Admin
To the Editor:
For the last two weeks I have been hearing about artifacts donated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by Swain County citizens being moved to Tennessee to a new proposed curatorial collections facility being built there. The money to build this, from my understanding, was put in the federal budget by a Tennessee senator for Tennessee only.
Several local Swain County organizations, along with the Swain County commissioners, are writing letters to the national park asking for this facility to be built in Swain County since we have 43 percent of the park in Swain County and more than 51 percent of the park in North Carolina. This is a great concern to me considering all that has been taken from Swain County by the national park.
Another concern I have about the national park is much simpler: we cannot even get the overlooks or the grass cut on the Road to Nowhere. If you go over to Tennessee across the mountain you do not see this problem. Why is that?
Another concern I have is the national park is now wanting to charge our local backcountry campers to use our park. How much more does Swain County have to give before our citizens stand up and say enough is enough.
David Monteith,
Swain County commissioner
Bryson City
The Tye Blanton Foundation will host its seventh blood drive for the American Red Cross on Sunday, Aug. 28.
The drive will be held at Canton’s Central United Methodist Church at 36 Church St., across from the Lamp Factory. Through the previous blood drives, the Tye Blanton Foundation has collected more than 450 units of blood.
These efforts are in memory of state Trooper Shawn Blanton, who was shot and killed a few years ago in a traffic stop on Interstate 40, and his infant son, Tye, who died a short time later.
Call or text 828.550.6853 to schedule an appointment time, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The 9/11 Armed Forces Golf Classic will be held on Sept. 10 and 11 at Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee. The tournament is hosted by the Steve Youngdeer Post 143 of the American Legion.
A free golf clinic will be provided by Sequoyah National and fly fishing classes and guided rafting trips will be given by Rivers Edge Outfitters on Sept. 10. A special golf rate will also be available to tournament participants.
All funds will benefit the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall coming to Cherokee in 2012 and other services of the Steve Youngdeer Post of the American Legion.
For more information, call 828.788.3807 or visit www.sequoyahnational.com.
Two one-day Internet courses will be offered from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Agust 25 and 26 by Western Carolina University’s Division of Educational Outreach.
“Using Google Docs,” is set for Thursday, August 25, and is designed to familiarize participants with the free Google Docs program. Students will learn to produce, create, modify and organize text documents, slideshow presentations, spreadsheets, drawings, surveys and more.
“The One-Day Website” will be offered Friday, August 26, and will cover how to create, design and publish personal websites for free, as well as how to maintain website files.
The fee for each course is $49 until August 19, and $59 after that.
To register or for more information, call 828.227.7379 or visit learn.wcu.edu.
The Haywood County Fair this year will feature a Farm Fresh meal to celebrate agriculture in Western North Carolina at 11 a.m. on August 28.
Along with the Farm Fresh meal, local producers will be selling fresh produce, meat, dairy, and more during a mini farmers market.
“This is a perfect way to showcase locally grown garden items, meat, eggs, and other farm products found right here in Haywood County,” said Aaron Mabry, the fairgrounds director. “It will also give local growers a chance to reach customers who might not otherwise know what they have to offer.”
The chef will be Brad Brendell, executive Chef at Maggie Valley Club and a Bethel native.
Tickets are limited to 200 and will be sold in advance for the full-course meal. $10 for adults, $5 for elementary age children, and pre-schoolers are free. Tickets are available at the Cooperative Extension or the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. The event is presented by Mission Hospital and sponsors include MedWest, Champion Credit Union, and Wells Fargo.
What’s on the Farm Fresh menu?
• cole slaw
• heirloom tomato and cucumber salad with herbed feta dressing
• a grilled summer vegetable medley containing yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers
• green beans with rosemary
• bacon-wrapped yellow corn with honey chipotle butter
• tea brined and southern fried chicken
• pulled pork with a Carolina gold barbecue sauce.
A talk on the local food movement will be held at noon on Thursday, August 11, in Franklin hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Alan Durden of the NC Cooperative Extension Service will describe local food sources and tailgate markets, farm stands, farmers’ markets, and community gardens. He will also share views of local farmers concerned with marketing, how to grow with the changing market, and the direction of agriculture.
Held at Tartan Hall at the First Presbyterian Church. 828.371.0527 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
An annual banquet and auction to benefit this region’s chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is set for Saturday, Aug. 13, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center in Asheville.
The Great Smoky Mountains Chapter this year is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the reintroduction of the elk into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Joe Yarkovich, elk researcher for the Smokies, will give an update on the elk. His presentation will be followed by a prime rib dinner with all the fixings; raffles and drawings; a silent auction; and a live auction with at least 13 rifles or shotguns and two handguns raffled or auctioned.
At least six hunting trips and one pack trip will be auctioned in addition to the special Pro Bull Riders Package.
