By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Little girls clacked their clogging shoes while families ate hushpuppies and barbecue in anticipation for the band, Balsam Range, to play at the Fiddlin’ Pig in Asheville last Friday night.

Teens in camouflage hats and T-shirts checked out the band’s CDs while the Southern Mountain Fire clogging team strolled through the restaurant claiming their turf and sizing up the onlookers.

Like five train cars hooked together cruising down the track, the musicians of Balsam Range announced their presence.

“We’re having fun already so you might as well go with us,” bass player Tim Surrett said.

Balsam Range performed a smattering of songs from their repertoire, including a few numbers from their latest CD release “Last Train to Kitty Hawk” while some listeners kicked up their heels and others relaxed.

Spread over two picnic tables was the church group from Rocksprings Baptist Church in Crabtree.

Wearing a pink sweater with a napkin in her lap, Frances Clark said seeing Balsam Range at the Fiddlin’ Pig was better than going to Dollywood.

Charlie Simpson, pastor of Rocksprings Baptist Church, believes Balsam Range’s music has made a lasting impression on the local music scene for generations to come.

“Buddy Melton has researched the history and sees who we are and not who we are influenced by,” Simpson said.

Rocksprings Baptist Church member Marlene Hills is a big Balsam Range fan, adding “they seem to work so well together, like peanut butter and jelly. They are an asset to Western North Carolina and represent what Appalachian music is all about.”

As the band took five they talked to The Smoky Mountain News about their latest CD and a few other musical anecdotes.

Balsam Range, based in Haywood County, is comprised of Marc Pruett on banjo, Caleb Smith on guitar, Darren Nicholson on mandolin, Tim Surrett on bass, and Buddy Melton on fiddle. All five sing lead on some songs and bring aspects of bluegrass, gospel and country music steeped in an Appalachian-meets-Grand Ole Opry style to their performances.

Smith’s favorite song off the latest CD is the title song “Last Train to Kittyhawk.” The guitarist feels the bands background sets them apart from other bluegrass ensembles.

“Our versatility is a big deal. People don’t expect to hear the diversity we bring, and not a lot of people are doing that,” Smith said.

Surrett declared he “plays the bass with a Led Zeppelin mentality,” and is grateful for the support Balsam Range has had.

“I never call people fans because I am making friends,” Surrett said. “It’s really nice to play this quality of music and go home at night.”CD release concert

Q&A

So what is Balsam Range currently listening to when they are not performing?

Smith: Miles Davis

Melton: Osmond Brothers, Journey

Surrett: Miles Davis

Pruett: Louis Armstrong

Nicholson: Joe Nichols, Osmond Brothers

What advice would these bluegrass professionals give to younger musicians?

Smith: “Work together and do positive things.”

Melton: “Be comfortable with your own personal limitations. To do something great surround yourself with great musicians.”

Surrett: “Practice and learn to play together.”

Pruett: “Be open minded to growing. Be humble. Treat people fairly and have fun. Don’t let it consume you, and treat it as a business.”

Nicholson: “Be good to folks. Stay true to yourself, and play to the best of your abilities.”

How they would describe the band and/or their latest CD in one word:

Smith: “Influenced”

Melton: “Interesting”

Surrett: “Teamwork”

Pruett: “Productive”

Nicholson: “Sexy”

The Evergreen Foundation was formed by the Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health in 1977. At that time, state mental health agencies could not own property, so non-profit property holding arms were created. The first tract of land the Foundation owned was a 715-acre parcel in Jackson County on which the offices of the Smoky Mountain Center were once located.

Most state mental health agencies have since dissolved their nonprofit arms, since the law changed and they can now own property directly. But the Smoky Mountain Center kept its nonprofit arm. Today, the Evergreen Foundation owns 23 properties scattered across the seven western counties, which it rents out to mental health providers at a low cost.

With money coming in from leases and investments, the Foundation is also able to support scholarships and training initiatives that further mental health care in Western North Carolina.

“There’s never going to be enough state, federal, and local funding to address the needs in the community,” said Tom McDevitt, director of the Evergreen Foundation. “That’s what the Foundation’s ultimate goal is — to supplement proceeds to provide services for disabilities.”

McDevitt hopes to eventually attain $100 million in assets for the Foundation. Currently, it has $20 million.

McDevitt points to tangible examples of how the Foundation has benefited the community, such as establishing the Balsam Center. Initially, the Center was set up to house a program for abused youth, but the program lost state funding less than a year after it was established.

However, much of Foundation’s funds are plowed back into its asset pool with the aim of accumulating $100 million. Board member Barbara Vicknair said she has not personally seen many grants doled out for scholarships and training during her year on the board, and questions whether the Foundation could be doing more to further mental health care in WNC.

“A lot of people fall through the cracks, and I’d like to see somebody reach out to those people,” Vicknair said.

Though the majority of nonprofit arms have been brought back under the wing of their parent mental health agencies, there’s no intention to do that with the Evergreen Foundation. The reason: keep the Foundation’s $20 million in assets secure.

If the Foundation was merged back with the Smoky Mountain Center, and the state decided to merge or dissolve the mental health agency, the assets could be lost.

“If the Foundation is a part of Smoky, and Smoky goes under, where would all those funds go?” asked John Bauknight, chair of the Evergreen Foundation board. “It’s probably going to end up in Raleigh, and they’ll disperse it through the counties.”

Evergreen has kept a low profile over the years, and as a result, is little-understood.

“These people work behind the scenes,” said McDevitt. “They’re not looking for any acknowledgement or any publicity. You’ll never find any kind of article about Evergreen, because there never would have been an article. Evergreen is a small foundation with a very specific mission.”

By Marsha Crites • Guest Columnist

It occurred to me as I was hiking up my mountain today that one of the reasons Obama’s “Yes, We Can” slogan may have resonated with so many is that it sounds a bit like the message from our childhood book The Little Engine That Could. In that timeless story, the engine, who had been ridiculed by the newer shinier trains, keeps repeating the mantra, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,” until he crests the hill and sings, “ I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.”

The hill we are climbing as a nation right now is incredibly steep. Suffering is all around and seems to spare few businesses or individuals. The morass we have created (yes, most of us have contributed in some small way to the financial mess) is thick. Even the smartest among our leaders will struggle to make the right decisions about what will get us to the top of the hill fastest. I wonder sometimes whether those solutions that are the quick fixes will really be the long-term solutions we need. Indeed, the Little Engine in the story traveled slowly, slowly and precariously, using mainly will power to make it to the top.

If we were really lucky we had parents who could read us that story, who could encourage us when the challenges of childhood seemed insurmountable, who modeled determination and optimism in their own life struggles. But many of us did not have such models. Those who were raised in homes where addiction, abuse, neglect, mental illness, and racism played a large role are likely to suffer more now, as the tools of resilience and perseverance were not available to them in those critical developmental years.

Yet, most of us know at least one person who by force of sheer determination overcame great obstacles to enjoy a better life. I am not necessarily talking about financial obstacles or success here. We all know someone who suffered great losses, unbelievable physical or mental illness, the collapse of all they held dear, and went on, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, to re-create themselves in a powerful and fulfilling way.

I am fortunate in many ways to have worked though Haywood Community College this winter to help provide skills and encouragement to the unemployed, including those incarcerated in prison. Imagine, if you will, preparing to leave prison in this economy. Where will they find shelter, a job, food, and the encouragement they will need to start over, when even those without a record are struggling?

Yet, I seriously believe that those leaving prison have something many of us don’t. Many prisoners have faced their own “bottom,” as they say in the world of recovery from addictions (and the state we keep hoping for in the stock market). They have lost everything and must begin again with a rusty engine and determination to build a whole new life. These folks have a powerful incentive to get it right this time.

But we, as a community, must be willing to offer them the chance, to support their struggles to build stronger families, to learn new skills, to get a job, to be more effective parents and choose new ways of coping with the challenges we all face. It is tempting to judge these folks as people who don’t deserve a second chance. But who among us will cast the first stone?

Look around you in Western North Carolina and you will see lots of miracles taking place. In both Haywood and Jackson counties, in the last two or three months, social service agencies, churches, and other volunteers have opened shelters for the homeless within weeks of determining the need. Folks who have never planted gardens are ordering seeds and waiting eagerly for enough warmth to turn over the earth. People who have never checked on their neighbors are offering a hand with cutting wood, or sharing food.

Without this financial mess, we, as a nation, did not have the fortitude to take on the greed and corruption rife in many of our industries and governmental bodies. We, too, now have the opportunity, like those getting out of prison, to begin again with a new set of ethics. We can hold accountable those institutions that serve us and for whom we work, accountable to the standards of honesty and transparency, servant leadership, justice and accountability. We an insist that as individuals and organizations we stop the thoughtless dependence on fossil fuels. We cab begin to green up our own lives. And we can insist that our food sources be really safe and sustainable.

It will be easy once we are on the down side of the financial mountain to return to our passive neglect of our responsibilities as citizens, just as it will be easy for those leaving prison to return to the addictions and habits that got them into trouble in the first place.

But I, too, have a dream. I dream of a day in the not too distant future, when we can all find honest work for safe and thoughtful companies whose real values play out in more than a slogan on the wall. When all our children have someone to read them The Little Engine That Could. When we have conquered the scourge of addiction and mental illness, problems that cause far more suffering than cancer or heart disease. When we have access to clean fuel and healthy food sources. When businesses understand like our animal brethren, that fowling our nest just doesn’t pay.

If you are among the down and out right now, I encourage you to practice what cultures in the Far East call mindfulness. Whether you are incarcerated, laid off, discouraged, or panicked about our current state of affairs, there are some simple tools that will see you through. In the face of an uncertain future, decide to be present now. Most of us don’t breathe deeply. It really works. Commit to reading to a child daily (start with The Little Engine That Could), make a list first thing in the morning or last at night of all the things you are personally grateful for, play your guitar or piano if you can, bring in daffodils to grace your table. Work at the homeless shelter, go to the library and read an inspiring book, walk or run outside every day, turn off the scary news, take out food from your freezer and cook a heart- and belly-warming soup. Share your wood, your food, your time, and your fledgling hope with those around you. Sing loudly in the shower even if you don’t feel like it.

I promise you that those of us who take this path will see an end to our personal recession sooner than those who sit in front of the TV regretting our pasts and fearing our futures.

A caveat here. If the dark night of the soul you are experiencing is real clinical depression, no amount of music, daffodils, or helping your neighbors will be meaningful, because people who are clinically depressed cannot smell, feel, or hear that which is beautiful or inspirational. If you suffer from clinical depression this is a great time to get or stay on professionally prescribed medicines. If you lack access to medical care seek help for your depression through Smoky Mountain Center or the Good Samaritan Clinic.”

Meanwhile, remember The Little Engine That Could — I think I can, I think I can, I think I can .... I thought I could.

(Marsha S. Crites is owner of Harvest Moon Gardens in Jackson County. She is a part time faculty at HCC and also is a teacher/instructor with Moonshadow Learning Services. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

Haywood Regional Medical Center could miss out on as much as $750,000 in revenue over the course of a year after missing a federal billing deadline for its new mental health wing.

The missed deadline, which occurred last fall, was the result of a misunderstanding between the hospital and the federal Medicaid office.

The psychiatric unit is eligible for a higher rate of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement than other hospital units. To qualify for the higher rate, the new wing had to be visited by state inspectors and get certified.

State surveyors told the hospital to apply for the survey by mid-August of 2008 in order to meet a cut-off date of Oct. 1. If the hospital missed the deadline, it would have to wait a full year for certification that qualifies it for the higher rate.

This is where state surveyors got picky. The surveyors received the hospital’s application for a survey on Aug. 19, “a date which apparently the state does not consider to be mid-August, although two of the four days in question were over a weekend,” explained hospital CFO Gene Winters, who didn’t work at the hospital at the time.

The state told the hospital that its request was four calendar days late — forcing HRMC to wait another year before it can qualify for a bigger return on the psychiatric unit.

The 16-bed unit has been mostly full since it opened in October of last year, thus serving as a steady source of revenue for the hospital, between $250,000 and $300,000 a month if the unit remains near capacity.

The amount of revenue the hospital is missing out on could be as high as $750,000 over a 12-month period until the window rolls around to get the unit certified, Winters said. According to Winters, the true budget impact from the missed deadline will likely be small, around $300,000. The hospital had budgeted for the psychiatric unit conservatively.

“We are in the process of sharing the pain of the reduced revenue with our psychiatric unit management company, so the impact to the hospital will be minimized,” Winters said.

— By Julia Merchant

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Two Swain County commissioners are having second thoughts about a move to end contracted fire service with the town of Bryson City after listening to the impassioned pleas of volunteer firefighters who shared their comments at a meeting last week.

Town officials had requested more money from the county to match the high number of calls firefighters were answering outside town limits. The county instead proposed ending the contract altogether and building two new stations of its own, leaving firefighters from the Bryson City Fire Department up in arms.

Commissioners Steve Moon and David Monteith were initially supportive of the proposal to build a new station at the industrial park and in the Ela community, but emerged from the meeting with changed minds after hearing a group of Bryson City firefighters air their concerns.

“Those guys have been here a long time, and I think their wishes should be given full attention, and should even maybe take priority,” said Commissioner Steve Moon. “And I was all for building those substations before the meeting Monday night. I’ve changed my mind.”

Moon had qualms about the timing of the project, which will cost an estimated $600,000 to $700,000 to build the stations and buy two fire trucks.

“I don’t think it’s the right time with the state of the economy and our county, and the passion some of these firefighters feel for their fire department,” he said. “Maybe we should table it for a year.”

Monteith also was less sure of the proposal following the meeting.

“I went to that meeting feeling pretty good about what I wanted, but came out and there’s still some answers I need to get,” Monteith said.

Bryson City Fire Chief Joey Hughes, an outspoken opponent of the plan, said he felt commissioners learned something from the meeting.

“I’m not saying someone lied to them, but I think they had some misleading information, and I think we cleared that up and they listened,” he said.

The county’s plan to create new fire stations was largely spearheaded by County Manager Kevin King.

Hughes also questions the project’s timing.

“Maybe one day this might be the right thing to do, but right now it’s not with the economy the way it is,” he said.

Commissioner Chairman Glenn Jones, however, did not appear to waver in his support of the new fire stations. In fact, he didn’t realize others on the board no longer supported it.

“I think the consensus of the board is that we’re going to contract with West Swain, but we haven’t voted on it,” Jones said.

Under the proposal, the county would contract with the West Swain Fire Department. The station would be in charge of applying for loans to fund the new stations and two new trucks, as well as hiring someone to construct the stations.

Jones did not have reservations about the county’s ability to pay the estimated $600,000 to $700,000 the new stations and trucks would cost. The county will divert what it currently contributes to the Bryson and Qualla departments to make loan payments on the new stations, and would only kick in an extra $20,000 over what it pays now.

“I believe that we can handle that, yes,” he said.

The positions of Commissioner Genevieve Lindsay and Phillip Carson are not known.

More discussion likely

Moon said he saw a need for more town involvement in making a decision over county fire service. Hughes has bemoaned a lack of communication between the county and town.

For example, a state fire inspector met with county officials several months ago to provide his opinion on county fire service. The Bryson Fire Department was never informed, Hughes said.

“I didn’t even know he was coming,” Hughes said. “If they had wanted to improve something, why didn’t they include everybody in it?”

Moon urged more town input in the process, and was surprised there hadn’t been.

“I thought that they would be more involved, but they did seem caught off-guard, which is another reason to table it,” said Moon. “We need to work together, not as two separate entities.”

“We need some good old sit down coffee drinking meeting to hammer out everything,” Monteith agreed.

In the mean time, Bryson City Mayor Brad Walker said the town board is considering its options should the county decide to terminate its contract, which is worth $47,000 per year. If the county did so, the town fire department would lose about two-thirds of its call volume, and the number of volunteers needed would likely be reduced.

“We don’t know where we are going, but we have two options,” said Walker. “Either go with the new (county) entity, or make a smaller fire department.”

