Smoky Mountain News | July 8, 2026

relief Page 4 Smokies hosts ceremony naturalizing 30 new citizens Page 25

On the Cover:

Max Patch has become a beloved gem of the Western North Carolina hiking scene, known for high reward-to-difficulty ratio. However, after overuse and the failure to follow “leave no trace” principals by many campers, the U.S. Forest Service in 2021 implemented a series of restrictions meant to restore the bald to something more pristine. Now five years since that ban, even as Max Patch is looking great, the restrictions have been extended three more years. (Page 24) Kyle Perrotti photo

News

WNC legislators talk new state budget, Helene relief..............................................4 Ex-Swain County manager ordered unauthorized public record deletion..........5 Is Macon County the key to an NC-11 victory?..........................................................6 AWAKE, WCU students develop virtual courtroom to support abuse victims ....9

Needmore residents face a frustrating legal landscape ......................................10

Renew NC launches community infrastructure program for WNC..................11 JCPL July meeting steeped in confusion....................................................................12

Opinion

Outdoors

Smokies hosts naturalization ceremony welcoming 30 new U.S. citizens......25 Haywood Waterways hosts aquatic ecology workshop ......................................27

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WNC legislators talk new state budget, Helene relief

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

Josh Stein signed a new North Carolina budget into law on Tuesday, making it the state’s first new spending plan in about three years.

The state is supposed to pass new budgets on odd-numbered years. When that doesn’t happen, as was the case in 2025, the previous budget carries forward. Along with not addressing emerging issues in North Carolina, the stalled budget has resulted in zero raises for state employees, including teachers.

On July 1, the House and Senate passed a $34.4 billion budget, which was the product of a good deal of negotiating, conflict and probably a few headaches between Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall.

In the wake of the General Assembly votes but prior to Stein’s passage of the budget, Republican leadership touted not only where some of the money in the budget is going but also the tax cuts included. The income tax rate will go from 3.99% to 3.49% next year and drop incrementally before being scheduled to hit 2.99% in 2032.

“Our state’s fiscal health remains in great shape. This is a responsible spending plan that takes aim at bureaucratic bloat without endangering core services,” Berger said in a statement. “This keeps our promise to reduce the tax burden for all North Carolinians, while expanding access to incredible educational opportunities, keeping our communities safe and solidifying North Carolina’s status as the best state in the nation.”

state employees, the budget gave a significant bump to starting teacher pay, which will now be at $48,000.

In his speech prior to signing the budget on July 7, Stein criticized some elements included or left out by the House and Senate but also had a lot of praise, highlighting the good that can be done through compromise. He specifically noted teacher pay.

“Our kids are our future, and no investment is more important than the ones we make in them,” the governor said during the speech.

that need addressed. Lake Junaluska’s dam in Haywood County will receive money for repairs, and $2.8 million is also provided for removal of the 120-year-old Capitola Dam in Marshall. While that dam originally generated electricity, Pless said it needs to be taken out since water can impound behind it during a flooding event, which can compound an already perilous weather event.

The Helene funding also includes $450 million to meet state and local requirements for federal disaster recovery programs, including FEMA public assistance and haz-

reserves for the next big storm, not everyone feels that is the best use of taxpayer dollars. While there are only Republican state representatives and senators in the Smoky Mountain News coverage area, Democrat Lindsey Prather represents Buncombe County, just to the east. She’s happy to have seen $700 million allocated to Helene relief — especially the money for housing-related issues — but with so many needs still yet unfulfilled, she wonders why more didn’t go toward some of those items. She was specifically disappointed to see nothing in the way of grants for small businesses affected by the hurricane. Prather argues that some of the money put into the rainyday fund could have been better utilized.

“I would argue that’s not surplus funding because we’re not funding our state departments the way we should be funding them,” she said. “It’s Important to help the people that live here now and need our help now.”

While Prather put a lot of onus on the federal government to work harder to meet the needs in the wake of Helene, the state can also play a larger role in recovery, she said.

House Speaker Destin Hall said, “This budget invests in the people of North Carolina. It delivers historic raises, keeps taxes low, strengthens public safety and protects taxpayer dollars by making targeted investments to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse. Every dollar reflects our commitment to build a North Carolina that is a better and more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.”

Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) had a significant role in the process as the chair for the Appropriations on Education/High Education Standing Committee. Of the $34.4 billion in the budget, $19.4 was allocated to education. Corbin likened the state budget to personal finances — what you spend money on shows what you care about. Corbin said that he was happy that along with offering raises for law enforcement and

Stein added that he feels good about some of the items included in the budget to go toward further relief in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina in September 2024. While the $700 million included in the General Assembly bills falls about $50 million short of Stein’s request, he felt positively about what was included.

“The state of North Carolina is committed to rebuilding Western North Carolina over the long haul, and I am grateful for the legs partnership in this work,” Stein said.

Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) said he was pleased with the budget, especially some of the items tied to Helene relief. There are two items the representative had specifically wanted to discuss.

The first was providing up to $30 million to rebuild or move volunteer fire stations that were damaged in Helene. While municipal fire departments received aid, private fire departments, which operate as nonprofits, have been left out to now.

Pless also talked about dams in the area

ard mitigation grants. It provides $22 million for state-supported private road and bridge repairs, offering much-needed support to one of the aspects of recovery that has generated some of the most vocal advocates.

The budget has over $80 million in housing-related relief dollars. This includes temporary relocation assistance following the disaster and nonprofit housing construction. Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, known as VOADs, have built 1,000 homes in the wake of Helene, according to Pless, and he is happy to see that they will be given more resources to continue that work.

“They think they can take this money and put even more people in homes,” he said.

Pless highlighted that replenishing the state’s “rainy day fund” in the wake of Helene was a priority, with the budget adding about $450 million to bring the total in the coffers to over $4 billion. While he argued that the state is simply bolstering

Prather’s strongest opinion on the budget seems to have more to do with process than the outcome. Democrats — and even a lot of rank-and-file Republicans — were left entirely out of the negotiations, she said, adding that those negotiations between the House and Senate spilled over to affect other bills. Basically, she argued that the dysfunctional process infected just about everything the General Assembly touched. She voted in favor of the budget — since something is better than nothing, she said — but the process and product were far from ideal.

“It seemed to me on the outside to be a very chaotic and disjointed process … I’m a member of the General Assembly, and most of what I learned about the budget process was on Twitter and in the papers like everyone else,” she said.

Corbin acknowledged that the road to getting a budget was bumpy, but he feels like the product is satisfactory, all things considered. Still, he thinks a lot of the things that were eventually ironed out “could have been worked out a long time ago.”

“I had personally had a bit of frustration that we couldn’t get that worked out a long time before now,” he said. “I think we could have. Reasons for that could be debated.”

“I’m not going to weigh in on who’s to blame,” he added. “I think there could be some blame to go around.”

Ex-Swain County manager

ordered unauthorized public record deletion

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

At a May 19 Swain County commissioners meeting, IT Specialist Michael Lyons revealed that he’d deleted contested May 5 footage under the direction of former County Manager Lottie Barker.

The admission occurred after Lyons was questioned by Commissioner David Loftis.

“What do you ... what’s your job title?” Loftis asked.

“IT,” Lyons responded.

“Do you edit? Do you do any editing on what we do here?” asked Loftis.

“We can delete. We can delete,” Lyons answered before explaining the situation.

However, May 5 meeting minutes recall a version of events that differs from Lyons’.

courtesy to County residents to allow them to observe meetings remotely. The livestream generally remains available for viewing on YouTube after the meeting has concluded … Swain County’s official record remains the written minutes prepared by the Clerk to the Board and approved by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with North Carolina law,” she wrote.

Nowhere in the response does Seay deny that an unedited record ever existed.

In an attached May 5 text message thread between Lyons and Barker, sent in response to another part of SMN’s request, the IT Specialist at 5:57 p.m. wrote, “Video is deleted.” “Thank you,” Barker responded. Lyons thumbs-up reacted to her response.

A text message provided to The Smoky Mountain News showed that there was communication between county officials discussing the deletion of the meeting video. From Swain County government

“The live stream on YouTube was stopped at the direction of the County Manager by Micheal Lyons a Swain County IT employee and then started back when the meeting resumed,” the document reads, insinuating that the footage had never existed at all.

To get more clarity on the incident, The Smoky Mountain News on May 20 requested the “unedited video.”

On June 30, the inquiry was fulfilled by Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Director Amy Seay. She included a one-sentence summary — “No record exists that is responsive to this request” — and a longer explanation.

“Swain County does not create or maintain audio or video recordings as part of its official meetings, and to the best of my knowledge, has never done so. The only ‘video’ recordings associated with Swain County’s public meetings is the livestream provided through YouTube as a service and

NC Press Association lawyer Mike Tadych put the situation in simple terms.

“I agree [with Seay] that they’re not required to have video, but if they do, it’s a public record,” he said. “This happened at a county commissioner meeting that had been called to order. It is a public record, no question about it in mind.”

Furthermore, he told SMN, public records like the video in question must adhere to the retention schedule implemented by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

“I do not think a county manager’s request to delete something recorded by the county during a county meeting that was deleted before it ended meets any of the criteria for preservation and protection of public records under North Carolina’s public records law,” Tadych explained.

Unauthorized disposal of public records is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor in the state of North Carolina.

Victory in NC-11 will be decided in counties that look very different from Buncombe

BY TOM FIEDLER ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG

What did you do on July 4, the 250th anniversary of our Independence Day? Did you enjoy baseball, hot dogs and apple pie as the jingle for a oncepopular American car intoned? Did you ponder for a moment the Declaration of Independence or reflect on our nation’s history — its triumphs and shortcomings, its ideals and disgraces — and proudly fly the Stars and Stripes?

If you live or visit Franklin, the charming county seat of Macon County, about 70 miles southeast of Asheville, you could have taken in the parade down Main Street to celebrate this anniversary by visiting the park across from the courthouse. It’s where the beautifully maintained space is presided over by the white-marble statue to …

The Lost Cause. To white supremacy. To an America that never was. To a time when many (white and Cherokee) men and boys from this mountain town joined the Highland Rangers commanded by William H. Thomas in the spring of 1861 in rebellion against the United States of America. A block away from where the statue stands, in May 1865, Thomas and his battered followers surrendered to the Union cavalry more than a month after Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.

It took that intervening month for word of Lee’s defeat to reach this “most inaccessible portion of the Confederacy,” one of Thomas’s officers wrote.

And so it came to be, perhaps against the locals’ will, that Macon County today anchors a western slice of North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District — that’s in the U.S. Congress — just a couple hours’ drive from Asheville and Buncombe County.