The cost of the meal is $45 per person. Dress is casual. If you purchase a membership and attend the banquet, you will receive a free Buck knife with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation logo, retail value of $39.95. You will also receive six issues of the “Bugle” magazine in the coming year.
Learn about plants that attract birds, butterflies and other wild critters on a field trip to Spring Valley Nursery in Macon County at 5 p.m. Monday, August 15.
Horticulturist and Master Gardener Bill Messina has opened her nursery to the “Gardening for Wildlife Series,” an effort to promote a better understanding and care of wildlife habitats by Friends of the Rickman Store. Meet at Spring Valley Nursery, 57 Sounders Road, Franklin at 5 p.m. 828.349.5201.
Peter Loewer, a.k.a. the “Wild Gardener”, will present a program about native plants at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 30 at the Jackson County Public Library Complex.
Loewer, a well-known writer and botanical artist, teaches art at AB-Tech Community College, the Montreat Road Scholars Program, the North Carolina Arboretum, and the Penland School in Spruce Pine.
Over the past 30 years, he has written and illustrated many books on gardening, wildflowers, and natural history. His pen and ink botanical drawings are included in the permanent collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon. wildgardener.com or 828.586.2016.
Want to know how to use a drift boat? There’s an opportunity to learn from an actual designer, builder and fisherman from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.
The presenter is retired Western Carolina University Engineering and Technology Professor Robert Dalley. He’s been featured on the “Bob Caldwell Outdoors” segment of WLOS-TV news, and recognized for his fishing expertise in Sports Illustrated magazine.
Drift boats, also known as McKenzie boats, are specialized fishing vessels powered by oars adept for maneuvering down mountain rivers.
You’ll learn about oar selection, anchor systems and anchoring selection, hull materials and design, and view the video “A Smoky Mountain Drift Boat Adventure.” The program will cover design elements that make drift boats safer on the water, and discuss how to handle whitewater situations. Dalley will explain ferrying and safe operation in an on-the-water demonstration.
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is in the Pisgah National Forest next to the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery.
www.ncwildlife.org or 828.877.4423.
A “Treasure Highlands” Bird Hike will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on August 18 by the Highlands Biological Foundation.
Members of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society to some of the best birding spots around the Highlands Nature Center. This Highlands Plateau is one of five Important Bird Areas in the state. The town of Highlands has 400 documented species making it one of the most diverse areas for birds on the eastern seaboard.
A few hundred cyclers will test their endurance with the annual Blue Ridge Breakaway coming up August 20.
A spectrum of routes — 24 miles, 40 miles or 65 miles — will take riders over the scenic countryside of Haywood County. The longest route follows the Blue Ridge Parkway with a cumulative elevation gain of 9,600 feet.
The second annual ride is organized by the Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by MedWest.
Cyclists in last year’s event praised how smoothly the event was orchestrated and executed, including rider support and rest stops.
“The Blue Ridge Breakaway is without doubt one of the best cycling events in the Smoky Mountain region”, said Committee Chair Scott McLeod of The Smoky Mountain News. “The routes are just breathtaking as far as scenery goes, especially the portion on the Blue Ridge Parkway. All in all it’s just a great event that you don’t want to miss if you love cycling in the mountains.”
All routes will begin at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The Century ride will also include 30 miles on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway with
Early registration for the two longer routes is $44, but goes up by $10 after August 12. Shorter ride is $29 or $35 after August 12. Register online, and find route descriptions, maps, and cue sheets. www.BlueridgeBreakaway.com.
Franklin resident Robert Shook will read from his novel, A Journey in Courage, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
This historical fiction piece captures the legacy of the Shook family and spins a story of faith, God and the unshakable love that connects a family. A discussion and signing will follow the reading.
828.586.9499 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Get your wands ready for a Harry Potter back-to-school party at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, at Blue Ridge Books in downtown Waynesville. Come for an afternoon filled with activities for wizards and muggles alike.
There will be a sorting and competition for house points as participants create their own spells, search for magical creatures, solve crossword puzzles, create their own book covers, have a trivia contest, a game of N.E.W.T.S. Bingo and have discussion questions.
A costume contest will also be held, and for more fun between the students, they will have a refreshments contest. Participants will create their version of a famous Harry Potter snack or drink (Blue Ridge Books will have Butterbeer, licorice wands, and cockroach clusters), and see whose snack tastes the best or is closest to the description in the series.
This is an event for people of all ages and is sure to be fun for everyone. Be sure to call or come in person with your name and age to reserve your spot as space is limited. 828.456.6000.
A workshop about plastic canvas cross-stitch will be taught at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, at the Jackson County Public Library.
Sally Salyards, program leader, will teach a simple pattern during the class. Materials will be provided.
Plastic canvas cross-stitch is easier than knitting for people affected by joint problems. Children over the age of 8, as well as adults, are encouraged to participate.
Salyards, originally from southeastern Virginia, has lived in Jackson County for nine years and is an employee of the Jackson County Public Library. She has several craft hobbies including sewing, knitting, rug hooking as well, as plastic canvas cross-stitch, which she has been involved in for 30 years.
