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September 2-8, 2026 Vol. 28 Iss. 14

Jackson schools’ student access cards come back Page 13 Smokies expands search for missing Illinois man Page 25

CONTENTS On the Cover: Statewide judicial races have become a top priority for North Carolina Republicans and Democrats. Republicans currently hold a 5-2 majority on the state’s Supreme Court, but if incumbent Democrat Anita Earls can hold onto her seat, it will bring her party that much closer to regaining control in two years. (Page 8)

News Burrows, Ferguson face off for state House seat ....................................................4 WOW to host open house event for new members ................................................7 WCU announces schedule for Mountain Heritage Days ....................................12 JCPS student access cards come back ....................................................................13

Opinion Nature and awe helps you live longer..........................................................................14 Letters to the Editor ..........................................................................................................14

A&E Mountain Song Festival celebrates 20 years ............................................................16 HART presents ‘Noises Off’ ..........................................................................................18

Outdoors

September 2-8, 2026

Smokies expands search for missing man ................................................................25 The Joyful Botanist: Pickin’ up Pawpaws and puttin’ ‘em in my pocket ..........26

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Burrows, Ferguson face off for state House seat BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER s Democrat Mark Burrows looks to unseat Republican Anna Ferguson, appointed to the state House in April to finish the late Mike Clampitt’s term, November’s results may prove more of a tossup than the last several cycles Ferguson, with entrepreneurial and public service experience, made history as the first enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly when appointed to represent North Carolina’s 119th House District, made up of Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties. Despite having already served several months, this is her first campaign. Having already run once for the seat in 2024, Burrows is a familiar face, but he’s competing for district seat that since 2020 has been reliably red. Clampitt beat him last go-round by about 9 points. This year’s General Election will offer a new test for Republicans: without a strong incumbent like Clampitt amid a state political environment seeming to favor Democrats more than in 2024, can the party maintain its grip on the district? The Smoky Mountain News talked to Ferguson and Burrows about their candidacies and where they stand on key issues.

September 2-8, 2026

ANNA FERGUSON

didate. She was worried about how the OBBB would impact Cherokee healthcare outcomes. Research from the University of North Carolina shows the policy’s cuts to Medicaid and Medicare payments could cause the reduction or elimination of services at 300 rural hospitals, including Angel Medical Center in Franklin and Spruce Pine’s Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. “We can’t afford to lose our hospitals. Those are literally a life and death issue,” she said.

tion was Ferguson’s wake-up call, she said. The Qualla Boundary needed greater political representation. “Everyone who lives here is aware we’re kind of the forgotten corner of North Carolina,” she said. Ferguson ran on self-described “lofty ideas” in the Primary Election against Clampitt regarding the likes of education and Medicaid. Although she lost that race, she was appointed to the seat several weeks

As Democrats angle to gain control of the state House, Mark Burrows aims to flip a Western North Carolina seat blue. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Ensley tried her again. Even Principal Chief Michell Hicks called. She didn’t budge. Two major developments — the One Big Beautiful Bill’s passage and federal recognition of the Lumbee tribe — eventually convinced Ferguson to consider filing as a can-

Her opposition to Lumbee recognition wasn’t personal but rather grounded in a desire to uphold what she believes is the proper process. Tribal sovereignty, she said, should not be awarded through the likes of an omnibus defense bill. The Lumbee recognition despite EBCI’s outspoken objec-

after his March 18 death following a battle with cancer. Ferguson was selected from the nominee pool through a weighted vote of the GOP Executive Committees from Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties. Ferguson mentally tabled prior goals upon her appoint-

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When Ferguson retired from a career as a small business owner, she envisioned what she called a “quiet life” replete with vacations and the continued management of her Qualla Boundary bookstore. “Honestly, there’s a little game I like to

play where it’s, ‘What was I doing a year ago?’” she said with a laugh. She never believed her future would be in Raleigh. But then EBCI Vice Chief Alan Ensley asked if she’d be interested in making a bid for election in the N.C. House Republican Primary. Ferguson was adamant. Politics wasn’t for her; she found it too “contentious.” “I told him, ‘Absolutely not,’” she recounted.

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bolster DWI enforcement, strengthen conment, quickly realizing water and sewer sequences for some offenses and streamline would comprise the majority of House disadministrative procedures for certain cussions. defendants in honor of the late representa“It’s funny because it’s not sexy,” she tive. said. Regardless, she said she realizes revamping infrastructure is crucial. In Swain County, for example, there’s not much room for private land development and any new projects must contend with the area’s notoriously antiquated water and sewer lines. School buildings are “crumbling,” she said, adding that sustainable development and planning can help communities create a long-term vision. Ferguson serves on six committees, including Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery and Appropriations. She is the vice chair of Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs, which has only convened once during the General Assembly’s more fiscally focused short session. In that meeting, committee members discussed a petition by the Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, who are seeking state recognition. All voted in favor of that designation except Ferguson and John Lowery (R-Robeson), member and chairman of the Lumbee. “It’s just that they don’t have enough settled within their own community,” she said. “I know a lot of people look at that, and Anna Ferguson. File photo they think it’s a race issue. It isn’t. It’s a sovereignty issue.” What’s more, she noted, the Tuscarora bypassed the N.C. “I think we need to be very, very Commission of Indian Affairs, careful when it comes to native which typically awards state sovereignty. It’s a case that sovereignty. That’s something we seems similar to the Lumbee, do not need to be inserting ouralbeit on a state level — following a primary NCCIA denial, the selves into unless it comes to dire tribe, rather than petitioning again, opted to go through the circumstances.” House. — Anna Ferguson, NC-119 Rep. The commission’s 2019 decision was grounded in the belief that Tuscarora petitioners were Ferguson has also cast dozens of floor a Lumbee splinter group. votes, some of which she’s found rewarding, “I think we need to be very, very careful like supporting salary raises for teachers when it comes to native sovereignty,” said and law enforcement. Ferguson. “That’s something we do not “That felt like I was signing someone need to be inserting ourselves into unless it else’s homework because I haven’t been comes to dire circumstances.” there to build these bills, but to be able to Though the bill was approved in comvote on them was wonderful. It really was,” mittee, Ferguson doubts it’ll pass in the she recounted. On education, Ferguson Senate. Many senators, she said, believe in noted it’s important not only to attract adherence to NCCIA-based recognition. teachers but also to retain them. Ferguson has introduced several bills The State Board of Education recently during her short time in office, including criticized Republicans for the opposite the bipartisan DWI Modernization Act of practice — instating what it claims are poli2026, for which she was a primary sponsor cies devaluing veteran educators. While the alongside Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe). General Assembly’s most recent budget Clampitt made a name for himself as an advocate for stricter DWI measures prior to his death. Ferguson’s legislation seeks to SEE NC-119, PAGE 6

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September 2-8, 2026

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increased starting teacher pay, it maintained an existing salary schedule structure in which educators between years 15 and 24 do not receive a raise. Ferguson, meanwhile, voted to override Gov. Stein’s veto of a bill that would opt North Carolina into President Trump’s upto-$1,700 tax credit program for donations made to scholarship-granting organizations, which some public education advocates have argued is a nationwide scheme to privatize education by offering tax breaks to wealthy families. Supporters say the program could bring extra dollars to public schools, but since detailed federal regulations haven’t been released, much is unknown. Stein vetoed the bill with a waitand-see justification: He’d consider the program if donors to public education-supporting nonprofits could also receive the credit. When questioned about her vote, Ferguson said the intensity and passion of learning at charter schools truly inspires her — and that it has been denied to the public school system. “We have public schools that are literally crumbling down around us because the money that they’re receiving per child isn’t enough to maintain the buildings,” she said, admitting that she needs more information on voucher programs and is hoping to dig in during long session. Conversely, Ferguson’s most difficult day in office involved another set of veto overrides. SB153 mandates several state agencies, including Highway Patrol, to work alongside border enforcement officials. It also prohibits local governments from adopting sanctuary policies and UNC-system schools from becoming sanctuary universities, requiring the Office of State Budget and Management examine social service programs to determine if “benefits are being provided to authorized aliens.” When discussing the measure with SMN, Ferguson appeared a hesitant supporter. “Our hands were kind of tied. If we don’t agree to it, we lose a lot of federal funding, and we can’t afford to lose that funding right now,” she explained. Nowhere does the bill cite federal funding; it states that the goal is to “[continue Trump’s] promises to protect our southern border and ensure immigration laws are followed and enforced.” Ferguson criticized the mechanism of said enforcement, especially in Minnesota. “It’s supposed to be if you arrest someone, if someone has already committed an offense, then you find out that they are here illegally, then you deport them, rather than actively going out and just picking up people off the side of the street. So, I hear those stories as well, and that I don’t agree with,” she said. Ferguson was, however, more enthusiastic about the other overrides, all of which eliminate “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)” from either state agencies or public K-12 and higher education settings. She 6 resents DEI because of how often she’s been

called a “DEI hire,” an insinuation that her success is solely due to being Indigenous. Many believe that the term “DEI hire” connotes the position that only heterosexual, white men are unquestionably qualified for important leadership positions. But these same people benefit often from cultural bias. “Your (employability) factor should be your ability, your intelligence, and what you can do, not your skin color,” she said. “And there was a time it was needed because people actively would not give us chances, but we fought for those chances.” She admitted while there are still real, legitimate obstacles faced by minority applicants, “if you’re determined enough, you can do it. Everyone has that ability in them.” The Trump administration in November 2025, calling the Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People a “DEI initiative”, removed missing and murdered Indigenous persons information from federal websites; Ferguson, a strong MMIP advocate, doesn’t see the movement as DEI and questioned the trend of adding such a label to unrelated projects. SB 227, Eliminating “DEI” in public education, makes compulsory “the impartial discussion of the historical oppression of a particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality, religion, or geographic region.” Ferguson, however, said it’s impossible for the past to be unbiased because it’s written by humans, adding that it should neither “whitewash” nor “villainize.” “[Colonialism] was bad for some people. It was good for some people. You can’t take the moral judgment out of it, but you can present facts and then let people come to those moral decisions on their own,” she said. If elected, the newly minted representative would prioritize Medicaid as an issue, which lands on a personal level given the needs of her district. “I’ve not talked to a single person who isn’t affected in some way with Medicaid or relies on it,” she said. Most of all, Ferguson wants voters to know that she’s learned where she’s most effective as a servant throughout the past few months. “I’m not going to come in and overhaul everything, but I’m going to be the person who can help connect you with what you need to make your community stronger,” she said, adding that even if she personally cannot answer a constituent’s question, she’s surrounded by colleagues to guide her response. She said she’s pursuing this path because she loves the place she calls home — because it deserves more than to be overlooked.

