Local acres were among those covered by $3.8 million the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded to protect farmland and agricultural enterprises across the state.

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Fiber students Abigail Ahlberg and Tony Embrey both were recently recognized with national awards.

Bryson City welcomes second brewery

With the former brewmaster for Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin), Noah McIntee, at the helm, Mountain Layers Brewing is expected to open its doors in November on Everett Street in downtown Bryson City. 

“The building construction is nearly complete with brewhouse floors being finished this week. The electrical, plumbing, insulation, and sheetrock are all completed and in final paint and trim stages,” McIntee said. “Equipment is scheduled to arrive this week and will be unloaded and brought into the building with the help of our friends down the road at Nantahala Brewing who are letting us borrow their forklift for the day. Cold side equipment is scheduled or ordered, including glycol lines, basement beer cooler, and draft setup.” 

McIntee said the system is a seven-barrel brewhouse with four seven-barrel fermentors. By the end of 2016, they’ll be pouring their own creations from upwards of 12 taps being installed. Though they hope to sell their products at other establishments, most of what will be brewed will be sold and consumed onsite. 

“As the brewery is taking shape, we believe the rooftop deck overlooking Everett Street will be a main draw,” McIntee said. “Aside from the view, our guests and patrons will take away an experience of an authentic and independent brewery with the brewhouse at the very heart of the operation.”

www.mtnlayersbeer.com. 

Waynesville homebrew supply, taproom

The grand opening of Anastasia’s Ales will be Saturday, Oct. 1, at 428 Hazelwood Avenue in Waynesville. Live music will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

“I have home brew supplies, beer, wine, meads and ciders. I also have some taps coming in,” said owner Thomas Anastasia. “I’m hoping to have more of the things people can’t find in Waynesville, and turn it into more of a comfortable place that you could bring a date or group of friends to have a draft. I’m also looking for more of a gallery feel as I have a few local artist hanging some work, with more on the way.” 

828.246.9320.

Boojum expands brewery, taproom

As one of the fastest growing breweries in Western North Carolina, Boojum Brewing in Waynesville is in the midst of expanding its Dellwood brewery and downtown taproom.

In terms of the taproom, Boojum took over the Hunter Banks Fly Fishing space next door (Hunter Banks is now in the former Haywood TDA building), and the downstairs space. The need for the extra room came simply from long lines out the door and a lack of tables to accommodate local residents and tourists alike. According to the owners, the hope is to make the new Main Street level space a taproom and waiting area (with an outdoor back deck onto Wall Street), with the downstairs a possible game room and/or music venue.

Down the road in Dellwood, there will be a groundbreaking on the new brewery expansion in early November. Currently at 3,000 square feet, the brewery will more than double in size to around 6,500 square feet. It’s a move that will ease the increasing demand on the brewery, which has risen to the top of the “Best of” lists for craft beer lovers and critics. 

www.boojumbrewing.com. 

To the Editor:

The N.C. Republican Party sent out a flyer stating Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, voted for a middle-class tax cut exempting the first $17,500 of income from taxes. What he voted for was an increase in the exemption from $15,500 to the $17,500 exemption currently in place, resulting in a couple who makes $44,000 saving $115 per year.

He also voted to require new sales taxes to be paid on service contracts for appliances and cars, oil changes, flooring and appliance installation, kitchen remodeling, and admission charges to movies and sporting events. He eliminated the earned income tax credit for the working poor, eliminated medical expense deductions (which has a serious impact on seniors), and deductions for retirement income, child care expenses, and college savings 529 plans. He also increased “fees” (another name for a tax) for the Division of Motor Vehicles by 30 percent, resulting in much higher costs for driver’s licenses and registration fees.  

According to the N.C. Justice Center’ Budget and Tax Center, taxpayers making under $67,000 will, on average, see their taxes increase under the tax changes Davis voted for. These changes will result in an additional $640 million in revenue from increased sales tax and an additional $153 million from DMV fees. The vast majority of these tax and fee increases will come from low- and middle-income citizens.

Meanwhile what has Davis done for his ultra-rich friends like Art Pope who spent $1 million to help get Davis elected?  Davis voted to drop the income tax rate for the top 1 percent (income over $376,000) from 7.75 to 5.75 percent. This change in income tax rates will reduce income to the state by $2.1 billion this year, according to the N.C. Budget and Tax Center. The vast majority of this huge tax cut goes to the multi-millionaire top 1 percent. 

So how does this reflect on the share of all state and local taxes paid as a percentage of family income? Those making less than $80,000 per year will pay 9.1 percent of their income to the state in taxes while those making over $376,000 per year will pay only 5.3 percent of their income per year in taxes (Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy).

In summary, Davis has raised sales taxes and fees resulting in poor and middle class families paying higher total taxes while at the same time given massive tax breaks to the wealthiest citizens who can most easily afford to pay higher taxes. This is a classic example of a reverse Robin Hood effect: taking from the poor and giving to the wealthy. Western North Carolina deserves someone who represents all our citizens, not just his millionaire buddies.

Ed Morris MD, PhD

Franklin

To the Editor:

Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and his surrogates in Raleigh recently sent out a series of expensive glossy mailers claiming that Jane Hipps was planning on raising your taxes when she gets to Raleigh.  According to Sen. Davis, this pronouncement occurred at a Democratic Men’s Club in Franklin. As current president of the Men’s Club and having attended every meeting when Jane Hipps was speaking, I can declare that Davis’ claim is simply not true.

