Lentil Soup

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

• 2 cups dry lentils

• 8 cups water

• 1/2 cup spinach, rinsed & thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons vinegar

• salt to taste

• ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Sour Cream Cornbread

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1 1/2 cups cornmeal

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 3 large eggs, room temperature

• 3/4 cup low-fat sour cream, room temperature

• 1/2 cup skim milk

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400°F Coat a 9” x 9” pan with nonstick spray.

Sift the flour, cornmeal, salt, brown sugar and baking powder together in a mixing bowl.

Stir in the eggs, sour cream, milk and butter with a wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Do not overmix.

Pour into the pan and bake until golden brown around the edges, about 15 minutes. The cornbread is done when a small knife inserted in the center comes out dry. Best when served warm from the oven.

Blackberry (and raspberry and blueberry) Upside Down Cake

• 2 1/2 cups fresh blackberries (12 ounces)

• 1/2 cup plus

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk

• Accompaniment: vanilla ice cream

• Special equipment:

parchment paper

preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Line bottom of a buttered 8- by 2-inch round cake pan with 2 rounds of parchment paper, then butter parchment. Dust pan with some flour, knocking out excess.

Arrange blackberries in 1 layer in cake pan. Sprinkle berries with 11/2 tablespoons sugar and shake pan to help distribute sugar.

Whisk together 1 cup flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Beat together butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and mix at low speed until just incorporated. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk in 3 batches, mixing at low speed until just incorporated.

Spoon batter evenly over berries, smoothing top, and bake in middle of oven until top is golden and a tester comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.

Run a thin knife around edge of pan, then invert a large plate over pan and, using pot holders to hold plate and pan together tightly, flip cake onto plate. Peel off parchment and serve cake with ice cream.

By Anna Fariello • Guest Columnist

OK, so I have to admit that part of the appeal of the Dillsboro/Duke battle appeals to me in the same way that David and Goliath inspired me as a child. Small-town-takes-on-giant-corporation has the makings of movie. While I am into confession, I should admit that I don’t quite get the science arguments, although I am sure there is soundness on both sides of the issue. But overall, it is my practical nature that wonders — if Duke doesn’t want this dam, why can’t Dillsboro have it? The entire battle seems ludicrous as I imagine corporate fat cats strategizing on how to take such a little dam down, plotting where to strategically plant sticks of dynamite.

When I taught in Central America almost 10 years ago, I was struck by how historically significant archeological sites lived side-by-side with spontaneous soccer matches. In this country we protect our national treasures with guided tours and admission fees. Did those ball-kicking children realize that they were in the holy presence of history? There I was sent to teach collections care and soccer was, indeed, not in the preservationist’s handbook.

As the semester progressed and I became more familiar with those sites, my initial shock gave way to an appreciation of what is commonly called “patrimonio” in Latin America. We have a comparable word in English — patrimony — but in cultures where personal property rights reign, the word does not carry the same weight of meaning. Indeed, my Webster’s definition is particularly lacking, defining patrimony as “property inherited from one’s father.” A more professional definition, and one shared by Latin America and other countries, might better define it as “property of the people,” or I should say “property of The People.”

The Dillsboro dam has been around for the better part of a century. It has only been the property of Duke Power since 1988. In the hearts and minds of many Jackson County citizens, the dam is part of their cultural landscape as sure as Cowee Mountain and the Tuckesegee. It is a sweet and picturesque spot, a place to pause and drink in the view.

Most people are familiar with the National Register of Historic Places, the federal program that designates historic buildings and sites as significant to our country’s heritage. Indeed, Dillsboro recently received such designation for the historic Monteith House, bestowing both honor to the town and making the property eligible for tax rehabilitation credits. State law also provides for lesser-known designations, those called historic landmarks and historic districts, which are more local in nature. These designations do not require the same stringent nomination process, nor do they bestow the same benefits as the National Register, but they do enable local governments and citizens to take advantage of a number of credible preservation tools.

Historic landmarks and historic districts are administered by the N. C. Office of Archives and History and governed by specific North Carolina law. Local landmarks are designations that are applied to buildings or structures that have historical, architectural, archeological, or cultural value. While designation is honor, it is also a mechanism to assist with preservation planning and cultural conservation.

The process is not particularly difficult, but state law is specific and the process must adhere to defined procedures. The first step is that the locality — county or a joint commission of county and town managers — must establish an historic preservation commission or historic landmarks commission. This is the body that investigates and designates historic landmarks or districts for the locality that it serves. The commission is created by an ordinance adopted by the local governing board. After a commission is established, the local governing board appoints its members and provides enough support for it to operate. It is the commission that has the authority to designate local landmarks and districts with the state providing guidance and recommendations.

A local historic landmark does not have to be a building. The state allows for sites and structures to be included in the process. Yes, dams are specifically named as a category of “structure.” Once a landmark or district is recommended, the state reviews the designation and makes recommendations. A public hearing must be held. Once process is complete, it is the county attorney who drafts an ordinance to declare a local landmark. Interestingly, the consent of the property owner is not required.

I have pondered the plight of Dillsboro, a town that has had to endure the abandonment of the train, one of its fondest attractions. I have read and re-read explanations of sedimentation and mitigation with a limited understanding. I’ve been proud of the steadfast determination of our local leaders (some would say stubbornness, I am sure) to keep up their fight. Some have proposed making the dam operational and, who knows, the new administration may very well provide federal incentives for this as part of President O’Bama’s efforts to create “green” jobs. The idea of the Dillsboro Dam given designation as a historic landmark is not so far-fetched as it may sound. Surprisingly, Duke Power studied the possibility for itself in 2003. The “Eligibility Study of Seven Hydroelectric Projects in the Nantahala Area, North Carolina” is on the web.

Thinking back to Panama Viejo — “Old Panama,” the archeological site mentioned at the start of this essay — I recall the crumbling stone tower that was threatened with collapse. The National Institute of Culture had mounted a campaign for its salvation, adopting the motto, “Salve Tu Tore” (Save Your Tower).

I still have the mug, given to me by students at the end of the course, with the motto that seemed to be everywhere I looked. In class, we had agreed on the importance of delivering a succinct message that would resonate with anyone regardless of their level of interest or understanding of larger interpretive issues. “Salve Tu Tore” was printed on banners in the street, on the sides of city buses, in large newspaper ads, on tote bags, and coffee mugs. While the professional in me would advise careful planning and deliberate forward motion, the little girl awestruck by the audacity of David is ready to start printing T-shirts.

(Anna Fariello is Director of the Craft Revival and From the Hands of our Elders, projects of Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library. She can be reached This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

Robert Conley, the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University, is winner of the 2009 Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

An enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Conley is a noted scholar and prolific author, with poems, short stories, articles and 80 books of fiction and nonfiction to his credit.

The Oklahoma Center for the Book, a state affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, encourages interest in books and reading. Named for the center’s first president, the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually and honors Oklahomans who have contributed to the state’s literary heritage. Past winners include Joy Harjo, S.E. Hinton, N. Scott Momaday and Tony Hillerman.

For more information about the Cherokee studies program at Western Carolina University, call 828.227.2306.

By Jane Young

Haywood County Master Gardeners had you in mind when they wrote The Gardener’s Guide to Growing in the Mountains. This latest edition of the garden almanac addresses the Western North Carolina gardener’s concerns with elevation, weather, soils, slopes, and a host of other influences on our gardening success.

And if you, like me, are a gardener who tends to over-plan and over-plant, struggling to stay on top of it all, you need this almanac. It hangs on the wall like a calendar, and each month’s page tells you what you need to be doing now. For instance, in February you should prune your roses before they leaf out. It’s also time to start seeds indoors for a spring crop of cabbage, broccoli, and kale. And there is still time to plant shrubs and trees when the ground is not frozen.

The almanac’s monthly ‘To-Do’ list is organized according to Flowers, Vegetables, Fruits, Shrubs and Trees, Lawns, and Miscellaneous. Even its format lessens that overwhelmed feeling when so much needs to be done in the garden.

This publication is easy on the eye throughout, but its page-long monthly lessons are substantial in their topics and coverage. Newcomers to the area will appreciate the discussion on questions to ask and to answer before starting to landscape a slope with an unfamiliar elevation. Illustrated directions in “Plant a Tree” and “Pruning Basics” give us all more confidence approaching these projects.

“Landscaping with Native Plants” is timely as more gardeners are concerned for the entire ecosystem surrounding us in these mountains. We’re also told how to water our gardens adequately without wasting water. “Lawn Care: Going Greener” helps us figure out what to do to maintain a lawn without harming water and air quality, and how to avoid over-use of fertilizers and insecticides.

Mountain gardeners learn right away that we share our space with birds, bats, bees, butterflies, and wild mammals that urban dwellers rarely see. “Landscaping for Wildlife: 10 Tips,” tells us precisely what we can do to support this magical community.

On a gloomier note, “The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid” gives basic information on how a tiny insect creates such devastation in our forests. You’ll find recommendations for controlling the loss of hemlocks on your property.

Nearly every page of the almanac has blurbs helpful to both new and seasoned gardeners. These aren’t the quirky tidbits that typically liven up a farmer’s almanac; they are sound, practical tips for the everyday gardener who is still learning. Short pieces on mulching, factoring in soil temperature, hardening off transplants, nurturing earthworms, identifying lady beetle larva and other useful topics—all have the voice of real gardeners, the kind with calloused hands and bib overalls.

If you use the web, you will appreciate the almanac’s detailed, step-by-step directions on “How to Get More Information on Gardening Topics.” You’ll be amazed at how much good, research-based information N.C. State University makes available to us.

You can get The Gardener’s Guide to Growing in the Mountains at the Haywood County Extension Center, 589 Raccoon Road, across from the Mountain Research Station test farm. Price of the almanac is $5, just barely above production costs. It’s a bargain.

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

Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a historic and scenic farm in Buncombe County, has been permanently protected through a conservation agreement with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

The family-owned farm raises livestock and grows produce found at several grocers, including Earth Fare in Asheville. In exchange for pledging conservation of the tract, the family received more than $1 million for protecting nearly 300 acres of the farm. The bulk of the money came from the N.C. Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, to the tune of $700,000. Matches came from the Buncombe County conservation fund and private donors.

The scenic farm is an important part of the landscape marked by the new state parks of Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Gorge.