MARK BURROWS A retired Transylvania County employee with over 32 years in local government, Mark Burrows has participated in economic and community development initiatives while working alongside elected officials

nearly as long as he’s been employed. The fact he ran two years ago in what he said was a “very gerrymandered district against a very tough opponent like Clampitt” and achieved 1.7% above the Democratic baseline can give Democrats cause for hope.

and their family and Western North Carolina and how to make things better, and so that’s what this campaign is about,” he posited, describing himself as someone who will “show up” for constituents. “You have to be there, and you have to be available to not only the elected officials

Mark Burrows. Donated photo

but to citizens and “I think that the to the community,” opportunity is there. “I have done a very good he said. The experience of job of, during my career, Even when having already run, Burrows knows how having a group of bringing people together a meeting will people, what I call a unfold, he said he team, to help, (and) and then trying to make still attends, listena desire to see things sure that everybody is at ing with an open improve,” he told SMN. the table who needs to be mind to better inform his perspecBurrows’ there.” tive. He contrasted entrance into polithat mentality with tics was informed by — Mark Burrows, the Republican-led what he’d witnessed candidate for NC-119 General Assembly’s more than two 2023 law exempting decades ago in legislators from Norway, where his North Carolina’s public records policy. wife Betsy, a professor at Brevard College, was working as a Fulbright scholar. Though Having been on the receiving end, Burrows contended public records inquiries are vital short-lived, their time abroad in 2002 became a reminder of how much the United to a functioning democracy, though a “pain” to fulfill. States had to work on. And since legislators do not have to, “You saw people trusting people, trustupon request, provide correspondence ing systems and trusting their government. between themselves and campaign contribAnd when we came back, we both said, ‘It utors, he said even when a candidate like just doesn’t make sense here,’” he recountSenate President Pro Tem Phil Berger raises ed. millions but suffers a Primary Election loss, But Burrows isn’t one to just focus what it’s nearly impossible to investigate a possithis country is doing wrong. To him, decryble “quid pro quo.” ing political corruption and incompetence Berger in 2020 sold a home isn’t sound political strategy. mortgaged by campaign contri“[People] want to talk about themselves

WOW to host open house event for new members

people rather than building upon all the strengths we have,” he said. Transgender and nonbinary youth suicide attempts have risen up to an additional 72%. A litany of research has demonstrated anti-DEI policies threaten patient care quality, disease prevention in marginalized communities, and the mental health of students and health workers. Another top-of-mind issue is public education. According to Burrows, public schools in North Carolina — and especially in rural areas with few private institutions — are only hurt by voucher programs, wherein a government provides funding directly to families to use for private school tuition. The General Assembly’s voucher program, called Opportunity Scholarships, disproportionately benefits wealthy families, according to a report by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Burrows said through this “egregious policy,” Western North Carolina taxpayers are financing tuition for private schools concentrated in the Piedmont. “We’re giving money to large urban areas for private schools. Doesn’t mean that we don’t have some (private schools here). Doesn’t mean that private schools can’t work for some. That’s fine, but it should not be public money paying for it.” He also criticized the way the country did and continues to handle immigration, arguing ICE agents should face repercussions for how they’re treating green cardand visa-holders as well as U.S. citizens. Although, he sees regulation as a duty of the federal government. “It’s really up to Congress, both the House and the Senate, with the president, to come up with a comprehensive bill that looks at immigration and says, ‘This is how we treat people,’” he noted, adding that the United States is for the most part a country of immigrants. That said, Burrows, who shows up weekly at the Transylvania County Courthouse for a protest led by religious progressives known as Moral Monday, would vote according to his values were another immigration bill considered by the House. “I think as a state representative, I would be looking at if there’s anything that comes across, I would be looking, saying, ‘How do we make sure that we’re representing the best of this country — best of North Carolina?’” he said.

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2,200 people in Brevard to lose their jobs. His team helped attract nutraceuticals like Gaia Herbs and outdoor retailers like SylvanSport. Hundreds of small businesses came to Brevard through Blue Ridge Community College and Senior Resource Network programs. With recruitment comes the consideration of both economic development and environmental protection, but Burrows said District 119, with large swaths of federal land and unique outdoors tourism opportunities, is fortunate. Each depends on the other. “Trying to preserve, protect the natural environment, I think, is key for our economic development success,” he said. While obtaining a master’s in environmental management from Duke University, Burrows grasped a principle applicable to multiple areas. “From an environmental standpoint, the healthiest communities are communities that have the greatest amount of diversity, plant and animal species, even fungal, and so I look at that analogy and tie that in with the economy,” he explained, adding that this informed his decision to recruit a variety of economic sectors. To Burrows, the concept of diversity as a strength also applies interpersonally. “Diversity just helps us all in the long run,” he said. “I think that’s true just in the way we treat each other and how communities are able to thrive.” He spearheaded an initiative called Project Empathy during the county’s comprehensive plan development focused on not only diversity of identity but also of thought. In service of promoting dialogue across difference, folks affiliated with various community spaces — law enforcement, faith-based groups, the NAACP — discussed their worldviews and how each was informed. Consequently, Burrows does not believe in eliminating DEI from workplaces and classrooms, though he said this stance is expected given his party affiliation. Referencing how anti-DEI policy has been used to target LGBTQ+ — and specifically transgender — individuals, he said, “As long as you’re not bothering me, who cares?” “I think this whole issue of wokeness, it’s at best silly. It’s divisive, and I think there are people in politics who really do focus on divisiveness and trying to divide

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butions to a major lobbyist at a significant price point. And he’s not the only legislator whose finances raise questions about campaign spending. The Democratic District 119 candidate alternatively, said he is committed to transparency — and working directly with stakeholders while in office. “I have done a very good job of, during my career, bringing people together and then trying to make sure that everybody is at the table who needs to be there,” said Burrows. The subsequent step would involve identifying and tackling the issue. After retiring from the county in 2018, for example, Burrows helped lead the Blue Zone Project in Brevard, which looked at determinants of health like movement, socialization, purpose and diet to promote longevity and higher quality of life. BZP worked with the City of Brevard and N.C. Department of Transportation to enact leading pedestrian intervals, which allow walkers to enter a crosswalk between three and seven seconds before the traffic light turns green, so they’re more visible to vehicles. Other safety mechanisms included lighted crosswalks and multi-use paths walking and biking paths like greenways. Burrows resides in downtown Brevard. Pre-retirement, he could get to work, drop off his child at school and eat lunch on campus with his wife — all without getting into the car. “The more that we can encourage people to be active, to be mobile, and then make the infrastructure safer for pedestrians, for cyclists and for motorists, the better off we are,” he said. He helped create a county comprehensive plan, which won the American Planning Association’s 2018 best comprehensive plan for a small jurisdiction, in collaboration with mostly Republican Transylvania planning board members and commissioners. His idea of sound infrastructure follows the 8-80 rule: plan for those under age 8 and over age 80, and you have a strong, vibrant community. He has also had lengthy experience with economic development. “Most of the major businesses industries that we have in Transylvania County now, I either recruited or I assisted when I was working for the county,” he said. In 2002, various plant closures caused

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Women of Waynesville, a nonprofit organization that supports the needs of women and children in Haywood County, invites all interested women to attend an open house and membership drive. The Open House will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at Root & Rise Co-Working Space, 60 S. Main St., Waynesville. The open house will give prospective members an opportunity to learn more about WOW and its mission, meet current WOW members and hear about how to join. WOW is an all-woman, all volunteer organization of approximately 30 members, operated by board of directors made up of five to seven women. Members meet twice per month at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays. Since forming in 2012, WOW has helped raise more than $285,000 for other nonprofits and individuals in need, including Haywood Habitat for Humanity, Haywood Pathways Center, Mountain Projects, Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, KARE, REACH, HIGHTS and Haywood County Schools Foundation. While WOW works hard to meet the needs of the community, members also know how to have fun with regularly planned social activities like visiting various WNC landmarks, hikes, enjoying wineries and other team-building activities to give everyone a chance to get to know each other. New members will be paired with a mentor in the group to show them the ropes and support them as they start their WOW journey. The open house is a free event open to all women who work or live in Haywood County. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided. For more information about WOW, visit womenofwaynesville.org or follow the group on Facebook.

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High court, high stakes

North Carolina Supreme Court elections have drawn more attention over recent years.

Supreme Court race tests party judicial strategies ahead of 2028 election

BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR lipping the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2028 is one of state Democrats’ top goals. If the party can bring home a win for incumbent Associate Justice Anita Earls this November, it’ll make things just that much easier. Democrats held four out of seven seats on the court from

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September 2-8, 2026

2019-2022, but Republicans secured a 5-2 majority in 2023 after winning state judicial races across the board. In 2024, Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Allison Riggs following Democratic Justice Mike Morgan’s retirement. Riggs won the subsequent election over Republican Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes after months of legal battles in state and federal court.

The Supreme Court is the final arbiter on important political fights like redistricting, and the precedents established by its rulings affect future criminal and civil cases across North Carolina. State law also vests other powers in the Supreme Court, such as approving the Utilities Commission’s approval of rate increases for the likes of Duke Energy. Simply choosing what mat-

THE CANDIDATES Earls was a civil rights attorney before becoming an associate justice. In 2007, she founded the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, which according to its website is committed to “fighting alongside Black, Brown and low-income people for healthy environments, a fair justice system, and the fearless defense of voting rights.” She led that organization for a decade before stepping down in 2017 to campaign for her associate justice seat. In November 2018, she bested Republican incumbent Barbara Jackson to earn her first term. She spent her first four years on the court in a Democratic majority. After changing the balance in 2022, Republican justices set to work undoing recently estab-

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ters to hear is a crucial role for justices. This year, the court is on track to hear about 60 cases. By comparison, the Court of Appeals hears over 1,000 every year. Justices are gatekeepers — and that gate is narrow. This year, Earls seeks to hold her seat against Republican challenger Sarah Stevens. An Earls victory wouldn’t immediately bring about Supreme Court rulings favorable to Democrats, but it would complete the second of Democrats’ three-step plan. The first step was completed with Riggs’ 2024 victory, and the third step will play out during the 2028 election. With the current makeup, if Earls wins, Democrats will need to take two of the three seats up for election, and if she loses, they’ll need all three.

September 2-8, 2026

Anita Earls is seeking a second term on the state’s highest court. From earls4justice.com.

— Anita Earls

State Supreme Court races have drawn more money in recent years. According to the most recent reports made public in July, Earls reported raising over $4.4 million to Stevens’ $336,000. But that fundraising gap isn’t bearing out in the polls, which indicate a potentially close race. While Earls seems to have a consistent lead over Stevens, the latest poll conducted by High Point University from Aug. 3-12 shows the incumbent with just a three-point advantage.

lished precedent. In 2022, justices ruled that partisan gerrymandering was unconstitutional and that the General Assembly had to redraw electoral maps. In 2023, the Republican justices ruled that the legislature has sole discretion over maps, that the court has no say and that the state constitution doesn’t prohibit partisan gerrymandering. In her dissent, Earls wrote that the

SEE SUPREME COURT, PAGE 10

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“I don’t favor businesses over individuals. I don’t favor the state over the defendant. And I don’t pay attention to political party. What matters is what is the law and how does it apply in that particular case.”

evenings and over weekends. To make sure she had time for her job and running for office, she started hitting the campaign trail early.

court’s 2022 ruling was “vacated by a Republican-controlled Court seeking to ensure that extreme partisan gerrymanders favoring Republicans are established.” Earls has been active in investigating solutions for issues related to the administration of justice, including on the Equal Access to Justice Commission, where she led a 2020 study on the gap between people’s legal needs and resources available to meet them. Earls also co-chairs the new Commission on Practice Innovation, tasked with addressing the growing problem of legal deserts in the state. Advocates have criticized a recent move by the Republican-dominated General Assembly they say makes that problem worse. The recently passed state budget redirects $15 million away from the interest on lawyers’ trust accounts, known as IOLTA, on claims that civil legal aid entities have a political agenda. The move reduces access to representation for people in rural areas embroiled in civil matters related to housing, employment and healthcare by curbing resources for entities like Pisgah Legal Services, which operates in Western North Carolina. Law firms across the state wrote a letter to the justices urging them to advocate against the funding freeze. Earls was one of just two justices to respond to the letter, she said. “We put in writing our firm support for the IOLTA program and our appreciation of

Although she didn’t speak with The Smoky Mountain News, Stevens did an interview with Carolina Public Press, in which she said some of her friends, including current justices, told her she was “needed” on the court. Such was the impetus for her campaign.

