Smoky Mountain News | May 20, 2026

looks to tighten its belt to hold taxes steady Page 10

Local groups fill gaps in Roadless Rule conversation Page 24

On the Cover:

It’s been about three years since Canton’s paper mill shut down for good. A lifeblood of the community that provided both economic stability and cultural identity, the mill’s closure rocked the small town. A new documentary premiered in Canton last weekend that chronicled the months after the announcement that the mill would cease operation. Smoky Mountain News A&E Editor Garret K. Woodward spoke with the documentary’s director, as well as some of the people featured in the film. (Page 16) Photo courtesy of “Papertown.”

News

Gov. Stein visits future site of Canton’s wastewater treatment plant..................4 Fontana Regional Library votes to reimburse counties ‘surplus funds’................6 Jackson commission meeting raises questions about library board....................8 Macon looks to tighten its belt to hold taxes steady..............................................10 Lake Junaluska welcomes new director of sales....................................................11

Haywood commissioners talk brass tacks on schools, jail funding....................12

Opinion

Why Hantavirus outbreak deserves our attention....................................................14 Duke rate hike proposal is insulting..............................................................................14

A&E

Cherokee hosts Seven Clans Rodeo..........................................................................18 Bear Shadow Music Festival comes to Highlands..................................................21

Outdoors

Local groups fill gaps in ‘Roadless Rule’ conversation..........................................24 Learn about botany with ‘Adult Ed & Bev’ classes..................................................25

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Gov. Stein visits future site of Canton’s wastewater treatment plant

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

Last week, Gov. Josh Stein and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson stopped by Canton to talk to media, local leaders and State Reps. Lindsay Prather and Eric Ager about the town’s construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. He also highlighted the role the state played in bringing the project to fruition while calling on federal legislators to provide more funding to ensure more towns can complete similar crucial infrastructure improvements.

Canton’s wastewater treatment plant has been a frequent subject of headlines since the town’s papermill shut down in 2023. The mill had its own industrial-scale treatment plant that had served the town free of charge for over a half-century. Last year, Canton announced that it would purchase land near the site of the existing treatment plant for about $14 million using finds appropriated from a state Hurricane Helene relief bill.

the paper mill’s chip yard — the site that will eventually house the treatment plant — Mayor Zeb Smathers spoke ahead of the governor and secretary. Smathers thanked the state, along with local and federal governments, for their help attention through the myriad catastrophes to hit the

utility; it’s about Canton controlling its own destiny.

“This is not for us the ‘mill town miracle,’ it’s the ‘mill town moonshot,’” he said.

In his remarks, Stein marveled over Canton’s resilience.

“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Canton a number of times in recent years, and after every visit, I leave more inspired than I was before I came, and I am certain that is going to be the case today,” he said.

Stein discussed the $3.5 million allocated to the town last month to aid not only the wastewater treatment plant construction but also a project to connect the water systems of Canton, Clyde and Waynesville to improve overall reliability.

That money came in addition to $38 million the General Assembly had previously allocated for construction of a new treatment plant. In March of this year, the town executed the deal, ultimately purchasing two parcels totaling 52.1 acres. At last week’s press conference, held at the former site of

town, including the pandemic, Tropical Storm Fred, the mill closure and Hurricane Helene. He said that the vision of town officials has enabled leaders to take advantage of opportunities as they’re presented. Smathers noted that the town being able to treat its own wastewater isn’t just about

He noted that the $25 million total provided to the town to bolster water and sewer infrastructure is part of the $861 million that has gone toward similar projects across the greater Heleneimpacted region. He added that in each project, improving floodresilience is a must. The new wastewater treatment plant, for example, will be built on higher ground, making it less susceptible to inundation when the next big flood hits. Stein was also quick to point out that there is more work to be done, and he called for more money to help meet that need. The amount spent to date has exhausted the fund established to get water and sewer infrastructure projects off the ground and across the finish line. However, Stein said that the still-unmet need, based on applications for funding received, stands at about $650 million. As he has in the past, Stein called on Congress to appropriate more federal dollars for Helene recovery, which

his office said would include $540 million for the Environmental Protection Agency to improve water quality and infrastructure, carry out brownfield assessments, restore damaged rivers and support effective hazardous waste management. Congress has not appropriated new funding toward Hurricane Helene recovery in nearly 18 months.

“The federal government has not appropriated any relief dollars for Western North Carolina since the Biden administration and the last Congress,” he said. “It is time for this administration and this Congress to step up for Western North Carolina. It’s simple; when families turn on their tap at home, they have to know that that water is safe and clean.”

In his comments, DEQ Secretary Wilson said that Helene recovery has been a top priority for his department. He wants the

Jacobsen noted a fact oft-repeated by folks concerned with Haywood’s watersheds — it’s a headwaters county, meaning no water flows in.

“We are the highest source of water in the Eastern U.S. It doesn’t get any higher than us here. There is no surface water that flows into Haywood County,” he said. “While this is a point that I’m bragging about, it is a huge responsibility, and one that we do not take lightly.”

Jacobsen considers that the nonprofit isn’t just managing a river; it’s managing an important resource for local communities, as well as the hundreds of communities downstream. He thanked Wilson and other partners for their support of Haywood Waterways over its 30 years. He noted that the money from the grant used for debris removal has yielded substantial results to the tune of 245,000 pounds removed.

region to build back better and stronger so that it can withstand the next Helene-level event, he said. Piggy-backing on Stein’s comments, Wilson highlighted the unmet needs for further infrastructure improvements. While he did call on Congress to approve the request for $13.5 billion, he added that this is also about more than just “numbers and dollars.”

“It’s about ensuring that everyone out here has safe and healthy drinking water, and that, as the governor said, everyone expects and deserves that, and that’s what these dollars will go to help fund,” he said. “It’s also about making sure that the wonderful Pigeon River runs clean for us to enjoy terms of recreation, but also wildlife and water quality.”

The last speaker was Haywood Waterways Association Executive Director Preston Jacobsen. During his remarks, Wilson noted that DEQ provided a $2 million grant to Haywood Waterways. A large portion of that grant went toward debris removal.

“We feel that we are on track to hopefully remove 400,000 pounds by the end of this year … We are extremely thankful to bring those dollars to the local level and get the job done right away, because the investments made right here in Canton will physically shape our future and our landscape for now, but also for the generations to come,” he said.

During Smathers’ remarks, he also called attention to warehouses previously used by the mill that were purchased by the town. Canton bought those warehouses, which total 153,000 square-feet, with the hope that they will bring in manufacturing or tech companies that will create jobs and broaden the tax base.

“We know we can go to our community college and our public schools and our university system to take care of workforce, but we are very passionate that the next future, the next chapter of kids’ future, start with the last one ended, and that is with manufacturing,” Smathers said.

Fontana Regional Library votes to reimburse counties ‘surplus funds’

She noted that an attorney had also reviewed the motion.

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

The Fontana Regional Library System board voted last week to return over a million dollars of taxpayer money currently sitting in its general fund to its member counties.

The motion was brought during a meeting at Cashiers’ Albert Carlton Library by Trustee Lori Richards, of Jackson County, who clearly spent a good deal of time crunching the numbers to arrive at her final conclusion. Under Richards’ motion, distri-

butions would total about $1.35 million with money going to each of the three member counties — Jackson, Macon and Swain.

“A paramount duty of this board is to elevate our organization to its highest potential while fostering transparency, accountability and financial stewardship of public resources,” Richards said.

According to Richards, FRL has a fund balance of about $2.7 million. The budget presented to the board during that same meeting, which factored in Jackson County’s pending withdrawal, was set at $2.87 mil-

North Carolina’s Local Government Commission recommends maintaining a minimum available general fund balance of at least 8% of annual operating expenses. Board policy dictates that FRL keeps that number above 25%. Richards’ proposal would leave 30% of annual operating expenses in the fund balance, $859,791.

Trustee Cynthia Womble jumped in with a number of questions on the complex motion, which was a late addition to the agenda and asked board members to vote after only receiving the data numbers behind the motion the night before. Womble, who along with fellow Swain County trustee Tony Monnat, has been a frequent dissenter from the majority of the board on high-impact decision, noted that she didn’t have a chance to review the numbers until that morning.

Womble asked whether the proposed action was discussed with the three member counties, considering they’re all party to the interlocal agreement that binds the system. McGaha answered her question.

“No, and I think a corollary would be, they don’t approve our budgets,” McGaha said. “They get our request, and they place in their budget … it is obviously to all the benefit proportionally.”

Womble disagreed with the last part of that statement, noting that Swain County has for 80 years provided free use of a facility for the FRL headquarters.

lion, meaning the fund balance would be close to 100% of annual operating cost.

Richards, who represents Jackson County on the board, made the motion to redistribute those funds to the counties, with Jackson receiving $738,696, Macon receiving $525,402 and Swain receiving $86,213. She brought with her handouts for board members that included tables, so they could see her process. To verify her calculations, she had already run the numbers by Board Chair and Interim Director Bill McGaha, of Macon County, who agreed with her conclusions.

“I know because I talked to the Swain County commissioners pretty regularly that they have been concerned that they’re providing this free space to Fontana Regional Library, and that it’s not appreciated by the other two counties when they see this,” she said. “I am concerned that they’re going to look at the percentage that Swain is getting and say it was based only on the cash that was put in the budget and not on the value of at least what would have had to be leased office space that Swain County has been providing.”

Womble was also concerned that Finance Officer Lisa Kim Fisher, who scribbled notes and highlighted numbers throughout Richards’ explanation of her calculations, hadn’t been given the chance to weigh in on the motion before it was made. Womble added that she thought F

Fisher should at least review the numbers, since she has a “fiduciary responsibility to the state as a bonded officer” to ensure the “financial liability” of the organization.

“So Mr. Chair, could we ask the finance officer what her recommendation is as a CPA and professional in finance?” Womble asked.

“We can, but you don’t,” McGaha began.

“Ask her in public on the record?” Womble interrupted.

“Excuse me, if you want to put words or thoughts into my mind, go ahead, but I think I can speak for myself,” McGaha said. “We can, but we’re not going to ask her what she thinks about 25%, because that is our policy.”

the calculations and go over them with Richards to figure out how to adjust the numbers to factor in Swain’s gift of a headquarters building over the years. She made a motion to table the issue to be heard at the board’s June 22 meeting. Monnat seconded the motion.

“There’s a lot of work in this document that y’all did. I’m going to guess at least days, minimum days, maybe weeks,” he said. “I’ve had less than well 24 hours to look at it, and I just don’t feel good voting on this … and I’m betting that there is some folks in Swain County and maybe Macon County that want to see this too and understand it.”

That motion failed as it only had support from Womble and Monnat.

