Smoky Mountain News | July 29, 2026

Page 4

Haywood County’s pump track set to open Page 25

On the Cover:

For the first time since elk were reintroduced to Western North Carolina 25 years ago, the state has authorized two hunting tags to quell the herd. The move has generated a good deal of debate. The Smoky Mountain News spoke with state wildlife experts and conservationists to answer the question: is now the right time? (Page 24) GSMNP photo.

News

Sylva greenlights Pride parade........................................................................................4

Federal grants provide economic relief in wake of Helene......................................5

Will a logging project save the Blue Ridge Parkway from fire — or imperil it? ......6

Needmore concerns continue, litigation proposed....................................................9

Commissioners vote to restrict Sylva library community room use....................10 Jackson school bond referendum public hearing date set....................................11

Haywood School Board fills budget gap left by county commission................12

Opinion

Standing up for the First Amendment ........................................................................14 The road to Iran runs through Israel ............................................................................15

A&E

Heart it races: AVL Sounds Fest to debut in WNC................................................16 Grand Funk Railroad returns to Harrah’s....................................................................20

Outdoors

Haywood County pump track opens Aug. 8............................................................25 Enjoy Farm Fest and Mater Mayhem in Canton......................................................27

D

D

ADVERTISING

Amanda Bradley. .

jack.s@smokymountainnews.com

tyler.a@mtnsouthmedia.com

amanda.b@smokymountainnews.com Maddie Woodard. .

C LASSIFIEDS: Jamie Cogdill. . . . . .

N EWS E DITOR: Kyle Perrotti. . . . . .

WRITING: Lily Levin.

Alex Perri. .

Garret K. Woodward.

ACCOUNTING & O FFICE MANAGER: Jamie Cogdill. .

maddie.w@smokymountainnews.com

classads@smokymountainnews.com

kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com

lily.l@smokymountainnews.com

alex.p@smokymountainnews.com

garret@smokymountainnews.com

smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com

C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Susanna Shetley (writing), Adam Bigelow (writing), Thomas Crowe (writing)

CONTACT

WAYNESVILLE | 144 Montgomery, Waynesville, NC 28786

SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779

P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585

I NFO & B ILLING | P.O. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786

S UBSCRIPTIONS

SUBSCRIPTION:

Sylva greenlights Pride parade

BY ALEX PERRI STAFF WRITER

Sylva Pride will parade through the streets for the first time in three years come Sept. 20, following a July 23 town commission vote. The parade will take place at the 6th annual Sylva Pride Festival. This year’s theme is “rainbow rodeo.”

For the last two years, Sylva commissioners have denied Sylva Pride’s request for the temporary road closure permits required for a parade, citing safety concerns and constraints on manpower. Commissioners Perry Matthews and Sam McGuire voted yes to the resolution, with the stipulation that Sylva Pride pay for

half of the costs the county would incur from the parade, while Blitz Estrige provided the only no. In the discussion preceding the vote, commissioners weighed the messaging and the costs associated with the decision. (Commissioner Joe Waldrum and Mayor Pro Tem Brad Waldrop were not present at the meeting.)

“I think we have an opportunity here to show Sylva as a model of how mountain towns can handle disagreements, respect freedoms, protect our neighbors,” McGuire said. “I really do not want Sylva to be a cautionary tale of what not to do. I think we can be a model town here to show how welcoming and to all our neighbors show good government as well.”

Mayor Johnny Phillips said he wanted Sylva to be a welcoming town to everyone but thought Sylva Pride should pay for the cost associated with closing the street and paying staff to work the event. He cited town budgetary concerns regarding aging infrastructure and said the town should consider its needs first and wants second. Matthews added that in the conversation about taxpayer dollars, the board should consider that there are plenty of Sylva taxpayers who would like to see this parade approved.

Commissioners set the deadline for Sylva Pride to pay for its end of the parade costs by Aug. 20, 30 days before the parade date. Within two days, the organization met its fundraising goal of $2,000 and then some.

“The donations are still flowing in,” said Sylva Pride Board Member Paige LeBlanc. “Whether it’s $100, $50, $10, $5, the amount is not what’s important. It’s the fact that so many people are deciding to give and be generous right now. People want to be a part of this is what it seems like to me.”

LeBlanc said this year’s Pride will be a weekend-long celebration with music, drag queens, vendors, artists and more. She added that the board of commissioner’s vote to approve the parade permit was a much-needed win after two years of a parade-less Pride festival amid the politically regressive state of LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

After what LeBlanc said are recent attempts to deliberately exclude queer people from public spaces, the outpouring of love and support from the local community has been a welcomed demonstration of defiance against homophobia and transphobia.

“We deserve it as much as anyone else to love and celebrate and live fully in our community, which we have, after all, helped build to be better every day with our continued efforts,” she said. “Any community that welcomes its queer people benefits immeasurably from that, not just materially, but in terms of acknowledging the beautiful diversity of humanity and what it means to be alive and to be human.”

With donations still coming in, LeBlanc aims to expand Sylva Pride’s programming for years to come, offering more opportunities for community togetherness and collaboration. She said she wants to build hope.

More information about this year’s Sylva Pride Festival will be released soon.

Transfer-heavy budget behind surplus Swain funds

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Revenues and expenditures initially cited at the July 21 Swain County Commission meeting may raise questions about sustainability and cash flow.

Finance Officer Cally Elliot presented the fiscal year report, a mixed bag of incorrect forecasts, departmental deficits and revenue surplus.

To the first point, the county expected to rake in $24.4 million, an $8.6 million underestimation of its nearly $33 million in actual revenue. The $24.5 million expense forecast was also inaccurate; true costs amounted to $28.9 million. The difference between revenue and costs was about $4.1 million, classified as net income. But because the county didn’t suddenly become flush with cash, some questioned the surplus funds.

“I would like to know what happened that got us 4 million-and-something back,” said Commissioner David Loftis.

The Smoky Mountain News received a copy of the report. From the document, it seems extra revenue can be explained by a series of one-time transfers and other non-

revenues not forecasted by the budget. North Carolina Treasurer AGPIP proceeds — in the form of withdrawn county investments — amounted to almost $5.5 million. Other transfer line items included several smaller sums and $5 million from the 2010 North Shore settlement, a $52 million National Park Service promised payout from for a road flooded in service of creating Fontana Lake, fulfilled incrementally until 2018. A rebuild was attempted but later abandoned, hence its name, “The Road to Nowhere.”

sources, leaving $20.4 million in net revenues.

Elliot attributed actual expenditures surmounting forecasts to inflation and unfinished projects.

money on hand, it would likely be unsustainable long term.

Elliot also broke down the budget for solid waste, the department of social services and the health department, all three of which ran a deficit. DSS expenses exceeded revenue by nearly $1 million, the health department by $1.5 million. And predicted revenue exceeded the true total by similar margins.

However, SMN reported in 2019 that the “the principal can’t be touched unless approved by twothirds of voters in a countywide referendum.” That consensus doesn’t seem to have shifted, and Swain County has not recently approved any such referendum.

Another $425,563 in SBITAS and leases are classified in the expenditure report as other finance sources — documented arrangements, rather than revenues.

Of the nearly $33 million reported, $12.6 million came from transfers and other finance

“Building maintenance, vehicle maintenance, parts have gone up, prices have gone up … We had projects that weren’t completed that finally got completed, and that’s just how that’s how it works,” she told commissioners.

That side of the report included $2,725,000 in transfers, meaning that county net expenditures were closer to $26.2 million — $5.8 million above net revenue. So while the transfer-heavy budget generated surplus

Actual revenue is often outside of county — or department — control. DSS, for example, submits a federal and state reimbursement form for each service provided, and the county must fund remaining expenses. A deficit could be impacted by factors such as reimbursement quantity and timing or grant procurement. Non-reimbursable costs, like building maintenance, further add up.

Commissioner Tanner Lawson alluded to this in his comment that “even if we did, you know, allot 2 million or 3 million [to DSS], we could still come out in the red,” to which Elliot replied, “They’re always in a deficit.”

Federal grants provide economic relief in wake of Helene

North Carolina will receive $34.2 million in grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to go toward seven projects that will expand economic opportunity and support long-term recovery across the region.

Projects receiving grants through the U.S. Economic Development Administration stretch across the region and represent a collaborative effort between universities, community colleges, local governments, private entities and philanthropies.

In The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, this includes $1.2 million for the Western Carolina University-Cullowhee Dam in Jackson County.

Through the EDA’s Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, Congress made available approximately $1.5 billion to support economic recovery in areas across the country that received major disaster declarations in 2023 and 2024. Partnering with private and philanthropic organizations, Gov. Stein’s administration has worked to support and strengthen more than 20 EDA funding applications in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The EDA continues to review applications on a rolling basis. Earlier this month, Cleveland Community College in Shelby was awarded a $1.7 million EDA grant to support the construction of a health care workforce training facility.

to rebuild from Hurricane Helene, and these grants are going to help communities build on that momentum,” Stein said. “We are grateful to our federal partners for investing in the region’s recovery and creating new opportunities for people and businesses. Let’s keep at it and work together to build a stronger Western North Carolina.”

In a release, Stein celebrated the grants.

“Western North Carolina is working hard

“Western North Carolina’s recovery is ongoing, and today’s announcement is another important step forward,” Edwards said. “These investments will strengthen infrastructure, support job creation and help ensure our communities remain competitive for years to come. I appreciate the Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration for recognizing the needs of our region and partnering with us to build a stronger future.”

Join the American Museum of the House Cat for remembrance of beloved feline

On Aug. 1, the American Museum of the House Cat will host a Rainbow Bridge anniversary for Esmer. The museum invites the public to be a part of this day of remembrance as it welcomes his mom, Ülkü Gözen Stewart, for a meet-and-greet and learn the impact this special kitty had on all who met him or read his many stories published in Turkish newspapers.  This brunette kitty became the muse for two children’s books, soon-to-be translated into English and only available at the museum.

He was a voice for the voiceless as his popularity became increasingly apparent among the citizens of Turkey, and he has been featured in many other popular periodicals and magazines. His ninth life ended early this year. The impact he has made on the world is not over and will live on eternally inside the Museum of the House Cat in Sylva. Visitors will be able to meet him through stories told and see the beginning of the museum’s

in Culture.

BY JACK EVANS FOR AVL WATCHDOG

Consider the dead tree.

To the living things of the forest and to the environmentalists who love them, a dead tree is critical infrastructure. A standing one — a snag — may house beetle larvae, which are eaten by woodpeckers, who excavate the softening wood for nests, which are then abandoned and taken up by other birds or small mammals, who raise their own young there. A downed log’s cambium soaks up water and holds it like a sponge, even through drought; as it decays, it enriches the soil. Cycles begin anew.

“There is no more important structural component of a forest ecosystem than a dead tree or a down log,” said Chad Hanson, the director and principal ecologist of the John Muir Project. “Nothing even comes close.”

The federal government sees a dead tree as a sort of time bomb. In recent decades, and especially under President Donald Trump, land management agencies have seized on dead trees as a type of “fuel” powering destructive wildfires — despite a growing body of scientific research casting doubt on this position.

“We have an abundance of timber at high risk of wildfires in our National Forests,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said last year, announcing an emergency authorization aimed at expanding logging on federal land.

The Trump administration’s desire to reinvigorate the domestic timber industry has led close observers of land management agencies to worry that, for industry interests, the dead tree is propping open a doorway: A salvage-logging operation to remove dead trees might necessitate removing more valuable live ones, and once that path is breached, it’s easier to go back for more.

“They’re looking for the bigger trees,” said Will Harlan, the southeast director of the Center for Biological Diversity. And in Western North Carolina, nearly two years after Tropical Storm Helene, the dead tree remains a potent symbol of regional trauma. To Dan and Joanne Lazar, who estimate that more than a third of the trees around their Blue Ridge Parkway-adjacent home fell in Helene, it also looks like another disaster in wait.

“There’s so much down wood that it’s like a bonfire ready to ignite,” Dan said recently.

“We were very, very concerned, any time there was any type of drought, that all it would take is one cigarette and it would be devastating,” Joanne added.

PARK SERVICE TACTICS QUESTIONED

All of these perspectives have come to a head at the Parkway, where later this summer the National Park Service will begin what it calls a “hazardous fuel debris removal project” in areas where Helene felled large swaths of trees. Parkway officials have said the work, which could begin as soon as September, is necessary to protect nearby homes and “natural and cultural resources” from wildfires that could feed on the debris.

But critics, including a slew of environmental organizations, have contended that the project — even after a recent narrowing in scope — represents far more risk than it does risk-abatement.

Though they agree that some poststorm debris, especially smaller material that burns easily, could make homes more vulnerable to fire, they’re unsettled by the Park Service’s chosen methods, which stand to include commercial salvage logging. They believe the work could have an outsized effect on sensitive

species and water resources. They’re alarmed that the Park Service has adopted tactics that would allow it to sidestep standard environmental impact reviews and public comment periods in favor of fast-tracking what it calls an emergency response.

And they say it represents a drastic shift for the nation’s most-visited Park Service unit — the incursion of commercial forces, a break with the agency’s preservationist mission — that will be impossible to walk back. (A spokesperson declined Asheville Watchdog’s request to interview Parkway superintendent Tracy Swartout for this story and requested a list of written questions. The agency has not responded to those questions, which were sent July 15.)

“If they can log along the Blue Ridge Parkway, they will be logging in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in some of our other most treasured and beloved places, and that’s not what the American public wants,” Harlan said. “This is the frontline and the next frontier of where this extractive industrial logging complex is targeting, and we have to fight for the Parkway in our backyard.”

“UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”

The Park Service first announced the project in late April: the “mechanical and manual removal of selected downed and damaged trees” across nearly 2,900 acres, stretching from Asheville to southern Virginia. A press release described it as “the latest in a number of federal recovery efforts advancing under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump in response to Hurricane Helene damage.” In lieu of a public comment period, the agency offered a series of open-house-style informational meetings in early May.

One meeting took place on a drizzly afternoon at the Parkway’s Asheville visitor center. Attendees in dripping raincoats crowded around posters outlining project areas. Others lined up to chat with Park Service employees, including Swartout, who tried to assuage con- F

cerns about the consequences of sending heavy machinery into the sloping forests that hug the Parkway.

“If there’s an [archaeological] site and we know that it’s there, we’re going to try to avoid it,” Swartout said. “If there’s a wetland, we’re going to try to avoid it. There’s standing live trees — we’re going to try to avoid those. So avoidance is really the biggest part of it.”

Already, though, the conservation community was wary. In an Instagram post, Boone mayor and Endangered Species Coalition organizer Dalton George called out the environmental risks and limited public input of what he described as “the biggest project to impact the Blue Ridge Parkway in our lifetimes.”

The Asheville-based environmental nonprofit MountainTrue acknowledged that some debris clearance may be necessary but decried as “based more on emotion than facts” the notion that removing vegetation more than 100 feet away from homes reduces wildfire risk. “We’ll leave the discussion about why the public has to bail out homeowners who build right next to a national park for another time,” the organization added.

Josh Kelly, MountainTrue’s resilient forests director, was among those huddled inside the visitor center. He was eager to gather information — the maps showing project areas hadn’t yet been publicly posted — but skeptical of the event’s purpose.

“My sense is that this decision has already been made, and it will take a lot of political pressure to turn this around or change it,” Kelly said. “This is an open house to defuse public input, not to give the public a chance to have input. This is a dog-andpony show.”

Kelly and other conservationists did come away from the open houses with more details on the project, including that the Park Service, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service, would seek to partially pay for the project with proceeds from salvage logging, and that it would focus on removing largediameter timber while leaving behind smaller pieces of wood, known as “slash,” a standard logging process that guards against erosion but can also make an area more vulnerable to wildfire.

AFTER COMPLAINTS, THE PROJECT IS SCALED BACK

But attempts to engage with Parkway leadership were rebuffed, said Spencer Scheidt, an attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. The Park Service has declined to provide documents, including research and data underpinning its assertions about fire danger, Scheidt said, and officials weren’t interested in receiving feedback about the environmental damages associated with salvage logging.

Earlier this month, a letter from the SELC — written by Scheidt and signed by representatives of a half-dozen prominent conservation organizations, including Kelly, Harlan and George — warned Swartout that the project was environmentally and legally

precarious. The letter reflected two braided threads of concern: one, that the Park Service was reliant on faulty science; the other, that it was making procedural decisions unsupported by law.

Less than a week later, the Park Service quietly announced major changes to the project. The revised version focused on about a third of its original area. A little under 500 acres would still be targeted for mechanical treatment, the category that includes salvage logging with heavy machinery. About 400 acres were slated for possible aerial treatment — helicopter logging — all of them in the Elk Mountain area north of Asheville. A couple of zones were taken off the map entirely, including a section near Rattlesnake Lodge, an area environmentalists considered particularly vulnerable. The remainder, nearly 2,000 acres, was pushed down the road, with officials saying that they might be tackled by hand crews with light mechanical equipment but that they’d require additional research.

PROJECT SIDESTEPS PUBLIC

AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS

This development further confuses what has already been a chief frustration for the project’s critics. With most federal projects, the Endangered Species Act requires agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine how they could affect endangered species. That process typically takes 90 days and could result in recommendations for changes to the project to avoid harm. The Parkway’s land is home to several listed species, including several bats, the Carolina northern flying squirrel and the spruce-fir moss spider as well as the eastern hellbender salamander, which has been proposed for protections.

But the Park Service appears not to have undertaken such a consultation. Instead, according to the SELC, it is poised to skip that process by citing a rule that allows for alternate procedures in the case of emergen-

A

It’s unclear whether the change was a direct response to environmental concerns, though Scheidt said the agency notified some of the signatories directly. (The Park Service did not issue a press release about the changes to the project.) While the changed scope might pose less immediate harm, Scheidt said, most of the concerns remained, especially given that much of the project was simply delayed rather than canceled.

“It seems like the agency is also retaining the discretion to do more logging in the future,” he said. “It’s hard to say how big this will actually end up being. It seems like just the opening logging salvo.”

The project update has created a series of shifting timelines. Only the remaining mechanical treatments may start on the original schedule, likely sometime in September, according to the Park Service. To avoid disturbing bat and bird populations, helicopter logging won’t begin until at least November. Everything else is delayed indefinitely.

to removing debris,” though she gave a corresponding number, H3, that doesn’t appear in the Department of the Interior’s list of exclusions usable by the Park Service.

According to the SELC, the agency has cited an exclusion borrowed from the U.S. Forest Service that allows for debris removal in the wake of a disturbance. But the SELC, citing documents from the rulemaking process, has argued that the exclusion was never meant to facilitate salvage logging.

Together, these decisions have kept substantial parts of the project out of the public eye. Several people interviewed for this story noted that they echo the actions of the U.S. Forest Service, which has used similar tactics to obscure the details of logging projects, including recent examples in North Carolina’s national forests.

But the Park Service is not the Forest Service. The two have fundamentally different mandates, the former focused on preservation, the latter on using lands in a variety of ways, including by extracting timber for economic gain. Char Miller, a public lands historian who teaches at Pomona College in California, called it “a remarkable moment in which the conflation between the Forest Service and the Park Service’s behavior seems evident.”

The emphasis on emergency, with the implication that devastating fires are immi-

“This was an unprecedented event that we are all still figuring out how best to respond to — and will be dealing with for at least 10 years.”

— Andy Tait, senior forestry director for Ecoforesters

cies. Environmentalists have responded: What emergency? Though the agency has made it clear that this is a post-Helene project, by the time it begins, it will have been nearly two years since the storm. Trump last year declared the nation’s timber production an emergency and loosened regulations to allow for more, but that order didn’t affectthe Park Service.

“We have had time for seven 90-day consultation periods since the storm,” the SELC letter noted. “Our region’s imperiled species should not pay the price for the Park Service’s failure to use that time productively.”

Similarly, the National Environmental Policy Act requires agencies to prepare and release documents that tell the public how their actions will affect the environment. But the law allows for several exceptions, called categorical exclusions. Swartout told a Watchdog reporter at the May open house that the agency was skipping this disclosure process via a categorical exclusion “related

nent, “strikes me as a rhetorical move that can have damaging impact on the land itself and, frankly, on the reputation of the Park Service,” Miller said. “If it’s simply going to do what other land management agencies like the Forest Service have done — ‘we need to suppress all fire everywhere at all times’ — then it’s just undercut its own mission.”

A ‘MEAT CLEAVER’ VERSUS A SCALPEL

The Parkway has reported that Hurricane Helene “impacted” more than 12,000 acres of canopy along its 469 miles. As the Park Service has sought to fully reopen the road, a goal it says it will reach this year, it has already removed some immense debris loads, including 350,000 cubic feet — about four Olympic-size swimming pools’ worth — in the first six weeks of repairs.

The Helene blowdown along the Parkway takes several forms: downed logs, now halfhidden among verdant undergrowth; bare snags jutting starkly through the canopy;

neatly stacked piles lining trails restored by volunteer crews. It remains clear that the storm suddenly and drastically altered the landscape.

Where the Park Service, the project’s critics and outside scientists diverge, sometimes wildly, is on the question of whether the altered landscape is significantly more dangerous.

“This was an unprecedented event that we are all still figuring out how best to respond to — and will be dealing with for at least 10 years,” Andy Tait, the senior forestry director for the Asheville-based forestry and conservation organization Ecoforesters, said in an email.

Ecoforesters has not stated an opinion on the merits of the Parkway project, and Tait emphasized that he could speak only to post-Helene fire risk and management more broadly. There is good reason to remove fuels that “put human values at risk,” he said. That could mean clearing areas immediately around homes or communities, or reopening forest roads that provide access for wildland firefighters and serve as firebreaks.

But there are also tradeoffs, he said, especially for removing large logs. The least-impactful options, such as helicopter logging, are also the most expensive; using heavy machinery to move them out by ground is cheapest and most disturbing. And in many places, down wood is a good thing; the young forests and meadows created by Helene have been a boon for some species — ruffled grouse, goldenwinged warblers and other foraging mammals — that had been flagging.

using a meat cleaver for a job that needs a scalpel.

“It should be much more surgical than it currently is,” said Harlan, who advocated for the Park Service to focus on the 100 feet around the Parkway itself, which would turn the road into an effective firebreak. “That does the most good in terms of wildfire risk reduction.”

The Ramble, Biltmore Forest and the neighborhoods off of Town Mountain Road. They also included Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, an apartment complex, and part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ local medical center.

About 50 of those properties appeared to have structures within 100 feet of Parkway land.

from private land. The town was grateful for the Park Service tackling blowdown in areas it can’t reach, he said, and in meetings with Parkway officials, he emphasized the need to focus on places closest to private property and minimize the impact of heavy machinery.

THE POLITICIZATION OF FIRE

Conservationists and the SELC have argued that the project’s scope and methods may make matters worse. Fire ecologists have found that, rather than reducing the risk of fastmoving wildfires, the large-scale removal of downed trees degrades the environment and makes it more vulnerable to conflagrations. Trees, dead or alive, hold water, which gives forests natural protections. When they’re removed, those defenses are gone, and smaller debris that burns more readily is typically left behind.

“It’s not just that this project is ecologically destructive and ineffective at protecting adjacent communities — it’s actually counterproductive, actively counterproductive,” said Hanson, the John Muir Project ecologist, who has spent his career studying the subject. “The answer is to focus on the communities themselves, on the homes themselves, on any human structure that’s immediately adjacent to the forest.”

“The big issue will be balancing the need to protect human values [structures and even trails] while maintaining ecological integrity and leaving some, even disturbed, areas ‘natural,’” Tait wrote.

Fire experts have, in recent years, advocated for a set of best practices for protecting homes from wildfire, focusing on continuing to remove hazards and minimizing fire in the 100 feet around a home. (For homes on slopes, that zone can extend to 200 feet.) The design of the Parkway, which snakes through residential neighborhoods and wilder places alike, means that some private properties are nestled tightly against its boundaries. Several critics of the project agreed that some amount of fuelreduction close to homes is appropriate.

But the Park Service has given little indication of its standards for making these decisions. One poster featured at the open houses suggested that it was relying on a 100meter (328 feet) buffer around homes, far larger than the industry standard. And some parts of the initial project area bordered no structures at all. This has given environmentalists the impression that the Park Service is

A Watchdog analysis, combining publicly available property records with the Park Service’s work maps, found about 150 properties with structures that appeared to be within 100 meters of the Parkway boundary near project areas in Buncombe County. Many of them were homes in some of the county’s wealthiest communities, including

Biltmore Forest town manager Jonathan Kanipe said the town has already assuaged most of its post-Helene fire worries: It lost an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 trees and removed more than 400 cubic yards of debris from its three square miles. It recently passed an ordinance aimed at encouraging property owners to remove remaining debris

To Hanson, who has written extensively about the politicization of fire, the Parkway project marks an evolution in what he calls the catastrophic wildfire narrative. In the early 1990s, he said, after efforts to save imperiled species stymied logging on public lands, the U.S. Forest Service changed its tune: It stopped talking about timber production and started speaking of forest health and wildfire protection. But those projects, he said, have historically been used to open the door to more logging. Now, he said, that posture has been adopted by other federal agencies, including the Park Service. He described a politics of fear in which purported fire risks allow agencies to pursue extractive projects regardless of their environmental detriment. Much of that discourse has focused on the western United States, where the deadliest and most destructive of recent fires have taken place. Now, he said, the narrative has made its way east.

“Unless people get wise to it and start actively pushing back, we will lose national parks and wilderness areas and national monuments in every real way except their names,” Hanson said. “That’s what’s at stake.”

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County.

Needmore concerns continue, litigation proposed

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Several individuals approaching the podium at last week’s Swain County Commission meeting addressed the Duke Energy planned transmission line route and Almond substation along Needmore Road, which, as the most invasive choice, will affect the properties of between 40-45 families.

Impacted residents have largely felt blindsided by the project. Many recount no notice of a September 2025 Duke Energy meeting informing the community of its intentions. Commissioners were similarly briefed in June 2025, but in the weeks and months following, communication was absent from either side.

Needmore Neighbors coorganizer Rena Coleman raised concerns to commissioners. From YouTube

A clause called abandonment was referenced in connection to the idea that if an easement is not constructed within 20 years of its procurement, the utility company is subject to re-approval. But easements do not expire in North Carolina unless such a clause was specified within the right-of-way document.

County commissioners were then urged to enact a moratorium, which is not unprecedented in such an instance. When Duke was considering building a substation next to the Cherokee mother town of Kituwah in 2010, commissioners issued a 90-day pause on construction, and the company eventually went with another location. But that situation called for relocating a substation, not an easement, involved

Furthermore, the route itself depends on a 2001 supplemental right of way for a transmission line easement crossing the Needmore game lands buried in the register of deeds archives. According to Needmore Neighbors, the group formed to advocate for resident interests, the power company has not upheld its word to provide alternate route environmental studies or analysis.