The farm straddles the designated Drovers Road Scenic Highway. Travelers of the road lodged at Sherrill’s Inn, the centerpiece of the farm.

The Clarke family faced a tough decision, as the property is in a prime spot for development, which could be lucrative for the family.

“But we looked at that and said, ‘no, we don’t want to do it,’” said Annie Clarke Ager, one of the landowners. Ager said the family is grateful to the citizens of the state for funding the conservation.

The farm is owned collectively by the six living children of the original property owners.

“The conservation easement is beneficial for family relationships because it settles important previously unanswered questions about how the family property will be managed and used in the future,” said Ager.

“This conservation easement was the only option our family had to keep our farm and forestland intact for future generations,” said Doug Clarke, part-owner of the property.

A recent court victory by the state of North Carolina will require the Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce emissions at four coal-fired power plants close to the state line and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once these modifications are complete, it should substantially help clean the air we breathe every day. But we hope this decision is a tipping point in the long-term effort to force utilities, manufacturers and others to make use of the latest technologies as this country makes the move toward cleaner, smarter, and less use of polluting fossil fuels.

The TVA has long been a poster child for companies that embrace a philosophy whereby the environment always plays second fiddle to economics. Although some of its plants were modernized over the years, the utility giant also regularly relied on technicalities in the 1970 Clean Air Act to keep from meeting the law’s stated principles. Those interpretations of the law allowed TVA to modernize its plants without installing the newest pollution-control technologies.

That meant Western North Carolina and east Tennessee residents never benefited from the Clean Air Act as we should have. The dirty air from the giant coal-fired utility plants became the major contributor to dirty air that obscured mountain views, damaged trees, streams and wildlife, and led to asthma and other pulmonary-related illnesses in many residents, especially children and the elderly.

The court ruling could become very symbolic in the effort to convince other utilities and private companies to do a better job of cleaning their emissions and reducing them. North Carolina’s court case was preceded by the passage of its own Clean Smokestacks Act in 2002. North Carolina’s two utility giants — Progress Energy and Duke Energy — forged a compromise with legislators. The utilities would clean up their emissions while being allowed to slightly raise power bills to pay for the work. In other words, citizens paid to clean up their air.

The TVA ruling comes just as the Bush Administration is leaving office. That administration’s wars in the Middle East and its economic policies grabbed most of the headlines over the last eight years, but it also did little to lead with new ideas about energy and pollution. In fact, it continually sided with corporate lobbyists who argued to maintain the loopholes in the Clean Air Act.

The Obama administration is promising a different strategy. Our dependence on imported oil is seen as a foreign policy liability and our energy policy is viewed as outdated. By moving toward greener technology, smarter energy use and less reliance on coal and oil, jobs will be created and we will become the world leader in the emerging new energy industries.

North Carolina acted on its own to clean up its act, and TVA had to be ordered to do the right thing. In both cases, the right decision was made. Perhaps this victory for residents of Western North Carolina is symbolic of a new era where the flashpoint between the economy and energy doesn’t always mean sacrificing the environment. That would be a welcome change.

A new rule could make it easier to open up trails in national parks to mountain biking.

Mountain biking isn’t banned in national parks as a matter of course, although it is rare to find parks where it is allowed. Before allowing mountain bikes, a park must undergo an extensive environmental analysis heavily laden with opportunities for public comment.

The rule change would loosen the requirements, allowing what amounts to an “abbreviated analysis,” said Greg Kidd, a representative with the National Parks Conservation Association Asheville office. Needless to say, Kidd’s organization is against any truncation of the process.

“We feel strongly it is important to have the full analysis and that includes public participation and opportunity for the public to weigh in,” Kidd said.

But Kent Cranford, owner of Motion Makers bike shop in Sylva, thinks the current process is so arduous that it is essentially a barrier.

“This new rule change will make that process much easier. Right now it is an ugly process,” Cranford said.

Cranford said the rule change will streamline the process, not totally skirt it.

“My understanding is that it won’t remove any barriers of making sure mountain bikes aren’t going to damage anything. They are still going to have to go through the environmental process and the approval process,” Cranford said. But it wouldn’t be as burdensome, time consuming or costly to the park.

The rule change came at the suggestion of outgoing President Bush, a mountain biker himself, in his final days in office. The proposal could be dead in the water already, however.

“When Obama came in, they put a freeze on all rule changes that had been promulgated by the outgoing administration,” said Bob Miller, spokesperson for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “At the end of any administration there is a lot of rule making, or changing, as they go out the door. The new administration wants to catch their breath and decide which are in play. There is no telling when this one will move forward.”

A public comment period has been underway for the rule change and will expire Feb. 17.

To read the rule change, go to edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-29892.htm. To comment, go to www.regulations.gov and use the code 1024-AD72.

— By Becky Johnson

By Bob Scott • Guest Columnist

A municipality would never think of electing a chief of police. But in North Carolina, sheriffs are elected like a high school popularity contest. When I tell people there are no qualifications required to run for sheriff, they are amazed.

Anyone can be elected sheriff without ever having completed first grade — although it’s not likely. A sheriff does not have to complete basic law enforcement training or have any law enforcement experience. This issue has surfaced again with the incident involving Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran.

Media reports say Cochran has had no law enforcement experience nor has he undergone basic law enforcement training. (The Smoky Mountain News, Jan. 21-26)

It is time for counties to do away with this archaic office bound by tradition and transfer the law enforcement function to professionals hired by and answerable to a commission or other oversight body. A county could still have an elected sheriff, who would be responsible for the jail, court security and civil process. The law enforcement function would be taken over by county police headed by an appointed chief. This would take partisan politics out of the law enforcement function, bring professionalism to the office, and establish accountability to the public.

Presently, the only control county commissioners have over a sheriff is his/her budget. Otherwise, the sheriff is not answerable to anyone for four years until he/she has to answer to the public at election time. Unfortunately, without any oversight, the public is often unaware of a sheriff’s effectiveness.

One argument to keep the office of sheriff is that it is the only office mentioned in the North Carolina Constitution. However, there is no mention in the constitution of the sheriff having law enforcement powers or protecting life and property.

Just for argument’s sake, here is a sampling of requirements some small towns are requiring in current advertisements for police chiefs:

• Archdale (Pop. 9,900) Bachelor’s degree. MA preferred in criminal justice related fields, advanced law enforcement certificate, high-level supervision experience.

• Mount Gilead (Pop. 1,389) Associate’s degree and minimum of three years experience.

• Erwin (Pop. 4,770) Must have thorough knowledge of law enforcement practices, procedures, requirements and working knowledge of administrative principles, finance, accounting and computers.

Another difference between a municipal police department and a sheriff’s office is that a sheriff may swear in a deputy. This allows that deputy to carry a badge and gun with powers of arrest for a year before attending Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). Currently BLET is over 600 contact hours and is generally taught through the community college system. A municipality may not put a police officer on patrol with arrest powers until that officer has completed state mandated BLET. Other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies do not give an officer power of arrest until they successfully complete required training.

It is a common practice across North Carolina for sheriffs to fire and/or demote deputies who do not actively support their election. So if a deputy disagrees with a sheriff, he can lose his job for political reasons. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld this draconian practice. What other law enforcement or governmental agency can be so unreasonable in dealing with employees without due process?

It is time for North Carolina counties to establish county police departments, or at the least give deputies some form of civil service job protection and a grievance procedure overseen by neutral and objective persons. Sheriffs should have to abide by the same personnel regulations as other law enforcement agencies.

Many deputies loyal to the criminal justice system have had their careers cut short because of politics. Loyalty to the sheriff is seen as more important than loyalty to the criminal justice system and the public. When sheriffs demote or fire well trained and experienced officers, the taxpayers lose as well as the officers.

Another problem with the office of sheriff is the cost of the political campaign. The public should be concerned that sheriffs, unlike police chiefs or other law enforcement officials, become obligated to campaign contributors. The sheriff’s race is often the most expensive local race.

It hasn’t been too many years ago that the law was changed to require district attorneys to be lawyers and most counties have now done away with elected coroners in favor of medical examiners. Several counties have opted for county police. So there is precedent for counties to consider a move to county police.

(Bob Scott served as Executive Officer of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. He has degrees in criminal justice, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and earned the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the N.C. Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission. He may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

Haywood County officials want to tap the pent up methane in the county’s landfill to help the environment and hopefully make a little extra cash.

The county has been eyeing the possibility of a methane recovery system at two of its landfills for several months, and is now preparing a bid to send out to companies that would set up and run such an operation.

Methane is a greenhouse gas generated by decaying food scraps, paper and other organic trash. Recovering methane could benefit the county financially in several ways.

“It’s the environmentally correct thing to do, and it’s a revenue source for the county,” said Commissioner Mark Swanger, who helped drum up support for the effort.

The county could flare off the gas, earning carbon credits in the process that it could sell on the market. Methane is most harmful to the environment when it seeps out of the landfill in raw form, but when burned off, it’s not as bad. That positive contribution to air quality would create the carbon credits, a commodity bought and sold on the market by polluters.

Or, the county could convert the methane gas to electricity to be sold over the power grid. Another option is the methane recovery system in place in neighboring Jackson County, where landfill methane is used to heat greenhouses and power craft operations like blacksmith forges and glass blowing furnaces.

Whatever the county chooses to do with the methane gas, it will make a profit — as much as $2 million over a ten-year period, according to Swanger.

And by partnering with a private company rather than go it alone, the county is maximizing profit by avoiding the high up-front costs associated with green technologies.

“There would be no up-front to the county at all, no risk, and no liability,” said Swanger. “It’s a win-win situation.”

County Solid Waste Director Stephen King said it’s important that whoever operates the methane recovery system not interfere with the landfill’s day-to-day operations.

“First and foremost, we are operating a landfill, and they should understand they can’t interfere with any of our operations to do this,” King said.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley emphasized that the county make an effort to recruit one of several local businesses to operate the methane recovery system.

“I would like for us not to overlook what we have in the county,” Ensley said.

— By Julia Merchant

Drake Software CEO Phil Drake is taking the tough economic times with ease.

He believes he can get through the recession without closing any businesses or laying anyone of his employees off. With 500 employees, Drake is the second largest employer in Macon County.

“Overall our business is up, especially in software,” Drake said.