Sarah Stevens left the House after almost 18 years of service to campaign for a Supreme Court seat. From sarahstevensnc.com. the importance of those funds for ordinary North Carolinians who otherwise won’t know what their rights are and can’t access our court,” she said. Campaigning was a full-time job for Earls in 2018. Now, her time and attention

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are occupied by appellate cases. Right now, the court is gearing up for two weeks of oral arguments later this month. Earls said that amounts to about 20 cases and thousands of pages of reading. This means much of her campaigning takes place during

“I’ve really been campaigning since January of last year … which means it’s been possible to get across the state,” she said. “I’ve been to a majority of North Carolina’s counties in person. There’s also a lot of other ways to communicate with voters, so I try to make use of Zoom meetings.” Stevens is an attorney who specializes in family law and announced her candidacy in April of last year.

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Smoky Mountain News

North Carolina in 2017 became one of seven states to enact partisan judicial elections. NCGOP Executive Director Zach Almond said having that “R” or “D” next to candidates gives people one more data point to inform their vote. “That doesn’t mean the judge is going to say, ‘Oh, I would rule this way’ or ‘I would rule this way,’” Almond said. “But you would like to know if they fundamentally are backers traditionally of the Constitution, if they believe in the law as written.” Republicans have long held the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia as a paragon of conservative jurisprudence. Scalia interpreted the U.S. Constitution through an originalist lens, meaning he considered the meaning of the document when it was adopted instead of opening it up for modern interpretation. This limited scope justified numerous rulings favorable to Republicans. “Folks do not like an activist judiciary on either side,” Almond said. “They want somebody to interpret the Constitution as written. They see the judiciary as sacred, in a sense.” Earls’ 2018 campaign was the first Supreme Court race to feature candidates’ parties on the ballot. She seems to think less about whether the world in which she’s campaigning is fair and more about doing her

September 2-8, 2026

A POLITICIZED BENCH

job within that world. Regardless of how partisan affiliation affects the process, she wants to carry out her work in a “nonpartisan fashion.” “I don’t favor businesses over individuals. I don’t favor the state over the defendant. And I don’t pay attention to political party,” she said. “What matters is what is the law and how does it apply in that particular case.” However, Republicans have painted Earls as an “activist judge” like those Trump frequently lambasts on the national stage. Almond returned to that theme multiple times in his interview with SMN. “I think a lot of voters, especially on the Republican side, do realize the importance of judicial races given the leftist activist judiciary they have seen nationally on you know a number of issues,” Almond said. In a June press release supporting Stevens, an NCGOP spokesman who wasn’t quoted by name specifically mentioned Earls. “Sarah Stevens has built a career as a common-sense conservative who will uphold the constitutional rights of North Carolinians while radical liberal activist Anita Earls is in the pocket of rich out-ofstate donors,” the spokesman said. Stevens pledged her judicial independence in her interview with Carolina Public Press. “I’ve seen other opinions from conservative courts going, ‘We don’t like this law, but it’s not up to us to change it,’” Stevens said. “They’ll basically send a message over to the legislature. She just simply cuts that out and says ‘This is what it should be and what it will be.’” As conversations about judicial independence have played out across the political spectrum, faith in appellate courts has been low. According to the Pew Research Center, in a survey conducted during early July, just over half of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, about 20 percentage points higher than just five years ago. Earls argues that Democratic justices are more likely to maintain political independence than Republicans, whom she says more frequently rule as a bloc. In a peer-reviewed essay published by the Yale Law Journal in March 2024, using a review of the court’s opinions over recent years to draw her conclusion, she claimed that on the North Carolina Supreme Court, Democrats disagreed far more than the Republicans. “Prior to January 2023, justices, I would argue, brought a measure of independent thinking to their consideration of the cases and were not simply ruling because they wanted a particular outcome,” she told SMN. Justices should look at the facts and the law to draw conclusions, and that’s what Earls said she does. “I believe we need to get back to a court that where each justice understands it’s their job to bring their independent thinking to the issues before the court, and not be beholden to a political ideology,” she said.

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She served almost nine terms in the state House before stepping down in June to run for the Supreme Court. Although she didn’t speak with The Smoky Mountain News, Stevens did an interview with Carolina Public Press, in which she said some of her friends, including current justices, told her she was “needed” on the court. Such was the impetus for her campaign. Stevens gained a good deal of clout over her time in the General Assembly, spearheading some of Republicans’ biggest legislative initiatives in the criminal justice realm. She sponsored Iryna’s Law, named for Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death on a Charlotte light-rail train. Among other things, the law implemented tougher bond requirements for those charged with violent crimes. Stevens has never served on the bench. Some have criticized that lack of judicial experience as she seeks a spot on the state’s highest court; however, Earls was in the same position when she ran in 2018. While Earls didn’t speak to Stevens’ bona fides, she did discuss why her time on the court is valuable. From cases involving utility commissions to eminent domain to criminal convictions, the experience she’s gained is not replicable, she argued. Earls also said her experience with civil rights cases prior to becoming a justice sets her apart. “I argued appellate cases in the Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit, the Eleventh Circuit, the First Circuit. I had a wide range of appellate experience, and that I think it makes a huge difference,” she said.

the bench. Over the last three election cycles, GOP candidates have won a combined 18 of 19 Court of Appeals and Supreme Court races. UTTING IN THE WORK “North Carolina voters have the opportunity to elect a conservative, commonCourt of Appeals and Supreme Court elections have been among the top priorities sense Supreme Court Justice to replace a for Republicans and Democrats over the last radical left-wing activist who is currently on the court,” the JVF website reads in referfew even-year election cycles. ence to this year’s Supreme Court race. In an interview ahead of the 2022 elecA key volunteer for the JVF is George tions, then NCGOP Chair Michael Whatley Simpson, a Raleigh trial lawyer who has — now running against Roy Cooper for a worked for over 25 years arguing civil cases. U.S. Senate seat — said he’d prioritized Although not an employee of NCGOP, he judicial elections since he took on that role has been happy to work toward getting conin 2019. His first meeting upon winning the servative jurists on the state’s highest courts. chairmanship was with Paul Newby, who in He began volunteering during the 2022 elecless than two years would become the chief tion that flipped the Supreme Court. justice of the Supreme Court. The two This cycle, Simpson has gone to county talked about the kinds of campaigns that Republican offices and GOP events, using can win statewide judicial races. Within his own experience as an attorney to talk three years, Republicans would gain a majority on what was then a 6-1 Democratic about the importance of judicial elections. He and Almond both said Republicans are Supreme Court. receptive to the message and will often leave “What we did was two things,” Whatley better informed, with many donating. then said. “First, we put all the Supreme Democrats have a program of their own. Court and Court of Appeals candidates Field Team Justice is a network of grassroots together as a slate. We want to build brand volunteers dedicated to electing Earls and recognition as conservative judges because the party’s Court of North Carolina votAppeals candidates ers overwhelmingly “Republicans have conin November. support conservative Trained volunteers judges over activist trolled the courts, and use the MiniVAN judges.” they have bent the knee app, which pulls up Almond said the the 15 closest approach now is simto the state legislature Democrats for any ilar. Republican judivolunteer. The voland will back up anything cial candidates for unteer knocks on the Supreme Court they do. We do not have those doors and and Court of Appeals sparks up conversaare “packaged an independent judiciary tions with voters, together.” This can right now because of it. and each household be seen in digital ads is also given a slate depicting all four To me, all those issues of literature with side-by-side, and it information about also bears out on the impact everyday North statewide candicampaign trail. Carolinians.” dates. When any of those Somewhat like four speaks to an — Anderson Clayton Whatley, since audience, they Anderson Clayton stump for the whole became chair of the N.C. Democrats in slate. 2023, a key focus has been flipping the “When I’m out on the road speaking to Supreme Court. Clayton said North party chairs, the bulk of my message is Carolina is the only state where Democrats working to help elect our conservative have a year-round judicial caucus director, judges,” he said. Becca Zerkin. After Earls’ 2018 victory, state Conventional political wisdom is that Republicans in 2019 established the Judicial Victory Fund with the goal of raising money the person at the top of the ballot can bring and awareness to put conservative judges on victories down-ballot by driving straight

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party-line voters to voting booths. This year, the Senate race sits atop the ballot. Polling has consistently put Cooper well ahead of Whatley, but neither side is convinced the polling represents how close the race really is. “We should trust the man that’s never lost an election … but this race is going to be important and close. I’ve seen polling about many races, and it’s always that we’re going to win by miles, and every time, it’s been within 10,000 votes or less,” Clayton said. And when it comes to judicial races, driving turnout doesn’t always lead to more votes, since many people don’t even cast votes in some races. Simpson said that when he speaks to groups on behalf of the Judicial Victory Fund, he reminds everyone to finish their ballots and tell others to do the same. “I try to emphasize the importance of finishing the ballot and the importance of donating money if they have money to spare to get conservative judges elected,” he said. Clayton said something similar, noting that in 2024, about 165,000 Democratic voters cast ballots for presidential candidate Kamala Harris and gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein but didn’t cast votes at the bottom of the ballot. While Clayton looks at things through a strategic lens, she said she also thinks about the tangible ways the Republican General Assembly and Supreme Court have hurt the state, such as stripping Democratic governors of certain appointment powers. Now, legislators appoint members of the UNC system board and the State Board of Elections. This has led to downstream effects she thinks disenfranchise voters and curb what she considers valuable DEI programs that brought equity to higher education. “Republicans have controlled the courts, and they have bent the knee to the state legislature and will back up anything they do,” Clayton said. “We do not have an independent judiciary right now because of it. To me, all those issues impact everyday North Carolinians.” While Almond said he’s focused on the upcoming races and that 2028 elections still sit in the periphery, Clayton couldn’t help but look longer-term, even with the 2026 General Election only a couple of months away. After all, that’s all part of the plan. “We’ve got step three in 2028,” she said. “That’ll be the biggest test case of everything we’ve been planning for the last three years.”

WCU announces schedule for Mountain Heritage Days For more than 50 years, Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Days has celebrated the music, stories, and traditions of Appalachia — and this year, the energy is bigger than ever. The weeklong festival will be held Sept. 21-26. Experience a vibrant gathering filled with live music, traditional dance, cultural showcases, artisan crafts, delicious food, and fun for all ages. It’s a fresh, high-spirited take on a beloved tradition — and a chance to celebrate the heart and soul of the mountains together. Events include craft demonstrations, live music, a 5K and a car show. Festivities will begin Sept. 21 with a People of Colonial North Carolina opening reception from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Mountain Heritage Center and will end with an afternoon concert on Sept. 26. For more information, visit mhd.wcu.edu or email mhd@wcu.edu.

