer must be limited to five minutes. During all other meetings, commissioners will be receiving public comment as usual.

Jackson library exit critics cite Yancey chaos, dubious ‘list’

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

While some originally hoped — and continue to hope — that a series of amendments to the Fontana Regional Library System proposed by Jackson County commissioners might ameliorate enough of their concerns to allow them to remain in the decades-long partnership with the FRL system, a questionable pamphlet and an academically dubious “list of inappropriate books” being circulated by FRL opponents suggests otherwise, even as FRL supporters report troubling visions of Christmas future if commissioners don’t turn back soon.

Speakers during the public comment session of the Dec. 16 meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners continued to voice opposition of the planned withdrawal, six months after commissioners voted 4-to-1 to end the 80-year

tions, including shorter hours and loss of the bookmobile, are anticipated by mid-2026.

Later during public comment, Sylva resident Michael Jones called out commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper for distributing the “Jexit” pamphlet, which repeats many of the claims put forth by opponents of the FRL over the past year — namely that the county has no control over employee wages, that the county is “overpaying” for its libraries and the vague, unsupported claim that, “many families have quietly left the library to protect their children’s innocence.”

Jones mentioned that the pamphlet asserts “hundreds” of books in the FRL system are inappropriate for children and demanded from Hooper a list of those books.

The list, obtained by The Smoky Mountain News, was originally shared by Jackson County Public Library Board member Kitti Bradley, according to an Adobe sign-in prompt. Metadata

“BookLooks is the most well-known website for unprofessional, biased book reviews,” writes Illinois librarian and Book Riot contributor Kelly Jensen, noting that book content sites like RatedBooks are part of the same cabal.

Ratedbooks.org’s own structure highlights its advocacy partnerships with groups aimed at community monitoring rather than academic or professional library review — namely, “No Left Turn in Education,” a “Moms for Liberty”-adjacent group that collaborates with RatedBooks to inform parents about book content — positioning the rating system within a broader framework of political activism.

A spring 2023 feature by two university professors in the American Library Association’s Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy lays bare the role of such websites.

County, which began its exodus from the Avery, Mitchell, Yancey regional library system exactly one year before Jackson County did — offering what may be a glimpse of things to come for Jackson County.

“Nearly a year later, the Yancey model has proved highly unsuccessful and Jackson County is now showing early-stage parallels,” Brad Reisinger, a newly elected member of the Webster Board of Commissioners, told Jackson commissioners.

According to the Reisinger, Yancey County’s withdrawal from its regional library system was initially framed as a way to maintain continuity of services, stable leadership and local governance without sacrificing professional capacity, but since then, there’s been complete staff turnover, the absence of a functioning library board, elimination of key professional positions and repeated disruptions to the NC Cardinal library system, including outages lasting up to a month. Community meeting spaces are no longer available outside library hours, and the library’s website and social media presence were replaced with a single static county page.

Reisinger also cited fiscal impacts, stating that Yancey County’s library budget was reduced while local taxpayers assumed a greater burden for fewer services. Additional reduc-

was the author of the document.

Purportedly a compilation of more than 250 “age-inappropriate” books located in the juvenile or young adult sections of the Fontana Regional library, the document lists titles, authors, categories and a “rating” from zero to 5, with zero deemed appropriate for all ages, and 5 labeled as “deviant content.”

The source of the ratings, according to the document, is neither impartial nor professional in nature. Instead, it’s ratedbooks.org, which continues to face significant skepticism and critique from actual librarians who question its methodological rigor and professional standing, raising doubts about its use as a credible authority.

Per the website, the ratings themselves are created by “parent teams,” not by trained professionals. The organization fundraises off the reviews, asking for $50 to “sponsor” a review.

According to Book Riot, the largest independent editorial book site in North America, ratedbooks.org is grouped with other “unprofessional, politically-driven review sites” that critics say are created outside of established literary review practices. Indeed, the links provided in the document for each book’s rating redirect to another such website, called booklooks.org.

“When attempting to enact book bans, challengers often rely on book reviews and rating sources that are designed and authored by people working outside the field of librarianship and who may have little to no professional qualifications in the field,” the authors write. “These sources, while presenting themselves as impartial, can be biased and steeped in partisan positions. BookLooks.org is one of the resources used to support efforts to remove books from K-12 public schools.”

“Findings from our study suggest that these report cards promote skepticism about factual data and objective definitions of terms, undermine allyship and support for LGBTQIA+ students and systematically target gender presentation that lies outside of a masculinefeminine binary or sexualities other than heterosexuality.”

— Excerpt from a spring 2023 feature by two university professors in the American Library Association’s Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy

The ALA feature further exposes the websites, explaining that while they claim to reveal objectionable content, “Findings from our study suggest that these report cards promote skepticism about factual data and objective definitions of terms, undermine allyship and support for LGBTQIA+ students and systematically target gender presentation that lies outside of a masculine-feminine binary or sexualities other than heterosexuality.”

Despite Hooper’s continuing support for FRL withdrawal, commissioners went on to approve unanimously three proposed changes to the FRL bylaws. Commissioner Todd Bryson, who has stated he won’t be seeking reelection, was not at the meeting.

The changes would place a sitting county commissioner from each of the three FRL counties — Jackson, Macon and Swain — on the FRL board, would make the FRL director and county librarian roles separate jobs and would mandate that funds remaining after operational costs be reimbursed to FRL member counties.

That same night, Swain County commissioners passed the bylaws unanimously as well. Outgoing county manager Lottie Barker explained the amendments to commissioners before the vote.

“Jackson County was the one that asked for the changes and [sic] hopeful that this agreement may allow them to stay into the library, Fontana Regional,” Barker said. Now, only Macon County has to act. If Macon approves the proposed changes, they’ll go on to the FRL board for a vote.

Attorney finds Hooper violated Jackson TDA attendance policy

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT

Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper made a rare appearance at a Jackson County Tourism Development Authority meeting last week — only her third of 2025 — after echoing former Chair Robert Jumper’s claims that the attendance policy didn’t apply to her. County Attorney John Kubis, however, says Jumper and Hooper are both wrong.

In October, an investigation by The Smoky Mountain News revealed that Hooper, elected in 2024, hadn’t been showing up for meetings of advisory boards she’d volunteered to serve on; at the time, she’d missed seven of eight TDA meetings through August after attending only the first meeting of 2025.

The TDA’s attendance policy states that “conscientious performance of the duties required of members of the Authority shall be a prerequisite of continuing membership on the Authority” and that any member who misses more than two consecutive meetings without an excused absence or for any good cause “may be replaced at the recommendation of the Authority.”

None of Hooper’s absences were noted in meeting minutes as excused.

Subsequent reporting by SMN showed Hooper also missed the September TDA meeting, bringing her total absences to eight out of nine meetings. The TDA is the authority charged with collecting and spending the county’s room occupancy taxes each year. This year’s budget is around $3 million.

Through it all, then-Chair Robert Jumper — who also serves as editor of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ government-owned newspaper — defended Hooper, telling SMN that her participation “is appreciated,” that Hooper has “many commitments at the county level” and that the attendance policy didn’t apply to Hooper because she is a non-voting, exofficio member.

Jumper was repeatedly asked for documentation backing up his claim but failed to produce any and ultimately stopped responding to SMN’s requests for the basis of his assertions. Hooper has also refused to speak with SMN regarding her absences.