Walker said the town board will meet with the state fire marshal on March 16 to discuss options.

Meanwhile, the county is in no rush to make a decision. Initially, the county had wanted to get the first new station up and running by mid-summer, said County Manager Kevin King. But with both Moon and Monteith wanting to look into other options, that timeline will likely be pushed back.

“I think the public needs to know more about it,” Monteith said.

Moon said this is one of the biggest challenges commissioners have dealt with in a long while, and it’s keeping him up at night.

“Several nights I’ve laid awake,” Moon said. “I want to do the right thing, for our citizens and our people, and I pray about it. I pray for the Lord’s guidance.”

“If it ain’t broke...”

Hughes says he’s representing the wishes of his 34 volunteer firemen in speaking out against the project.

“I wouldn’t be trying to fix something that ain’t broke,” Hughes said.

Hughes also promised that his volunteers won’t leave the Bryson City Fire Department to join the ranks of firefighters at the new county stations, and expressed doubt about the county’s ability to staff the stations.

“The ones that are already in my department, they’re not leaving,” Hughes said.

Hughes says the county proposal would duplicate services. An Ela station would cover the same area the Qualla Fire Department already covers. A new station at the industrial park would also duplicate service that already exists, being “so close” to the Bryson City Fire Department, Hughes said.

If Hughes had his way, he would build additional stations in different locations than the county proposed. In order of importance, Hughes would place substations in Laurel Branch, on the west end of the Gorge, in Brushy Creek, and in Whittier.

Two electric vehicles will soon be tooling around the town of Dillsboro thanks to a state grant aimed at reducing air pollution from vehicles.

Dillsboro hopes the move will raise its profile as a “green” town. The vehicles will be plugged in and recharged rather than running on gas. They have zero tailpipe emissions.

“The electric vehicles will act as a constant advertisement for environmentally sound strategies at every level of town living, and will be the first taste many of our visitors have of the town’s unique character, at once both historic and modern,” according to Kelly McKee, Dillsboro town clerk.

The $30,000 grant will purchase an electric shuttle to move tourists from off-site parking into downtown during festivals. The second one will be an electric maintenance truck to replace the town’s only current vehicle, a 1975 Dodge pickup.

It is estimated that over seven-year cycle, including fuel and maintenance, the two electric vehicles will save a total of $2,000 versus similar conventional vehicles. The town hopes to have them in place by August.

The Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Grant was applied for through the Sustainable Mountain Initiative, a coalition of Dillsboro and the Jackson County Green Energy Park.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Spotlighting filmmakers from Georgia, Louisiana and Florida, Haywood County Arts Council presents the 2nd annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival on March 14 at Haywood Community College.

Short Circuit is the only festival of its kind featuring 12 innovative short films in three hours. Chosen for their artistic merit, the film selections range from fiction to animation to experimental and documentary. Some of the films contain adult language, material and violence.

Southern filmmaker’s insights

From the future of filmmaking to the storyline conception of their pieces, four directors from three of the films featured in the Short Circuit shared insight on their journey with The Smoky Mountain News.

“I Always Do My Collars First: A Film About Ironing” was directed by Conni Castille and Allison Bohl of Breaux Bridge, La.

This short documentary follows four Cajun women in Southwestern Louisiana who through their daily routines show how ironing is part of their social identity.

SMN: How did you come up with idea for this film?

Castille: During grad school studying folklore, I researched and wrote a paper on the subject. The visual richness of the stories, and the personality of the women cried out for documentary, despite the fact that I had never done one. The medium is ideal for many folkloristic topics, so I really wanted to learn how to do that. Moreover, the medium allows the folks in the film to watch themselves being celebrated. Not knowing anything about cameras, I was lucky enough to have met Allison Bohl who was in undergrad studies in Visual Arts at the same university, University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Bohl: Conni came up with the idea for the film through a Folklore class. She approached me after the fact.

SMN: How long did it take to shoot?

Castille: It took a long time only because we were both students with jobs, for me my studies were part-time, my job full, so we took our time with it. It was not a student project so we had to work on it off hours.

Bohl: It took probably about a year and a half due to the fact that we were both in school at the time.

SMN: What do you want the audience to take away from this film?

Castille: I hope the film dispels notions that ironing, and any housework for that matter, is mundane and trivial.

Bohl: I’d like for audience to feel like they know and understand the women’s point of view in the film—even if they don’t agree with it.

SMN: Were there any difficulties in making this project?

Castille: Not really. My process is to put a lot into pre-production. Before the camera comes out, I’ve gone out to interview many people — audio only — and have done a lot of research. I transcribe all the interviews and select those for the documentary based on their stories. I write a detailed script with B role ideas, and then we return with camera in tow.

Bohl: Conni and I had never made a documentary before. We barely even knew each other. Yet, it amazed us how easy the film was to make. It seemed like everything just fell into place for us from start to finish. Now, we know each other very well and work together daily.

SMN: How has it been to work with the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival?

Castille: It has been a most pleasant experience. Obviously, they get into great cities that promote the films.

Bohl: It has been a great experience, and we are thankful for the opportunity. I am hoping Conni and I will get to go to one of the premieres in the South.

SMN: Were you surprised by anything while making this film?

Castille: I was impressed by the women’s strong sense of self in this task. How they associate ironing with nurturing. Ironing for the women in this Cajun community is empowering.

Bohl: I never thought I would learn and practice the proper way to iron a shirt, but I did and do.

“Swimming to the Moon” directed by George Thompson from Atlanta is a film about a burned-out rock star who tries to entice a successful journalist. Neither of them knows how to prepare for the impact of someone falling hard ... literally. This film contains adult material.

SMN: How did you come up with the storyline?

Thompson: I had read about the upward trend in suicide rates around the holidays and was intrigued. I mentioned it to a friend who was a psychologist and she said that there was more to it than that, so I started doing some research. Then, I actually dreamt the film one night.

SMN: How long did it take you to write “Swimming to the Moon”?

Thompson: Originally, I began writing it and scrapped it when my “inner critic” decided it was a sucky idea. Then years later I was chatting with some friends, including the two lead actors in the film, and every one responded very positively and encouraged me to finish it. So, about two years from conception through completion.

SMN: What impression did you want the film to make on audiences?

Thompson: You know, I really don’t have any expectations. I just try to tell an engaging story and hope that people are affected. I think that whatever they walk away with adds to the life of the film, and I hope that the film affects them, gives them reason to think, makes them feel something. It’s certainly all about not judging people at a glance and taking things for granted. Not being afraid to step out of your box and reach out.

SMN: Did you have any challenges making this film?

Thompson: The pace and size of the shoot. There were 72 people directly involved in the shoot, which took us to 11 locations in four days. So our pre-production was super-critical. We had to plan everything down to the last detail and then manage the production meticulously while respecting our artists and giving them the space they needed to do their jobs.

SMN: Given a chance to re-shoot the film, would you change anything?

Thompson: Hmmm .... Not really. I try not to go there, because you can make yourself crazy. I like the film and am very proud of what we accomplished. For my first journey into filmmaking as a writer/director/producer I’m really pleased. I learned a lot and the best part is that I had a great time working with everyone on the project. So I wouldn’t want to wish any of that away.

SMN: Where do you see the film industry headed in a decade?

Thompson: Wow! That’s a really big question. A lot of unknowns at the moment, but definite trends. We need to finish the tug-of-war between the unions and then see where Lucas and Spielberg are taking cinema with their huge investment in the new 3D technologies — something they want to become the standard across the board.

Then there’s the whole digital thing. Eventually theaters will be able to access content digitally and project it without a film master which will make the industry much more open to independents. I think it’s hard to say where that’s all going to lead, but I think you can see a trend toward more independence across the board — less control over the industry by producers and unions. But we’ll see.

Directed by Art D‘Alessandro from Maitland, Fla., “The Mess” is about a husband who comes home to find his house in disarray. After exploding into a violent rage, the husband calms down and cleans the house. He then waits to have a serious talk with his wife only to find out a messy house is the least of his worries. This film contains adult language and violence.

SMN: Where did the idea for “The Mess” come from?

D’Alessandro: My wife and I have had small battles over the years regarding leaving things scattered around, etc. ... So, in the “write what you know” vein, I decided to build a story around that setup. Having had some features made as screenwriter, I was looking for something I could direct and control. If it came out crummy, I could take all the blame and say, “Yeah, it’s crummy, but it’s my crummy. No one else stuck their crumminess in.”

SMN: How long did it take you to write “The Mess”?

D’Alessandro: I wrote it over the course of a few days in the summer of ‘07 and continued to revisit it over the next few months.

SMN: How long did it take you to film this project?

D’Alessandro: We filmed it over three long nights in December of ‘07 with cast and crew arriving at 4 p.m. and leaving at 4 a.m., or so, and later on the last day. We also did a few hours of pick-up shots with our lead actor a week later.

SMN: What is the message of your film?

D’Alessandro: What I’ve tried to remind myself throughout the years — you just need to walk away from some things. Let them go. Life’s too short. It’s not worth it. Had Jim (the husband) tuned-in to the bigger picture of what was happening, the outcome would have been much rosier for him. I was asked at a festival forum last year why I chose the ending I did. My reply was that if you don’t take the ending to its extreme, the impact (and its lesson) doesn’t resonate as dramatically. Though I do realize it may be off-putting to some, as a realist I felt compelled to go there.

SMN: Did you have any issues to overcome while making this film?

D’Alessandro: Fortunately, I was able to co-op the production with a great film program here in Central Florida, Valencia Community College. So, we had a good-sized crew, great equipment, and students eager to learn working side-by-side with seasoned vets. Probably the worst part for me was not getting enough sleep during the process, because though you put the shoot to bed for the night, you can’t always put your brain to bed.

SMN: Looking back as a director, is there anything you would have done in another way with this film?

D’Alessandro: Yes. I would have gotten more coverage. I feel like there are a couple of cutaway shots I had in the script that I failed to grab on set because we were running short on time. I miss them, but I’m not sure anyone else would.

The $400,000 that Duke Energy was expecting to get from the state to help tear down the Dillsboro dam may no longer be available.

The N.C. General Assembly appropriated the $400,000 in 2008, but the money was never certified by the state budget office and thus is not available.

Last week, Fred Alexander, Duke district manager for government and community relations, said he did not know the status of the $400,000. Alexander said the money did not have anything to do with tearing down the dam anyway. He said the money was to be used to “support local economic development and community initiatives in the Town of Dillsboro and to provide additional funding to the Riparian Habitat Enhancement Initiative.”

However, Duke’s application to the state for the $400,000 in 2004 is titled “Dillsboro Dam removal.” The first line of the application states: “Duke Power formally requests $600,000 for removal of the Dillsboro Dam.”

The state’s award was less than Duke’s request.

Franklin and Jackson counties are involved in legal action against Duke Energy to stop the demolition of the Dillsboro dam. Franklin Town Manager Sam Greenwood said he believes the state has “rescinded” the $400,000. Franklin aldermen planned to pass a resolution opposing the use of state tax dollars for dam demolition, but held off upon learning the state funds may be off the table.

That means that Duke will have to fund the full cost of tearing down the dam, Greenwood noted.

A Department of Water Resources document states that as a result of the state budget shortfall the $400,000 has been placed “on hold” and has been removed from the DWR’s budget.

The $400,000 has been the basis of one of the legal fights Jackson County is waging against Duke in hopes of saving the dam. The county has argued that since state funds are being used it kicks in the State Environmental Policy Act, which requires a full environmental analysis of its hydropower operations. Jackson claims the state never did one.

Even if the state withdraws the $400,000, Jackson’s attorney in the case claims the argument is still valid. When the state signed off on dam removal in 2007, there was a chance state money would be used and thus still should have triggered SEPA, Attorney Paul Nolan argues.

Funding to help with dam removal didn’t appear in the state’s budget until 2008. Duke and the state argue they didn’t violate SEPA since at the time the state signed off on dam removal in 2007 the funding hadn’t gone through yet. However, the application for funding was made in 2004, suggesting both the state and Duke knew state funding could be in the pipeline, Nolan said.

— From staff reports

By Jim Janke

The last frost date is many weeks away, but everyone is anxious to get vegetable seeds and plants in the ground. Here are a couple of ideas to get a head start on the growing season.

Black plastic. Cover the planting bed in spring with black plastic for a week or two before planting. The soil will heat up, speeding germination and growth. Remove the plastic before planting rows of seed, or plant individual seedlings right through the plastic. Most black plastic covers are not perforated, so watering is more difficult if you leave the plastic on the bed.

Floating row covers. Spun fabric row covers allow light and water to penetrate, but provide protection against frosts by creating a mini greenhouse over the plants. Row covers prevent wind damage to seedlings and keep insects away from young plants. They are especially good for early plantings of salad crops.

Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover the bed plus room for at least a month’s growth. Place the cover directly over the seeds or plants. Make U-shaped staples out of clothes hangers and use these to keep the edges of the cover in contact with the ground. Remove the cover in late spring when temperatures are consistently warm. For plants requiring pollination remove before flower buds open. Because the mini-greenhouse environment is conducive to plant growth, frequently check under the cover for weeds that might compete with your crop for water and nutrients.

Water-filled plant protectors are a great way to get a head start on the season (a popular brand is ‘Wall O’ Water’). The protector forms a cylinder of water around the plant; the water has to freeze before the air next to the plant freezes, so the plant is protected quite well. These are available at many mail-order gardening companies for $3 to $4, and are simple to use: put the protector around the plant, and fill each tube with water. Use a tomato cage or a stake to keep the protector from falling over on the plant on a windy day.

Keep the protectors in place until the plants grow through the top. They will moderate both daytime and nighttime temperatures even if no frost occurs. Then carefully remove, hose them off, and store for another season.

I transplant tomatoes into the garden on April 1st, each plant in a water-filled protector. Peppers are transplanted April 15th, with protectors around the entire perimeter of the pepper patch. Row covers are draped over the protectors for a couple of weeks to prevent sunscald. The combination of protectors and row covers allows me to transplant directly from the greenhouse to the ground without hardening off the seedlings.

In 2007 when the record cold of less than 20 degrees hit us on April 10th, I covered the protectors around the tomato plants with heavy blankets. The water in the protectors froze solid, but the plants were fine.

Our vegetable garden at 3,000 feet typically produces edible peppers by June 20th and vine-ripened tomatoes by July 4th. These things really work!

Where to buy. Black plastic can be found at local home centers. Row covers and plant protectors are available at many mail-order seed companies, including Burpee, Cook’s, Jung, Park, Stokes, and Territorial.

Jim Janke is a Master Gardener Volunteer in Haywood County. For more information call the Haywood County Extension Center at 828.456.3575.

Wildlife biologists are asking rock climbers to avoid known nesting habitats of the peregrine falcon as breeding and nesting season approaches.

The peregrine falcon nests atop the high, broad cliffs often used by rock climbers. Once endangered, it was taken off the list 10 years ago. While steady, peregrine numbers in the state are not large, with only 10 to 13 pairs seen each year — all of those in WNC.

“The peregrine falcon is an endangered species success story,” remarked Chris Kelly, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Key to that success has been the willingness of rock climbers to make concessions for the birds and we hope area rock climbers will continue to be a part of the success.”

The forest service has posted “no climbing” signs on cliffs used as nesting sites by the falcons last year.

Adult birds may abandon a nest if molested, while the young may get scared and bolt off a ledge before they can fly if approached by a climber.

“We understand the sacrifice made by the rock climbers for the birds,” explained Sandy Burnet with the forest service. “We appreciate that sacrifice and hope they know they’re contributing to the peregrine’s success.”

The closure runs through August 15. If falcons aren’t using a site or nesting finishes earlier, it could be opened earlier. If new nesting sites are discovered, they could be added to the list. In this area, the list includes Whiteside Mountain outside Highlands and Looking Glass Rock between Waynesville and Brevard.

