To the Editor:

A recent area letter writer cautioned us to dig for truth and find facts before we go to the polls.

What wonderful advice. However, she should have taken her own counsel and stopped immediately at the end of her first paragraph while she was still ahead!

She immediately went on to name George Soros as singularly responsible for everything wrong in our “system,” then repeated old misinformation, twisted history and outright lies that have been disproven numerous times by researchers from several verifiable sources. Secondly, she asserts that Mr. Soros and the United Nations have dark plans and alludes to conspiracies for our future. (I’m not particularly defending this man, but find this an example of relentlessly unreliable “fact-finding.”)

It’s interesting to note that her type of “patriot” always references only Mr. Soros — and his “millions” — as The Person (just one man?) responsible for current American economic problems, political failures and “restraining freedoms.” These patriots not only willfully discount history from the 1970s forward, but apparently have never heard of the many proven politically manipulative billionaires; Karl Rove, Dick Armey, Roger Ailes, Sheldon Adelson, The Koch Brothers, North Carolina’s own Art Pope, Wall Street gamblers, Corporate CEOs, their PACs and super PAC’s, and their persuasive shills, just to name a few.

The lady continued her rant, blamed Harry Reid and “cronies” for not passing a budget, and further vilified the President and his administration for the problems of our country, including the price of gas, which is, in fact, determined by outside factors and not the administration!  She has not dug deep enough to find the multiple aborted bills that could have benefited our economy and the numerous attempts to support the well being of “we the people” these past years. All those were deliberately slowed, blocked, voted down, or just filibustered for no reason except their man wasn’t in the White House.

She claims our leader doesn’t believe in our Constitution, flag, God, values, and freedoms. It seems the “leader” she so heartily disapproves is not up to her personal par on “truth, justice and the American way,” and one can only guess that she’s also disappointed he can’t  leap tall buildings in a single bound.  

Her charge that we “get educated,” “look for facts,” and “research” is correct. It’s a shame she didn’t learn her own lesson.     

I question her recommended choice to “Google.” It’s multiple list option does not necessarily lead to reliable “fact” finding!

Therefore, as she requested we all should do, I expect her to take her own challenge to find better resources than the ones she presently thinks are giving her truth. I will be happy to meet her at our local library, take her hand and lead her out of the children’s fairy tale and fiction area, to the stacks where all we grown ups can find and read current events (all of them), true national and world history, geography of our country and the world, the multiple sciences, many tomes on religion, and find verifiable information documented from reliable sources on subjects too numerous to list. While there we can also research our national documents, including our actual Constitution, all its debated considerations, including what was discarded, why, and what was retained in, or added as amendments to, the ultimate document. If necessary I’ll be happy to explain all words over two syllables.

 Shirl Ches

 Franklin

To the Editor:

Recently, the Macon County League of Women Voters started a membership campaign and in our invitation, we stated that at campaign forums conducted by the League, to maintain the spirit of a non parti-san informational forum, there should be no partisan or candidate signs, banners, T-shirts, hats, or other campaign paraphernalia.

We have had objections to this policy from the local leadership of one of the political parties, based on the right to freedom of speech.

The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. (For more information on League positions and history, please visit www.lwv.org.)

We have worked for voters’ rights and voter education throughout our 92-year history. At our forums, we wish to provide a balanced, fair, educational, comfortable space to all candidates and to all of those in attendance, and this is the reason for our preference for no campaign displays.

We have been conducting forums in Macon County for more than 15 years, and are well-regarded for the quality and fairness of our forums. However, in respect for freedom of speech, we will not apply the no campaign display rule to non-objectionable T-shirts or other apparel.

Campaign signs and banners cannot be displayed. Those officially representing the League may not wear or display any candidate or partisan materials, though individual members may, at their own discretion.

We do ask that guests respect the fact that we choose to conduct educational forums rather than rallies.

Susan Ervin and Maethel Shindelman

Co-coordinators,

League of Women Voters of Macon County

To the Editor:

A recent letter to the editor in another newspaper criticized Sen. Jim Davis’ supporters for wearing red T-shirts at the League of Women Voters Aug. 9 public candidate forum, calling it “red shirt tactics.” The letter writer also mischaracterized enthusiastic supporters as exhibiting ”loud inappropriate bursts of applause and stomping” and “arriving early to grab strategic seats.”  