The TDA’s October meeting was canceled, but when Hooper showed up late for the Nov. 19 meeting — her second in 2025, out of a total of 10 — she “explained her absences from previous TDA meetings. She indicated she did not return after the first meeting because she was told she ‘didn’t have a say’ due to the TDA having its own board,” according to meeting minutes.

Jumper and TDA Executive Director Nick Breedlove apologized for the “misunderstanding” and pointed out that her commissioner updates are a standing agenda item. The meeting was also notable in that it was Jumper’s last, after years of service.

During the Dec. 17 meeting — Hooper’s third of 11 in 2025 — new board

members heard new Chair Dale Collins address the issue head-on as the board approved its 2026 meeting dates.

“In reference to attendance that’s come up recently, as I mentioned in previous emails we’re working with our attorneys on guidance and how this policy applies, and it is going to apply to all board members, both voting and non-voting, or ex-officio,” Collins said, directly refuting Jumper’s and Hooper’s claims. “The key here everyone is to please communicate. If you can’t be here — we essentially have an excused and unexcused policy here.”

Jumper responded to a Dec. 18 email

from SMN about the attorney’s opinion by reemphasizing that he is no longer affiliated with the TDA and that any questions about his prior service should be directed to the TDA.

Collins went on to explain that the bylaws clearly state that attendance is a prerequisite to service on the board and even though it is a volunteer board, he wanted to be respectful of everyone’s time.

“[Breedlove] has done a great job of setting it up to where we can attend remotely,” said Collins, who is a member of the Webster Town Council and also co-owner of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop. “I myself have

attended a meeting on the back of a fishing boat off of Atlantic Beach — and did participate in that meeting. It is important work that we’re doing here, and [we] certainly appreciate everyone and their attendance.”

Breedlove then offered board members his personal cell phone number so that in the event an emergency arises — hospitalization was his example — they could qualify for an excused absence, which is not counted towards the attendance requirements stated in the policy.

Any voting member of the TDA can make a motion to remove a member for violating the attendance policy. On Dec. 12, SMN reached out to the entire TDA board seeking comment on the attendance policy. Several members referenced a policy stating that only the chair can state the official position of the board, however that board policy cannot abridge the First Amendment rights of board members to speak as individuals. No board members responded to SMN’s requests for comment.

Although Hooper is still eligible for removal per the board’s policy, Collins, the chair, told SMN Dec. 18 that the board has had conversations with Hooper about attendance. Collins called the whole thing a “misunderstanding” related to the policy.

“We’re not going to be taking questions on it, and we’re not going to be offering further comment,” Collins said. “We consider the issue addressed and we’re refocusing our full attention on the core mission to promote travel within Jackson County.”

The Jackson County TDA isn’t the only advisory board where Hooper’s attendance has been called into question. In October, SMN learned that Hooper had also missed two of five meetings of the Mountain Projects board. Mountain Projects is a longstanding nonprofit social services agency that helps some of the most vulnerable residents across several western counties.

Mountain Projects also has an attendance policy — “A member missing more than 50% of the meetings, whether excused or unexcused, per year may be asked to resign from the Board.”

At that time, freshly minted Board Chair Cris Weatherford, who also serves as the head of Jackson County’s Health and Human Services Department, told SMN that by his and his board’s reading of the policy, attendance violations are tallied at the end of the year, not on a rolling basis.

As Hooper did attend the most recent meeting of the Mountain Projects board on Dec. 12, she is now technically in compliance with the policy because she’s achieved 50% attendance this year.

On Dec. 18, Weatherford told SMN that his board has had some discussions about the attendance policy moving forward, but has taken no action on that policy.

During a Dec. 16 meeting of Jackson County commissioners, Hooper volunteered to serve on the Tuckaseegee Water and Sewer Authority board.

Administration puts military in a tough spot

Recent events make it clear why senators warning military personnel about the dangers of following illegal orders was so very important. The warning was that the Department of Defense Law of War Manual clearly states that military personnel should not follow illegal orders. Following such orders may make the person following the orders guilty of a war crime.

Trump, Republicans, and even a sportscaster who apparently has no knowledge about military law were up in arms about stating the facts about military law and the rules of combat. The vitriol was dripping from the statements. Trump even called the senators, all former military officers, traitors for undermining the chain of command.

Do note that the senators specifically stated that disobeying an order applied only to illegal orders. Obeying an illegal order makes the person obeying the order liable for any consequences of doing something that is illegal or goes against the military code.

Now we see how that might play out with the so called “second tap” attack on helpless individuals clinging to remnants of a disabled boat. Such an attack actually is given as an example in the Law of war Manual as a war crime. It is forbidden to kill prisoners or those incapable of fighting. The killing of men clinging to what is left of a boat seems relatively straightforward as a war crime.

That is if we were actually in a war, which officially we are not. It would seem that just blowing up boats because we

WCU should step up to help students vote

To the Editor:

Partisan actions to create electoral advantages have likely always been rampant for both factions in the U.S. The fact social media permits virtually instant communication to huge populations has added to the perception that such manipulations are much worse now than in the past.

The best response to the early voting closure would be for WCU to arrange easily accessible and plentiful transportation for all students who want to cast their votes in the upcoming election. While I’m not privy to all the difficulties associated with such a transportation effort doing so would be a rational and effective choice for granting relatively easy access to the available polling site.

Mike Walker Black Mountain

Never forget what happened January 6

To the Editor:

We all have dates etched in our brain that make us think about certain events. Are you old enough to remember exactly where you were when we heard about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963? Fast forward to Sept. 11, 2001, when we wit-

think (or even know) they are carrying drugs would be classified as extrajudicial murder. With this we might be moving from violating the military code to a civilian case of murder.

Even if these individuals are intending to deliver drugs to the U.S., no one is justified in killing them without due process. Supposedly we are a nation functioning under the rule of law. The fact that Trump claims to know what they are carrying and knows where they are in the open ocean implies that we would have sufficient intel to intercept the boats and verify what they are carrying. The assertion that they would be bringing drugs to the U.S. is questionable since the boat in question was not headed toward the U.S. when attacked.

blowing up these boats and killing everyone on board? Based on the comments from the Sectary of War and the admiral in charge of the operations, responsibility is going to be laid at the feet of the people “pulling the trigger” or in this case firing the missiles from the drones. All the higherups are going to blame those further down in the chain of command.

We are not sure Trump is being honest about anything — as though there is any doubt that he lies — there are other questions about blowing up boats on the open seas. Trump claims they are carrying fentanyl, a drug responsible for many overdose deaths. According to reports, the only drug they have found on any of the targeted boats is cocaine. The fact that the boats are not carrying what the administration claims further makes the whole matter more questionable. In any case the attacks are murder in international waters.

So where does this leave the military personnel who are

LETTERS

nessed the most devastating attack on our country since Pearl Harbor. Do you remember exactly where you were that day?

Fast forward again to Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol Building in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the victory of President-Elect Joe Biden. This mob had been encouraged by Donald J. Trump himself, as he stood before them and repeated the Big Lie — that the election had been stolen — and urged them to march to the Capitol and take matters into their own hands.

Do you remember where you were that day? Did you see “patriots” trying to force Mike Pence and Congress members to do the “right” thing? Or did you see a mob who disregarded lawful orders, who blatantly attacked police officers with bear spray and flag poles and bats and fire extinguishers and who chanted for the execution of the Vice president of the United States? Did you cheer the combatants on for “fighting back” to “stop the steal” as Trump had urged? Or did you watch the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in growing horror and anger?