Richards included in her motion that both Fisher, an independent auditor and McGaha would review the calculations before the numbers are finalized to ensure they’re accurate.

“100% of those numbers will come from [Fisher],” McGaha said. “She is the only person in the FRL that can provide that information.”

Womble requested more time to review

Ultimately, the board voted to approve the distribution of surplus funds. Prior to the June 22 meeting, the numbers will be updated to include compensation for the inkind donation of the headquarters building and will also consider which funds would be excluded, including grants and donations.

The final vote will be held at the June 22 meeting at the Macon County Public Library.

Jackson commission meeting raises questions about library board

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

When Jackson commissioners on May 5 reviewed a draft document outlining the framework of a new county library board upon departure from Fontana Regional Library system, Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper, clad in a Turning Point USA T-shirt, was quick to express her central grievance: “I don’t think [a board member] ought to have a library card.”

Bitter laughter erupted from the audience.

“I feel like that’s kind of a prerequisite to knowing what’s happening in the library, is to have a library card and be active,” responded Chair Mark Letson.

But Hooper wasn’t backing down.

“Well to me, it’s like, do you make people that’s going to be on the ABC Board know all about liquor?” she asked.

Hooper’s comment analogized two independent bodies not typically ripe for comparison. ABC boards in North Carolina are responsible for “controlling the sale of spirituous liquor.” Library boards do not exist to “control” public access to literature nor are members intended to reflect the will of elected leaders. According to the American Library Association, “individually and collectively, Trustees should act as advocates of libraries and present the library point of view to their locally- and nationally-elected

legislators and leaders.”

While Jackson County’s draft document doesn’t aim to create an ABC-like body, it potentially leaves room for the board to pur-

tion, they’re still mandated to possess a library card. Board makeup will use districtspecific representation, with two at-large members appointed from recommendations

must re-apply to be considered for the new July 1 board.

Responsibilities of trustees include making structural recommendations, establishing fines for overdue books, creating an annual budget, enacting rules for non-county resident patrons and advising commissioners about library happenings.

Throughout April, commissioners received 27 applications for temporary trustee positions. Most applicants expressed a deep appreciation for the library.

One prospective trustee wrote, “I really value our library as an important part of our community.”

sue control of access to books — censorship — depending on who is in charge.

Trustees are volunteers appointed by commissioners whose terms are set to begin the term on July 1. Despite Hooper’s objec-

made by the director. Letson on May 5 recommended appointees have randomized and staggered one-year, two-year and threeyear terms, which commissioners will discuss at the next meeting. Current appointees

“The library was one of our favorite excursions,” recounted a second.

“Our library is more than a repository for books. It is a lifeline for many and a safe space for all,” wrote former board member Lauren Baxley. As for the rest of the candidate pool, all other former mem- F

N Now offering couples mass infrared sauna, and foot so with a relaxing chair mass sage, oaks sage

bers — Lori Richards, Geraldine Martinez and Keith Blaine — fell into the second category of applicant. While serving FRL and JCPL, Richards supported a “juvenile card program” for children ages 15 and younger, requiring “parental consent for use of the library by a minor.” She also proposed a policy to ban “banned book” displays in system libraries. Her motivation to join the board was stated in just three words — “to provide oversight.”

Martinez also backed the juvenile card program and introduced a motion to curtail librarian reports.

“Because both librarians do such a good job of informing us in their reports about the library activities and progress on goals, and since we all have this information to preview prior to attending the meetings, this should enable them to give a brief, perhaps five-minute, summary of their reports at the meeting,” the motion read in JCPL’s February 2025 meeting minutes. Martinez left the “interest in wanting to serve” section blank.

Blaine is an anti-LGBTQ+ activist. He backed JCPL’s withdrawal, routinely expressing misinformation in the process. His reasoning for wanting to join the board came in a list of handwritten bullet points: “provide oversight, evaluate budgets, evaluate policies, evaluate programs, perform book challenge reviews.”

Commissioners also discussed future considerations that didn’t have much to do with the board, leading to further airing of grievances.

so they are very active and responsive,” he said.

His words were echoed by new library director Grace Powell, who later approached the podium to inform commissioners about the library side of the equation. She said employees are more reassured because of recent updates, though “there’s still a lot of questions as it would be in any kind of change like this.”

JCPL is working with FRL to fill new staffing positions, she said.

“We’ve also finally identified what’s staying, what’s going,” she added, admitting to “a few odds and ends” — some of which might have had to do with communication, or lack thereof, from commissioners.

“I think [it] is huge for them to know like, OK, ‘What decisions are being made?’” Powell said. She told commissioners the library will be closed July 1-3 as staff prepare the doors to reopen on July 5, following the holiday. She also explained she’d been meeting with NC Cardinal, a statewide interlibrary loan system FRL had participated in and JCPL was looking to get restarted by July 1.

“What [commissioners] were saying when they were talking about having an independent library is, ‘Well, we’ll be part of the Cardinal system, so you can get any book or call all the way across the state. We can get you a book couriered in, no problem.’ And I’m like, ‘I think that’s a myth.’”

“I guess we need to talk to Friends of the Library from Cashiers and see how much they want to help. From that letter we got it didn’t seem like they were going to be very helpful,” said Jennings.

Hooper concurred, taking it a step further. “The letter was pretty threatening,” she said.

Letson said he hadn’t received any such letter. FOL Chair Cathy Maddock sent the email under discussion on Nov. 6, 2025.

“Our Patrons are already angry with the tax increases,” she wrote. “Many will not consider donations or grants to a county run library. As President, speaking for the board, it will be impossible to fund the library under the current circumstances.”

“I am personally willing to help you in any situation I can,” the email also read.

County Manager Kevin King, who had been in communication with Cashiers FOL and did not know commissioners were referencing the seven-month-old letter, pushed against Hooper’s and Jennings’ narrative.

“We have worked with [Cashiers FOL] on filling out six or seven different grants,

Susan Bogartus

But library patron and public commenter Susan Bogartus said things aren’t quite as they seem with Cardinal operations.

“What [commissioners] were saying when they were talking about having an independent library is, ‘Well, we’ll be part of the Cardinal system, so you can get any book or call all the way across the state. We can get you a book couriered in, no problem.’ And I’m like, ‘I think that’s a myth,’” she told The Smoky Mountain News.

FRL is already part of the Cardinal system. The library could get overnight couriers from Macon and Swain counties, as inter-library transfers are the duty of one staff member.

If Yancey County’s similar departure from a three-county system is any prediction of what’s to come, JCPL is in for Cardinal outages lasting up to a month, the absence of a functional board and relentless turnover.

Even now, before the official transition, it took Bogartus five weeks to receive a book from Haywood County about the Greek language. She’s worried the blame will unfairly fall on the librarians, who have no control over the timeline, but order the book in the state system.

She said commissioners should communicate more clearly about these issues — if not, the staff will bear the repercussions.

“Half our staff left,” Bogartus said, adding that she doesn’t want to lose the other half.

Macon looks to tighten its belt to hold taxes steady

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

Macon County Manager Warren Cabe presented a budget to county commissioners last week that satisfies their wish to avoid a tax increase, but amid rising costs and ongoing capital improvements, some departments will likely come away with less than they’re hoping for.

Last year’s budget came in just over $70 million, and this year’s proposal would drop it just a bit to around $68 million, but Cabe noted that he expects grant money to supplement that number as it has in past years.

Cabe began his presentation by highlighting accomplishments of the last year, including the continuing construction of a new high school, roof repairs and replacements at the library and detention center, tennis court renovations and the beginning of a pickleball project. The county had received $3.87 million in grant funding over the last year, much of which Cabe said went toward those capital improvement projects.

Next, he highlighted big goals for the next fiscal year, including completion of the Carson convenience center, which will be entirely grant funded and should enhance the county’s ability to deal with waste and recyclables. Other goals include repairs to the Macon Early College building, remodeling the National Guard armory and keeping up on facility maintenance to avoid lengthier, costlier repairs down the road.

Answering the question people are most interested in every budget season, Cabe noted that the tax rate under his plan would remain at 27 cents per $100 of assessed property value, a number that should lead to a slight increase in revenue due to an expanded tax base and an increase in sales tax proceeds.

es, commissioners would need to raise the rate by 6 cents.

“Even as much as we can whittle and as much as we can work and as much effort as we put into it, there was no way we could get to the point we could fund all those requests, even though we know many of them are valid,” Cabe said. “It’s just a point of being able to prioritize those and make a decision on what we need to do.”

Cabe noted that he’s worked diligently with Finance Director Lindsay Leopard to crunch the numbers and determine how to close the gap while also working with conservative revenue estimates to avoid unforeseen shortfalls down the road.

Southwestern Community College requested a sizable combined increase of $3.59 million for a total of $14.26 million. While under Cabe’s plan, the schools wouldn’t get that much, he does recommend appropriating $1.15 million from the fund balance to help bridge the gap, something he said isn’t uncommon but hasn’t been done in a couple of years.

“The reason I’m OK with that is traditionally on average over the last four years, every year our fund balance has grown by about $4 million,” he said.

“That number right there is probably gonna be a wash with the number we put back into fund balance,” he added. “I don’t

July meeting so we can appropriate that funding, because I know if the board is so inclined, they’ve already got the details worked out for class to start this fall,” Cabe said.

Macon County is part of the Fontana Regional Library System, along with Swain and Jackson counties. However, with the pending withdrawal of Jackson County, the county’s libraries are requesting about $400,000 more than they had last year for a total of $1.63 million. For now, Cabe proposed $1.25 million for the library system. At the FRL board meeting, which overlapped with the Macon County Commission meeting, trustees proposed returning excess funds to counties, including $525,402 to Macon.

The budget does factor in a 2% cost of living raise for all employees, will bring paygrades in line with employee experience and cover the increase in health insurance rates. It will also include more money to go toward the state retirement system, as mandated by law.

Cabe also discussed the county’s debt service, which is currently at about $9.29 million per year but is forecast to fall to $3.37 million by 2045. This, he said, means that commissioners should consider that they will have room to finance larger projects, if advantageous, down the road.

“In certain situations, debt service is not a bad thing, and if you have the capacity, it’s something you need to look at, particularly if you start looking at a justice center that’s going to be a $50 million-plus facility,” Cabe said.

But even with that, the county is looking at a $7.7 million gap between the budget and requests he’s received from departments. One penny on the tax rate equals about $1.39 million in revenue, meaning if the county granted each department’s wish-

“For instance, there was another request for an ambulance remount on there, and we ended up taking that out,” Cabe, a former EMS director, told commissioners.

“Sheriffs used to budget for six cars, and this time we took it down to four cars just so we could make sure we maintain a budget that’s at tight as possible but still maintain the minimal services that we can get and yet not have to force you to do a tax increase you weren’t comfortable with.”