Drake pays out about $16 million in payroll and benefits annually.

“I really want Franklin and Western North Carolina to be a player when our kids grow up. I don’t want them to have to leave home to find a good job.”

Being responsible for so many employees’ livelihoods, Drake said he has some “trepidation.”

“There’s a huge responsibility in making payroll every Friday,” Drake said.

Other than his own businesses he also worries about the country.

“Our country has some dangerous times ahead,” he said. “Our country has got to stop spending more money than it has.”

Other than the software company, Drake has built a small business empire across Macon County: an Athlete’s Foot, Christian bookstore, a print shop, 9-hole golf course, a Microtel franchise, the Fun Factory, a marketing company, Internet service provider, a Christian radio station, construction company and a Verizon store.

And on July 3 he will open his 1,500-seat performing arts center in Macon County with the Oak Ridge Boys kicking it off. Charlie Daniels will also play at the center soon after, he said.

Out of all his businesses, his software company is the most profitable. Of his 500 employees, 300 of them work in the software side, he said.

“The software business is great,” Drake said. “I write tax software for accountants. That business is recession proof. People have to file income tax returns no matter what.”

Drake said his software business is up 14 percent this year. He said 30,000 accountants use his software, and his product does 10 million tax returns a year.

Business is up because, “We have a real good sales team and God has put me in a good place,” he said.

All of Drake’s other businesses are down, he said, adding that they started going south in September when gas hit $4 a gallon.

For instance, the Fun Factory isn’t on people’s priority list these days as they struggle to buy groceries and pay bills.

Drake may cut back on part-time high school workers at The Fun Factory.

Likewise, employees for his construction company have seen less work because of the slowdown, but there have been no permanent layoffs, Drake said.

“There have been weeks where there hasn’t been work to do,” Drake said.

Business will pick back up some when the weather improves, Drake said, noting that there is always a slowdown during the winter months when tourists aren’t here.

Tourism will be down this summer, he predicts, but he can’t foresee how much. Hopefully his performing arts center will draw people to the area, and people who would normally make long summer trips may stay in the region this year, he said.

By the summer of 2010 he thinks the local economy will rebound.

“I think we are very near the bottom,” Drake said of the national economy.

WNC not hit as hard

Western North Carolina hasn’t been hammered as hard by the recession as other parts of the country like Washington state, which has seen Microsoft lay off 5,000 workers, New York or Detroit, which is hurting from the automobile decline, Drake said.

Jobs in the area are not dependent on GM, Wall Street and other industries taking a big hit, Drake said.

“I don’t think the recession has hurt us too much. If we have a big impact it’s less tourism,” he said. “Most people still have a job, most people are still making the same amount they were making. Gas prices are down now.”

Seattle could be a tough job market now with 5,000 Microsoft employees looking for a job, he said.

“Those types of layoffs haven’t hit Western North Carolina,” Drake said.

Also, there hasn’t been as much subprime lending here compared to the rest of the country, he said.

Unlike Dade County, Fla., where the bottom dropped out of property values, this area has seen more modest declines between 3 to 5 percent, he said.

“We’re not seeing stuff drop through the floor,” Drake said. “There are not as many foreclosures.”

However, Drake acknowledges that North Carolina’s unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in December — the highest since 1993 — and that some small businesses are closing.

In fact, Drake, who’s been in business for 35 years, says it is still the worst he’s ever seen.

“It wasn’t this bad in the ‘70s during the oil embargo,” he said. “I remember having to line up at the gas station, and you could only buy $5 of gas or buy gas on even or odd days based on you tag number.”

A bad plan

Something has happened in the past 40 years to make the United States go from the greatest creditor nation in the world to now the largest debtor nation, Drake said.

“Part of it is that we are spending more money than we take in,” he said.

And he said the nation is about to do it again with the proposed stimulus plan.

“We’re about to spend $819 billion we don’t have,” Drake said.

Drake would prefer if the government took a laissez-faire approach.

“The best thing the government could do for the economy is stay out of it,” Drake said. “Doing nothing is better than what they’re doing.”

The government got the country into the current economic situation by encouraging banks to make sub-prime mortgages to unqualified buyers so low-income people could realize the American Dream, Drake asserted.

The Federal Reserve artificially lowered interest rates to entice people to buy homes they couldn’t afford, Drake added.

If anyone is to blame it may be whoever was on the Senate Finance Committee when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac gave 0 percent down home loans, Drake said.

Drake calls the proposed stimulus plan before the Senate a “bad plan.”

“It ‘s bad for several reasons,” Drake said. “It’s not going to stimulate the economy. We’re just borrowing from our kids. We’re putting ourselves further in debt.” Moreover, the plan has lots of pork barrel spending.

“Some of it’s going to Planned Parenthood. It’s a bad bill.”

The bill has been compared to FDR’s New Deal in that it proposes to create jobs building roads and bridges across the nation.

“My grandfather did some WPA work laying rock along the roadsides,” Drake said. “I’m not saying it won’t help a few people.”

The economy will recover on its own if the government stays out of it, Drake said.

“Businesses have done well in America on their own for over 200 years,” Drake said. “That government is best that governs least. American people are ingenious and hard working and if left to their own devices will succeed.”

By Curtis Cochran • Guest Columnist

As sheriff of Swain County, I would like to take this opportunity to respond to your editorial dated Jan. 28 (“Questions for the high sheriff”) and, in so doing, make reference to your article of Jan. 21 (“Incident heightens tensions between county, sheriff”). Both of these pieces were based in part upon an anonymous letter received by The Smoky Mountain News. The author of this letter is apparently unknown, and your Jan. 21 article quotes the Swain County Manager as saying “it was signed with a false name.” Your article further states that it was received by Swain County Commission Chairman Glenn Jones from its original anonymous source. It was then forwarded by the Swain County Administration Offices to Swain County commissioners and various media outlets.

The letter — and portions of the resulting editorial — made a number of misleading, unfounded and blatantly untrue allegations concerning the conduct of both myself and members of my office with respect to our attempts to apprehend Jody Smallwood, a recent escapee from a Swain County Courthouse holding cell. Smallwood had previously been convicted of at least five felonies. These allegations are not only reckless but unfairly call into question the integrity and professionalism of a dedicated group of Swain County law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to insure that Swain County residents have a safe place to live. Attempts by anonymous persons to question the professionalism of these selfless individuals, without acquiring a complete understanding of the facts, is patently unfair and places these professionals in an even more dangerous position than they already possess.

With respect to my conduct, let me be clear that I, at all times, acted professionally and in the interests of, and with due caution for, the public, law enforcement personnel, and Mr. Smallwood. In the first paragraph of your editorial, you state that I “fired [my] gun at an escapee....” Thereafter, in the third paragraph, you again imply that I fired at Smallwood.

This is not true. There was never a shot fired at anyone during the Smallwood pursuit. Rather, in an attempt to bring the extremely dangerous situation to a safe conclusion, I fired two shots at the rear tire of the van that Smallwood was using to elude pursuing officers. Indeed, at least one of these shots hit the tire, ultimately disabling the van and playing a part in bringing it to a stop.

This occurred after Smallwood had recklessly traveled down Main Street in Bryson City at a dangerous rate of speed, made a left on Veteran’s Boulevard and, when turning east on to U.S. 74, exceeded the 100 mph mark. Once on U.S. 74, Smallwood continued to travel on rain-soaked roads to the Hyatt Creek Exit, where he exited the freeway, lost control of the van, spun the vehicle in a 360-degree turn, regained control and continued back onto 74 East, again at a high rate of speed.

After re-entering U.S. 74, Smallwood then brought the vehicle to a stop in the road. I exited my vehicle to take him into custody. At that point, he again accelerated and, fearing that he would injure or kill innocent travelers, I fired two shots at the rear tire of the vehicle. I did this while standing on the pavement. At no time did I fire from a moving vehicle, which was alleged in the anonymous letter.

Mr. Smallwood’s conduct placed the lives of Swain County citizens and visitors in jeopardy and was an immediate threat to their health and safety. It was my firm belief, then and now, that capture of him was necessary and that discharge of my weapon in an attempt to safely do so was justified. I based this belief, in part, upon Smallwood’s criminal history, his previous attempts to elude Swain County officers and events which occurred earlier in the day.

For instance, shortly after his escape from the courthouse lockup, Smallwood approached an 81-year-old woman, requesting that she give him a ride. At that time, the lady did not know that Smallwood was an escapee. At his direction, she drove him around Bryson City. Smallwood lied to her, saying he had been in a car wreck and wanted to go to the store. He then directed her to go to the 288 Boat Ramp and, when she refused to do so, he said that he wanted to go to his sister’s house. (His sister lives in another state.)

After driving for some time, they ended up in the Watson Hollow area, where he told this lady that he could not get out the passenger side of the vehicle and asked her to let him exit from her side. She felt that something was wrong and took the keys out of the vehicle before she let him out the driver’s side. Smallwood then went into the woods and left this lady to find her way back home. The Bryson City Church of God is just over the embankment from where Smallwood left the lady. This is where he stole the van.

Significantly, this was not the first time that Smallwood led law enforcement in Swain County on a high-speed pursuit through a downtown area. Two days prior to the Monday pursuit, Smallwood led federal, state, tribal and county officers on a high-speed chase that began in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, went through downtown Cherokee, west along U.S. 74, and ended across from West Elementary School. From there, Smallwood exited the vehicle and eluded arrest for another two hours. It was at this point that he was apprehended, after running through the woods for almost a mile.

On both of these occasions, Mr. Smallwood resisted law enforcement before being taken into custody. Indeed, resisting arrest and escape is consistent with Smallwood’s past. His multi-page criminal history contains numerous felony convictions dating back to 1989. In addition, he was wanted by officials in Georgia.

It goes without saying that Mr. Smallwood’s actions placed the lives and safety of third parties in jeopardy. His actions demonstrate that he had no reservations about driving through congested areas at high rates of speed. As sworn law enforcement officers, we were, at all times, acting with the utmost care and concern for the people of this county. This matter was handled professionally and, as a result of our actions, a dangerous individual is off the streets. My job is to protect and serve the people of Swain County, and that is what I intend to do as long as I am sheriff.