828.586.2016.
The Haywood County Arts Council will hold a Wine for the Arts party, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.
The party is part of a series called the FUNd Party Series, which offers an eclectic array of social excursions featuring food, unique experiences, and entertainment to benefit the arts in Haywood County.
Wine for the Arts will feature a variety of wines paired with food and truffles from The Chocolate Bear in Waynesville. In addition, there will be a silent auction including artwork by Elisa Holder, Teresa Pennington, and more.
Tickets are $50 per person, of which $25 is tax-deductible. The registration deadline is August 12 and the maximum number of partygoers is 50. For more information, call 828.452.0593 or visit www.haywoodarts.org.
With berries ripe and ready for picking, it’s time to plan your entry in the Best in the West Recipe Contest, part of Mountain Heritage Day’s gathering at Western Carolina University on Sept. 24.
This year’s competition will focus on dishes using berries of any kind.
All entries must use berries as a recipe ingredient. The recipe does not have to be original, but the item must be made from scratch.
Entry forms will be available at N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and at WCU Mountain Heritage Center in the next few weeks.
So get out your best recipes for pies, cakes, breads, cookies, muffins and start making some great berry dishes.
Artist Kathie Blozan will lead painting workshops from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on August 11 and 13 at the Zachary-Tolbert House in Cashiers.
Attendees will walk along the nature trail at the Zachary-Tolbert House to look at wildflowers and then return to the pavilion to sketch and paint.
Participants will learn to sketch and paint wildflowers and will produce one or more small finished paintings. Each day is independent of the others so participants may attend one or both days.
Each workshop costs $60 for members of the Cashiers Historical Society and $75 for non-members. The fee includes all supplies that will be needed for the class, but does not include lunch.
828.743.7710 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Elementary school-aged children and their families are invited to a free ARTSaturday workshop from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, at Big Bear Shelter on the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin.
During the two-hour workshop, participants will learn basic dances from around the world and here at home. Children should wear play clothes and come for any part of the session.
The monthly ARTSaturday series is produced by the Arts Council of Macon County. No registration required. For more information, call 828.524.7683 or visit www.artscouncilofmacon.org.
The Haywood Fairgrounds will host its third annual Mountain Music Jamboree on Aug. 13.
Featured performers include White Water Bluegrass, Paul’s Creek String Band, Buncombe Turnpike, Gray Wolf, The Unexpected and dance performances from the Southern Appalachian Cloggers and the Fines Creek Flatfooters.
A $7 barbecue dinner will start at 4 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m.
This event will benefit the Haywood County Fairgrounds.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, call 828.627.6396 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A free Gingerbread 101 workshop will be taught by Grove Park Inn chefs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. The event will prepare participants for the National Gingerbread House Competition, which happens every holiday season at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
This workshop will demonstrate the basic skills required for the creation of a successful gingerbread structure. From 2 to 4 p.m., Chef Geoffrey Blount will showcase specialized pastry skills, transportation tips, scoring guidelines and more. This demonstration will benefit both beginners and those with more advanced skills. Blount heads up the baking and pastry arts program at Central Piedmont Community College and has won numerous culinary awards.
Recipes, entry forms and other useful information will also be available at the demonstration.
828.252.2711 or visit www.groveparkinn.com.
Basket classes will be taught by Dogwood Craft members at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Applegate Inn in Dillsboro.
Sharon Crosby will be teaching a jelly basket, which can be used for two jelly jars. Cost will be $20, including supplies.
Donna Pollock will be teaching how to make a small tote basket with shaker handles and a fabric liner. It can be used for a purse, lunch basket or just stuff. Cost will be $22.50 including supplies. Materials to bring are clothespins, work scissors, a pencil and old towels.
Joyce Lantz will teach the timeless technique of coiled basketry using natural materials, including a walnut slice that is the basket center. Learn the basics as well as varying stitches and expect to complete a small basket in four to five hours with a mid-day break. Cost of $32 includes all materials.
To register, call 828.586.2248.
The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa will once again be hosting the Porsche Concours “In Den Bergen” on Saturday, August 20.
Organizers are expecting upwards of 75 cars this year to participate in this regional and nationally recognized event. The event is open to the public with free admission, but a $5 donation to SARGE’s Animal Rescue Foundation is requested.
The hit musical “Always … Patsy Cline” opened July 28 at the Highlands Playhouse and will continue at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday through Aug. 20.
The show is the third in the theatre’s season and played to full houses in a run during the 2008 season.
“Always…Patsy Cline” is based on the true story of the singer’s relationship with Louise Seger, a fan from Houston who corresponded with Cline until her death in 1963. The show contains many of Cline’s biggest hits including “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Walking After Midnight,” and “Sweet Dreams.”
Tickets are $30 for adults and $12 for children. 828.526.2695.