Though the two counties share a congressional seat now held by Republican Chuck Edwards, Macon could as well be the unBuncombe. And forgive me for stretching the metaphor, but the statue of “Johnny Reb” — bearing his rucksack and standing with his rifle ready to march — is a reminder of the deep differences remaining among the voters who comprise this district.

For those like me who live in Buncombe County, solidly locked within the deep-blue and leftward gravity of Asheville, congressional elections for more than a generation have been reminders that our neighbors in the western Carolina mountains are different. And not only are they different in the historical icons they honor and their partisan leanings, they are dominant.

Let me repeat: They are dominant. Remember that as we head into the midterm election season and the eyes of the nation turn toward us for an indication of where things are headed.

While Buncombe County and Asheville loom large in population over our neighbors

in NC-11, we aren’t the majority. Just 36 percent of the district’s voters live in Buncombe, which means that 64 percent don’t. We’re outnumbered by nearly 2-to-1 as we go into the midterm elections.

In a

by other measures contrasting urban counties with rural ones. Relevant to me when looking at the upcoming elections is the equally marked contrast in its politics, which are nearly mirror opposites.

A JOURNEY INTO THE UNBUNCOMBE

To try to understand what that means, I needed to get outside the blue bubble where I live, and to try to see this campaign from a place representative of the district at large. Macon County is such a place. Consider the contrasts: Macon’s population is about 40,000, about one-seventh of Buncombe’s of just under 280,000. Macon’s statistically average person is older by seven years (about 50 to 43); less educated (28% with a bachelor’s or higher degree in contrast to Buncombe’s 47 percent), and has a lower household income (about $59,000 per year to our county’s $75,000).

These differences are commonly shared

Democrats; the delegation from Macon County (one House and one Senate member) is Republican.

To look at the 11th Congressional District race between incumbent Republican Chuck Edwards and Democratic candidate Jamie Ager from the contrasting perspectives of Buncombe County and Macon County would be like viewing a distant object through opposite ends of a telescope.

That’s why I needed to drive over to Macon County to speak with people who could explain its politics, its mood, its culture, and even why I could still find a statue funded by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. My thesis was that an understanding of the Macon County mood would balance my understanding of Buncombe’s and the result might be a clearer vision of where things are heading.

And what have I concluded? A coin toss.

AS GOES MACON COUNTY, SO GOES THE 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

But given the history of the district, including the six-year interim when conservative Democrat Heath Shuler of tiny Swain County held the seat until 2013, a coin toss may bode ill for Republicans. And if Republicans lose in November, swapping Ager for Edwards, the explanation for the defeat can be found in Macon County.

Let me quickly qualify here that I’m not predicting that Ager will beat Edwards in the county. But the margin matters. The key to Ager’s victory is to run up a disproportionately high vote in Buncombe County and left-leaning precincts in Henderson and Transylvania counties, while Edwards gathers a lower-than expected vote in Macon and other rural and Republican-dominated counties.

That’s a big swing. Edwards clobbered his last two Democratic opponents by double digits.

But things have changed, and dramatically so, since Edwards’s reelection in 2024 where he rode Donald Trump’s coattails to a 13-point landslide. Several new factors are in play today and they weigh heavily on the mood in Macon County as elsewhere.

Buncombe voters are among North Carolina’s most Democratic, where about 40% are registered in the party. Macon voters are among the state’s most Republican, where 45% have chosen the GOP. (A near equal 35% in each county are unaffiliated.)

The reverse is equally true. Just 22% of Buncombe’s voters are in the GOP, while 20% of Macon’s are Democrats, giving the dominant party about a 2-to-1 edge.

These lopsided ratios show up in the election results. There are no Republicans on the Buncombe County Commission or on the Buncombe County School Board. And there are no Democrats on the Macon County Commission nor the Macon County School Board. The sheriff of Buncombe County is a Democrat; the sheriff of Macon County is Republican. The legislative delegation from Buncombe County is composed entirely of

Atop the list of changes is Trump’s unpopularity as measured in plummeting approval ratings in every credible poll. Among the most recent is the June poll by the Catawba College-YouGov Survey where 55% of North Carolina voters disapproved of Trump’s performance and 42% approved, a level of unpopularity that appears to be holding steady.

That alone is worrisome for Macon Republicans as they try to motivate the vote for Edwards in November. Paradoxically, even more worrisome is that Trump won’t be atop the ticket to excite remaining Trump loyalists to vote. Instead, the GOP ballot will be led by Michael Whatley, the former party leader with no campaign experience. Edwards will be on the second line, though carrying some baggage related to a U.S. House Ethics Committee investigation into an allegation that he F

sexually harassed a former staffer and ran a toxic office environment resulting in unusually high staff turnover.

A WORRISOME MOOD FOR REPUBLICANS

This isn’t my thinking; it’s that of Tom Coley, the Macon GOP’s vice chairman whom I met during my visit. Trump’s “impact and sway [on turnout] is historic,” Coley told me as we met in the party’s headquarters a few blocks outside of Franklin. “We’re resigned to the fact that he isn’t going to be there to help.”

He said the hope remains that the President will campaign for the ticket as his endorsement continues to carry weight within the party. In fact, it’s all that Whatley may have going for him. And Edwards has complicated the issue by scrubbing Trump’s earlier endorsement from his campaign literature and website. Coley said he recognized Edwards may be distancing his campaign from the president as his endorsement outside of a party primary is problematic.

“It will generate some votes, but it will also alienate some voters,” he said.

Ager, a farmer with deep, multi-generation roots in the western mountains, also presents a challenge the Macon Republicans haven’t faced in more than a decade. “If somebody is on the fence, he has more for people here to relate to than Democrat candidates in the past,” Coley said.

As for Whatley: “His challenge is to get

know who Whatley is,” Coley said.

The polls showing majority disapproval of the president’s handling of the Iran war, the economy, and high gas prices, also weigh down the get-out-the-vote plan. “We have to counter that with the nuclear threat the country may have faced had President Trump not intervened. As for inflation and high gas, this is the price we have to pay. This is for our safety,” Coley said.

DEMOCRATS ENERGIZED BY ‘POTATO SUPPER’ AND STRONG CANDIDATES

The challenges weighing on the Macon Republicans are catnip to Democrats despite being outnumbered. I was invited to observe a gathering of local Democrats as they planned their own voter-turnout operation heading into the midterm election. More than a dozen party activists crammed into the new headquarters to create multiple committees to work on the congressional and local campaigns.

The energy this year is in stark contrast to prior years, party vice-chair Karen Smith told me. For the first time in two election cycles the Democrats will be challenging Republican incumbents on the county commission and school board. Volunteers are showing up at local events, such as the annual “potato supper,” a combination of covered dishes provided by the attendees and a vari-

SEE NC-11, PAGE 8

despite facing challengers with

ety of prepared potato offerings. The event drew 300 attendees this year, one of the most successful ever held.

Anne Hyder, president of the Macon Democratic Women’s Club, told me that five

years ago the membership was about 20. Today it’s nearing 100 and she expects it will grow as the election approaches. Why? I asked. “I think it’s because we have a full plate of wonderful candidates.”

The Democrats also appear energized by community concerns over struggles to main-

tain a local hospital — an affiliate of Asheville’s Mission Hospital owned by HCA — and a decision by the Republican county commission to cut funding to the regional library system based on claims that it provided books to children on such topics as homosexuality and gender identity.

“I must say that there is a lot of enthusiasm and the morale is certainly being affected,” Hyder said.

played in city hall.

VOTERS ‘DON’T WANT POLITICS’

The outcome of the Nov. 3 elections, however, won’t turn on the numbers or the mood of the Republican or Democratic parties. The number of voters who remain unaffiliated with either party outnumber party voters throughout the district and within both Buncombe and Macon counties.

The mayor of Franklin, Stacy Guffey, told me that these voters share the broader electorate’s concerns over health care, war and the economy. But many of them are looking for something else: “People want their government to be people centric and not party centric. They want government to be functional.”

A photo of U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents western Western North Carolina, and government officials from Macon County, as Edwards presented a ceremonial government check for $4.3 million from the federal Environmental Protection Agency toward an $8 million water-treatment plant. Just as work was to begin, the Republican-majority congress slashed the EPA award by $1.7 million, forcing the town to make up the difference. // Photo from Macon County website

Just as work was to begin, the Republican-majority Congress slashed the EPA award by $1.7 million, forcing the town to make up the difference. Edwards’s office said the original award was a mistake.

“That’s a lot of money for a town our size,” Guffey said, adding he felt personally humiliated.

Although Guffey said he can’t predict whether an issue like this will directly affect Edwards in his reelection bid, he believes it has an effect on how voters perceive government.

“If Republicans are concerned about their prospects in November it’s not because Democrats are popular,” Guffey told me, “but because Republicans are seen as dysfunctional.”

He said Ager has yet to make his case on delivering policies that are aimed at wellmanaged government, though his background as a successful farmer and businessman works in his favor. Edwards was wellregarded in the recent past for putting a focus on serving constituents with whatever their needs may be in dealing with the federal government, Guffey said as we had coffee a block away from the Confederate memorial.

But he has stumbled in recent weeks after promising to deliver $4.3 million from the federal Environmental Protection Agency for an $8 million water-treatment plant. A photo of the ceremony depicting Edwards giving the mayor and other city officials a giant $4,320,000 check is dis-

Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Tom Fiedler is a Pulitzer Prize-winning political reporter and dean emeritus from Boston University who lives in Asheville. His Democracy Watch column appears every other Wednesday. Email him at tfiedler@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-ourpublication.

AWAKE, WCU students and industry partners develop virtual courtroom to support child abuse victims

It’s difficult for anyone to testify in court. It’s especially difficult for a child who has experienced abuse.

That’s what Crystal Jones, executive director of AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center, was thinking about when she and Chris Cox of Western Carolina University began talking about potential service-learning projects.

They were brainstorming projects where Cox’s construction management students could apply what they are learning hands-on to support AWAKE, a nonprofit organization that coordinates services for victims of abuse in Jackson and Swain Counties.

ing skills, she said.

“When the child does enter the actual courtroom, they can be better prepared to use the coping skills they have learned to lessen the trauma and make it more bearable,” she said.

This spring, student teams in Cox’s CM 431 Construction Project Management class, a Carnegie Institute-recognized service-learning course, worked on multiple projects for AWAKE, including the VR project. A student team spent a weekend afternoon at the Jackson County courthouse when court was out of session to capture comprehensive laser scans. Construction

transporting the playhouses to AWAKE.