There were no inappropriate bursts of applause or stomping, and there was adequate seating for all, as evidenced by photographs in the Franklin Press. In addition, the letter writer even suggested that supporters were stealing lunches at the event. If there is compelling evidence of that, which I doubt, Sen. Davis, R-Franklin, and the Republican Party will compensate the League. I’m sure that won’t be necessary.

The forum was a question-and-answer format between Republican and incumbent State Sen. Jim Davis and former Democratic Sen. John Snow. Snow is running against Davis in the General Election. While the forum is described by the League as a “non-partisan informational forum,” it’s hardly that considering it’s a modified debate between a Republican and Democrat, with attendees of both major political parties as well as independents in attendance.  

A subsequent email to me from the League’s forum coordinator and moderator Susan Ervin read in part, “it was great to see such a good turnout for the forum …. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming forums and hope you will become a member.”

The wearing of a red T-shirt with the words “Re-Elect Senator Jim Davis,” “Responsible Governing” is one of those basic examples of (free) political speech that makes us the free people we are. Individual citizens entering a forum wearing a T-shirt in support of their candidate honors the political process that makes us such a great nation. We do support a policy of not bringing signs into the forum as it may distract and visually impair attendee’s ability to see the candidates.

If the letter writer is to describe one candidate’s great numbers of supporters as “highjacking” an event just because the other candidate had a poor showing of his supporters, than she is doing the process itself an injustice. Sen. Davis supporters are not responsible for the poor turnout Mr. Snow had.

We will continue to show support for our candidates by wearing T-shirts (of any color) and other appropriate and legal means and will applaud supporters of other candidates who do so as well. We appreciate League Coordinator Susan Ervin’s well run forum and look forward to participating in future ones.

Chris Murray, Chairman

Macon County Republican Party

To the Editor:

Here are some questions that need to be addressed to the people who are leading our country and our state or who are seeking office in 2012. Are you a free market capitalist or a big government socialist? Do you believe that the United States is the one country that can lead the free world in its fight against the European socialistic system? Which is the best way to increase the total amount of revenues for the state of North Carolina — increase the total number of jobs in the state or raise personal income taxes or state sales taxes?

How will you make North Carolina a competitive state again to compete against the four states that surround us? The entire economy of North Carolina has been hurt by our high tax rates and we need someone to lead our state back into the battle for new and bigger businesses to come to North Carolina.

Last week I saw the site of the new Caterpillar plant being built in Athens, Ga., which will employ 1,400 people, and I also saw the massive Kia Motor Plant that employs 1,200 people which is located in West Point, Ga., off I-85 near the Alabama border. We need to have those types of plants come to North Carolina. Republicans and Democrats have one thing in common — we all need good jobs to support our families. This next election is about the economy of the United States, the State of North Carolina and Jackson County. The future of our young people will be decided by how this election turns out.

Western North Carolina has been losing many of its smart young people because there are very few opportunities for them here. Why? It is a disgrace to our community and is the result of the poor leadership that had been in place for many years in Raleigh until recently. This election will give the people of North Carolina an opportunity to put an entire new team in place in Raleigh and in Western North Carolina to see if they can lead our state to become competitive and aggressive again. Imagine what it will be like to elect people who actually believe in the free enterprise system? I can’t wait!

Jim Mueller

Glenville

To the Editor:

 I have been out of town so I am late in responding to my neighbor, Joanna Swanson’s diatribe of Aug. 1, detailing Obama’s “wants.”  Regardless of the manner by which politicians garner votes, they generally fit the same psychological/sociological patterns. She obviously has little knowledge or insight about the “power” of the presidency and the likelihood that Obama, or any other president, “gives” anything to the groups she identifies.

 If Mrs. Swanson took the time to investigate valid opinions of respected experts, outside the veil of Fox News, she would find that Mr. Obama scores very poorly on the index of socialism. I wonder if she realizes how comfortable her life has been living in our social-democracy?

 Mrs. Swanson is not so clever in her inclusion of terms “maybe communist,” and “Anti-Christ,” to realize that she is promoting the very worst unfounded suspicions in your readers. All the denials in the world cannot disguise the fact that a large group of influential people in this country decided at the time of Obama’s election, that they would not stand for a “black man” in our White House. The absolute obstruction by those parties, and the Tea Party particularly, of efforts to heal the nation’s difficulties is nothing other than the vilest form of racism because it impacts all of us, white, black, brown, yellow, etc.!