The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin will welcome three sensational Gospel groups at the Smoky Mountain Jubilee at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug.11.
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, an eight-time Grammy award-winning southern gospel group will open the evening. With a background of over 75 years in gospel music, they are one of the best-known groups in gospel music history. The Blackwood Brothers have performed with many well-known artists over the years, including Johnny Cash.
Headlining the evening will be Mark Eskew, Promised Land and the Heartbreak Band. For 16 years, Eskew has paid tribute to the great Elvis Presley as the King of Rock N’ Roll. He has performed throughout the United States and has entertained many celebrities and politicians, including President George W. Bush. Eskew, Promised Land and the Heartbreak Band present Reflections of Elvis, a celebration of Elvis’ favorite gospel songs.
Tickets are $20 for the artist circle, $15 for all other seats and $8 for children 12 years and younger. 866.273.4615 or visit greatmountainmusic.com.
Dehlia Low will perform at An Appalachian Evening at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 13, at Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Graham County.
Dehlia Low’s vocal harmony and instrumentation reflect a deep connection to traditional music with modern arrangements and relevant, smart songwriting. The band combines their rustic-flavored vocal style with instrumental prowess in original songs in the emerging Americana genre. Dehlia Low echoes the sounds of early country with a strong bluegrass flavor, crafting a fresh originality that feels true to their southern Appalachian roots. Their performance will feature music from their newly released CD ‘Ravens and Crows’.
The concert is preceded by two dinner seatings, at 5 and 6:15 p.m., served family style at the Stecoah Kitchen. The menu will be stuffed bell peppers and fried chicken with fresh vegetables, all grown locally.
Reservations are required. 828.479.3364 or www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.
The Mountain High Republican Women’s Club will hold a luncheon and fashion show at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 19, at the Highlands Country Club. The fashion show features Carlisle clothing, a home show line of fashion.
A line of fashion jewelry will be shown as well and those attending can also bid at the silent auction. Auction items include everything from fashion accessories, home decorative accessories to restaurant and getaway gift certificates.
Tickets are $30 and individual tickets or group tables can be purchased by calling 828.526.9195.
The group meets monthly for lunch and to hear speakers who address timely political or government issues. The luncheon fashion show is the first major fundraiser for the group.
828.507.7900 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The meeting will take place at back of the school to the woodworking shop. Visitors are always welcome and the club meets every second Thursday.
Steve Dean, a teacher of the Kriya yoga tradition, will speak at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 12, at the Creative Thought Center in Waynesville.
Dean, a student of Paramahansa Yogananda and Ernest Holmes, will present how these two teachers brought a dynamic understanding of God and how to live in harmony with God’s laws. Ernest Holmes is best known for writing The Science of Mind. Paramahansa Yogananda is best known for his book Autobiography of a Yogi. Offered on a love offering basis, but no one will be turned away. For reservations, call 828.246.2794 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Big House Radio returns to Sylva’s Concerts on the Creek from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 12.
The Bryson City-based quintet won WNC Magazine’s Last Band Standing competition in 2010, emerging from a field of 32 bands to capture the coveted award.
Big House Radio’s free performance is the 12th in a 15-week series of Friday concerts at the Bridge Park Pavilion in downtown Sylva. The band will play a set consisting of all original songs. Big House Radio prides itself on playing plain ol’ rock without the hyphenations, though there’s a Southern tinge to their style.
800.962.1911 or visit www.mountainlovers.com.
Shinefest, a two-day showcase held at Fontana Village Resort, will bring together acts from across the country world, veterans to newcomers, for a summer music experience set against the pristine backdrop of the Smoky Mountains.
The premier country music event runs from August 19-21 and will feature music from host Matt Stillwell, Nashville songwriters and full sets from some of the South’s classic live acts.
“My vision for the festival is to showcase some of the greatest songwriters in Nashville, the creative people behind my career, local and upcoming bands as well as all the musical styles that have influenced me,” said Stillwell. “The festival has grown each year and this year is looking to be bigger than ever.”
This year’s edition of Shinefest is a culmination of not only Stillwell’s work, but some of the love and desire for the country community as a whole.
“You are at a beautiful resort, surrounded by national park, with no cell service. You don’t have to leave after the show and you get to interact with the songwriters and artists while having a great time,” said Stillwell. “Sometimes it’s pretty hard to recover from.“
In its fourth year, the 2011 festival has a strong helping of music plus a few perks that the event hasn’t featured in previous years.
Kicking off the weekend will be a Writers in the Round session. It will feature a storyteller setting as writers for the stars of country take the stage to perform and discuss how these classic songs came to fruition.
Writers include Dean Dillon (“Tennessee Whiskey” by George Jones), Tammy Kidd (“Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way” by LeAnn Rimes), Lynn Hutton, Mickey Jack Jones and David Bourne.
Dillon’s songwriting resume boasts many of Nashville’s best, including George Strait, George Jones, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, Brooks & Dunn and Alabama.