A list of the exact climbing routes that are closed is posted at www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc and www.carolinaclimbers.org.

About the peregrine falcon

The peregrine is a crow-sized raptor that nests on tall cliffs, or even urban skyscrapers. It feeds on other birds and has been known to reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour diving after prey.

Its numbers declined sharply after World War II due to the widespread use of DDT and other pesticides. In 1970 the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service placed the falcon on the endangered species list.

In 1975 North American peregrine numbers reached an all time low of 324 nesting pairs. The banning of DDT laid the foundation for peregrine recovery. A captive breeding program released more than 6,000 birds in the U.S and Canada between 1974 and 1999, including 92 in WNC.

When it was removed from the endangered species list in 1999, there were at least 1,650 breeding pairs.

Peregrines mate for life and tend to return to the same area each year to mate and nest. They nest once a year, and due to strong territoriality, each cliff site will support only one pair of birds. If the birds abandon the nest or otherwise fail to nest, a year of reproduction is lost.

The Smoky Mountain News won four awards for its news coverage in the recent North Carolina Press Association News and Editorial Awards contest, including first place in the Community Service category for the staff’s comprehensive coverage of Haywood Regional Medical Center’s problems in 2008.

The Community Service prize is among the most coveted for the state’s newspapers, and this is the second year in a row The Smoky Mountain News won first place in the category. Entries in the category include a newspaper’s full coverage of an issue or event — stories, graphics, photographs, illustrations, editorials, columns, infoboxes and anything related to the story. This year’s entry was titled “Tough Pill to Swallow,” and here’s what the judges had to say: “This coverage exemplifies the best qualities of journalist community service: dogged commitment to facts and fairness, inclusive voices from all stakeholders, persistence despite obstacles from those in power. Strong reporting and writing. Great work!”

Smoky Mountain News Publisher Scott McLeod said the newspaper’s staff was deserving of the award.

“This was a story covered by all the media in the region, so to be singled out for our efforts is a testament to the in-depth, unique perspective we try to provide to our readers every single week,” said McLeod.

Last year The Smoky Mountain News won first place in the Community Service category for its coverage of development in the mountains.

In addition to the Community Service award, The Smoky Mountain News also won:

• First place in News Enterprise Reporting for Julia Merchant’s reporting on the mental health crisis facing the region.

• Second place in General News Reporting for Becky Johnson’s and Merchant’s coverage of HRMC’s initial loss of its Medicaid and Medicare licenses.

• Third place in Investigative Reporting for Julia Merchant’s coverage of Tom McDevitt’s problems at Smoky Mountain Mental Health.

Newspapers compete in different categories based on circulation. The Smoky Mountain News competes in the top circulation category for non-daily papers, as does the Mountain Xpress, The Mountaineer and the Franklin Press. Other newspapers and writers in the region that won awards include:

• Asheville Citizen-Times — Second place Best Multimedia Project, staff; third place Best Multimedia Project, staff.

• The Mountaineer — First place Photo Page, DC Buchanan; second place General News Photography, DC Buchanan.

• The Franklin Press — First place Editorials.

• The Sylva Herald — Third place Special Section, Lynn Hotaling and Nick Breedlove.

• Asheville’s Mountain Xpress — Second place Investigative Reporting, Jon Elliston; second place Serious Columns, Mark Jamison (who lives in Webster); first place Special Section, Bele Chere Guide, staff.

• The Highlander — Second and third place Spot News Reporting, Geoff Slade and Brian O’Shea; second place Feature Writing, Brian O’Shea; third place New Enterprise Reporting, D. Linsey Wisdom; second place Feature Photography, D. Linsey Wisdom; first place Editorials, staff; first place News Coverage, staff.

• Crossroads Chronicle (Cashiers) — Third place Sports News Reporting, Justin Caudell; third place Sports Feature Writing, Justin Caudell; third place Lighter Columns, Jennifer Daniel; third place General Excellence, staff; first place Editorial Page, staff; third place News Coverage, staff.

By Denise A. Mathis • Guest Column

One of the most publicized criminal cases in Haywood County history centered around me, Denise Mathis, and the whereabouts of flood relief funds. I will never forget that day in August, 2006, when I walked through the door of the Waynesville Police Department, was fingerprinted, was photographed for my “mug shot,” and was escorted into jail. I was charged with 14 counts of embezzlement, even though I had done nothing wrong. I was completely innocent.

There are so many things that I want to say concerning what happened to me, but first and foremost, I would publicly like to say, “Thank you” to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has been and is my Comforter, Sustainer, Redeemer, Provider, and Deliverer. “Thank you” to my wonderful, loving family — my husband, Alan; my two sons, David and Daniel; and my daughter-in-law, Morgan; as well as all of my family members both in Georgia and here in Haywood County who have stood by me and supported me through thick and thin. “Thank you” to my faithful, enduring friends, as well as my church family at First Baptist Church in Maggie Valley, whose prayers, encouragement, love, and support have kept my family and me going even to this day. And finally, “thank you” to my dedicated attorney, Russell L. McLean III, “Rusty,” who not only fights my legal battles but also, with his special wife Lisa, believed in me, gave me a job, and befriended me. To all of you, I will truly be eternally grateful!

I know many of you still have questions about what really happened several years ago in regards to the distribution of flood relief funds through the Council on Aging (COA). I don’t blame you.

From February 2006 through November 2007 the general public was bombarded with printed newspaper articles, television news stories, Internet articles, blogs, chat rooms, etc., about me and the “criminal” case I became entangled in. At one time there were over 7,000 miscellaneous Internet-related articles and entries and over 260 local and regional newspaper articles specifically related to this horrible, unjust event in my life. Information was circulated literally throughout not only Haywood County, but throughout Western North Carolina, the entire state of North Carolina, and across every part of the world through the power of the World Wide Web, using words, names and terms such as “flood relief funds,” “Haywood County Council on Aging, Inc.,” “United Way of Haywood County,” “Unmet Needs Committee,” “Without the Approval of the Unmet Needs Committee,” “missing funds,” “misappropriated,” “embezzlement,” “authority,” and “grants.” These words, names, and terms were critical to understanding the overall case and what really happened.

Because there are pending lawsuits and other legal issues forthcoming, I am not at liberty at this time to share or disclose all of the details concerning my criminal case, or mention individual names, businesses, organizations and events in regards to their participation and accusations. But I do want to tell you what I can to help you better understand how all of this started, what really happened, and where it stands today.

In September of 2004 many counties in North Carolina were devastated by hurricanes Frances and Ivan. As you all well know, Haywood was one of those counties. Nothing like this had ever happened here; and, to say the least, the community had to get into “high gear” in order to provide badly needed assistance. Over the many days, weeks, months, and even years following the floods, wonderful individuals, faith-based organizations, businesses, service agencies, and government departments and entities stepped up to the huge challenge of helping our flood-impacted residents.

Soon after the flooding began, The United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) and its Board of Directors voted to establish a special fund of money to help our flood victims and named this fund the Local Flood Relief Fund. This special fund was established so that people and organizations that wanted to give on a local level would have a central place to which they could donate money and assist our flood-impacted residents. The United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) established this special fund by donating $10,000 from its own reserve account. The general public was informed about this Local Flood Relief Fund, established by UWHC, through public announcements. Jonathan Key, who was the president of the UWHC Board of Directors, as well as the publisher and owner of The Mountaineer newspaper, also published information about this UWHC Local Flood Relief Fund. As previously stated, many wonderful people, businesses, and organizations gave from their hearts, and approximately $150,000 was donated to this special, local fund.

The United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) decided to distribute, through local member service agencies, the money which was donated to its Local Flood Relief Fund, in order to help meet the needs of flood victims in the community. As such, the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) developed a specific “grant” proposal application for these Local Flood Relief Funds and invited its member agencies to apply for this special funding through a one-time “grant” application. As a UWHC member agency, Haywood County Council on Aging (COA) completed and submitted this special “grant” application to the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) so that it, too, could assist people who were impacted by the floods. Some members of the UWHC Board of Directors’ Executive Committee met with each of the member agencies that had applied for these funds, including the Haywood County Council on Aging (COA).

In November of 2004, the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) Board of Directors voted and approved to give the Haywood County Council on Aging (COA), a total of $65,000 from its Local Flood Relief Fund. The COA opened a separate bank account called the Haywood County Council on Aging Flood Relief Account and the COA deposited the $65,000 into this account. All of the “grant” funds from the “UWHC Local Flood Relief Fund Grant” were to be used according to the COA’s “grant” proposal application which COA submitted to the UWHC. I assure you that every penny of these “grant” funds was spent exactly as defined in the “UWHC Local Flood Relief Fund Grant” application submitted by the COA.

Soon after the flooding, I, as executive director of the Council on Aging, attended a conference in Raleigh. While there, I asked the director of the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services to accompany me to meet with representatives at the North Carolina governor’s office, so I could talk with them about assisting our flood-impacted residents. At that meeting at the governor’s office, I spoke with several representatives about the many flood-related needs of our Haywood County citizens and was told that Gov. Easley was already working on a state level initiative to raise money to help counties that were affected by the floods. The governor’s office stated that Haywood County would be one of the counties that would receive the governor’s funding.

During the next several weeks and months, the North Carolina Governor’s Office requested large companies and organizations to donate money in order to help the North Carolina citizens affected by the flood. Millions of dollars were donated to the North Carolina Governor’s Office fund, named the “North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund”.

In October 2004, the North Carolina Governor’s office sent a memo to the Haywood County government office, informing the county that it would be receiving a portion of the funds from the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. These funds were to assist the flood-impacted residents with their unmet emergency needs due to the disaster. In order to receive these funds, Haywood County government officials would have to follow and abide by specific written requirements and instructions they received from the governor’s office. One requirement stipulated by the governor’s office regarding this North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund was to establish an “Unmet Needs Committee.” The Unmet Needs Committee’s sole purpose and authority was specifically to identify needs and to develop a Distribution Plan, stating how Haywood County’s government would use and distribute the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund allocation in meeting the governor’s spending criteria, distribution criteria, and the local needs of the county.

The government of Haywood County received fund allocations from the governor’s office North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund on two occasions. The first fund allocation that Haywood County government received was in November of 2004 and was in the amount of $388,582.87. The second fund allocation that Haywood County government received was in March of 2005 in the amount of $240,689.04. All of the funds from the governor’s North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund were directly deposited into and dispersed out of a Haywood County government bank account. None of the North Carolina Disaster Relief Funds from the governor’s office ever went into a Council on Aging (COA) bank account at any time.

Meanwhile, independently, in an effort to assist county flood victims, the Haywood County Council on Aging (COA) also submitted two flood relief “grant” applications to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The COA applied for these funds to assist flood-impacted residents and was awarded both of these. All of the grant funds from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina were spent exactly as defined in the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina grant applications submitted by the COA.

Over the coming months, more flood relief money was received and deposited into the Council on Aging’s (COA) Flood Relief bank account and was used for flood relief. The Council on Aging volunteered to assist with the distribution of flood relief funds when the United Way of Haywood County expressed that they did not have the manpower to do it themselves and, furthermore, wanted to channel their efforts on their annual fundraising campaign. From approximately October of 2004, through February of 2006, the Mountain Area Resource Center (MARC), a community-wide resource center which was sponsored by the Council on Aging (COA), served as the centralized location for the flood relief efforts and assistance offered in Haywood County.

On the morning of the Mountain Area Resource Center’s (MARC) Open House, the North Carolina State Division of Aging and Adult Services Department from Raleigh called and talked with me about flood relief assistance. They specifically requested that the Council on Aging (COA) work at the FEMA site to assist FEMA and to represent the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services Department by assisting the adults and seniors in Haywood County throughout this disaster. The COA took this request seriously. I could not even begin to list all of the many activities, duties, and responsibilities that the COA carried out during the disaster and flood relief time period.

Because the overwhelming flood-related needs of our Haywood County residents continued to increase, the flood relief workload of the Council on Aging (COA) continued to increase as well. Other agencies were also working hard in this endeavor. But, the COA’s staff carried the load of many additional duties and responsibilities of disaster relief on a regular daily basis. It was truly heartbreaking to hear the stories of the many, many people who came to the COA/MARC for assistance. Decisions had to be made so that we could continue to assist these overwhelming needs. For example, fundraising and development time and efforts for the COA’s regular services and programs had to be put on the sideline so we could adequately continue to assist flood-impacted residents on a regular daily basis. Their needs were urgent — needs such as shelter, bills, medicine, clothing, supplies, building materials, furniture, and on and on. Even eyeglasses and dentures washed away down the river in the flood waters. I will never forget going to the shelter the first night of the floods. I went to see how many people were there so I could get enough food for their dinner that evening. One little, elderly lady sat in a chair holding a brown paper bag with her medicine. That was all she had left. Everything else was gone.

Due to the overwhelming added flood relief expenses that the Council on Aging (COA) incurred and the loss of much-needed funding and income as referenced above, the COA requested financial assistance. On more than one occasion, financial assistance was requested from the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC), Haywood County government, the North Carolina Governor’s office, the North Carolina Emergency Management Division, Congressman Charles Taylor’s office, Sen. Dole’s office, the North Carolina State Division of Aging and Adult Services Department, and Church World Services, as well as local companies and individuals. COA received approximately $40,000 in financial assistance from individuals and the Church World Services, with the hope of more to come.

Due to the continuing increase of flood expenses at the Council on Aging (COA), as well as the loss of normal COA fundraising activities and income, the COA began to experience financial difficulties. The COA transferred funds to its General Operating Account in order to pay for flood-related expenses incurred by the COA. Without reimbursement for flood-related expenses, services for flood relief could not have continued. The COA flood expenses included overtime and mileage incurred by staff assisting flood victims on nights and weekends and assisting FEMA seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; training and supervision of flood relief individuals hired by the Employment Security Commission (ESC); photocopies for flood-related community assistance handouts, meeting materials, and client information; mileage for delivering supplies, building materials, and furniture to flood-impacted residents; office supplies; professional copying expenses for duplicate forms and documents; flood relief meeting items, supplies, and expenses; MARC facility space rental and utilities while utilized by ESC and others; repair expenses for flood damage at the COA/MARC facility; and COA staff time to approve flood-related vendor invoices (even those related to Haywood County government’s allocation of funds from the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund from the Governor’s office).

On or about Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, without any prior notice, the Council on Aging (COA) received a Certified Letter on United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) stationery. The letter stated that the committee voted to have all remaining funds from the Unmet Needs Committee, as well as all flood-related documents, transferred to the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC). The letter was signed by seven individuals I will not name at this time. I could not believe it! After almost 16 months of serving as the centralized center for flood relief assistance in Haywood County, no one bothered to call, no one asked for a meeting, no one sent an e-mail or a fax to explain what this certified letter was all about. The certified letter further stated that an individual, whom I shall not name at this time, would arrange to pick up a cashier’s check made payable to the United Way of Haywood County, as well as all related documentation, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. The letter closed by stating, “Again, thank you for the role your organization played in meeting the needs of our neighbors.” After all the time and resources the COA had put into the flood relief effort, I considered this a great slap in the face. I cannot describe now extremely hurt I personally was. At the time, I did not understand what was happening or why; things are a little bit clearer now.

Indeed, on Feb. 10, 2006, three individuals, who shall remain nameless at this time, abruptly opened the door to my office, walked in, and immediately demanded the Unmet Needs Committee flood funds and all related documentation. I refused their demands and stated that, if they had a concern about something, they should have called me or met with me regarding that concern. I told them that I did not know why they sent the certified letter and that I did not appreciate their actions or the way that they were speaking to me. They continued to demand the money and documents, but I did not give them anything. The conversation began to get heated, and a Council on Aging employee who overheard the confrontation called my husband and told him to come to the building. My husband, Alan, came to the building; and the three individuals left. I was completely torn up by what had just happened. I called the Council on Aging (COA) board president, and she came a few minutes after they left. Alan was still there and I proceeded to tell her the details regarding the visit and conversation with the three individuals.