Mountain Heritage Day. Donated photo

JCPS student access cards come back

a natura a l wash clotth … and they’ y re pretty too!!! t

Smoky Mountain News

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September 2-8, 2026

BY ALEX PERRI STAFF WRITER ackson County Public Schools students have access to the N.C. Cardinal Student Access Initiative once again after the county withdrew from the program last year following concerns over its compliance with the Parents’ Bill of Rights. “As a former school librarian, I was thrilled when the possibility of this coming back came up,” said Jackson County Public Library Director Grace Powell. “It’s such a valuable resource for our kids, and I’m glad we’ve found a way to offer it again.” Since 2017, JCPS and the Fontana Regional Library System have partnered for the Student Access Initiative, which automatically adds all students and teachers to the patron database for participating libraries. Until last year, JCPS students could use their student ID number to check out physical library books, eBooks and use JCPL databases. School administrators let the county’s participation with the program lapse for the 2025-26 school year. According to Powell, teachers often used the program to access educational materials in the classroom, and students commonly used their Student Access Cards to check out books for personal reading. The program removed the barrier of parents having to physically bring their child to the library to get a library card if the child wanted to use library resources, and, unlike a typical library card, it removed late fees for overdue materials. It also helped give students who lived far from the county’s two public libraries in Sylva and Cashiers easier access to library books and resources. Last year, Student Access privileges came under fire at the height of the county’s controversial move to withdraw from the FRL system when county commissioners disagreed with its content development policy. In a July 2025 joint Jackson County Commission and FRL Board meeting, Commissioner John Smith questioned whether the program violated the Parents’ Bill of Rights. Passed in 2023, the North Carolina Parents’ Bill of Rights does not mention any regulations on libraries outside of public schools. However, the fact that Student Access Cards were granted through the school system gave school administrators pause and further frustrated commissioners, who spent a significant amount of time focused on restricting library books with both sex education and LGBTQ+ content in 2025. Among other things, part of what the Parents’ Bill of Rights does is give North Carolina parents the right to withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs, inspect school textbooks and supplementary materials and review all available records of materials their child has borrowed from a school library. This year, however, JCPS Chief

public libraries, and initial estimates from summer 2025 put the additional annual cost the county would pay in running the library outside the FRL system at $500,000. Technology Officer Greg Stewart and Powell learns how to run its own library system Despite being a casualty of the vocal since officially withdrawing from the FRL believe they’ve made the changes necessary anti-LGBTQ+ and reproductive health consystem on July 1. to bring back the Student Access Cards and tent backlash in the county, Student Access County commissioners have been on the offer students automatic access to public Cards are back at JCPS, this time with new receiving end of much public ire in the wake age-restricted content regulations. library resources once again. Powell and Stewart are excited to have found a way to offer the program once again, and according to Powell, putting more (age appropriate) books in children’s hands is a good thing. “You can travel to another country just by reading a book,” said Powell. “It’s a great way to escape. Maybe your life isn’t great at the moment, but you can jump into a book and be able to escape and live in a different world just for a little bit … which I think is really important for our kids, too.” For any parents still wary of their child’s Student Access Cards are back at JCPS, which will enhance access to materials access to library materibut with new age-restricted content regulations. File photo als through their Student Access Card, Powell of the FRL withdrawal. In July, they voted to “Before, any student — even a kinderencourages them to contact her to discuss effectively remove the public’s ability to rent their questions and concerns. gartner — had access to the full library and out community rooms at the county’s two all online resources,” said Stewart. “Now we can filter by grade level so older kids get what they need and younger kids don’t see Wool wrappe ed shea butter soap s s… anything that isn’t appropriate, and that keeps us compliant with the Parents’ Bill of Rights and keeps parents involved.” JCPS has not yet rolled out access to online materials for the county’s Student Access Initiative, but Stewart said he expects to get digital access available to students and teachers sometime this semester. With the new online content regulations, Stewart said all online library content is now sorted into five categories of reading levels: lower elementary, upper elementary, middle grade, lower high school and upper high school. Students will only have access to the materials within their grade levels according to publishers’ ratings. Powell said the main change to this year’s Student Access Card in the physical library is that the card JCPL students are automatically given is a juvenile card, which restricts renting privileges to only the children’s section. The juvenile card is meant for ages 16 and under. Powell said JCPL and JCPS are still working to find a solution to content regulations for upper high school students. County residents under the age of 18 can still come into the library with a parent or legal guardian to get a full-access library card if they so choose. Powell and Stewart have worked diligently to get the Student Access Cards up and running for the 2026-27 school year, and their efforts are just one several examples of affairsofth heheartwaynesville.c y com new challenges the county must face as it

Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Nature and awe helps you live longer A

LETTERS Weigh benefits, costs of data centers To the Editor: “We don't yet know whether a particular data center would be good or bad for Canton, and the town needs rules before accepting one.” This is a hypothetical quote, but it’s reasonable. But if the eventual policy becomes: “No data centers, regardless of their power source, water consumption, tax contribution, environmental controls or economic benefit” — again hypothetical — then I think Canton risks making a significant economic-development mistake. The former mill site has already lost its original purpose. The town is spending tens of millions on infrastructure, buying portions of the property, dealing with environmental remediation, and trying to replace a massive lost tax and employment base. That is exactly the kind of situation where a town should be maximizing its negotiating leverage — not voluntarily eliminating an entire category of potentially high-value investment. And there's one analysis I think would be particularly revealing: calculate what a hypothetical 100-megawatt, 200-megawatt and 300-megawatt data center on the Canton site could contribute in property taxes versus the town's $60–70 million wastewater investment and the tax revenue lost when the mill closed.

something happens before acting, of believing that everything is treatable with medication or surgery, of not wanting to put the work in early. Even if the pill or treatment provides relief, though it often doesn't fix the core issue, it’s never as impactful or beneficial as preventing the problem or condition in the first place. Embracing a healthy lifestyle takes time and effort, but the rewards are huge. Other regions of the world already have this dialed in. I’m sure by this point you’ve heard of the Blue Zones, pockets of people around the globe who live well beyond age 100. They’re called centenarians. These groups have Columnist similarities such as eating whole foods, regular movement, down time with friends and family, a sense of purpose, spirituality and so on. They perceive healthy habits and routines as honorable and necessary, whereas many Americans view the shift to a healthier life as punitive or exhausting. Confucius once said, “A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one.” And isn’t that the truth? When we’re not feeling well, physically or mentally, it’s hard to think of anything else, but when we feel our best, dreams and future plans abound. With that in mind, why won’t more Americans put forth the effort to feel the best they can possibly feel?

Susanna Shetley

s I write this column early in the morning sitting on our deck, a symphony of birds keeps me company. The sounds remind me of something I read recently about what truly makes us live longer. We know that healthy eating, exercise and managing stress lengthen lifespan, but another integral factor is a deep relationship with nature. For the majority of time we’ve been on this planet, people and Mother Earth worked in synchrony, but the human-nature disconnect is increasingly getting worse, especially as addiction to technology and sedentary lifestyles increase. That being said, I’m a believer this can be reversed, but it takes awareness and passing along knowledge to younger generations. When I was an educator, we were often reminded why early intervention and prevention leads to better results than remediation or retention. For instance, through progress monitoring, we could see which kindergartners were already struggling with pre-reading skills. Addressing those deficits immediately when they were four- and five-years old yielded much better long-term results than waiting until third grade when they failed their first End-of-Grade test. Research states that students who are not proficient by third grade will likely never read on grade level, and students who aren’t reading on grade level by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out of high school. It's heartbreaking to think this vicious, life-altering cycle could’ve been prevented had someone put in the work earlier. This same philosophy rings true for our health and wellness. America has become a nation of reactivity, of waiting until

That would put the argument into actual dollars rather than politics. Burke Clark Former Canton resident

Let voters decide redistricting To the Editor: The current Macon County Board has proposed redistricting the county. While it has been put on hold for the moment, it addresses the problem of redistricting as a whole and how little control voters have over this issue. The last time Macon County was redistricted was decades ago, when the current map was drawn and put into play. That map has three districts, District 1 and 2 being of relatively equal size based on population and each having one commissioner. District 3 contains the greatest number of people, representing the Franklin area, and has three commissioners. Voting is at-large, meaning everyone in Macon County votes for all five commissioners. While popular at the time, over the last fifty years, atlarge voting has become less popular, and pure voting has become the preference. Pure voting means each voter gets one vote for their candidate of choice. In our case that would mean splitting the county into five equal districts, with each district electing one commissioner. Someone running in District 1 would campaign and solicit votes from District 1 residents. As it is now, a candidate for commissioner in District 1 garners votes from residents throughout the county, poten-

Similar to the human-nature connection, other unique factors significantly impact our longevity. Fostering a sense of awe offers benefits such as lowering inflammation in the body. A sense of awe can be manifested through traveling to new places, being around children and animals, visiting natural phenomena such as waterfalls, canyons and other wonders of the earth. Learning a new skill, such as painting or playing an instrument, can also contribute to overall wellness. Similarly, creating anything — a meal, painting, jewelry, written story, DIY project — does far more than anything we consume. There is no content we can consume that does more for us mentally and physically than even a simple act of creation. For most people, time starts to move faster with each passing year, but did you know we have the power to do something about it? Everything is more exciting and memorable the first time we do it, so by the time we enter middle age, we’ve already had most of the major “firsts” in our lives so everything starts to feel the same, and sameness is the enemy of time. The more each day feels like the previous day, the faster time blurs and speeds along, but the more unique we can make each day, even in small ways, the slower time moves along. I’m feeling hints of autumn in the early morning air and am loving it. As we enter into perhaps the most beautiful season in Western North Carolina, find ways to make your life magical, get outside and allow nature to heal you.(Susanna Shetley is a writer and editor. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)

tially overriding the popular vote in the district they are running to represent. At-large voting has been used to override the Black vote throughout the south, but it is also used to override the liberal vote in a mostly conservative state. As our president said, by redistricting this year Republicans could remain in power for a hundred years. In recent decisions, the Supreme Court has allowed gerrymandering for the purpose of politics; however, they have not spoken on the fairness of atlarge voting to manipulate the political vote. The proposal before the commission suggests keeping at-large voting for the county elections, which would eliminate the proposal put forth by a Highlands Board member for a five district, pure voting option. My thoughts are, if you want to improve a decades old system, why choose an at-large voting option before looking at the various other proposals offered to the planning commission? Why not choose to put it in a referendum for public vote? To me, at-large voting means everyone in Macon County votes for my representative even if they have no idea of the issues facing my district. It would be like the whole country electing the governors for all 50 states, or the whole state voting on all the representatives in the state. How educated could those voters be about the issues facing the people of Western North Carolina? If you have read this far, I am asking you to attend the next county commission meeting on Sept. 9 in Franklin and to sign up to speak on the redistricting plan. If we want to vote on this issue, we must speak out. The only way to change things is to attend meetings,

write letters and raise a ruckus, excuse me, speak out. And by all means vote this November because our other chance to change the direction of the county board is to elect new members to it. Margaret Pickett Highlands