But despite commenters’ impassioned arguments, Duke Energy’s case appeared strong because utilities providers — able to plan out projects for years without a word to affected property owners — are prioritized by the judicial system in North Carolina.

For example, the supplemental document tacked on an east-to-west transmission easement, which one resident described as “invalid” — and as the source of a formal complaint to the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

However, the document was signed by both parties. So, unless Duke Energy knowingly misled Crescent Resources as to the scope of the easement — highly improbable given its presence on maps attached to the document — it would likely be supported by the law.

That Duke Energy filed its supplemental right of way for the transmission line easement crossing the Needmore game lands in 2001 was a point of contention for several speakers.

Duke’s encroachment on sacred cultural territory and generated the opposition of three sovereign nations. High-level political support through inter-tribal coalition-building across state lines drove the ensuing moratorium.

“Just because [the chosen route] costs [Duke] less money does not mean they should have the right through eminent domain to come and take people’s property,” said Needmore Neighbors co-organizer Rena Coleman.

Most would likely agree with her, especially as Duke Energy made nearly $5 billion in profit in 2025 and CEO Harry Sideris’ total compensation came out at almost $13.6 million. But easement law isn’t about an individual, moral or ethical code of right and wrong.

According to North Carolina Litigation Attorney Ryal W. Tayloe, “Easement disputes are highly fact-dependent and are primarily governed by the language of the easement agreement and the rights and limitations that it provides.”So, attorneys encourage property owners to consult counsel by way of maximizing compensation and defining easement scope and limitations.

“The solution is going to be litigation,” said County Manager Tommy Dills before meeting adjournment. Though what is defined as a solution — what litigation could achieve — remains the ultimate question.

Jackson commissioners vote to restrict community room use

BY ALEX PERRI STAFF WRITER

Following a controversial vote at last week’s Jackson County Commissioners meeting, the two library community rooms in Jackson County are now no longer available for reservations to the public.

Commissioners voted 3-1 to adopt the new policies, which restrict community room use at Jackson County Public Library and Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library to library and county government use only. Until this vote, community members frequently rented out the rooms for meetings, weddings, memorial services, performances and more.

Chairman Mark Letson provided the only “no” vote to adopt the more restrictive policies, and several community room advocates left the meeting shaking their heads at the decision.

events at public libraries. Letson said he was disappointed in the loss of the public spaces to the community. “Restrictions on public space give me pause for the future,” Letson said. “Especially in the small town of Cashiers — AA, NA, quilters — the library is a place of resources for them to meet …

Sylva resident Cris Hamlet spoke during the public comment period before the meeting on the legal precedent for restricting public forums, which he argued the community rooms are. Hamlet pointed to rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution and litigated at the Supreme Court, which mandate that the government may only regulate free-speech activities on public property if restrictions are both “content neutral” and “reasonable.” Hamlet argued that these new policies are not reasonable.

“It would be truly sad if Jackson County residents have to take their own county government to court to secure access to their library community room,” Hamlet said. “Regardless of political party, U.S. citizens do not roll over and accept their amendment rights being taken away from them.”

Under the new library policies, the public is still allowed to reserve conference rooms at JCPL and AC-CCL. The official wording of the new library policies states is below:

Permitted Uses:

1. Meetings (government boards and commissions, library functions)

Commissioner Todd Bryson was not present for the meeting. With strong community opposition to these new restrictive policies, some advocates say they may take legal action to restore the general public’s access to the space.

“I’ve already given some money to the legal defense for the library, and they’re probably going to sue over it,” said community member Chris Bogardus in reference to a coalition of library lovers who have organized to oppose changes at the library following the county’s exit from the Fontana Regional Library system. “I do not like the changes they’ve done in the last two years one little bit.”

In previous drafts of the updated room usage policies at both of Jackson County’s libraries, there were no restrictions as to who could rent the AC-CCL community room. It was only the public’s usage of the community room at JCPL that was on the chopping block. However, last Tuesday, commissioners took their restrictive agenda a step further, taking the stance that JCPS and AC-CCL ought to have the same policy. This decision now leaves several groups that regularly booked the AC-CCL library, like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, in limbo.

Absent from Tuesday’s community room vote was any public discussion about the new policies. As previously reported, Jackson County officials have been curiously tight-lipped about the move to restrict community room usage, though some say the move is a part of a larger conservative movement to restrict LGBTQ+ materials and

There is not another place.”

Jenny Lynn Hooper was the only other commissioner at last week’s meeting who agreed to provide comment and said, “It’s what’s right for the county, and that’s what the taxpayers want.” When asked why she thought the taxpayers want a more restrictive community room policy, Hooper said, “I don’t really know.”

2. Educational Training and Artistic Activities (recitals, art shows, lectures, training courses and clinics, etc.)

3. Other similar and appropriate uses approved by the County Manager Eligible Entities and Organizations (in priority of use):

1. Jackson County Library

2. Jackson County governmental agencies, departments, boards, commissions, etc.

Jackson school bond referendum public hearing date set

BY ALEX PERRI STAFF WRITER

Jackson County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a public hearing on a $105 million school bond referendum.

The public hearing will take place at the Sept. 1 commission meeting and is a step toward adding the referendum to the ballot at the Nov. 3 election. Following the public hearing, commissioners will vote whether to authorize the referendum.

County Manager Kevin King said the county has already begun the application process required by the North Carolina Local Government Commission to add the bond referendum to the ballot. Though commissioners can vote against authorizing the bond referendum at the Sept. 1 meeting, it will likely go through, given the application process costs the county money.

As previously reported, the $105 million bond referendum will cover the costs of several school facility projects.

The hearing was originally scheduled to take place at the Aug. 4 commissioners meeting, but it has since been pushed back to Sept. 1.

Jackson County Public Schools

Superintendent Dana Ayers, along with several members of the school board, attended last week’s meeting. In a later interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Ayers said she was proud to see that county commissioners were willing to allocate funds to address large capital projects across the county’s school district.

“We are certainly in support of this and know that it’s not a matter to be taken lightly,” Ayers said. “But we are also thinking long term that if we don’t get these projects completed, the construction costs will continue to rise. They’re never going to be cheaper than they are right now.”

The $105 million will be allocated to the following schools for the following projects:

Smoky Mountain High School will receive $8,344,143. JCPS has already allocated $2,618,044 to the school, making the total budget $10,962,187 for the following projects:

• Runing track and field events$2,517,355

• Track restroom building - $735,832

“What

• New gymnasium - $14,126,000

• Outdoor sports facilities - $501,000

• Two-story classroom wing - $6,360,000

• New kitchen and cafeteria (including Demolition) - $5,626,000

• Owner soft costs, 15% -

$5,066,000

JCPS has not allocated any county funds to replace their current bus depot, so the total cost to complete the project, $5,803,000, will come from the school bond if it is passed.

• New building$3,046,000

• Demolition and site development: $2,000,000

• Owner soft costs, 15%$757,000

Voters will have the chance to approve a $105 million bond part of which will go toward a new middle school.

Ridge School have been cooking in an inadequate kitchen located in a hallway. Ayers is concerned about all these issues and more if the bond doesn’t go through and said she would be pleading with commissioners to get

I’m going to have to put a roof on that building like yesterday. It needs a roof right now,” Ayers said.

Though adding the bond referendum to the November ballot is not a done deal

The proposed Smoky Mountain Middle School would receive $48,633,872. JCPS has already allocated $60 million, $52 million of which comes from a state grant, making the total budget $108,633,872.

Architects are still working on the site plans for the proposed middle school, and JCPS has not yet put out a request for proposal on the project. As of now, Ayers says the middle school numbers are a shot in the dark, as there have been over 30 iterations of the project plan in an attempt to find the best possible location for the school’s construction in the logistically challenging mountainous landscape.

Should voters approve the bond referendum, they would see a $48.60 increase in property taxes per $100,000 of property. For example, a property valued at $400,000 taxes would increase by $194.40.

we’re getting out of it is educating our community in facilities that are appropriate and much needed.”

— Dana Ayers

Though she understands the weight of this decision, if it is put before taxpayers, Ayers believes at the increase would be a significant investment in the future of the county. “You’re going to get some folks who do not have children in school, who are going to say, ‘Oh my property tax rate is going to increase 4.86%’ What am I getting out of that?” Ayers said. “What we’re getting out of it is educating our community in facilities that are appropriate and much needed.”

creative in paying for these immediate needs.

The county has not already allocated any funding for a new bus garage, and as of now, the only plan to secure that funding is through the bond.

“If we cannot build a new bus garage,

• ADA renovations at stadium - $500,000

• Replacement field house - $5,779,000

• Owner soft costs, 15% - $1,430,000

Blue Ridge School will receive $23,835,000. JCPS has already allocated $15 million making the total budget $38,835,000 for the following projects:

• Site development - $7,156,000

According to Ayers, many of these projects have been delayed too long. Without a new bus depot, county staff have to work on school busses outside, exposed to the elements. The roof of the district administration building is leaking, and Ayers said one of the leaks is dangerously close to the server room. Should the leak cause an outage, the whole district would be affected. Staff at Blue

yet, commissioners seemed ready to put it before the voters.

“I want to see the middle school; I want to see all the projects done in every community to get what they deserve,” she said.

Haywood School Board fills budget gap left by county commission

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

The Haywood County School Board on July 21 addressed two important items during a meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes.

Members were gridlocked after voting 44 on the proposal to devote $725,000 from the Haywood County Schools general fund to the HCS 2026-2027 budget, an unusual situation for a board that typically votes unanimously for or against items. Chairman Chuck Francis, the tiebreaker, decided in favor of balance withdrawal.

Republican Haywood County Commissioner David Burnette made an impassioned plea for the measure.

Before the vote, Burnette thanked commissioners for awarding extra funding for HCS to give out pay raises to non-classified and certified staff.

“They work very hard and they deserve to be properly compensated,” he said. “However, the North Carolina Fiscal Control Act requires that we approve a balanced budget or that we balance the budget, so I think it’s our duty to be approving a balanced budget.”

In recent years, the school system’s full appropriations requests have been unfulfilled

by county commissioners, forcing HCS to turn to the general fund balance or else cut positions. This budget season is no different.

three 5-year terms. This guarantees HCS a decade-and-a-half of continued land usage.

“I want to give a lot of appreciation to Superintendent Putnam, Chairman Francis, and the entire school board for this. We’ve been working on this for a long time, and so this will maintain the ball fields and the FFA, which excites us in the town of Canton,” Smathers told The Smoky Mountain News.

The Southern Appalachian Conservancy has financed the town’s June 22 purchase of 78 acres — 38 acres of which consist of the Pisgah High School and Canton Middle School baseball fields, as well as Pisgah’s Farmers for America farm — previously owned by George Freeman.

“Freeman was leasing the ball fields and

He said some of the adjoining 40 acres could be used for future outdoor recreation, river cleanup and flood mitigation, though the land across the ball fields is specifically reserved for sportsman group activities.

“[The purchase is] just another chapter in a great relationship, providing recreation

Superintendent Trevor Putnam asked for $3.1 million to maintain operations without unnecessary cuts or unlivable wages. He was allocated $2.3 million; the measure to withdraw $725,000 will essentially satisfy the difference.

The next agenda item involved conservation, space usage and cost reduction. And it marked a big win for both HCS and the town of Canton.

the FFA farm to the school system,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. Through the next 15 years, the town will act in place of Freeman, leasing the same property at a $1/year annual cost to HCS for

opportunities and supporting our public schools,” Smathers said, noting that different groups’ usage of the land could promote further collaboration.

Jackson County cuts the ribbon on new event center

Jackson County officials, community leaders and supporters gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the “Charles R. Elders Event Center” at Whittier Heritage

Grounds. The first phase was the 24,000 square-foot “Charles R. Elders Event Center,” and the second phase will be the 44,000 square-foot open pavilion set for

Grounds.

Elders was a long-serving Jackson County Commissioner who worked to make Jackson County a great place to live and work and died in June 2025 at the age of 82. Many of his family, including his wife, Shirley, and son, Charles Dewayne Elders, were present to cut the ribbon.

The event center, located at 271 Clearwood Drive in Whittier, is part of the newlynamedWhittierHeritage

completion in mid-2027.

Joining the Elders family at the ceremon were Jackson County Board of Commission Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, Chamber Ambassadors, Jackson County Economic Development, Gr Smoky Mountains Railroad and community and business leaders.

Future events could include agricultur events, 4-H shows, gun and knife shows, concerts and more.

Center for Craft and Etsy partner to invest in HCC

In partnership with Etsy, the Center for Craft launched the Craft Catalyst Initiative, an ambitious new program that will invest $10 million over three years in craft hubs across the United States. The funding will unleash capacity for regional craft ecosystems that support craft artists.

In its first round, the Craft Catalyst Initiative will award $2 million to 20 nonprofit organizations in five craft hubs nationwide, with each receiving unrestricted grants of $100,000. Grounded in research previously commissioned by Etsy, “craft hubs” are defined as areas where artisans and cultural organizations intersect to cultivate strong communities through craft.

“As the Center for Craft celebrates its 30th anniversary, partnering with Etsy to recognize the value of craft organizations marks a particularly significant milestone,” said Center for Craft Executive Director Stephanie Moore. “In an increasingly AI-driven and digitized world, human connection through craft is more essential than ever. This initiative will fortify craft’s place by investing in spaces, relationships, and infrastructure that encourages artists, sustain creative careers, and strengthen communities across the country.”