It had started snowing fairly heavy outside and the COA board president knew that I had planned on leaving that evening to go to Camp Lejeune. I had previously arranged to take the next week off from work so I could spend some long-awaited time with my son. The COA board president told Alan and me to go ahead, and get on the road before it got too bad to travel. I took the laptop computer with me, as I did every day, so I could work at night and on the weekends. Then, Alan and I left the Council on Aging (COA) and began our trip to Jacksonville. When I left that night, I had no idea that Feb. 10, 2006, would be my last day at the Council on Aging (COA). I was so upset by what had just happened that, as Alan and I traveled that evening, I just sat there stunned and hurt.

You might ask, “Why did you leave town that night? Did you have something you wanted to hide? Were you running away from something?” Quite the opposite. You see, my son, David was a Marine and was returning home that weekend to Camp Lejeune from his tour of duty in Iraq. David was coming home, but some of his buddies were not. I could not wait to see him, to hug him tight, to welcome him home, and to tell him that I was very proud of him and that I loved him with all of my heart. It was during this trip to Camp Lejeune that my life changed forever.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, while we were still traveling to Jacksonville, my husband received a phone call from the Council on Aging’s (COA) board president. She stated that the COA Board of Directors had accepted my resignation. I was shocked! I never resigned! I did not understand what was happening. I loved the COA, and I had given my heart and dedication to that organization, to its employees, and to the many people that I had the great privilege to serve. I again couldn’t believe what had just happened. I just sat in the car and cried all the way to Camp Lejeune.

I am still not exactly sure what transpired between that Friday evening, Feb. 10, 2006, when I left work, and early Monday morning, Feb. 13, 2006, when The Mountaineer published its Monday morning edition. My husband spoke to his mother on the phone while we were still in our hotel room in Jacksonville early that Monday morning and she read to him the front page headlines, as well as other articles throughout the paper. (I suspect that people were working overtime that weekend to make sure the story hit the paper on Monday morning.) That morning was the first time I heard that I had resigned and the first time I heard the accusations of wrongdoing. There I was — eight hours away and waiting for my son to arrive home from Iraq — completely devastated by the news I had just heard. It was like a nightmare and I could not believe it. Again, at the time I did not understand what was happening or why, but things are a little bit clearer now.

Who was doing this to me and why? I could not believe that someone would deliberately do something like this to another person. It’s one thing to accuse someone privately; but accusing someone publicly goes beyond reproach. It was deliberate. I had not done what I was being accused of. I was innocent! I asked my husband, Alan, to call one of the COA board members who was on the executive committee and ask what was going on. When he phoned, the board member stated that she, too, had just read The Mountaineer and that was the first she had heard about the events which had supposedly taken place. She said that she was going to a COA board meeting later that morning and hoped to learn, herself, what was going on.

David’s flight had been delayed due to sand storms, so I stayed in our hotel room in Jacksonville. I cried and cried until there were no more tears to cry. I wanted to go home and find out what was going on and tell them I was innocent, but I had to see my son. I had to see David and hug him and welcome him home.

The newspaper articles continued about “missing money” and “embezzlement.” I still couldn’t believe what was happening to me. I hadn’t done what the newspaper and its “sources” accused me of. I felt as though I had been sentenced and pronounced guilty before I even arrived home later that week from Camp Lejeune. It is sad and disturbing to think that people would wait until I was out of town and then publicly make these false statements and accusations without giving me the opportunity to defend myself. But, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

On Feb. 17, 2006, the same seven individuals mentioned previously wrote a letter to the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) Board of Directors. The letter stated that the Unmet Needs Committee of Haywood County requested that the UWHC Board of Directors turn over to the proper legal authorities the investigation of “missing funds” from the Council on Aging (COA). Later that same day, during a special called UWHC Board Meeting, the United Way of Haywood County (UWHC) Board of Directors voted to turn the investigation over to the District Attorney.

Our phone rang off the wall when my husband and I arrived back home from Camp Lejeune later that week. Many people called and just hung up, others called truly concerned for my family and me and left messages of love and support. I want to say “thank you” to each one of you again for letting me know you cared through your cards and calls. But I am sad to say that not one Council on Aging (COA) Board member has ever called me to ask about the accusations or ask if they could meet with me, or even ask how I was doing. I am so hurt. I feel as if I have been hung out and left to dry.

For many, many months, I rarely got out of the house or talked to anyone except my family, my wonderful Pastor, Ricky Mason, and my attorney, Rusty McLean. I really believe that my mind, body, and emotions were in total shock. My wonderful husband, Alan, and my youngest son Daniel, a student at Tuscola who I am very proud of and love with all of my heart, were so very good to me. My oldest son, David, continued to call and e-mail whenever possible, while he served two more tours of duty. He worried about me and I worried about him. I don’t know what I would do without my family. In times like these, you are reminded of how very blessed you are to have your family and true friends around you. I deeply appreciate each one of you.

Within weeks, I heard that the Council on Aging (COA) would be closing its doors. I felt as though the COA was being literally divided up and picked apart by organizations and businesses within our community. I wanted to go to the meetings and stand up for this wonderful agency once again which had helped and served thousands upon thousands of people, not just throughout the floods, but faithfully for over 20 years in our county. Wonderful services, programs, grants, projects, departments, the COA/MARC building and land, the MARC Magazine — years of hard, dedicated work and many wonderful people — now all gone to Mountain Projects, Haywood County Department of Social Services, The Mountaineer newspaper and the Haywood County government.

I will always feel honored to have been a part of such a fine organization. Every time I drive past the building now, I think about the many, many wonderful things that the Council on Aging (COA) did in our community and the special people I had the great privilege of working with, meeting, and serving. There are many, many wonderful services and projects that will continue to serve our residents for years to come just because of the tireless work and dedicated commitment of the Council on Aging.

On Aug. 7, 2006, after approximately five and a half months of investigation, I was indicted with 14 counts of embezzlement. Let me make it clear that I never took one penny! I never embezzled any money! And there were never any missing funds! Early in the case, an independent forensic CPA audit was completed which proved money was never embezzled neither were there any missing funds. But, that information was never disseminated throughout local newspapers. Every flood relief “grant” that the COA applied for was spent exactly as the grant application described and was never misappropriated. I was being indicted for something that I never did and would never even think of doing. I was innocent!

Months later, when I finally did start getting out of the house, I felt like I was wearing a big, neon billboard that flashed, “Here I am, The Criminal.” I was stared at, pointed at, cursed at, and once someone even spit on me. I felt like a piece of dirt, even though I knew I was innocent of any crime. I went through the hardest, darkest time that I had ever gone through in my entire life. Many times, I would lay in bed at night, crying and asking God to let me die in my sleep. I did not want to feel this overwhelming pain anymore. What happened to me was so unfair. It was not right. Aren’t you innocent until proven guilty? I was and still am completely torn apart on the inside. It is like an open wound that will never heal.

On Nov. 8, 2007, after 21 months of investigation, 14 indictments of embezzlement, a forensic CPA audit that showed no evidence of any crime committed, two plea offers from the District Attorney’s office (which I refused because I would not plead guilty to crimes for which I was completely innocent), and just days before my trial was to begin, my case was dismissed!

One would think that I would be happy now, since all of this is over. And, in once sense, I AM happy — very, very happy! If it were not for God and for the persistence and dedication of my attorney, I could be serving more than 40 years in prison. But, in another sense, my happiness is greatly stifled because my case is not really over yet. I was never exonerated! The District Attorney’s office has never stated that I was not guilty!

The dismissal document from the District Attorney’s office read, “The undersigned prosecutor enters a dismissal to the above charges and assigns the following reasons: There is insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution for the following reasons: The evidence is insufficient to prove the elements of the offenses including the essential element of fraudulent intent.” Evidence was insufficient? What evidence? There never was any evidence because the offenses never happened! I never should have been indicted! Again, I am completely innocent!

I wish the hands of time could be turned back and that I would be spared the pain and many hardships that my family and I have had to endure and still have to endure. But, no one can go back and erase the accusations, the humiliation, the public’s retaliation, the official statements to the press, the overwhelming publicity, the indictments, the arrest, the criminal record, the emotional pain, the loss of income, a ruined reputation, and a criminal case that never should have happened. This has affected every aspect of my life — for the rest of my life!

I keep remembering the many events that have transpired over the last three years. I was investigated from February 2006 until November of 2007; indicted with 14 counts of embezzlement; arrested and fingerprinted. A photo mug shot was taken. I was escorted to jail. Our home was used as collateral for my bail, so I could get out of jail. Over 260 newspaper articles were published about me and thousands of articles circulated, and still circulate, throughout the Internet. I had to get permission from the District Attorney’s office to go and see my son before he deployed again. I was facing 40 years of prison for something that I did not do. My husband and I lost our health insurance. My own bank closed my bank accounts for no reason at all and demanded that I take my name off the bank accounts and safety deposit box in my mother’s name, for whom I am the Power of Attorney. We lost all of our money, savings, and retirement that we had saved just to keep our home out of foreclosure and so I could stay out of jail. In January of 2007, my husband had a heart attack — no insurance, no money. My husband had two additional surgeries, one in 2007 and another in 2008 — still, no insurance, no money. I had to have teeth cut out because I could not afford to pay for two root canals and crowns. On many occasions, my husband and I gather coins together so we can buy groceries at the General Dollar Store and the Dollar Tree. We still owe thousands of dollars in legal fees and thousands more in medical bills. I have tried over and over to find a job, only to find out that the employer required a criminal background check and the 14 indictments are still on my record. Still, I could literally go on and on. If it were not for our wonderful family and friends’ love and financial support, we would lose everything that we have.

Last month, something happened that proved with out a doubt that my “reputation” has been truly ruined by this, and it will be impossible for me to work here in my own community. I was told that if I did not take my name off of a project application, the project would not be supported. He stated that I have a “black cloud over my head,” and he was not going to ruin his reputation because of mine. I can’t even describe how this has affected me! And just two weeks ago, I was turned down once again because of my “reputation.” I was devastated! Both of these incidents involved wonderful projects that would greatly benefit our Haywood County residents. It makes me just want to give up, and quit trying to do anything. It would be so very, very, easy. But, I can’t. What happened to me is not right. While everyone else continues to go on with their life, their dreams, goals, and passions, my life cannot go on any further until this is truly over.

When I walk in a store or down the street in Waynesville, I still feel as though everyone is staring at me. I can’t help but believe that many people still think that I am guilty. Behind each “Hello,” “How are you doing?” and smile, I still feel very insecure, hurt, and empty inside. That big neon, flashing billboard is still hanging around my neck and I wonder ... Do people who have hurt me really even care about what they have done? How can you take someone’s life and destroy it for no reason at all and then just walk away as if the whole thing never happened?

I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to come out. It’s time. It’s long past time!! I don’t want anyone ever to wonder ... Did she do it? ... What happened to the “missing money?” Since this case was deliberately made so public, I believe the public has a right to know these answers, as well as everything that transpired in the background leading up to this horrible event. It is amazing and very sad what some individuals will intentionally do or participate in to ensure the demise of someone else.

There are answers to the questions of who, why, what and how, but due to pending legal issues this is not the time, place or venue to share those details. I would not do that to someone else, leaving them to learn about it from the newspaper, neither is it my desire to publicly and deliberately destroy someone’s name and reputation, as was done to me. The truth will come out at the right time and in the right way.

My heart longs once again to be involved in helping and serving people. That has always been my passion. But, I know now, I most likely will never have that opportunity again. As the C.E.O. and Executive Director of the Council on Aging (COA), I worked with not only local individuals, businesses, organizations, Foundations, and government entities in Haywood County, but also throughout our region, the State of North Carolina and the southeastern part of the United States. Everyone that I have ever worked with knows, has read, or has been told about this horrible event. It will follow me for the rest of my life. What happened to me was not just “UNFAIR,” it was “UNJUST!”

An individual’s name and reputation is very important. A reputation, good or bad, will follow a person for the rest of his or her life and beyond for generations to come. It’s almost impossible ever to regain a good reputation after it has been publicly ruined. But, when I am dead and gone, I want my grandchildren and their children to know that I was not a criminal. I want them to know that I loved to help and serve people and I wanted to make a difference in the lives of the people in my community. I want them to know the truth. And, the only way for this to happen is to insist that the truth be told!

As I close, I again say “thank you” to my faithful Heavenly Father; to my wonderful family and friends who have loved and supported me; and to my dedicated attorney and his wife. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate each one of you. Even now, I still cry; still get depressed; still go to counseling; still do not like to get out in public; still wonder how my husband and I are going to pay our bills-not just today, but in the future; still feel angry; still feel hurt; still ask “why?” And, still wonder ... what will I do the rest of my life? When I really get discouraged and I feel like giving up, David and Daniel lovingly remind me that I have a lot to be thankful for. Yes, even through all of this, “I am truly, truly blessed indeed!”

It’s a cultural tradition in nearly every society, the firm belief that people and institutions become stronger once they’ve been tested. Whether that test comes about due to one’s own shortcomings or to circumstances outside one’s control is important, but in the end it’s the outcome that we remember.

So it is with Haywood Regional Medical Center. When its Medicaid and Medicare status was lost just over a year ago and the hospital went into a financial freefall, people were angry, upset and felt betrayed. They were also very worried that the place they considered their number one healthcare option was in real jeopardy of closing down and that many friends and neighbors would lose their jobs.

In hindsight, that extreme emotional attachment to HRMC might have been its saving grace. County leaders, physicians, hospital staff, and a whole lot of concerned citizens stayed with HRMC when it might have been easier to let it sink. When the number of patients going to the hospital on a daily basis sank to single digits, inspectors still hadn’t given their final OK for re-certification, and the bank account was close to running dry, closing seemed imminent.

No one knows what corporate shape HRMC will finally take — affiliation with another hospital system and with WestCare seems certain, but the structure of that affiliation is still unknown — but now no one believes that Haywood County won’t have a hospital, which seemed a very real possibility in early March of 2008.

So what from this past year at HRMC should residents remember?

First and foremost is the responsibility that lies with the hospital’s board of trustees. These dedicated citizens who volunteer their time must be vigilant to strike a balance between the sometimes competing interests of hospital administrators and the medical staff. They must also be able to look beyond those personal and professional relationships to keep in mind the hospital’s value to the community. No person or group is more important than the institution. It’s a balancing act, but if trustees tip too far one way — as happened with the previous board’s almost blind allegiance to former CEO David Rice — bad things can happen.

Secondly, and probably just as important, is the wisdom and dedication of the long-time members of the medical community. When the medical staff asked some doctors to speak to the board of trustees at a December 2006 meeting, they pointed out very clearly that the relationship between the administration and the medical staff had become dysfunctional. The board, however, ignored those pleas.

Among those to speak at that meeting — where a well-liked ER group was about to be fired — were Dr. Henry Nathan, Dr. John Stringfield and Dr. Benny Sharpton, three of the county’s most respected physicians. HRMC’s medical community, by and large, are practicing medicine for the right reasons and need to be listened to.

Lastly, and like it or not, the CEO of a small hospital carries a lot of power. That can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on the circumstances. If one went to Raleigh or Charlotte, the CEO of a large metro hospital might get lost among the thousands of employees, hundreds of doctors, and dozens of administrators. Not so at a hospital like HRMC. Former CEO David Rice was very powerful and became very polarizing, yet his strength of personality blinded those who should have seen his shortcomings.

HRMC’s new CEO Michael Poore will also wield a lot of influence. He has become the new face of HRMC, an affable, intelligent guy that has best been described as a “breath of fresh air.” Most believe he will serve the hospital well, and already he is restoring credibility both internally and in the community.

HRMC has survived and, perhaps, become stronger because of this crisis. It might not be so lucky if an event of this magnitude ever occurs again, a truth that should serve as a cautionary reminder to those who might too quickly forget the events of the past year.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Capturing a grandmother’s story of survival, a fiancé’s sigh, or a best friend’s joke during an intimate interview is how StoryCorps allows people to connect with each other.