Recently inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, Nashville’s Jim Lauderdale will give an inside look at some of his material, including hits off of his new release, Reason and Rhyme. Lauderdale will also perform a solo set on Saturday.
Making their Shinefest debut on Friday night will be Atlanta’s Blackberry Smoke. This regional band continues to grow, winning new fans with their edgy country rock sound. They will be performing a special acoustic set Friday night and full-on electric set on Saturday.
On Saturday, The Shinefest Pool Party kicks off the day at 12 p.m. The pool party will feature intimate sets of originals and covers from multiple artists.
Robbinsville natives My Highway will keep the party moving at 3 p.m.
Knoxville’s The Black Lillies, led by Cruz Contreras, will bring his team of pickers, players and singers to the stage on Saturday afternoon. The band is currently nominated for Best Americana Album by the Independent Music Awards.
The accommodations and restaurants Fontana Village Resort will be open all weekend.
For information about special VIP packages, weekends passes, camping options and lodging, visit www.stillwellshinefest.com.
How Shinefest got its roots
When country crooner Matt Stillwell was in need of a music video to accompany his latest release ‘Shine’ in 2008, he headed to the mountains, threw a big festival, called it Shinefest and made it the backdrop of the video.
The song went on to enter the Top 5 on Country Music Television’s Pure and Top 10 on Great American Country’s Top 20 Countdown. And since then, Shinefest has taken on a life of its own, becoming a premiere country music event.
Stillwell himself is a homegrown talent, hailing from Sylva and going on to Western Carolina University, then Belmont University. A college baseball star, Stillwell gave up the diamond to chart a course to Nashville.
The festival opens at 10 a.m. on Friday, closing after midnight Sunday evening. All ages are welcome and adult day passes start at $40.
I have some good news. But first the bad news. The world is ending. Evangelist Harold Camping has predicted it. Others point to the Mayan calendar and confirm that our remaining days are few. Meanwhile, a surprising number of people believe that a planet called Nibiru will collide with Earth and do us in.
Most conservationists I encounter may not pay attention to these particular predictors of doom, but they tend to be equally pessimistic about our future. When I traveled to Indiana a few weeks ago to speak at a conference on literature and the environment, I heard countless examples of people wiping out nature, nature killing people, and nature sometimes destroying itself.
Session titles included such uplifting topics as “Dead and Dying Animals in Literature, Film, Art, and Culture,” and “Imagining Environmental Apocalypse.” More than once, professors at the conference lamented that their students find environmental issues extremely depressing. Really? I can’t imagine why.
Sure, we have plenty of reasons to be concerned about the outside world: loss of habitat, polluted waters, global climate change, invasive species, oil spills, funding cuts for conservation programs, species extinctions, and more.
But depressing news is, well, depressing. It repels people — and their donations, too. Very few people want to take on apparently losing causes, and so the challenges continue.
I know we have to be realistic about these conservation issues, but rather than focusing on what’s gone wrong, maybe we should spend more time tallying what’s gone right. Then, the next time we think we’re approaching an environmental Armageddon, we can share these encouraging stories with friends, family, struggling students, discouraged conservation leaders and potential donors — or just read them to ourselves to remember that good things have happened before and can happen again.
Fortunately, we can find plenty of recent conservation successes right here in Western North Carolina. Thanks to various groups and agencies, we again have elk in the Smokies, peregrine falcons in the skies, and river otters and various fish species back in the Pigeon River watershed.
Meanwhile, air quality is improving, and Haywood Waterways and its partners have cleaned up Hyatt Creek enough that it has been removed from the EPA’s list of polluted waters. Also, the 12 land trusts of the Blue Ridge Forever partnership have protected more than 50,000 acres of important farmland, forests, and natural areas in the last five years.
I don’t think we should worry that some favorable results will eliminate humanity’s interest in the environment. Instead, these success stories can inspire all of us to create more good news.
Speaking of which, Harold Camping has updated his timeline for the end of the world — previously scheduled for May 21. We now have until October 21 to create some new conservation successes. Who knows? Maybe we’ll do enough good between now and then to earn the world another short reprieve.
George Ivey is a Haywood County-based consultant and author of the novel Up River. Contact him at www.georgeivey.com.
To the editor:
In this recent atmosphere of mudslinging, it’s all too easy to lose focus on what’s important. What should matter more than anything to tribal members is the ability to hold their elected representatives on Tribal Council and the chief and vice chief’s offices accountable.
They need a watchdog, and with a free press there is such a watchdog. But there is no free press in Cherokee.
Yes, there is a free press law. Yes, there is an open meetings law. Yes, there is a public information law. However, those laws aren’t worth the paper on which they’re printed if there’s no enforcement.
Under our current tribal leadership, there not only is no enforcement, but there have been circumventions, blatant violations, and there were no consequences.
Take a look a the One Feather and what it’s turned into since Principal Chief Michell Hicks directly took a meddling role in its editorial process:
• There is no editorial.