 The major problem at this time is the failure by reasonably intelligent voters to think! Think about what they actually know and don’t know. Think about life under the radical group that wants to control our rights, particularly women’s rights. Think about the likelihood of another war in which our children will be used as cannon fodder!

Steven Amodio

Waynesville

The university’s parking and transportation services office has assumed responsibility for running an off-campus shuttle service previously provided by Jackson County Transit.

“Other than the look and color of the bus, not much will change for the students and other riders,” said Police Chief Earnest Hudson. “Our Cat-Tran buses basically will be following the same routes and stopping at the same off-campus housing complexes as in past years.”

Two routes will be maintained, with a round trip time of 30 minutes. The “north route,” which includes University Suites, Sleepy Hollow and the Maples, will leave from A.K. Hinds University Center at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with the final run at 3:30 p.m. The “south route,” which includes Campus Apartments, Laurel Oaks, Hampton/Rabbit Ridge, Summit and Catamount Peaks, will leave the University Center at every half hour from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., except for those times the shuttle will be heading for the north route.

WCU students, faculty and staff may ride free of charge by showing their WCU identification cards.

In addition, the university is adding a separate express route shuttle to transport students, faculty and staff to and from the Health and Human Sciences Building, which opens this fall across N.C. Highway 107 from the main campus.

For route schedules, visit police.wcu.edu and click on “Cat-Tran.”

The Macon County Economic Development Commission will host an entrepreneur networking night at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Appalachian Harvest in downtown Franklin. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at www.maconedc.com.

The forum will coincide with the launch of the county’s section of the Advantage West Certified Entrepreneurial Community website. Event door prizes will include free website hosting by local tech firm SiteDart, among other items.

828.369.2306.

Ayusa, an international student exchange organization, is looking to match willing families with international high school students.

The program is government-regulated and brings students from more than 60 countries.

All types of families are eligible to host an international student. International students are fully insured and bring their own spending money while residing with the families.

Ayusa is currently accepting applications for families to host an exchange student for the 2012-13 school year. Interested parties can visit the organization’s website at www.ayusa.org.

888.552.9872 or 828.421.8843.

Winners of Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s 10th anniversary photo contest will be announced at a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23 at Qualla Arts & Crafts.

Residents living on the Qualla Boundary and the seven western counties have submitted photos that illustrate cultural preservation, economic development and environmental preservation in westernmost North Carolina, the Foundation’s areas of focus. The community is invited to come and enjoy the photos and refreshments. The photo exhibit, which will be curated by Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts, will be in the community meeting room of Qualla Arts & Crafts between Aug. 23 and Sept. 5.

Mike Clampitt, a candidate running for the state House, is hosting “Mornings with Mike” from 7-8 a.m. every Tuesday at 58D Sunrise Park Dr. in Sylva through Oct. 30.

The event features Clampitt, but other Republican candidates running for office in the area may participate. Clampitt will listen to concerns of the district and offer his ideas as to how to deal with those concerns from Raleigh. Clampitt plans to continue these group meetings quarterly, if elected to the House, in order to remain in contact with his constituents.

•••

The Mountain High Republican Women’s Club will host Billy Kirkland, the national field director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, at its September luncheon meeting held at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Highlands Country Club.

Kirland’s conservative credentials include working with the Virginia House Republican Campaign Caucus and as a regional field director for the Georgia GOP that helped re-elect Gov. Sonny Perdue. RSVP by Aug. 31. The cost of the lunch is $25 when reserved in advance or $30 at the door.

Inquiries may be mailed to MHRWC, P.O. Box 126 in Cashiers.

828.526.4146 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

•••

Hayden Rogers, Democratic candidate for the 11th Congressional District, will hold a fundraising event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Maggie Valley Pavilion on Soco Road.

Meet and speak with the candidate as well as enjoy good food and fellowship. The local band Gray Wolf will be performing. 828.452.9607 or www.haywooddemocrats.org.

Western Carolina University Chancellor David O. Belcher gave an opening address to kick off the fall semester last week and called on members of the university community to help realize the vision articulated by the 2020 Vision: Focusing Our Future strategic plan.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and former lead singer of The Temptations, Dennis Edwards, will take the stage at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 31.