In an effort to downplay the import of those violent actions, one of the most ludicrous claims was that the rioters were actually just “tourists” who were walking around “in an orderly fashion” inside the Capitol. What a joke.

Tourists do not attempt to disrupt a gov-

In other words, if negative consequences result from these apparently illegal actions, it is the service members who will be hung out to dry. The Trump administration is putting our military service personnel in an untenable position. If they obey an illegal order, they may be charged with either a war crime or civilian murder. If they do not obey the illegal order, be assured that Trump will personally attack them and in so doing stimulate some of his ardent followers to do the same.

It is quite apparent that aside from the lip service about respecting the people in military service, this administration considers them political pawns. Blowing up boats puts them at risk for negative consequences. This may also apply to the ICE agents some of whom appear to be guilty of assault and possibly other crimes.

One thing is certain; Trump and his direct appointees will not assume any responsibility for any order given. Any actions of people on the ground or in the air directly involved in potentially illegal actions will be the ones suffering any consequences.

(Norman Hoffman is a doctoral-level clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in the assessment of diagnosable conditions. He lives in Waynesville. wncfacts@gmail.com.)

ernment proceeding.

Tourists do not attack police officers.

Tourists do not defecate and urinate inside the building.

Tourists do not carry weapons and zip ties inside the building.

Tourists do not set up gallows on the Capitol grounds.

As Jan. 6 approaches, we must never forget the significance of this date in 2021. We must not let stand the lies perpetuated by Trump and the MAGA faithful about that day. We must not overlook the insult to our democracy of Trump’s unconscionable pardon of the J6 rioters.

Let’s remember the honor of those law enforcement officers who stood up against the mob of insurrectionists and not the dishonor of those who supported the lies of this President with their violent actions.

Jan. 6, never forget.

Donna M. Parker, Carol W. Larsen, Waynesville

Closing WCU polling site is a mistake

To the Editor:

I’m disappointed with the Jackson County Board of Elections’ decision to eliminate the convenient and accessible WCU University Center polling location for the primaries next spring. WCU provides the site and parking for

free; the county pays the poll workers. The volunteers there have always created a welcoming environment and encouraged young people who are voting for the first time.

This location fosters civic responsibility among young people. Research shows that when young people vote early in their lives, they are far more likely to become informed, lifelong voters. Empowering young people to vote strengthens our communities and our future. Eliminating this polling location undermines that goal, making voting more difficult for students, 60% of whom lack transportation. This change decreases turnout today and in the future, since voting is a habit learned young.

The UC is a centralized, high-performing early voting location for the more than 11,000 students living on or near campus. WCU Political Science Professor Chris Cooper reports that this location has served more than 76,000 voters across five general elections and four primaries — an average of 8,417 early voters per election. These young, diverse voters are often casting ballots for the first time. In 2024, the WCU location served the second-youngest group of voters of any site in North Carolina. This site should be a model for other college campuses — not a location we eliminate!

I hope the board of electons will keep this location for next November’s election and not inconvenience the university community.

Nilofer Couture Cullowhee

Lighting the fuse

New album showcases historic 1925 ‘Asheville Sessions’

in the former George Vanderbilt Hotel and began work on a series of field recordings that would forever change the course of American music.

“Peer was the producer responsible for releasing the earliest commercial recordings of the genre that came to be known as country music,” said Ted Olson, professor of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. “Once Peer identified a market for recordings of ‘hillbilly music,’ he sought out new artists who per-

New York label that, beyond releasing popular melodies and dance tunes at the time, was also leaning into niche areas of music, often neglected segments of the record-buying public. This included European recordings for immigrant communities in the United States, as well as early jazz selections for Black audi-

In 1924, Peer crossed paths with Bascom Lamar Lunsford during an OKeh recording session in Atlanta. Now regarded as a cultural icon of Western North Carolina, Lunsford was a talented musician and promoter in the Asheville area, something that parlayed itself into him attracting Peer to come to the Blue Ridge Mountains and see what he could record and capture.

Want to listen?

If you’d like to listen to the album “Music from the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions,” you can purchase a vinyl record, CD or download the mp3 files through Rivermont Records by visiting rivermontrecords.com and scrolling the new releases on the home page.

To note, the vinyl is limited to 1,000 pressings and was manufactured by Citizen Vinyl in Asheville. To learn more about the 1925 “Asheville Sessions,” visit exploreasheville.com/historic-asheville-sessions.

the help of Rivermont Records, the sessions have finally received their due — something 100 years in the making — with the recent release of the new album “Music from the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions.”

“I hope that listeners will comprehend Appalachia’s profound importance in the evolution of country music,” Olson said, “and that listeners will identify Asheville’s vital role as a catalyst for fostering positive cultural change within this misunderstood region.”

Peer was a producer for OKeh Records, a

“[Lunsford] was responsible for drawing Peer to ‘the land of the sky’ [that is Western North Carolina] as a likely place to record musicians from Appalachia, a region deemed a hotbed of ‘hillbilly’ music,” Olson said.

Coming to Asheville in August 2025, Peer put the word out in local newspapers looking for local musicians to come to the hotel and share their songs. After 10 days, there were 60 wax recordings created during the sessions at the hotel (now located next to the Harrah’s Cherokee Center and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium).

In method, the recordings were primitive compared to modern technologies. Back then, a musician would have a large recording horn placed in front of them. From there, engineers would “cut grooves into warm wax” — the result a mix of melody and background noise,

with imperfections being the true beauty of the recordings a century later.

“Peer was a brilliant businessman who understood the possibilities and limitations of the portable acoustic recording technology,” Olson said.

During the sessions, a slew of local musicians emerged, including Lunsford, Henry Whitter, Kelly Harrell, Wade Ward, Ernest Stoneman, J.D. Harris, and more. Vaudeville performer Ernest Miller and the house jazz band for the George Vanderbilt Hotel were also captured during the sessions. In truth, the essence of the recordings is the variety of genres — gospel, blues, folk, jazz — which exposed the depth of the talent living in these mountains.

S EE S ESSIONS, PAGE 24

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘It’s

hard enough to gain any traction in the rain’

It’s Thursday. Early afternoon. In the original plan for this week, I would, in my mind’s eye, be cruising along right now somewhere in southcentral Upstate New York, probably just east of Binghamton on Interstate 88, onward to I-87 North to my parents’ farmhouse on the outskirts of Plattsburgh.

And yet, here I sit at Panacea CoffeeHouse on Commerce Street in the Frog Level district of downtown Waynesville. The space is vibrant, as it should be on a chilly, drizzly day here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I sip my delicious vanilla cappuccino, lean back in the sturdy wooden chair, and take inventory of this past year as it comes to a close once again. Such is life, eh?

blanketing the landscape of the Champlain Valley and surrounding Adirondack Mountains. The sounds of snowmobiles occasionally zipping through the tree line in the distance. The crackling of the wood in the fireplace. The brightly-lit Christmas tree in the corner of the front room. A silent moon over the frozen ground of my youth.

The last time I was home was this past February to celebrate my 40th birthday. I had recently gone through a devastating breakup over the previous holidays, and was still dealing with the extensive trauma of Hurricane Helene right before that. I escaped Southern Appalachia and jumped the Mason-Dixon Line, in search of not only myself and my sanity, but also the serene silence that can only be found in ancient mountains and old farmhouses of the North Country.