• Rarely, if ever, are there published critiques of the chief or Tribal Council.
• There is nothing to encourage a free exchange of ideas.
• The free press act was watered down to remove independent and professional oversight of the paper through an editorial board.
• An award-winning reporter and writer has been reduced to writing propaganda designed to puff up a tribal deputy with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
• And as evident in the July 21 edition, the chief can use this publication to denigrate an entire family who did nothing more than to have the chief’s challenger as one of their own.
The changes in the publication have not resulted in the community having a better paper. It has lost circulation. It has lost credibility. It has lost respect, and a look at the paper itself will show that advertisers have noticed.
We need elected officials who support a free press and will back up that support with strong legislation to ensure it. We need elected officials who will resist and oppose pressure to censor or shut out the media, whether tribally owned or otherwise. And we need elected officials who realize that the One Feather belongs to 14,000-plus people, not 14.
Any candidate who doesn’t support a free press, open government and transparency does not care about your best interests.
Joseph Martin
Andrews
To the editor:
I am writing to thank NC Representative Phil Haire for his courage and integrity in voting against House Bill 854, both in the initial vote and in the override of Gov. Purdue’s veto on it.
Since women and their doctors were given the right to choose reproductive issues in 1973 without coercion or intimidation we have never seen such an attempt to roll back those hard fought for rights until now. I urge all women who struggled with these issues back then and who look at what their daughters and granddaughters are now facing to support all efforts to stop the erosion of a very critical basic right.
Forcing a distraught and probably very young woman or a teenager to delay her decision after she has come to a legally binding conclusion about her status is no way to convince her to change that decision. It will just add another alienating layer of stress on a person who is trying to make a hard choice.
We fought hard for that right of choice 40 years ago and as a mother myself I can tell you that my children were loved and wanted, but I would never presume to force another woman to bear a child. I think it really is an issue for a woman, her family and her doctor and, in fact, the law says so.
So why are politicians so eager to align themselves with a rising tide of targeted control of women’s’ rights? The answer lies not so much with this issue itself but with the underlying issue of control and coercion for shallow political ends.
Again, I commend Phil Haire for his vote and I hope that in the present climate of political dysfunction that we will remember that he stood up for women’s rights.
Angela McGregor
Bryson City
The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce is starting an After Hours Networking Event for the Young Professional of Haywood County, with the first event to be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Herren House. Young Professionals was created to connect area business professionals between the ages of 22 and 40 through professional development, networking, and community service.
“The Young Professionals of Haywood will provide a unique opportunity for its members to network, improve professionally, and be active civically in our community,” said Jake Robinson of Champion Credit Union, YPH Committee Member. The event is free for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. RSVP by calling 828.456.3021 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at www.haywood-nc.com.
A networking conference will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, in Franklin, offering business coaching on a variety of critical topics for today’s marketplace.
The all-day event is designed for community leaders, business owners and professionals from WNC. Topics will include “Adaptive Leadership in Times of Change,” “Mastering Lead Generation: How to turn Networking into Profits,” “Your Networking Toolkit: The Must Haves to make a Lasting Impression,” and “Get on the Map: Building your Online Network through SEO.”
An evening social will follow the event. Cost is $65, but bulk rates are available. Space is limited to 200. 828.369.8660 or visit www.XtremeNetworking.net. Sponsored by Black Rock Company and SiteDart Hosting.
Haywood County businesses and organizations interested in “greening” their business practices should sign up for the Green Initiative Program with the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce set to begin in August. A green plan of action will be established for businesses and organizations that participate and demonstrated outcomes will allow them to receive their Green Leader certification. green.haywood-nc.com or call 828.456.3021 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Small Business Center at Southwestern Community College is partnering with several organizations to offer workshops for small businesses.
The first will be held 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at SCC’s Macon Campus, on entrepreneurship. Upcoming seminars are:“Small Business Operations (Human Resources and Business Structure)” on July 21; “Marketing Your Product/Service” on Aug. 4; “Business Financials (Cash Flow and Break Even Analysis)” on Aug. 18; “Small Business Taxes” on Sept. 1; “Bookkeeping Basics” on Sept. 15; “Business Use of Your Home” on Sept. 29; and “Technology in Small Business” on Oct. 13. 828.339.4218.
Western Carolina University Chancellor David O. Belcher will meet members of the Macon County community on from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the Macon Bank Corporate Center as part of a get-acquainted tour that will take the new chief executive to 15 stops during a four-month span.
Formerly provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he succeeds John W. Bardo, who stepped down as WCU chancellor this summer after 16 years in the position.
828.227.7335 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A motorcycle ride honoring the Trail of Tears, the Remembrance Removal Tour, will leave the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds in Cherokee at 8 a.m. on Aug. 29.
The route will follow the historic route of the Trail of Tears across the county for three days and will arrive in Tahlequah, Okla., on August 31 for the Cherokee National Holiday Events.