Three additional student teams focused on transforming AWAKE’s wish list for a new mental health and office building into an early building design. Students considered AWAKE’s needs for soundproofing, security, accessibility, bathrooms, lighting, landscaping and more. AWAKE staff reviewed all three designs and identified strengths in each. Student teams then consolidated their work to produce a final design with support from architect Emily Kite from LS3P Associates.

AWAKE leaders plan to use the building design and VR project progress as they con-

“Imagine how it feels to be a small child looking out at all these individuals and telling some of the most difficult details of your life,” Jones said. “AWAKE therapists work with children on coping skills to prepare them for court, and we started thinking about how we can bring the courtroom to the child [beforehand] without bringing the child to the courtroom. Our discussion evolved from the idea of building a childsized playhouse courtroom to building a virtual courtroom.”

Cox, a faculty member within the WCU College of Engineering and Technology, said he suggested virtual reality because it’s increasingly used in construction projects.

“Instead of building something as an example, we can create a virtual model of it to get to it faster and not waste materials,” he said.

Jones was interested in the project as another way to reduce trauma to the child. Jones also could not find where this had been offered before to victims of child abuse. VR components would enable therapists to walk hand-in-hand with a child through a virtual courtroom, prepare for how they will feel, and remember their cop-

firm Robins & Morton and technology consultant VIATechnik then took the digital files to create an initial virtual reality courtroom experience.

“When Western Carolina University engaged us to help with this initiative, it was an easy ‘yes’,” Robins & Morton Regional VDC Manager Raney Sledge said. “Our existing relationship with VIATechnik paired with our in-house technology capabilities made us confident that we could create something that met AWAKE’s needs together. Our company tagline is Building With Purpose, and I can’t think of a project that embodies that call to action more than this one.”

Meanwhile, two other student teams focused on designing and building highquality playhouses to meet AWAKE’s needs and to be large enough for adults to interact with children inside. One playhouse will be installed at AWAKE’s Swain County location, offering a great place for outdoor therapeutic activities in the fresh air. Another will be sold as part of a fundraiser for AWAKE. America’s Home Place donated all materials for the playhouses, supported the teams, provided project feedback and is

sider next steps and seek funding to support future project phases. They said they look forward to working with students again in the future.

“They took what we needed and went far beyond our expectations,” Jones said. “I am so impressed with not only the students’ intellect but their willingness to help.”

Students appreciated the opportunity to work on the projects, with some citing it as their most enjoyable project at WCU.

Madison Christiansen from Hayesville said the hardest parts included understanding all the intricate details that go into making a design like this and using Autodesk Revit. Ethan Hibberts from Adairsville, Ga., added that another challenge was the unknowns, such as not knowing what the final site would be like. Brady Dunn of Cullowhee said the project was extremely meaningful to all of them.

“It helps us give back to the community,” Dunn said. “It’s pretty cool to work closely with the [partner] companies and the client, and we’re using the skills we’ve learned at WCU to benefit a group of individuals who have gone through a lot.”

Needmore residents face a frustrating legal landscape

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Needmore community members met June 29 at Maple Springs Baptist Church — joined by Representative Anna Ferguson and a staff member from Congressman Chuck Edwards’ office — to continue their fight against Duke Energy, which aims to route transmission lines along Needmore Road at the expense of about 45 families.

on a December 14, 2000, supplemental transmission line easement granted by Crescent Resources.

This 26-year-old easement is sensitive precisely because it is located on the NC Wildlife Resources Commission-managed Needmore Game Lands, which host a wide array of biodiversity and span over 5,000 acres.

State stewardship of this corridor is described as “balancing science-based conservation practice with public

That day, leaders shared a puzzling observation: Duke has yet to develop electricity infrastructure on a transmission easement that the company claims to possess.

While one resident said he’d seen distribution lines over part of the Little Tennessee River— the area in question — no other audience member could speak to anything but trees and foliage.

What’s more, transmission lines are generally incomparable to distribution infrastructure in terms of scale and impact. Duke’s Swain County undertaking, coined the Almond Transmission Line Project, will likely necessitate 80-to-100-foot monopoles made of galvanized steel in order to transport 66kV of electricity over long distances. On the other hand, wooden 30-to-40-foot distribution lines, often carrying about 12.5kV of electricity, power homes and businesses and are ubiquitous to many residential areas.

But even if infrastructure does not yet exist, a company could already possess the necessary right of way to construct it — as is the case for the Little Tennessee River crossing adjacent to Needmore Road.

Similarly, a Johnston County neighborhood in 2017 was caught in a property dispute after Duke Energy expressed intent to utilize a previously dormant 1987 transmission line easement. While that conflict allegedly involved improperly drawn plat maps, the utility giant’s actions then still contextualize the Needmore Road project, which relies

access and usage.” That’s why Needmore community leader John Close became suspicious after receiving word that the power company didn’t have to consult commissioners.

“[Duke Energy] said, ‘We’re going to have to expand the right of way a little bit over the gamelands,’ and so when we talked to Duke right before our last meeting, [a representative] told us, ‘No, we have the right of way that exists; we don’t even need to talk to the Wildlife Resource Commission.’ I thought that was a little bit odd that he would just say that,” he told attendees on June 29.

It makes sense that anyone looking to build on protected landscape, even with an existing right of way, would be subject to additional consideration. After all, the NCWRC only began managing state game lands in 2013, when it initiated conservation- and public access-related restrictions and took on the duty to oversee relevant land procurements. And if the same sale from Crescent Resources to Duke Energy were to occur today, the wildlife commission may not have authorized the game lands parcel.

But that’s generally not how it works with grandfathered utility easements, meaning Duke is likely legally permitted to construct within conservation-focused territory. And because transmission lines are required to be “free from interference and other vegetation at all times,” all trees above 15 feet within a Duke Energy right-of-way corridor are inspected for removal.

This ties into the legal landscape governing other aspects of utilities infrastructure, such as substations.

Resident Patrick Breedlove mentioned the circumstances surrounding Jesse Crisp’s 2023 sale to the state-regulated monopoly involving a property that would later house the substation. Several attendees were suspicious of the lack of a public announcement that typically accompanies real estate transactions.

Investor-owned utility companies do not usually have a public-facing requirement for real estate sales, instead negotiating directly with the owner. Indeed, an interested Duke Energy leaser or seller can complete a quick form about the parcel in question and, according to Duke, will receive a response within 10 business days.

That Crisp was paid $20,000 in 2023 by Duke Energy Carolinas for his work through Turnkey Service Contract Labor could seem problematic, but conflict-of-interest involvement generally does not arise unless insider knowledge was conveyed about Duke’s plans for the parcel — and measures taken as a result.

Nonetheless, the planned Almond substation as well as the existing Needmore easement share a perceived absence of transparency that has caused frustration among residents. Many feel sidelined by actions Duke has taken without public announcement as well as by the company’s lack of responsiveness to queries about the project, especially those regarding the route eventually chosen.

“We all presented some questions to [Duke], some very specific questions that they committed to getting us answers to, and to this day we’ve requested in writing, we haven’t gotten that,” said meeting co-organizer Rena Coleman.

The Almond project affects more properties than the two alternate routes Duke had initially considered, and residents said the company has yet to explain its reason for selecting the Needmore corridor. This could be especially frustrating because, when it comes to easement acquisition, the law also prioritizes utilities corporations above property owners. Eminent domain is reserved for such a situation on the grounds that power lines are installed as a public good.

Duke Energy claims the Almond 66 kilovolt project will “help provide reliable, increasingly clean electricity”, “better serve current and growing energy needs” and “help improve reliability,” including severe weather resiliency.

To the first statement about clean energy, however, environmental groups argue that Duke Energy’s 2025 Carolinas Resource Plan is anything but. It proposes constructing 12 natural gas plants, decreasing reliance on wind farms and expanding nuclear power through a new reactor. Potential consequences include rising carbon dioxide emissions, a potentially less reliable energy supply and hefty consumer costs.

As for the latter claims, the 2025 plan describes growing power needs as applicable to consumers — and also industrial users. In the first quarter of this year, new Duke contracts with data centers added an additional 2.7 gigawatts of energy service, likely requiring transmission buildouts. A right-of-way in this instance, though only encompassing part of the property, could have far-reaching impacts to homeowners, including limiting future construction and natural features while requiring around-the-clock maintenance access.

State law dictates that “the determination of the amount of compensation shall reflect the value of the property,” but that’s little, if any, comfort to Needmore residents, who share an unparalleled attachment to the place each calls home.

“My dad has fought cancer. He is on his fourth round,” Suzanne Allen Howard told attendees, adding that while the land is not a lot, at 15 acres, it “means everything to him.”

“We all know there’s very little taxable land here, so not only is that family land that’s no longer usable, but it may mean that they have to relocate. So, it’s heartbreaking for us,” she said. “My dad doesn’t know of this …. because that would probably take him off this earth.”

Renew NC launches community infrastructure program for WNC

The North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Community Revitalization announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity. The first round of the community infrastructure  grants will make $55 million of the total $193 million federal funding allocation available to help local governments in Western North Carolina strengthen infrastructure and improve resilience against natural hazards.

“Western North Carolina communities are working hard to rebuild, and this federal funding will help ensure their infrastructure is safer and stronger,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Together, we’re protecting homes, supporting local economies and making sure our communities are better able to withstand future storms.”

Local governments can apply through the Renew NC Community Infrastructure Program, the fourth disaster initiative from the DCR. This competitive program requires infrastructure projects to include mitigation components and align with local plans. Priority will be given to shovel-ready projects, those using adaptable technologies, projects with additional funding sources, those that support longterm recovery and those serving low- to moderate-income communities.

ters; physical upgrades and rehabilitation assistance for public utility services.  This first round of funding will award priority points to water and sewer (categories D and F), parks and recreation facilities (category G) and roads and bridges projects. Mitigation-only projects will not be awarded during this round.

All projects must be tied to Hurricane Helene recovery and meet HUD and federal program requirements. The application period opens July 6, 2026, and closes at 5 p.m. Sept. 8, 2026. To view the full NOFO, including eligibility criteria, scoring methodology and application materials, visit the commerce.nc.gov website.

Local governments in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene now have access to new community infrastructure grants. File photo

Renew NC is North Carolina’s long-term disaster recovery initiative, funded through a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Community Infrastructure Program will fund projects in HUD- and state-identified Most Impacted and Distressed areas, including Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, part of Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey counties.

“Today represents a critical step in helping local governments not just recover but build safer and more resilient infrastructure,” said NC Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “The Renew NC Community Infrastructure Program will support projects that are ready to move forward and deliver lasting benefits for our communities in western North Carolina that need it most.”