Recording the stories of our lives with the people we care about allows listeners to experience history, humanity and hope.

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project that is on a mission to honor and celebrate lives though listening. The project has partnered with National Public Radio and the American FolkLife Center at the Library of Congress to talk about the questions that matter.

Arriving in Asheville on March 23, the StoryCorps MobileBooth will be camped out by WCQS to collect the stories of Western North Carolina residents as part of its cross-country tour.

Since its creation in 2003, the project has recorded tens of thousands of everyday people interviewed by family or friends.

Each conversation is recorded on two CDs; one to take home and the other is archived at the Library of Congress.

With millions listening to the award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet, selected stories have been published in the New York Times bestselling book, Listening Is an Act of Love.

In the beginning

StoryCorps was created by David Isay and has become one of the largest oral history projects of its kind. Isay is an award-winning documentary producer and a Macarthur “Genius” Grant recipient.

Isay wants people’s stories to matter and not be forgotten, and since its launch StoryCorps has traveled to every corner of America to record individuals’ stories in sound.

The project has collected interviews in over 100 towns in 48 states.

“By listening closely to one another, we can help illuminate the true character of this nation reminding us all just how precious each day can be and how truly great it is to be alive,” Isay states on the Web site www.storycorps.net.

Asheville action

StoryCorps is one of the biggest events that has happened at WCQS in Asheville, according to General Manager Ed Subkis.

WCQS, found at 88.1, 90.5 and 95.3 FM on the radio, is a listener supported public radio that brings NPR, local news, classical, jazz and traditional folk music of Western North Carolina to its listeners.

“We’ve been trying to get them here for years,” Subkis said in an interview with The Smoky Mountain News.

Subkis added WCQS has been persistent with its requests for StoryCorps and is “very excited” the project will be in Asheville for six weeks.

StoryCorps MobileBooth, which is an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio, will be outside the radio’s studio from March 26 to May 2.

Members from StoryCorps will assist in conducting the recordings with plans to collect 160 interviews while in Western North Carolina.

People interviewing will go into the booth and talk about the big questions of life for about 40 minutes.

StoryCorps is partnering with WCQS, which will air selections of the local stories and create special programs around segments.

Subkis expects a 100 percent turnout for the project, filling every slot available.

“It’s a conversation between people with an intimate relationship who are telling the stories of their lives,” Subkis said.

Subkis believes the StoryCorps will help share the personalities of the individuals of Western North Carolina illuminating the type of stories that come out of casual conversations.

He speculates stories about the Qualla Boundary and those who have “lived the Asheville experience” will be shared.

“We’re very happy it’s here and looking forward to the buzz,” Subkis said.

Sharing in the storytelling

Also sharing in the excitement for this project is the Blue Ridge Heritage Area that supported the StoryCorps’ Asheville residency with a grant.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Area was given three interview slots because of its sponsorship. They focused their choices on individuals who represented cultural themes of the area such as Cherokee, crafts, music and agriculture.

“We could have filled 50 spots with folks who represented this area with great stories to tell,” Penn Dameron, executive director of Blue Ridge Heritage Area said.

“I have had a lot of occasions where I was late because I needed to listen to the rest of a story on StoryCorps,” Dameron said. “They are powerful and great stories, which is a large part of what we do in telling the larger story of this region.”

Joyce Dugan was one among the selected interviews for the Blue Ridge Heritage Area.

Dugan, who served the Qualla Boundary as the first female chief, plans to talk about her years growing up.

“It’s wonderful opportunity to portray people in this region,” Dugan said. “The Blue Ridge and Appalachian area have gotten stereotyped and not portrayed well at times, and this gives us a good chance to shine.”

A seasoned interviewee, Dugan isn’t nervous about be recorded for StoryCorps.

“I pontificate well when I am talking about my heritage and my family. I’m comfortable talking about it, and I have had many opportunities to address it, and I say it like it is,” Dugan said.

For more information about StoryCorps visit www.storycorps.net.

The economy and high gas prices last summer led to slightly fewer visitors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year.

The park saw 9.04 million visitors last year, a drop of 4 percent compared to the 9.37 million visitors logged in 2007. The park has counters across the road at every entrance to the park.

The number entering the park through the main North Carolina entrance along U.S. 441 outside Cherokee dropped by 11 percent, while entrances on the Tennessee side saw only a 5 or 6 percent drop. The higher drop on the N.C. side could be attributed to a drop in business at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, just a short distance from the park’s main entrance. A jaunt into the park is a popular excursion for casino visitors.

While the main entrances were consistently down, the outlying areas were up.

Not surprisingly, camping at park campgrounds was down by 12 percent. High gas prices last year put a dent in travel by those towing campers and driving RV’s, which consume lots of gas.

Backcountry camping, however, was up about 2 percent. Approximately 72,381 camper nights were reported in 2008 compared with 70,215 in 2007.

Economic impact studies show that park visitors spend hundreds of millions in surrounding gateway communities.

“The economic advantages derived from visitors to this area are important, but the national park is much more than an economic engine,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “The park is a special place that preserves a piece of our nation’s heritage and some of the world’s most remarkable natural resources for people to enjoy. It’s a gift that keeps on giving”.

More than $2,000 is cash and $5,000 in prizes were won by anglers participating in the Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly-Fishing Tournament Nov. 12-14 in Cherokee.

First place overall went to the team of Paul Borcq and Nick Johnson who took home $1,250 in cash and each received a new fly rod valued at over $700 each. Second place was awarded to Bill Strickland and Jason Bufkin. Rounding out the top three prize winners was Kevin Lowe and Josh Stephens. Chris Lee won a custom made fly rod for casting 100 feet and 8 inches during Saturday’s casting competition.

The tournament was presented by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the North Carolina Fly-Fishing Team, with the top eight teams in the two-day, two-person competition winning cash and prizes. The whole weekend was filmed for an upcoming show of the nationally recognized Curtis Fleming and the Fly Rod Chronicles television show on the Sportsman’s Channel.

Saturday began early on the frosty morning as the fishermen gathered to try their skills on the casting course. Each competitor was given the opportunity to cast at three targets and based on accuracy were awarded either 100, 200 or 300 points. There were bonus targets for the accuracy portion which proved to be some of the most challenging components of the tournament.  Many of the competitors went as far as casting from their knees in order to cast their lines under a horizontal bar resting 18 inches off the ground with a target two feet behind the bar. Based on the combined two-person team score, the top 15 teams moved on to the second day of competition.  

Sunday morning (day two of the competition) started with all 15 two-man teams fishing pre marked fishing beats along the prized trophy fishing section of the Cherokee Tribal waters. The 2.2 miles of trophy water is strictly catch and release fly-fishing and available to the general public provided they purchase the appropriate permits.

On this Sunday it was a typically cold November morning as the anglers took the water.  Each fish caught was measured, recorded for length and released back into the river.  At the end of the morning fishing the competitors gathered to find out if they qualified for the afternoon fishing. Eight teams moved on to the afternoon round of fishing and at the end of this round of fishing all of the weekend’s competitors, volunteers and controllers gathered at Rivers Edge Outfitters fishing shop in Cherokee for the presentation of the awards.

“The whole tournament was an amazing display of technical skill and ability, combined with a love for fly fishing,” said Matthew Pegg, executive director of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the tournament. “ We were fortunate to have guys ranked in the top five nationally in competitive fly-fishing competing with a number of guys from the local area. We even had a young man from the Atlanta area who at only 14 years old had many of the more seasoned fly-fishermen closely watching his technique and skill. Overall it was a great weekend of competitive fishing and for Cherokee. I can’t wait to make it an even bigger tournament next year.”

For more information the Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly-Fishing Tournament visit www.RumbleintheRhodo.com.  The tournament is sponsored by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Fly Fishing Team and Rivers Edge Outfitters of Cherokee and Spruce Pine.

Steve Henson, the executive director of the Clyde-based Southern Appalachian Multiple Use Council, has been awarded the N.C. Forestry Association’s Outstanding Service to Forestry Award at the association’s 2010 annual meeting.

“Steve is one of the respected voices in the forestry community in North Carolina and the country,” stated NCFA Vice President Bob Slocum. “Over the years, he and his association have proven to be committed to helping North Carolina’s landowners manage healthy and productive forests.”  

A 1973 graduate of North Carolina State University, Henson — who lives in Haywood County — is a registered forester and an avid sportsman. He has authored numerous articles on wildlife and natural resource issues, stressing that active management benefits both timber production and wildlife habitat.

Henson has served in leadership positions with the Ruffed Grouse Society, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council of Western North Carolina and on advisory committees for the Wildlife Resources Commission and the Forest Legacy Program. He also serves on the NCFA’s Board of Directors, the Friends of Forestry Political Action Committee and the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition.  

Henson just completed a research project for the NCFA’s Forest Education and Conservation Foundation via a grant from the North Carolina Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to explore the concept of working forest conservation easements in North Carolina. The project included a production of a 30-minute DVD and the development of a comprehensive manual on the subject. In the DVD, NCFA Executive Vice President Bob Slocum helps Parker Lumpkin, a North Carolina landowner who has never seriously considered an easement on his property, to explore working forest conservation easements. To answer Lumpkin’s questions, Slocum conducts a series of interviews including a land trust executive, an experienced land-use attorney, and a landowner with a working forest conservation easement in place. The DVDs will be available to local forestry clubs in December by contacting the NCFA at 800.231.7723.

Three Macon County school teachers (Joan Lansford and Jae Crawford, of Franklin High School, and Shelley Marshall of Union Academy) and a Gear Up instructor (Mary Bennett) recently took classes on a four-mile round trip hike to Siler Bald.

The students were accompanied by Appalachian Trail (AT) thru hiker and AT female speed hiker record holder Jennifer Pharr Davis. Davis described highlights of her thru hike and what motivates her to continue long distance hiking as a profession. The Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) provided hike leaders.  

The three teachers recently completed a professional development program sponsored by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that presents ways to integrate the AT with classroom curriculum (www.appalachiantrail.org). Davis recently published a book “Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail” describing her five-month odyssey along the AT (www.blueridgeco.com). The NHC maintains 60 miles of the AT (47 miles in Macon County), conducts outreach programs in local schools and leads hikes most every weekend (www.nantahalahikingclub.org).

Some common air pollutants found in cities can be absorbed by plants at far greater rates than ever suspected.

The discovery has big implications for modeling how vegetation affects pollutants, as well as how particles in the atmosphere affect human health and global warming.

The finding comes from a fruitful and unusual collaboration of plant geneticists and atmospheric scientists. The plant scientists found the genes used by plants and the conditions under which they are activated to allow more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be absorbed. The atmospheric scientists lugged equipment around the globe to verify that the plants were indeed sucking up pollutants in the real world.

“It’s been hard to measure this in the real world,” said Thomas Karl of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “That’s why we hauled this instrument all around the world.”

Among the specific discoveries is that deciduous plants take up about a third more oxygenated VOCs — a form of pollutant that has reacted with oxygen —  than previously thought. These oxygenated VOCs come from burning gasoline, forest and other biomass fires and are even released by some kinds of trees.

“The trees actually clean up more than we thought,” said Karl.

Steve Longenecker and his live owls will be at the Asheville Wild Birds Unlimited store presenting programs at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27.

As well as bringing along a pair of eastern screech owls and a great horned owl, both Steve and Asheville WBU co-owner Simon Thompson will be talking about owls, their behavior and what species one can expect in this area.

Check out the store website www.asheville.wbu for directions, more information or call 828.687.9433.

New data suggest that bats, like birds, may follow specifically defined routes when migrating rather than simply migrating in a dispersed way across a broad area. Wind energy turbines located in these routes may cause fatalities of migrating bats.

As new sources of energy such as wind farms are being built in greater numbers, their impact on other aspects of the environment are getting attention.

The migratory behavior of bats, a topic that has received little attention in the past, is the subject of new study. Wind turbines have been the cause of many bat fatalities, but these installations also offer a new opportunity to examine bat migration habits. This is because the majority of bat fatalities caused by wind turbines around the world have involved migratory bats during fall migration.

Over a period of seven years, scientists used acoustic monitoring and carcass searches at nine wind energy facilities across southern Alberta, Canada, to determine if bat activity and fatality were concentrated in certain areas or evenly distributed across the landscape. Their findings indicate that as bats migrated, they concentrated along selected routes at night and sought daytime roosting sites. Migratory tree-roosting bats, including hoary bats, eastern red bats, and silver-haired bats, are the North American species most affected by wind farms.

The full text of this article, “Geographic Variation in Activity and Fatality of Migratory Bats at Wind Energy Facilities can be read at www2.allenpress.com/pdf/mamm-90-06-1341-1349.pdf.

City Lights Bookstore in Sylva will host Karen Holmes for the bookstore’s monthly Coffee with the Poet gathering at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 18. Then at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20, the store will host Gary Carden’s Liar’s Bench featuring storytelling, poetry, and music from a variety of guests.

For more information about either event, call City Lights at 828.586.9499.

“The Nutcracker,” Peter Tchaikovsky’s famous and beloved ballet, is being presented again this year by Betsy’s School of Dance and the Rabun Gap Dancers.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, at the Rearden Theater on the campus of Rabun Gap Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Ga., followed by a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5.

A Christmas-time tradition for many, “The Nutcracker” is a two-act ballet set in Western Europe in the 1800s and tells the story of a young girl who receives a special Nutcracker during a Christmas Eve party at her family’s home. She later dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a battle against the Mouse King.  The Prince then takes her on a journey through the Land of Snow on their way to the Land of Sweets, where she is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger, and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce or at Betsy’s School of Dance in Franklin, and at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce in Clayton, Ga. For more information call 828.369.7209.

The Greater Cashiers Area Merchants Association is bringing Santa to the Village Green from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 27.

Members of GCAMA will be on hand to serve cider and cookies as well as to assist with picture-taking as needed by those accompanying kids who will be relaying their wish lists to Santa.   

For additional information about GCAMA events and programs or to join call 828.743.1630, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or log on to www.visitcashiersvalley.com.

Karyn Tomczak, director of Western Carolina University’s dance program and a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, helps WCU dance students prepare for a Rockettes-inspired holiday show to be performed in the Asheville Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 20. “As a Rockette, I danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was hard work, but dancing so close with so many women at once really promoted ‘Rockette pride,’” said Tomczak. “I wanted to give our students a similar experience with the Asheville Holiday Parade, and I hope they feel ‘WCU pride’ for the School of Stage and Screen.” The group, which is scheduled to appear 96th in the parade – not far from Santa – will dance to a one-minute version of “Happy Holidays” from the musical “White Christmas.” The dancers also are expected to make a surprise appearance at one of WCU’s holiday shows. The WCU calendar of events is available online at calendar.wcu.edu. For more information, contact 828.227.3672 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. WCU photo

The Celtic band Bean Sidhe (ban shee) will perform a concert of traditional Irish and Scottish music at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.

Immediately following the concert there will be a reception for Waynesville mixed-media artist Silvia Cabrera Williams, whose artwork will be on exhibit in the lobby of the Arts Center from Nov. 19 through Jan. 18.  

Bean Sidhe has been playing together for more than eight years and has developed an extensive repertoire of jigs, reels, ballads and other traditional music. The group was started out of a desire to study and explore the uplifting traditional music that came to America from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Bean Sidhe keeps alive the musical heritage that informed much of contemporary music, especially bluegrass and country.

Members of Bean Sidhe include: David Russell playing guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, tenor banjo and bodhran; Amanda Burts playing recorder and accordion; Karin Lyle playing harp and fiddle; and Ralph Murphy singing vocals and playing bodhran and guitar.

Russell is a well-known Bryson City musician and storyteller who has built a number of instruments from wood. Burts lives in Brasstown and is one of the original members of Bean Sidhe. Lyle lives in Balsam, is a professionally trained violinist and stringed instrument instructor and is a member of the Western Carolina Community Orchestra. She is regionally recognized and is in great demand as a soloist. Murphy lives in Bryson City and is a classically trained baritone and a soloist with the Western Carolina Community Chorus.