As part of a Summer Music Series, the Bryson City library will present acoustic country music by Ron and Julia Thompson at 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

Weather permitting, the program will be presented on the front porch of the library; otherwise, it will be moved to the library auditorium. The Friends of the Marianna Black Library will provide snacks and refreshments.

The Thompsons have been playing music together for 25 years, and Julia has been singing the country melodies of people like Loretta Lynn since she was a little girl.

The program is free and open to everyone. The library is located in downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector.

828.488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

The Jackson County Green Energy Park will host a reception at its art gallery from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 23 for Western Carolina University alumnus and ceramist Preston Tolbert.

The event is free and open to the public.

“When I work with wet clay, I like to explore the nature of movement. The clay resists and reacts to my hands, recording every touch, rip, and cut. I like to make a new clean form, then attack it to give it age and depth,” said Tolbert.

Tolbert was raised in Statesville. He graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Fine Arts/Ceramics in 2007 and apprenticed with Don Reitz in Arizona for two years. He currently lives and has a pottery shop in downtown Old Fort.

The Jackson County Green Energy Park is an award winning, community-scale landfill gas project located in Dillsboro.

www.facebook.com/JCGEP or www.jcgep.org/ or 828.631.0271.

The Macon County Public Library will host the Patton String Band at 7 p.m. Aug. 30.

Come and enjoy old time traditional mountain tunes, as well as country and gospel songs.

Thursdays at the Library is an eclectic mix of programs by authors, musicians, and educators on topics designed for enjoyment and education. The Friends of the Library sponsor the programs; they are free and open to all.

The library is located on Siler Farm Road in Franklin.

828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org/franklin.

Fontana Village Resort will host the third annual LakeAlooza celebration Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

Local residents and visiting guests are invited to attend the line-up of family friendly events. The resort will host a family softball game at 7 p.m. Friday and ping-pong tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Starting at noon Saturday, there will be a cookout at Fontana Marina with burgers and hotdogs, frozen t-shirt contest, inflatable log jousting, inner-tube races, and games for little kids. Prizes awarded for all ages. Randy Flack will perform live at the Marina from 1-4 p.m.

Saturday at 7 p.m., FastGear will play on the Wildwood Deck. FastGear performs many different styles of music with a guitarist that comes from a blues background, a bassist from bluegrass, a drummer from alternative rock and a vocalist from country. The band will take a break at 9:30 p.m. for a fireworks show.

Bring your flashlight for the Ghost Tour on Sunday night at 8 p.m.  The Ghost Tour starts at the Gunter Log Cabin and meanders through the Village highlighting the mysteries of Fontana’s long history.

Fontana Village Resort is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains just off Hwy 28.

www.fontanavillage.com or call 828.498.2211.

Cullowhee Mountain ARTS is raffling off 24 original art works ranging from painting and printmaking to mixed media and ceramics.

Professional artists who taught during the 2012 Summer Visual Arts Series and staff members at Cullowhee Mountain ARTS donated the pieces. The artwork is on exhibit in the 130 Atrium gallery in the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University or can be seen online at cullowheemountainarts.org/Drawing-for-Art.

Tickets are on sale now and the draw will occur at 9 a.m. Aug. 30 in the 130 Atrium Gallery. Winners will be posted on Cullowhee Mountain ARTS’ website and winners will be contacted.

Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the nonprofit directly. There are 24 drawings – a drawing for each work. Cost is $20 for one ticket; $36 for three; $50 for five; and $100 for 12. The purchase is tax-deductible.

Cullowhee Mountain ARTS is a nonprofit under the fiscal sponsorship of the Jackson County Arts Council. Funds are used to support CMA’s ongoing effort of bringing modestly priced but highest quality art programming to Western North Carolina.

828.342.6913.

Hard economic times have taken a toll on animal rescue groups, and Catman2 is no exception.

Harold Sims, commonly known as Catman2, is hosting “Painted Cats on Parade” and hoping to raise $20,000.

The plan is to find people, groups, or corporations to sponsor a life-size fiberglass cat to be painted by talented artists who will turn it into a work of art. The cats and other art will be sold at auction to the highest bidder sometime in late October.