HCC intends to use the funds to create a structured Professional Crafts Alumni network and online resource platform to connect graduates from over 48 years of experience. Amy Putansu, Professional Crafts fiber instructor, said, “We believe this alumni element has been missing, and that our graduates will benefit from staying connected to each other and the HCC community. We also look forward to collaborating with our Hub partners on programming we have yet to imagine.”

The Asheville/Western North Carolina hub will include Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts program, North Carolina Glass Center, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual and Toe River Arts.

Organizations were selected based on their public commitment to supporting craft in their communities, research and interviews conducted in each hub and guidance from a distinguished panel of national advisors with expertise in the field of craft. Additional hubs will receive support in future rounds.

Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center

names new director

Cowee School Art and Heritage Center’s Board of Directors welcomed Will Anderson as the next executive director, beginning July 1, 2026.

In addition to funding, leaders from recipient organizations will participate in a yearlong cohort to navigate challenges, strengthen support systems for makers and build pathways to ensure craft’s continued importance in daily and cultural life. The cohort will encourage connection and collaboration to create long-lasting effects within and across craft hubs.

For more details about this initiative, visit  craftcatalystinitiative.org; for more information about Haywood Community College or to register for fall classes, visit haywood.edu.

selected by the board of directors. It is with great pleasure that I speak for the full Board when I welcome Will as our new executive director. Will’s past experiences are a perfect fit with the mission of Cowee School, Arts and Heritage Center,” said Anne Hyder, chair of the Board.

munity,” he said. “Cowee School has a very active and supportive board of directors, and I can see how its programming is so important to the region. I feel grateful to have been chosen to lead Cowee School.”

New members were approved during a series of meetings held throughout the spring and early summer.

“Our volunteer boards are critical to the Division of Advancement and our efforts to provide the engagement and philanthropic support necessary to ensure Western Carolina University can fulfill its mission,” said Ben Pendry, WCU vice chancellor for advancement. “We look forward to working with these dedicated leaders as we continue supporting our students, university and region.”

The appointments come as WCU nears the conclusion of its historic “Fill the Western Sky” fundraising campaign, which has raised support for academic programs, student engagement initiatives and Catamount athletics.

Pepsi-Cola of Whittier donates $6,000 to support SCC students

One of the most loyal and longest-running supporters Southwestern Community College students has had over the years is Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Whittier. Recently, Pepsi Area Manager Thomas Hibbs stopped by SCC’s Jackson Campus to make a donation of $6,000 to the SCC Foundation.

The gift serves dual purposes, as $5,000 allows Pepsi to become a Diamond-level sponsor for the 12th-annual Boots, Blue Jeans and Bling Gala, which will be held on Sept. 26 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. All proceeds from that event support SCC student scholarships.

The remaining $1,000 of this donation was made to the Student Emergency Fund, which helps students experiencing an unexpected financial crisis.

To learn more about the gala or to secure your tickets or a table sponsorship, visit SouthwesternCC.edu/gala.

Haywood Community College hosts fundraiser for students

Anderson comes to Cowee School with more than 25 years of leadership experience serving as a senior executive in the finance, corporate management and nonprofit fields. Most recently, he served five years as the executive director for Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky. He previously worked as a CEO in Alaska, where he led many economic development projects while also prioritizing the social and cultural health of the regions he served. He brings a unique blend of business skills combined with a background in the arts and a passion for strengthening and preserving cultural heritage.

ny ers, d reat y ral

“An extensive search for this position was conducted over several months led by a committee

Anderson earned bachelor’s degrees from Seattle Pacific University, where he studied both music and psychology, and Western Washington University, where he majored in accounting. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Western Washington University, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon. Anderson previously served as a trustee or board member of numerous nonprofit organizations including Alaska Pacific University, the University of Alaska Foundation, the Koniag Education Foundation, the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska Federation of Natives and the Beloit Art Center. Born in Kodiak, Alaska, Anderson is Alaska Native of Sugpiaq descent.

“I am extremely excited to work for an organization that is part of such a rich and vibrant com-

New members join WCU volunteer boards

Several members of the Western Carolina University community have been appointed to the university’s three primary volunteer boards supporting philanthropy, alumni engagement and athletics.

The WCU Foundation Board of Directors welcomed Beverly Barr, Michael Blackmon, Melanie Clark and Matt Martin. The Alumni Association Board of Directors appointed Carrie Carpenter, Kaileigh Naylor, Aaron Speyer and Dawson Spencer. The Catamount Club Board of Directors added Alex Crenshaw, Matt Magnus, Kirk Roach, Todd Roper and Ali Schreiber.

Get ready to shop for a cause at Soles Helping Souls, a one-of-a-kind fundraising event hosted by the Haywood Community College Foundation on Thursday, Aug. 6. This exciting evening combines fashion, fun and philanthropy to support the HCC Foundation Lavender Fund.

The event will feature over 300 pairs of ladies’ brand-name shoes in the box, such as Fly London, Taos, Born and more. These shoes are offered at a discount, with proceeds benefiting HCC students. This shopping experience is elevated, with local vendors offering handcrafted jewelry, artisan soaps, bath bombs and other boutique treasures. There will also be heavy appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets are only $10 for general admission and $20 for VIP access, which grants early entry at 5:30 p.m. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Hemlock Building on HCC’s campus. To purchase tickets, visit givebutter.com/soles-helping-souls2.

Standing up for the First Amendment

If you want to know what Senate candidate Michael Whatley talked about when he visited an event sponsored by the Haywood County GOP on Saturday, July 18, at the Waynesville Recreation Center, you won’t be able to read about it in The Smoky Mountain News. Did the Senate candidate trying to keep Thom Tillis’ seat, and who will most assuredly toe the Donald Trump line much more reliably than the independent-minded Tillis, deliver any remarks that might help him in the Nov. 3 election against former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper? Our readers — and those of the Asheville Citizen-Times — won’t know.

The Haywood GOP-sponsored get together was billed in press releases as open event. In The Smoky Mountain News online calendar where readers can input information for their own events, someone promoting it wrote this: “… an opportunity to hear directly from Whatley, learn more about his vision for North Carolina, and discuss the issues that matter most to our region ... Whether you’re looking to learn more, ask questions, or simply stop by and visit, join the event for an afternoon of conversation and fellowship.”

Sound like the description for an open meeting at a public facility.

Well, the “fellowship” didn’t last too long when ACT reporter Cory Vaillancourt (who was previously a long-time SMN reporter) tried to attend. Organizers, in particular Haywood GOP Party Chair Kim Genova, denied Vaillancourt

Gunshots in county a serious problem

To the Editor:

I’m writing this letter to address the issue of Haywood County residents being allowed to discharge their firearms at will with absolutely no regard for their neighbors close by.

I am a lifelong gun owner and pro gun rights, except for the AK-47 rifle and similar weapons frequently used in mass shootings. I was raised in a hunting family and did so myself to put food in the freezer. I have lived in Haywood and now Jackson County for over 20 years.

But here in our very populated community of Balsam, I have never experienced the level and sheer volume of firearms going off in such close proximity to my home. And I am not the only one that suffers from this extreme disruption of the peace, as many of my neighbors do as well and are like me — senior, retired and pet owners. Most of us have to walk our dogs around here, and it’s becoming increasingly risky to do so, much less trying to enjoy sitting on the deck and visit in the afternoon.

One neighbor right behind me shoots some weapon that literally sounds like a cannon going off. This past rainy Saturday when it finally stopped, I badly needed to take my little guy out for a break so he could do his business and as soon as we stepped outside all hell broke loose just below me on Chad Crawford Road. At first I thought it was kids with firecrackers, but then it ramped up into a

access. Even after Waynesville Town Attorney Martha Bradley told Genova via telephone that the meeting was public since it was in a public facility, she denied Cory access.

SMN News Editor Kyle Perrotti was with Vaillancourt as they tried to enter. The local GOP officials said that Kyle was not barred from entering, but he decided that he didn’t want to be there if the event had become one where only selected media were invited (kind of like what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been trying to do at the Pentagon, though some of those restrictions have been overturned).

As for media access to this particular event, luckily Blue Ridge Public Radio did get a reporter in. That story can be read at that news organization’s website. It’s likely they did not know about the kerfuffle with other reporters, or that entity might have made the same decision as Perrotti.

The fact that Cory was denied entrance — and you can find plenty of comments on social media about this if that’s your thing — at this particular meeting is not as important as the ongoing deteriorating relationship between some politicians and the media, and the continuing attacks on our First Amendment freedoms. It seems reporting the truth can get

LETTERS

rapid fire rifle and was extremely loud! My poor dog was again instantly traumatized and the shooting went on for approximately one hour.

I recorded some of this episode and even called the sheriff’s department to complain about the noise, and the call-taker could hear it too. Of course nothing happened, and I didn’t expect a deputy to rapidly appear, as I was once a 911 dispatcher. But I did finally have to put my dog in the car and drive him away from home so he could get relief. It takes hours for him to calm down.

My argument is that there is no reason for this to be allowed in a residential neighborhood, county or not. It’s also dangerous, as we have nothing but trees and rocks everywhere. Also,t o the guilty neighbors who are responsible for this almost daily ordeal — show some consideration and respect for your neighbors. It’s just rude and poor judgment. There’s more to being a responsible gun owner than just knowing how to fire it! Go somewhere far away or to a gun range! It would extremely well-appreciated by your neighbors and all the nervous pets.

Mylan Sessions Balsam

Silence is not an option

To the Editor:

I’m a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW (Department of NH), a former 1st Vice and Post Commander in those organizations, respectively. I’ve also been a

you barred from covering some politicians, and Whatley is clearly ensconced among those who believe these kinds of actions are just fine.

Whatley has also barred reporters from the Assembly and N.C. Newsline from some of his events. This despite the fact that all polls say he’s losing pretty badly in this race. Vaillancourt wrote extensively about Whatley’s failings as Trump’s Helene recovery czar while here at SMN and has kept it up at the ACT.

“[Whatley] sees a political advantage for going after some in the press that he considers to be not supportive of his candidacy,” David McLennan, a professor of political science at Meredith College, told NC Newsline. “Whatley is a political animal, been the chair of the state and national GOP, and so he’s well-versed in attacking the media, making them the story as opposed to himself.”

McLennan went on, “He needs to make himself known, because all the public opinion surveys I’ve seen say most North Carolinians don’t know much about him. You’d think, well, is my strategy to become better known to make myself more available, or less available?”

I was pretty proud of Kyle’s decision to not attend and not cover Whatley’s event. Letting politicians choose what reporters are allowed entry into an event smacks of authoritarianism, even at a backwater GOP rally in little old Waynesville. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

member of the DAV, AmVets, TREA and NCVA for decades.

I’m retired enlisted (Navy), 20 years active, 10 years Fleet Reserve, subject to recall, serving under eight presidents (Eisenhower to George H.W. Bush), all Army or Naval officers, none of whom would have considered, much less attempted, an insurrection to overturn an election to retain power.

I feel betrayed by the veteran community which, by their collective silence, condones the caustic words and reckless, inhumane, and (often) illegal actions of the commanderin-chief. I argue we shouldn’t accept the immorality, corruption, criminality and cruelty of this president or his administration.

Alan Dowd, director of the Sagamore Institute Center for America’s Purpose, in the July 2026 American Legion Magazine, quoted President Trump: In the winter of 2021, there was a “heinous attack on the U.S. Capitol” marked by “violence, lawlessness and mayhem” that “defiled the seat of American democracy.”

Dowd failed to reveal what we all know to be true — it was President Trump himself who (with clear intent and purpose) unleashed that armed mob of thousands on the capitol, attempting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This ill-conceived plot to overturn the election resulted in the death or maiming of numerous defenders of our capitol.

Instead of centering the blame for this and the discord, division, distrust, and chaos where it clearly belongs (on this president and his administration), Dowd focuses our attention on “biased bloggers, TV pundits and social media posts.” I’m appalled by the veter-

an community’s failure to discredit this fabrication for the fiction it obviously is.

Donald Trump spent the entire Biden administration claiming the 2020 election was “stolen” from him, that everything other than FOX was “fake news,” and referring to his myriad of critics as “deranged, demented, whacko, low IQ, crazy,” even “treasonous.”

When he was unbelievably reelected in 2024, the first thing he did was pardon the J6 insurrectionists, many of whom pleaded guilty to the various crimes they obviously committed. With frequent and brazen antidemocratic methods and procedures, Trump continues to erase checks and balances, wrecks law and order and decimates leadership ranks within the military. The veteran community remains deafeningly silent.

Trump has strengthened our adversaries while gravely weakening (if not destroying) our alliances with NATO and allies around the globe. Consider too the far-reaching consequences and destabilizing effects Trump’s policies have on the global economy.

No one describes this president better than U.S Navy Admiral and Seal William McRaven. “He has embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage, and divided us as a nation,” McRaven said.

The American Legion, the VFW (all veteran organizations) should join Air Force Major Jason Watson on the capitol steps and demand Trump’s impeachment, his conviction for all the crimes he has committed and his removal from office.

The road to Iran runs through Israel

To the Editor:

Steven Berner’s letter (SMN, July 15, 2026) was spot on in reminding us of the toxic impacts of our country’s uncritical support for Israel, and returning our focus to the ongoing U.S.-sponsored mass devastation of Gaza and its people.

During Israel’s two-year, all-out assault on Gaza, a credible 20,000 children were killed. Twenty thousand. That’s the equivalent of an entire classroom of kids (think: Sandy Hook or Uvalde) killed every single day for two solid years — you do the math. That’s not “self-defense,” those are war crimes. And, yes, your tax dollars provided an estimated 60% of the weapons and munitions used to wreak that unholy carnage. It’s a hard truth, but that’s exactly what our country was actively enabling, under both Biden and Trump, even after the horrors unfolding there became clear. That’s where blindly following Israel took us.