Times are a changing To the Editor: Harry Belafonte sings a song with lyrics extolling leaders of last century: "Has anyone seen my ol' friends, Abraham and Martin and John? They freed a lot of people, but the good, they die young. I just looked around And they are gone." Some lyrics fitting for this century: "Has anyone seen the cruel tyrants, Netanyahu and Putin and Trump? The caused misery for a lot of people, but the good they die young. I looked around, and they are still here. Being heavily guarded." The cruel tyrants have learned how to rig elections, so they remain in power. For example, Trump is considering using TWG (thugs with guns) — which he calls ICE, to patrol voting places to discourage Latinos, and people of color from coming to vote. The times, they are a-changing. Paul Strop Waynesville

September 2-8, 2026

Smoky Mountain News

One big, happy musical family

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ince its inception in 2006, the Mountain Song Festival, held at the Brevard Music Center, has become a beloved annual gathering for world-class musicians and music lovers alike in the depths of Transylvania County. “After 20 years, we feel proud of the special musical experience we’ve been able to create and cultivate for the community,” said Woody Platt, co-founder of MSF. “Our goal is to be deeply focused on both the fan experience and the artists’ enjoyment. In many ways, we think of Mountain Song as a boutique festival — intimate, thoughtfully curated and centered around great music.” Creator of MSF, Platt is a nationally renowned singer-songwriter and native of Brevard. He was also a founding member of the Steep Canyon Rangers, a Grammy-winning Americana/bluegrass act hailing from Western North Carolina that Platt fronted until his departure from the group in 2022. “I love Brevard and Western North Carolina so much. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to create an event that adds to the culture that makes this community and region so special,” Platt said. “I grew up in Brevard and even graduated high school on the same Brevard Music Center stage that we now use for the Mountain Song Festival — I never take that for granted.” For Platt, the initial seed of inspiration for MSF came from his late mother, who encouraged her son to gather all his music friends and put on a community event in hopes of raising funds and awareness for the local Boys & Girls Club. To date, MSF has garnered over $2 million for the organization. “The original idea was simple — use music as a platform to bring the community together while raising money for the club,” Platt said. “That has been the guiding concept since day one.”

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Smoky Mountain News

Mountain Song Festival celebrates 20 years

Steep Canyon Rangers. Jay Strausser photo

to perform in our hometown,” Platt said. “The Brevard Music Since its formation, the two-day festival has featured some of Center is an incredible, world-class venue. And with Steep the biggest names in Americana, bluegrass, country, blues and Canyon Rangers as our hometown heroes and host band, it truly roots music — Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck, Molly Tuttle, Robert Earl makes Mountain Song feel like something special.” Keen, David Grisman, Mavis Staples, Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Reflecting on the festival currently celebrating its 20th Sam Bush, Charley Crockett, Zach Top and many more. anniversary, Platt can’t “At the end of the help but smile in awe at day, we’re simply open not only how much the to great music,” Platt event has grown since said. “I think our audiits first year, but also ence has come to trust The 20th annual the gratitude and the programming and Mountain Song Festival will appreciation for everyis willing to show up take place Sept. 11-12 at one involved. whether they know the the Brevard Music Center. “Twenty years feels artists or not. That’s Artists to appear like a big milestone, but one of the beautiful include Sam Bush Band, Alison Brown. it also feels like we’re things about 20 years Tim O’Brien Band, John just getting started,” — it really does feel like Russ Harrington photo Cowan Trio, Alison Brown, Platt said. “Hopefully, a big family at this Cody Hale, and Shannon we have another 20 point.” Whitworth & Woody Platt. There will also be a special performance each night by right around the corner, For 2026, there will the Steep Canyon Rangers. and maybe one day be special appearances For more information, a full schedule of set times and/or to purchase tickets, we’ll see our kids runby Sam Bush Band, Tim visit mountainsongfestival.com. ning the festival. We’re O’Brien Band, John truly lucky to call this Cowan Trio, Alison community our home.” Brown and Cody Hale. Editor’s Note: The story was brought to you by a partnership between As well, the Steep Canyon Rangers play as the festival’s host The Smoky Mountain News and the Blue Ridge National Heritage band with a show each night. Platt’s wife, acclaimed singer-songArea. Located in Asheville, the BRNHA is a beloved organization writer Shannon Whitworth, is a regular performer alongside her focused on the preservation and perpetuation of the rich, vibrant husband at MSF, her songbird voice radiating across the BMC music and culture in Western North Carolina. These two entities are and into the sounding ancient forest cradling the picturesque also responsible for the Down the Road magazine, an annual publipavilion stage. cation that gets officially launched each year at MerleFest. For more “Each year, I look forward to reconnecting with artists I’ve information, visit blueridgeheritage.com. met out on the road, and I take a lot of pride in welcoming them

Want to go?

HOT PICKS BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘I’m what I am, instead of whatever I’m not’

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EVENTS

Indie-soul/rock act The Get Right Band will close out the “Concerts on the Creek” music series with a performance from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Bridge Park in Sylva.

Thursday, Septemb ber 3

A special stage production of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” will be performed on select dates and times Sept. 4-27 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Saturday, September 5

Appalachian Women’s Museum (Dillsboro) will host “Music On The Porch” from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.

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The Maggie Valley Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5-6 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds.

Shane Meade Duo Sh Shane Meade d & Robb Masten on Sax!! Soulful Rock 8pm - 11pm Smashing Mouths 90’’ss Covers • 8pm - 11pm

Sunday, September 6 Celtic Sundaayy w/ Mooncoin Celtic Folk 3pm - 6pm

Monday, d Septemb ber 7 Open Early on Labor Day at 12pm

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Smoky Mountain News

I hadn’t seen them in months and I could use some conversation between old friends amid cold suds, something that’s harder and harder to come by as we all get older, and with myself constantly on the move. It’s one thing to wander and ponder and meet amazing strangers by chance and happenstance (many becoming fast friends), but it’s another to happily circle back to those who know you the best and love you the most (and vice versa). Friday evening. Motoring over to their home in West Waynesville, the picturesque late afternoon sunshine quickly shifted into thick cloud cover and thunderstorms in the forecast for the rest of the night. In that clear window to sit outside on the patio and throw some steaks onto their Little Green Egg, it was endless, bountiful chatter about nothing and everything (and everything in-between). It felt like I had just hung out with them yesterday, even though it was last winter: the sure sign of the eternal bond of genuine friendship. Initially, the conversation hovered around the gateway topics that eventually led into deeper realms of our thoughts and actions. They asked how my parents back in Upstate

New York were doing, what visiting British Columbia and Alberta earlier this summer was like, how things at the newspaper were going, what’s the latest with my work-inprogress bluegrass book, and endless curious queries as to who this new woman, Rebecca, was in my romantic life. I asked how their son is doing in recently starting middle school, how their extended and aging family was getting along, what their summer was like bouncing between Waynesville and bucolic points along the South Carolina coast for sporadic weekend vacations, how work was going for their local business that he co-owns and she works at, and what the future may hold. That final chapter of the evening’s dialogue (at least for now in this endless ongoing conversation between us) really teed up the manifesting they were currently conjuring to fruition. I’m also in the same boat. Within the trust of friendship, we each voiced our vision for our respective paths pushing forward, what the landscape, both geographically and spiritually, may look like, and hopefully will emerge as a daily reality in the coming years. Excitement shared from all sides of the conversation with each person painting a picture of their next step(s). Endless support and encouragement. As the dinner came to a close, it was big bear hugs and rough sketches of plans for the next joyous rendezvous, maybe even do a double date when Rebecca comes to visit Waynesville in the next few weeks. They’re psyched to finally meet her. The feeling is mutual. Returning back to my humble abode apartment in downtown Waynesville, I called Rebecca to say goodnight. She asked how the dinner went and so forth. I replied, “You know, there are certain people you know you’re supposed to know in this life and on this earth, and they’re two of those folks in my existence.” The gratitude remains, always. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

September 2-8, 2026

ello from the coveted window table in the back of Panacea Coffee Company in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville. It’s early Saturday afternoon. The picnic tables just outside the window at Frog Level Brewing are already filled with locals and visitors alike sitting along Richland Creek. With Labor Day Weekend around the corner, the summer beginning its steady transition to fall, this spot on the calendar is meant for deep reflection as to what came to pass from Memorial Day onward to the here and now. A lot of you have already sent your kids back to school and are settling into the rhythm of that organized chaos, while others are desperately squeezing the last drops of summer out of their beach towels, the cool mountain air of recent mornings being the canary in the coal mine of the impending foliage season. For myself, I’m part of the latter camp, trying to pack in as much nice weather and time outside soaking in the late summer sunshine, whether it be sitting on a beach, swimming in a lake or running a mountain Lake Logan. trail. I’m not ready to Garret K. Woodward photo start dragging my fall/winter running clothes from the depths of my closet. Truth be told, being a native of the North Country, I love cold weather, so I’ll tough it out with just shorts and a T-shirt until the turkey gets served on Thanksgiving. No matter, for any day you get to wake up and wander out the front door into the world is a good day. Don’t forget that. I sure as hell don’t. If all you do today is meet a friend for an after-work beverage or simply work on some project you’ve been procrastinating, don’t let it be lost on you in how priceless those moments are: they’re as fleeting as they are precious. Real deal, intrinsic human interaction and seeking creative fulfillment are two things we need more than ever right now in this modern era of confusion and unknowns. Case-in-point, last night I had an incredible evening of hearty conversation and scrumptious food at the home of two dear friends. To preface, I’ve been pretty much gone from Waynesville and greater Western North Carolina since early June, for work and play (but mostly work, as per usual). The route took me from Southern Appalachia to the Atlantic Ocean, up and down the entire Eastern Seaboard, out west to the Canadian Rockies

and Montana, only to circle back to Florida and beyond. Planes, trains and automobiles, in truth. Thousands and thousands of miles, all circling back to Haywood County. Endless miles to mull over the trials and tribulations of one’s heart and soul. And I finally returned home last week. I reached out to my two friends to see if they were around and wanted to maybe grill out before the summer comes to a close. They’re a beloved married couple I’ve known for almost the entire 14 years I’ve lived in WNC. Throughout all those years of being kindred spirits, we’ve had countless adventures together and collected many stories along the way. We’ve also been there for one another whenever there’s been heartache and hardships when it comes to our family, friends and other loved ones.

The Seven Clans Rodeo will be held Sept. 5-6 at 181 Tsali Blvd. in Cherokee.

arts & entertainment

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arts & entertainment

On the street

Seven Clans Rodeo Gates open at 5 The Seven p.m. Rodeo starts Clans Rodeo will at 7 p.m. be held Sept. 5-6 at Admission is $20 181 Tsali Blvd. in per person. Cherokee. Children ages five Between the and under are free. broncos that will Organized by the be busted, the Cherokee Welcome bulls that will be Center. bucking and the Seven Clans Rodeo. File photo For more inforrodeo clowns lookmation, call ing to avoid getting 828.359.6490, or go to stomped in the head, there will be all sorts facebook.com/sevenclansrodeo or visof skills competitions and top-name riders itcherokeenc.com. in this SRA-sanctioned event. • “Labor Day Weekend Fireworks” will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, on Main Street in Franklin. Live music will be provided by Mission Accomplished at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo. There will also be food trucks. franklin-chamber.com.