Award amounts will generally range from $500,000 to $15 million per project. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to: Acquisition, demolition, site preparation, or renovation of properties; flood control and stormwater management systems; restoration of public spaces, including parks and community cen-

Local governments are strongly encouraged to complete online prescreening before submitting an application. While not required for application submission, prescreening helps potential applicants assess project and organizational readiness prior to entering the competitive application process.

“We want to set our applicants up for success, and prescreening is an important step in that process — and it’s free,” said DCR Deputy Secretary Stephanie McGarrah. “Communities that complete prescreening can receive technical assistance from program staff to help refine their projects.”

The prescreening tool is available through the Renew NC Grant Portal. After submission, DCR staff will follow up to discuss next steps. A step-bystep guide to the prescreening process is available to read and watch online.

For more information about the Renew NC Community Infrastructure Program, including access to a program toolkit, visit the program webpage or email dcr.grants@commerce.nc.gov. Videos providing a program overview and information about CDBG and CDBG-DR funding can be viewed at the DCR’s YouTube channel.

Additional information about Renew NC programs is available at he commercerecovery.nc.gov website.

JCPL July meeting steeped in confusion

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

Jackson County Public Library board

trustees alongside Library Director Grace Powell convened July 2 to discuss board bylaws and system updates — and yet the most informative aspect of the meeting is what was left unsaid.

JCPL on July 1 officially separated from the Fontana Regional Library system.

However, Jackson County appears to have set up its library without a clear governance structure. Contradictory messaging about the role of the current board could be one contributing factor. Concern about trustees’ responsibilities surfaced soon after the meeting commenced during informal public comment.

“The bylaws have established this board as an advisory body, and my hope is that it

does not exist merely to create the appearance of fair community oversight, while the real direction of our new library system is determined elsewhere,” said Rachel Humphrey, adding that librarians and trustees, unlike those “interested in advancing personal, religious and political agendas,” possess the expertise needed to govern JCPL.

Trustee Lauren Baxley, addressing the

statement, noted that the bylaws were consistent with previous board iterations. That said, she explained, the document typically does not outline library commitments to viewpoint neutrality, equal access and acting in service of every resident, principles Humphrey had pressed trustees to include.

“Some of those specific statements will be found in other policies,” Baxley told the audience. F

Daniel is a WNC local who specializes in NMT, Trigger Point Therapy, and Deep Tissue Massage. In his continuing education journey he has studied various modalities including traditional Thai techniques, Reflexology and Myofascial Release. He believes massage can be a powerful tool in a holistic approach to healing and self care.

But Baxley wasn’t sure what those policies would look like. She later posed a question demonstrating just how little had been communicated by commissioners.

“I was just curious, when all of this transition initially took place, I know that [Trustee Beth James] asked about the longrange plan and all of that. At that point they had said our board would be working on those things. Are those still things that we will be doing as a board? Do we know what our objectives are for coming months?” she asked.

While in the past, advisory trustees would consult the governing FRL body on certain issues — and membership overlapped between boards — Chair Linda Potter on July 2 informed other appointees of an entirely different purpose.

“[Powell] will be working on policies. We have not been given that charge,” she responded.

“Those [policies] have to be voted on by the commissioners,” explained Powell.

After the meeting, however, The Smoky Mountain News received conflicting information.

“The library board, along with me, will implement the new policies, including the collection development policy which governs how we select new materials,” Powell wrote in a July 6 email.

She alluded to an inability to obtain information — alongside what seemed to be exclusion from library management — when responding to Humphrey’s concerns about the community room utilization policy at the start of the session.

“I am in constant contact, asking for updates. And so that is unfortunately out of our hands,” she said.

The Jackson Library Director job description posted February 2026 maintains that said position “will plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and review the county’s library resources, personnel, facilities, services and programs to respond to the needs of the community. Work is performed under the general supervision of the County Manager.”

County Manager Kevin King was absent July 2.

Placing such restrictions on the JCPL director constitutes an unusual method of governance not considered best practice by state nor the American Library Association. According to the Library of North Carolina, library directors are responsible for informing the board of necessary policy changes or implementations which then become official guidelines of the system. The board, if in an advisory role, would “recommend policies to governing body.”

Yet despite Powell’s email to SMN, the collection development policy on July 2 went without mention. She and board members were tasked only with deciding such details as the fines and fees schedule and automatic renewals. Both were kept identical to FRL guidelines due to some trustees’ desire to preserve continuity through the transition period.

Generally, JCPL will apply two autorenewals — with the option to request a third renewal — to library materials that

haven’t been placed on hold by another patron. Any overdue item but a reference book or AV equipment is subject to a daily 25-cent fine up to a $10 maximum payment. Reference books and AV equipment incur a $2 daily fine and up to a $50 maximum payment.

The fines and fees vote was unanimous; automatic renewals was near-unanimous, with all in favor but Trustee David Parker.

James was not in attendance July 2, though an email she’d sent with recommendations sparked the idea of hosting a reopening celebration at both libraries.

According to Powell, the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library — with only two staff members — wouldn’t have enough capacity to host, though she and others thought the Sylva branch could accommodate such an event in late August or early September.

Powell also shared updates about library management and logistics. While users’ FRL cards will still work, she encouraged the public to try out the new JCPL cards as well. Patrons will retain access to Libby but must re-verify their accounts.

“Just remove your card, add it back, and you’re going to get to select ‘Jackson County Public Library.’ You will keep all of your history, you will keep all of your current checkouts, and all of your goals,” she explained, adding that Kanopy works the same way.

JCPL has created a Facebook page and provisional website located under Jackson County - Departments - Public Library.

NC Cardinal and NC LIVE are active and can accept FRL or JCPL cards.

Monthly programing will continue, from adult workshops to youth activities to summer bingo, and schedules will be posted in a new library newsletter.

According to a Jackson County news release, Tech Time is paused temporarily but is expected to restart as soon as possible.

The release also noted that beginning July 6, the Sylva and Cashiers libraries opened with regular weekly schedules. The Historic Jackson County Courthouse location will be closed Sundays, open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m., to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library will be closed each Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The meeting wrapped up with Powell’s announcement of two open full-time positions — assistant one and assistant director — in Sylva and three — branch manager, assistant one and administrative assistant — in Cashiers.

She clarified later that JCPL will adopt FRL policies as interim guidelines pending board discussion and approval.

“I do not have a date for when the board will discuss all of the policies, but the discussion will be on the agenda that is available for public request before the meeting when we are ready,” Powell informed SMN.

The board reconvenes Oct. 8 at 3 p.m.

One day in the shower …

One thing about aging is that you never really know how, when, or where you will be blindsided. I was in the shower yesterday getting ready to go out with the family for the big fireworks display at Lake Junaluska, and it occurred to me that this isn’t really something I do anymore, this showering at 5 or 6 p.m. on a Friday before going out to do something.

Just like that, I was twenty again, back for a spell in the house I grew up in, skinny as a stick but with thickening biceps from all the barbell curls in the basement, in that olive green bathtub washing my thick and lustrous hair with a big handful of “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” while Kansas belted out “Carry On, My Wayward Son” on the clock radio.

“Don’t you cry no more, NO!” Guitar.

Mom is in the kitchen frying perch and making mashed potatoes. She’ll open a jar of apples fetched from the root cellar to go with it. This is my favorite meal, one notch ahead of her spaghetti, as far as I am concerned. I’ll wolf it down and then go meet Stewart in town at the gas station or the bowling alley.

We’ll grab a twelve-pack of Michelob and some Tic Tacs and hit the road, heading maybe to Grandfather’s in Galax, or Tobacco Road, or maybe that new place down in Wilkes County. But probably Tobacco Road, especially if there’s a good band tonight, maybe Sidewinder or Avalanche or even Nantucket, who made it big enough to open for KISS with a song called “Heartbreaker.”

If it’s them, we’ll need to get there an hour early to get a table.

I can smell the fried perch even when I’m in the shower, even with the door closed. And the apples, sprinkled with cinnamon, warming on the stove. Will we be picking up Buddy or will he be riding with Shawn? Wonder if those Lane sisters

Don’t trash millions of Trump supporters

To the Editor:

I am writing to offer a different perspective than the one presented in the recent letter, “The grift goes on for Donny & Co.”

While the author is quick to lean on tired, highly charged rhetoric like “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and labels like “manbaby,” these emotional insults do a disservice to the millions of everyday Americans who support Donald Trump and the political shift he represents.

To claim that millions of voters are supporting “war, racism, and greed” is not only a gross mischaracterization, but it also fundamentally ignores why people vote the way they do. Supporters of Trump are looking for a country with strong borders, economic stability and a government that puts the economic well-being of its own citizens first. Framing this as a “destruction of democracy” ignores the fact that democratic processes — namely, free and open elections — are precisely how these leaders are put into office.

Furthermore, blaming the fundamental structure of our republic, like the Electoral College, simply because a specific political outcome didn’t go your way is incredibly short-sighted. The founders explicitly

from Hillsville will be there? It’s not yet clear which of them likes which of us, or the other way around. But something’s happening. We know that much.

What I don’t know yet is how absolutely precious this time is, partly because there is so much of it. Just about everybody I know and love is alive. One dead grandfather that I barely knew and hardly remember, my most vivid memory of him as he was laid out in his coffin in his own living room, his grown children filing up one at a time to see him, and then turning back.

I was startled to see my father in tears. And my grandmother, sitting at the kitchen table, stoic, composed, her eyes moist but resolute. I was nine. He was always looking for his liquor, and she was always hiding it. I found a bottle of whisky once in a basket of laundry, nestled like a rabbit.

He offered me a dollar to find it. She offered me two dollars to keep it hidden. There wasn’t much more to it than that. My other grandfather was a stern man, but he taught me how to shoot a gun and how to skin a rabbit and how to play “Wildwood Flower” on his old Martin guitar.

But he lived a long time. Too long. Well past the time when Alzheimer’s took the better part of him. I would go see him sometimes in the rest home. He didn’t know me at all. Or anybody else really. A nurse fed him little bites of fruit cocktail, which he accepted like a baby bird, his head turned up and his mouth open. There wasn’t much more left of him than that.

But I was a grown man by then, with a job and a mortgage, getting through a divorce, in therapy. By then, I knew

LETTERS

designed the Electoral College to ensure that all states, including smaller and more rural regions, have a voice, preventing a few highly populated urban centers from dictating policy for the entire nation.

It is easy to wake up sick or angry about the current state of politics, but misrepresenting the motivations of your fellow citizens won’t bridge the divide. We need to focus on actual policies and results rather than relying on hyperbole and personal attacks.

Burke Clark  Former Canton

resident

Donkeys showing their gluteus maximus

To the Editor:

Why are Democrats so fond of radical political candidates? And do Democrats hate America?