Crank the tunes in my headphones and buckle down to stroll around the background of my mind and restless thoughts to then put in this column. Thoughts of missing another Christmas with my folks. Thoughts of the whirlwind that was 2025 (this goes for all of us). Thoughts of how much the repair bill will be next Tuesday when I bring my truck into the shop, which is why I’m kind of stuck in town and can’t return to the North Country.

To preface, this isn’t my New Year’s Eve column. That’ll be next week. Well, shit, I don’t know? Maybe it will be. I won’t know until I hit the ideal 1,100-word mark and review whatever dribble I’ve placed on this page before hitting submit to my publisher, only to then exit the coffee shop and return to my humble abode apartment and think about what to eat for dinner later.

Truth be told, I can’t really remember the last time I was home for Christmas. I think it was 2020, right in the midst of the shutdown? Who knows? I just miss being back at the old farmhouse, sitting next to the living room fireplace and catching up with my mother about nothing and everything over a glass of wine, or doing the same with my father over a cold beer in the back den.

There’s just something so magical, sacred and timeless about being in the North Country during the holidays. The fresh snow

HOT PICKS

1

Regional Americana act Somebody’s Child will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

2

Popular jazz/swing act Blue Ridge Big Band will perform a special “Swinging in the New Year” show at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.Waynesville.

3

Haywood County singersongwriter Ginny McAfee will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill in Maggie Valley.

4

Scotsman (Waynesville) will host TrancEnd (rock/pop) at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27.

5

Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Madison Owenby (singer-songwriter) at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26.

pin and remembered when and where I was when I had it made.

That entire week or so I spent in Plattsburgh was one of the coldest and snowiest periods in many years in Clinton County. Most days, the temperature never got above zero, with a constant stream of snowflakes morning, noon and night. Heck, the day before I left to motor back to Haywood County, the farmhouse received almost 18 inches of snow, of which I was asked several times throughout the day by my father to help him shovel the driveway.

Skip ahead to the here and now. It’s Dec. 18. Now 12:56 p.m. No plans to jet up to the North Country at the moment. Fingers crossed it’ll be soon. Maybe for New Year’s Eve? Maybe just postpone the whole damn trip until my 41st birthday (Feb. 5) and start making it some yearly tradition with my folks? I mean, early February is a pretty amazing time to be up there, seeing as the legendary Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (look it up) is that same week.

For someone like myself, who is a selfproclaimed “extroverted loner,” I sure am sentimental about the holidays. For someone like myself, who gets all warm and fuzzy inside when the Christmas lights are being put up and the Vince Guaraldi music starts to echo from the stereo, I sure always seem to end up somewhat alone during the holidays, with my usual course of action being that of awaiting a gracious invite to some friend’s holiday gathering.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what the column photo is all about, it’s a handcrafted hat/lapel pin by Brackish, a company based in Charleston, South Carolina. I received it in the mail yesterday. Initially, I didn’t know what the small package was. I hadn’t ordered anything. But, then I saw the feather

It was the Highlands Food & Wine Festival last month. On assignment covering the glorious madness, culinary delights and live music on the Plateau in nearby Macon County. At one point, I ended up at some late-night champagne and caviar party at this large farmhouse tucked away in the dark, mysterious woods just outside of downtown Highlands. Splendor and shenanigans afoot.

While sipping high-end champagne and sampling pricey caviar, I was asked by a nearby artisan booth if I wanted a hat/lapel pin. So, I browsed through a few jars of sustainably-sourced exotic feathers and created the design pictured. They carefully taped the feathers together and enclosed them in an envelope, only to inform me that the finished product would be mailed to me in a month.

The point of mentioning the pin and the festival itself was to put into perspective the people, places, and things that encompass a year in the life of this scruffy journalist. The gratitude remains, and so do the adventures, the assignments and the deadlines, thankfully. Even when my home in the North Country seems so far away, both geographically and emotionally, I often take a moment to pause and be grateful for being able to wander and ponder.

As the year comes to its inevitable close like clockwork, and with the bright, glowing ball in Times Square eventually ringing in the New Year, I find myself in utter awe of the faces I’ve been able to encounter, new and old, and the endless miles atop the unforgiving highway of time and place. It’s all starting to get meticulously placed into a box for safe keeping in the closet of my mind, with certain moments now placed on the shelves of my memory.

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

When Peer finished up the session, he left Asheville and brought what he found back to the record label, with many of the melodies eventually being manufactured into records sold across the country and beyond. And yet, the sessions would be overshadowed by the seismic musical discovery made by Peer when he headed to Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia in 1927.

Known as the “Big Bang of Country Music,” the Bristol Sessions was a much larger operation than what occurred in Asheville just two years earlier. With an open invite to local musicians in that area, Peer was able to capture the first recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers (the “Father of Country Music” who lived in Asheville for a period prior to the Bristol Sessions), with those melodies soon sparking a musical revolution in America.

starting line for modern country music, which now includes the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and the highly-popular Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival every September that overtakes the downtown corridor with tens of thousands of attendees and countless marquee names onstage.

discs, which involved networking with collectors far and wide,” Olson said. “Because there are no original masters of the Asheville recordings.”

“My initial impression [of the Asheville Sessions] project animated a story as compelling and as worthy of public dissemination as that associated with the 1927 Bristol Sessions,” Olson said.

Since the culmination of the Bristol Sessions, the community is regarded as the

Skip ahead to the here and now, with Rivermont Records and the North Carolina Arts Foundation looking to track down the recordings from the 1925 Asheville Sessions. With the initial discussion about the album project starting in 2017, those involved have spent the better part of the last decade gathering and remastering these recordings in time for the 100th anniversary.

“After funding was secured and a record label was identified, the next steps toward realizing the album involved locating all the

Once the recordings were secured, the label and foundation tapped Grammy-nominated producer/sound engineer Bryan Wright to breathe new life into the songs, 28 tracks being used for the final album, now known as “Music from the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions.” To note, the extensive liner notes for the album and the historical background for the project was done by Olson and Tony Russell.

Dubbed “Asheville Sessions: Celebrating 100 years of Americana and Appalachia,” the event took place Nov. 6-9 at various venues around the city. Alongside in-depth panel discussions about the legend, lore and legacy of the recordings and a handful of performances, the culmination of the weekend was the showcase at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, located right next door to the former George Vanderbilt Hotel.

“This album sounds remarkably clear and accessible,” Olson said. “These 28 recordings from Asheville constitute seminal performances of vernacular ‘hillbilly’ music

“It is my hope that listeners, after reading the liner notes, will develop respect for the lives and the music of the various musicians who travelled to Asheville during the summer of 1925 to make records,” Olson said. “[We researched] the story of the sessions and the lives of the participating musicians, some of whom were obscure. And drafting the essays and the biographies and undertaking the planning of the album launch celebration.”

And with respect to the Bristol Sessions, the tagline for the Asheville Sessions is: “If the 1927 Bristol Sessions are considered ‘the Big Bang of Country Music,’ then Asheville ‘lit the fuse.’” Last month, ExploreAsheville and other local/regional entities came together for the official album launch.

from the 1920s, the golden decade of early country music.”

The album release featured Ashevillebased bands River Whyless, Tyler Ramsey, Toubab Krewe and Floating Action. Each group hit the stage in front of a frenzied audience. But, the real heart of the matter was that every artist on the bill was asked to learn one of the songs from the recordings and perform it at the showcase — a full-circle moment for all involved.

“People should realize that the Asheville Sessions yielded the earliest commercial recordings from Appalachia, [and] that those sessions truly were groundbreaking,” Olson said. “The release of [this album] might well deepen, and even correct, general awareness of [this] region’s music history.”