Following the concert, everyone is invited to attend the reception in the lobby of Swain County Center for the Arts for mixed-media artist Williams. Almost 80 original paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil and mixed media will be on exhibit through Jan. 18. his retrospective exhibit chronicles Williams’ journey from realism to abstract with the use of increasingly bold colors and textures.  Most of the artwork is for sale and additional smaller pieces, prints and cards will also be available.

For more information call Eugenia (Jenny) Johnson at 828.488.7843 or visit www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta to view the current calendar of events.

A popular post-Thanksgiving arts and crafts tradition will once again fill Western Carolina University’s Ramsey Center for two days of holiday fun.

The 23rd annual Hard Candy Christmas Fine Art and Craft Show is Nov. 26-27, featuring more than 100 artisans hand-picked by show organizer and veteran crafter Doris Hunter.

Hunter spends the year visiting shows throughout the Southeast, seeking talented crafters who add a special touch to her show, which gets its name from a simpler era when folks enjoyed the season with stockings of hard candy and gifts made by hand.

“I invited many different crafters this year who focus on holiday items, such as ornament makers,” Hunter said. “These artisans create heirlooms to pass down through the generations.”

This two-day event, the largest holiday arts and crafts show in Western North Carolina, features a variety of hand-made items from basket weavers, wood carvers, quilters, silversmiths, potters, furniture makers, blacksmiths, glass blowers and doll makers.

Holiday items available include candles, ornaments, trees, wreaths and peanut brittle.

“I found one of the best dessert candle makers ever – Brenda Clark from Alabama – who will be exhibiting her delightful creations,” Hunter said. “Also Phyllis Mann of Hendersonville weaves those ‘hard to find’ cotton rugs and placemats, while Father Christmas dolls from Debbie Trantham of Candler and Betty Spivy of Mt. Airy, Ga., are big hits each year.”

The show has grown so much that a dozen artisans will be displaying outside the arena.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $3 per person, with children under age 12 admitted free. Parking is free.

“With the tough times we’ve been through recently, people need fun things to do,” Hunter said. “And it is fun to take off to the mountains and go to a show filled with holiday cheer.”

For show info call Doris Hunter at 828.524.3405 or visit: www.mountainartisans.net. For info on dining and lodging, call the Jackson County Visitors Center at 800.962.1911.

Songwriter and storyteller Michael Reno Harrell will make what is becoming an annual holiday appearance at Ridge Runner Naturals on Main Street in Waynesville at 8 p.m. on Nov. 27.

“This one is always very special,” Harrell says on his web site. “Come early and check out all of the new wonderful watercolor and oil artwork by Jo Kelley and the spectacular photography by Ed Kelley, the gallery owners.”

The Kelleys clear out the floor of the gallery and put in 50 chairs, creating an intimate environment. There are homemade desserts and beverages during the break between the two sets.

Harrell is expected to perform many new holiday songs and stories. The desserts are by specialty baker Debi Hall with “Just Simply Delicious.” There is also tea, juice or coffee.

Tickets, which include dessert, are $12 and can be purchased at Ridge Runner Naturals from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., by phone at 828.456.3003, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All ages of children at the ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa learned about art during a recent two-week artist residency.  Students worked with a western North Carolina artist to create a mobile sculpture that will permanently hang in their school.  Cullowhee metalsmith William S. Rogers and his 27-year-old assistant and son, Lucas, conducted a two-week residency at ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa, teaching students about metallurgy, physics and art.

Named a “master craftsman” by Virginia in 2004 and by his native state of Tennessee in 1985, Rogers has been a professional artist and educator for 30 years. Locally he is known for his work on the HandMade House in Asheville and for building the studios at the Green Energy Park in Jackson County.

The artist residency was sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council and HandMade in America’s Craft Across the Curriculum program.

The Kids Advocacy Resource Effort (KARE) will hold its first Festival of Trees fundraising event at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22 at the Gateway Club in Waynesville.

Festivities begin with a dinner buffet followed by a live auction of uniquely decorated Christmas trees designed by local merchants Blue Ridge Books, Chocolate Bear, Connie Buchanan Plemmons-H.& R. Block, High Country Furniture, Jackson/Haywood Psychological Services, Main Street Artists Co-Op, Mast General Store, Smoky Mountain News, Vertigo and The Waynesville Kiwanis Club. In addition, pottery, jewelry and much more will be available from local artists.

Tickets are $75 per person and attire is festive.

KARE is a nonprofit whose mission is to provides services to victims of child abuse and to families in Haywood County.

For ticket information call 828.456.8995.

By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist

The craziness of this year’s mid-term elections has passed. The campaign advertisements and signs are coming down. The dust is starting to settle. But one thing should remain top of mind for those Senators returning to conclude the 111th Congress — there’s still a lot of work to be done.  

Members of Congress should also take note that even in the midst of a difficult economy and political sea change there continues to be strong and bipartisan voter support for investments in land conservation and parks. On Election Day, voters approved 28 of 35 (80 percent) of state and local measures on the ballot to finance land conservation and parks, including statewide measures in Oregon, Iowa, Maine and Rhode Island. In Arizona, voters overwhelmingly rejected Prop 301 that would have raided voter-approved open space funds and put them to the general budget if approved.

With public support for conservation and recreation in mind, one issue facing senators as they return for the lame duck session on Nov. 15 is the need to finally provide consistency for a program that has done more for local communities and our country than most people realize. Signed into law in 1964, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was designed to dedicate a portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas development for land conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country — a promise that has been chronically unfulfilled.

LWCF was supposed to receive $900 million per year — a drop in the bucket of offshore revenues that typically tally well over $5 billion — but has been shortchanged by Congress nearly every year, with revenues regularly being diverted to other purposes. Full funding has been appropriated only once in the LWCF’s 46-year history and recently declined to a low of $138 million in 2007. This shortfall has resulted in a huge backlog of unmet funding needs for land protection and outdoor recreation for our federal public lands, and state and local parks.

And yet in spite of rarely receiving its due, LWCF has been instrumental in many of the places that are most dear to us as a nation. From local parks and playgrounds, where kids can get outside to play, to greenbelts and recreational trails that connect and enhance local communities, to state parks that provide hiking, biking, and camping and help to sustain wildlife, to federal public lands used for hunting, fishing, paddling, and our most pristine national parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas — LWCF has provided a continuum of conservation that has touched us all. Close to home, LWCF has provided over $60 million and protected almost 40,000 acres in North Carolina since its inception in 1964, protecting places like Catawba Falls, the Appalachian Trail, and Lake James.  

Given the tragic oil spill in the Gulf this summer, the vision behind the Land and Water Conservation Fund is even more relevant than ever and now is the time for action. In a national bipartisan poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and FM3 in May, 85 percent of respondents view the LWCF as more important today in light of the oil spill. And now, with the offshore moratorium having been lifted once again and the oil spill still fresh in our minds, it is only right to ensure that some of the revenues from the use of this resource are used to protect our precious land resources.

On July 30, the U.S. House of Representatives took on this challenge by passing the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act of 2010, H.R. 3534, including full, dedicated funding for LWCF with the support of Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC). In addition, LWCF was a centerpiece of the Administration’s “America’s Great Outdoors” listening sessions throughout the country this summer and is expected to be a priority as that initiative continues to take shape.

But the Senate needs to act in order to capture this opportunity and momentum to finally ensure LWCF receives its due. Please write Senators Burr and Hagan and encourage them to work with Senate leadership to ensure that full and dedicated LWCF funding is included in energy or other relevant legislation and enacted before the end of this Congress.  

(Brent Martin lives in Macon County and works for the Wilderness Society. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

To the Editor:

I thank everyone who supported me in the recent District Court judgeship election. Having never been a candidate for office, I did not know what to expect during the campaign. I enjoyed the campaign process more than I anticipated because of the hundreds and hundreds of people I met over the past 10 months.

I offer my public congratulations to my opponent, Roy Wijewickrama. I wish the best to Roy, Kristina Earwood and Donna Forga as they enter their new roles on the bench.

Steve Ellis

Waynesvilles

To the Editor:

Post-election letters to the editor continue the “take back our government” mantra, and I would ask the question: take it back from whom? Has the United States been invaded? The answer is obviously no. 

So, the question then becomes what defines “our” in the statement? The United States was founded as a democratic republic and the government belongs to all Americans, regardless of any other qualification. One party has no absolute right to claim the government as theirs, certainly not the Republicans or the Democrats.

Perhaps, it is the overwhelming majority of registered voters of one party who feel that this is their government. The latest statistic regarding party affiliation I could find was 2004. It breaks down this way: Republican 32.5 percent, Democrat 42.6 percent and Independent 24.8 percent. I do not see anything in these statistics that would support this premise.

No single party, especially the extremists in that party, has the only answer to governing. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written after honest debate, negotiation and compromise. America needs a government that puts country first and follows the example that was set by the founders.  Compromise is not a dirty word and does not reflect weakness. The Constitution was not a perfect document when written; otherwise it would not have been amended.

Our elected leaders must be encouraged to talk to each other civilly and realize that consensus is better than ignoring half of the citizens in the country. If America does not learn to build bridges instead of walls, it might cease to exist.

Jim Hartje

Otto

To the Editor:

On Nov. 5 the Haywood commisioners were scheduled to accept bids from private corporations to run the landfill for a 20- to 30-year period with “no limitations on the sources of waste,” according to the bid documents.

This was before any public hearing or referendum. An alternate proposal would close the landfill and take Haywood’s trash to a mega-dump in South Carolina.

Two of the three bidders currently run dumps. Both are multi-state corporations. One runs dumps in nine states. Both take in waste from outside counties for a fee.

Mega-dumps take in around 2,000 tons a day. Fees at these mega-dumps are higher for industrial and low-level toxic waste, which are allowed in municipal landfills if the county reqeusts permitting. The county is asking for a percentage of the fees per ton dumped, so more hazardous waste brings more money.

My question is this: since Haywood County attracts residents because of its beautiful mountains and our main industry — tourism— relies on the same assets, then why rush to make such a momentous decision? Why not a public hearing or a referendum on an issue that can have such a momentous impact? Is accepting a long-term contract for dumping outside waste in our county in the best interest of our people? Why the rush, commissioners?

Nancy Hoffman

White Oak

MedWest Health System will recognize outstanding athletes from Haywood, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the Cherokee Reservation. The Game On! spot in local newspapers will acknowledge individuals who have exemplified outstanding performance, winning attitudes and/or great sportsmanship.

The outstanding athlete will be recognized with their photo and a summary of their accomplishments. This awards program is open to student athletes, senior citizens, and sports enthusiasts.

Members of the community also may sign up to receive text alerts about the Player of the Week. To sign up for the text alerts, send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Coaches, team members and community residents may nominate an outstanding athlete. Nominations for the Game On! recognition should send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; along with a photo of the athlete, preferably in uniform or in action.

“Haywood County: Portrait of a Mountain Community,” was awarded the Willie Parker Peace History Book Award and the President’s Award at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Society of Historians in Mooresville on Oct. 23. The Peace History Award is given to encourage the writing of histories of N.C. counties, institutions or individuals. The President’s Award was presented near the conclusion of the day’s events to the most outstanding entry for 2010.

This year there were 729 entries and a total of 95 awards.

The county history book was one of five writings with Haywood County ties to win an award. Sarah Queen Brown of Clyde and Carroll C. Jones of Pace, Fla., also received Peace History Awards. Brown was honored for her “Clyde High School, 1918-1966.” Jones received the honor for “Rooted Deep in the Pigeon Valley – A Harvest of Western Carolina Memories,” a book based on the history of Canton and Bethel communities and drawn from his youth. Evelyn Coltman of Waynesville received a Paul Jehu Barrings Jr. and Sr. Award of Excellence “for her efforts to collect, document, write and preserve the Bethel Community history and for her 6-volume set of books in her Pigeon Valley Heritage Collection,” according to  the awards program guidebook. Bill Lowry of Lake Junaluska received the Ethel W. Twiford Religious History Book Award for “The Antechamber of Heaven: A History of Lake Junaluska Assembly.”

In presenting the President’s Award, which is chosen from among the most high-ranked entries, Society President Elizabeth Sherrill described “Haywood County: Portrait of a Mountain Community” as “the most interesting, well-researched history…. I loved all the visuals in every aspect of the work. Judges described the book as “a credit to the history of Haywood County and its people. This is a textbook example of how we envision all bicentennial history books to be … complete, readable, articulate, clear and authoritative.” The judges praised the book’s “delightful and interesting information about the county,” its “amazing vintage photographs” and its endnotes and bibliographies, which make it, the judges wrote, “a researcher’s dream.”

The project was begun in 2006 by the Historical Society of Haywood County for the celebration of the county’s bicentennial. Curtis Wood, Emeritus Professor of History, Western Carolina University, was the book’s editor. An advisory committee chaired by Bruce A. Briggs oversaw the project and included Bette Hannah Sprecher, Joan Routh, Kenneth F. Wilson and Robert Busko. Six writers researched and wrote the 15 chapter of the work and helped select the hundreds of photographs included with the text. Writers were: Kathy Nanney Ross, Michael Beadle, Patrick Willis, Leon M. “Chip” Killian III, Christina Fulcher Osborne and Richard D. Starnes. The book was published in December 2009 and is currently available at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Cost is $40.

The three-year project included a comprehensive collection of photographs and documents that were digitally scanned by the Haywood County Library. The images are housed there as a permanent collection. The Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University created a permanent exhibit titled “Haywood County” A Family of Communities” in support of the project, based on the writers’ research. The exhibit is currently traveling in the Haywood County school system.

Other local award recipients also received high marks from the Society of Historians for their work.

“Author Carroll Jones takes the reader on a trip through the Pigeon Valley via stories that capture the heat and educate us about the people and the places that make up that place,” the judges wrote regarding his book, “Rooted Deep in the Pigeon Valley.” “He helps to enhance our appreciation of mountain folk, family lore and history by providing us with a nice variety of subject matter rather than a concentration in one area.” Judges also praised Jones’ listing of illustrations and maps and his search index. For information on Jones’ book, contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Cloth-bound is $34.95; paperback is $19.95. Shipping is $5.

Regarding “Clyde High School,” judges wrote that Sarah Queen Brown has put together “as complete a school history as any we have seen. It was a delight to judge this entry.” Brown received praise for the book’s photographs and their arrangements as well as her written history of the school and history of Clyde. This book can be ordered from Brown at P.O. Box 97, Clyde, NC 28721. Cost is $10 plus $5 shipping.

Lowry’s “Antechamber of Heaven” received the Twiford Religious History Book Award, given for “the indepth historical account of the founding, growth and development of religious movements, houses of worship or religious institutions within North Carolina.” The book was “the result of an author who has paid meticulous attention to every detail,” the judges wrote. “He has done an exemplary job of taking a colossal amount of data and condensing it into 188 pages; but the icing on the proverbial cake is the timeline he has provided that begins in 1899 and ends with 2005.”

The book is available from Lake Junaluska Assembly, P.O. Box 726, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.  tel. 452-2881. Cost is $27. Shipping is $5.50.

Coltman’s books on the Pigeon Valley can be purchased from the Bethel Rural Community Organization, P.O. Box 1333, Waynesville NC 28786. Cost is $5 for book 1, $10 each for books 2 and 3; $15 for book 4 and $20 each for books 5 and 6. Add $5 for shipping.

Kevin Corbin has been named by the Macon County GOP to fill the seat on the county board of commissioners that will be vacated by Jim Davis, who was recently elected to the N.C. Senate.

Corbin will assume the seat in January 2011, when Davis takes the oath for the Senate.

He has served four years on the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees, is a past chairman of the Macon County School Board (14 years) — winning five county wide elections — and currently serves of the Board of Trustees for Southwestern Community College and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board. He is also an active member of the Franklin Rotary.