In your editorial, you made reference to my lack of law enforcement experience at the time that I was elected and began serving the people of Swain County. Again, this is misleading. As sheriff, I have graduated from the Sheriff’s Leadership Institute, which was held over several months in Raleigh and at Duke University. I am continually updated on all aspects of the sheriff’s office and, as a working sheriff for over two years, I have received training and experience that can only be acquired by day-to-day, hands-on interaction with the job. In addition, as sheriff, I qualify with my weapon on the same range and schedule as every deputy in this office.

When I ran for sheriff, I presented the citizens of Swain County with my qualifications and vision. After reviewing my background, these same citizens had enough faith in me to elect me Sheriff of Swain County. I appreciate the confidence that the people have placed in me and I will never overlook the fact that I, along with my staff, are at all times public servants.

Finally, in your initial article, you published portions of the anonymous letter. While this is certainly your right, it appears contrary to your own Anonymous Source Policy. That aside, it is very easy for someone to write a letter containing libelous allegations about a public official and then fail to sign it or, worse, use someone else’s name.

As sheriff of Swain County, I have always had an open-door policy. If any member of the public wishes to speak with me concerning the actions of either myself or sheriff’s office personnel, all they have to do is come to the sheriff’s office and ask. We will show them the same high degree of courtesy, professionalism and respect that we would any other resident or visitor of Swain County. The Office of Sheriff of Swain County has always been a position of high honor and integrity. And, with respect to the last paragraph of your Jan. 28 editorial, neither I nor the sheriffs of Swain County who preceded me have ever held ourselves to be above the law which we are sworn to uphold.

(Curtis Cochran is sheriff of Swain County. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

T&S Hardwoods General Manager Jack Swanner sat in his office with an ashtray full of cigarette butts next to him and an unopened bottle of merlot on his desk.

Laying beside him was a Wall Street Journal, and Swanner said the news was bad.

“It says the same thing they all say, the world is going to hell,” Swanner said of the newspaper. “I barely read them anymore.”

However, the headline that day was fairly optimistic: “Price Cuts Spur Home Sales.”

Swanner has hope, too, even though business is down 40 percent.

“This is not the end of the world or the United States,” Swanner said. “This is the worst recession we’ve been in in my lifetime. The system will fix itself. There will be people who make it. There will be prosperity, but there is going to be a lot of collateral damage and carnage.”

‘I don’t like not producing’

Through the window of Swanner’s Sylva office the sawmill yard is seen but there are no forklifts moving, no loading trucks filled with boards, no workers walking about like there would normally be — just stacks of wood sitting in what appears to be a ghost town.

The empty work yard is reminiscent of what is going on around the country with few people working and fewer products being produced.

“It is a ghost town,” said Swanner, a tall burly man who hates to see his beloved hardwood industry in the pits.

“I don’t like not producing, I don’t like not working,” said Swanner, as he walked around the sawmill yard.

In January Swanner made the tough decision to cut his 75 employees’ hours to 18 a week compared to their usual 40 or more. Now employees only work Monday and Tuesday — the rest of the week the plant is closed.

“Until sales increase, we can’t run more,” Swanner said. “It’s sad seeing the economy this way. The men are not getting the hours they need.”

The cutback hours will continue into February, Swanner said.

Businesses associated with the logging industry are hurting also. The sawmill once contracted with three trucking companies to haul lumber, but now there is only one.

“You’re literally looking at the death of an entire industry,” said Swanner as he leaned back in his office chair.

He noted that a sawmill in Canton that was in business for 70 years just closed.

“Numerous loggers are sitting at the house, and the people working for them are sitting at the house,” Swanner said.

The sawmill’s employees are not the type of people who enjoy not working.

“There’s not a man or woman out here that wants unemployment or welfare,” Swanner said.

Swanner also has a strong work ethic and despises greedy CEOs like a recent corporate bank president who allegedly spent $1.2 million remodeling an office and Bernie Madoff, who masterminded a scam that bilked millions from investors.

There is a mindset of greed in the United States and a certain class of people with no work ethic, he said. But for the most part he believes Americans are still hard workers.

‘Mad at the system’

Sawmill yard supervisor Sandy Johnson has worked at the sawmill for 37 years and has never seen the economy this bad.

Since 1946, the sawmill has been in steady operation. Some employees have grandfathers who worked at the plant.

But today, as Johnson walked around the yard he said the employees worry about making their home and car payments.

When the tough decision was made to cut workers’ hours, Swanner gathered each shift at a safety meeting and broke the news in person.

“They’re not mad at us, they’re mad at the system,” Swanner said. They know what’s going on in the economy and the world.”

The sawmill relies on global demand to survive, shipping hardwood to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Italy and China.

Now the entire worldwide market is in the dump. In fact, he said the economy is probably worse in Europe than it is in the United States.

“Every market in the world is gone,” he said. “There is no international business being done.”

However, there was some good news last week. Three loads — white oak, maple and poplar — were just shipped to Israel.

Pointing out tall stacks of wood in the yard under canopies, Swanner said there usually isn’t so much inventory. Some of the boards are bundled with double straps of wire, meaning it will be shipped overseas, and the other boards only have a single strap to show that they stay in the United States.

Stimulus strategy

Prior to the economic downturn, Swanner’s company produced about 16 million to 17 million board feet a year, but now it’s down by half. Something needs to be done to stimulate the home building industry to help turn things around, he said.

The $819 billion stimulus bill passed by the House and under review by the Senate this week needs to create jobs, he said.

He disagrees with where some of the money would be spent, saying it won’t do the country any good. He noted that the bill plans to spend $135 million fighting sexually transmitted diseases and $50 million for the arts.

That money should go toward creating real jobs, Swanner said.

“We need to put someone to work fixing an electrical grid,” Swanner said.

Projects here at home like fixing an archaic sewer system in Waynesville might be a good idea, he said.

Politicians need to set aside partisan politics and work for the betterment of the country, he said. Issues like abortion and gay marriage need to take a back seat.

And laying blame for the country’s poor economy can wait, he said.

“I don’t care whose fault it is; we’re in a crisis,” he said, adding that he doesn’t care if the blame goes all the way back to Reagan.

Swanner thinks Obama will make a good president, but the challenge is taking a fragmented Congress and making them work together.

Congress, he said, has got to understand that they were sent there for the betterment of the country.

It is regrettable that the United States went away from being a manufacturing country to a “financial services” county, Swanner said. The country needs to get back to producing jobs like electricians, miners and plumbers, he said.

“We need to manufacture something and sell it,” he said. “We don’t need to lose that.”

One of the problems in this country is that math and science scores for American children have “plummeted,” he said, resulting in fewer engineers.

No matter what happens with the proposed $819 billion stimulus bill, there will still be a massive debt passed on to Swanner’s children and other generations, he said.

Swanner remembers the recession of 1982 and 1991, but the difference with this downturn, he said, is that it is bigger worldwide.

Jackson Paper employee Tim Coggins Jr. has something a lot of people don’t have these days — job security.

Jackson Paper has not laid off any of its 120 employees and doesn’t plan to.

“That makes me feel excellent,” said Coggins, whose father also works at the plant. “Being a young father that’s really important.”

The Sylva company pays out $9 million in wages and benefits annually.

The plant produces corrugated medium — the middle layer of a cardboard box that gives it stability.

Jackson Paper is avoiding layoffs by keeping production costs low by burning wood shavings for fuel rather than coal or oil, said Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey L. Murphy.

With 55 competitors across the country, Jackson Paper has the seventh lowest production cost.

Still the company saw a 20 percent drop in business in November, but rather than curtailing production and laying off employees, it expanded its customer base.

Murphy is not too optimistic about the stimulus package.

“We hope it works, but we’re not keeping our fingers crossed that it will help Jackson Paper,” Murphy said.

Waynesville manufacturer Associated Packaging also has not laid off any of its 150 employees. The company makes plastic packaging for the frozen food industry, like the trays microwaveable dinners come in.

Plant Manager Gerald Jensen said business is down a little but not substantially.

Jensen also has problems with the stimulus package. “My personal opinion, I don’t think much of it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s promoting growth. I think there’s a lot of pork spending. Basically it’s growing the federal government.”

There is not enough money in the stimulus package to turn things around quickly, said Tektone Sound & Design Vice President of Marketing Johnny Mira-Knippel.

Tektone, a Franklin company that manufactures nurse call systems for hospitals and assisted-living facilities, employs about 70.

If the stimulus package benefits health care, Tektone could see an increase in business.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” said Mira-Knippel, whose company has offered early retirement to some employees and temporarily laid off workers.

But in order for the stimulus package to be more effective it would require trillions of dollars, not $819 billion, which will only “soften the blow,” Mira-Knippel said.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Feb. 3 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of music legend Buddy Holly, who was 22 when his plane crashed in Iowa.

Celebrating the music of Holly and giving fans a chance to experience the man behind the music, “Rave On!” will be performed this Friday on the campus of WCU’s FPAC.

“It’s a two-hour high energy rock ’n’ roll extravaganza,” said actor and musician Billy McGuigan.

Performing 30 to 40 Holly songs, McGuigan will share the stories behind the music while portraying Holly.

While the show touches on Holly’s tragic death with suggestions of what might have happened, the primary focus is celebrating his musical relevance.

The actor originated the production in 2002 and has been touring the show around the United States since, backed by an eight-piece band performing songs such as “Maybe Baby,” “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day.”

About half the songs are true to the original recordings while the others — some of Holly’s lesser known songs — have extra arrangements added that are 50-esque with an edge, according to McGuigan.

“I want the audience to walk away appreciating Buddy more,” McGuigan said.

The Actor

McGuigan, 34, grew up on military bases around the United States. He moved to Omaha, Neb., in 1990 and started pursing acting.

“I started out at Northwest Missouri State because I followed my girlfriend, Rachelle, who is now my wife, and I had an acting scholarship,” McGuigan said.

McGuigan changed career directions to teaching and returned to Omaha after a year.

While enrolled at the University of Omaha he joined a band, and in 2002 received a phone call to be in a production of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.”

McGuigan admitted he wasn’t a huge fan of Holly’s before he was cast to play the part, adding he did know a few of his songs and loved the film “La Bamba.”

“It was a natural progression, and I fell in love with the music and saw how it has lasted so long and influenced so many people,” McGuigan said. “Buddy was passionate.”

McGuigan doesn’t think he looks like Holly and doesn’t try to impersonate him during the performance.