On the wall

Cherokee pottery exhibition

A special showcase, “Didanisisgi Gadagwatli: A Showcase of Pottery from the Mud Dauber Community Workshop,” is now on display at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee. On view through May 2026, the exhibition features works by students of Tara McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) handcrafted during an intensive three-month workshop.

Renowned for her pottery, McCoy began making crafts at 12 years old. She honed her skills while taking arts and crafts classes with Alyne Stamper (EBCI) and has won numerous awards at the Cherokee Fall Festival and at Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market.

Today, she shares her knowledge with others. Designed to increase and uplift pottery making among members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, McCoy’s workshop uses a hands-on approach, empowering first-time potters to bring their own personal style to ancestral techniques and methods.

“The Didanisisgi Gadagwatli pottery workshop is an example of how museums can support and uplift great work already happening in the community,” says MotCP Director of Education Dakota Brown (EBCI). “Tara’s dedication to gadugi (community working together for the common good) and intensive approach to teaching has been hugely successful and is a powerful example of reconnections and resurgence. Connection and practice to our material culture is a continuation of our shared Cherokee identity and perpetuates Cherokee pride.”

The artists exhibited include Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (EBCI), Barbara Jones (EBCI), Paula Wojtkowski (EBCI), Marisa “Sis” Cabe (EBCI), Lisa Howell (EBCI, Pawnee Nation) Malia Crowe Skulski (EBCI), Samantha Cole-Daniels (EBCI), Elvia Walkingstick (EBCI), Maggie Jackson (EBCI), Michelle Lynn Long (EBCI, Mvskoke Creek Nation) and Tara McCoy (EBCI).

For more information, visit motcp.org.

• “Holiday Market” will run through Dec. 27 at The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands. Discover unique, handcrafted gifts by local and regional artists, including members of The Bascom Clay Studio. Celebrate the season with holiday-themed workshops for children and adults. For more information, call 828.526.4949 or visit thebascom.org.

• WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions throughout the region on select dates. For more information and/or to sign up, visit wncpaint.events.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied, and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Ages 16 and up. Space limited to 10 partici-

On the table

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular culinary events and workshops throughout the week. For a full schedule of upcoming activities, tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

HCAC ‘Small Works’ exhibit

The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Haywood Handmade showroom in downtown Waynesville.

The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. With dozens of artists participating, the exhibit promises to be eclectic. Although the only requirement is that the pieces be 12 inches in any dimension or smaller, HCAC challenged participants who are making holiday themed works to consider artistic expressions that are multicultural in nature and celebrate the many different holidays — ways of celebrating and ways of experiencing holidays.

For more information, visit haywoodarts.org.

pants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.

• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. 828.283.0523 / cre828.com.

• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. 517.881.0959 / galleryzella.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flight” 6 p.m. Thursdays. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays and semi-regular wine tastings on the weekends. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular tap-takeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville.

Sundays. 828.452.0593 / haywoodarts.org.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.631.0271 / jcgep.org.

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swaincenter.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. 828.586.2248 / dogwoodcrafters.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org.

828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 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. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com

On the beat

• American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 3 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691.

• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public. 828.497.1015 / facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.

• Assembly On Main (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 7-9 p.m. Mondays (signup at 6:30 p.m.). Food and drink specials. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0839 / assemblyonmain.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host “Open Mic” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Picking on the Porch” (open community jam) 6 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 7 p.m. Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30 and semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / facebook.com/brbeerhub.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Karaoke Night” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia” 7 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Jam” 10 p.m. Thursdays, “Trivia After Dark” 7 p.m. Dec. 26 and “New Year’s Eve Bash” 6 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.

• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every other Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.

• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host Flat Lincoln Dec. 26 and High Sierra 6 p.m. Dec. 28. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music throughout the week. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Reservations highly recommended. The kitchen and wine bar open at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.

upgrades available) and Chikoko Marimba 5 p.m. Jan. 10. (pay what you can). 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Scott Stetson (singer-songwriter) Dec. 26, David Cheatham (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27 and Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak (Americana) 3 p.m. Dec. 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live

Blue Ridge Big Band celebrates NYE

Popular jazz/swing act Blue Ridge Big Band will perform a special “Swinging in the New Year” show at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

The Blue Ridge Big Band is a high-energy Haywood County ensemble performing classic and modern swing tunes. There will also be a free dance class at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the performance are $25 per person, with a reserved “VIP Club Table” for four available for $150. As well, there will be a cash bar (wine/beer) and a food truck onsite. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit folkmoot.org or 828.452.2997.

Salty Dog’s welcomes McAfee

Haywood County singer-songwriter Ginny McAfee will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill in Maggie Valley.

For McAfee, the stage is not just a place to showcase her talent, it’s a platform to share her own unique musical expression with attentive audiences who appreciate originality. The loss of her father to cancer last year profoundly altered her perspective on life, rekindling her sense of purpose and igniting her spirit.

McAfee believes there’s a hunger in the world for genuine messages — messages of virtue, truth and the celebration of the simple yet beautiful aspects of life. And she’s determined to deliver these messages through the universal language of music.

McAfee’s musical prowess knows no boundaries, transcending traditional genres to create a captivating blend of diverse musical styles. Her voice effortlessly embodies the vulnerability of Stevie Nicks, the angelic innocence of Alison Krauss and the unbridled confidence of Dolly Parton.

Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 or facebook.com/saltydogs2005.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at the Farm” with on select dates. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $40 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host “World Drum Classes” every Friday at 2:30 p.m. (adults, free) and 4 p.m. (family friendly, all ages, free), “Waynesville Acoustic Guitar Group” 2-4 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month (free), Blue Ridge Big Band 7 p.m. Dec. 31 (tickets start at $25 per person, with

• High Dive (Highlands) will host “Trivia” 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.2200 / highlandsdive.com.

music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Doug Ramsay (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Grand Funk Railroad (classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 69 p.m. Thursdays ($5 cover), Zorki (singersongwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays (free) and the “Salon Series” with Thomas Johnson (of the Futurebirds) 8:30 p.m. Jan. 15. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic with Phil” on Wednesdays and semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678 / innovationbrewing.com.

• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host a “Community Jam” 7 p.m. Thursdays at the nearby Crown Restaurant and semi-regular live music on the weekends. folkschool.org.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, The Log Noggins (rock) Dec. 27 and “New Year’s Eve Celebration” with DJ Mox & Company 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Mondays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, “Old Time Jam” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and “New Year’s Eve Celebration” with The V8s (rock/oldies) 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host Blue Mountaineers (Americana/bluegrass) 5-7 p.m. Mondays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.

• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the public. 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org/franklin.

• High Country Wine & Provisions (Highlands) will host Zorki (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Dec. 26. Free and open to the public. 828.482.4502 / highcountrywineandprovisions.com.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie

F

The V8s return to Sylva

Classic rock/R&B act The V8s will host a special “New Year’s Eve Celebration” at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva.

Most of The V8s have been playing in various bands (often together) since 1975. The outcome is one good-time party band. Classic, danceable tunes delivered from old school musicians with feel.

The V8s. File photo

On any given night, the band will deliver their smokin’ hot versions of songs by artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam & Dave, Johnny Rivers, Van Morrison and many more.

Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Valley) will host Bridget Gossett (singersongwriter) Dec. 27. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.1717 / meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Dec. 26, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27 and Mountain Gypsy (Americana) 5 p.m. Dec. 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Old Edwards Inn (Highlands) will host live music in the Hummingbird Lounge at 5:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Free and open to the public. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host “Music Nights” with James Thompson from 4-6 p.m. first and third Friday of the month. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. Fridays, Steve Vaclavick (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27 and Diana New (singer-songwriter) 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Russell” on Mondays, Chris Williams (singer-songwriter) Dec. 26 and Ginny McAfee (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.

• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic” first Wednesday of every month, TrancEnd (rock/pop) 9 p.m. Dec. 27, Trippin’ Up The Stairs (Celtic) 3 p.m. Dec. 28 and “New Year’s Eve Y2K Party” with DJ BooShaylee (pop/rock) 9 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Madison Owenby (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Dec. 26 and Steve Vaclavik (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Dec. 30. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Tickets now available, with seating upgrades offered. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (free) and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Mondays” with local/regional singersongwriters. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.

• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” on semi-regular dates on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.

• Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Music” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Karaoke” 9:30 p.m. Fridays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Sundays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Jason” Tuesdays, “Tom’s Trivia Night” Wednesdays and “New Year’s Glow Party” 6 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows and

Americana, indie at Mountain Layers

Regional Americana act Somebody’s Child will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

For more than a decade, Ashley Claxton and Cola Williamson have been filling the venues of Western North Carolina with their intrepid sounds. While minimalistic, these Smoky Mountain troubadours seamlessly blend both acoustic and electric melodies with renowned vocal harmonies.

Somebody’s Child. File photo

By melding a variety of sounds, which are often described as “alternative folk” or “Americana,” the duo offers dynamic, highenergy performances that are calculated, organic and compelling.

The show is free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

events begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valley-tavern.com.

• Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 5202 (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.9356 / vfw5202.org.

• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Breeze Cable (singer-songwriter) Dec. 27 and Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) Dec. 28. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 8 p.m. Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends.

All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.4750 / facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Wells Events & Reception Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.476.5070 / wellseventcenter.simpletix.com.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 / whitesidebrewing.com.

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host “Country Thursdays” (Americana/country) 6 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

On the stage On the street

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semiregular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. For tickets, click on caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage

productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.

ALSO:

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.

• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.488.7843 / swainartscenter.com.

• The annual “Ruby Drop” will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Dec. 31, in downtown Franklin. Celebrate the New Year kickoff with festivities and community spirit. Free and open to the public. franklinchamber.com.

• “Christmas Light Show Drive-Thru” will be running on select dates through the holidays at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park in Bryson City. Admission is $20 for cars and family vans, $40 for activity vans and limousines. Tour buses and school buses are not allowed due to the tight turns at the entrance. For more information, visit explorebrysoncity.com/events/christmas-holiday/christmas-lights.

• “Christmas Wonderland” hayrides will be held at Darnell Farms through Dec. 28 in Bryson City. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Limited seating available. For a full schedule and/or to purchase tickets, visit darnellfarms.com.

• “Winterfest” ice skating and food truck rodeo every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 27 at the Cherokee Welcome Center. visitcherokeenc.com/event/2025-winterfest.

Hidden holiday gems from Dickens

Recently, my mother gifted me “A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures” (Canterbury Classics, 2013, 540 pages). While I’ve read “A Christmas Carol” many times, I was pleasantly surprised to find Dickens had written plenty more festive tales just like it.

This collection of novellas are short dives into 19th century England, immersing the reader in the Christmas spirit and bringing to life old holiday traditions, as well as timeless truths about humanity. Each story carries Dickens’ signature darkness and depth, his humor and hope, and realistic redemption. Ghosts, visions, and the supernatural are not just for Scrooge. We see that theme continue throughout these holiday novellas, making for spectral stories that could be read around the fire, to be enjoyed both by the young and the old.

dens, and be overrun with nasty children they will resent.

After a few more similar encounters, Trotty’s initial belief that men are inherently bad grows even more solidified and he becomes sadly convinced of it. Meg and Richard have also been dissuaded of goodness in their future and they call off their

I’ll only highlight two novellas, though there are five total: “A Christmas Carol,” “The Chimes,” “The Cricket on the Hearth,” “The Battle of Life,” “The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain.”

To big fans of “A Christmas Carol,” this one will be an especially welcome addition to their library. It’s very similar in structure and plot, but differs in its final message. A sort of New Year’s version of “A Christmas Carol,” “The Chimes” follows the story of Toby Veck (Trotty), who, aided by the supernatural, is offered a glimpse at the consequence of his misconceptions.

As this novella’s lengthy subtitle reads, this is “A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In.” Trotty is a letter-carrier who passes by the old church daily. The chimes that ring there offer him comfort, encouraging him to persevere, and bringing a sense of hope and joy to his day. The story captures a particular New Year’s Eve where Trotty is uncharacteristically downcast. Constantly hearing depressing reports of heightened crime and general immorality among the poor, he begins to believe that they’re simply, by nature, bad.

He arrives home to his daughter, Meg, who announces that she and her fiancé, Richard, will be married the next day. Their engagement had been long in the hopes they would grow in wealth before wedding, but after no financial change they decide they would rather enjoy what happiness marriage provides while they’re still young, than wait any longer for riches that may never come. The happy excitement is soon extinguished by the cynical Alderman Cute who declares the poor to not be fit for good marriage, prophesying that they’ll grow to hate each other, live under the stress of financial bur-

engagement. While alone, reading more depressing accounts of poor crime and despair, Trotty hears the chimes ringing, but soon their noise grows deafening as if bursting through his home. Feeling called, he heads to the church to inspect it and encounters more interesting sights than he would’ve ever imagined.

The story continues, growing darker at times but leaving off on a note of redemption. The message in the end is one which has not aged poorly and remains as applicable (but forgotten) in our own day and age.

The next novella is “The Cricket on the Hearth.” John Peerybingle and his wife, Dot, share a happy home and a beautiful baby boy. Although quite a bit younger than her husband, Dot lets us readers know very early on in the story just how much she loves him. She tells him how worried she was the year before when they got married, concerned

that he would not love her the way she needed and that she wouldn’t grow to love him; and how relieved she is that all those worries have dissipated in gratitude at the joy they share. As she recounts all this, a cricket chirps on the hearth and Dot says that her heart sings along with the same happiness of homelife whenever she hears it in the cricket song. During the holiday season one night, John brings home a strange, elderly man who asks to stay with the family for a few days and Dot eagerly agrees. We then meet friends of the Peerybingles: a very poor toymaker, Caleb Plummer, and his blind daughter, Bertha. Caleb acts as her eyes, describing their home and the visitors who come. However, saddened by her loss of sight, Caleb does not describe these things accurately. Their shabby, dilapidated home becomes elegant, colorful, and beautifully furnished, and Caleb’s crotchety, mean employer, Tackleton, becomes well-meaning, kind, and quiet.

Another sorrow Caleb carried is his lost son who he now assumed is dead. Years before his son had been in love with one of Dot’s old school friends, May, but after traveling to South America, he never returned. Now May is engaged to Tackleton, thanks to the pressure and urging of her mother.

Their lives intertwine and the happy Peerybingle marriage soon comes under threat, leaving John to face a shocking, difficult decision. Both this story and “The Chimes” give a beautiful insight into the human capacity for good and evil. Never wavering in his morals, Dickens’ brings his convictions to life, using wonder and whimsy to make his writings sparkle even after all this time.

(Anna Barren is a teacher and lifelong lover of books. annab4376@gmail.com.)