Corbin  is married to Beth and they have two children, Matt and Maggie.  They are members of the Holly Springs Baptist Church where Kevin serves as deacon.  The Corbins own and operate Corbin Insurance Agency and he is a partner in Blue Ridge Insurance group, Inc. He is also a founding member of the successful gospel group Blue Ridge.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to have their voices heard by the search committee that will help select the next chancellor of Western Carolina University during a series of open forums Monday, Nov. 22.

Four hourlong meetings to seek public comment will be held in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus beginning at 1 p.m. Each session is designed for a specific constituent group, but all sessions are open to anyone who wants to participate.

The public forum schedule:

• Faculty members – 1-2 p.m.

• Staff members – 2-3 p.m.

• Students – 3-4 p.m.

• Alumni, community members and supporters of intercollegiate athletics – 4-5 p.m.

In addition to the open forums, members of the public also can share their thoughts on WCU’s next chief executive officer through a questionnaire that will be posted on the chancellor search committee’s website – chancellorsearch.wcu.edu.

The online questionnaire will allow visitors to the website to provide input on the “state of the university,” preferred priorities, suggested background of candidates, and any other pertinent issues.

All scheduled search committee meetings are open to the public. The Nov. 22 open forums are the only meetings that will have time for public comment.

Following the forums, the committee will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, to discuss public feedback and review the official position description for the chancellor’s post. The meeting will be held in the Peele, Westmoreland Suhre, Hartshorn Hospitality Room of the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Another meeting is set for 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, in the Hospitality Room of the Ramsey Center.

The WCU Board of Trustees recently appointed a 16-member search committee to help select a successor for Chancellor John W. Bardo, who has announced his plans to step down next summer after more than 15 years in the position. The committee is working closely with Baker and Associates, an executive search firm, to identify a pool of candidates.

After reviewing candidates, the committee will recommend its top choices to the WCU trustees, who will forward the names of at least two nominees to Tom Ross, who takes over as University of North Carolina president later this year. Ross then will present his recommendation to the full UNC Board of Governors for final consideration and approval.

Search committee members are striving to have a new chancellor named and ready to lead the university by July 1.

With many neighbors being unemployed or underemployed and winter on the horizon, there’s even more need to share the warmth and help others fend off the cold. The Mast General Store is hosting its sixth annual Share the Warmth coat, sweater and blanket collection campaign from now until Nov. 30.

The Mast General Store, along with Columbia Sportswear, invites customers to share the warmth in their community by “sharing” clean, gently-worn coats, jackets, sweaters, gloves, hats, and even blankets so others can be warm this winter. Items can be dropped off at Mast General Store in downtown Waynesville, and they will be given to Haywood Christian Ministry and to The Salvation Army.

“It was important to us for our community partner to work closely with those truly in need,” said Fred Martin, vice president of operations at the Mast Store.

This is the sixth year the Mast Store has undertaken this project to help provide coats for those in need in their home communities, and it’s the fourth time that Columbia has stepped up to help out with their own donation of new coats.

For more information call the Mast Store at 828.452.2101.

The Healthy Haywood Substance Abuse Action Team will hold a Prescription Drug Abuse Lunch and Learn from noon to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church, Waynesville.

This presentation has been moved from Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center due to the overwhelming response. Speakers include Dr. Don Teater with the Good Samaritan Clinic and Mountaintop Healthcare, feature speaker Fred Brason with Project Lazarus, and Chief Bill Hollingsed with the Waynesville Police Department. The intent of this event is to educate, inform and address current county challenges, while discussing solutions to the problems.

To register contact the Steffie Duginske at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 452.6675, ext. 2272. RSVP is required by Nov. 22.

In response to a growing concern about a new malady that has killed an estimated 400,000 bats north of here and may be headed this way, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed all of its caves to public entry until further notice.

The grave and deadly disease sweeping bat populations from Virginia to New Hampshire is known as White-nose Syndrome, so-called for a signature white fungus that appears around the bat’s muzzle. Bats with the disease emerge from hibernation severely underweight to the point that they often starve before the insects they feed on emerge in the spring. Once a colony is infected with the fungus, it spreads rapidly and may kill up to 90 percent of the bats within that cave in one season.

“White-nose Syndrome is believed to be transmitted from bat to bat but also may be inadvertently transported from cave to cave by humans,” said Bill Stiver, park wildlife biologist. “It has not yet arrived in Tennessee or North Carolina, so we are closing all our caves to reduce the odds of the fungus hitching a ride to our protected caves on a caver coming from a state where it is already established.”

Violators face fines of up to $5,000 or six months imprisonment.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked cavers to voluntarily curtail all acitivity in nine states were White-nose Syndrome is present and adjacent states.

While scientists are nearly certain the disease is spread from bat to bat, it has been found in caves a significant distance from affected populations, leading scientists to believe that something else is moving White-nose Syndrome.

“We suspect that white-nose syndrome may be transmitted by humans inadvertently carrying WNS from cave to cave where bats hibernate,” said Northeast Regional Director Marvin Moriarty of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

When venturing to caves outside of the affected areas and the neighboring states, cavers should use new gear and clothing that has never been in an affected or adjacent state.

Cavers everywhere should avoid caves and mines during the bat hibernation period in winter to avoid disturbing bats, when an inadvertent rousing out of hibernation can cause bats to expend precious calories.

“We understand that following these recommendations will inconvenience recreational cavers, but we believe this is the most responsible course of action as we face this unknown threat to bats, which play an important role in our world,” Moriarty said.

Maggie Valley has a year-round of population of only 607, and its main drag contains dozens of 1960s-era mom and pop hotels, a Wild West theme park, and shops selling fudge and moonshine jelly. All these business, however, share space with chart-topping musicians and world champion dancers.

Maggie Valley may be small, but the diversity of entertainment to be found here rivals that of a much larger city.

Clogging’s premier title

Twice a year, some of the fastest feet on the planet descend on Maggie Valley to compete in the World Clogging Championships. This is the number one event in the sport of clogging, a form of dance brought to Appalachia by Scots-Irish settlers. Cloggers from all over the country come to tap, shuffle and step their way to the national title.

The Clogging Championships are held at the Stomping Grounds, a barn-style venue that doubles as a sort of museum for the sport. Over the course of three nights the first weekend in May (1-3), elaborately costumed dancers from ages 2 to 82 compete in teams of up to 40 in front of a panel of judges. At times, it can be tense — after all, the winner gets to perform on the biggest stage of all at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

“It’s a lot of mental anticipation and excitement,” says Kyle Edwards, owner of the Stomping Grounds and a clogger himself. “You never know what’s coming up next.”

Clogging at this level is extremely technical, and footwork is key. During one part of the competition, judges don’t even look at the dancers — they turn their backs to listen for the precision and quickness of foot taps. At this point, costumes matter little; dancers better have the skills to impress.

The Clogging competition takes place May 1-3. Tickets are just $10 for adults, $6 for kids. The Stomping Ground is also open from 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays from May to October for live country and bluegrass music.

Chart-topping bluegrass

There’s more fun to be found just down the street at the Maggie Valley Opry House. Throw open the doors to this old warehouse, and you’ll see two gold records tacked to the wall. This is the home of Raymond Fairchild, the only banjo picker ever whose instrumental track sold a million records.

Fairchild, a Maggie Valley native, has played with Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and countless other recognizable names. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry for years. Now he can be found seven nights a week, May through October, at a much smaller, simpler Opry in his hometown, joined by his backup band.

Fairchild built the Opry 22 years ago in an effort to preserve the bluegrass genre with which he’s made his name.

“I just wanted to keep mountain music alive,” Fairchild says.

Seeing Fairchild perform is an intimate experience. The venue is small and informal, with folding chairs for seats.

Check out Fairchild’s lightning-fast picking skills seven nights a week starting Memorial Day weekend. Entry is $12, or $15 if he has a bigger band joining him.

Family-friendly fun

Also working to preserve the music of the mountains is Eaglenest, a 900-seat venue built in 2003. Here you’ll find national country, gospel, bluegrass and classic rock acts, many of whom have been chart-toppers at one time.

“We pride ourselves on getting high-quality, family appropriate entertainment in a first-class setting,” says Selina Keller, Eaglenest General Manager.

This season, Eaglenest will welcome the Bellamy Brothers and Gene Watson. The venue consistently offers some of the largest acts to be found in Western North Carolina.

“We really want to put Maggie on the map,” Keller says. “I don’t know of any other venue in the area that offers this entertainment on a consistent basis.”

Eaglenest is aiming to keep its ticket prices affordable, so guests can have a good time even in a down economy.

Eaglenest also holds performances on its outdoor stage, which seats 3,500. Guests can bring a blanket or lawn chair, kick back, and enjoy the temperate mountain nights.

For a schedule and ticket information, visit www.eaglesnest.com.

Country hoedown

Want to get your feet moving? Head on down to Maggie Valley’s Diamond K Dance Ranch for some line dancing action to the tune of the Deep South Band.

Band member and guitar player Terry Rogers opened up the Dance Ranch after years of touring all over the country.

“All of us were pickers, and we wanted to settle down,” Rogers says.

The band plays top 40 and classic country tunes every Saturday night from May to October. It’s the only all-country venue in Maggie Valley.

Make sure to wear leather bottom boots for a spin on the maple hardwood dance floor. Need some practice? Line dance lessons are offered at 7 p.m., an hour before the band gets on. The whole thing wraps up at midnight. Admission is $8, and that includes the lesson.

Starting in mid-May, the Dance Ranch offers free bluegrass music from a variety of local bands every Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.diamondkdanceranch.com.

The classics come to life

For something a bit different, check out the Carolina Nights musical dinner theater. The venue opens its evening with a well-rounded meal served cafeteria style by servers who later appear on stage as the show’s performers.

As the theater’s U.S.O. themed show “Sound Off,” opens, performers salute those who historically have helped entertain the troops. Singers and dancers sporting zoot suits bring the music of the 1940s to life with rousing versions of, “Boogey Woogey Bugle Boy,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” and “Clang Clang Went the Trolley.”

At another point in the show, a Betty Boop look-alike takes the stage to sing, “I Wanna be Loved by You,” and later, a Marilyn Monroe performer breathily sings, “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend.”

Dinner theater shows begin at 6:15 p.m. and are held most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with additional shows on occasion. A full schedule is available online at wwwmaggievalleyusa.com and reservations may be made by calling 828.926.8822.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

The Smoky Mountain News caught up with Carolinas Healthcare System Chief Operating Officer and President Joe Piemont this week. The hospital system — the largest in the Carolinas and the third largest public non-profit system in the country — recently entered into a joint management contract with Haywood Regional Medical Center and WestCare Health System.

Here’s some of what Piemont had to say.

Smoky Mountain News: Will Carolinas Healthcare receive a cut of the profits under the management contract?

Joe Piemont: No. Management contracts generally consist of a base management fee and some opportunities to earn incentives, provided Carolinas Healthcare hits benchmarks detailed by the local board. These benchmarks are set each year and can be related to financial or clinical performance or strategic mission, among other things.

SMN: Did Carolinas Healthcare want HRMC and WestCare to join forces before entering into a management contract?

JP: We strongly encouraged them to talk to one another because we thought for the long-term it would be in their best interest to explore some permanent form of combination. The relationship needed to start between HRMC and WestCare. I think that those two communities share a lot of similarities. They are separated by the mountain to be sure, but if you look at the challenges they’re going to face, they’re simply going to be better off doing it together.

SMN: How will the hospitals benefit from being part of the Carolinas Healthcare System?

JP: We bring various economies of scale and economies of skill to our colleagues and teammates in our system. Scale economies are things such as purchasing — we’re able to get everyone in the system a better price on supplies. Economies of skill mean that rather than having to study things on their own or rely on a myriad of consultants and experts, we provide the hospitals with assistance. We have a full array of subject matter experts.

SMN: Can you estimate a timeline for the management contract process?

JP: I think a short timeline is probably six months. I think you’ll see more concerted and combined activities before the end of 2009.

SMN: Has Carolinas Healthcare ever entered into a management contract with a hospital that has lost its federal healthcare funding status, like Haywood Regional Medical Center did?

JP: We have not. We’ve never seen that before. I think Haywood acted very quickly to get on a path to recertification. They were all over it, and that was very clear to us. I think they’ve done a remarkable job of getting back on their feet.

SMN: Who will the CEO report to, and how will this impact local control?

JP: The CEO will not only be accountable to the board of the combined enterprise, but will also have administrative contact inside Carolinas Healthcare. It shouldn’t impact local control at all. We as management make recommendations for certain actions, but the board makes the decisions. Our authority is no greater than the CEO’s authority has been traditionally.

By Karen Dill

It is in April that the wild things emerge. Bears crawl from their dens; baby wolves are born while their parents howl at the moon; and mysteriously tender green shoots climb bravely from the ground. To an unsuspecting eye, the tiny foliage may resemble weeds but to my mountain-bred father, they were supper. And nothing seemed to taste better than a mess of those wild greens cooked up over a wood stove on a chilly April evening. It was a connection with the earth, the soil, and their dark secrets.

My father loved nothing more than to head into the woods on a clear April morning and return with all matter of strange wild plants. For it was in the dark hollows and beside streams that flowed from the mountain ridges, he found a secret cache of edible plants that had no doubt sustained his family through the years of his poverty stricken childhood. He always went alone and remained as secretive about the location of his wild plant beds as a fisherman is about his favorite fishing hole.

On these treks, my father carried an old burlap sack (called it his poke) thrown over his shoulder and returned with his surreptitious collection of ramps, creasy greens, fiddlehead ferns, poke salat, dock, and other greens lacking any name. When the sack was open, out came a treasure trove. A few strange mushrooms emerged looking for world like spaceship aliens. I kept a wide berth from them, but my father ate them with relish and never suffered even a hint of indigestion.

The first prize from the poke to be cooked was the ramps. Those innocent little onions, so delicious to eat raw, turned mean the next day when your breath resembles a dragon’s after a binge of cigarettes and cheap beer. “Never,” my mother said over and over again, “eat those nasty things ‘til they’ve been cooked!”

And were they cooked! Ramps were baked in meatloaf, scrambled in eggs with bacon, fried with potatoes (my favorite), and boiled up with cabbage. These were the only methods of preparation that I was allowed to sample until one Sunday afternoon in April I bravely bit into one in an effort to impress father.

A stranger came by our house that afternoon to purchase some ramps (and a jar from the back of my father’s panel truck). My father warned him to go easy on both purchases as they could cause a man some problems the next day. The stranger questioned this advice.

“Well,” my father explained, “only ‘real mountaineers’ can eat ramps raw and you’d sure better cook yours.”

That’s was all I needed to hear, young as I was (age, 8) I knew the supreme compliment from my father was to be a real mountain person — one who could eat ramps raw. So I snatched up a ramp, then four more, and chewed and swallowed them like an old timer. My father and the stranger were duly impressed.

My mother, however, was not impressed. Despite brushing my teeth five times with baking soda and chewing of horehound candy (kept in the back of the cupboard for sore throats), the smell of the devious little ramps reigned. In my 8-year-old world of magical thinking, I imagined that no one would notice. In the real world of mountain life and experience, my mother knew better and told me to stay home from school. My father just grunted in disdain at that idea and wanting to be the tough little mountain girl, I headed down the dirt road for the school bus.

Second grade was easy for me. I could read, write and “do my numbers” and I fit in fairly well with my fellow mountain classmates but I was not prepared for what would happen over the course of that Monday. I was immediately ratted out by one of the Inman kids in my class. “She stinks,” it was announced to the class and Mrs. Hunter promptly took one whiff and sent me to the corner of the room to complete whatever schoolwork second grader’s needed to complete. I didn’t mind working alone during class, but I hated being sent to the “ramp table” at lunch time.

The ramp table at Bethel Elementary School was legendary. It was an ordinary long lunch table, but it was there that children who had eaten ramps sat during lunch to keep the non-ramp eaters from losing their lunch.