The event is organized by The Brothers in the Wind, a group committed to the memory of the removal of Native Americans from their homelands. The ride is open to all motorcycles and any vehicles. 828.736.2780 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.brothersinthewind.webs.com.
From 911 to prosecution, a training session for service providers, law enforcement, criminal justice and legal aid, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, at the Waynesville Police Department.
This training is designed to inform all service providers along the continuum of domestic violence and sexual assault. The overview is intended to provide a clear picture of what happens to a victim from the time a 911 service call is made to the prosecution of the alleged abuser.
To register, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Haywood Community College will offer a night Basic Law Enforcement Training class meeting from 6 to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Sept. 12. The class will also meet a few weekends to accommodate the appropriate required classes.
This course is designed to equip the student with the basic skills, knowledge and ability to function as an inexperienced law enforcement officer in the State of North Carolina. Applications must be returned by Sept. 7.
For more information, call 828.627.4548, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Or visit www.haywood.edu/continuing_education/public_safety.
Backlogged sediment can’t be allowed to build up forever, said John Dorney, wetlands and stormwater program development supervisor for the N.C. Division of Water Quality in Raleigh.
“It becomes one big mud flat,” Dorney said.
But Duke Energy District Manager Fred Alexander disputes that Duke will be made to dredge sediment from the lake.
“Let me be perfectly clear. We are NOT dredging Lake Emory,” Alexander said in an email response to The Smoky Mountain News.
Alexander said that Duke may do some “limited sediment removal,” but not a comprehensive dredging of the entire lake.
“That is not in our plans, nor a regulatory requirement,” Alexander said.
Yet according to a state water quality permit, how much sediment Duke will have to remove is not yet determined.
Duke is being required to develop sediment management plans for dams on the Oconaluftee River in Swain County and on the Hiwassee in Clay County. All three are known as “run-of-the-river” dams, where the respective dam transforms the river behind it into slow-moving backwater — more so than a bona fide lake. Lake Emory, located near Franklin, is 174 acres in size.
The state Division of Water Quality mandated that Duke address sediment removal as a condition of the water quality permits issued for all the three dams in summer of 2010.
“It could be one thing they have to do is dredge,” Dorney said.
The same requirements are being copied verbatim into the federal licenses for the dams being issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Once issued, Duke “will absolutely have to develop a sediment management plan,” said Mark Cantrell, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “FERC indicated Duke would need to include some management and not just monitoring — and that could include dredging.”
With Duke’s license for the dam up for renewal, that opened the door for new sediment rules to be imposed. And state and federal environmental agencies walked right in.
In short, Duke must conduct a sediment pilot study at one of the three dams, and a long-term sediment management plan after that. Cantrell said once the license was issued, it would trigger the sediment management plan within approximately the next six months.
Dorney knows Duke needs to do something about the mounting sediment behind the dams, but exactly what that should be — how much should be removed, how often, by what means — is up in the air pending the pilot study.
“We just didn’t know enough about how big the problems are and how fast they are developing and what mechanisms could solve the problems,” Dorney said. “The pilot study will get us that additional information.”
Dorney foresees Duke being made to remove some sediment from above Porter Bend Dam one way or another, however.
“That is the intent,” Dorney said.
And there’s only two ways to do that: dredge or flush it downstream.
When Duke tore down the Dillsboro dam, it lobbied hard for the “flushing” option. It argued that simply flushing the estimated 100,000 cubic yards of sediment downstream a bit at a time wouldn’t hurt the environment. It was also the cheaper of the two options. Ultimately, however, state and federal environmental agencies made Duke excavate much of the sediment (more than 63,000 cubic yards) from behind the dam rather than flushing it.
Dorney said it is too early for Duke to say whether it will or won’t dredge Lake Emory; and, he said, Duke isn’t the one that gets to decide that.
“They would have to say at this point they don’t know if they will have to do any dredging pending the results of the pilot study,” Dorney said.
The decision ultimately rests with the state and federal environmental agencies overseeing the water quality permits for the dam operations.
At stake is one of the most unique stretches of river in the eastern U.S., 13 miles of the Little Tennessee River, essentially unpolluted, uncontaminated and undeveloped.
“It is really incredible,” Cantrell said.
Which means there will be a whole lot of eyes watching as Duke develops a sedimentation management plan.
Dorney said in his view, it isn’t good for every grain of sediment in the river to get blocked by the dam.
“There is some concern about the river being sediment starved downstream from the dams,” Dorney said.
That may mean flushing some sediment downstream periodically.
“If they release some, that would get it out of the lake of course, but if you release too much it would destroy downstream, so it is a balancing act,” Dorney said.
There is only one caveat that would tip the scale against sediment removal, and one that just might come into play in Lake Emory.
Industrial pollution downstream from Lake Emory could have accumulated in the sediment over the years, and stirring it up could be bad news, according to water quality advocates with the Little Tennessee Watershed Association. (see related article.)