The art of adventure

Outdoors

SMN E DITOR

Fifteen years ago, Main Street in Franklin was a pretty quiet place. It wasn’t hard to find a parking space and most of the things we enjoy downtown today didn’t exist, at least not yet. But, 15 years ago, an anchor business appeared on a hope and a dream — Outdoor 76.

“There were a lot of empty storefronts and not much energy or activity. Still, we knew we wanted to be on Main Street because, to us, community has to start there,” said Cory McCall, co-owner of Outdoor 76. “[Back then], it felt like people were giving up on downtown. We never thought we were the solution, but we believed we could be part of it.”

With a slogan of “your adventure begins with us,” McCall and his business partner, Rob Gasbarro, officially launched the company on Oct. 2, 2010.

“Opening day anxiety was indescribable,” Gasbarro said. “We were selling $100 rain jackets in a rural mountain town, just coming out of a national recession, while many of the area’s largest employers were disappearing. Fast-forward 15 years, and everything we hoped for has come to fruition — and continues to grow.”

To preface, McCall is an eighth-generation Maconian.

“So, Western North Carolina isn’t just where I live, it’s really engrained into who I lived.”

Hailing from Florida, Gasbarro “knew

the two friends did what a lot of folks did at that time: finding themselves at this existential crossroads to really sit down and ponder their next move, this unknown chapter to possibly chase your dreams, hell or high water.

“The idea for Outdoor 76 was born out of uncertainty,” McCall said. “The recession hit

munity when it came to quality outdoor apparel, footwear and gear.”

“There was a shared feeling that the worst of the recession was behind us and that we weren’t alone in recognizing Franklin’s potential,” Gasbarro added. “And beyond all the metrics, Franklin was home. Even when Cory and I played devil’s advocate and questioned whether this was the right town, the answer kept coming back the same — it was a nobrainer.”

Once the store opened, the shelves and showroom floor quickly filled up with an endless selection of outdoor recreation products — shoes, jackets, tents and seemingly every kind of attire or accessory needed to survive the unpredictable elements of Mother Nature.

“To this day, we remain 100% service- and experience-driven, and we let the shop follow that lead,” Gasbarro said. “When someone tells us, ‘We drove six hours to get fit for shoes,’ that lands in a way that’s hard to put into words.”

Outdoor 76 also boasts a taproom that’s a popular social haven for locals and visitors alike. And there’s regular community programming happening in the space, including fly-tying nights, Rotary Club events and Nantahala Hiking Club orientations, as well as the “Smoky Mountain Storytellers” series that’s garnered quite an audience as of late.

“There’s not much that’s off-limits [for events],” Gasbarro noted. “If it brings people together, we’re interested.”

To note, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene last year, Outdoor 76 “became a hub for donation collecting and sorting.” According to McCall, the collection resulted in over “120,000 pounds of donated goods, with over 100 people showing up to lend a hand.”

“[And] that didn’t happen because of us. It happened because we allowed our space to become what the community needed in

something in me early on. As soon as I had any independence, I did everything I could to get back to this region and spend as much time outside as possible.”

ing in were both severely impacted. At the same time, we shared this deep passion for the outdoors and saw a real gap in our com-

most meaningful experiences of our 15 years [being here].”

And on any given day, just when

Franklin resident recognized for contributions to wildlife

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has awarded William McLarney of Franklin the Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award, bestowed each year to an individual who demonstrates a strong commitment to North Carolina’s nongame conservation efforts and is a leader in promoting and sustaining wildlife diversity.

McLarney has a special passion for conservation efforts on the Little Tennessee River as well as an interest in the overall active stewardship of streams and watersheds. But he said his “less visible” work has been the most important: “Stimulating communities, landowners and local people to be active in protecting and restoring streams and their watersheds. Inextricably interwoven with that is the opportunity to work with younger people, influencing future leaders and future conservation biologists through volunteer and intern programs.”

that have no open hunting, fishing or trapping season. More than 700 nongame species call North Carolina home and include songbirds, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater mussels, fish, crustaceans and mammals.

NCWRC will accept nominations for the 2026 award in January and February.

Safety upgrades coming to ‘the Spur’ near Gatlinburg

Beginning in January, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin a multi-year project to improve safety and infrastructure on the

not exceed one mile in length. Motorists should expect traffic delays and drive with caution. To minimize disruptions during peak travel periods, no construction will take place on federal holidays, weekends (after 12 p.m. Friday), or during the Easter travel period (March 30 through April 10). No nighttime work is currently planned.

This first phase is part of a multi-year

improvements:

• Paving of road shoulders to eliminate hazardous edge drop-offs.

• Replacement of outdated or damaged guardrails.

The award is named for the late Thomas L. Quay, a professor of zoology at N.C. State University and self-described “full-time volunteer and unpaid environmental activist.”

Nongame species are native animals

Nominators are required to submit a completed nomination form (online or by USPS mail) along with a detailed essay describing the nominee’s contributions to nongame atrisk species conservation in North Carolina. Self-nominations are also accepted. For more information on the nomination process, contact Shauna Glover (shauna.glover@ncwildlife.org or 919.707.0064).

the Outdoor 76 showroom begins to fill up with outdoor enthusiasts looking for the ideal items to enhance their next adventure, it’s not lost on Gasbarro and McCall as to what they offer — a genuine space for connectivity through the sacred, ancient passion and purpose that is exploring the great outdoors.

“For me, it all comes back to community,” McCall said. “From day one, everything we’ve done has been about connecting people. The products we sell can absolutely be

Want to go?

Specializing in all your outdoor needs, from shoes to tents and more, Outdoor 76 is located at 35 East Main St. in Franklin. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit outdoor76.com, call 828.349.7676 or email info@outdoor76.com.

found online, [but] what people are really looking for, though, is experience and connection.”

“We didn’t do this for recognition. We wanted to provide a good life for our families and serve our community,” Gasbarro added. “Seeing the shop full of people engaging with staff, helping someone finish a thru-hike [on the Appalachian Trail], or getting someone on their first trail without their feet hurting — that’s the icing on the cake. And it still gives us goosebumps.”

• Safety improvement at gravel pull-offs. During this phase, single-lane closures will occur daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will

allows and will include replacing Wiley Oakley and Husky Grove Bridges, rehabilitating or replacing Gum Stand Bridge, and completing rock scaling and minor roadway realignments to improve rockfall protection. The park is currently in the design phase for the Wiley Oakley/Legion Field Bridge replacement.

Land acquired for conservation near Cashiers

The Open Space Institute and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust announced the acquisition of the 104-acre Peregrine Tract along the southern face of Whiteside Mountain. Permanent protection of the property, which had been approved for development, marks a major victory in longstanding efforts to safeguard one of Southern Appalachia’s most scenic and ecologically significant landscapes.

OSI acquired the Peregrine Tract on Dec. 15, and a second transaction anticipated in 2026 or 2027 will make HCLT the permanent owner. Once the acquisition is complete, HCLT will hold title to the property as a public preserve, guaranteeing that the land will be accessible and protected in perpetuity.

Now protected forever, the Peregrine Tract ensures ecological continuity from mountaintop to river valley, safeguarding water quality in the Chattooga River system and preserving one of the most biologically rich ridgelines in the southeastern United States.

Previously permitted for a 28-lot development, with a road, utilities and subdivision entrance already in place, construction was expected to begin in early 2026 had OSI and HCLT not acted swiftly to conserve the Peregrine Tract.