Macon County Schools and

see you decreasing your fund balance. I think it’d be safe to say we’re probably going to break even or grow it a little bit even by using this appropriation.”

SCC itself is requesting funding for two large projects — the paving of its driving track necessary for its CDL program and a renovation to the National Guard Armory building.

“If I had to push an urgency for anything, I would say I would like to have the driving track come back before you in the

Wrapping up his presentation, Cabe recommended that commissioners consider their priorities for future projects, evaluate existing commitments for the fund balance, continue to address unforeseen maintenance and repair issues and make sure funding decisions correlate with existing financial policies.

Commissioners will discuss the budget in more detail during an upcoming work session, where they will also hear from department heads about specific needs and requests.

Lake Junaluska welcomes new director of sales

Wanona Tara, a hospitality industry executive with more than 30 years of experience, has joined the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as director of sales.

In her new role, Tara is responsible for all group sales at Lake Junaluska, including lodging, food service, conferences and media services. She also will serve on the center’s operations, revenue and extended executive teams.

Tara most recently worked as director of hospitality strategy and sales for Colorado Chautauqua, a National Historic Landmark in Boulder, Colorado, that sees more than 1 million visitors annually. There, she led revenue strategy and developed experiential programming.

The appointment of Tara to the new role was announced by Michael Huber, Lake Junaluska’s general manager.

“Wanona’s background in working in a Chautauqua-style environment with legacy guest groups and leading high-performing teams will be an incredible asset to our team,” Huber said. “With her extensive experience in retreat and conference center settings, she is deeply connected to our mission of providing a place for renewal of soul, mind and body.”

“I’m excited to serve alongside a team that is committed not only to excellence but also to making a lasting impact in the lives of others. It’s a privilege to be part of work that goes beyond business and reflects a greater calling.”

Her initial focus as she settles into her new responsibilities is to get to know Lake Junaluska, its organizational culture and the wider community.

“My top priorities are to listen, learn and serve — both our team and the com-

Every Hero Has a Battle Buddy — And Help Is Always Within Reach

ife doesn’t always come with warning signs when things start to feel overwhelming. Stress, anxiety, grief, isolation, and moments of deep uncertainty can affect anyone—regardless of age, background, or circumstance. Even the strongest among us need support sometimes. That’s where the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline comes in.

The term “Chautauqua” refers to a movement with Methodist roots popularized during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It centered on adult and community education programs through gather-

“I’m excited to serve alongside a team that is committed not only to excellence but also to making a lasting impact in the lives of others. It’s a privilege to be part of work that goes beyond business and reflects a greater calling.”

— Wanona Tara

ings and assemblies held in public spaces.

A resident of Asheville, Tara formerly held positions as director of sales and experience and other hospitality and private events leadership roles for Colorado Chautauqua. She also was a weddings, social events and conference sales leader for Seascape Beach Resort, a four-star luxury resort in Monterey Bay, California.

Tara said that she feels equally honored and grateful for the opportunity to step into the position of director of sales.

“Joining an organization that is so deeply rooted in faith and purpose makes this especially meaningful to me,” she said.

munities we reach. I want to ensure that our sales efforts are aligned with our mission and values and that everything we do reflects integrity, stewardship and care for others,” Tara said. “I’m also focused on equipping and supporting our team, strengthening relationships and building sustainable growth that enables us to expand our impact.”

Joining the staff of a spiritual retreat center and scenic community in the mountains of Western North Carolina that offers opportunities to recharge, renew and reconnect is appealing, she said.

“I believe that when we lead with purpose and keep our faith at the center of our work, success takes on a deeper meaning,” Tara said. “My goal is to help cultivate a culture where people feel valued, encouraged and inspired to do their best work in service of something greater than themselves. I’m excited about what lies ahead and the difference we can make together.”

Think of 988 as a battle buddy for life’s toughest moments. A battle buddy is someone who doesn’t leave you to face hard moments alone— someone who listens, supports, and walks beside you when things feel overwhelming. 988 is a free, confidential, 24/7 resource available to anyone who needs to talk—whether you’re facing a personal crisis, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, or worried about a friend or loved one. One call, text, or chat can connect you with trained counselors who are there to listen, support, and help guide you through what comes next.

Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength. Just as heroes rely on teammates to get through challenging situations, people need people. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline exists to make sure no one has to face their hardest moments alone.

You don’t have to be in immediate danger to contact 988. Many people reach out simply because they need someone who understands, someone who will listen without judgment. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship stress, financial worries, grief, or lingering emotional effects from difficult life events, help is available when you need it most.

The Lifeline is also there if you’re concerned about someone else. If a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor seems to be struggling, 988 counselors can help you figure out how to support them and what steps to take. Sometimes, being a battle buddy means knowing where to turn for guidance.

In Haywood County, supporting the mental and emotional well-being of our community is a shared responsibility. We look out for one another— especially during times when life feels heavy. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline strengthens that sense of connection by ensuring help is always just a moment away.

Calling or texting 988, or chatting at 988lifeline.org, puts you in touch with real people who get it. Trained counselors listen with compassion, help de-escalate crisis situations, and connect callers to local resources when appropriate. Services are available around the clock, in English and Spanish, and for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

No problem is too big or too small. No story is too complicated. And no one is ever a burden for asking for help.

Every hero has a battle buddy. If you need one—or if someone you care about does—remember that 988 has your back. Talk to someone who gets it. Help is here, 24/7.

Haywood commissioners talk brass tacks on schools, jail funding

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR

This week’s Haywood County Commission meeting featured over a dozen speakers decrying the board’s decision to not grant the full funding requested by school officials ahead of the budget vote.

The meeting began with County Manager Bryant Morehead presenting the budget, as he’d done during an earlier meeting. The budget looked almost the exact same as the prior presentation with one exception, an additional $1 million fund balance appropriation to bolster school funding, leaving the county $700,000 short of meeting the $3 million funding increase request.

When the preliminary budget was released to the public in March, it was clear that due to a slow, now dormant, federal response to Hurricane Helene, the county will have to continue to shoulder an increasing financial burden to maintain continuity of services and keep capital improvement projects on track.

“It’s putting all of us kind of in a corner of making decisions on what programs we can and can’t fund at the local level while we’re waiting on reimbursements,”

Morehead said at that time.

The proposed budget includes a property tax increase of 7 cents per $100. Of that, 3.8 cents would go toward paying off debt incurred for the construction of a new detention center and 1.5 cents would go toward the schools.

Following Morehead’s presentation, a public hearing on the budget was held, during which 14 of 15 speakers asked commissioners to fully fund the school system’s request. Many pitted the money to pay down the jail debt directly against the school system. Speakers, many dressed in red for solidarity, included parents, teachers and administrators.

speakers, Hoglen noted that lower education rates directly correlate with higher incarceration rates.

“By funding cages instead of classrooms, you are laying down a self-fulfilling prophecy and showing us the vision you have for our children’s future,” she said.

“By funding cages instead of classrooms, you are laying down a self-fulfilling prophecy and showing us the vision you have for our children’s future.”

— Chelsea White-Hoglen, Parent, social worker

Chelsea White-Hoglen, a parent and social worker, noted that cutting school funding could result in the loss of treasured academic and extracurricular programs, such as band, art, advanced placement classes and even the early college. Like many

Carly Pugh, who will appear on the November ballot for a Haywood County Commission seat as a Democrat, handed a potential resolution to commissioners, which she also read aloud into the record. The resolution called out the state’s “persistent underfunding” of schools driven by corporate tax breaks and the private school voucher program.

Central Haywood High School Principal Wendy Rogers said that the funding gap commissioners are considering would amount to “real consequences” for staff and students across the district in a county that

has for years boasted a school system that is in the top 10% of the state.

“We cannot continue to maintain that level of excellence if we are forced to do more and more with less and less,” she said.

“The long-term cost of not investing in education is far greater than the short-term discomfort of making difficult financial decisions today,” she added.

Haywood County School Board Chair Chuck Francis and Superintendent Trevor Putnam also spoke, both requesting that the board fully fund the system’s request. Putnam spoke about a school funding model that has been in place in the county for about two decades, one that used to work, but he said is now failing.

“That formula produces only small, incremental increases yearly, and that’s provided that enrollment stays steady or is increasing,” Putnam said. “It does not account for inflation. It does not account for increasing utility expenses or major economic shifts.”

“The time has come where the funding formula no longer works and we really need your support,” he added. “We need the full $3 million request so we can make meaningful pay increases for our support staff, so that we can maintain the teaching positions that we have and so that we can preserve previous opportunities for our students.”

During the public comment period, it was noted that one commissioner voted against the jail construction contract when that came up for a vote. While that comment was incorrect, F

Experience

“We cannot continue to maintain that level of excellence if we are forced to do more and more with less and less. The long-term cost of not investing in education is far greater than the short-term discomfort of making difficult financial decisions today.”

— Wendy Rogers, Centeral Haywood High School Principal

Commissioner Terry Ramey remarked that he had voted against it. However, as reported by The Smoky Mountain News at the time, the vote to approve the jail construction contract was 3-0 with Commissioners Ramey, Kevin Ensley and Tommy Long voting in favor; Commissioners Brandon Rodgers and Jennifer Best were absent for the vote. Ensley corrected Ramey, reminding him that he did, in fact, vote in favor of the jail construction. Despite Ramey’s doubling down, Ensley dropped the issue and the discussion moved forward.

Commissioners Ensley, Long, Rodgers and Best discussed the situation the county is in and why they felt it’s necessary to use part of the revenue generated from the tax increase to go toward the jail construction debt service.

seizures tied to drug investigations. Mostly, Long spoke about the decision to build the new jail, noting that the ball was rolling on that project before he even became a commissioner over seven years ago. Requests were made by previous Sheriff Greg Chrstopher and current Sheriff Bill Wilke to get more space for an increasing number of inmates.

“We had public hearing after public hearing after public hearing,” he said. “This has been a long process.”

After the jail construction vote passed, the debt service had been paid out of the fund balance, but that isn’t sustainable, Long argued.

Haywood County Commissioners will vote on a final budget June 1. File photo

Ensley spoke first regarding school funding, saying that a confluence of circumstances has led to the difficult decision to fall short of the school system’s $3 million funding increase request. He discussed the funding model referenced by Francis and Putnam during the public hearing.

“What’s happened is the students have gone down, so the school system, instead of having 8,000 students like it did in 2009 is around 6,400,” he said, adding that while there is less funding due to fewer students, the costs to maintain buildings and keep the lights on have only risen.

Long took a good deal of time to talk details. Several people who spoke during the hearing lamented the county’s purchase of an armored vehicle for the sheriff’s office; however, Long noted that most of that funding came from private donations and asset

“The commissioners had said they’d kicked that can down the road long enough,” he said. “It’s time to do something.”