What will it take for Americans to realize that our country’s decades-long “special relationship” with the Israeli state has never reflected or advanced our higher values, and indeed has severely eroded the moral sensibilities of both peoples, Americans and Israelis alike?

In Gaza, over 73,000 died from direct military action, and thousands more from intentional starvation, disease or lack of medical attention. Medics, aid workers and journalists were all regularly targeted. The vast majority of Gaza’s homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, civil infrastructure and agriculture were all destroyed or damaged, with untold thousands of victims still lying beneath the mountains of rubble. So disproportionate, indiscriminate and cruel was Israel’s response to October 7 that the top international courts (which the U.S. and Israel both boycott) have found it a “plausible genocide.” That’s where following Israel has taken us.

And Israel’s assault on Gaza still grinds on. Since October’s so-called “cease-fire,” another 1,100 Palestinians have died, while Israel actively blocks rebuilding efforts and intentionally keeps critical aid to a trickle. Meanwhile, Trump’s self-declared (and Orwellian-sounding) “Board of Peace” stands poised to turn Gaza into an investors’ Riviera, placing the Palestinian population — stateless and repeatedly uprooted over the past 78 years — in greater danger than ever of being permanently expelled.

Make no mistake, the road to Iran passed directly through Gaza, reminding Israel yet again that they hold a free pass to commit the most egregious atrocities, and for one simple reason: America, in the end, always has their back.

About the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, let’s remember that such unprovoked warsof-choice are unequivocally illegal under

international law — it’s the crime of “aggression,” the very thing Putin is guilty of in Ukraine. Secondly, neither Israel nor the USA would ever have launched this war alone. Smashing Iran was always Netanyahu’s agenda — a 40-year obsession — and Trump was groomed for this already in 2018, when Bibi persuaded him to trash the Obama-era multilateral agreement with Iran in the first place. Sadly, our commander-in-chief is so frightfully vain and easily manipulated that little selling was required, then or now, for his buy-in.

Amid the present tit-for-tat stalemate, let’s remember also that it all began with our assassination of dozens of Iran’s top leadership, the unleashing of death and destruction across the entire region and ongoing economic and political chaos worldwide. This is the behavior of global bullies, not respectable states — but this is where following Israel has taken us.

Understand that America’s slavish devotion to this sovereign, foreign state goes back over 50 years, played out via our airtight diplomatic protection of Israel on the world stage and obscene amounts of military aid — now some $10 million every day! For all this, the USA exerts almost no influence over Israeli policies and actions. Indeed, it’s hard to see what the U.S. has ever gotten from this supposed strategic alliance, except a perpetually destabilized Middle East and the mistrust, disdain or outright hatred of much of the Arab and Muslim world.

When critically examined, the arc of modern Israel’s history points to a certain unsettling truth, one that questions whether that state deserves our support at all — or ever did. The truth is this: from the very beginning until now, the Zionist colonial enterprise in Palestine has never dealt in good faith with the indigenous Arab Palestinian population who live among them. Never. Is it possible that all the while we should have been pushing for basic human rights for the Palestinian people — but instead aligned ourselves steadfastly with their oppressor? It’s a thought question.

For far too long Israel has received the mindless, cult-like adulation of our elected political leadership, but has this actually been in our nation’s best interest or aligned with our higher values? I believe a corrective is long overdue, beginning with a complete and permanent end to America’s offensive military aid to Israel — a first step toward rejoining the community of respectable, peace-loving nations whose actions are grounded in justice, international law and human rights. Yes, it’s time for America to move on, to declare our independence from the state of Israel.

FEEA ATURED LISTING GS

l living, and a covered front porch whe

MLS#

breathtaking mountain views year-round A private fenced backyard with family and friends, letting pets roam, or simply enjoying the fr y assic cedar siding, ere you can soak in is ideal for relaxing resh mountain air this inviting home

Heart it races

AVL Sounds Fest to debut in WNC

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

After two years of silence, a major music festival will return to Asheville. Rising from the melodic ashes of the former AVLfest, which initially went on hiatus due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the inaugural AVL Sounds Fest will soon make its maiden journey across the sonic landscape Aug. 6-9.

“As someone who was originally drawn to Western North Carolina for its vibrant music scene, this festival is a meaningful opportunity to give back to the inspiring community that welcomed me more than 25 years ago,” said Jeff Whitworth, co-founder of AVL Sounds Fest.

Presented by Worthwhile Sounds and Wicked Weed Brewing, this latest chapter for a large-scale gathering in our backyard follows closely in the footsteps of AVLfest (and also the greatly beloved Bele Chere), with AVL Sounds Fest showcasing 240 acts at 17 venues around the city. The joyous vibes and independent folks involved in producing the event are part of the intricate musical ecosystem right here in WNC, and with countless local artists to be represented onstage throughout the weekend extravaganza.

Want to go?

With 240 musical artists on the lineup, the inaugural AVL Sounds Fest will take place Aug. 6-9 across 17 venues around Asheville.

Beyond a bevy of marquee headliners and national touring outfits (listed in this article), there will be numerous local favorites getting behind the microphone, including Abby Bryant, Holler Choir, Ashley Heath & Her Heathens, Pink Beds, Fancy & The Gentlemen, Pleasure Chest, The 40-20-10s, Dylan Walshe, The Get Right Band, Melissa McKinney, The Dirty French Broads, Red Clay Revival, Isaac Hadden, Hannah Kamier & The Wistfuls, Lyrics, Josh Blake’s Acoustic Band, Songs From The Road Band and many more.

Tickets are $161.50 per person for a weekend pass (taxes included). A portion of festival proceeds will benefit WNC Long Haul: Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of WNC supporting recovery for those impacted or displaced by Hurricane Helene.

For more information, a full schedule of artists and/or to purchase tickets, visit avlsoundsfest.com.

such abundance.”

“This lineup reflects everything we love about this festival — there’s something here for everyone,” Whitworth said. Headliners will include Dr. Dog, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Freedia and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Also to appear will be Grace Bowers, Improvement Movement, Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, River Whyless, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, JD Pinkus & Tall Tall Trees, Toubab Krewe, Floating Action, Jon Stickley Trio, Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, Magnolia Boulevard, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters and countless local/regional acts. To note, this will be the only performance this year for indie-rock juggernaut Dr. Dog, whose frontman Scott McMicken resides in Asheville.

“Having lived in Asheville for the last five years, I’m just constantly blown away by the depth of brilliance and diversity of the music scene. It’s changed me for the better,” McMicken said.

“[And] AVL Sounds Fest puts that reality on full display with

In terms of venues involved, AVL Sounds Fest will run the entire gamut of Asheville’s legendary music scene, from massive spaces (Hellbender, Asheville Yards, Highland Brewing) to iconic spots (The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Asheville Music Hall, French Broad River Brewery, Barley’s) to intimate stages (Eulogy, Fleetwood’s, Third Room, The Mule, Palm Room) and beyond.

“In addition to showcasing the world-class musicians who call our city home, AVL Sounds Fest will remain focused on capturing the national spotlight for our unparalleled collection of venues,” Whitworth said.

A portion of festival proceeds will benefit WNC Long Haul: Recovery and Resilience Fund, a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation of WNC supporting culture/arts, local business and long-term recovery for individuals impacted or displaced by Hurricane Helene.

“Long Haul was something founded in the immediate after-

math of Helene, built specifically around the idea that disaster recovery doesn’t happen quickly,” said Rachel Dudasik, founder of WNC Long Haul. “Because the truth is, ‘long haul’ is exactly what this has been and will continue to be. We work directly with the people and organizations on the ground still rebuilding, and oftentimes that means looking toward resiliency planning.”

A native of Marshall (Madison County), a small mountain community that was completely devastated by Helene, Dudasik knew what she had to do to help not only those in her hometown, but around the region, too, where the work to raise funds and help her neighbors remains steadfast and constant. To date, WNC Long Haul has raised nearly $600,000, with over $475,000 in grants given out to individuals and organizations around our area.

“Full recovery from something like Helene isn’t a light switch; it’s a decade-long process, and the needs absolutely still remain. That’s part of what makes bringing this festival back mean so much to me personally,” Dudasik said. “Music was one of the first things people reached for in the immediate aftermath, not because it fixes anything, but because it reminds you that you’re still connected to other people — that the community you love is still standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you.”

Beyond her work for WNC Long Haul, Dudasik is also the festival director of AVL Sounds Fest, a position that resides at the heart of what she absolutely loves and cherishes about calling WNC home.

“Honestly? Live music is the closest thing I have to a religious experience. I grew up around musicians. My parents played on porches and living rooms, filled with songs long before I understood what any of it meant,” She said. “Now, getting to stand in the middle of it as the person who helped build the hive, rather than just a kid watching from the stairs, is a different kind of overwhelming. Being one of the people behind organizing that chaos, especially in this city, at this moment in our timeline, it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.”

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘I remember the good old days, stayed up all night gettin’ crazed’

Hello from Room 214 at the Apres Hotel in Whitefish, Montana. I’m typing this while waiting for my laundry to finish down the hall, with reruns of “Friends” on the TV. In the next hour, I’ll be back on the road, heading north and over the border on a return trip to British Columbia, Canada.

nessing marquee acts like The Red Clay Strays, 49 Winchester, Shane Smith & The Saints, Hogslop String Band, etc., tear apart the stage with such bravado and staggering talents. Packed out venues with sticky floors and low ceilings. Sweaty dripping down the face of the musicians, the room heating with gyration and euphoria. By Monday evening, everyone has already left town, except me, where the bars are once again quiet and filled with locals.

HOT PICKS

1

Classic rock megagroup Grand Funk Railroad will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center.

2

A special stage production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will be held on select dates and times through Aug. 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

3

The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Old Acquani Expo Center in Cherokee.

It’s been a whirlwind five days here in Big Sky Country for the Under the Big Sky music festival. Over 20,000 strong in the crowd, wandering the large farmfields of a 400-acre working ranch on the outskirts of Whitefish. Some of the biggest names in Americana and country music: Ryan Bingham, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Greensky Bluegrass, and so on. The BNSF freight train chugging by, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance.

But, right now, as I’ve shifted writing locations to the hotel patio, my mind is drifting to all the serene things outside of the festival itself. I think of the dear friends I’ve made here over the last four years of attending UTBS, folks in the production and marketing side of things, who hail from Denver and Los Angeles, who I really only see this one time a year, even though we all keep in touch throughout the rest of the time. I’m grateful for their friendships, these kind faces who are the epitome of the joy of travel and of human connection.

I think of those numerous late morning jogs in downtown Whitefish, to shake out the cobwebs and sweat out the previous day’s shenanigans, all before cleaning up oneself and doing it all over again. There’s a greenway path behind the hotel that connects to a web of other paths within the community. Toss on the running shoes and trot along the edge of the Whitefish River. I usually end up taking the same route. The out-and-back point is the vast railyard, where I always stop and admire the majestic century-old train station.

I think of the late nights on Central Avenue. Dives bars like The Palace, The Remington and Great Northern. I’ve been in there for midnight festival showcases, wit-

I think of every single one of those heartto-heart conversations that have taken place around this town. That one about family traditions and holidays long gone with my LA friend as we walked slowly back to the hotel from a late-night showcase. That one about finding love and chasing long-held dreams with my Denver friend as we walked slowly around the festival grounds. That one about pondering what may just lie around the corner of our respective lives with my friend from England as we walked slowly down a trail deep in the woods overlooking Whitefish. I think of what it means to live and breathe (physically, emotionally, intrinsically) in this existence I’ve created for myself. This summer marks my 20th year as a journalist. I’ve known this is what I’ve wanted to do with my life since I was in middle school (age 41 now). I’ve never taken a single day in this profession for granted. It has, truly, been a vehicle (literally and figuratively) to do what I’ve always aimed to do: to travel endlessly, to write to my heart’s content, to have curious adventures and to make genuine connections with strangers who become fast friends (now eternal friends).

And most of all, I think of everyone back home, thousands of miles away from my current position. My parents in their 1840 brick farmhouse up on the Canadian border in New York. My friends and coworkers in the mountains around Waynesville and greater Western North Carolina. My girlfriend in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, doing her daily walk along the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from her apartment. These are the pillars of the landscape of my daily life. The gratitude remains for all mentioned. I left Haywood County in mid-June to embark on this extended road trip. It’s been such a wondrous, surreal experience, as all road trips tend to be. The unknowns of the

4

“Dillsboro Maker’s Market” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at 31 Front Street in downtown.

5

Donna Mintz will share her new book, “Stars at Noon,” in conversation with Brent Martin at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

day. The happenstance interactions with vibrant souls. The simple pleasures of jumping into a western river or having the windows rolled down in the rental car, the sounds of Neil Young, Steely Dan or Link Wray spilling out of the speakers. Young’s seminal 1974 melody “Walk On” has been on repeat as of late, one of those timeless tunes that always seems to set the right mood no matter the situation: “Some get stoned, some get strange, sooner or later, it all gets real.”

And I think of last night and how silent the streets of Whitefish were post-UTBS. All those rowdy cowboys and rockstar musicians now scattered across the country. A slight breeze wafted through downtown as I walked from the hotel in search of dinner. I ended up at Abruzzo Italian Kitchen. Single seat at the bar counter. A delicious margherita pizza, cold Peroni beer and hearty conversations with those sitting next to me. Head over to the Great Northern and run into a friend who I met at the festival last year. Jovial banter about nothing and everything (and everything in between).