Dorney said that is definitely an area that needs more research, but doubts it would be a deal killer.
“If they did the studies and determined there would be more damage to the environment by removing it than leaving it there,” Dorney said. “But that isn’t likely.”
More often, the contaminants would be leaching out anyway, so removing them is still the best option.
Cantrell said toxic muck is “a legitimate concern.” He said there are detailed studies under way by Western Carolina University to try and pinpoint why there’s been a mussel-population decline below Lake Emory.
Cantrell said there are measurements that are indicating excessive levels of copper and other metals in Lake Emory, “and we are concerned about that being transmitted downstream.”
By Becky Johnson and Quintin EllisonA workshop titled “Go Green with Moss” will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, August 11, at the Highlands Biological Foundation as part of the Foundation’s Think About Thursdays series.
Annie Martin, founder of Mountain Moss Enterprises, will explore the botanical characteristics of mosses and the advantages of using mosses in landscapes. Participants will have the opportunity to view Martin’s award-winning moss gardens and moss dishes while discussing moss gardening methods. The presentation will include a guided walk around the Botanical Garden to look for mosses. Free, but registration is required. 828.526.2221 or www.wcu.edu/hbs.
Master Gardeners from Jackson and Swain counties have joined together to form the Jackson-Swain Master Gardeners’ Association.
The group works to increase its own knowledge about gardening in order to be a better gardening resource for the community through education, demonstration and as volunteers with the cooperative extension.
The association meets at 9:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of every month at the Jackson Community Services Building on Scotts Creek Road in Sylva. Sarah Day Hatton will share her knowledge on creating wildlife habitats at the August meeting. Meetings and programs open to the public at no cost. 828.736.2768 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ratcheting down its firewood policy for campers over fears of invasive insects and fungus that destroy trees.
Firewood from six neighboring counties in Tennessee can no longer be brought into the park, specifically to prevent the movement of the destructive emerald ash borer and thousand cankers disease, an associated fungal disease transmitted by a small twig beetle.
All state and national parks and forests limit firewood being brought in by campers to varying degrees, usually targeting areas where known invasive pests and diseases are. But some are moving to allow no firewood from any outside areas.
The latest ban in the Smokies will affect those who live in those counties and come to camp in the neighboring park.
The black bear license plate has had strong sales and has benefitted wildlife throughout the Great Smoky Mountain National Park this summer. The number of motorists sporting specialty Smokies license plates has been climbing impressively since the new plate design, sporting a black bear, was rolled out four years ago.
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park brought in $102,900 from plate sales in the last quarter, an increase of more than seven percent over the same period of 2010, to help the park.
“The Smokies are a true refuge for black bears, brook trout, salamanders, elk, and thousands of other species,” said Dan Matthews, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Smokies and co-owner of The Swag Country Inn in Waynesville. “We are very glad for the opportunity to help protect these wild creatures and to have so much support from drivers all across North Carolina. They are the ones who make these important projects possible.” www.friendsofthesmokies.org or call 828.452.0720.
The Fontana Dam 5K and 10K race will be held on Saturday, August 27, along with a one-mile fun run.
The race will be held along the shores of the Little Tennessee River below Fontana Dam. The course is relatively flat and draws runners from all around the region to compete.
Race sponsors have planned a lake tour for participants aboard the Miss Hazel, departing from the Fontana Marina docks at 6 p.m. the night before, along with a pre-race dinner with live entertainment.
Race day registration will be at 6:45 a.m. www.fontanavillage.com or 828.498.2104.
The second annual Waynesville Main Street Mile will be held on Friday, August 12.
The race ends at the historic courthouse, and starts a mile up the street from it, making for a mostly downhill, one-way course.
A post-race party will feature pizza, beer from Highland Brewing Company and live music, popcorn and cotton candy, and various kids’ activities sponsored by Grandpa Ernie, FunShine Faces, and Fun Things Etc.
Cost is $15 in advance or $20 day-of. Includes T-shirt and stocked goody-bag.
All proceeds from sponsors and runner registrations go to Shriners Children’s Hospital of Greenville. Businesses interested in sponsoring or anyone interested in volunteering can contact Eric Yarrington at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Another 207-acre tract on Little Yellow Mountain in Mitchell and Avery counties has been saved from development thanks the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
The two organizations have purchased the tract, which takes in the 5,504-foot peak, ensuring that the entire mountain top will remain free of development. Eventually, all of the property will become part of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area.
Little Yellow Mountain is an important piece of the Roan Mountain natural heritage area, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Southern Appalachians with 76 rare species of plants and animals found there. The conservations efforts for Little Yellow Mountain began in 2007. Today, 1,300 acres are protected in all.
In addition to private donations, the organizations took out a loan to complete the conservation.
“In tough economic times, we have to marshal our forces to make conservation happen,” says SAHC Board Member Jay Leutze.
828.253.0095 ext. 209.