As my classmates giggled from across the lunchroom, I surveyed my new ramp-in-common friends. Among them was Billy Crowe, was a shy quiet Cherokee boy. I had seen their small frame house by the river and wondered how his whole family could fit in that tiny shack.

So on that warm April day at the ramp table, Billy and I were pariahs, outcasts, as were the other inmates at the ramp table. We might be segregated from our other classmates but we were still hungry. Between eager forkfuls of chicken pot pie, we began to smile at each other, taking some comfort in being together — if smelly.

At afternoon recess, Billy and I drew designs in the dirt with small grubby fingers. I ask Billy how many of them lived in that house by the river. He asked me what I had done to get angry red belt stripes down my legs. We talked in 8-year-old fashion about daddies who went crazy every once in a while. We probably found out more about each other in ramp-breath whispers on a dirt playground than any teacher or social worker had or would ever learn about us.

Years later and after my memories of ramps, wild greens from a poke and a small Cherokee boy had long since faded into that place where childhood memories go, I had returned from living abroad and had begun a new teaching job in the Cherokee school system. And it was on my first day of school in the fall of 1987, that I ran into another school employee, Eddie Crowe.

Eddie, it turned out, was Billy’s older brother, and he remembered me from the Bethel ramp table. It is a small world, after all, and we quickly caught up on our lives since elementary school. Most of the Crowe family had moved back to Cherokee but in the 1970s, Billy had been killed in a car accident while riding his bicycle less than a mile from Bethel Elementary School.

Eddie became a renewed friend at my new school and over the years, we talked of Bethel, Billy, ramps, and all things wild and wonderful. He brought me a mess of ramps almost every spring until he married one of our mutual teacher friends and took another job. I loved cooking the ramps along with other native greens each April and I thought of Billy, his wild fear, and the April ramp table with each bite.

This April, the ramps for a wild green dinner will be provided by Mickie and Peewee Crowe, cousins of Eddie and Billy. Sochan, called green-headed coneflower by non-Indians, is a popular dish here in Cherokee in the spring and will be delivered by my friends, Fern and Soup Saunooke. These wild greens are hard to come by these days unless, like my father, you know their secret hiding places or, in my case now, you know the right people. I try to score these precious greens each spring and this year will try them out in some new dishes.

I will use the sochan mixed with some goat cheese, fresh dill, parsley, green onions and leeks for the main dish — a delicious strudel. The strudel uses phyllo leaves which I can easily find at any grocery store in the mountains now. I have found an interesting Madeira-mushroom sauce recipe from a vegetarian magazine that I think will make a good partner with the strudel. The recipe calls for shiitake mushrooms, but in case I have trouble finding these, I will use wild local mushrooms (bought at Earth Fare grocery store as I don’t trust those alien shapes from local totes anymore). The sauce will be pooled on each plate. The individual slices of wild green strudel will be placed in the center of each pool and sauce will be drizzled artfully over the top.

The ramps will be used in a couple of dishes for the wild green dinner. First, I’ll grill some over charcoal to use in a grilled ramp soup. This is a simple dish using chicken broth and heavy cream. The others will be used in a traditional ramp ‘n’ tater dish and some buttermilk biscuits. I will resist the urge to sample the little devils raw.

Branch lettuce, also called wild lettuce, can be found in early April along creek banks. We ate it raw when my father brought it home in his poke — washed well, tossed with some green onions and wilted with bacon grease. I’d rather skip the bacon grease this year for health reasons but will dress the torn lettuce leaves with fresh spring herb vinaigrette. If I can locate some young fiddleheads (they’ll need to be blanched first and then grilled) or dandelion greens, I’ll throw them in the mix.

Wild spring greens beg to be served with cornbread but I’ve found a recipe for ramp biscuits in a recent issue of Bon Appetite that I’ve been dying to try. Southern cooks have no problem with two breads at the table so cornbread and biscuits it is!

For dessert, I will prepare a basic carrot cake. Carrots are a trustworthy spring crop and there should be plenty of the babies for a fresh cake. My friend and co-worker, a speech pathologist and bee keeper, Devlin, has promised some of his local honey to be used as a substitute for sugar in the cake so it will be in keeping with the natural goodness of this wild and wonderful meal.

The meal will be cooked at my house in Webster and taken to Cherokee, warmed up in the school oven, and served to the friends who have contributed the gifts of wild ramps and greens. If the evening is nice, we’ll haul the food to a picnic table on the island across from the school in the Oconafultee River.

As we sit by the river, eating our ramps and wild greens, I’ll remember the wild and wonderful dishes in the spring times of my childhood. I’ll remember a small shack by another river in Bethel where a shy Cherokee boy lived and died. I’ll remember the ramp table and the connection that I felt with my Cherokee friends. I’ll remember that sometimes in our lives, we travel full circle.

Depending on how you slice it, the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park could be celebrated on a variety of days.

The park has deemed the official anniversary date to be June 15, 2009, exactly 75 years after the U.S. Congress passed official legislation sanctioning the park.

But nearly six weeks before then on April 28, a delegation from North Carolina traveled to Washington, D.C., and presented land deeds for the park to the federal government. In fact, the state presented its first stack of land deeds for the park three years early in 1931. Even though the acquisition wasn’t yet complete, it was enough to get the ball rolling and spurred the Department of Interior to go ahead and appoint the park’s first superintendent and a small staff of rangers to begin overseeing the land.

It wasn’t until much later, on Sept. 2, 1940, that President Franklin Roosevelt visited the park for its formal dedication ceremony

A Haywood Community College wildlife student brought home a second-place finish in the STIHL Timbersports Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Challenge this month.

Daniel Jones, 22, from Hayesville, combined precision, strength and speed to bring home the honor. Jones is a freshman majoring in Fish and Wildlife Management with plans to study forest management.

In a timbersports meet, lumberjacks go head-to-head in four different disciplines: the solo crosscut saw, standing block chop, chain saw and underhand chop. Haywood Community College is always a top performer in the timber sports arena and long considered a school to reckon with.

Jones made big strides quickly, after just getting started in lumberjack sports last fall. His best events are chainsaw and the underhand chop. He only began training on the standing block chop a month ago, after it was added as a new skill in the all-around field.

The event was presented by Carhartt and filmed and produced by ESPNU.

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s Green Initiative is one of those projects that is good on many different levels, not the least of which is the admirable goal of reducing the impact the business community has on the environment.

The Green Initiative, which is being headed by Haywood Community College President Dr. Rose Johnson, is aimed at establishing a methodology by which businesses can earn a “green designation” from the chamber of commerce. A chamber committee has been working for months to set up the criteria, and the categories include recycling, water and energy.

Those businesses that earn this designation will benefit in many ways. Aside from doing what is right, it is likely that many potential customers will appreciate their efforts and choose to do business with them. As this program is formalized, more businesses will likely follow suit and try to earn the designation. That’s a direct benefit that makes the investment to attain the green designation worthwhile from a business perspective.

The fact that the chamber of commerce has put in the time and effort to set up the Green Initiative speaks well of the organization. In too many cases those in the business community pit profit and sustainability efforts against one another. What is becoming increasingly clear is that the opposite is true. Companies that save energy and cut waste make more money, and though it’s impossible to have zero impact, it is a worthwhile effort.

This initiative is one component of a critical mass of sustainability efforts currently being implemented in Haywood County. These include:

• The county Economic Development Commission is formalizing a list of tax incentives for green energy companies to entice them to open shop in the county. The catalyst for that effort was the request for a tax break by a huge solar farm being built near Canton, a project that will be among the largest of its kind in the Southeast once completed.

• Haywood Community College and Dr. Rose Johnson are taking steps to make that institution a center for environmental learning. Staff members are working to implement course offerings that infuse the college’s forestry, wildlife, construction, nursery and other programs with cutting edge sustainability courses and practices. In addition, the college is working to make itself a leader in all these resource-saving areas.

• And Stephen King, the county’s solid waste director, has been a part of the Green Initiative and is a champion of recycling efforts. He has brought great ideas that have helped the county recycling program and is also working to tap the methane at the county’s landfill and harness it for energy use.

There will be intangible benefits for Haywood County for being at the forefront of the green movement. Some areas in the Northeast and out West may be further along, but Haywood County and others in this region are staking a claim as a leader in the Southeast. That is good for quality of life and for businesses.

The chamber’s Green Initiative taps into a truth that’s very important for those of us living in this region. The forests, streams and air are what make this place special, what give the mountains their special, almost spiritual appeal.

“Natural resources are part of the beauty of where we live. That’s why people come here,” said Laura Leatherwood, director of Community and Economic Development at HCC and a participant in the Green Initiative. “We want people to live it personally but we need our business community to live it as well in their practices as they do business throughout the day.”

Among Ghost Town’s debts is $136,000 in back sales taxes owed to the state of North Carolina. It was previously reported that Ghost Town failed to remit sales tax to the state collected as part of ticket sales. Ghost Town nor the N.C. Department of Revenue would elaborate on the source of the back sales tax.

However, it was learned in bankruptcy court last week that the sales tax owed is actually from the purchase of large piece of equipment by Ghost Town. Ghost Town is at odds with the state over whether it actually owes the tax, and thus is why it hasn’t paid up. Ghost Town claims the tax should be paid by the company it bought the equipment from, not by Ghost Town.

By Josh Mitchell • Staff Writer

The bad economy may be good for business along the Appalachian Trail.

The AT typically attracts recent college grads, young people taking a break from their jobs, and a growing number of retirees. This year another group is hitting the trail — laid-off workers.

Every year at this time hundreds of hikers pour through Western North Carolina as they make way their way to the end of the trail.

Last Thursday The Smoky Mountain News caught up with dozens of hikers in Hot Springs, which the trail runs directly through, and talked to them about their journeys.

Doug McPherson of Sylva said when his employer told him to take a hike he did, literally. McPherson was employed by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, and as soon as he was laid off he seized the opportunity to take on the trail.

Andy Crow of Pennsylvania had enough of college and needed a break. He didn’t want to take the typical route of graduating high school, going to college and getting a job.

Crow, who was majoring in geology before dropping out, said his parents were “cool” with his decision to hike the Appalachian Trail and put his conformist future on hold. Other hikers agree with Crow, saying hiking the AT represents another life experience they can rack up before they die.

Hiker Kim Morley was sitting down with her friends from New Zealand and ordered up a Trail cheeseburger at the Smoky Mountain Diner after being on the trail the past few days.

Morley, an employee with an environmental consulting company in Atlanta, plans to hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail, which begins in Georgia and ends in Maine for a total of about 2,200 miles.

Morley’s New Zealand friends had gotten six-month visas so they could hike the entire trail, but they are bowing out due to an injury.

The New Zealand couple, Merryll Burr and Ron Burr, said hiking the trail is more difficult than they thought it would be. They first became acquainted with the trail about 15 years ago when they were in the area for a conference and hiked part of it.

At that time they decided they would try and do the whole thing one day. They were on their way until Ron sustained a shoulder injury that precludes him from being able to carry his pack.

Poor weather conditions have beaten down hikers this year as they battle through snow, wind, hail and freezing temperatures in the Smokies. When Morley gets back on the trail it will be four or five days before she reaches the next town.

Two other hikers, Alan Sloe and Kyle Fiasconaro, don’t have much money, so they were earning their keep at a hostel by moving timber.

Fiasconaro, from Long Island, N.Y., was working as a chef when he left everything behind to hike the trail. Hiking the trail seemed like the right thing to do rather than get “sucked into a career,” Fiasconaro said.

Sloe, from Greenville, S.C., said he didn’t have a career and agreed that hiking the trail is a good way to meet interesting people and see the mountains. The two met the first day on the trail.

While they were working they had a small tape player emitting music as their Pabst Blue Ribbon beers rested on cinder blocks.

Fiasconaro bemoaned that he has only $1,000 to make it to the end of the trail and said earning his keep at hostels by doing odd jobs is the only way he’ll make it.

Their mantra is to stay positive despite dramatic highs and lows that the trail brings, like the 2- to 4-foot snowdrifts they ran into. Luckily, they were able to stay overnight in a friend’s condo in Gatlinburg to get through that night.

All of the hikers have a trail name that gives them a separate identity from the one they have in the modern world. A hiker log at the Hot Springs Post Office lists hundreds of different trail names that have come through over the years including Hippie Chick, Grizzly, and Chaos.

Rob Phillips, from Lehman, Penn., goes by the trail name Tank, which is appropriate seeing that he’s endured rain, snow and thunderstorms so far. Many of the hikers on the trail are either recent college graduates or retirees.

Phillips said he wanted to take a year off school and hike the trail before returning to get his master’s degree. He was hiking out of Hot Springs on the way to Erwin, Tenn., which is the next town and 70 miles away.

Hikers do the trail for different reasons. Keith Hubbard, who goes by the trail name Huck Finn, said he simply loves the outdoors.

“I’m not trying to find myself,” he said.

Hubbard just graduated from college in Indiana where he earned his degree in physics. His parents are very supportive of him hiking the trail and putting the real world on hold, he said. Family members keep up with how he is doing through a blog he updates at libraries when he comes into trail towns.

The camaraderie of like-minded people on the trail and the beauty of the mountains make hiking the trail worth it, even on bad days, said Hubbard.

With only $1,000 he is on the low end in terms of how much money is needed to hike the trail. He didn’t engage in much preparation for the journey; he basically put on a backpack and started hiking. In his pack he carries a one-man tent, sleeping bag, rain jacket, lightweight pants and shirt, stove and a fuel can.

The northeast is the part of the trip he is looking forward to the most since he has never been to that part of the country.

Inside the Hot Springs library, Michael Given of Maine sat at a table looking through an Appalachian Trail book. He said he was abandoning the trail, but his 65-year-old mother is continuing on to the end.

He said hiking with his mom part of the way was his way of showing her that he supported her in her journey. Being on the trail was a great adventure, said Given. “It was like going to a different country,” he said.

Surviving the trail is 90 percent mental, he said. He and his mother were hiking 22 miles a day, although, “mother and I are pretty tough Mainers.” His mom has run a marathon on every continent, he said.

Getting through the trail requires organizing mail drops at post offices along the way to replenish supplies, he said. He and his mother were getting their water from creeks after cleaning it with water purifications pumps, he said.

He was a much faster hiker than his mother, which meant he would get far ahead of her and then have to let her catch back up with him. This earned him the trail name “Leap Frog.”

John Conlin and his friend, Bert McAdam, were sitting down to eat at the Smoky Mountain Diner, exhausted from hiking and hungry for a hearty meal.

“Don’t mind the odor, but I’ve been out in the woods for five days,” said Conlin.

Conlin and McAdam didn’t know each other prior to hiking on the trail but now seem like they’ve known each other a lifetime. Both men are from Florida and plan on hiking the entire trail as they now have the time being retired.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for 30 years,” said Conlin. “I retired a year early so I could do this.”

Hiking the trail can give one a voracious appetite, Conlin demonstrated as he ordered up a double cheeseburger and a grilled cheese sandwich.

The Appalachian Trail represents a personal challenge that Conlin and McAdam want to overcome. They recalled the deep snow near Gatlinburg, and how 17 people were trapped under a ledge during a snowstorm. Several had to be treated for frostbite, Conlin said.

Conlin, being a Floridian, goes by the trail name Gator, while McAdam goes by Rusty, which, he says, is a comment on his physical shape. Both men are 65 and said taking on the trail is an adventure that gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Conlin commented that he has the financial resources to do the trail while some of the younger hikers are operating on a shoestring. He has given some of them food. To prepare for the journey Conlin said he researched the trail over a year and lost 12 pounds.

Hikers drop many pounds on the trail as they eat granola and hike 20 miles a day. As Conlin sat at the diner’s table, he said coming into trail towns is great because it means high-carb, high-fat meals to be washed down with iced tea and milk.

“You dream of getting here,” he said.

After hiking 14 hours a day for the past few days, McAdam and Conlin said they will take a “zero day,” which means they will stay in town to rest, do laundry and get supplies.