On the stage

HART presents ‘Noises Off’

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2026

A special stage production of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” will be performed on select dates and times Sept. 4-27 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Widely acclaimed as one of the funniest farces ever written, “Noises Off” gives audiences a hilarious look at the unpredictable world of live theatre, where missed cues, forgotten lines, backstage rivalries and increasingly disastrous performances threaten to bring an entire production crashing down. The comedy begins during the final rehearsal of “Nothing On,” a delightfully questionable British bedroom farce that the company is preparing to take on tour. With The cast of ‘Noises Off.’ Courtesy of HART opening night rapidly approaching, director Lloyd Dallas is simply trying to get his actors through the show. Unfortunately, there are still entrances to remember, props to track, doors that refuse to cooperate and an increasingly important question about where, exactly, the sardines are supposed to go. Tickets start at $19 per person, with upgrades and discounts available. For more information 18 and/or to purchase tickets, visit harttheatre.org or call 828.456.6322.

On the wall ‘Cherokee People and the American Revolution’ A first-of-its-kind exhibition centering Native voices, perspectives and creativity in response to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the exhibition “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” is currently being showcased at the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP) in Cherokee. On view through Dec. 30, the exhibition features historic objects Museum of in conversation with works by Cherokee artists, merging cultural herthe Cherokee itage, military history and contemporary art for a nuanced examinaPeople. tion of a pivotal moment in Cherokee and American history. With research beginning in 2022, the exhibition’s curators — File photo MotCP Director of Education Dakota Brown (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), MotCP Director of Collections and Exhibitions Evan Mathis and guest curator Brandon Dillard (Cherokee Nation), director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement at Monticello — sought Cherokee accounts of the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the Cherokee American War (1776-1794), highlighting the complexities of memory and commemoration. As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the curators of the exhibition aspire to spark conversation about American identity and sovereignty among visitors of all walks of life, sharing new research in the first exhibit about Cherokees in the American Revolution by Cherokee scholars. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. MotCP offers free admission to members of federally recognized tribes and museum members. Student, educator, senior and military rates available. Admission to all changing exhibitions is included in the general admission ticket price. For more information, visit motcp.org.

• Maggie Valley Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5-6 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. The event will feature around 120 craft vendors, food trucks and much more. Admission and parking are free with donations being accepted at the gate for the Friends of the Haywood County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 828.926.1686 or visit maggievalley.org. • “Makers Market” will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in The Lineside at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Dozens of local/regional arts and crafts vendors and more. Beer, wine and mimosa bar. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com. • “Riverside Artisan Market” will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City. Shop local for jewelry, pottery, unique creations and fresh goods from talented artisans and farmers every month (MaySeptember). Free and open to the public. For more information, visit noc.com/events. • “Dillsboro Maker’s Market” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at 31 Front Street in downtown. Held most first Saturdays of the month (April-November). Free and open to the public. jcgep@jacksonnc.org. • “Farmers & Artisans Market” will be every Friday morning (May-October) at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn along the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies/preserves, authentic crafts and more. Picnic tables onsite. There will also be live music. Leashed pets are welcome. This is an outdoor event. Free and open to the public. 828.488.7857.

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

ALSO:

• Three Rivers Gallery (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases on select dates. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 828.488.3638 / threeriversgallery.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.

On the beat

• Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library (Cashiers) will host “Community Jam Sessions” from 2-4 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Informal jamming. All skill levels are welcome. Free and open to the public. 828.743.0215 / fontanalib.org/cashiers. • American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691. • Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public. 828.497.1015 / facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco. • Appalachian Women’s Museum (Dillsboro) will host “Music On The Porch” 2-8 p.m. Sept. 5. Performers include Susan Pepper, Cherokee Language Repertory Choir, Lee Knight, Savannah Page and Julie Odell. There will also be kids and nature activities, demonstrations, a vintage booth and a barbecue competition. Admission is free. Donations appreciated. appwomen.org.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host “Open Mic” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com. • Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Picking on the Porch” (open community jam) 6 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com. • Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.

• 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.

• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com. • Bryson City Outdoors (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6444 / brysoncityoutdoors.com. • Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Alan Edwards (indie/folk) Sept. 9 and “Barn Dance” with Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/bluegrass) 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12. All shows begin at 5 p.m. and admission is $30 per person unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event. • Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Bob Zullo (guitar/vocals) Sept. 4 ($10 cover) and Jay Brown (piano/vocals) Sept. 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. The kitchen and wine bar will open at 4 p.m. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com. • Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host The Get Right Band (rock/indie-soul) Sept. 4. All shows are at Bridge Park and begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek. • Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and Ritchie & Rosie (Americana/folk) Sept. 20 ($15 adults, $7.50 kids). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/concert-series.

Smoky Mountain News

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host “Music Bingo Night” 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, The Blue Mountaineers (bluegrass) Thursdays and semi-regular live music on Fridays and Saturdays. All music starts at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / facebook.com/brbeerhub.

• Bridge Park (Sylva) will host the “Blue Ridge Peace Fest” with an array of local acts from 3-7:45 p.m. Sept. 12 including Ghost Pipe Sound Machine (3-3:45 p.m.), The Miller Sisters (4-4:45 p.m.), Madison Sciarini (5-5:45 p.m.), Plant (6-6:45 p.m.) and Moody Bridge (7-7:45 p.m.). Craft beer vendors, food trucks and artisan booths will also be onsite. Presented by the Center for Domestic Peace, there will be an array of local nonprofits represented.

September 2-8, 2026

• Assembly On Main (Waynesville) will host “Trivia Night” 6 p.m. Tuesdays and “Karaoke Night” 7 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0839 / assemblyonmain.com.

• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every other Thursday of the month, Osprey Orchestra Sept. 11 and Justin Brown & Andrew Ross Sept. 18. All shows begin at 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com. 828.586.1237 / cdpjaxcountync.org.

arts & entertainment

• 4118 Kitchen & Bar (Highlands) will host live music 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public 828.526.5002 or 4118kitchenbar.toast.site.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host live music at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Somebody’s Child (Americana) 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.

SEE ON THE BEAT, PAGE 20

arts & entertainment

On the beat CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

• Current Tavern (Canton) will host the “Music at the Tavern” summer series with semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.492.0249. • Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.631.4795 / thecutcocktaillounge.com. • Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Martin & Kelly (Americana/country) Sept. 9. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2026

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host “World Drum Classes” every Friday at 2:30 p.m. (adults, free) and 4 p.m. (family friendly, all ages, free), “Waynesville Acoustic Guitar Group” 2-4 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month (free) and semi-regular live music monthly. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org. • Franklin Town Square (Franklin) will host a “Community Drum Circle” from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19. People of all ages are invited to participate. You may bring your own hand drums and rhythm instruments or use one of our percussion instruments. Bring a lawn chair. In case of rain, the event will be held under the gazebo stage tent. Free and open to the public. 828.524.ARTS / artscouncilofmacon.org. • Friday Night Live Concert Series (Highlands) will host Silly Ridge (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 4 and Byrds & Crows Sept. 11. 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, Paul Edelman (singer-songwriter) 5:30 p.m. Sept. 2, The Young Ones 5:30 p.m. Sept. 3, PhunXue 6 p.m. Sept. 4, 81 Drifters 6 p.m. Sept. 5, Bridget Gossett Duo (Americana) 3 p.m. Sept. 6, Chris Caruso (singer-songwriter) 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Rocky Collin (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Sept. 11, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 6 p.m. Sept. 12, Bo Bullman (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Sept. 13 and “Beats & Feets Drum/Dance Circle” 6 p.m. Sept. 14. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com. • Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org. • Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host McIntosh & The Lionhearts Sept. 4. Shows 20 begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.

noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678 / innovation-brewing.com.

828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Doug Ramsay Sept. 4, Rosin & Rose Sept. 5, Corey Stevenson (singer-songwriter) Sept. 11 and Rock Holler Sept. 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.

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

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

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Melissa Etheridge (Americana/rock) 9 p.m. Sept. 4. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee. • High Country Wine & Provisions (Highlands) will host live music during “Friday Night Vibes” at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.4502 / highcountrywineandprovisions.com. • High Dive (Highlands) will host DJ Real Bill 9 p.m. Saturdays. 828.526.2200 / highlandsdive.com.

• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host a “Community Jam” 7 p.m. Thursdays at the nearby Crown Restaurant and semi-regular live music on the weekends. folkschool.org. • J.R. Chophouse (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.369.3663 / jrchophouse.com. • Las Barricas (Franklin) will host C-Square Band 11 a.m. on the fourth Friday of each month. Free and open to the public. 828.349.4484 / lasbarricasmexicanrestaurant.com.

‘Concerts on the Creek’ Indiesoul/rock act The Get Right Band will close out the “Concerts on the Creek” music series with a performance from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Bridge Park in Sylva. A popular Asheville-based power trio, The Get Right Band fuses a slew of genres into a melting pot of its own sonic template, weaving seamlessly between indierock, Americana, R&B and soul. “Concerts on the Creek” are held every Friday night from Memorial Day through

Labor Day. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, with donations The Get Right Band. File photo encouraged. Dogs must be on a leash. No smoking, vaping, coolers or tents are allowed. Bring a chair or blanket. There will be food trucks on select nights. For more information, call the chamber at 828.586.2155, visit mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-thecreek or go to the “Concerts on the Creek” Facebook page.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Zorki (singer-songwriter) 13 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, the “Salon Series” with Bobby Bare Jr. (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24 ($41.84 per person, tax included). Reservations encouraged for all performances. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Board Game Night” 5 p.m. Mondays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host Memories Of Motown (R&B/soul) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com. • Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Mondays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, “Old Time Jam” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Tuesday, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Sept. 5 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) 5 p.m. Sept. 6. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com. • Mountain Vibes Kava Lounge (Waynesville) will host “Trivia Night” 7 p.m. Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9283. • Music By The River (Cherokee) on the Kanunohi Park Stage will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Music runs 5-8 p.m. Free and open to the public. visitcherokeenc.com. • Old Edwards Inn (Highlands) will host live music in the Hummingbird Lounge at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com. • Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com. • Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson “Music Nights” 4 p.m. first and third Friday of each month. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com. • Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Firecracker Jazz Band Sept. 5 and The Fine Colombians (Steely Dan tribute) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org. • Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Rick Morris Band & Green Valley Cloggers (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. Sept. 11. Free and open to the public. • Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Mission Accomplished (southern rock) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html. • Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host “Karaoke” 8 p.m. Fridays and semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse. • Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” 7

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke With Russell” on Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005. • Saturdays On Pine Concert Series (Highlands) will host Diverse Groove Sept. 5 and High 5 Sept. 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.

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arts & entertainment

p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. on certain Fridays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.

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• Sauced (Waynesville) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. every other Wednesday (Sept. 9 and Sept. 23) and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 / saucedwnc.com. • Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” every second Monday of the month with Bridget Gossett (sign-up at 6:30 p.m.), Shane Meade Duo (indie/soul) Sept. 3, Smashing Mouths (rock/pop) Sept. 5, Mooncoin 3 p.m. Sept. 6, Bobby G. (Americana/blues) Sept. 10, Tricia Ann Band (rock/country) Sept. 12 and Jenny & The Weazels (Celtic/world) 3 p.m. Sept. 13. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

September 2-8, 2026

• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Harvest String Duo (Americana) 6 p.m. Sept. 4, Ray Ferrara (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. Sept. 6, Adam & Joe (Americana) 6 p.m. Sept. 11, “Music Bingo” 2 p.m. Sept. 12 and Jamie Rasso (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. Sept. 13. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com. • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Authentic Unlimited (bluegrass) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11. Tickets start at $15 per person, with seating upgrades offered. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

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On the table • Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular culinary events and workshops throughout the week. For a full schedule of upcoming activities, tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranchevent. • Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flights” 6 p.m. Thursdays and a special semi-regular wine tastings. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com. • Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have the wine bar and kitchen open from 4-8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays. There will also be special wine dinners and cheese tastings on select dates. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com. • Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular craft brewery tastings. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2026

Cataloochee Ranch goes Americana Americana/folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity not built on outward style but inner substance. Alan He is Edwards. File photo joined by a backing band of some of the top players in the region, all of which with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Buck Owens & Don Rich. Admission is $30 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held at 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville and “Mystery Wine Dinner” 6 p.m. Sept. 15. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

ALSO:

• “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.