Graham Platner, the Democrat from Maine who is Senate candidate, has a Nazi SS nipple tattoo, claims of extra-marital sexting and says that he pleasures himself in portapotties. He refers to himself as a Communist and a self labeled “antifa super soldier.” His income comes from his military disability payments and being a dockmaster over 17

Chris Cox will read from and discuss his new book, “We Didn’t Miss a Thing,” with well-known Hollywood

Sean Bridgers at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at City

too much. How fast this life can be, or how miserably slow. By then, I knew more about time than I really wanted to know. I could comprehend the end of it. By then, there was quite a burgeoning community of the dead.

Now here I am pondering which Medicare plan I should get on in November. All of my grandparents are long gone. My parents are gone, too. Classmates. Friends. Old roommates. About as many people on one side of the ledger as the other.

When I was in the green bathtub showering and looking forward to perch and mashed potatoes and fried apples and the thrilling array of possibilities on those endless Friday nights, time was an ocean. I knew there was another side, but I could neither see nor comprehend it.

When I was with my grandfather in the rest home, time was a lake. I could see the other side now, but not swim to it. Still so much water. You wouldn’t want to set out rowing for it.

When I went to the dentist a few months ago and we were discussing potential dental work relative to the amount of time I probably have left and whether this procedure or that one made more sense in light of the implacable facts of my own mortality, I could see that time is now a stream, one I could step across at any moment, the other side just that close, the community over there much like the one I knew as a boy, when everything seemed like it might stay just the way it was from then on. Why would I think otherwise?

God only knows what happened to those Lane sisters. Carry on my wayward, son. There’ll be peace when you are done.

boats in Sullivan, Maine.

Adam Hamawy won the 2026 N.J. Democratic primary for a congressional seat. His qualifications are he is a Muslim, an Islamist and has ties to Al Qaeda. He hates Israel.

James Talarico, the Texas 2026 Democrat Senate candidate, says he doesn’t believe Jesus is Lord or King. This Presbyterian says that God is non-binary and that there are six genders. He also said that women are neighbors with a uterus. He claims the Bible does not address homosexuality or abortion. Makes you wonder who is teaching in his church.

New York Democrats want to replace the terms mother and father with a gestating or non-gestating person. Why? Birth certificates are happy with the clarity of mother and father.

York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Abdul El-Sayed is a Michigan Democratic Senate candidate. He wore a mask as late as the spring of 2022. He wants to abolish capitalism and the police. Progressive streamer Hasan Piker supports him.

The antisemites, once a fringe element of

N.Y. 2026 Democrat House candidate Avila Chevalier deleted her anti-American tweets. She is a proud member of the New York Democratic Socialists of America. Avila is anti-Israel and is proudly supported by New

the Donkey party, now control Democrat national policy. A Gallup poll showed 65% of Democrats sympathized with the Palestinians and 17% with the Israelis.

Many in the Democratic Party enthusiastically supported podcaster

New commissioner districts a bad idea

To the Editor:

Last week, the Macon County Planning Board rushed through a plan to recommend new commissioner district maps that would dilute representation for many residents in our county. Currently, Macon County commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. District 2, where about 60% of our population lives, has three commissioners. District 1 (Highlands/Scaly) and District 3 (Nantahala/Cowee) — each with approximately 20% of the population — have one commissioner each. Because of the staggered terms, voters in District 2 can elect a commissioner every two years. Currently, commissioners are elected by all voters countywide.

Despite the significance of this issue, the planning board offered no clear decision criteria and no data analysis to justify its recommendation. One county commissioner, serving as liaison to the board, argued for the map that would enlarge Districts 1 and 3 while shrinking District 2. Under this recommended proposal, each of the three newly defined districts would have one commissioner who must reside in the district, plus two “at-large” commissioners who could live anywhere in the county. All five commissioners would still be elected by all Macon County voters.

The commissioner pushing this plan openly stated there is a “really good candidate” in his district who could run for one of the new at-large seats in two years, instead of waiting for the current term to expire. He is correct — and that is exactly the problem. Under this flawed configuration, it would be feasible for up to three commissioners to live in a less populated area of our county. It would also be feasible for three commissioners to live in the town of Franklin. In either case, Macon County

Hasan Piker, whose favorite flag is Hezbollah’s. His statements include “America deserved 9/11”. So pay attention, it seems Democrats believe they must massage those radical, terrorist-loving candidates, while rejecting the mores of the American base.

A House Resolution to honor the life of Charlie Kirk got little Democrat support. fifty-eight voted no, 22 didn’t bother to show up and 38 cowardly Democrats voted present.

Please tell me: Are there any moderate Democrats left like the wonderful Georgia Senator Sam Nunn? For those of you who have “Proud to be a Democrat” bumper stickers, do your research: the old Democrat Party has left you. This is not the party of JFK or Bill Clinton. This is not your parents’ or your grandparents’ party. This party is anti America.

Let me suggest a call to your primary doctor. Enumerate your symptoms: fussy angry outbursts which may include kicking the dog or ripping Fox News off the wall. Include foaming at the mouth with hands clenched at the sight of a MAGA hat. Ask

residents would have under-representation or over-representation depending on where one lives.

To make matters worse, the liaison commissioner said there is no other county in North Carolina with a configuration like the one the planning board just endorsed. The liaison commissioner also claimed that our current map is unconstitutional. That assertion was directly refuted with reference to North Carolina statute 153A-58, yet the board still moved ahead with this untested model.

During the meeting, a reasonable alternative was put forward and largely ignored: align the three District 2 commissioner terms so they expire at the same time. That change would remove the opportunity for someone from District 2 to run every two years, while preserving the current structure and potentially avoid the need for state legislative approval. It is a simple solution that addresses the stated concern without undermining representation for large parts of the county. The vast majority of public comments supported a configuration that would have five districts of equal size, each with a county commissioner representative.

Macon County should not approve a new district map designed around political ambitions that could lead to reducing the voices of Macon residents. Our commissioners should reject this recommendation, insist on a process grounded in clear criteria and data and adopt a solution that protects fair representation for all communities in Macon County.

This recommendation now goes to the Macon Board of Commissioners and, if they approve it, on to the state legislature for final action. I urge Macon County residents to contact their commissioners and state legislators to demand a fair, transparent redistricting process that puts community representation ahead of personal political gain.

Lisa Walker Franklin

for strong drugs to combat TDS — Trump Derangement Syndrome! Expect a prescription for bed rest, and absolutely no trips to the post office!

William “Bodie” Catlin III Highlands Precinct Chair, Macon County GOP

Sinclair gets it wrong on Madami

To the Editor: I recently sent this letter to WLOS: I won’t watch the 6 o’clock news on WLOS as long as the National News Desk is featured. Calling Zohran Mandami a “Commie” on last night’s (June 2) broadcast is not only childish, but inaccurate as well. He is a Democratic Socialist. Your parent company, Sinclair Broadcasting, is on record as saying that the National News Desk is “unbiased.” Sinclair is invested in Project 2025, whose goal is to reshape American culture in a very narrow and non-inclusive way. David Stearns, Otto

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Scott Low is a true troubadour. Based just over the state line in Clayton, Georgia, he’s been a professional musician around Southern Appalachia for many years now. He’s also a great father and devoted husband, a fly fishing guide and oversees the Hatch Camp & Art Farm, his creative oasis for live music and cultural gatherings.

I first met Low not long after I moved to Western North Carolina to work for this newspaper in 2012. Back then, he was hosting a popular house concert series in Clayton. I’d find myself there and, like clockwork, would discover my new favorite band on an otherwise quiet night in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since then, I’ve watched Low evolve as an artist and performer, but more so as a human being. He’s proudly and fiercely independent, whether it be with his music, how he lives his life, or simply his unrelenting desire to disappear into the ancient woods surrounding his home. In truth, it all ties together, this juncture of tone and talent, nature and nurture.

Low’s latest album, “Highlander Mountain Blues,” is a live recording from one of his weekly blues gigs at the Highlander Mountain House in downtown Highlands. The residency will celebrate its 100th performance on July 16. For Low, the milestone is something to acknowledge and embrace. It’s also a moment

to pause and reflect on his continued journey of song and self.

Smoky Mountain News: How was the residency initially sparked?

Scott Low: My good friend Caleb Caudle was booked to play the “Salon Concert Series” at the Highlander Mountain House. My wife and I attended the show and met [owner] Jason Reeves. We connected on music, fly fishing and exchanged numbers. After experiencing the great feeling of the venue, I reached out for a winter weekly residency and we agreed to “Blues, Burgers and Brews” every Thursday starting [in] December 2023.

I was a rookie slide player but set out to learn one or two slide blues “standards” a week from Lightnin’ Hopkins to Mississippi Fred McDowell/John Hurt and many more. In the next few months, I really got to hone this slide blues thing and started putting my own old and new songs into this new tuning and style.

SMN: What does that number, 100, mean when you place it against all of those gigs and dedication to the HMH residency?

SL: After a couple months of doing “Thursday Blues,” Jason sat and listened. After the show, we had a drink and he said, “You can have this gig til you die; sign it in blood right now.” And I honestly answered, “Nah, one of us will probably get sick of this.” We joked about that conversation when we were setting

States’ greatest innovation and export, in my opinion. And without the slave chants and hard times of the southern Black family, there is no blues, jazz, rock [or] country.

I do believe a lot of blues has been forced into this homogenized guitar ego fluffing blues rock that fills XM [radio] and blues festivals. And we have lost the effort to serve the song, not just ego. The ability of lyrics and variety in song form to affect the audience has become a lost art in the genre. Robert Johnson and Charlie Patton were not taking 28 choruses of guitar pyrotechnic solos or just repeating the same hook every verse, every song.

The blues must respect the past, but also see the road forward with innovation, not just imitators.

Want to go?

Scott Low releases new live album

up the 100th show celebration, [because] neither of us are sick of it.

Jason told me to play whatever I wanted, [so] Thursdays were to be my testing laboratory for this whole new sound. I’m so grateful for a listening receptive supportive venue to let me glue this folk/blues thing together. This gig has led me to connecting with the Atlanta Blues Society and to winning the “Blues Challenge” [that] they sent us to at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this past January.

SMN: What have you come to love about the blues?

SL: It’s kind of crazy because I have a love/hate relationship with the blues. I definitely started playing guitar because I saw Buddy Guy in the early 1990s, but then went journeying through jam, jazz, hip hop, electronica, southern rock and more. Three years ago, I came back around [to the blues].