Back down Central Avenue towards the hotel, but not before swinging into The Palace, an old saloon built in 1915 with such exquisite woodcarvings on the back of the gracefully aged bar counter. The Rolling Stones “Beast of Burden” swirls around the room, as does the sound of billiard balls rolling around the pool tables in the rear. Sip a frosty can of Rainier and think about the road to the here and now. I catch myself with a slight grin on my face when I see my reflection in the mirror behind the bar. Shake my head in absolute awe and in sincere appreciation for the moment at-hand (and every moment at-hand).

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

HCAC presents ‘Threads’

Celebrating the beauty, creativity and versatility of fiber art, “Threads,” the latest exhibition at the Haywood County Arts Council, will be on display through Aug. 3 at HCAC’s Haywood Handmade Gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville.

“Threads” showcases the many ways artists use fiber, thread and fabric to create meaningful works of art. From

A work by Lisa Bradley. Donated photo

traditional quilting, weaving and embroidery to contemporary pieces inspired by textiles, the exhibition highlights texture, pattern, craftsmanship and innovation. Each artwork demonstrates how simple materials can be transformed into compelling artistic expressions.

For more information, visit haywoodarts.org or call HCAC at 828.452.0593.

‘The Way We See the World’

The Museum of the Cherokee People’s annual Indigenous pop culture event “The Way We See the World” will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, in the Council Fire Ballroom at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Now in its fifth year, MOTCP’s signature summer event showcases contemporary perspectives for Cherokee people, primarily by Cherokee

• “Dillsboro Maker’s Market” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at 31 Front Street in downtown. Held most first Saturdays of the month (April-November). Free and open to the public. jcgep@jacksonnc.org.

• “Farmers & Artisans Market” will be every Friday morning (May-October) at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn along the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies/preserves, authentic crafts and more. Picnic tables onsite. There will also be live music. Leashed pets are welcome. This is an outdoor event. Free and open to the public. 828.488.7857.

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

On the stage

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at HART

A special stage production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will be held on select dates and times through Aug. 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Welcome to the glamorous French Riviera, where suave con artist Lawrence and small-time

‘Cherokee People and the American Revolution’

A first-of-its-kind exhibition centering Native voices, perspectives and creativity in response to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the exhibition “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” is currently being showcased at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee.

On view through Dec. 30, the exhibition features historic objects in conversation with works by Cherokee artists, merging cultural heritage, military history and contemporary art for a nuanced examination of a pivotal moment in Cherokee and American history.

With research beginning in 2022, the exhibition’s curators — MotCP Director of Education Dakota Brown (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), MotCP Director of Collections and Exhibitions Evan Mathis and guest curator Brandon Dillard (Cherokee Nation), director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement at Monticello — sought Cherokee accounts of the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the Cherokee American War (1776-1794), highlighting the complexities of memory and commemoration.

As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the curators of the exhibition aspire to spark conversation about American identity and sovereignty among visitors of all walks of life, sharing new research in the first exhibit about Cherokees in the American Revolution by Cherokee scholars.

General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. MotCP offers free admission to members of federally recognized tribes and museum members. Student, educator, senior and military rates available. Admission to all changing exhibitions is included in the general admission ticket price.

For more information, visit motcp.org.

people. This community-centered celebration puts native self-representation in the spotlight, uplifting creative work that explores identity through film, music and visual art. This year’s event invites audiences to be inspired and laugh out loud with two short documentaries, a short romantic comedy, a live DJ set, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and art market.

“It’s hard to believe we have been hosting this event for five years,” said Executive Director Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of

• 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 participants. 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.

• Three Rivers Gallery (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

swindler Freddy battle it out in a hilariously high-stakes game of deception. Their target?

A seemingly naïve heiress with $50,000 (and a heart) up for grabs.

Tickets are now available. For more information, call the box office at 828.456.6322 or visit harttheatre.org.

Cherokee Indians). “This has grown into a fun evening that our community looks forward to, as do we. Celebrating and sharing our Native self-representation is incredibly powerful.”

Free tickets can be reserved via Eventbrite. “The Way We See the World” events are offered at no cost thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Management Resource Associates, The Center for Native Health and Two Dots Studio. For more information, visit motcp.org.

828.488.3638 / threeriversgallery.com.

ALSO:

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

• Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center (Robbinsville) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.

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

• Dogwood Crafters (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.

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular artist gatherings and workshops. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host a special stage production of the musical “9 to 5” on select dates and times Aug. 7-16. With music/lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, the musical is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

On the table

Ready for dinner

‘Under the Stars’?

The popular “Under the Stars, On the Rocks” culinary series is currently underway at the Oak Steakhouse at the Skyline Lodge in Highlands.

The events feature renowned chefs from

around the Southeast on select dates through the fall: Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Each four-course meal in the series is unique and personal to the guest chef, offering a one-of-akind outdoor dining experience.

Dinners are $175 per person (including beverage pairings). Reservations required. For more information and/or to make reservations, call 828.526.4008 or visit skyline-lodge.com.

• 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.

• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flights” 6 p.m. Thursdays and a special semi-regular wine tasting. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have the wine bar and kitchen open from 4-8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays. There will also be special wine dinners and cheese tastings on select dates. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.

ALSO:

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturday at the Bryson City Wine

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular craft brewery tastings. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held at 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville and special semiregular wine dinners. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

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 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 “Carolina Moonshine” train on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.

On the beat

• Assembly On Main (Waynesville) will host “Trivia Night” 6 p.m. Tuesdays and “Karaoke Night” 7 p.m. Thursdays. 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.

• Bascom Center For The Visual Arts (Highlands) will host a “Community Barn Dance” from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Admission is $10 for adults, free for kids ages 12 and under. 828.526.4949 / thebascom.org.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host “Music Bingo Night” 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, The Blue Mountaineers (bluegrass) Thursdays and semi-regular live music on Fridays and Saturdays. All music starts at 5 p.m. 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 and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 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 semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.

• Bryson City Outdoors (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6444 / brysoncityoutdoors.com.

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host

Marc & Anita Pruett (Americana/bluegrass)

July 29, Alan Edwards (Americana/indie)

Aug. 5 and Hill Country Band (bluegrass)

Aug. 12. All shows begin at 5 p.m. and admission is $30 per person unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations,

“80s Flashback Weekend” July 31-Aug.1. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.

• Current Tavern (Canton) will host the “Music at the Tavern” summer series with The Borrowed Band Aug. 8. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.492.0249.

Grand Funk Railroad returns to Harrah’s

Classic rock megagroup Grand Funk Railroad will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center.

Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top-selling American rock group of the 1970s is “comin’ to your town to help

and semi-regular live music monthly. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.

• Franklin Town Square (Franklin) will host a “Community Drum Circle” from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 15 and Sept. 19. People of all ages are invited to participate. You may bring your own hand drums and rhythm instruments or use one of our percussion instruments. Bring a lawn chair. In case of rain, the event will be held under the gazebo stage tent. Free and open to the public. 828.524.ARTS / artscouncilofmacon.org.

you party it down,” with hits like “We’re an American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Locomotion” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

Tickets start at $45.25 per person. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Nitrograss (Americana/bluegrass) July 31 and Johnny Webb Band (Americana/country) Aug. 7. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Len Graham (singer-songwriter) 5:30 p.m. July 30 and Seth & Sara (Americana) July 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.

visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Brent LaCasce (jazz piano/vocals) Aug. 7 ($10 cover). All shows begin at 6 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The kitchen and wine bar will open at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Ska City July 31 (ska/rockabilly) and Whiskey Mountain Band (Americana) Aug. 7. All shows are at Bridge Park and begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and Ritchie & Rosie (Americana/folk) Sept. 20 ($15 adults, $7.50 kids). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/concert-series.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo with DJ Mox” Thursdays and

• Dancing On The Square (Robbinsville) will host Johnny Webb Band July 31 and Tim Austin (country/rock) Aug. 7 (special line dance night). All events begin at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 704.840.8525.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Shane Meade & The Sound (indie/soul) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• First United Methodist Church (Waynesville) will host the live series by the Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas at 4 p.m. on Sundays (through Aug. 2). For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.400.6465 or visit cms-carolinas.org.

• 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)

• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host The Wandering Hours Aug. 14. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Corey Stevenson July 25, Dillon & Co. July 30, Topper July 31, Young Mountain Magic Aug. 1, Corey Stevenson Aug. 5, Dillon & Company Aug. 6, Doug Ramsay Aug. 7 and 11 North Aug. 8. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 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. Aug. 1 and Gary Allan (country) 9 p.m. Aug. 7. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• High Country Wine & Provisions (Highlands) will host live music during “Friday Night Vibes” at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.4502 / highcountrywineandprovisions.com.

Alan Edwards. File photo

Cataloochee Ranch goes Americana

Americana/folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity not built on outward style, but inner substance. He is joined by a backing band of some of the top players in the region, all of which with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Buck Owens & Don Rich.

Admission is $30 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• High Dive (Highlands) will host DJ Real Bill 9 p.m. Saturdays. 828.526.2200 / highlandsdive.com.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Zorki (singer-songwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, the “Salon Series” with Hayes Carll 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20 ($58.93 per person, tax included). Reservations encouraged for all performances. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Atlanta Chamber Players (classical) Aug. 1, The Borromeo String Quartet (classical) Aug. 3 and Gershon/Cohn Final Gala Concert (classical) Aug. 9. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic” on Wednesdays and semi-regular 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 / innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.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.

• Las Barricas (Franklin) will host C-Square Band 11 a.m. on the fourth Friday of each month. Free and open to the public. 828.349.4484 / lasbarricasmexicanrestaurant.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Board Game Night” 5 p.m. Mondays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Tim Akins (country/rock) July 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 Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) July 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 “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.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Tuesday and Jared “Blue” Smith (singer-songwriter) July 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Mountain Vibes Kava Lounge (Waynesville) will host “Trivia Night” 7 p.m. Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9283.

• Music By The River (Cherokee) on the Kanunohi Park Stage will feature X99 (altrock/pop) July 31 and Whiskey Mountain Band (country/blues) Aug. 1. Music runs 5-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. visitcherokeenc.com.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host “Music Bingo” (at Big Wesser) 6 p.m. July 30, Ghost Pipe Sound Machine 5 p.m. July 31, Mike Hollon (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. Aug. 1, Beer & Loathing (rock) 5 p.m. Aug. 1, Blue (Americana/blues) 2 p.m. Aug. 2, “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. Aug. 6 (at Big Wesser), Ryan Barber (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Aug. 7, Michael Corwin (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. Aug. 8, Shane Meade Duo (indie/soul) 5 p.m. Aug. 8 and Blue (Americana/blues) 2 p.m. Aug. 9. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com/events/2026-summer-music-series.

• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson “Music Nights” 4 p.m. first and third Friday of each month. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com.

SEE ON THE BEAT, PAGE 22

WHAAT T TO ADD TOYOURMEAL

This week I talked to a friend in her 30’s who told me she’s lo not in a month... not even in a few months.. it took her a year and a half. (slower weight loss is often more sustainable)

She didn’t take a medication. medications for obesity).

She didn’t change her exercise habits. (she was already very active)

She attributed this weight loss to ADDING more FIBER to he seeds & whole grains.

Sometimes it’s not about what you take away from your diet it’s what you ADD

She didn’t intentionally cut out carbs. Leah McGrath,

On the street

Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling

The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Old Acquani Expo Center in Cherokee. Learn about Cherokee traditions and lifestyle from educators, roast marshmallows with the kids and enjoy social dances by the river. The bonfire is free and open to the public. For more information, call 800.438.1601 or go to visitcherokeenc.com.

The Cherokee Bonfire is a family-friendly gathering. File photo ON THE BEAT, CONTINUED FROM 21

Waynesville’s ‘Shop, Sip, Stroll’

The monthly “Waynesville First Friday: Shop, Sip, Stroll” will take place from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, in downtown.

The downtown merchant corridor transforms into a lively celebration of local art, music and community. Stroll the streets, explore galleries, meet artists, enjoy live music and discover local shops and delicious restaurants.

Free and open to the public. For more information, visit facebook.com/waynesvillefirstfriday.

‘Waynesville First Friday will be Aug 7. File photo

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

• Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Hill Country Band (Americana/bluegrass) and Balsam Mountain Cloggers 6 p.m. Aug. 7. Free and open to the public.

• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Tuxedo Junction (Motown/oldies) Aug. 8. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.

• 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. on certain Fridays and R.A. Nightingale (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. July 31. 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, Ginny McAfee (singer-songwriter) July 31, Susie Copeland (singer-songwriter) Aug. 1, “Music Bingo” Aug. 4, Adi The Monk (singersongwriter) Aug. 7 and Michael Blakey (singer-songwriter) Aug. 8. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.

• Saturdays On Pine Concert Series (Highlands) will host Yacht Rando Aug. 1 and Blake Ellege & The Resonators (Americana/rock) Aug. 8. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.

• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” with Bridget Gossett 7 p.m. second Monday each month (6:30 p.m. sign-up), Keil Nathan Smith (rock/country) July 30, Jullielle (country/funk) July 31, Rich Manz Trio

(acoustic/oldies) Aug. 1 and “Celtic Sunday” with Holler & Crow 3 p.m. Aug. 2. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

• Skyline Lodge (Highlands) will host Whiskey Creek (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. Aug. 1. Free and open to the public. 828.526.4008 / skyline-lodge.com.

• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Rail Town (Americana) 6 p.m. July 31. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Creedence Revived (Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute) 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8. Tickets start at $26 per person, with seating upgrades offered. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host the “An Appalachian Evening” summer music series with Buncombe Turnpike (Americana/bluegrass) 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1, Appalachian Smoke (Americana/bluegrass) 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 and a “Community Jam” 6

p.m. Aug. 18 (free). 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Monday” each week with local singersongwriters including L.C. Branch Aug. 3 and Zorki Nastasic Aug. 10. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.

• Tattered Tartan Pub (Andrews) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.835.2199.

• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with local singer-songwriters including David Crisp July 30. 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” with Nitrograss 6 p.m. Wednesdays, “Karaoke” 9:30 p.m. Fridays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Sundays and semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.

Chamber music in Waynesville

Hosted by the Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas, the annual series will be held at 4 p.m. on Sundays through Aug. 2 at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

The series will continue with the following themes: “Today’s Voices” (July 26) and “Equality” (Aug. 2). Single tickets are $40 per person and $140 for a season pass. Students/youth tickets are $10.

Jasper String Quartet. File photo

“Chamber music connects to our souls. It is like a thrilling, intimate party of your closest

friends and family,” said violinist/CoArtistic director J Freivogel. “Each performer is a solo voice who contributes, listens, interrupts, supports and reacts through the performance. There is a sonic range to the instruments beyond what microphones can record. Hearing live classical music is entirely distinct from listening on headphones or radio.”

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.400.6465 or visit cms-carolinas.org.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host Shane Meade (indie/soul) 5 p.m. July 31 and Rob Masten (saxophone/percussion) 2 p.m. Aug. 9. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host “Trivia With Tom” Wednesdays, “Music Bingo” Saturdays and 28 Pages 4 p.m. Aug. 2. All shows and events begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valley-tavern.com.

• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Tim Austin (Americana) 3 p.m. July 31, Monica Spears (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Aug. 2, Rail Town (Americana) 3 p.m. Aug. 7 and Tim Austin (country/rock) 2 p.m. Aug. 9. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host “Trivia Night” 7 p.m. Mondays, “Karaoke Night” 8 p.m. Thursdays, with semi-regular DJs and live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.4750 / facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host David Crisp (singer-songwriter) Aug. 8. All shows begin at 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Kooks Of Hazard July 31, Jason Lyles (singer-songwriter) Aug. 1, Seth & Sara (Americana) Aug. 7 and Busy Aug. 8. 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 “First Friday Classic Country: Jim Austin & Friends” (Americana/country) 6 p.m. each month (Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2) and the “On the Lawn at Yonder” live music series with Alexa Rose & Josh Oliver (Americana/folk) 4 p.m. Aug. 23 (admission by donation). Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

The end of capitalism as we know it

Norwegian by birth, Roar Bjonnes has lived here in the U.S. for the majority of his life, managing a retreat center in Madison County. Author of several books, he has also written numerous articles on economic and environmental issues in magazines and newspapers. With this background it is no surprise that his recent book, “Economic Democracy: A Practical Guide to Life After Capitalism,” (Inner World Publications, 2026, 151 pages) should appear right at a time when the world is faltering and it is needed most.

This pattern of local self-reliance began to disappear in the 1980s.”

In a heavily researched volume, but written in a casual conversational tone, Bjonnes convincingly shows us the failings of American capitalism and how it has led us to the precipice we are now standing on as we not so casually peer over the cliff. But this is not a treatise of doom and gloom. In this tome, he doesn’t merely focus on the negative aspects of our culture, but provides us with alternatives such as changing the ground rules of our economy, creating an economic democracy and the importance of regenerative agriculture.

He goes on to describe how the gardens and rivers have become polluted and are thus degrading the ecosystems. He surmises in the early pages of the text that the problem was not only industrialized agriculture but “the broader logic of centralized, growth-driven capitalism itself.”

“We are consuming resources at a rate that would require nearly 3 earths to sustain us. How far we have drifted from a sustainable relationship with the natural world in a remarkably short time,” he proclaims.

From these and other realizations, Bjonnes then embarks upon the book’s journey into the imagined world of recovery and sustainability. “The challenge before us is to realign our systems of production and consumption with the limits and rhythms of the Earth,” he begins in a positive progressive vein.

As a young man, Bjonnes was concerned about pesticides and chemicals in farming practices in Norway, and asked the School for Agriculture there to grant him and a friend some land to demonstrate the nontoxic results of organic gardening. That land, today, has become a beacon of sustainable organic agriculture worldwide. “Growing up in Norway,” he writes, “during the 1960s and 1970s, I experienced a way of life that now seems almost lost. Nearly every household in my village maintained a productive garden.

Bjonnes touts his vision of an “economic democracy,” which he describes like this: “economic power needs to be broadly distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of a few. This vision would include worker-owned cooperatives, community land trusts, public and commons-based ownership models and decentralized production systems rooted in place; with prioritizing the fulfillment of human needs, social well-being, and ecological balance. It values resilience over efficiency, cooperation over competition, and sufficiency over excess.”

With these generalizations, Bjonnes is off to a good start. He is not talking here about cutting ourselves off from the world, but rather “creating an economy that is capable of sustaining a flourishing life for both people and planet.”

In the chapter on “From Mercantilism to

Mintz to present at City Lights

Green Capitalism,” he writes that “the core claims used to justify capitalism — that selfinterest produces shared prosperity, that free trade benefits all, and that green reform can reconcile profit with ecology — do not hold up well against the historical record.” He breaks this down throughout the book, using acknowledged factual details featured in scientific and journalistic records which are listed in a four-page Appendix at the end of the book citing sources such as E.F. Schumacher, Paul Hawken, Erik Reinert, Theodore Roszak and print sources such as The Economist Ecologist Magazine, New Internationalist and Atlantic Monthly.

Bjonnes discusses “green capitalism” and “regenerative agriculture” in an economic democracy, quoting E.F. Schumacher’s classic (which I read when I was in my 20s) and “Small Is Beautiful” (1973), where Schumacher says, “an economy detached from nature would ultimately undermine itself.” Schumacher’s words resonate as prophetic when we look at the numbers and statistics related to today’s U.S. and the notion of sustainability.

Bjonnes goes on to say that “people and planet need to be part of economic planning and accounting,” citing the many Green parties from across Europe, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand that are working models for what can and needs to be achieved here in the U.S. if we are going to ever achieve any sense of balance and economic and environmental stability. Toward the end of the book, Bjonnes states that “the crises of our time — inequality, ecological breakdown, financial instability, democratic erosion — are not accidental deviations, they are among capitalism’s most predictable outcomes. The task ahead is, therefore, to build the alliances, institutions, and democratic capacities required to move beyond capitalism. That work will be difficult, uneven, and contested. But history shows that economic systems are not fixed laws of nature, they are human creations, and what has been made can be remade.”

Finally, Bjonnes’ humble and hopeful last words in “Economic Democracy” come from his heart and go to the heart of the matter: “It is my hope that this book can offer a modest contribution to the profound changes that are both necessary and, I believe, already underway.”

(Thomas Crowe is the author of 30 books including the award-winning book of environmental nonficton Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods. He is a resident of Jackson County.)

Donna Mintz will discuss her new book, “Stars at Noon,” with Brent Martin at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Blending essay, memoir and natural history with biography, “Stars at Noon” traces the author’s pilgrimage through a book — and a love letter to its author, James Agee, whose untimely death becomes the thread connecting it all. The work meditates on art, beauty, time and silence, exploring what is found and lost in both.

Martin co-owns Alarka Expeditions in Franklin and is the former executive director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy. He has authored several books, including “George Masa’s Wild Vision” and “A Hiker’s Guide to the Bartram National Recreation Trail in Georgia and North Carolina.” The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.586.9499 or visit citylightsnc.com.

Conservationists optimistic about WNC elk hunt

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Twenty-five years after elk were reintroduced to North Carolina, the state has legalized a limited two-tag hunting season. Earlier this month, Gov. Josh Stein signed H.B. 747 into law, authorizing a bullonly Fall 2027 hunt.

One permit will be issued through a $20per-ticket raffle — 30 tickets maximum may be purchased per person — partially benefitting the Wildlife Resources Fund for elk conservation. The other permit will be auctioned, with proceeds directed toward the WRF and an elk restoration nonprofit.

Wildlife researchers and advocates see the legislation as a much-needed win amid federal cuts to environmental protections largely because it indicates a finally stable elk population.

“Our goal for elk is to have a hunt-able, sustainable population, and at this point we are at that level,” said Justin McVey, who works as a biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Research Commission’s westernmost district.

Permit holders are only authorized to shoot a single bull because conservation is the top priority and, as McVey explained, the harvest of bulls “doesn’t really hinder the population.” “There’s other bulls that can handle that job,” he said.

Elk, native to Southern Appalachia, had disappeared from Western North Carolina, due to settler overhunting and deforestation,

by the late 18th Century.

In 2001, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park led a multi-organization initiative to bring 52 elk to the state after more than 200 years since the species’ extirpation. The project, aimed at restoration, followed in the footsteps of elk reintroductions to several Southeastern states. Throughout the past quarter-century, the elk population in North Carolina has increased five-fold, a metric achieved with the help of extensive monitoring and data collection.

This research, which conservationists said

has been intentional and comprehensive, also informed the decision to institute a hunting season.

“We have all these processes in place … to determine if a species can be hunted and should be hunted, and then to make sure that they’re not hunted too much and that the hunting contributes to the conservation of the species,” explained Defenders of Wildlife Vice President of Government Relations Mike Leahy, adding that federal- and stateemployed scientists often work together. Throughout a three-year, University of

Tennessee-funded study to determine if elk hunting was a viable option, McVey collaborated with biologists from GSMNP and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

“So, we’ve done all that legwork, and we found out that it looks like we could have a very limited hunt of bulls only,” McVey recounted.

Cooperation across the aisle — and between policymakers and state agencies — was also vital to the process.

“We feel like H.B. 747 really embraces the science-based wildlife management that has been developed over many centuries. It leaves the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in charge so that they can adjust the hunt down if there’s a problem,” said Leahy.

That wasn’t always the case with previous legislation. H.B. 460 passed a House first reading in the 2021-2022 Session as “An Act to Direct the Wildlife Resources Commission to Issue Two Elk Conservation Licenses by Auction and Raffle.”

But according to conservation nonprofits, even the title was problematic.

“Directing the NCWRC to take actions that are not based on science is an alarming precedent, especially given the extensive studies underway,” wrote the North Carolina Wildlife Foundation in a letter opposing the legislation.

The issue, said wildlife advocates, was the absence of evidence to show hunting wouldn’t

Despite recent rains, residents encouraged to conserve water

Even as rain has fallen over much of North Carolina, most of the state is still facing drought conditions. The rain has not made up for double-digit precipitation deficits that have been building since last fall. North Carolinians are encouraged to conserve water as the long-running drought continues to impact water reservoirs and other water supplies.

Ongoing rainfall that has brought flash flooding to parts of the state is expected to yield short-term improvements in drought conditions. However, this rain is not expected to allow the state to fully recover from a months-long drought, which has brought rainfall deficits of more than 20 inches in some parts of the state.

The public should check with their local water supply system for any information on

harm the still fledgling herd.

“They didn’t have the data, and the population sounds like wasn’t quite recovered,” Leahy noted.

NCWF emphasized a favorable position to elk hunting when supported by locally gathered evidence.

Now that biologists have conducted necessary research, the hunt will be tightly regulated — even by location. Hunters will be naturally restricted to a specific zone of privately owned or mixed-use acreage, as one may not harvest within GSMNP land or the Qualla Boundary. As a result, prime hunting territory will likely be in and around Maggie Valley, and in places like the Silver Game Lands, McVey theorized.

“We kind of have these sub-herds, and so that Oconaluftee herd goes back and forth between Cherokee and then the National Park Service there in Oconaluftee, and so yes, that herd, you can’t hunt,” said McVey.

water use restrictions that may be in place, such as restrictions on sprinklers, car washing or other measures. Systems may also have tips for conserving water, such as washing only full loads of laundry.

According to the classifications released Thursday by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council, two counties, Brunswick and Rockingham, are in exceptional drought, the highest drought classification. Another 32 counties are in extreme drought, 48 counties are in severe drought and seven counties are in moderate drought. Eleven counties are classified as abnormally dry.

DMAC’s drought map is updated weekly on Thursdays, based on conditions through the previous Tuesday. To view North Carolina’s drought map, visit ncdrought.org.

Western North Carolina, like many areas with a history of and/or ongoing development and extraction, lacks in diverse ecosystems like old-growth forest and early-stage habitat.

“We have a lot of even-stage, even-aged forest, and we need openings, and we need more prescribed burnings to create [different ecosystems] not only for elk but for golden wing warblers and a suite of these species,” said Gestwicki.

The state has — rightly so, claim conservationists — banned white-tailed deer and elk importation because of chronic wasting disease. But restoring optimal habitat takes on a greater importance when the survival of North Carolina’s elk hinges on a popula-

“What [elk] we have is what we have, and so making sure there is the opportunity to increase the herd size means ensuring that we build out and create enough habitat for them to actually have the carrying capacity and build out.”

But this sub-herd orientation is less than ideal, according to NCWF CEO Tim Gestwicki. “Part of the work to build more wildlife crossings and get habitat less fragmented is so you can have herds commingling, which would increase populations of our elk herd even further,” he said.

Gestwicki chairs the safe passage coalition, which works to prevent wildlifemotorist collisions for the sake of wildlife and motorists. The job consists of implementing green infrastructure alongside development, protecting natural landscapes, replacing deteriorating bridges and culverts with crossings and wildlife fencing. It also involves expanding early successional habitat — open pastureland with quickly growing grasses and shrubs.