Best said that commissioners were doing everything they could to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Had they granted every request from every department, property taxes would have risen 17 cents, and 30 cents if the board decided not to allocate money from the county’s fund balance. She condemned the notion that school funding and jail funding were at odds, adding that since the jail is nearing completion, money had to be provided to ensure it would be operational.

“For me, to obligate millions of dollars for that facility and then not turn the lights on and staff it and not protect the current detention officers we have in the old facility seems to me to be a bit ridiculous,” she said.

The board is set to vote on the final budget June 1.

Why Hantavirus outbreak deserves our attention

BY MARK JABEN GUEST COLUMNIST

First, let me say that for many reasons, those with experience with Hantavirus outbreaks feel at this time that it is highly unlikely to turn into something like Covid. Yes, in the aftermath of the pandemic, it’s only reasonable to feel a bit gun shy. But unlike Sars-CoV2, this virus has not appreciably mutated in years. Current specimens are reported to be exactly the same as those seen in Argentina in 1996 and 2018 outbreaks. Its ability to survive and adapt depends heavily on the rodent species it inhabits, a species only present in southern South America.

There are other hantavirus strains in the U.S., but they depend on different rodent species. This particular hantavirus can spread person to person, and evidence suggests by respiratory transmission. This outbreak has emerged in a very contained environment, making it easy to identify those at risk, even though some people left the ship before it became apparent what was happening.

Most significantly, previous outbreaks have been contained by close monitoring, quarantine of close contacts, and isolation for those with symptoms. Every day, we will learn more about how this virus is behaving in this outbreak. No, the reason to pay attention has far greater implications than the medical risks of an outbreak. It’s a chance to evaluate our preparedness, and how fast systems in place are ready to respond quickly to an outbreak. In Western North Carolina, how quickly systems are in place to respond to weather-related disasters is top of mind as we enter hurricane season. It is

Duke rate hike proposal is insulting

To the Editor:

Duke Energy’s request to the Republicancontrolled N.C. Utilities Commission (The Smoky Mountain News, April 22) will increase everyone’s monthly power bills by an average of $28 per 1,000 kilowatt hours, a 15% hike. Next year, an average of $6.59 will be added to that. Over the first two years, our higher electricity bills would give Duke about $728.6 million.

In 2025 alone, Duke raked in $4.9 billion in profits. This includes income from water-, air- and land-polluting and 24/7 noisemaking data centers, so it has a stake in pushing for more of them. Its first quarter 2026 profit was $1.58 billion, so its 2026 profit might exceed last year’s. Thanks to Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Duke Energy paid zero federal income tax in 2025.

How much did you pay, readers?

In 2025, Duke CEO Henry Sideris got approximately $14 million in salary and bonuses. Other top Duke employees do very well, too. They enjoy multi-million dollar incomes while a majority of our citizens live paycheck to paycheck, many working two or three jobs.

Why are we, North Carolina homeowners, renters, nursing business-owners, local governments, schools and other organizations, in danger of shelling out more of our hard-

also an opportunity to see if the current administration’s desire to shrink the federal government is working — DOGE, restrictions on the ability of agencies to act independently and quickly, responsibilities and associated funding needs pushed down to states and then local communities (as we are well aware of in Haywood County, with proposed tax increases to cover the shortfalls) and cuts to healthcare insurance, food availability and research to name a few.

Has this created a gap in adjusting to these new realities that endanger health and safety now? Is this really saving us any money? In short, everyone supports a government that spends our tax dollars wisely and on what is deemed necessary and important. But has this current experiment in how to go about that served you well? Focus on this hantavirus outbreak provides a great opportunity to take the time to decide what are the “valuable” services our government should provide, at what level of government should these services be provided and what we are willing to pay in taxes to fund these services.

And with the upcoming elections all over the country, who are the candidates focused on providing services and support that meet what we need to be prepared? After all, we don’t wait for houses and businesses to burn down to only then decide we need adequate numbers of fire fighters and fire trucks. Specifically with this outbreak, are we being adequately served by a pared down workforce at CDC, given that it took a month for CDC to communicating with us? Are we being hampered by not being in the World Health Organization with ready access to information/ data sharing

LETTERS

earned money to Duke Energy? As always, follow the money on a dizzying revolving door as it travels from Duke Energy to N.C. Senate and House and the N.C. Utilities Commission.

These state senators and representatives are top recipients of Duke Power-affiliated PAC donations:

• Phil Berger (R), state senator and former Senate leader, got $107,000 since 2000 from Duke’s Political Action Committee. Duke is his third-biggest donor after two big Republican groups.

• Sen. Ralph Hise (R), who took over leadership from Berger, has taken $46,000 from Duke’s PAC since 2010.

• Republican House Speaker Destin Hall (R) has taken over $31,000 since 2016. Duke’s PAC is his third-biggest funder.

In 2015 Paul Newton (R) left as head of Duke Energy in North Carolina to run for state senate in 2016. He won. He got a bill passed to let Duke charge us customers for its unfinished energy plants and to cancel its commitment to reduce fossil fuels by 2030. With a supermajority, Republicans overrode the governor’s veto.

Newton also got Republican Donald Van der Vaart (R) appointed head of the N.C. Utilities Commission. He is an ex-Shell Oil executive. Van der Vaart denies the truth our farmers see daily: our climate is changing for the worse. Van der Vaart pushes coal-fired plants over solar and wind, although clean

and coordination that comes with being a member, given that these health-related issues are not confined by borders? Are the resource sharing and support through agencies like USAID a benefit to us, by helping others in far-off places be healthier and thus less susceptible to diseases that are only a plane flight away? And do we benefit here at home when there are people on the ground in those far-away places to monitor, provide early detection and thus early intervention before an outbreak spreads too far too fast.

As Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, You don’t throw ‘away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.’ Andes Hantavirus has a case fatality rate or around 30%, meaning that 30% of those diagnosed as infected die. For comparison, in April 2020 at the onset of Covid outbreak, New York City had a case fatality rate of around 8%. So, it is nothing to be complacent about.

We cannot tell or control when the next risky pathogen will emerge. (And just last Friday, we all became aware of an Ebola outbreak in the Congo — now that’s something to be very concerned about.) But we can be prepared to respond when it does. How well our current pared down workforce can utilize its pared down resources to manage this hantavirus outbreak can be a helpful gauge for how well-positioned we actually are. It is an opportunity to hold our elected officials accountable to make sure the necessary pieces are in place. And it gives each one of us an opportunity to participate and fulfill the role that comes with being a citizen.

Mark Jaben, MD Medical Director, Haywood County Health Department

energy is less expensive to build and to maintain.

How does all this affect us voters, who are not billionaires? General Assembly Republicans act in Duke’s interest and the interests of mega-data centers and the fossil fuel industry, not ours.

Fortunately, some Republican voters have lately seen what the men they voted for are doing to them. State Sen. Berger lost the March 3 Republican primary for pushing a casino in his district against the wishes of his Republican constituents. Mark Pless, the state representative from here in WNC, lost his primary for ignoring his constituents’ wishes.

Gov. Josh Stein’s (D) response to Duke and General Assembly Republicans has exposed their contempt for North Carolina citizens:

“On top of a proposed 15% rate hike, Duke Energy is now asking North Carolinians to foot the bill for an additional $800 million in increased fuel costs. I vetoed Senate Bill 266 for exactly this reason: because it would further expose North Carolina ratepayers to volatile fuel markets and shift the cost of electricity from large industrial users onto the backs of regular people, making your utility bills more expensive. Republican legislators knew this, but still left North Carolinians holding the bag. The Utilities Commission should step in to secure an affordable energy future for North Carolinians. We must do everything we can to make life more affordable for families, not more expensive.”

In November 2024, General Assembly

Republicans lost their supermajority. This coming November, perhaps more voters, regardless of party affiliation, will act in their own and their families’ interests.

The emperor has no clothes

To the Editor:

Like the writer of last week’s letter “Same Story, Different Wording,” I too, look forward to the day when The Smoky Mountain News stops printing letters from David Snell.  Unlike that writer, however, my reason is very different: I look forward to the day when such letters no longer need to be written. That will be the day when Donald Trump and his cronies stop taking a wrecking ball to the American democratic institutions that our ancestors fought to create and preserve. That will be the day when the January 6, 2021, attack on our Capitol is recognized for what it was — an attempt to violently overthrow our democracy. That will be the day when a convicted felon no longer occupies the highest office in our democracy. Until that day, I welcome letters, no matter how repetitious, from anyone who isn’t afraid to stand up and point out that the emperor has no clothes.

Bruce Buchanan Sylva

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

The new documentary, “Papertown,” a film that immerses itself into the mountain community of Canton as it dealt with the closure of its 115-year-old paper mill in 2023, features a scene with Gail Mull — the town’s mayor pro tem and secretary of the local millworkers union — that sums it all up.

“The mill has provided, and there is going to be life after the mill,” Mull said. “Billionaires come and go, we’re going to be here forever. We have to make something of it. We have to have the backbone. We have to have the grit. We have got to stay here and make something of it — and we will.”

Although the official premiere of the “Papertown” will be held on May 22 at the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado, folks from around Haywood County and greater Western North Carolina were treated to a special screening on May 17 at Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton.

That evening, a crowd of thousands packed into the park. With the skyline of the abandoned mill looming in the background, the audience sat down in lawn chairs and awaited the screening. Before that, the production crew, as well as a couple town officials and characters from the film gathered onstage for a live Q&A session — not only about the experience of being part of the documentary, but also what the story itself

means to the town.

“This movie is going to go forth to all places across the United States [and] across the world because [your] story matters,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers told the crowd. “As much as this is a Canton story, a Haywood County story, this is a story of Americans all across this country that are due respect. What you do matters, hard work matters — that’s us.”

Want to watch?

A documentary about the Canton paper mill closure in 2023, “Papertown” will make its official premiere at the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado, on May 22.

Other screenings and streaming availability options are also planned. For more information and/or to donate and support the release of “Papertown,” please visit newunionfilms.com/papertowndoc.

“There are bigger things to come, and that’s what I believe in,” added Mull. “I believe that we are optimistic, that we have overcome and have lived to see another day. We are not dead, we’re still alive and we’re still kicking.”

Former mill worker Roger Frady, who is featured in “Papertown,” had heartfelt reflections when asked what it was like to be involved in the process as someone who was employed by Pactiv Evergreen. A fourth-generation mill employee, Frady was a boiler control operator.

“I will tell you, I miss my mill family. I miss talking to them,” Frady said, his eyes soon rising over the audience and

towards the mill in the distance.