I love the lore and mythology [of the blues] but also know I have to walk a thin line, as it is a very Black American art, and hold respect for cultural suffering and the long history of oppression. I always come back to Lightnin’ Hopkins saying, “Don’t matter who you are, everyone has the blues.”

I really try to feature more unknown artists like Mance Lipscomb and Pink Anderson. But there are definitely lyrics I will not sing out of respect for the dark past. Music is the United

Singer-songwriter and blues/indie-folk extraordinaire Scott Low will host a special performance for his album release of “Highlander Mountain Blues” at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 12, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. Tickets are $14.05 to $16.11 per person (tax included).

Low also has a weekly “Blues Night” residency from 6-9 p.m. on Thursdays in The Ruffled Grouse Tavern at the Highlander Mountain House in Highlands. Those shows are free and open to the public. Reservations encouraged. To RSVP, visit highlandermountainhouse.com/calendar.

For more information on Low and/or to purchase tickets to The Grey Eagle release party, visit scottlowsongs.com. To learn about the Hatch Camp & Art Farm, visit facebook.com/hatchcamp.

SMN: I really admire how DIY you are, and how you’ve always carved your own path, on your own terms, and in your own time.

SL: Art is everlasting. We still see petroglyphs as art. I study music that is 110 years old. I don’t set out to make just entertainment, I want to leave a trail of art, rooted to the masters of the craft, something that resonates for a long time. The best art makes you feel. In the age of hyper-digital subscription capitalism, the biggest acts of rebellion may be being an independent creative.

I love the human connections with fellow musicians and listeners and getting to travel around solo or with friends to amazing places, then make sounds to help someone escape their stresses to enjoy some of mine. I’ve made so many lifelong friends through this art thing.

And I’m always seeking to learn more or find some new blues sound. Every great artist old or young is a mentor or someone I can learn from, and I try to respect any effort one makes to create. It is our job as artists to keep the art alive and flowing. We must remember the Mance Lipscombs and teach the youth of our nation about our greatest export and innovation — music.

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘I caught this ramblin’ fever long ago, when I first heard a lonesome whistle blow’

Hello from Niantic, Connecticut, along the Long Island Sound. The early July sunset this evening was filled with bright pink and purple hues. The faint scent of the Atlantic Ocean wafting through the cracked windows of this fine abode.

I found myself here after a six-hour-or-so drive from my folks’ farmhouse up near the Canadian Border in Upstate New York. It meant a lot to spend some quality time with them on their own turf, with our usual rendezvous points being when they head to Saint Augustine, Florida, in March or when they visit me in Waynesville once the leaves change colors in October.

This fine abode is the home of my girlfriend’s parents. Rebecca was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, only to have her folks build here years ago when she was a kid as a summer beach house. It’s an incredibly aweinspiring property, one with polished wood floors and big windows looking onto the ancient waters. Not to mention the large kitchen island where her family gathers often.

tial participants are up early enough to compete. Good thing I brought my running shoes. Grab the coolers. Fill with ice and beverages. Soak in the sunshine. Watch the fireworks at dusk.

A house of nine new faces I’ve never met and have yet to interact with, at least until we rolled into the driveway tonight. Her parents, three siblings, their significant others and the grandkids. For many, it might seem overwhelming. For me, I interview strangers for a living and constantly find myself in overwhelming social situations. So, I feel right at home, honestly. And it feels really nice, and kind of surreal, to actually have a place and plan for July 4.

To preface, I’ve been pretty much a transient soul since I left the North Country after high school graduation. My aim was (and remains) to continuously run towards the unknown horizon. This means, many-atime, I’m on that journey alone, or alongside other curious faces also in the same boat.

Thus, actual plans and family activities on the holidays are kind of rare or foreign to my wayward self, where usually I’m the holiday orphan to others.

HOT PICKS

1

Acclaimed writer Chris Cox will present his latest book, “We Didn't Miss a Thing,” in conversation with well-known Hollywood actor/screenwriter Sean Bridgers at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

2

Hazelwood Proud will present “A Celebration of Community and History: A Map Project Festival” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Folkmoot Community Center in Waynesville.

3

The 35th annual Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11-12 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

4

“Riverside Artisan Market” will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City.

5

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.

Over the last week, I was in my native North Country, running around the Champlain Valley and surrounding Adirondack Mountains, all while meeting crazy deadlines and doing interviews over my smart phone in the front room of the farmhouse (the only room with ideal cell service to do so). The organized chaos never ends, and thankfully. I remember those early years, desperately in search of adequate work in the realm of the written word.

Nonetheless, I’ve been on the road since mid-June. Western North Carolina to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to Keene, New Hampshire, to New Harbor, Maine, to Plattsburgh, New York, onward to Niantic. Being back in Connecticut has jogged a lot of fond and dusty memories of when I attended college near here, not far down Interstate 95 in Hamden. That was 19 years ago. Where does the time go, eh? Feels like a lifetime ago, a time now only fuzzy in recollection.

In a little more than an hour, it’ll be the Fourth of July. Plans are already in works to wake up early for the neighborhood patriotic parade at 10 a.m. There’s also talk of a family pickleball tournament at some point in the morning, depending on if enough of the poten-

The weird thing, in a deeply poignant sense of gratitude, is that I’ve always imagined this kind of scenario, this actual scene that’s unfolding before me in just the first few hours here at the beach house. I didn’t grow up in a big immediate family, nor did most of my young/current adulthood emerge into the normal avenues of holiday traditions or family obligations. I remain.

Crossing the 40-year mark of my existence last year really put a clarifying lens on not only my mind’s eye of what the next decade of my life may look like, but, more importantly, of how I want to walk this earth and position myself. It’s not that I want to slow down (I don’t know how). It’s more about setting time purposely aside to immerse myself in the normalcy and grandeur of connecting into a family dynamic I haven’t felt in my heart since I was a kid.

Sure, I chose this life, and I stand by it. No regrets. Hardscrabble joy. The endless miles of the open road and having weird, wondrous experiences along the way is how I hoped/wanted to spend my time. And yet, I also yearn for the 10 a.m. Independence Day parades that I never got to experience throughout the years, seeing as I was already beyond the horizon to the next adventure on any given day, holiday obligations for you and yours in my rearview mirror. Who knows what the future holds? I’m

game for it all. And what matters most is the here and now, this exact moment in the present. Everyone I just met is already fast asleep and recharging themselves for tomorrow’s endeavors, myself typing away wildly at the dining room table, the only sound besides the laptop keyboard being the undulation of the nearby dishwasher, a symbolic gesture of another dinner shared between loved ones at the beach house.

The summer has just begun and yet it’s already zipping by, as per usual. Once the Fourth of July is crossed off the proverbial wall calendar, then it’s beach days, swimming holes and hearty conversation in the fading, warm sunshine, drinks held high and in unison to those who are within actual reach and not via sporadic texts or phone calls that become more sparse as time marches on.

Connecticut. Time and place. The smell of the ocean. Sounds of Rebecca unpacking her luggage upstairs. The undulating dishwasher and the manic typing. I keep reminding myself to take mental pictures of these things, especially the drive down here, where I kept looking over at her and smiling amid conversation about nothing and everything (and everything in between). And also those mental pictures of our time up in the Adirondacks with my parents, or when we went for a cold, refreshing dip at my beloved Split Rock.

How are you holding up? Family OK? I wish you and yours the best in these weird and confusing times. I hope that your July Fourth was filled with hot dogs and handshakes, cold beers and a true sense that tomorrow is another day, another chance to embrace the endless possibilities of the universe.

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.

‘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.

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

• “Riverside Artisan Market” will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City. Shop local for jewelry, pottery, unique creations and fresh goods from talented artisans and farmers every month (MaySeptember). Free and open to the public. For more information, visit noc.com/events.

• “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.

On the table

A work by Julie Bagamary. Donated photo

• 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.

• 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 open from 4-8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays and a special wine tasting at 5 p.m. on Saturdays ($20 per person). There will also be a “Vinter Dinner” with High End Artisan Burgundy winemaker Numa Cornut of Domaine Numa Cornut and founder JeanPhilippe Bourgeois of JP-Bourgeois Importers at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11 ($125 per person, which includes tax, gratuity, six wines, and food pairings). 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.

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.

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

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 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.

• 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 semi-regular wine dinners. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

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

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held 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.

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

• 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.

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-a-kind 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.

Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show

Arts and crafts come together in Maggie Valley July 11-12. File photo

The 35th annual Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11-12 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

At Maggie Valley’s largest gathering of artisans and crafters, over 100 vendors come together to sell their handmade treasures. Artisans from all over the Southeast will be in attendance.

The show features chainsaw art demonstrations and lots of festival food. Seasonal items, yard art, paintings, photography, pottery, wooden bowls, furniture, jewelry, goat

milk soaps and more will be featured at the event.

“There really is something for everyone, from the most affordable handicrafts, to the more expensive museum quality items,” said Teresa Smith, promoter of the event.

Food trucks and beverage vendors will also be onsite. The event is free and open to the public. Donations appreciated, with proceeds going to the Haywood County Animal Shelter. Parking is free.

For more information, call 828.926.1686 or visit maggievalley.org.

‘A Celebration of Community’ in Hazelwood

Hazelwood Proud will present “A Celebration of Community and History: A Map Project Festival” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Friendship Center. File photo

The festival will feature the largest community-drawn map project in Western North Carolina and aims to encourage families to participate in activities that promote cultural engagement and social interaction. Members of the community and the media are invited to experience a day filled with music, dance, artistic and wellness demonstrations, historical presentations and more.

For more information, please visit hazelwoodproud.org or contact Ken Czarnomski at 828.734.2262 or hazelwoodproud@gmail.com.

• “Waynesville First Friday: Shop, Sip, Stroll” will take place from 5-8 p.m. the first Friday of each month. 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.

On the beat

• Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library (Cashiers) will host “Community Jam Sessions” from 2-4 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Informal jamming. All skill levels are welcome. Free and open to the public. 828.743.0215 / fontanalib.org/cashiers.

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

• 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.

at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Suns Of Stars July 10 and Arnold Hill (rock/jam) July 17. 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.

13, Frances Eliza (singer-songwriter) 5:30 p.m. July 15, Cam Norton & Kass Blount July 17, Rick Yates 1 p.m. July 18, PhunXue July 18 and Marley’s Chain 3 p.m. July 19. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.

• 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.

• 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

‘Concerts on the Creek’

The Town of Sylva, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce will continue the 17th season of the annual “Concerts on the Creek” music series.