“I try to capture the essence of Buddy and portray him as what people would think he would be like,” McGuigan added.

The production

After performing Holly in over 375 performances, McGuigan won several accolades becoming the “preferred Buddy Holly” by the writers and producers of the show.

In 2004, McGuigan felt compelled to write his own show, “Rave On!,” which began as a one-man performance backed by a band.

“I wondered what would it be like if you could see Buddy Holly now, and how he would reflect on all the changes,” McGuigan said.

Performing in comedy clubs around Omaha, McGuigan found success and soon toured his production around the Midwest with his sights set on eventually performing off-Broadway.

“Rave On!” is currently booked for the next three years, and McGuigan has not only taken on the roles of performer and writer, but director and producer.

McGuigan doesn’t live the life of a rocker, noting professional performances demand keeping fit.

“Old friends may be surprised at me now because it’s not just about acting. I’m writing checks, making sure everybody’s in line, and that takes over. I’ve become sort of a workaholic because it’s something I’ve have wanted to do all my life. I’m just happy to be living the dream,” McGuigan said.

McGuigan has embraced the audience’s response to the music wholeheartedly as he has seen three generations of Holly fans standing and cheering during the performances.

“It’s a lot of fun letting loose, and Buddy Holly is the ultimate rock ‘n’ roller,” McGuigan said.

For tickets and more information, contact the box office at WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center at 828.227.2479. To order online, go to www.ticketreturn.com and select “need tickets” on the left-hand side. Select the “arts & entertainment” tab, and then find “FAPAC events” under the “Western Carolina University” heading.

The ban on guns in national parks will continue to remain in place for the time being, despite a move by the outgoing Bush Administration to lift the ban.

Environmental groups and park ranger associations joined forces in filing a lawsuit to keep the ban in place. The U.S. District Court granted an injunction that will keep the guns out of parks until the full case can be heard.

“This decision will help ensure national parks remain one of the safest places for American families and wildlife,” said Bryan Faehner with the National Parks Conservation Association.

Bush overturned the ban on guns in national parks just before leaving office in January. Previously, guns could not be loaded and had to be stowed if passing through the park with one in your vehicle. Bush’s new rule would have allowed loaded concealed guns to be carried on your person.

Park rangers came out en masse against the idea of allowing guns in parks due to safety, but ultimately failure to consider the environmental implications of guns secured this preliminary victory in court.

After years of grappling with the controversial issue of alcohol sales on tribal land, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will vote on June 4 whether to allow the sale of alcohol at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

If voters approve the measure, alcohol will be sold only at the casino. The rest of tribal land, known as the Qualla Boundary, will continue to by dry, with the sale of beer, wine or liquor banned in all other stores or restaurants.

In recent months, a petition gathered enough signatures to force the measure to be put on the ballot. Before a vote could be scheduled, however, the Tribal Council had to pass a resolution directing the elections board to hold the election. The Tribal Council did so this month.

The Tribal Council’s passing of the resolution is basically a technicality, but the council could have voted it down and stopped the election despite the petition signatures.

Alcohol is a sensitive cultural, religious and political issue for the Cherokee. Despite a push among some over the years to allow alcohol sales, political leaders have avoided voting on the issue themselves, and until recently were even reluctant to give their blessing to a referendum.

Last summer the Tribal Council narrowly voted to allow a referendum to decide whether alcohol should be sold at the casino, but Chief Michel Hicks vetoed it, saying alcohol dishonors the Cherokee forefathers.

However, Hicks said he would not veto the referendum this time since the people have spoken in favor of having an election. There were 1,875 tribal members who signed the petition.

Despite the negative connotations of alcohol for Native Americans, allowing sales at the casino would obviously increase revenues. Casino revenues are used to support tribal operations, from education to health care. A portion is also split among all tribal members in the form of twice annual checks.

With the casino business suffering slightly from the recession, checks are expected to be down. The alcohol vote will be held the same week those checks come out, so the issue will be at the forefront.

Cherokee Preservation Foundation recently awarded 25 new grants totaling nearly $3.2 million. Here are a few targeting the arts:

• A $600,000 grant was awarded to Cherokee Historical Association to complete stair and handicapped access upgrades and install new seats at the Mountainside Theatre, and to improve the Onconaluftee Indian Village by constructing a children’s learning center, creating a new outdoor market for craft sales, and renovating village dwellings. A separate $20,000 grant will enable CHA to develop a new Village Guide and Theatre Training program modeled after a program utilized by Colonial Williamsburg to train their guides to be certified historical interpreters.

• A $95,000 grant will support the continuation of the Festival of Native Peoples, a culture-based event featuring performers and artisans from tribes across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

• A $6,800 grant has been awarded to Cherokee High School so students can participate in a summer program to learn how to harvest, process and dye river cane basket materials.

By Karen Dill

The climatic temperaments in the month of March have been likened to gentle lambs or irascible lions. In the mountains, this description seems especially applicable. On March 1, the wind can whistle through the ridges like the roar of a grouchy lion or it can whisper as soft as a lamb’s kiss. The days that follow tend to be unpredictable and often down right crazy. We’ve had days in March when the schizophrenic weather ran the gamut: bright sunshine, rain, snow, sleet, horrendous winds and blue skies — and this was all in one day. March weather is crazy but fun and never boring.

My relatives are much like March weather. They seem to fall into climatic categories despite originating in the same gene pool. My aunts tend to be lambs; gentle and sweet while my uncles resembled lions with their roars and larger than life personalities. And strangely enough, the sweet lambs fall hard for their crazy and often dangerous lions and despite their tumultuous love, stand by their men.

One particular uncle, my father’s brother, a scowling man called Uncle Fat, reigned terror in my childhood. He did not marry until late in life so had no wife to buffer his behavior for many years. His actual name was Frank but that had evolved into Fat for no reason that I could ever discern. I dared not ask and he wasn’t telling. He was not overweight but he was as mean as a miser, a striped snake, and worse than a junkyard dog. Not only was he a bully, but Uncle Fat had a host of mean little dogs that shared his ancient single-wide mobile home with him and they were yappy and downright hostile to anyone who crossed the threshold. My mother was terrified of dogs and Uncle Fat loved to sic them on her when we visited. He sat on a broken down couch surrounded by spit cans while his legion of little dogs circled the tiny rooms of the trailer like demonic minions. My poor mother, a sweet and gentle lamb, cowered in a corner and the dogs, sensing that she was frightened, happily snapped at her feet. One actually bit her once and with broken skin and spirit, she burst into tears the minute we walked down those rickety trailer steps.

I was not afraid of dogs (or much of anything back then), but Uncle Fat managed to find my Achilles heel. Because I loved sauerkraut and swooned when my kind lamb-like Aunt Wilma (his sister), who lived next door, would give me a bowl full each time I visited, Uncle Fat decided to call me Cabbage-Head. I especially loved the pickled core and I alone was given that prize. And although everyone in the family loved cabbage as it was a year-round staple vegetable in the mountains and could be “boiled up” in a New York minute, Uncle Fat decided that I alone deserved that unflattering moniker.

Uncle Fat liked nothing more than to eat a plate of boiled cabbage, belch loudly, pass wind and complain bitterly to whoever would listen that the “old stink head” consumed “had sure ‘nough give me some powerful gas.” All of the uncles would vocalize an “amen” or nod their agreement depending on who was talking that week. They tended to have periods of silence and dark moods that were as ominous as a blustery cold night in March and could go for weeks without muttering a word.

I would swear silently that I’d as soon be an old maid than marry up with the likes of my uncles. Despite my love for my father, he too could be contrary as his brothers and was stubborn as a mule. His older brother, my Uncle Toot, had long bouts of silence and spent more nights sleeping in his truck than not. All the uncles were certainly colorful characters, and I did learn with maturity to tolerate their strange and often outrageous behaviors. At age 6, however, I was a bit sensitive and “prideful” as my mother reminded me — so “Cabbage-Head” stung.

I would examine my own head in the mirror, looking for signs of cabbage leaves and smell the air around me, sure that the name had permeated my body in some disgusting manner and because the name came from Uncle Fat, I tried with all my might to dislike the vegetable. I could certainly live without the greasy over-cooked mass that usually graced the pots of my relatives, but I craved the tart sauerkraut much like my uncles on my mother’s side craved moonshine. So I continued to eat it and at a family reunion in a moment of rash 6-year-old bravery (or stupidity) or maybe I was just drunk with the salt from the sour cabbage core, when Uncle Fat bullied me with the Cabbage-Head title, I snapped back with “and you’re a mean old fat-head.”

My remark, despite its truth, was met with cold stony silence from the uncles and soft gasps from the aunts. I had definitely crossed a line. While my father’s family was rough as a corncob and lacked many social graces, being disrespectful to one’s elders was frowned upon. What pleasure I derived from the snappy comeback quickly dissipated when I realized that a “whupping” was in my future. Later that day, I endured the pelts from the razor-sharp hickory stick with stoicism, blinking back tears with each stinging blow yet savoring a quiet pride in my soul that I had stood up for myself (however disrespectful and inappropriate my stance might be within my mountain community).

For a while cabbage was not my friend. Even though Uncle Fat gleefully continued calling me Cabbage-Head, I bit my tongue and held my peace. This was a lesson I would continue to learn the rest of my childhood and I’m still working on it. Take the bitter with the better, my mother would say, and Cabbage-Head became easier to bear when Uncle Fat had a stroke and the best he could mutter was “abby-ead.”

As the years passed, I learned to choose my battles, to avoid calling my children silly names and to enjoy cabbage prepared in new delectable ways. Despite my early association with this ordinary vegetable, I found it in a sweet and sour concoction on a plate of Jagerschnitzel in Germany, in a spicy slaw on fish tacos in Mexico, and the star of a gingered cabbage soup in New York City. Over the years I have sautéed diced cabbage with onions, diced sweet potatoes and green and red peppers for a simple and nutritious dinner. I have invented various coleslaw recipes using both green and red cabbage. I use it in soups and stews and once threw some diced cabbage in a meatloaf. And when March rolls around, cabbage is always teamed up with corned beef and potatoes for St. Patrick’s Day.