With the announcement by Pactiv Evergreen of the mill closure in the spring of 2023, the idea for “Papertown” was immediate and evolved quickly. Combining forces with a

handful of local film production teams, Jeremy Seifert, an Asheville-based director, relentlessly documented the last three months at the mill before it closed. The film not only focuses on the mill workers themselves but also the community as a whole and how everyone was coming to terms with the loss.

“The film allows people from the outside to get an inside view of that community, to really meet and get to know these amazing people and characters,” Seifert said. “[During] the three years making the film, I fell in love with the place and the

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘The

great Northern out of Cheyenne, from sea to shining sea’

By the time you read this, I’ll already be on the road. Most likely somewhere in rural West Virginia en route to DelFest in Cumberland, Maryland, onward to Upstate New York, over to Maine, then across the country to Montana.

You see, my annual summer road trip is underway, at least in my mind right now while sitting and typing in Panacea Coffee Company in Waynesville. Even though the weather is splendid, the sun shining and a plethora of folks milling about in the cafe, the coveted table next to the big window is open. Lucky me.

It’s Saturday, early afternoon. After I finish this column, the plan for the day is to disappear into the woods for a trail run and swim. Probably the forest service road up in Sunburst, then a wonderfully chilly dip in nearby Lake Logan. Lay out on the dock and soak in that warm mountain sunshine.

As far back as I can remember, even going back to family vacations as a kid, the open road has always felt like my true home, the endless miles of unknown highways and backcountry roads. The mere idea of hopping into my rusty pickup truck and aiming the nose of the vehicle towards somewhere, anywhere, is eternally appealing and appetizing to my heart and soul.

the Maryland panhandle. Put on by The Del McCoury Band, the beloved gathering features some of the biggest names in bluegrass, folk and Americana music. This year’s headliners include Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sierra Ferrell, The Infamous Stringdusters, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Peter Rowan, Sierra Hull, Punch Brothers, Blackberry Smoke, and more.

And I’ll be running around backstage interviewing numerous musicians, usually squirreling away several feature interviews for future stories that’ll appear in this fine publication. I also need to cultivate some of those conversations for this massive bluegrass book I’m working on, and will be for the rest of this year until I hand in the manuscript on the Jan. 1, 2027, deadline that’s been imposed on me by my publisher at St. Martin’s Press in Manhattan.

And I am my true self on the open road, where my internal antenna remains honed for all kind and jovial souls, all adventures by chance or happenstance, all interactions and actions at the glorious mercy of time and place. Thankfully, I found myself in a profession where I get a bi-weekly paycheck to wander and ponder and interact and jot everything down for you dear readers here.

In truth, even if I wasn’t a journalist, running around haphazardly and asking folks existential questions about their lives and snapping their portraits, I’d literally still be doing the same thing. I would, honestly. The absolute essence of the universe is heading down the open road and seeing where it takes you.

With any road trip, there’s always a few anchor points to hold down the straps of chaos and confusion one may find beyond the horizon of their own intent, either geographically or intrinsically. This trip has three anchor points: Plattsburgh, New York; New Harbor, Maine; and Whitefish, Montana.

Before all that, I’m heading to DelFest on

HOT PICKS

1

The second annual “Black TieDye Ball” will be held at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Asheville Music Hall.

2

The 13th annual Seven Clans Rodeo will be held May 23-24 at 181 Tsali Blvd. in Cherokee.

3

Mountain Roots Bluegrass Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Highlands Riverbend RV Resort & Cabins in Franklin.

4

The 30th annual Swain County Heritage Festival will be held May 22-23 at Riverfront Park in Bryson City.

5

Singer-songwriter Ed Snodderly will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Yonder Community Market in Franklin.

seaside town of New Harbor and nearby beaches remain an incredibly important and inspirational place for me. As does the local swimming hole (pictured).

Plattsburgh, New York: So, not to be morbid, more so in a sense of transparency, I’m heading back to my hometown for the memorial service for my best friend. We met on the first day of seventh grade and have been brothers from another for the last 29 years. His tragic, unexpected passing at age 42 leaves a void for many in my native North Country. And yet, the countless memories remain intact on the walls of my mind, the teenage transgressions all the way up to the real-world responsibilities of adulthood. To that, I’ll be tracking down some hiking spots in the Adirondack Mountains to clear my head, maybe even go swimming at Split Rock, too.

New Harbor, Maine: Following the short visit to Plattsburgh, I’ll be heading to the coast of Maine. A lifelong friend has a summer home up there and only uses it for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. So, I asked if I could possibly stay there and work on my bluegrass book for the month of June. He said no problem. That house has been part of my life going all the way back to elementary school when my family would vacation there. The quaint

Whitefish, Montana: The annual odyssey to Big Sky Country. The West will always own a large piece of my heart. And I can only hold that piece when I return to the Rocky Mountains, only to give it back once I turn around and head back across the Mississippi River. For the fourth year in a row, I’ll be attending and covering the Under the Big Sky festival in Whitefish. Featuring some of the biggest names in country and rock music, it remains this yearly touchstone for taking inventory of the last year of my life, clearing more space from within to allow the next step, next chapter to unfold in real time. Oh, and more swimming, where this part of the trip offers up the secluded Murray Lake (sapphire-colored waters and endless pine trees).

What knows what this extensive road trip will conjure? Who cares? The core premise of a trek of this magnitude is the simple notion that who you are when you walk out the front door of your humble abode is not who’ll be when you finally come back and step inside your apartment after being gone for weeks, after traveling thousands of miles. This is a good thing. And isn’t that the point of it all, anyways? To keep learning and exploring, always remaining curious and open to the unlimited possibilities of the universe, of you and me. I digress. Soon, it’ll be time to pack up the truck and crank the engine. Gather the camping gear. Suitcase filled with outfits and running clothes. The back of the truck filled with hiking gear and pairs of running shoes. Don’t forget the cooler or acoustic guitar (with extra picks and strings). See you out there, my friends, either known now or soon enough down the road. Safe travels. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

Seifert is an award-winning director. His works have appeared at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and beyond. Seifert was also the director of photography and producer for the new musical documentary “We Are The Shaggs,” which has been making the rounds on the film festival circuit this year.

Alongside Seifert, the production crew includes several Haywood County locals, including producers Chris Pruett and Colby Sexton, director of photography Jacob Sutton and production specialist Luke Sutton. Seifert looks at “Papertown” as a three-year “labor of love.” Since then, the crew has decided to stick together and formed New Union Films.

“The people from the mill, just being so open and letting us come into their home, welcoming us with open arms was pretty amazing, the friendships we made along the whole way,” Luke Sutton noted about the filming process.

To note, Pruett’s “papaw,” D.P. Milner,

On the street

worked at the mill. The film is dedicated to Milner “and all the many generations of mill workers.”

“For me, as a filmmaker, I don’t think I’ll ever make anything that tops this,” Pruett, a fifth-generation Canton native, said of his deep ties to the mill and community at-large.

In a wild twist of fate, iconic singer-songwriter Dave Matthews is an executive producer for “Papertown.” A longtime friend of

Swain County Heritage Festival

The 30th annual Swain County Heritage Festival will be held May 22-23 at Riverfront Park in Bryson City.

Live music, clogging, heritage demonstrations, artisan vendors and much more. There will also be sack races and kids’ activities. Bring a lawn chair if need be. The festivities will run

from 6-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event is free and open to the public. For more information and a full schedule of activities, visit facebook.com/swaincountyheritagefestival.

Seifert’s, Matthews viewed an early cut of the film and loved it so much that he penned the melody “Papertown,” which now serves as the theme song.

The recording also includes songbird Sierra Ferrell and fiddler Sarah Watkins. As well, Dave Matthews debuted the number at a

• “For every 100 factory jobs lost in a community, 744 other jobs disappear.”

When asked what “Papertown” says about the current state of America — where what happened to the mill and the people of Canton symbolizes a broader story of the economic tragedy and cultural erasure now occurring in our country — Seifert agrees there’s a larger context to the film.

• “Railfest” will be held May 22-24 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Watch the return of steam engine No. 1702, as well as historic programs, live music, vendors and more. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.

Dave Matthews Band gig in Charlotte on May 16.

“He wrote this incredible song that holds the spirit and life of the whole film in such a powerful way,” Seifert said.

At one point in the film, a couple of stark statistics appear on the screen:

• “Since 1979, as many as 6.7 million U.S. manufacturing workers have lost their jobs. A decline of 35%”

“It’s a singular story that has universal implications, and it speaks to this country and what we’re all struggling with right now on so many levels,” Seifert said. “This film is about the death of industry, the loss of goodpaying jobs, this feeling of powerlessness. The people in power and the people with money who own all these things, they’re so removed from the local place itself, and yet they’re making these decisions that completely affect our lives — and that’s happening over and over and over again.”

Seven Clans Rodeo

The 13th annual Seven Clans Rodeo will be held May 2324 at 181 Tsali Boulevard in Cherokee. Between the broncos that will be busted, the bulls that will be bucking and the rodeo clowns looking to avoid getting stomped in the head, there will be all sorts of skills competitions and top-name riders in this SRA-sanctioned event. Gates open at 5 p.m. Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 per person. Children ages five and under are free. Organized by the Cherokee Welcome Center. For more information, call 828.359.6490 or visit facebook.com/sevenclansrodeo or visitcherokeenc.com.

On the wall On the table

HCAC gets ‘Weird & Wacky’

The latest exhibit from the Haywood County Arts Council, “Weird & Wacky” is currently on display at HCAC’s Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville.

This imaginative and playful exhibition will be on display through June 1, inviting visitors to explore art that celebrates the unusual, the quirky and the wonderfully unexpected.

The showcase is free and open to the public. For more information, visit haywoodarts.org or call 828.452.0593.

• “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” is currently being showcased at the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP) in Cherokee. A first-of-itskind exhibition centering Native voices, perspectives and creativity in response to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the showcase 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. It will be on display through Dec. 30. 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. For more information, visit motcp.org.

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

• Bosu’s Wine Shop (Waynesville) will host “Paint Rocks & Sip” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

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

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

Space limited to 10 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.

• 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.

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

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

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

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

• 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. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

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

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: June 9, July 7, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, 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. Guests can also purchase a “season pass” to the series.

For more information and/or to make reservations, call 828.526.4008 or visit skyline-lodge.com.

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

• “Flights & Bites” will be held at 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. There will also be a special summer wine dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. 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.

Memorial Closed Day

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Karaoke Night” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia” 7 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Jam” 10 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.

• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every other Thursday of the month, a special “Brunch Show” with Bird In

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

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with The Tennessee Bluegrass Band (Americana/bluegrass) May 20. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per

Cold Mountain Music Festival

The annual Cold Mountain Music Festival will be held May 29-30 at the Lake Logan Retreat Center in Canton. Artists to appear onstage include JD Clayton, Mason Via, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Shedhouse Trio (featuring Darren Nicholson), Vaden Lander, Kelly & The Cowboys, Queen Bee & The

CMMF will return May 29-30. David Simchock photo

Hand (Americana/indie) 1 p.m. May 23 and David Cheatham (singer-songwriter) 10 p.m. May 23. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Hill Country Band (bluegrass) May 20 and Marc & Anita Pruitt (Americana/bluegrass) May 27. All shows begin at 5 p.m. and admission is $25 per person unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Reservations highly recommended ($10 per person minimum food purchase). The kitchen and wine bar open at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host The 80s Rewind Band (rock/pop) May 22 and TLQ+2 (rock/oldies) May 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and Paper Wings (Americana) 4 p.m. June 28 ($15 adults, $7.50 kids). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/concert-

Honey Lovers and more. There will be an array of food and beverage vendors onsite. As well, there will be plenty of outdoor recreation activities offered at Lake Logan. Several lodging options are also available. For more information, a full schedule of performers and/or to purchase tickets, visit coldmountainmusic.org.

person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Silly Ridge (Americana/bluegrass) May 22 and Andrew Wakefield & Friends (Americana/folk) May 29. 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, Andy Ferrell (singer-songwriter) 5:30 p.m. May 20, Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) May 22, Long Way Ramblers (Americana) May 23, Justin Moyar (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. May 24, Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak (Americana) 5:30 p.m. May 27, PhunXue May 29, Highway Companions May 30 and Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (Americana) 3 p.m. May 31. 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 with Paul Linser & Al Scortino (Americana/folk) May 23 and Bill Petersen (Americana/blues) May 30. Free and open to the public. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.

• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host

Dylan Armour May 29. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host “Karaoke” with Doug Ramsey Mondays, Joe Munoz (singersongwriter) May 21, Charles Walker (singersongwriter) May 22, Nero & The Sun Setters 7 p.m. May 23, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) May 29 and James Gang May 30. 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 Jordeci (R&B/soul) 9 p.m. May 29. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Zorki (singer-songwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, the “Salon Series” on select dates and “Bear Shadow After Party” with Jeremy Ivey (Americana/indie-folk) 9:30 p.m. May 30 (free). Reservations encouraged for all performances. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host The Texas Tenors (pop/classical) 7:30 p.m. May 30. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Board Game Night” 5 p.m. Mondays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Karaoke” May 22, Shane Meade & The Sound (indie/soul) May 23 and Tim Akins (classic rock) May 30. 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, Johnny Holiday (Americana/blues) May 22 and Tim Akins (classic rock) May 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

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

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday, Heidi Holton (blues/folk) May 22, Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) May 23, Liz Petty (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. May 24, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) May 25, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie-folk) May 29 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) May 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to

Bear Shadow Music Festival

The fifth installment of the Bear Shadow Music Festival will take place May 29-31 in Highlands.

Featuring some of the biggest artists on the scene today, this year’s event will host performances by Mavis Staples, Charley Crockett, Margo Price, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Infamous Stringdusters, Kashus Culpepper, Pony Bradshaw, Marc

the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Music By The River (Cherokee) on the Kanunohi Park Stage will feature Sabella May 22-23 and Kayla McKinney May 29-30. 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. May 21 (at Big Wesser), Shane Meade Duo (indie/soul) 5 p.m. May 22, Mike Hollon (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. May 23, Log Noggins (southern rock) 5 p.m. May 23, Jackson Grimm (Americana/folk) 1 p.m. May 24, Beer & Loathing (rock/jam) 5 p.m. May 24, “Music Bingo” 5 p.m. May 28 (at Big Wesser), Tuck-aseegee 5 p.m. May 29, Laura Thurston 1 p.m. May 30, Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue 5 p.m. May 30 and Andy Ferrell 2 p.m. May 31. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com/events/2026-summermusic-series.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Chi-Town Transit Authority (Chicago tribute) May 22, “Songwriters Showcase 60” May 23 and “Johnny Folsom 4” (Johnny Cash tribute) May 30. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Low Tide (classic rock/country gold) May 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. on certain Fridays (May 22), R.A. Nightingale (singersongwriter) May 20, Erik Hendrix (singer-songwriter) May 23, Michael Kitchens (singer-songwriter) May 29 and The McGuires (Americana) May 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Russell” Mondays, Adi The Monk (singer-songwriter) May 22, Chad Bowden (singer-songwriter) May 23, “Music Bingo” May 26, Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) May 29 and Ginny McAfee (singer-songwriter) May 30. 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 The Parks Brothers (classic rock/country gold) May 23 and Snap (funk/pop) May 30. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.

SEE ON THE BEAT, PAGE 22

Broussard and J & The Causeways.

Since 2021, Bear Shadow, a nonprofit organization, has donated nearly $100,000 to local organizations, including the HighlandsCashiers Land Trust, Sky Valley/Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire Department and Highlands Biological Station.

Weekend general admission is $300 per person, with VIP upgrades and single-day passes also available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit bearshadowwnc.com.

• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic” 7 p.m. Mondays, Keith Nathan Smith (country/rock) May 21, Mike Yow Band (rock/jam) May 22, Trippin’ Up The Stairs (Celtic/oldtime) 3 p.m. May 24, Tim Akins (classic rock) May 28, Celtic Road 4 p.m. (Celtic/world) May 30, Laurel River Connection (Americana/rock) May 30 and Holler & Crow (Celtic/folk) 3 p.m. May 31. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Generations (Americana) 6 p.m. May 22 and “We’ll Sing In The Summertime” (benefit concert) 4:30 p.m. May 24. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Gretchen Wilson (country/rock) 7:30 p.m. May 29. Tickets now available, with seating upgrades offered. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host semi-regular “Live Music Mondays” with Mowgli Giannitti (singer-songwriter) June 1. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.

• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host Double Helix (Steely Dan tribute) 6 p.m. May 21 ($10 adults, $5 students). 828.488.7843 /

Ready for the ‘Black Tie-Dye Ball’?

Presented by Rock for Relief WNC, the second annual “Black Tie-Dye Ball” will be held at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Asheville Music Hall.

A benefit concert to raise funds for local musicians, artists and organizations in need, the showcase will include performances by Gill Francis & The AsheVillains (rock/soul), Andrew Thelston Band (rock/jam) and Sugar Bomb (indie-jazz/jam).

The AsheVillains will feature Claude Coleman (drummer for Ween) and Jeremy Kaplan (keyboardist for Dogs In A Pile), as well as a slew of some of the region’s finest musicians (Ashley Heath, Josh Blake, Melissa McKinney, etc.). As well, Thelston will play a tribute set to Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin.

Since its formation in the wake of Hurricane Helene in October 2024, Rock for Relief WNC has raised over $110,000 for a slew

swainartscenter.com.

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host Raphael Graves Duo (Americana) 2 p.m. May 24, Shane Meade (indie/soul) 5 p.m. May 29 and Alma Russ (Americana/folk) 2 p.m. May 31. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will

Gill Francis will play Asheville May 23. File photo

of regional organizations, including the Haywood County Arts Council, Mountain Projects, REACH of Haywood and Madison County Arts Council, all atop numerous local musicians who were devastated by Helene.

To note, Rock for Relief WNC has recently achieved nonprofit status, which will now ensure its growth and opportunities to give back to the community.

Tickets are $20 per person, with VIP upgrades available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit rockforreliefwnc.com.

host Zorki (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. May 22, Cecil Thompson (singer-songwriter) May 23, Katie & Ezra (Americana) May 24, Adam & Joe (Americana) May 25, Lucas J. Smith 3 p.m. May 29 and Jordan Denton (singer-songwriter) May 31. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.

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

• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host David Lloyd (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. May 23. Free and open to the public.

‘On the Lawn at Yonder’

Ed Snodderly will play Franklin May 24. Donated photo

The “On the Lawn at Yonder” 2026 season will return with legendary singer-songwriter Ed Snodderly at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Yonder Community Market in Franklin. A popular annual series featuring some of the finest Americana, bluegrass, folk and alt-country artists in Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia, the gatherings have become a much-anticipated monthly event (May-October). Admission is by donation. Family/dog friendly. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed. You can also purchase local/organic food, artisan snacks and craft beverages at Yonder’s market throughout the event.

For more information and a full schedule of artists appearing at the series, visit eatrealfoodinc.com/live-music-at-yonder or call 828.200.2169.

828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Andy Ferrell (singer-songwriter) May 22, Charles Walker (singer-songwriter) May 23, Jason Lyles (singer-songwriter) May 29 and Amplitude May 30. 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 (June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2) and the “On the Lawn at Yonder” live music series with Ed Snodderly (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. May 24 (admission by donation). Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

Mountain Roots Bluegrass Festival

The Mountain Roots Bluegrass Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the Highlands Riverbend RV Resort & Cabins in Franklin.

Celebrating the musical, artistic and cultural heritage of Western North Carolina, the gathering will feature over 50 vendors, food trucks and bluegrass music onstage.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 678.858.8033 or visit highlandsriverbend.com.

On the stage

• Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (Waynesville) will host a special stage production of “Golden Age: New Voices” at 7:30 p.m. May 22-23, 28-30 and 2 p.m. May 24, 31. Tickets are now available. 828.456.6322 / harttheatre.org.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “It Runs in the Family” 7:30 p.m. May 15-16 and 2:30 p.m. May 17. 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

ALSO:

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host comedy legend Jeff Dunham at 9 p.m. Friday, May 22. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host a stage production of “Blithe Spirit” with the Highlands-Cashiers Players on select times through May 24. Tickets start at $27.50 per person. 828.526.9047 / mountaintheatre.com.

Relationship is more than just pillow talk

One May evening in Holt, Colorado, septuagenarian and widow Addie Moore makes her way to the home of Louis Waters, a widower also in his 70s. They’ve lived within a block of each other for decades, and Addie had always admired Louis’ wife. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Addie says she has a proposal for Louis. She gets cold feet for just a moment, then stiffens her spine and makes her pitch. Here’s the dialogue from page three of this novel:

I’m listening, Louis said.

I wonder if you would consider coming to my house sometimes to sleep with me. What? How do you mean?

I mean we’re both alone. We’ve been by ourselves for too long. For years. I’m lonely. I think you might be too. I wonder if you would come and sleep in the night with me. And talk.

He stared at her, watching her, curious now, cautious.

You don’t say anything. Have I taken your breath away? she said.

I guess you have.

I’m not talking about sex.

I wondered. No, not sex. I’m not looking at it that way. I think I’ve lost any sexual impulse a long time ago. I’m talking about getting through the night. And lying warm in bed, companionably. Lying down in bed together and you staying the night. The nights are the worst. Don’t you think?