Popular Jackson County rock/jam act Arnold Hill will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, July 17, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

Formed in 2011, the Jackson County band is named after a road in Sylva where the musicians lived and practiced. In method, Arnold Hill adheres to the playful nature and

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

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

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

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host “Music Bingo 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.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and Asheville Mountain Boys (bluegrass/classic country) 5 p.m. July 24 ($15 adults, $7.50 kids). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/concert-series.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo with DJ Mox” Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.

creative possibilities that reside in the rock quartet.

“Concerts on the Creek” are held every Friday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, with donations encouraged. Dogs must be on a leash. No smoking, vaping, coolers or tents are allowed. There will be food trucks on select nights.

For more information, call the chamber at 828.586.2155, visit mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek or go to the “Concerts on the Creek” Facebook page.

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 Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) July 8 and Brian Ashley Jones (Americana) July 15 and July 22. All shows begin at 5 p.m. and admission is $30 per person unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Bob Zullo (guitar/vocals) July 10 ($10 cover), David Witte (piano/vocals) July 17 ($10 cover) and Ron Lee (Frank Sinatra & The Rat Pack tribute) dinner/music July 18 ($80 per person, tax and gratuity included). All shows begin at 6 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The kitchen and wine bar will open

• Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.631.4795 / thecutcocktaillounge.com.

• Dancing On The Square (Robbinsville) will host The Sundown Band (oldies) July 10 and Kevin Tuck & Tuckaseegee July 17. 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 Erick Baker Trio (Americana) July 22. 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 (July 12 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) and semi-regular live music monthly. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.

• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Blackwell Tradition July 10 and Foxfire Boys (Americana/bluegrass) July 17. 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, Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak 5:30 p.m. July 9, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) July 10, Andrew Scotchie (singer-songwriter) July 11, Chris Caruso (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. July 12, “Beats & Feets Drum/Dance Circle” July

• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host Gotcha Groove July 24. 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 8, Doug Ramsay July 9, Canon Cohen Band July 10, Rock Holler July 11, Steel Creek July 16, Charles Walker July 17 and Alamo July 18. 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 Gladys Knight (R&B/soul) 8 p.m. July 10. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• 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) 13 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, the “Salon Series” with Iris Copperman (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. July 23 ($41.84 per person, tax included). Reservations encouraged for all performances. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Three American Troubadours (singer-songwriter) 7:30 p.m. July 17. 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.

• 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

Whiteside gets the blues

Americana/blues-folk singer-songwriter

Woolybooger will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Whiteside Brewing in Cashiers.

Dubbed “music to grow your hair out to,” the Murphy musician, whose real name is Gavin Graves, is well-regarded in this region for his mix of blues and roots music into a unique Southern Appalachian tone.

Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.

Woolybooger. File photo

p.m. Mondays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Grizzly Mammoth (rock/jam) July 11 and The V8s (rock/oldies) July 18. 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, Hammock Theory (funk/reggae) July 10 and Bryan & Al (rock/pop) July 17. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• 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 Thursday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Music By The River (Cherokee) on the Kanunohi Park Stage will feature Sugah & Thuh Cubes July 10-11 and Moody Lite July 17-18. Music runs 6-9 p.m. Free and open to the public. visitcherokeenc.com.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. July 9 (at Big Wesser), Asheville Junction (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. July 10, Michael Corwin (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. July 11, Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (Americana) 5 p.m. July 11, Dave Desmelik (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. July 12, “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. July 16, Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. July 17, Andy Ferrell (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. July 18, Beer & Loathing (rock/honky-tonk) 5 p.m. July 18 and Hillside Ramblers (Americana) 2 p.m. July 19. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com/events/2026-summer-music-series.

• Old Edwards Inn (Highlands) will host live

music in the Hummingbird Lounge at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

• 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.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “Songwriters Showcase #62” July 18. 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 Blue Jazz (rock/soul) July 11. 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.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host “Karaoke” 8 p.m. Fridays and semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. on certain Fridays, Michael Kitchens (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. July 11, Joe Munoz (singer-songwriter) 6:30 p.m. July 12, Ray Ferrara (singer-songwriter) 6:30 p.m. July 17 and Steve Vaclavik (singersongwriter) 7 p.m. July 18. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Russell” Mondays, Rene Russell (singer-songwriter) July 10,

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On the stage

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at HART

A special stage production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will be held on select dates and times July 10 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 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.

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

• Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (Waynesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.456.6322 / harttheatre.org.

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

productions on the weekends. 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

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

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host a special stage production of “Dancin’ in the Street” on select dates and times through July 12. 828.526.9047 / mountaintheatre.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 from July 12 through Aug. 2 at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

The series will include Ripples (July 12), Parlor to Pub (July 19), 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.

“Chamber music connects to our souls. It is like a thrilling, intimate party of your closest friends and family,” said violinist/co-artistic 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.

ON THE BEAT, CONTINUED FROM 21

Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) July 11, “Music Bingo” July 14, DJ KO July 17 and Amos Jackson (R&B/soul) July 18. 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 Blaze The City July 11 and Moon Dance July 18. 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), Tricia Ann (singer-songwriter) July 9, Shane Meade & The Sound (rock/soul) July 11, Jenny & The Weazels (Celtic/world) 3 p.m. July 12, Hannah & Madge (pop/rock) July 16, Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean (Americana/country) July 18 and Mooncoin (Celtic/world) 3 p.m. July 19. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host The Lettermen (oldies/pop) 7:30 p.m. July 10. Tickets now available, with seating upgrades offered. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

• Smoky Mountain Dog Bar (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0726 / smokymountaindogbakery.com.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (free) and “An Appalachian Evening” summer music series with Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki (bluegrass) July 11 and Caroline Owens (Americana/bluegrass) July 18. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host Madison Owenby (singer-songwriter) July 13. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.

• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with local singer-songwriters Dave Cheatham July 9 and Trevor Darden July 16. 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.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host Seth & Sara (Americana) 6 p.m. July 10, Bridget Gossett Duo (rock/blues) 2 p.m. July 12, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 5 p.m. July 17 and Raphael Graves Trio (Americana) 2 p.m. July 19. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Rail Town (Americana) 3 p.m. July 10, Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. July 12, Madison Owenby (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. July 18 and Adam & Joe 2 p.m. July 18. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.

• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host Katie & Ezra (Americana) July 11 and Mick Mayer July 18. All shows begin at 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Woolybooger (blues/folk) July 10, Andy Ferrell (Americana) July 11, Eric Congdon (singersongwriter) July 17 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) July 18. 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 (July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2) and the “On the Lawn at Yonder” live music series with Tyler Ramsey (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. July 19 (admission by donation). Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

Poems of social and environmental activism

The title of Dennis Maloney’s “Clearing the Stream” (Walton Well Press, 2026, 143 pages) could be a metaphor for public activism, or it could be a literal statement for actions related to environmental activity. In fact, after reading this collection of “Selected Poems” (1975-2025), one could say that it pertains to both scenarios, as this book is both a collection of poems pertaining to “clearing of obstructions” in reference to climate change and to socialpolitical conditions related to the history of the human species, including current events.

Immediately, I was taken in with the epigram on the first page with his tribute to poets Robert Bly and Gary Snyder “who showed me the way to these trails,” as I, too, was lucky enough to know them both and to have them as mentors for my own work. Then, right away, he quotes singer Leonard Cohen his song “Tower of Song,” who is also one of my favorites. So, before I even read the first poem in the book, I was locked in.

But the synchronicities didn’t stop there. Throughout the book there are dedications and references to the heroes of that late 1950s-1960s generation like Pete Seeger, Lew Welch, James Wright, Allen Ginsberg, Garcia Lorca, Paul Winter and others. In fact, on page 39 the poem “Gratitude to Our Teachers” that begins with the lines “They were the majestic/oaks and maples/in our forest,/teaching us to/write and sing/our own songs/by hearing theirs,” is a perfect example of what I’m getting at.

So, on we go with poems that were fun for this reader such as the poem “Janis,” a homage to Janis Joplin and her band and to the Fillmore East in New York City (where I saw many a live concert by all the 1960s rock music heroes): “Voice bursting out caressing/each word with tenderness/each song ravaged, shredded/singing down the wind/like a raging gale,” as he describes her performance. In another musical tribute he cites Santana and The Grateful Dead “swaying to the band,/seduced by the/singing guitar.” And Allen Ginsberg “pumping his harmonium.” And if these aren’t enough, we’re given Muddy Waters in the section “from Windows” who “transitioned from the acoustic Mississippi/delta blues to the electric of Chicago.”

But I digress. Maloney’s book is not only about rock and roll, but it’s also, among other things, a treatise on Buddhism and the wisdom and mindfullness that goes along with this tradition. From the section “The Things I Notice Now” and the poem series “Just Enough,” he writes: “When a man reaches old age/he has no need of men/and

their noisy world./What he needs is peace/and time to face what is next.” Or in the poem “Facing the Autumn Wind,” he emphasizes “exploring the realms/of poetry and consciousness.” Or in his poem ‘Ku-Tei,” he states: “I learn only to be contented.”

As a poet and publisher, Maloney also devotes space to the act and art of writing. “I am a nomad searching for a language/in which I am a word unbound,/wandering between the world/we inhabit and the world we create — listening to meanings that reside, flowering/beyond the thickness of dictionaries,” he writes. And he goes on to fathom even more depth in the poem “Border Crossings”:

“Sometimes language borders are permeable, where breath itself is a conscious action that travels across languages and joins us together.”

And then there are little gems and lines that metaphorically take the reader to even loftier heights, like “Where is that poultice/that can heal, lift us into/the sunlight of morning.”

Some poems in “Clearing the Stream” are confessional in nature, and we get a glimpse into the thoughts and musings of Maloney’s more personal life as a writer/poet. Again, in the section “Windows” referring to Robert Bly, he writes: “Robert, I heard your poems/and translations of Machado/in college like you heard Yeats,/those poems made me follow/the path of poetry nurtured/by those words, and yes/I would do it again/a thousand times.” In a similar vein in the poem “Letter From Machado,” referring to the Spanish poet, he drops the name of Garcia Lorca: “Reading the verses I have written/for Garcia Lorca I find the elaborate/expression of a direct thought/influenced by consciousness.”

Ending in the section of “New Poems,” we get Maloney’s take on climate and nature and the environmental state of things. “...t here are those who see the mountains, rivers, grass, rocks as their/own essential nature and their minds are one with the atmosphere of the waterfall, stones, trees changing through the seasons” Or, again, in the same section, bringing everything full-circle, he writes: “...you must recreate with a quiet,/graceful charm those moods that speak to your inner-most heart ... the garden is landscape raised to the level of painting or poetry.” Appropriately, and in the book’s final poem “Celebration For a Gray Day,” is the stanza stating “we found sanctuary/in the temple of music and poetry,/working years in its halls and taverns/... perhaps a few of our songs will remain/present in the hearts of those who remember.”