This year in honor of my Scotch Irish heritage, I prepared the traditional St. Patrick’s Day food in a nontraditional manner. My mother would prepare the meal the same each year — boiled cabbage, boiled then baked corned beef and boiled potatoes with butter — and while ritual is comforting, over the years, I would encourage her to divert from the same presentation. She would reluctantly agree to open the jar of hot mustard to smear on the corned beef or slice the loaf of dark rye that I brought from the big city of Asheville but her heart was never really into changing the time-honored tradition of plain meat, potatoes and cabbage. My father’s favorite part of the meal was drinking the pot liquor from the cabbage with crumbled cornbread, and that ritual was certainly not to be messed with in the name of culinary progress.

For this year’s meal, I have invited friends who are willing participants in my food experiments and are game for new dishes as long as we can wash them down with good local ale. I have decided on combining the meat and cabbage into cabbage rolls topped with a spicy Creole sauce. The potatoes are mashed with leeks and fresh horseradish, and I will bake a loaf of Irish soda bread for the first time. Dessert will be a pistachio pound cake that I made for my first set of in-laws in the ‘70’s in an attempt to impress them with a green dessert on St. Patrick’s Day. They frowned at a green cake (was it moldy?) but it was so moist and flavorful their disdain turned to reluctant approval for the dessert (not their new daughter in-law).

The cabbage rolls begin with a quick blanching of cabbage leaves. This has to be quick as you want the leaves to be pliable yet not too soft. As they are cooling and draining on a clean dish towel, the corned beef mixture can be formed into small oval balls in preparation for the stuffing. I have mixed ground spicy corned beef, some finely ground bread crumbs, sautéed onions, garlic and celery, a bit of catsup, a dash of hot sauce, salt, pepper and chopped fresh parsley together with a beaten egg to bind the mixture. I wrap the cabbage leaves around the beef mixture in burrito style, place in a glass baking dish and cover with a spicy Creole sauce. While the stuffed cabbage rolls are baking, I prepare the vegetables.

Potatoes are boiled and hand mashed with creamed horseradish, buttermilk, butter and freshly ground parsley and chives. I chop the remainder cabbage that I’ve used for the rolls with green and red chopped bell peppers along diced yellow onion and sauté the mixture in a little olive oil and vinegar. I season the cabbage side dish with salt, pepper, sugar and some red pepper flakes. It smells like the cabbage prepared in my mother’s kitchen but is a bit healthier I think and with the smells from the stuffed cabbage and horseradish potatoes, the smell is actually heavenly.

I’ve baked the Irish soda bread earlier in the day and despite its rather flat and bland appearance, I think that it will go well with the spicy meat dish The glorious green cake with a spontaneously inspired green icing was baked the day before and awaits its presentation on a green shamrock doily. It is St. Patrick’s Day, after all, and served with Irish coffee, the cake will be downright beautiful. Bolstered by the Guiness Ale served with the meal, limericks may be invented and blarney will reign as we praise cabbage, green cakes and all things Irish.

The meal is delicious — a crazy combination of sweet and tart, sturdy and delicate. The cabbage is a hit and I’m again reminded that cabbage is not a one-trick pony. It can be prepared in a number of delicious ways and grace any meal, despite its lowly and pedestrian roots. Like my uncles and aunts, that ordinary vegetable can be complex and interesting. Over time I’ve come to appreciate the subtleties in foods and in relatives. Some things in life can be taken at face value but family, despite their warts, offer many lessons and gifts from the heart. They offer variety and spice on mundane days in March, pepper us with humor, teach us humility and grace. I now realize that when Uncle Fat barked out his “Hey, Cabbage-Head” greeting to me each week, he was recognizing my uniqueness and testing my fortitude. Now, in my memory (a little foggy with age), I think I see a twinkle in his eye as he spits tobacco in his tin can and orders his mean little dogs to snap at me. Or maybe not—for memories like March weather and mountain relatives can be tricky.

Preserving Cherokee heritage goes beyond baskets, blow guns and pow-wows to the very foods and crops once grown and savored by the tribe centuries ago.

One of those important foods — for the Cherokee and any mountain dweller of yesteryear — was apples. There were dozens of varieties, nuanced in flavor and colorful in their names. Efforts are underway to propagate the heritage varieties.

At a workshop in Cherokee earlier this month, more than 30 different varieties of heritage apples were grafted — a far cry from the scant half dozen varieties you might find on supermarket shelves.

Some of the grafts will be planted in an orchard managed by the tribe while others will be taken home and planted in the yards of tribal members.

The project was a joint effort by the Cherokee Cooperative Extension, Aerators and Roanoke College.

One of the varieties that was grafted was the Junaluska Apple, a particularly significant variety among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as it was the favorite among the famous Chief Junaluska. Community members at the apple grafting workshop livened up the conversation with an argument over which apple varieties had the best flavor.

“Cherokee apple varieties were actually saved and curated right after the Cherokee Removal and the Trail of Tears by two very wise gentlemen,” said Jon Cawley, a professor at Roanoke College who is working on the project.

Namely Silas McDowell in Western North Carolina and Jarvis Van Buren from Georgia.

“They rescued the original varieties so that they can be re-established on sovereign Cherokee land today,” Cawley said. “After several generations, it is a very high privilege for me to be a part of the project to replant their original rare apple varieties on their sovereign estate.”

The AmeriCorps team also built a large shade house so the Center for Cherokee Plants could grow plants that need forested shade settings rather than hot sunny fields. They also planted white oak trees, a traditional material needed by basket makers.

“Heritage crops are important because they represent a living link between people and history,” said Phillip Hash, AmeriCorps member and event coordinator. “They maintain diversity of species and through this diversity allow for resistance to disease.”

Tribal members who run the farm and operate the Traditional Crops Seed Bank believe they are carrying on an important tradition.

“There is belonging to a heritage, and then there is living a heritage. I choose to live my heritage,” said Kevin Welch, operator of the Cherokee farm and seed bank.

According to the current Ornithological Union listing, the appropriate non-scientific name for a crow is “common crow.” How apt! Like most commonly observed objects, crows, for the most part, flit across our field of vision unheeded. Cawing, they flap away over the fields and into the woods like pieces of black flannel caught in a breeze. We hear and see them, but we don’t really pay attention. We rarely think about them. We never ask ourselves, “What are these birds up to?”

But that’s not the case with Lake Junaluska resident Sue Ellen Jackson. Lately, she’s been observing crows up close and personal — one crow in particular. His name is Roger. Here’s the story.

Some weeks ago, Jackson sent me the following email: “I often have crows visiting my porch (usually about five of them who all come together) because I put out assorted bird seed and food scraps, including small chunks of meat, fish, poultry, bread and leftover cat food .... the crows like the hearty food and it keeps them from stealing the seeds and nuts from the smaller birds. My other regular visitors include titmice, chickadees, house or purple finches (I can’t tell which), towhees, sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves, etc. I just scatter the seed and scraps rather than using a feeder, as this allows more birds to feed at one time, and the larger area gives each species plenty of room since they aren’t competing with bigger birds for the same food. Plus, I can watch them up close, which I enjoy.

“A couple days ago, I noticed an injured crow on the porch. One wing appeared to be dragging a bit, and I could see some feathers missing near his ‘shoulder.’ I tried to catch him in a box but he was able to evade me and run away (he couldn’t fly) and I was in my pajamas so I couldn’t chase him very far. He was back again today. He is able to hop up on the porch (the patio ledge is about 2-feet tall) and he seems healthy except for his wing, though I don’t know how long he can survive without being able to fly, especially in winter.

“I put out lots of extra food today and he ate well, then wandered off again, but I’m worried that some neighborhood cat or other predator will get him. Is there any animal-welfare agency that could trap him and fix his wing, or put him in a bird sanctuary if it can’t be repaired? Or, will it heal on its own, if I can provide plenty of food for him until it does?”

I replied: “Hello Sue Ellen . . . call one of your local animal hospitals and see if they know of anyone who does wild animal rescues ... let me know what happens ... good luck, George.”

On March 20, I received another email from Sue Ellen: “I’ve been meaning to get back to you about the injured crow I wrote about before. I was going to make another attempt to trap him so he could go to ‘bird rehab’ but he kept his distance. So I kept putting food out for him (table scraps — lots of protein and fat to help his bones mend) along with the regular birdseed (several kinds). At first he could only hop, but to my amazement his broken wing healed very quickly and soon he was able to fly, though at very low altitude ... barely a foot off the ground. The wing healed at a bit of an angle, and, when he walks, the wing tip touches the ground, but now he is flying just fine with the other members of his flock. He comes to my ‘bird breakfast buffet’ every morning, sometimes alone and sometimes with his pals. A happy ending.”

This past Monday afternoon I called Sue Ellen for an update. She reported that Roger’s doing fine and still comes to her porch a couple of times a day. Sometimes he brings along one or more of his crow pals. But most of the time he comes alone because, “He seems to like getting all the food himself,” noted Jackson. When asked, she added that she named him Roger, “Because he reminds me of a pirate, as in Jolly Roger.” She obviously likes Roger, and the feelings are apparently mutual. For her, Roger’s no longer a “common crow.”

George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Corned Beef with Spicy Creole Sauce

• 1 large head green cabbage

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 celery ribs, sliced

• 2 cloves (or more, if you like) of garlic, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 cups of diced or ground corned beef—I bake a spicy corned beef brisket a day or two before or if you want a short cut you can use 1 (15-oz.) can corned beef hash

• ? cup catsup with a dash or two of tabasco (or your favorite) hot sauce

• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs

• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1 beaten egg

• Yield: 6 servings

Separate 12 large outer leaves from the cabbage head. Set aside the remaining cabbage head. Remove the center vein from each leaf so it becomes more pliable. Soften the cabbage leaves in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from water with a slotted spoon; set aside until cool enough to handle.

Chop 1 cup of cabbage from the remaining cabbage head. Save any leftover cabbage to use in a stir-fry dish to serve with the meal. Cook and stir the chopped cabbage, onion, garlic and celery in oil over medium heat in a medium nonstick skillet until onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the diced corned beef , breaking it up with a spoon. Mix gently. Heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup catsup and breadcrumbs. Mix well. Cool slightly. When the mixture is cooled, add a beaten egg to help bind the ingredients.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of the corned beef mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll, tucking in the ends. Arrange cabbage rolls, seam side down, in a shallow baking dish. Pour Creole sauce over the cabbage rolls. Bake at 350 degrees, covered, for about 25 minutes, until heated through. To serve, spoon Creole sauce over cabbage rolls. Sprinkle with parsley.