Yes, I think so.

closeness of that. Talking in the nights, in the dark. She waited. What do you think?

Louis asks for some time to consider her idea, then goes the next day for a haircut — the barber gives him a shave as well — and calls Addie and says, I’d like to come over tonight if that’s still all right.

And there you go. These nightly sleepovers provide the basic plot for Kent Haruf’s “Our Souls at Night.” Addie and Louis embark on a companionship that turns into soul-love, sharing stories from their past while lying close together in bed, the ups and downs of their marriages, their difficulties with their grown children, their failed

from some oldster act of lust or strange courtship, never knowing that the Addie and Louis, at least for most of the story, simply talk and hold hands.

Addie has a son who was permanently scarred from childhood when his younger sister died after being stuck by a car, Louis a daughter who is a free spirit but with bad luck when it comes to men. Both hear through the grape vine about their parents, and each separately urges them to break off these nocturnal visits. At one point, Addie must watch over her six-year-old grandson Jamie after her son’s wife has left him.

Rather than put distance between Addie and Louis, the boy draws them even closer together through a series of activities they devise to relieve his anxieties, and he in turn begins to look at Louis as if he were his grandfather.

I end up taking pills to go to sleep and reading too late and then I feel groggy the next day. No use at all to myself or anybody else. I’ve had that myself.

But I think I could sleep again if there were someone in bed with me. Someone nice. The

dreams, their memories from the good and bad seasons of their lives.

Of course, the present intrudes on their relationship. Their acquaintances in town are soon aware of these nightly assignations, though they believe these get-togethers stem

To tell more of this story would ruin its ending — which is unexpected.

For me, “Our Souls at Night” appealed on multiple levels. The book is a fast read, the characters real, and the terse prose beautiful in its precision and emotional exactitude.

Haruf’s tale also invites its readers to examine their own lives. The bed and the darkness become a sort of confessional for Addie and Louis as they come to know each other better. They talk of the mistakes they’ve made, of the faults of their former spouses, of things they wish they’d done differently. An odd cleansing takes place in their sharing of secrets, as if they were mopping up all the mess of the past so as to be pure enough to truly love each other.

Haruf and his fictional town of Holt were new to me. Clay Jenkinson’s online article “Farewell to One of the Plains Great Writers, Kent Haruf” caught my eye, and Haruf’s posthumous “Our Souls at Night” lived up to the praise the reviewer had showered on the author’s other work. Eventually I hope to read one or more of those novels.

“Our Souls at Night” is fiction at its finest: engaging, real, and touching and lovely in the impression it leaves on its readers.

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

Local groups fill gaps in ‘roadless rule’ conversation

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture first announced its intention to rescind the Roadless Rule in August 2025, Southern Environmental Law Center staff received around 8,000 mailed public comments opposing to the decision, which they stuffed into boxes and delivered to the Forest Service.

In all, the agency received 625,930 public comments, despite a historically short comment window.

The next step of the recission, the stillunreleased Draft Environmental Impact Statement, initially slated for publication in March before being pushed back will give Americans a second opportunity to weigh in on the proposal. The federal government has yet to hold a public hearing or clarify its revised timeline.

By comparison, before the Roadless Rule was implemented in 2001, Clinton administration officials engaged the public in more than 600 hearings and received a recordbreaking 1.6 million comments.

Pending DEIS release, North Carolina environmental groups are stepping into the role of the federal government. By hosting public hearings and soliciting public comments, they’re staying one step ahead of the policy — and ensuring it stays relevant.

On April 15, 17 national and regional conservation organizations — including MountainTrue, NC Audubon, NC Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Center for Biological Diversity, NC Sierra Club, The

Wilderness Society, Pisgah Area SORBA, The Outdoor Alliance — held an Asheville roundtable about the recession to collect written and spoken messages. Throughout the month of April, peoples’ hearings were also held in Brevard and Hayesville.

Research shows the Roadless Rule has massive payoffs — and few, if any, costs.

“Wildlife — including hellbenders, warblers, and trout — depend on roadless areas, and we need them, too. They protect our drinking water and scenic views, and they safeguard a vital part of our heritage and humanity,” said Southeast Director at the Center for Biological Diversity Will Harlan in a MountainTrue press release.

The Roadless Rule protects 58.1 million acres of vulnerable, diverse land from roadbuilding — and while only 2% is in the Eastern United States, a significant chunk of that 2% is in Southern Appalachia. Plus, many endangered species find a haven in the roadless areas of North Carolina, which constitute the entire habitat of the North Carolina Flying Squirrel. What’s more, Roadless Rule-protected reservoirs in the Southeast alone provide 4.5 million people with drinking water. Nationwide, that figure jumps to 124 million people. Clean water from these areas reduces the cost of wastewater treatment by $18 billion each year.

“There is no better initiative to protect national forests than a roadless designation. It stops pretty much all of the other sorts of damage that come into damage public lands, and that’s something that we’re hoping to preserve here and galvanize all the people here in

has helped keep that promise,” he said.

Ball went on to thank the Forest Service for its work in North Carolina coordinating wildfire response, engaging in risk management and showing up for the land and its people.

“Our county’s relationship with the North Carolina Forest Service is strong because it is built on trust, respect and a shared mission to store these lands responsibly for the people who depend on them today and for those who will inherit them tomorrow.”

Buncombe commissioners recently passed a resolution celebrating the Roadless Rule’s 25year anniversary, acknowledging “that a US Forest Service proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule places approximately 2,657 acres of roadless areas in Buncombe County at risk.”

“Good relationships are based on sound policy, and the roadless rule is sound policy,” Ball said, insinuating the consequences of a Roadless Rule rescission.

These relationships might be further undermined by agency reconfigurations. The Trump administration in late March announced that 57 Forest service research facilities will be “evaluated for possible closure” under a new agency consolidation. Among the 20 facilities slated to remain nationwide are those in Durham and Asheville.

Asheville,” NC Sierra Club Grassroots Organizer Michal Brzezicki told The Smoky Mountain News at the Asheville Roundtable, which he said had over 200 registrants.

The event, held at The Mule by Devil’s Foot, was introduced by several speakers. Buncombe County Commissioner Drew Ball explained how the Roadless Rule protects Western North Carolina forests.

“When you stand on a ridge in the Nantahala or Pisgah [National Forests], and you look out, you’re seeing more than just stretches of forest … You’re seeing what makes us who we are. For 25 years, the Roadless Rule

The USDA asserts that “there is a job for every existing employee in the reorganization, although it may be in a different role or at a different location,” but Forest Service employees are worried the current administration is trying to weaken the Forest Service with the goal of eventually selling or privatizing every acre of land under its stewardship. While USFS Chief Thom Schultz has denied this accusation, Trump’s FY2027 budget request for forest service management — comprising of salaries and administration — was 44% lower than last year’s appropriations.

On the land management side, passed during Trump’s first three weeks of office, Executive Order 14192

Learn about botany with ‘Adult Ed & Bev’ classes

Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions is giving folks an opportunity to learn about botany while enjoying an adult beverage.

This fun and informative series of classes will be held at Sante Wine Bar in downtown Sylva over the course of six Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. There will be wine service at the classes. Cost of the class does not include alcohol purchases. Classes will be limited to 25 people per session.

“Foraging for Wild Foods and Medicine” will be held from May 26 to June 30.

The land around us contains many plants and fungi that can be gathered and used to help feed ourselves and help keep

“Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation” mandates agencies to repeal 10 protections for every one that’s instated. Meanwhile, federal timber sale management could see its budget rise by nearly 450%, even as timber sales in one western US forest accrued a four-decade net loss of $1.73 billion.

Abigail Hunt, an associate attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center, described the non-economic downsides of inflated timber production.

“One of the Forest Service’s mandates is to manage our forest to produce timber … which in some cases is important for local communities, and also in other cases, it can have serious ecological downsides,” she said.

Hunt shared a photo of a recent Forest Service logging operation on the Brushy Mountain side near the Chautauqua River that destroyed a rare and old-growth forest as an example of what could happen to currently protected areas.

On April 1, a federal court voided the North Carolina Forest Service’s 2023 Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Plan, claiming it was based on incorrect analysis that understated harm to at-risk species, thus violating the Endangered Species Act. The plan would’ve significantly increased timber production, opening sensitive forest areas to logging, including the habitats of federally protected bats.

The U.S. Forest Service has claimed removing roadless protections will enhance firefighting capacity as roads will grant emergency responders access to remote burning areas. But Hunt debunked that position.

“When fires do burn in roadless areas, they tend to be at a much lower severity and more in line with something called the natural range of variation, which is a scientific way of saying that there are healthy fires that are better adapted to our landscape,” she said.

A January 2026 peer-reviewed study of all contiguous Forest Service areas over the course of three decades found that wildfire ignition density is four times lower in roadless areas than within 50 meters of a road.

Wildfire activity is rising amid a confluence of variables specific to Western North Carolina. All four counties in The Smoky

us and our families healthy and well. Participants will spend time in the classroom and in the field to learn about the many different edible and medicinal species that can be found in and foraged from the woods. This course will lean strongly on the ethics and rules of foraging to help ensure future harvests and on safety and proper identification of forest products.

Class costs on a sliding scale of between $140 and $200 per student, not including wine purchases. Each attendee gets to choose how much they want to pay within that range. To register, send an email to bigelownc@gmail.com.

Mountain News coverage area are experiencing “extreme drought” conditions, a phenomenon that’s likely to become more common and severe as climate change accelerates. Downed timber and debris from Helene serve as potent fuel sources.

According to the Forest Service, since the start of 2026, the state has had over 4,300 wildfires — 99% of which were human-caused. Adding roads to the mix, which facilitate human activity and access, might have devastating consequences.

Hunt concluded her talk by encouraging the public to share their stories — the more, the merrier, because everything will be counted.

“All public comments go into this thing called the administrative record that goes before the agency and before any court that ultimately ends up reviewing that action. So ultimately, the agency has to be able to justify the reasonableness of its action in light of all the comments and input that it gets,” she explained.

Names were called one by one, and participants’ stories were recorded to later become part of the record. The first speaker, Pat Davis, brought up the drought plaguing the region.

“I would like for those of you that pray to pray for rain,” she said before pivoting to the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind protections.

“We have a leader that doesn’t care. I know people want to call him a leader. I don’t,” she said as laughter echoed throughout the venue.

Robin Kirkpatrick grew up in Charlotte, which she said, “was once called the city of trees.”

“It has lost most of its canopy,” she said, adding that’s last thing she wants for Western North Carolina.

Another speaker, Tim Thompson, had not anticipated his name would be called.