ON THE BEAT, CONTINUED FROM 21 • Smoky Mountain Dog Bar (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0726 / smokymountaindogbakery.com. • Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Monday” each week with local singersongwriters including L.C. Branch Sept. 7. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com. • Twisted Spoke Food & Tap (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.1730 / facebook.com/twistedspokerestaurant. • Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Music” with Nitrograss 6 p.m. Wednesdays, “Karaoke” 9:30 p.m. Fridays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Sundays and semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.

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 Sept. 8 and Oct. 13. Each fourcourse 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

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host the “Tuesday Music Social” 4 p.m. weekly, Paul Koptak & Kevin Dolan (Americana) 2 p.m Sept. 6, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 5 p.m. Sept. 11 and Ginny McAfee (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Sept. 13. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com. • Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host “Trivia With Tom” Wednesdays, “Music Bingo” Saturdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valley-tavern.com. • Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Zorki (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m Sept. 4, Kody Paul (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Sept. 5, Monica Spears (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Sept. 6, Blue Jazz (Americana) 2 p.m. Sept. 7, Rail Town (Americana) 3 p.m. Sept. 11 and Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Sept. 13. 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,

Skyline Lodge. File photo

beverage pairings). Reservations required. For more information and/or to make reservations, call 828.526.4008 or visit skyline-lodge.com.

“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 semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com. • Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Hammock Theory Sept. 4, Spare Parts Sept. 5 and Kid Billy Sept. 6. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 / whitesidebrewing.com.

ALSO:

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host “First Friday Classic Country: Jim Austin & Friends” (Americana/country) 6 p.m. each month (Sept. 4, Oct. 2) and the “On the Lawn at Yonder” live music series with Kyle Eldridge (Americana) Sept. 6. Admission by donation. Family/dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

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It's September...

Jeff Minick

against each other to dominate what has essentially become more empire than republic. Factions form around both men. Longstanding tensions also exist between Rome’s venerable families and an underclass of citizens who from the city’s founding have also possessed certain powers by custom and by law, rights that can turn quickly into mob rule. Cicero embodies these conflicts. His skilled oratory and his status as a “new man” give him sway over the people, while at the same time, he works feverishly to become a consul, Rome’s highest office, which will boost his status among the rich and powerful. In him, too, we see the conundrum posed in politics then and now: the clash between what’s best for the country as opposed to what’s best for the party, the battle between acting for the good of the country and acting for personal gain. Now as then, we daily witness these duels across our own country’s political spectrum. At times, the American republic founded 250 years ago seems to have grown as shabby as the Roman republic in the first century A.D., with our social media mobs, our oligarchs and politicians who vie for power by means of wealth or demagoguery, all proclaiming they knew what’s best for the people and the country, by which they all too often mean what’s best for themselves and their followers. Now as then, power and party pass themselves off as patriotism. With all that said, “Imperium” is finally a book, in fact a manual, in the art and reality of politics. Politicians, college students majoring in history or political science, and anyone interested in the tumble and brawls of politics would benefit from this guide, particularly its reminder that “Power brings a man many luxuries, but a clean pair of hands is seldom among them.” We began with a touch of Harris’s wit and humor. Let’s end the same way. With the midterm election season now upon us, all those candidates running for office, left, right, and center, will be speechifying, delivering promises and threats, and stirring up controversaries. As we listen to them and weigh their deeds and words, we might keep our balance and a smile with this observation from Tiro: “Since when has idiocy been a bar to advancement in politics?” (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.)

‘The Mountains Remember’ at City Lights Renea Winchester will present her new novel, “The Mountains Remember,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Sadie Bird lives in Shaconage, North Carolina, supporting herself by harvesting medicinal plants for tonics and salves. Recently widowed and having buried her children, she worries more about surviving winter than the federal government’s plan to create Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When government agent Bowman Marks arrives to acquire land for the park, he makes Sadie an offer she refuses. Determined to protect her family’s graves and her home, Sadie vows to fight for her land by any means necessary. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit citylightsnc.com or call 828.586.9499.

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Harris’s choice of narrator is only one of the reasons why “Imperium” serves as an excellent example of historical fiction at its best. First, there is the panoply of details Harris brings to every page. He knows and names the streets, temples, courts, meeting places, and homes of the rich and powerful of the ancient city. He gives us the celebrations and holidays — there were many — as well as the customs of the time. He describes everything from clothing to food to furniture as if they were an intimate part of his own daily life. Harris also demonstrates again and again the importance placed by the Romans on history and tradition. In describing how the eight men elected as praetors, second in the government only to the consuls, were assigned their duties by drawing lots, he writes, “The lots were placed in an ancient urn which had been used for this purpose for centuries.” A temple, a statue, the name of an illustrious family, past events: all are seamlessly woven into this tapestry of history. Finally, there is the word portrait of Cicero. Through Tiro Harris gives us the man himself, Rome’s most famous orator and his idealism, his pragmatism and his cynicism especially in regard to politics and power. He gives us examples of the enemies made by Cicero’s sharp tongue and wit while at the same time depicting him as a loving father and a loyal friend. In “Imperium,” we find the man in full. To recreate this long-ago world in such impressive detail, and again in the two other novels that complete Harris’s trilogy of Cicero’s Rome, clearly involved a tremendous labor of research. Rome was built of wood, brick, mortar, and marble. In “Imperium,” Harris builds it from words. And like the best of historical fiction, “Imperium” invites comparisons between past and present. Crassus, the wealthiest man in Rome, and Pompey, its greatest military commander of the time, struggle

September 2-8, 2026

“‘Shut up,’ he explained.” Surely that one-liner from Ring Lardner’s short story “The Young Immigrunts” — and no, that’s not a misspelling — constitutes one of the most humorous short sentences in all of literature. You don’t need to know a single detail about the story’s plot for “‘Shut up,’ he explained” to bring a chuckle. In “Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome” (Gallery Books, 2007, 305 pages), author Robert Harris laces his account of the rise of young Marcus Tullius Cicero to power with humor as Writer well. One line in particular, like Lardner’s, made me laugh aloud. “Lucius might have been a philosopher, but he was not a complete idiot.” This comedic bit comes from Tiro, Cicero’s slave, confidant, and scribe, and the narrator of “Imperium.” Harris draws Tiro from the historical figure who was indeed Cicero’s slave and constant companion. Just like the real-life Tiro, Harris’s character invents a system of shorthand that enables him to quickly record the conversations and speeches of Cicero as well as those of others when the need arises. Later, it was the real-life Tiro who collected and recorded many of Cicero’s speeches and letters, along with some jokes. He wrote several books of his own and is believed to have written a biography of the Roman statesman, a book now lost to time and circumstance. Consequently, Harris’s Tiro is the man perfectly positioned to tell us about Cicero, his personal habits, his wife Terentia and their ongoing marital battles, his yearning and quest for power as a novus homo, or new man, among Rome’s ancient families, and his powerful oratory.

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Outdoors

Exploring Nantahala For late summer summits, pick Pickens Nose

Pickens Nose offers expansive views of the North Georgia and Southwestern North Carolina mountains. Alex Perri photos BY ALEX PERRI STAFF WRITER used to joke with friends while I lived in Athens, Georgia, that I was something of a North Carolina supremacist. I was referring to the hiking, of course. The piedmont didn’t do much to excite me, and without higher elevations to escape to, I had little desire to be outside in the oppressive Georgia summers. In June, I moved back to the Western North Carolina mountains after a two-year hiatus while I completed my master’s degree at the University of Georgia, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the most beautiful time of the year to make my return. Before Athens, I lived in Brevard for nearly 12 years, and during my time there, I became deeply attached to this little slice of Appalachia. One summer afternoon before I moved to Georgia in 2024, I remember waiting for a shuttle at a take-out on the French Broad River near Horseshoe and striking up a conversation with a fellow paddler who was also waiting for his shuttle. We bonded over our

shared love of the area’s mountains and streams, and he asked me how I was feeling about my move. I told him, honestly, how sad I was to be leaving. “You’ll be back,” he said. “There’s something special in this dirt. It brings people back, and with you, I can tell. You’re not done here.” He was surer about my future than I was, and he happened to be correct. This time, however, I’ve moved an hour north of Brevard to lovely Waynesville, and with a new homebase, I’ve found myself much closer to hikes outside of my old Brevard radius. I’m eager to do some exploring.

PICKENS NOSE A few weeks ago, I met with a source in Franklin for an interview, and she recommended Pickens Nose — a short, roughly 1.5mile out-and-back hike in the southern end of Nantahala National Forest. It was the perfect reintroduction to these mountains that I’ve sorely missed. The trailhead is just up the mountain from

Dense rhododendron thickets line the trail leading up to Pickens Nose in Nantahala National Forest.

The first of many vantage points along the ridge line.

the U.S. Forest Service’s Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. The USFS first established the laboratory in 1948, in what was then called the Coweeta Experimental Forest, to study rainfall, streamflow, climate and forest growth in the valley following intensive logging. For the nearly eight decades, the site has been a center for research in the southeast. According to the Forest History Society, it is one of the oldest continuous environmental research studies in the world. From the trailhead, located on Ball Creek Road between Reynolds Gap and Mooney Gap close to the Georgia border, hikers can enjoy a short, roughly 0.5-mile stretch of uphill trail before reaching the ridgeline, where the trail flattens out until the rocky outcropping that is Pickens Nose. Rhododendron tunnels, mountain laurel thickets, black-eyed Susan blooms and goldenrod line the trail, making it a perfect latesummer destination for those looking for a low-effort, high-reward trail. I set out for my hike on an a recent early Tuesday evening and was delighted to find mine was the only car in the parking lot.

I spent close to 40 minutes at the summit enjoying the views, taking pictures and baking in the sun like a lizard with the mountain all to myself. On the summit, hikers have panoramic views depending on the vantage point of the North Georgia and southwestern North Carolina mountains. Due to the trail being what I call loweffort, high-reward, I’d recommend choosing non-peak hiking hours to avoid the inevitable crowds that come with trails of this nature. My favorite view was the southwestern vantage point of the 5,050 ft. Ridgepole Mountain, with Coosa Bald, Little Bald and Courthouse Bald to the north. Hundreds of pollinators buzzed from plant to plant around me filling the air with a pleasant hum and a little company while I relaxed. This time of year, I always find it remarkable how green the forests become, especially after the rainfall we’ve seen the past several weeks. From the shrubby brush to the large, leafy canopy of mountain magnolias, tulip poplars and oaks, in the direct sunlight, the vibrancy of the plants

From the side, the rocky outcropping at Pickens Nose looks roughly like the profile of a human face.