Tip: Stuff the cabbage leaves the night before, then simply bake them for an easy St. Patrick’s Day dinner. The Creole sauce can be made well ahead of time and frozen. Just thaw and spoon over the cabbage rolls.

Spicy Creole Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• 2-3 large garlic cloves, minced

• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes

• 2 cups vegetable stock

• 2 bay leaves

• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon white pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme hot sauce, to taste

• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced

• salt, to taste

• black pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a medium size saucepan, over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the chopped onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic cooking until slightly wilted. Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

Add about 1 1/2 cups stock, taking care not to add too much. You can always add more if needed. Add the seasonings, bay leaves, hot sauce and worchestershire sauce; stir and reduce heat to simmer.

Mix the cornstarch with equal amounts of water and stir 1 tablespoon of mixture into sauce. Allow to cook for a few minutes, stir and add additional water/cornstarch mixture if the sauce looks thin or add additional stock if sauce is too thick. Simmer about 20 minutes adding additional stock as necessary. The last 10 minutes of cooking time, stir in the parsley and green onions. Remove bay leaves, taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Use the sauce to make your favorite recipe for shrimp creole, etc. This sauce can be frozen in a sturdy container and thawed in refrigerator before reheating and using.

Mashed Potatoes with leeks and horseradish

• Potatoes, peeled and quartered

• 3 leeks, sliced

• 2 tablespoons butter, divided

• ground black pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup sour cream or buttermilk

• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

• 2 teaspoons minced parsley

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and leeks and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash with 1 tablespoon butter and black pepper. Stir in sour cream, horseradish and parsley. Whip potatoes and place in medium serving bowl.

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter and pour over potatoes. Garnish with parsley springs. Serve immediately.

Irish Soda Bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/3 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 2 cups buttermilk

• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Pistachio Cake with Lovely Green Icing

• 2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant pistachio pudding mix

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

• 5 eggs

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 2 (1.5 ounce) envelopes instant dessert topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, 1 package pudding, water, eggs, and oil. Pour into a greased and floured Bundt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175) degrees C for 45 minutes, or until done. Allow to cool.

To Make Frosting: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 package instant pudding, milk, and instant whipped topping mix. Beat until thick, and spread on the cooled cake.

Sometimes what at first seems utterly ridiculous turns out to be a foreshadowing. It’s happening with water use in this country, and we expect in the not-too-distant future this resource won’t be taken for granted as it is today.

The Jackson County Water Study Task Force is going to disband after studying the county’s troubling water situation and making some common sense recommendations. Those ideas — which are not suggestions for regulations since the task force has no authority — include installing water saving devices in homes, modifying ordinances to prevent stormwater runoff, and reusing wastewater for irrigation, to name a few.

Here’s what’s happening in Jackson County and elsewhere in the mountains. It seems many wells are going dry with increasing frequency in this ongoing drought. The task force members estimate that as many as 25 percent of all new wells are replacement water supplies. The wells on these properties have simply stopped producing or have been so depleted they are sending up just a trickle of water.

Americans — especially in the East and especially in the mountains — have never worried much about our water. But as more homes are built in rural areas, meaning more well pumps sucking up groundwater, the plethora of creeks and springs we see around us does not translate into a similar plethora of water in the underground aquifers. So while more and more people use water from the same aquifers, runoff from solid surfaces means less and less of the rain goes into the ground to recharge aquifers. More water use, less recharging of aquifers, and a drought all add up to a big problem.

It’s almost laughable when one looks at how much water Americans consume. According to the American Water Works Association, the average person uses 69 gallons of water a day. Showers, toilets and washing machines account for about 68 percent of that amount. The Jackson County Water Task Force found that, on average, residents hooked up to the Tuckasegee Water and Sewer Association use 26 percent more than the average U.S. family.

At some point all this unregulated water use will change. Those who don’t believe that need only remember the stories of travelers — and this was into the late 1990s — returning from Europe or Third World countries who would come back laughing about how everyone overseas drank water out of bottles. “They’ll never be able sell water in the U.S.,” was the common refrain.

As it turns out, we will buy water from bottles, and lots of it. And towns with plentiful water supplies like Waynesville are now asking residents to voluntarily reduce usage. A bill discussed in last year’s General Assembly would have metered private wells to determine how much water is being used in households, presumably to consider affixing a tax or usage fee of some kind to those who use too much.

The only responsible option is to take advantage of available methods and reduce water use. Ask local leaders if they have plans for this looming problem. It’s much smarter to wean ourselves voluntarily rather than digging a deeper hole that will — sooner than later — lead to draconian government regulations.

By Linda McFarland • Guest Columnist

Imagine you are an eighth-grade student intent on learning all you can about social justice issues, and you have the opportunity to meet and study with a Nobel Peace Laureate. This dream came true for a group of PeaceJam student leaders from Waynesville Middle School when they traveled to a regional meeting in Tallahassee, Fla. They spent time with Betty Williams who received her award for leading peace marches in Northern Ireland and is now involved in environmental issues.

PeaceJam is an international educational program built around making just such experiences possible, so that these outstanding adults have the opportunity to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. This effort began in Denver, Colo., in 1996, with its mission to create a generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of twelve Nobel Peace Laureates.

Dr. Vicki Faircloth, professor of elementary and middle school education at Western Carolina University, brought the concept to Haywood County after reading about it while vacationing in Colorado. “I first saw an article in a newspaper in Aspen. Then as I traveled around, I kept seeing PeaceJam news in each city I visited. I was so impressed with the possibilities the program offered that I wanted to bring it to western North Carolina.” Faircloth talked to several principals, stressing that she wanted to recruit teachers who were eager to be involved, and passionate about social justice issues in their communities. She found just such a team in Ron Hundley and Frank Pollifrone at Waynesville Middle School.

Their group of 48 eighth-graders began working on Wednesday afternoons, developing service learning projects which address local needs and directly benefit people in the Waynesville area. They were assisted by student mentors from Western Carolina University under the tutelage of Faircloth and her colleague, Dr. Rus Binkley. The projects include teaching tolerance to a kindergarten class and a sixth-grade class; reviving a recycling program at WMS, and implementing one at Central Elementary; teaching water conservation to fifth-graders; raising money for lifestraws (a personal water purification system to send to Africa); assembling hygiene kits for use at the Open Door; and acquiring necessary items for folks at REACH and KARE.

The students took charge as they determined the populations they wanted to help and the needs they wanted to meet. Their teachers offered support and encouragement and gave the students plenty of latitude as they worked out the details of their ambitious undertakings. They learned by experience that they could have an impact and positive influence on their community. They found they could set a goal and figure out together how to realize them.

These PeaceJammers and their advisors have taken their story into our community. At a recent meeting of the Haywood Peace Fellowship, Morgan Trantham, Kayleigh McAlister, and Lindsay Kihnel described the basics of PeaceJam, and then fielded questions with eloquence and poise. The student leaders have addressed other civic groups as well as the county commissioners. Their teachers are quick to praise the commitment, maturity and energy of these students.

And Faircloth and Binkley laud the unstinting efforts of Pollifrone and Hundley in taking on this project and working tirelessly to see it to fruition. The immediate reward was the team’s work with Betty Williams at the regional meeting in Tallahassee March 21-22. The long-term benefits will be lifelong.

The team of middle-school PeaceJam Leaders and the PeaceJam Ambassadors (high school students) at Randolph Learning Center in Asheville are the only programs in North Carolina. Both groups are flourishing through an amazing number of connections and efforts, and they had their inception through the initiative and vision of Vicki Faircloth.

(Anyone interested in offsetting the expenses of the trip these students just returned from can contact Mr. Pollifrone or Mr. Hundley at Waynesville Middle School at 828.456.2403.)

Another landslide occurred a little over a week ago, this one leaving a home teetering on the edge of a precipice and in a position to potentially slide down the mountain when more rains come. And once again homeowners and regulators in the mountain region have few laws or protection to guide them in avoiding these natural disasters. We believe it is time for the state to enact a steep slope law barring construction in some dangerous sites and for the General Assembly to make landslide insurance available to homeowners in Western North Carolina.

As for the steep slope regulations, few counties have taken the initiative to enact strong ordinances. Opposition groups mount strong campaigns, and many county commissioners themselves think fewer regulations are best.

What lawmakers need to remember, however, is that is a public safety issue. Building on certain slopes is inherently dangerous. And while each homeowner or property buyer could choose to have an engineering study performed, it simply isn’t going to happen. A state law could mandate engineering reviews on certain grades and simply ban construction in some spots deemed too unstable. It really wouldn’t be that different from mandated beachfront setback requirements at the coast or laws barring construction in estuaries deemed environmentally sensitive. In some places it is just not a good idea to build anything.

The public safety argument needs to remain at the forefront of this issue as private property rights advocates jump into the fray. Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, introduced a steep slope proposal in 2007 that was not passed. It would limit building on slopes of 40 percent (a 22 percent grade) and rely on counties to do the inspections. This is a good start and hopefully will be reconsidered this year.

The insurance issue is more complicated but not impossible. Landslide maps for the entire state are supposed to be finished by 2014. These could be used to establish a safety rating system (kind of like the insurance industry uses to rate different kinds of cars) that would then let insurance companies use a sliding scale for setting rates.

As for homes already built, the mapping project and an engineering report could be used together to establish a safety rating, and there again this could be used to establish a rate.

A series of stories on landslides that was published recently by the Asheville Citizen-Times reported that only 40 buildings in the state have been destroyed by landslides in WNC since 1990. Compared to the beach homes ravaged by hurricanes or homes destroyed by fire, this is a relatively low number. The state developed an insurance pool for the coast to help insurance companies, and it seems only fair to demand that those companies doing business here insure mountain homes against landslide damage. Someone is just going to have to do some art twisting.

All that’s needed to get beyond the roadblocks on these issues is a stiff backbone by lawmakers who won’t buckle to the organized groups opposed to these measures. These kinds of laws would help manage growth, not stop it. And we all support reasonable measures that lead to responsible growth and promote public safety, right?

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Dressed in flip flops and shorts with an aroma of teen spirit in the air, students acting in the upcoming production of Swain County High School’s “Beauty and the Beast” are eager to recapture the magic of last year’s performance.