The Peregrine Tract is the keystone in a region of national conservation significance. Buttressed on two sides by U.S.

Forest Service lands, the tract directly links to the cliffs and forest communities of Whiteside Mountain and the Nantahala National Forest, bridging a vital gap between permanently protected landscapes. Keeping this landscape wild and undeveloped ensures ecological continuity from the mountaintop to the head of the Chattooga, supporting a network of forests and streams that sustain wildlife and water quality, while also bolstering a nature-based economy. With its conservation, the property will also offer new recreation options in a remarkable landscape; it could serve as a key link in the proposed Blue Ridge Connector Trail — a continuous hiking route stretching from Clayton, Georgia, to

Mountain.

The acquisition was made possible by extraordinary support from a dedicated community of donors. To date, OSI and HCLT have raised $5.9 million toward the total project cost of $8.25 million, and additional funds are needed to complete the project. Donations to support the project can be made through OSI at openspaceinstitute.org/southeast or hcltnc.org/peregrine.

HCC to host spring hunter safety courses

Haywood Community College’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer two opportunities for hunter safety courses in Spring 2026. Classes will be offered Jan. 6-7 and April 1-2 from 6-9 p.m. on the HCC campus in Clyde in the Walnut building, Room 3322. Participants must attend two consecutive evenings to receive their certification.

More than a firearm safety course, instruction includes ethics and responsibility, conservation and wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.

These courses are offered for the general public as a community service and are free of charge. There are no minimum age requirements; however, a written exam must be completed without assistance. Courses are taught by wildlife officers, hunter education specialists, and certified volunteer instructors. Certification is accepted in every state and province in North America.

Pre-registration is required. Anyone interested in taking a hunter safety course must register online to attend any session. Course registration may be completed at ncwildlife.org.

Get

We

SAHC hosts sixth-annual Winter Hiking Challenge

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) will host its sixthannual Winter Hiking Challenge in the first two months of 2026, which aims to inspire people to experience outdoor recreation during the winter months.

a rugged mountain trail, through the forest, or on an accessible paved track. Registration is open now and ends on Feb. 25.

Those who complete the 60-mile goal will receive a new commemorative SAHC patch designed by Solstice Handmade, following the end of the challenge. Registration is $25 per person, and the registration fee directly supports SAHC’s conservation work in the southern Appalachians.

The 2026 SAHC Winter Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days, from Jan. 1 to March 1, to be completed in your own time and at your own speed. Those can be miles you’ve hiked, run, walked, or rolled (as in a wheelchair) — in your neighborhood, up

$1.1M in grants for flood resilience projects awarded

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint is partnering with the North Carolina

More information and registration link at appalachian.org/winterchallenge.

1.29 miles of stream and 50 acres of floodplain as well as retrofit a pond to reduce flooding.

The Flood Resiliency Blueprint’s grant funding supports the North Carolina Land and Water Fund’s 2025 grant cycle. As directed by the North Carolina General Assembly, the Blueprint continues to allocate $76 million in funding to support flood mitigation efforts in the Cape Fear, French Broad, Lumber, Neuse, Tar Pamlico and White Oak river basins.

three flood risk reduction projects located in Dunn, Clyde and Smithfield.

The funding supports one project in the Smoky Mountain News coverage area in Clyde and totals $210,500.

Haywood Waterways will restore nearly 0.48 mile of stream and 5.3 acres along the Pigeon River within the Town of Clyde to reconnect the river to its floodplain, increase flood storage and reduce erosion.

The project will stabilize eroding banks, enhance river-bank habitat and complement nearby Land and Water Fund–supported efforts such as Rivers Edge Park to create an interconnected, 10-acre flood storage system that provides long-term resiliency, improved water quality and new open space and recreational access for the community.

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

• $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

Legals

NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

25CV001731-430

County of Haywood v. Gary Dewayne Messer, Derek Michael Messer, Robert Samuel Messer, Tanner Logan Messer

To: Gary Dewayne Messer, Derek Michael Messer, Robert Samuel Messer, Tanner Logan Messer

You and each of you are hereby GIVEN NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above. The nature of the relief being sought is: mandatory injunction prohibiting continued occupancy of the site without proper permits and requiring immediate cleanup of your site at Little East Fork Road, Canton NC 28716; order of abatement upon failure of defendants to comply with cleanup of the site and charging the costs of abatement to the defendants.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC By: Frank G. Queen

Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com

NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION

25CV001732-430

Haywood County v. Linda Darlene Bradshaw Stokely, Robert Stokely, and William Stokely

To: Linda Darlene Bradshaw Stokely, Robert Stokely, and William Stokely

You and each of you shall TAKE NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above. The nature of the relief being sought is: mandatory injunction requiring immediate abatement of the unsanitary conditions at your property at 268 Log Cabin Road, Waynesville NC; preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting the deposit of solid waste on the site; upon failure of the defendants to abate the conditions authorizing the plaintiff to abate the conditions and charging the defendants and the property with the costs thereof; attorney fees and costs.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court

for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC

By: Frank G. Queen

Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com

NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION 25CV001722-430

Haywood County Superior Court

Haywood County vs.

Deborah Donaldson, Billy Davis, Alisha Messer, Michelle Worley, Rita Jean Surrett, Shane Donaldson, Peter Wyatt, Tom Wyatt

To: Deborah Donaldson, Billy Davis, Alisha Messer, Michelle Worley, Rita Jean Surrett, Shane Donaldson, Peter Wyatt, Tom Wyatt

You and each of you are hereby GIVEN NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above. The nature of the relief being

sought is: mandatory injunctions ordering you to immediately abate all solid waste violations, electrical and water-supply and disposal hazards on your property at 1446 Thompson Cove Road, Clyde NC; preliminary injunction for the immediate remediation of the public health hazards on the property; prohibitory injunctions against future occupancy of the property without compliance with law; attorney fees and costs.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC By: Frank G. Queen Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.25E000681-430

Cynthia A. Jackson,

Executor of the Estate of Jimmie Lewis Jackson, Jr. of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 24 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Executor

c/o: Jen Woy, Esq. 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.25E000669-430

Earlene Rebecca Gibson Robinson, having

of the Estate of Norma June Gibson of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 03 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Executor

Attn: Earlene Robinson

89 Wild Rose Lane Canton NC 28716

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.25E000690-430

Claudia Denise Burrell,

Administrator of the Estate of Orpha Ilah

Clark Burrell of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 03 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Administrator 5 Knoll Ridge Rd Candler, NC 28715

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.25E000685-430

Ann Elizabeth Ensley,

Executor of the Estate

of Rufus Neal Ensley of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 17 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Executor 721 N Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.25E000615-430

J. Alexander S. Barrett and Robert M. Barrett,

Co-Executor of the Estate of Mason Moore Barrett of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 17 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Co-Executor

C/O Robert D. Douglas, III

300 North Greene Street, Suite 200 Greensboro, NC 27401

CREDITOR’S NOTICE

Administrator of the Estate of Myrtice Longwith, deceased, late of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned at 721 North Main St., Waynesville, NC 28786 on or before the 17th day of March 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 11th day of December.

Deborah Simpson Administrator of the Estate of Myrtice Longwith

C/O Brian P. Schaefer, Esq.

GRIFFIN & SCHAEFER, P.A.

721 N. Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

Please publish on the following dates:

Wed. Dec. 17 th , 2025

Wed. Dec. 24 th , 2025

Wed. Dec. 31 st , 2025

Wed. January 7 th , 2026

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