Smokies expands search for missing man

Volunteers needed for annual stream cleanup to get volunteers started on the cleanup float. Tubes, kayaks and canoes will be provided free of charge on a first come basis. • Town of Maggie Valley: 9-10:30 a.m. Meet at the town hall. • Town of Clyde: meet at the town hall (8437 Carolina Blvd., Clyde) at 9:00 am. Cleanup is about an hour and a half. • Allens Creek/Petsmart area: Bleu Jay’s Guide to Living Far Out is hosting a cleanup on Allens Creek. Meet at 10:00 am in the far end of the PetSmart parking lot (321 Town Center Loop, Waynesville). Cleanup time is about an hour and a half. If interested in joining one of the above mentioned cleanups, please RSVP by Sept. 11 to katy@haywoodwaterways.org .

Large animal vet fund accepting applications

almost looks neon to the eye. Perhaps my favorite part of the view from Pickens Nose was just how many layers of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretched before me. I counted 11 ridgelines in total, one behind another, from the top of Mr. Pickens itself. The hike back to the car is all downhill and fast, making this a great candidate for evening sunset hikes. The western exposure also provides an excellent vantage point to watch dusk settle in. As always, be prepared when you venture out into the woods. Nantahala

National Forest is remote, and cell service is spotty at best. Carrying “The 10 Essentials” — appropriate footwear, a physical map and compass in addition to your phone, sufficient water, food, rain gear, safety items like a whistle and fire starting materials, a first aid kit, a knife or multi-tool, sun protection and an emergency shelter — is always a good rule of thumb to make sure you are prepared for a comfortable, safe trip. Even on a short trail, emergencies can happen at any time. And always, always remember to leave no trace.

Meals on Wheels is hosting a 5K race to raise support for and awareness of the need to assist local seniors. The 5K will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 12 at Haywood Community College's Dahlia Trail. In addition to runners and walkers, organizers are also seeking volunteers. For more information, call 828.356.2442 or 828.734.4393 or email cheryl.mccracken@haywoodcountync.gov.

Smoky Mountain News

North Carolina large animal veterinarians can apply for up to $25,000 to support their practices. The Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement Fund is open to veterinarians practicing in one of 70 counties with populations of 100,000 or fewer who provide at least 30% of their patient care to large animals. Funds may be used for veterinary education loan repayment, equipment or technology, or other approved purposes that support large animal veterinary care. Applications open Aug. 14 and close Oct. 14. Veterinarians who received funding in both of the two most recent rounds are ineligible this year but may apply in future cycles. Applications are available at ncagr.gov/grants under the Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement Fund. More information is available on the program’s FAQ page or by emailing largeanimalvetgrants@ncagr.gov.

HCC hosts 5K for Meals on Wheels

September 2-8, 2026

Haywood Waterways is seeking volunteers for its annual Big Sweep cleanup event on Sept. 12. Big Sweep is an annual county-wide cleanup event that removes tons of trash from local waterways and roadways. Volunteers should be prepared to work in the sun, get a little dirty and possibly wet. Please wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and bring plenty of water. Trash bags, grabbers and gloves will be provided. There are four locations for stream and roadside cleanups: • Pigeon River and around downtown Canton: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meet at Cold Mountain Tubing. Mountain Free shuttles around town or upstream will be provided

outdoors

The annual Big Sweep allows volunteers to get out and clean up some of Haywood County’s most popular waterways. Donated photo

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, being used temporarily as part of the emerwith assistance from local agencies, contingency response. ues to search for Marcin BachledaBlaszczak, who was reported missMarcin Bachledaing on the evening of Aug. 24. Blaszczak. Bachleda-Blaszczak is described Donated photo as 5-foot-6 and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is from Illinois. Following the missing person’s report, Bachleda-Blaszczak’s vehicle was located in the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot. Based on the investigation to date, his last known location was the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on Aug. 22. A team of 57 park rangers and volunteers is actively searching areas in and around the park. As the search area expands, visitors may encounter search personnel wearing brightly colored shirts both on and off estabAnyone with information about Bachledalished trails. Search teams may also be operBlaszczak’s whereabouts, or who may have ating drones. Please note that while drones seen him in or around the park, is asked to are prohibited in the national park, they are contact grsm_dispatch@nps.gov.

The Joyful Botanist BY ADAM BIGELOW

Pickin’ up Pawpaws and puttin’ ‘em in my pocket

Ingless Nutrition N Notes written by b Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

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ave you ever eaten a Pawpaw? No, I’m not asking you if you have a history of elderly cannibalism. I’m talking about North America’s largest tree fruit, the Pawpaw Asimina triloba. Have you ever had one? If you haven’t, I’m not that surprised. Even though this species of tree and its fruit can be found growing in 26 states from New York south to the Florida panhandle, and west to Nebraska and Texas, it is not very common in the wild, especially fruit-bearing populations.

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September 2-8, 2026

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Leah McGrath, RDN N, LDN Ingles Market Corporate e Dietitian

Leah McGrath h - Dietitian

Smoky Mountain News

Ingles Marke ets… caring about your heallth

Puzzles can be found on page 30 These are only the answers.

There are some interesting reasons why this is. For one, Pawpaws require more than one genetic variety for pollination and the resulting fruit set. As Pawpaws are a clonal tree species and any one patch is likely to be identical genetically, for successful pollination to occur, pollen must be delivered from a completely different individual plant with different genetics. Another reason you may have never tried a Pawpaw is that their fruits, lumpy and ugly with a green skin, cannot be picked early and artificially ripened. In fact, you don’t pick Pawpaws. You pick them up off the ground just like the old song says. If they are on the tree, they are not ripe and will not continue to ripen after being picked. Pawpaws also have a short shelf-life and will rot long before they can be shipped to a store. You can sometimes find them for sale at a farmer’s market if you’re lucky. If you know where to get Pawpaws, you’re lucky indeed. Inside of that lumpy green fruit are large brown seeds that you don’t eat. Surrounding those seeds is flesh that tastes something like banana custard

combined with a mango. They are delicious! Probably the oddest reason that Pawpaw trees and their delicious fruits aren’t as widespread as they once were is found in a long tale about how old the trees are and how long they’ve been growing on this planet. The animals that used to eat the ripe fruit whole and then help to spread the seeds through digestion were the Giant Sloth and the Mastodon of the Pleistocene Era, which went extinct as recently as 11,000 years ago. That’s a long time. Due to the loss of these large animals, Pawpaws are considered an ecological anachronism. Other ecological anachronistic plant species around us include the Honey-locust Gleditsia triacanthos, whose large, sweet bean pods were also eaten by Ice Age Pawpaw fruit Sloths and being eaten by Mastodons, a turtle. leading this tree species Ryan Merck photo to develop large thorns. The thorns of Haw Trees Crataegus spp. and the Devil’s Walking Stick Aralia spinosa were also produced to ward off animals that no longer exist. While some modern-day animals do eat the fruits, rarely are they able to consume and spread the seeds without damaging them. Caterpillars of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly Eurytides marcellus have not only figured out how to survive the toxic chemicals in the Pawpaw leaves but also how to use those chemicals to become toxic to predatory birds as adult butterflies. It is up to us to become the new Giant Sloths and Mastodons if we want to continue to have Pawpaws to eat and Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies to enjoy seeing. Plant Pawpaws in your yard and garden if you have space and the right conditions. There are many named, improved varieties to choose from, with large and sweet fruit. And be sure to go collect Pawpaws if you know where some fruiting patches are. Maybe don’t put ‘em in your pocket, though. They’re mushy when ripe and might stain your britches. (The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)

Waynesville receives state urban forestry grant The N.C. Forest Service recently awarded $5.6 million to support urban and community forestry projects in 19 local communities across North Carolina through its Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program. “This program aims to help municipalities reach a level of sustainable urban and community forestry management that matches their goals and capacity,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “North Carolina is known for its trees and green spaces. Maintaining and developing urban forest resources add to the beauty of our cities and towns and enhance the quality of living in our communities.” Nine communities, including Waynesville, received project funding through the Climb to Tree City USA package, which supports completion of select urban and community forestry activities to help emerging municipalities

build a foundational urban and community forestry management structure and ultimately achieve Tree City USA designation. Funding for these awards was made possible through three federal grant programs: the USDA Forest Service Consolidated Program Grant, Hurricane Helene Recovery and Inflation Reduction Act funding. To learn more about urban and community forestry, the Urban and Community Forestry program and financial assistance opportunities, visit the program’s website.

Cradle of Forestry to host TimberFest

The Oconaluftee River Trail is a 1.6-mile pedestrian and bike trail that connects the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum to downtown Cherokee. NPS photo

and potential impacts of the trail improvements on the floodplain. The proposed improvements to the Oconaluftee River Trail would improve connectivity with the gateway community of Cherokee, increase accessibility, repair riverbank erosion and enhance trail safety and the visitor experience. The park requested public input on the proposed trail improvements in Spring 2026. After considering public input, the NPS will complete the design and compliance processes and work to identify funding for construction. To review the Floodplain Statement of Findings, visit the National Park Service planning, environment and public comment at parkplanning.nps.gov/ort through Sept. 7.

Joyce Kilmer Forest recognized for biodiversity Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest was nationally recognized for its rarity, beauty and biodiversity by being formally inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network as the 350th forest in the network during a ceremony at the trailhead on July 31, 2026. The network’s goal is to identify and ensure the preservation and recognition of at least one forest in every forested county in the United States, creating a roadmap of family-friendly hikes that showcase the beauty, complexity and diversity of our nation's oldest forests. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is known as a gem of old-growth in the east, and recognized by many publications for its extensive history as a protected area that was spared from logging. The forest is now characterized by large tulip poplars, cucumber magnolias and basswoods, with birch and silverbell in the understory. A full list and map of OGFN forests may be viewed at oldgrowthforest.net.

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Experience Exp erience a Casual C l, Relaxing Relaxing Atmosp Atmosp sphere sp here Perfe fect ffo or all walks of liffee, from fam milies to golf groups to ladies who luncch. We We pride ourselves on using fresh ingredients from our gardens and supporting local farmers. The dettails are prriorittyy.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues planning for future improvements to the Oconaluftee River Trail. As part of this planning process, the park is inviting public review of the Oconaluftee River Trail Floodplain Statement of Findings. The document will be available for review through Sept. 7. The Oconaluftee River Trail is a 1.6-mile pedestrian and bike trail that connects to the park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum to downtown Cherokee. More than 100,000 people use the trail each year. Portions of the trail are located within the Oconaluftee River floodplain. The Statement of Findings documents how the National Park Service evaluated flood risks

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

September 2-8, 2026

Oconaluftee River Trail improvements continue

The Cradle of Forestry invites the public to the inaugural TimberFest, a celebration of our shared forests and the products that are created through them. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 5, the event will offer a family-friendly day of fun, including live lumberjack demonstrations, traditional crafters, living history and more. Be among the first to experience the grand unveiling of the Cradle of Forestry’s newest exhibit, a Chainsaw Carved Statue Walk by Echoes of the Forest, carved using trees felled during Hurricane Helene into six species that were impacted by the storm. This event is free with standard admission. All admission fees support the Cradle of Forestry's mission to promote, preserve, and enrich the birthplace of forest science in America by cultivating appreciation for the vast and varied potential of our shared forest lands. For more information and additional information, visit gofindoutdoors.org.

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