Donate a piece of fine art to be sold at auction. Or people can sponsor a cat for $150 or buy a cat for minimum donation of $500. Catman2 will have a cat painted to your design and have it delivered to you.

So if you are: a sponsor, artist, donor or auctioneer or wish to find out more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 828.293.0892. www.catman2.org.

Beginner clogging classes will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the N.C. Cooperative Extension at 60 Almond School Road in Bryson City.

Learn basic clogging steps with fun and energetic instructors. The classes are free and open to all ages. No prior dance experience required.

Register at 828.488.3848.

Noted artist Grace Cathey will share the story about her chosen craft genre – metal sculpture – with her presentation “The Art of Placing Sculpture in Your Garden and Home” at 7 p.m. Aug. 24.

The Overlook Theatre Company in Franklin will present “The Civil War, an American Musical,” at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 23-25 and at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

“The Civil War” explores the experiences of the soldiers and leaders who fought in the war, and the loved ones and families they left behind. It also demonstrates the hopes and fears of the slaves and citizens who were at risk of losing their freedom. It’s a passionate look at the history of the Civil War, drawing on letters, diaries, firsthand accounts, and the words of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Walt Whitman.

The Tony-award nominated musical is based on the book and lyrics written by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy, with the musical arrangement by Frank Wildhorn. Its styles include gospel, folk, country, rock, and rhythm and blues.

Tickets are $15, with discounted student tickets available for $10 each. Tickets are available at the theatre’s box office located at 1028 Georgia Road in Franklin.

The production is sponsored in part by Kurti Orthodontics.

www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

The comedy “Fox on the Fairway” opens the Highlands Cashiers Players at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Performing Arts Center on Chestnut Street in Highlands.

The play is written by the acknowledged master of farce, Ken Ludwig, whose many comedies have been produced on Broadway and from coast to coast in regional theaters.

The basic plot is: Quail Valley Country Club, desperate to end its five-year losing streak against Crouching Squirrel Club in the annual golf tournament, attempts to find a crackerjack player who will join their club and lead them victory. Thus begins the belly laugh marathon of non-stop action, clever dialogue and improbable romance, full of ups and downs and an unlikely surprise ending brings everything to a happy conclusion.

The cast includes Ronnie Spilton, Stuart Armor, Michelle Hott, Chris Hess, Lance Trudel, and Laura Zepeda. Tanji Armor directed.

“Fox on the Fairway” will run from Aug. 23-Sept. 2, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.

828.526.8084.

Western Carolina University will offer a series of films on topics from local food to the life of a forgotten civil rights activist as it again hosts the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers this year.

First up is “Joe Papp in Five Acts” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center. The feature-length documentary tells the story of the New Yorker who introduced interracial casting to the American stage and created the concept of free Shakespeare in the Park and the Broadway classics “Hair” and “A Chorus Line.”

Stage and screen veterans offering insights on Papp’s accomplishments and tumultuous personal history include Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Kevin Kline and James Earl Jones. Tracie Holder and Karen Thorson wrote, directed and produced the film. Holder will be on hand for the post-screening discussion. Refreshments will be provided.

828.227.3622 or email ledavis.wcu.edu.

Folk singer/storyteller Lee Knight will bring his unique sounds to the stage of the Village Commons in Cashiers at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 for “Before Bluegrass–Ancient and Old-Time Music of the Southern Appalachians.”

Writer and naturalist George Ellison will read from his new collection of poems, Permanent Camp, at the Rickman Store at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31.

Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville will be having its annual “Tablescapes” luncheon starting at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25.

The Episcopal Church Women group will host the event, and this year the tables will be decorated with individual versions of an English tea party theme.

The guest speaker will be Kathryn Magendie, author of Graces Trilogy (Tender Graces, Secret Graces, Family Graces), Sweetie, and the novella Petey in The Firefly Dance anthology. Her short stories, poetry and photography have been published in print and online journals. She is also the Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal. Magedie lives in Maggie Valley.

The event will include wine, appetizers and lunch. There also will be a raffle for baskets of treats, as well as a silent auction.

The public is welcomed to attend. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at the Grace Church office at 394 N. Haywood St.

828.456.6029.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theater is once again presenting a chance for area talent to show take home the gold with the second annual Haywood’s Got Talent event in September. Auditions will be held from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 25.