(Thomas Rain Crowe is the author of more than 30 books, including the award-winning nature memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods,” and is a longtime resident of Jackson County.)

City Lights welcomes Chris Cox

Acclaimed writer Chris Cox will present his latest book, “We Didn't Miss a Thing,” in conversation with well-known Hollywood actor/screenwriter Sean Bridgers at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. A warm, humorous, often poignant, chronicle of family life arranged chronologically over a period of nearly 22 years, it begins with

travel check for $12.36 that changed the author's life, plunging him into an adventure he could never have imagined. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.586.9499 or visit citylightsnc.com.

Protecting what’s ours

Forest Service

extends Max Patch camping, fire bans

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

Following what appears to have been a successful ban on camping and fires on the popular Max Patch Bald in northern Haywood County, the U.S. Forest Service has extended the policy another three years.

Overuse at Max Patch had been a growing issue beginning around 2010. Officially added to the Pisgah National Forest in 1983, Max Patch, through which the Appalachian Trail passes, attracted locals and tourists who knew all the short hike had to offer, including sweeping views from the grassy bald. Although to reach the trail, one has to drive several miles on a windy, at times rutted road, the hike to the top is relatively short, only about a half mile. The scramble to the top is steep at times, but the hike is easy enough that even those with minor mobility issues can make the trek.

Amid the pandemic shutdown in 2021, there was explosion of visitors to Max Patch, including dozens — even hundreds — at a time camping at the idyllic 4,626-foot summit

that boasts 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The hike presented an opportunity to get outdoors and meet other people in the open air. As it gained popularity regionally, it also started to catch on nationally, as it was included in numerous magazines and other publications, including “best hikes”

lists. It was also the subject of popular social media posts, which themselves can draw visitors. Because the trek to the top is relatively easy, people wanting to camp can haul up a good deal of supplies, some of which ended up left on the once-pristine bald.

The rush of visitors created a pock-marked

surface where not so long ago was a lush meadow.

On July 1 of that year, the Forest Service instituted the initial ban on camping and fires on the bald. The order also mandated that Max Patch would be closed from an hour after sundown to an hour before dawn and banned horses and other pack animals. Furthermore, it required people and dogs stay on designated trails, since several unauthorized footpaths had developed over the years.

“We’ve been working with partners to achieve sustainable recreation at Max Patch because of the impacts due to a significant increase in visitors over the past decade,” said Appalachian District Ranger Jen Barnhart at that time. “Unfortunately, the level of use is causing a public safety hazard as well as serious damage to wildlife habitat.”

The forest service extended that ban, originally set to expire in July 2021, for three more years. Just last month, the agency again extended the order, this time until 2029.

The Forest Service has partnered with the Carolina Mountain Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Spring Creek community to reduce the impacts of rampant and irresponsible use. At this point, instead of strict enforcement or penalties like fines, the Carolina Mountain Club’s Max Patch Trail Ambassador Program and engineering controls have helped people understand what the rules are and why they matter. According to a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson, those methods have been effective, leading visitors to following the restrictions and rendering further enforcement virtually unnecessary.

And Max Patch is looking better. This summer, the meadows are looking full and unmarred by scars from tents and fire pits, and the previously unauthorized trails appear to have grown back over. However, according to the spokesperson, Max Patch is still recovering.

“We need more time to address long-standing issues such as human

Smokies hosts naturalization ceremony welcoming

On July 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a naturalization ceremony in partnership with the United States District Court of Eastern Tennessee and the Nashville Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security.

A naturalization ceremony is the final step to becoming a citizen of the United States. The park invited guests of the new

waste and illegal parking,” they said. “The current restrictions remain necessary while we continue collaborative planning and

citizens to watch at Elkmont Campground as these individuals took their Oaths of Allegiance and received their Certificates of Naturalization. Thirty individuals became citizens of the United States through the ceremony.

The new citizens represented 17 countries, including Russia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and many more.

ensuring it remains a place people can enjoy for generations.”

management. Over the next three years, we and our partners will reevaluate conditions to decide whether the prohibitions should continue. Our focus stays on restoring Max Patch, protecting its ecological health, and

In a blog post on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, Matt Drury, Associate Director of Science and Stewardship for the nonprofit, said that the way the bald has responded and recovered is like “night and day.”

“Ecologically, it’s beautiful and much more functional than it was, and it’s a much more natural hiker experience,” Drury said in the post.

The ATC and partners have planted more than 10,000 plant plugs and sowed hundreds of pounds of native seeds on Max Patch since rewilding work began back in 2017, four years before the initial restrictions were implemented by the Forest Service.

“We’re not ‘whacking’ trees just to maintain viewsheds. We’re trying to provide habitat for a myriad of species,” Drury said. “We’re looking to provide for the hiker experience with longrange views, to get a break from the Green Tunnel, but we do it with ecology in mind.”

Learn about venomous snakes in Highlands

The Highlands Biological Foundation will continue 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.

On Thursday, July 16, the series will feature Carlton Burke, naturalist and wildlife rehabilitator with Carolina Mountain Naturalists, presenting “The Venomous Snakes of Western North Carolina.”

Many people encounter venomous snakes in the outdoors with uncertainty or fear, often struggling to distinguish them from the many harmless species found throughout the region. In this informative

and hands-on presentation, Burke will guide attendees through how to identify Western North Carolina’s venomous snakes, how to respond safely in the field, and why these species play an essential role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. The program will also include live venomous snake examples for close observation and learning, offering a rare opportunity to better understand these often misunderstood animals.

Lectures are held on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. at the Highlands Nature Center. Admission is free. To view the full Zahner Conservation Lecture Series schedule, visit highlandsbiological.org/zahner.

Grants available to support debris cleanup in WNC

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management is now accepting applications for the Debris Recovery & Disposal grant program to help Western North Carolina communities clean up additional debris left by Hurricane Helene.

Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the American Relief Act of 2025, the DRD program provides up to $18 million in grants to local governments, councils of government and nongovernment organizations. NGOs are eligible for up to $5 million of the allotted funds.

mental organizations within FEMA-declared disaster counties damaged by Hurricane Helene. Applicants are encouraged to contact the following DWM staff before applying to discuss project eligibility at chris.hollinger@deq.nc.gov, 919.707.8284, jason.watkins@deq.nc.gov or 336.776.9674.

The project period is up to three years with the maximum available award set at $3 million. The application period is open through Sept. 14.

Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, councils of government and nongovern-

For more information and to apply, visit: deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/environmental-

tions-and-support/storm-debris-management.

Baby Barn Owls receiving worldwide attention

Springtime is birthing season for many wildlife species. This spring, over 62,000 people watched and listened remotely as the first of six barn owl eggs hatched in realtime via an N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's live web camera, affectionally called the “Owl Cam.”

It’s the first time NCWRC has offered a live wildlife camera viewing opportunity to the public, and staff say it has exceeded expectations.

NCWRC staff say over the next few weeks, viewers will see the owlets losing the last of their baby down, start exploring and leaving the barn and learning to hunt. As the owls fledge (learn to fly), viewers will see their clumsy failure attempts too.

Join Haywood Waterways Association on the West Fork of the Pigeon River for an Aquatic Ecology Workshop.

The workshop will be led by HWA local guide Shannon Rabby, certified wildlife biologist and faculty in the Haywood Community College Natural Resources department.

Attendees will participate in aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys, snorkeling and other aquatic activities with the assistance of HCC Fish and Wildlife Management Technology students. No experience is required. The workshop will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 18. Participants will meet on the south side of Lake Logan off Lake Logan Road and follow the signage for parking, as there is limited cell service. Make sure to pack a lunch and bring appropriate sun protection. Water sandals or other appropriate footwear is a must. Snorkels, masks and other gear

Feeding the owlets continues to be a fan favorite. Since hatching, viewers have watched both parents bring food to the nest with delectables such as rodents and rabbits to feed multiple hungry owlet mouths.

There are three cameras inside and outside the nesting box. The public can click “Other Views” on the task bar to change camera angles.

The fledglings may leave the barn as early as July to start hunting on their own. Barn owls disperse singly in random directions in short moves, staying for a period before moving again in search of a territory. They could ultimately disperse hundreds of miles.

Visit NCWRC’s Barn Owl webpage for more information.

Haywood Waterways hosts aquatic workshop

will be provided by Haywood Waterways Association.

The event is free for members and a $5 donation for nonmembers. Haywood Waterways memberships start at $25. Space

is limited to 20 individuals. You must register no later than July 16 by contacting Katy at 828.476.4667, ext. 13, or katy@haywoodwaterways.org. The

Forest Service tree seedlings go on sale

The N.C. Forest Service will begin accepting orders Wednesday, July 1, for its annual tree seedling sale. With an average annual production of 10 million seedlings and a reliable supply of more than 40 tree species, the NCFS Nursery Program produces enough native and genetically improved tree seedlings to plant roughly 18,700 acres of land.

“Our nursery program continues to provide affordable native tree seedlings that are geographically suitable for the state’s diverse forestlands,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “By offering seedlings in different quantities, the program can help customers of all sizes whether the need is as few as 10 seedlings, or as many as several thousand. The annual seedling sale is just another way that the forest service strives to keep North Carolina’s woodlands healthy, growing and thriving.”

The program offers quality conifer and

Birding in Franklin

hardwood seedlings. Genetically improved stock is available for Fraser fir, loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf, Eastern white pine and Virginia pine. These seedlings offer better volume growth, tree form, disease resistance, straightness and other characteristics needed to produce beautiful Christmas trees, healthy woodlands and quality forest products.

Seedlings can be ordered at buynctrees.com, by calling 919.731.7988 or by using the order form in the seedling catalog and sending it to Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. A userfriendly online catalog will soon be available at ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/nursery-tree-improvement-program. Seedling catalogs will also be available at local NCFS offices beginning in July.

Most containerized seedlings are available and used November through March, while most bare root seedlings are available and used January through March. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 13 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for a charge.

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:

• July 15, meet at Big Bear parking lot near the dog park area

• July 22 meet at the Salali Lane parking lot.

• July 29, meet at the Macon County Library parking lot.

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

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86 Beat others in claiming something

Dojo surface 89 Old verb suffix

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Garbo of old movies 104 Singer Fitzgerald

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

WORKING CATS

Asheville Humane Society has adult cats available who are best suited to life in a barn/farm, warehouse, etc. Vaccinated and spayed/neutered. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org

PUPPIES! Asheville Humane Society has puppies available for adoption; all 2-6 months old and cute as can be! Fee includes vaccinations and spay/neuter. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org

SUDOKU

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

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