Haywood county pump track grand opening

Haywood County’s newest recreation facility, Raccoon Creek Bike Park, will celebrate its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. The Waynesville park will welcome the community for a day of riding, family-friendly activities and outdoor fun.

“This marks another step forward in expanding Haywood County’s biking and outdoor recreation offerings,” said Corrina Ruffieux, executive director of Visit Haywood. “With the course already selected to host a UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier just two months after opening, we’re excited to continue building our community’s reputation as a premier destination for outdoor biking and competitive cycling.”

first responders will showcase equipment and engage with guests throughout the event.

“Our goal has always been to create a space that encourages people of all ages and abilities to get outside and enjoy Haywood County’s natural beauty,” said Kevin Ensley, chair of Haywood County commissioners. “In addition to the bike pump track and skills course, the park also features a walking and biking path, adventure playground and picnic pavilions, offering both active recreation and

— Tim Gestwicki

tion of about 250.

“What [elk] we have is what we have,” he said, “and so making sure there is the opportunity to increase the herd size means ensuring that we build out and create enough habitat for them to actually have the carrying capacity and build out.”

As someone who prioritizes elk survival above all else, Gestwicki is grateful this bill does not authorize a recurring hunt and mandates a population analysis after next year’s season.

“The state wildlife agency is not doing this in perpetuity,” he said. “Like they manage all wildlife species, they will reexamine and reevaluate and check herd status.”

The pump track has been in the works for years and will now be open for use.

Visitors will be among the first to ride the highly anticipated bike pump track while enjoying a lineup of grand opening festivities, including a live DJ, bounce house, food trucks and free Kona Ice for the first 200 attendees. Waynesville’s Base Camp and Haywood Recreation will host interactive games, and Pigeon River Bikes, local law enforcement and

more relaxed outdoor gathering spaces.”

Professional freestyle BMX cyclist Angie Marino will be in attendance as one of the first riders to experience the course. The grand opening also serves as a preview of the park’s first major competition, the UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier, taking place on Sept. 12. The competition will bring elite riders across the region to Haywood County.

Learn about microplastics research in Appalachia

The Highlands Biological Foundation concludes its 2026 Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, a long-running summer tradition that connects the community with leading voices in science, conservation and the natural world, with a discussion on microplastics research in Southern Appalachia on Thursday, Aug. 6, with Jason Love, associate director of the Highlands Biological Station.

Puzzles can be found on page 30

These are only the answers.

Microplastics are a growing environmental and human health concern, with recent research revealing their presence in even the most remote natural areas. In this informative presentation, Love will provide an overview of plastic pollution and the growing body of research documenting microplastics in the Southern Appalachian region. Attendees will learn how tiny plastic particles are transported through the atmosphere and deposited across the landscape, where they accumulate in soils,

Balsam Mountain Preserve names managing director

Balsam Mountain Preserve announced the appointment of Chris Duprey as its new managing director.

Duprey brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in construction, real estate development, golf course development and brokerage. Most recently, he served as project executive at

forested headwater streams, valley rivers and both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The program will also highlight research conducted by Highlands Biological Station and collaborating scientists, offering insight into the extent of plastic pollution on the plateau and its potential implications for ecosystems and human communities.

Jason Love has served as Associate director of Highlands Biological Station at Western Carolina University, since 2019 and is also an adjunct assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches for the Institute for the Environment Program Highlands field site.

HBF welcomes all to join the final lecture of the 2026 Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, a perfect opportunity to learn, engage and be inspired by the natural world. Admission is free.

Southworth Development, providing highlevel strategic oversight across multiple complex development initiatives.

“I’m honored to step into the role of Managing Director at Balsam Mountain Preserve,” said Duprey. “This is a truly exceptional community. I look forward to building on its strong foundation by delivering thoughtful, high-quality enhancements that elevate the resident experience while preserving the natural beauty and authentic character of these mountains.”

For more information, visit balsammountainpreserve.com.

Explore Haywood with new hiking challenge

The Environmental Action Community of Western North Carolina announced a “Haywood Hiking Challenge 2026: All Levels” fundraiser for Oct. 3-4.

This first-of-its-kind event will be a decentralized hike-a-thon over the weekend that inspires locals and visitors to explore some of the many incredible trails in Haywood county, from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Blue Ridge Parkway and from the Mountains to Sea Trail to the Pisgah National Forest. Hikers will register as individuals or form a team, gather pledges, plan their own hikes and

compete with other hikers for prizes such as oldest/youngest hiker, most miles hiked, largest group, highest pledge earners and more.

Guided hikes of different levels will be offered at the event launch on the morning of Oct. 3 to encourage new hikers to join the fun. All levels, abilities, and ages welcome.

The closing celebration and awards presentation will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Waynesville’s Frog Level Brewing.

For more information and to register for the challenge, visit eacwnc.org. Questions can be sent to info@eacwnc.org.

State releases funding for water projects

Twenty-eight counties across North Carolina will receive more than $244 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, with $44 million going to Western North Carolina to continue Hurricane Helene recovery.

The State Water Infrastructure Authority approved awards on July 15 to help cities, towns and counties strengthen infrastructure to better withstand future storms, improve existing drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, reduce forever chemicals contamination and identify and replace lead pipes.

“These drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects will protect people from dangerous chemicals, strengthen communities’ resilience to floods, and enable economic growth,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Safe drinking water and clean-running streams are what every North Carolinian deserves and expects.”

The State Water Infrastructure Authority, an independent body with pri-

Ripe for the picking: ‘Mater Mayhem returns

A shared love for one of Appalachia’s most iconic crops — tomatoes — and a desire to bring a new, fun and family-friendly event to Canton led to a collaboration between the Canton Merchant Partnership and Mill Town Farmers Market, and the result is Haywood Grows Farm Fest and ‘Mater Mayhem 2026!

The event will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 1, at Sorrells Park in downtown Canton. It will feature games, contests and ‘mater sandwiches. It will also offer a tomato pie-baking contest and a spaghetti-eating contest.

The festival will celebrate one of the region’s favorite crops.

mary responsibility for awarding federal and state funding for water infrastructure projects, approved a total of 45 projects for funding during its July 15 meeting in Raleigh.

In The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, the Town of Waynesville will receive a loan of $5,443,600 in CWSRF funds for its Wastewater Treatment Plant Resiliency Upgrades Project.

A complete list of the projects selected for funding is available on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality website. DEQ’s Division of Water Infrastructure reviewed 123 applications, which requested a total of $1.6 billion.

DWI will offer a fall 2026 funding round, which begins Aug. 4. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2026.

DWI will conduct in-person funding application training for the fall 2026 funding round from Aug. 4 through Aug. 12 at four locations: Hickory, Asheville, Research Triangle Park/Durham and Kinston. A virtual option via Webex will also be available on Aug. 10, and a recording of the training will be posted on the division’s application training web page.

Kids will love the games, bouncy houses, petting zoo and Cool Cucumber sensory tent. There will be Little Miss Tomato and Little Mister Tomato contests with winners riding in the Labor Day Parade. There will also be live music featuring Jon Shain with FJ Ventre and Angela Easterling and her band, a “Tomato” art show, a local vendor village and much more.

Birding in Franklin

The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.

Walks are about two and a half hours. The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent.

Schedule for upcoming walks:

• Aug. 5, meet at Big Bear parking lot near the dog park area.

• Aug. 12, meet at the Salali Lane parking lot.

• Aug. 19, meet at the Macon County Library parking lot.

• Aug. 26, meet at Big Bear parking lot near the dog park area.

A full schedule and directions to each starting location can be found at facebook.com/groups/franklinbirdclub/ or littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club.

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

PLACE WNC

Legals

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RAILROAD, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

The GSM is seeking bids for the upcoming 2026 FRRCSI grant projects. Timbers to be delivered Summer-Fall 2026. Materials needed: 5,950 7”X9”X8’6” Grade 4/5 crossties Creosote/Borate Dual treatment ; 40,000 new 5/8 X 6” spikes. Crossties deliver to GSMR Alarka Yard: 1924 Robinson Gap Road, Bryson City NC 28713. Partial bids for materials are accepted and may be awarded. This is a formal sealed bidding process. Bids must comply with domestic steel and

(Certs must be supplied to GSMR by vendor) WBE/MBE participation is highly encouraged. Projects will be awarded at GSMR’s sole discretion to the supplier or suppliers whose proposal offers the best value. GSMR reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Your proposal is due no later that 2:00PM deadline on 8-1926. Formal Public Bid Opening Date: 2:00PM

8-19-26. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad PO Box 1490 Bryson City 28713. 828-488-7008

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.26E000302-430

Carolyn H. Davis, having

of the Estate of Robert Steve Davis 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 Oct 15 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Executrix

Hines Davis, PLLC 95 Depot Street Waynesville, NC 28786

Announcements

GET DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-877-920-7405

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR? DONATE IT TO

PATRIOTIC HEARTS. Fast free pick up. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help their own business. Call 24/7: 1-877-318-7973

STOP OVERPAYING FOR AUTO INSURANCE! A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call Now for a no-obligation quote: 1-877-856-0046

HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 1-877864-3209

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-866-381-0627 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Employment

HIRING FOR EVENT STAFF Axis Event Services is hiring part-time event staff to work at the WCU football games as well as other regional events. Areas of operation include parking staff, stadium staff and ticket takers. Competitive pay, no experience necessary, with multiple shifts available that can be adjusted to your schedule. Opportunities to work concerts, regional sporting events, and NASCAR are also available. To apply or for more information, contact bill@axissecurityinc.com (828) 421-7452 bill@axissecurityinc.com

Miscellaneous

END YOUR TAX WORRIES TODAY Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Call for a FREE consultation. Call Priority Tax now 1- 855-496-0514

Auction

WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 844-213-6711

PUBLIC AUCTION Saturday, August 1, 10 a.m. 201 S. Central Ave. Locust, NC Tools, Vehicles, RV’s, Mower, Guns, Boats, Jet Skis. See website. www.ClassicAuc-

DENIED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? Ap-

SSD and denied, our attorneys can help! Win or Pay Nothing! Strong, recent work history needed.

877-553-0252 [Steppach-Ave Scranton PA 18503]

REPLACE YOUR ROOF with the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer – up to 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-585-1815

GET A BREAK on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855-869-7055 today!

WE BUY VINTAGE GUITAR’S! Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-866-923-0482

BEHIND ON YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS? Threatened with foreclosure? Denied

us help! Call the Homeowner Relief Line to speak with a mortgage specialist 844-492-0883

DONATE YOUR CAR TODAY running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free fast pickup. May be tax deductable. Se habla Español. Call now: 877-317-3360

GET A HIGH QUALITY

Modern Design bath or shower transformation in as little as One Day. $0 Down, $0 Installation, $0 Payments for 12 months! Call: 1-877-243-7050.

WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS-IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-919-9256362.

WATER DAMAGE

CLEANUP & RESTORATION: A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home’s value! Call 24/7: 1-866-489-0571. Have zip code of service location ready when you call!

PEST CONTROL PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for a quote, service or an inspection today! 1-877-891-3042

ATTENTION VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-616-4827

YMT VACATIONS. Over 50 guided tours available. Affordable, social and stress-free travel designed for mature travelers. Our tours include accommodations, transportation, baggage handling, sightseeing, entrance fees, a professional Tour Director and select meals. For a lim-

(with) 81 Diner worker 82 Concluded

Vodka brand 85 Part of ER: Abbr.

“Huzzah!”

Cinch -- (trash bag brand)

89 Sister station of Flix, in brief

92 Give the evil eye to

-- Tin Tin 95 Politico Cain

96 “Troy” actor Peter

97 Bites, as a horse at the bit

98 Muppet frog

99 Tracey of “Mrs. America” 100 Patron 102 Apple debut of 2010

105 Splinter groups

108 Opposite of new 109 Spreadable cheese

110 It may get plugged up 111 Eight, in Baja

112 Alternative to Heath, candy-wise

113 Clutched

114 Positive votes

116 Netflix’s “Anne With --”

118 Opposite of NNW

119 Install, as tile

120 “How cute!”

ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

ited time SAVE $250 on all tours. Call YMT today. 1-866-314-6821

STRUGGLING WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT?

If you owe $10,000+, we can help you become debt free in 24-48 months! Make one monthly affordable payment. Get Help Now! Call: 1-877-8955782

HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 1-877864-3209

AUDIEN

HEARING The

with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1.5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-833-689-4423

REPAIRING OR RE-

PLACING appliances and home systems like heating and cooling can be costly. A home warranty plan can help. Start saving and get 30% off any

plan today. Workmanship Guarantee included. Terms apply. Call Cinch Home Services 1-844415-1477

Pets

DOLLY Medium mixedbreed dog — black & white, 52-lb girl, 2 yrs old. Playful and energetic, while also affectionate and lovable. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org

BROWN TABBY CAT — PHO 7 year old girl with bold stripes. Talkative and loving but slightly shy. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org

Services

Home Improvement

NO MORE CLEANING out gutters. Guaranteed! LeafFilter is backed by a

SUDOKU

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

no-clog guarantee and lifetime transferrable warranty. Call today 1-877649-1190 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Plus, Military & Seniors get an additional 10% off. Limited time only. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details.

NEED NEW WINDOWS? Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction?

dows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today: 1-877804-8285

Wanted to Buy

WE BUY VINTAGE GUITARS! Looking for 19201980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-877-590-0187

Answers on 26