“I had no intention of signing up,” he said, also inspiring laughter among the audience. “I thought I was just signing in, full disclosure.”

Thompson said he’s infuriated that at his age, he has to be advocating for something so basic as the continued protection of national forests.

But either way, “we’re here to fight,” he said. “All of us.”

WCU announces lineup for Ballparks and Brews Tour

Like a baseball team’s manager gearing up for spring training, the folks in the Western Carolina University Office of Alumni Engagement are sharpening their pencils and setting the starting lineup for the second annual Ballparks and Brews Tour.

Launched last year, the event is designed to bring together members of the WCU family for a series of gatherings at baseball stadiums across the Southeast. The 2026 season features six stops on the schedule in May and June, including visits to one Major League Baseball stadium, four Minor League Baseball parks and the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament.

The 2026 Ballparks and Brews Tour schedule:

• Thursday, May 28 — Greensboro Grasshoppers at First National Bank Field; first pitch at 6:30 p.m. vs. the Hub City Spartanburgers; featuring discounted ticket prices in the WCU alumni section, access to an exclusive happy hour event and $10 in ballpark cash. $20.

hour event and $10 in ballpark cash. $15.

• Thursday, June 4 — Asheville Tourists at the newly renovated McCormick Field; first pitch at 6:35 p.m. vs. the Greensboro Grasshoppers; featuring discounted ticket prices in the Best Buy Metal Pavillion, access to an exclusive happy hour event, a buffet dinner and cash bar. $25.

• Friday, June 5 — Hickory Crawdads at LP Frans Stadium; first pitch at 7 p.m. vs. the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers; featuring discounted ticket prices in the WCU alumni section and $10 in ballpark cash. $10.

In addition, the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Catamount Club will host a section as Western Carolina University’s

• Friday, May 29 — Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Atrium Health Ballpark; first pitch at 7 p.m. vs. the Augusta GreenJackets; featuring discounted ticket prices in the WCU alumni section, access to an exclusive happy

THE RIPPLE:

Catamounts compete in the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina. The date is to be determined, and first pitch time and opponent will not be known until the conclusion of the conference regular season.

For more information, call 828.227.7335 or email alumni@wcu.edu.

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The Joyful Botanist

BY ADAM BIGELOW

Bristling with excitement

Iwould never wish upon anyone a plague of locusts. Unless, that is, I’m wishing for you to come across a dense stand of bristly locust (Robinia hispida) shrubs in bloom along a trail or edge of the woods. Then, by all means, may this kind of pox be upon you.

At first glance, the stems of bristly locust look mean and dangerous, covered in

this plant. Locust trees and shrubs are in the pea family (Lamiaceae) and all have typical pea-type flowers. The flowers of the common black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) are white and otherwise resemble those of the bristly locust.

Notes

Ingles Nutrition Notes

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

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Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian

Leah McGrath - Dietitian

what appear to be numerous spines and prickles. But they are actually soft, bristly hairs that give this plant both the common name of bristly locust and the epithet in the botanical name of “hispida.”

In botany, there are specific names for not only every plant part but every type and variation of that part. There are names for all of the different types of leaf shapes, leaf margins or edges, flower shapes and arrangements, and just about any differentiating part or piece of a plant. In fact, there are over 20 terms to describe the varying appearances and forms of hairs that may be found on plants.

While I have no intention of listing and defining all of the various states and conditions of hairiness on plants in this article, some of the most common and general terms for plant hairiness include glabroushaving no hairs, a smooth surface; pubescent-having hairs; hispid-having prickly hairs; downy-long, soft, wooly-like hairs; and hirsute-having coarse hairs.

While these hispid, bristly hairs resembling tiny thorns might push you away at first glance, the large clusters of pink and yellow pea-shaped flowers will attract you to

The bristly locust is a common shrub that grows throughout the southeastern United States from Maryland to South Georgia and Southern Alabama, although some sources claim that its original range was only in Southern Appalachia and was spread outside of that range by people. There is a close relative of bristly locust that has a much narrower range of growing locations, Robinia hartwigii, or Hartwig’s Locust. This large shrub/small tree grows only to about 12 feet high and is only found on highelevation granitic dome rock outcroppings in Jackson and Macon counties. A great place to see this species is at the top of Whiteside Mountain between Cashiers and Highlands. Bristly locust grows much shorter than other locust plants and usually reaches only about 3 feet high. To many, these shrubs appear to be saplings of the much larger black locust which can exceed 60 feet. This unfortunately leads to many people pruning or digging them out, as the black locust is often considered a weedy tree species.

Bristly locust is a beautiful, low-growing shrub that is the host plant for various species of moth including the banded tussock moth, one of those hairy looking caterpillars that may or may not sting you. In this case, you do not want to touch them as their hairs sting and feel similar to ant bits or stinging nettles.

When it comes to the plant look and touch, as the bristly hairs won’t bite you and the flowers look and smell beautiful. They taste pretty good too. There’s something about deep frying flower fritters in the late spring, and the flowers of locust trees and shrubs make for a delicious snack for you and the native bees that love to pollinate it.

(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)

WCU professor’s Antarctic research explores origins of mass extinction

A Western Carolina University geochemistry professor is leading new research in Antarctica that could reshape scientists’ understanding of the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Shane Schoepfer recently returned from an expedition to Seymour Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, where he and a team of researchers collected fossil and sediment samples dating to the endCretaceous extinction about 66 million years ago.

The monthlong trip aboard the research vessel "Sikuliaq" brought together scientists from universities across the United States to study how environmental conditions changed in the lead-up to one of Earth’s most significant extinction events.

While scientists widely agree that an asteroid impact near present-day Mexico played a central role in the mass extinction, Schoepfer said questions remain about whether ecosystems were already under stress from massive volcanic eruptions in what is now India.

Seymour Island offers a rare geological record with well-preserved layers of sediment that allow researchers to examine environmental changes in detail. Schoepfer’s team collected samples from exposed cliff faces and drilled core samples about 50 feet into the ground to access undisturbed material.

The samples will be analyzed using geochemical techniques to reconstruct ancient ocean conditions, including temperature, oxygen levels and salinity. Researchers hope the findings will reveal how marine environments responded to rapid climate shifts and extreme conditions.

The work is also providing hands-on

ples on campus.

“Understanding past climate and environmental change helps us better understand the challenges we face today,” Schoepfer said.

Despite challenging conditions, including limited windows for fieldwork, Schoepfer said the expedition yielded data

Shane Schoepfer recently returned from an expedition to Seymour Island near the Antarctic Peninsula, where he and a team of researchers collected fossil and sediment samples dating to the end-Cretaceous extinction about 66 million years ago. Donated photo

Boaters reminded

to not drink and drive

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of the busy boating and summer travel season. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is encouraging safe boating practices and reminding the public of the dangers of operating a water vessel while impaired.

research opportunities for WCU students, who are helping analyze the Antarctic sam-

that could offer new insight into one of Earth’s most dramatic turning points.

Pigeon River Fund Awards $188,430 in water quality grants

The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) awarded seven grants totaling $188,430 to environmental groups working to improve surface water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, expand public use and access to waterways, and increase water quality awareness in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties.

Some of the most recent grant recipients are:

• $9,750 to Haywood Waterways Association toward implementation of the third phase in the Town of Clyde's Flood Resiliency Project.

• $35,000 to Lake Junaluska Assembly to repair 300 linear feet of eastern lakeshore, which eroded due to winter waves and ongoing currents. The next application deadline for qualifying nonprofits in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties is Sept. 15, 2026. Applications and instructions are available at cfwnc.org.

“On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” is a public safety campaign aimed at reducing alcohol and drug-related incidents on the roadways and waterways.

According to the United States Coast Guard, most recreational boating incidents occur in the months of June, July and August. Operator inattention is a leading cause of boating accidents. So far, in 2026, there have been 26 boating incidents investigated. Five have been fatal, resulting in five fatalities. Alcohol was a factor in three of those incidents.

Change to qualifying youth age for delayed harvest trout waters

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open 30 trout streams and two lakes classified as Delayed Harvest to trout harvest on June 6. They will remain open through Sept. 30.

On the first Saturday in June, anglers may begin harvesting trout from Delayed Harvest waters. From 6 a.m. until noon, fishing in those waters is limited to youth only. The age that qualifies as a youth is now under 16 years old. It changed from the previous age of under 18 during the 2025-2026 regulations cycle.

At noon on June 6, waters open to all anglers. Between June 6 and Sept. 30, anglers can keep up to seven trout per day — with no gear or bait restrictions and no minimum size limits.

Delayed Harvest trout waters are posted with diamond-shaped, black-and-white signs. A list of Delayed Harvest trout waters, regulation information and trout maps can be found at ncwildlife.gov/trout.

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Legals

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE

COUNTY OF HAYWOOD DISTRICT COURT

DIVISION

FILE NO. 26CV000320430

ASHLEY CHILDERS Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL CHILDERS Defendant,

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:

Complaint for Equitable Distribution and Absolute Divorce

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than June 29th, 2026 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This 12 day of May, 2026

NIELSEN LAW, PLLC

Joshua D. Nielsen Attorney for Plaintiff 413 Walnut St Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 246-9360 (828) 229-7255 facsimile

Publication Dates: May 20th, May 27th, and June 3rd, 2026

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.26E000311-430

Darlene Ketner Killian,

Administrator of the Estate of Ernestine Wyatt aka Ernestine Ketner Wyatt of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Aug 20 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Administrator PO Box 173 Maggie Valley, NC 28751

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.26E000230-430

Amanda Holder, havingistrator of the Estate of Scott Dewayne Holder of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Aug 20 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Administrator 165 Odiear Rd Canton, NC 28716

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.26E000098-490

Deborah T. Stewart/ Elizabeth N. Townsend,

Co-Executors of the Estate of Nancy Gay Townsend of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them

to the undersigned on or before Jul 29 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Co-Executors

C/O Nancy Townsend Estate

705 W Main Street Sylva, NC 28779

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.26E000185-430

Stephen Kaufman, havingtor of the Estate of Rolf Kaufman of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Jul 29 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Stephen Kaufman, Executor

Estate of Rolf Kaufman c/o Bailey A. Humphries McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. PO Box 3180 Asheville, NC 28802

Announcements

PUBLIC NOTICE To all persons claiming an interest in 1998- 20’ALUMINUM- GODFREY - GDY5235CF798 1998 -40HP-YAMAHA -6H4L920772. ANGELA GARDNER will apply to SCDNR for title on watercraft/outboard motor. If you have any claim to the watercraft/outboard motor, contact SCDNR at 803-734-3699. Upon

thirty days after the date of the last advertisement if no claim of interest is made and the watercraft/outboard motor has not been reported stolen, SCDNR shall issue clear title. Case No 20250915950728

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