J Gilbert, the director/chorus and drama teacher at Swain County High School, calls the cast to gather around the stage. With the musical script in hand, Gilbert goes over upcoming cues.

“Beast takes Belle to the library, and I need all principles on stage,” Gilbert said.

There is a mutual respect and admiration for the production among these teens. The students want to be here and are keen to show off their best.

This will be the 10th show presented by Swain County High School and the first time a production has been repeated.

“Being a Disney film and a beloved tale that everybody knows and having so many kids come back, it seemed like the right choice,” Gilbert said.

With nine of the 12 principle actors returning from last year’s show, Gilbert felt an encore performance was eminent.

“I feel strongly this is the show we are suppose to do, and we want to recapture the magic of last year and do an even better show,” Gilbert said.

The director thought it would have been easier to reprise the production, but it’s proving just as challenging.

Gilbert has upgraded every scene in the musical, and added some dance numbers as well as revamped the set.

“Okay guys. Same place at the beginning of the song. Are you ready?” Gilbert announced to the cast as he cued the music.

There will be total of 48 students performing in the production with the lead acting parts portrayed by students from Gilbert’s vocal ensemble classes.

From building the sets to painting the scenery and playing in the band, there are a total of 100 students directly involved in “Beauty and the Beast.”

The support and volunteers from the community are another huge factor in the pride and enthusiasm of this musical, according to Gilbert.

On average the performance sold 400 seats a night last year in an auditorium that holds just under 500 seats equipped with a state-of-the art sound system.

“We’re starting on page 52 when Babette meets Lumiere on the steps,” Gilbert said.

A student from behind the curtain shouts out “Quiet on the set” while the cast gets in place. Students working on a trap door for Beast’s transformation scene stop using their screw guns while the students rehearse.

The cast

Half of the principle cast has plans to major or minor in theatre when enrolling in college.

The students took this year’s revised production to heart by looking for ways to improve and relish moments during their performances.

They took notes while watching a video of last year’s production to offer feedback to each other before rehearsals began.

“There are huge expectations to live up to after the show last year,” said Anna Burns, who is playing Babette.

“We really want to get people to come back and see it again,” Seth Crockett who is portraying Lefou shared. “It’s a second chance to fix and improve things.”

“We are a lot more comfortable with the characters and each other,” John Williamson who is playing Maurice added.

Robert Lowe who is playing the clock confirmed he is on a quest to perfect his British accent.

When asked to describe their production of “Beauty and the Beast” in one word, the teens shared “beastly,” “magical,” “enchanting,” and “awesome.”

The director

A Louisiana native, Gilbert has resided in the Bryson City and Cherokee area for 35 years and taught at Swain County High School for 20 years.

Gilbert started the drama program in 1989 and instructs three drama and chorus classes every year among directing a theatrical performance in the fall and the spring musical.

Gilbert’s motto is “practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice makes better.”

As a director the moment he savors the most happens on the opening night of a performance when the students are on the stage for the first time embracing the audience’s reaction.

“It can’t be taught or explained. It’s a unique thing,” Gilbert said.

Looking forward to sharing the experience of telling a tale as old as time, Gilbert believes in the message of “Beauty and the Beast.”

“It’s amazing that it’s not trite, “ Gilbert said. “Beauty really is on the inside and not on the outside.”

By Danny Bernstein

For the past year, I’ve kept a trail map of the Smokies and the trusted manual Hiking Trails of the Smokies, known affectionately as the brown book, stashed in the seat pocket of my car.

The telephone number for the road conditions is on my speed dial and I am on a first name basis with several rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

With my all-consuming endeavor to hike every trail in the Smokies now complete, I have become the 248th member of the 900 Miler Club. Though the club is called 900 Miler, there are now only 800 miles of maintained trails in the park, as shown by the GSM Trail Map. But you need to walk a lot more than 800 miles to do them all — some say 1,500 miles.

For all that effort, I only got a patch to sew on my pack — and bragging rights, of course. Logistically, it’s the most complicated hiking challenge I’ve done but physically it was not difficult. The Smokies are so well maintained that you can get really spoiled. Mile for mile, the Smokies trails are easier than the surrounding national forests.

When I moved to WNC, I had already done the 71.4 miles of the Appalachian Trail that traverse the park and knew how beautiful the trails were. I was thrilled to live so close to the Smokies. I then hiked a lot of easy miles, most on the perimeter of the park — what I call the top of the pops: Ramsey Cascades, Little Cataloochee Trail, the Deep Creek/Martin Gap/Indian Creek loop, Hemphill Bald and all the Mt. LeConte Trails.

I then did some obscure and fascinating hikes that only a 900-mile aspirant would do, like Brushy Mountain with its good view of Gatlinburg, Grapeyard Trail with its train engine remains and up to Gregory Bald from Twentymile Ranger Station. About that time, I finished the South Beyond 6000 which gave me the Balsam Mountain Trail. I went to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont several times and got a lot of pesky miles off Little River Road. One year, they organized a long shuttle from Clingmans Dome on the Sugarland Mountain Trail. Part of the challenge is to find other obsessed hikers so you can set up shuttles.

The two watershed backpacks were from the Fontana Marina, probably the most remote part of the park: the first was Eagle Creek and down Jenkins Creek. The second was a long loop involving Cold Spring Gap Trail, up Welch Ridge and down Hazel Creek. To me, those were the big challenges; I felt that if I could get those out of the way, I would finish.

But after those backpacks, I looked at the map yet again and the goal seemed even more impossible. I set up backpacking trips and people canceled. It rained and others canceled. Then I realized that I could do 18-plus miles a day by myself and it was no big deal. The last three months, I hiked 120 new miles. I had to repeat many more miles to reach the inner trails. For example, to reach Pole Road Creek Trail between Deep Creek and Noland Divide Trail, I had to rewalk seven miles.

I finished on the Indian Creek Motor Trail, a minor trail out of the Deep Creek entrance; it was important for me to finish on the North Carolina side. I will never know the park as well as I do now. So why did I do it?

• To really understand the park and how all the trails are connected. Before I moved to Western North Carolina, the Smokies to me was the Sugarlands entrance from Gatlinburg.

• Because it was there and the next obvious hiking challenge. It’s important to keep hiking little-known Smokies trails or the park may decommission them.

Like any challenge on the trail or in life, it’s not about physical strength or stamina. Hiking all the trails in the Smokies is all about perseverance, organizing and keeping your eye on the goal. But finishing any hiking challenge is bittersweet — grateful I’m done and sad that I don’t have to get out there anymore.

But now my husband caught the Smokies 900 bug and he has 200 miles to go. So I’m back in the park to help him.

Danny Bernstein, a hike leader and outdoor writer, is the author of Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage (2009) and Hiking the Carolina Mountains (2007). She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What’s a hiking challenge?

There are a host of hiking challenges that trail hounds in WNC can tackle. The 900 Miler Club, the endeavor to hike every mile of trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is one of the longest running. But there’s a few others.

• South Beyond 6,000, or SB6K: hike to the top of all 40 peaks in the Southern Appalachians that’s over 6,000 feet.

• Pisgah 400: hike all 400 miles of maintained trail in the Pisgah National Forest. About 120 trails.

• Lookout Tower Challenge: Hike to 24 fire towers in WNC.

• Waterfall 100: Hike to 100 predetermined waterfalls and cascades in WNC.

For details on the hiking challenges, go to carolinamtnclub.org and look for “challenges” on the left hand side.

By Jim Janke

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an incredible herb. Essential for tomato sauces, basil has plenty of other uses. You’ve not lived unless you’ve experienced chopped basil over fresh tomato slices in summer; bruschetta with tomatoes and basil; pesto made from fresh basil in the blender; basil infused vinegar, salad oil or butter; or (so I’m told) a few basil leaves floating in your bath water.

Basil is easy to grow — both in the garden and indoors — for a year-round supply. Sprinkle a few seeds on the top of a sterile planting mix, cover lightly, and keep moist and warm until the seeds sprout. Transplant into individual containers after the first true leaves appear. Seed indoors in mid-March for transplants ready to go outside in May. Basil doesn’t make the transition from indoors to outdoors easily, though; harden off your transplants by slowly increasing their time outside over a two week period. Or seed directly in the garden in mid-May and forget all the indoors stuff.

Seed again indoors in September, and you’ll have a supply for the kitchen by Thanksgiving. The plants make great hostess gifts all winter.

Grow basil in full sun (or on a sunny window sill). Keep well watered. Larger varieties benefit from pinching to encourage branching. Remove flower heads to maximize leaf production; this will also increase the leaves’ flavor. If plants get too large, cut back to the lower 3 or 4 sets of leaves. Cuttings from established plants are easily rooted in a sterile planting mix or water. Plants in pots tend to have smaller leaves than those growing in the garden. Basil belongs to the mint family, but is not invasive.

Basil varieties are endless. Seed catalogs show lemon, lime, cinnamon, and chocolate flavors, or with Italian, Thai, or French accents; leaves between 1/4 inch and 5 inches long, in serrated, ruffled, and “lettuce leaf” shapes; colors including purple, red, “African blue”, variegated, and all shades of green; and plants between 1 and 3 feet tall.

Our favorite basils: ‘Genovese’ is a large-leafed full-flavored Italian basil. My chef uses ‘Genovese’ in any recipe calling for basil, but especially in pestos. The 2 foot tall plants benefit from pinching.

‘Purple Ruffles’ looks like a coleus from a distance, but tends to stay more compact. This variety is normally grown as an ornamental, although it can be used as an herb. Plants are 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.

‘Green Bouquet’ leaves are tiny, which is useful if you don’t want to chop basil for a recipe or garnish. The plants grow into perfect 8 to 10 inch mounds. ‘Spicy Globe’ is a similar variety.

‘Pistou’ is a recent introduction with slightly larger leaves than ‘Green Bouquet’. My chef skewers the fingernail-sized leaves with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes to make “salad on a stick.” ‘Boxwood’ is similar to ‘Pistou’. Both are 12 inches tall and wide.

All of the above are available in many seed catalogs.

Many cookbook authors consider basil to be the king of herbs. Because it is so easy to grow, basil is an excellent plant for new gardeners to raise from seed. Try it, you’ll like it!

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

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.