HART is offering a $1,000 top prize for the winner and cash prizes for the two runners up. Contestants are not limited to Haywood County and there are no age limits or category restrictions, but all contestants must first make it past a screening audition.

Anyone unable to attend auditions may submit a recorded audition via mail to HART at P.O. Box 1024, Waynesville, NC 28786 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Those who get past the initial audition will be part of a semifinal round of performances during the Labor Day weekend, which will be presented as full variety shows on the HART main stage. Each night will feature different performers.

The finals will be held on Sept. 22. At the end of the evening at both the semi-final and final rounds, the audience will be allowed to cast a vote, which will count 25 percent towards the final outcome. The event is a fundraiser for HART.

Canton Labor Day Festival

The town of Canton will kick off its annual Labor Day Festival on Aug. 31. The celebration takes place at Canton Recreational Park on 77 Penland St. through Sept. 3. Admission is free.

It’s that time of year again. The Haywood County Fair will be taking place from Wednesday, Aug. 22, to Sunday, Aug. 26. The fairgrounds will officially be open to the public at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Admission is $2 per person or $6 per carload.

By Chris Cooper

The ocean’s a powerful thing. Source of life, nice to look at ... all that stuff. How many fond memories do you have of the beach, the sights and smells, seagulls and bikinis? Ever found yourself wandering the shoreline and had some little tune pop into your head that went something like, oh, I don’t know — “... I wish they all could be California girls ...” or “... little deuce coupe, you know what I like ...”

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education specialist Lee Sherrill dips out a cup full of water from a five-gallon bucket and holds it up to the small group of students gathered around. He inserts a straw and captures a drop of water.

The phrase “do the right thing,” the name of an early Spike Lee movie, has become a part of the lexicon of this generation. It’s a phrase that has often come to mind — as in, “we wish they would do the right thing ” — as we’ve watched Duke Energy throughout the negotiations to relicense its hydropower operations in the region.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

The restructuring of the Swain County TDA is well under way with a host of new board members appointed at the county commissioners’ Aug. 14 meeting. The selection of the new TDA differed from the previous selection process in a couple of ways — namely, the Chamber of Commerce lost its authority to appoint members (though it can still recommend people) and the number of board members increased from five to nine.

 In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick

If you want an adventure-tragedy story, read this book. In 1820 a whaling ship from Nantucket was attacked by a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean. The ship sank 10 minutes after being rammed by the bull whale, and 20 men escaped into three rickety whaleboats. Before they were rescued about 90 days later, we are a witness to terrifying storms, starvation, dehydration, cannibalism and finally the utter hopelessness that besets those lost at sea for long periods of time. This is the incident that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, and Philbrick imbues it with research on the history of whaling, the effects of starvation and dehydration on the human body, and just good writing. Marvelous read.

Visiting the N.C. coast

As the heat wave of August continues its stranglehold on the entire U.S., we were caught in its early throes as we embarked on a four-day sailing trip along the coast of North Carolina. My wife’s father has a boat that he keeps in New Bern, and Lori is an able captain. Yeah, it was hot, and each day we just shook our heads as the weather reports warned people to stay inside and out of the sun as we had no place to escape its omnipresent reach. Still, it was a great trip, as it always is on the boat. We swam, took bucket showers to cool off, read (see above), learned the art of dinghy rowing, and sailed through a couple of summer squalls that were downright frightening. But we were able to anchor in the Pamlico Sound, at Beaufort and then at Oriental before heading back to New Bern. Kind of a mini-tour of some of the coolest places along the coast. No better way to get away from the frenzied life most of us lead. Boats force people into tight quarters, and so it makes for quality family time.

— Scott McLeod

We are a nation of blamers. When something goes wrong, or something tragic happens we, as Americans, are quick to look for someone or something to blame.

This is very apparent to most all teachers. Call out a student’s name and you are immediately bombarded with shouts of, “I didn’t do it!” It doesn’t matter if you were asking what caused the Great Depression or who was going to the ballgame Friday night; their response is an automatic denial absolving them from any wrong doings.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

New legislation to restructure the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority calls for a drastic overhaul of the organization while leaving much open to interpretation.

The overhaul was prompted by controversy over the TDA’s budget, particularly a new marketing plan that was unveiled in 2005. The marketing plan was devised after lodging tax revenue — a 3 percent tax on overnight stays at lodging facilities — started declining three to four years ago. The TDA wanted to fund new marketing initiatives in hopes of turning things around.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Construction is slated to begin immediately on a structurally deficient bridge in downtown Canton, a project the Department of Transportation says will take months and force them to re-route a major thoroughfare.

The bridge is on Bridge Street toward the outskirts of the downtown area. It extends approximately 155 feet from the Old Lamp Factory warehouse to the north entrance of Blue Ridge Paper Products and is used frequently by mill workers and residents.

Haywood County has emerged as the high bidder for 22-acre tract of land in Jonathan Creek that will become a recreation park.

The county’s bid of $1,114,029.15 was not upset. For the last two months the county and a private bidder had been both trying to buy the land., each making subsequent bids that drove up the price of the land.

By Scot Warf

As past chairman of the Swain County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), I feel compelled to share with the community the events surrounding the recent hostile takeover of the Swain County TDA. In the fall of 2006, Kevin King, Swain County Administrator and Finance Officer, called me to ask whether the TDA would be interested in a new visitor center facility. I told him I would have to ask my board members to get their feelings on the issue. Mr. King told me that he would rather that I not ask too many of our board members because he wanted to keep this issue quiet.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Ever since Democrat Heath Shuler’s upset of incumbent Charles Taylor in the 2006 election, Republicans have been plotting their strategy to take back control of the 11th Congressional District. Taylor is the first choice to take back his former seat, but the clock is ticking and he has yet to announce whether he is running.

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Heath Shuler’s time so far in the House of Representatives is shorter than his career in pro-football, but he’s already attracting more attention as a rookie member of the House than he ever did as an NFL player.

The U.S. Justice Department gave final approval last week to a new North Carolina law allowing people to register and vote on the same day during the state’s early voting period. All we’ll say is it’s about time.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Ah, the old TV cartoons from childhood...The Smurfs. The Super Friends. Scooby Dooby Doo. Remember when predictable heroes could save the day and still provide us with a few corny jokes?

A.J. Rowell of Cullowhee is ticking off the miles on his transcontinental bike ride from the Arctic Ocean back home to Jackson County.

Rowell posts regular dispatches from his journey on his blog, entertaining readers with both his adventures and misadventures — from exploring glaciers to his first flat tire.

The Smoky Mountain News caught up with Rep. Heath Shuler at his home in Haywood County. Here’s what he had to say about the attention surrounding his good looks, the fast pace of life in Washington, and how his time on Capitol Hill has changed his views of the country he serves.

On being named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill by The Hill newspaper:

Obviously, you can always be very flattered (but) you kind of wish that there were a little more productive evaluations on the Hill. But it’s great, it’s a neat honor. The funny thing is, I caught a lot of grief from my colleagues, especially the Blue Dog Caucus. Out of the members of congress, only three made the list. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Brad Ellsworth, R-Ind., were the other two).

By Chris Cooper

Robben Ford: Truth

Not many guitarists can meld the harmonic sensibilities of jazz with the visceral punch of blues and make it work. Often, the “blues” part of it gets watered down in order to better accommodate the instrumentalist’s need to demonstrate their “jazz” leanings, and we know that never works very well.

By Michael Beadle

It’s been called the poor man’s silver, but its shine and durability have made it prized in kitchens and living rooms around the world.

“You can do three things with pewter,” says Ruth McConnell, a third-generation pewter artist living in Webster.

Decades ago, fresh water mussels littered the river bottoms of Western North Carolina.

River otter and muskrats ate them, Cherokee harvested them and early settlers apparently cussed them.

The King of the Smokies sprint and international distance triathlons will be held at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center on Sept. 1.

Dr. Karen Kandl, associate director at the Highlands Biological Station, will speak on “Biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians: Learning outside of the classroom” at 7 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Kandl has extensive experience teaching outside of the classroom and believes that people learn best when they actively explore, discuss and construct concepts, relationships, and explanations that involve relevant problems and projects. She will discuss examples of place-based learning at the biological station, and how teachers can use these methods with students of all ages.

The Aug. 23 discussion is part of the regular Zahner Conservation Lectures that take place very Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Highlands Nature Center. Free and open to the public.

www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221.