The claim is eerily similar to a tactic employed by Sen. Davis in his contest against John Snow in a previous campaign, even to the tacky graphics used in the mailer and his claim that he had no knowledge of the mailer and its false claims.

If you are really concerned about tax increases, examine Davis’ voting record since he’s been in Raleigh. The income tax cuts that he voted for benefitted only the highest income brackets and corporations. In order to make up the difference in state revenue, he voted for massive increases in sales taxes and eliminated deductions that benefit middle- and lower-income citizens .  

You now pay new taxes on everything from movies and concerts to your oil change. Taxes on mobile and modular homes went up — a lot. Davis eliminated the Earned Income Tax Credit that helps low-income families who work rather than collecting welfare. You no longer get a tax break for putting aside money to send your children to college. But don’t worry, when you buy your next yacht or jet, your taxes on those haven’t changed.

If you make less than about $70,000, you are now paying more in taxes than you did before Sen. Davis took office. You may not notice it because it’s coming out of your wallet every day rather than once a year when you figure your income tax. You still have less money to spend.

It’s time for Sen. Davis and his surrogates to begin telling the truth rather than peddling false information.  It’s an insult to his constituents — you and me.

John Gladden

President, Democratic Men’s Club

Franklin

To the Editor:

If you are like many residents of Western North Carolina, you probably cut hay, raise a few head of livestock, grow a good-sized garden, or keep bees. Mountain people grew up doing these things. These wholesome, enjoyable activities are our birthright and rural heritage.

These farming enterprises also supplement incomes in a region where quality of life is outstanding but good-paying jobs can be scarce.

If you’re one of these hardworking people who sells a few calves, honey, or fresh produce, you’ve probably noticed that you are paying a lot more taxes on your farm supplies.

 A few years ago, farm-related expenses such as fertilizer, feed, seeds, beekeeping supplies, and even tractors were exempt from sales taxes. Then, in 2013, the legislature passed House Bill 998, eliminating the exemption for farmers with a gross farm income under $10,000. That’s right — larger producers still have the exemption, while lower income farmers got a tax hike. Effective July 1, 2014, the legislature levied a 6.75 percent surcharge on every farm purchase you make to help pay for a 40-percent tax cut for huge corporations like Duke Energy.

And where did our local state senator, Jim Davis, R-Franklin, stand? He chose to stand with Raleigh and against his constituents. He voted to increase taxes on family farmers. Perhaps Davis agrees with Raleigh politicians who consider our small mountain farms insignificant. Well, maybe a couple thousand dollars in supplemental income doesn’t sound like much to an orthodontist, but for mountain families that income can mean a nice Christmas for our kids. It can mean paying off the truck, or even the house, a few years early.

 This November, we have an alternative to Jim Davis. Jane Hipps is running to be our next state senator. Jane is a retired public school teacher, tends a flock of sheep on her farm in Haywood County, and won awards for gardening and food preservation as a girl in 4-H. Let’s elect someone who supports our mountain values. On November 8, I’m voting for Jane Hipps to represent us in the North Carolina Senate. I hope you will, too.

Aaron Martin

Hayesville

Former North Carolina State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency

To the Editor:

I am a female motorcyclist who actually rides my motorcycle across the country, not one who hauls it around, and I support Hillary Clinton for President. Since January of this year, I have ridden to 42 of the 50 states. I have met people who actually ride and are supporters of Hillary. We, motorcyclists, are a mixed cross section of the country, and I know many do support Trump, and a few who are Libertarian, but there are Hillary supporters in the biking community as well.

I have been riding my own motorcycle for 15 years, but was a passenger and around the biking community for 35 years before that. 

While Mr. Immerman has not met or seen any bikers who support Clinton, we do exist. 

Bridgett Britt Aguirre

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, has unleashed a series of negative flyers against his opponent, Jane Hipps. His flyers are full of lies and half-truths. His claims about her raising taxes are obviously fabrications; can you believe any politician would stand before a white male audience to tell them she will raise their taxes by 15 percent? This is shoddy defamation by a shoddy politician, but unfortunately, it is shoddy political rhetoric we endure almost daily. 

As to the Davis claim of cutting taxes for the middle class, he is really just shifting your taxes. You now pay sales tax on labor charges and other areas that you did not pay before. If you get your car serviced, the largest portion of the bill is usually for labor; now that labor will cost you 7 percent more under the Davis sales tax. Your license plate tags now cost you almost double, as will your driver’s license renewals, and the list goes on and on. What little you save on income tax will cost you double in other taxes and higher fees.

Davis is a puppet of ALEC, the organization that promotes government to the highest bidder. He has voted to gerrymander much of North Carolina; voted to allow fracking in Western North Carolina; voted to deny federal extensions to Medicaid, a serious loss to our community; voted to allow private financing of student loans for our two-year colleges, costing students millions by opting out of federal loan assistance; voted to limit damages for medical malpractice; and voted to reduce healthcare options for teachers. Still, the senator feels compelled to use deception to win the game. To find the real truth, check with the Democrat Men’s Club in Franklin or with Jane herself; then go to votesmart.org, a bipartisan vote site, to check on Davis’ voting record. 

 Sen. Davis is not originally from North Carolina, while Jane Hipps is a native North Carolinian with a long history in Western North Carolina as a teacher and pediatric nurse. She has observed the political arena of District 50 first hand through the political career of her husband and as a resident for many years. I hope you noticed her recent endorsement by Aaron Martin, a former North Carolina Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Since 2009 and 2010, North Carolina has undergone a strategic makeover called Redmap: a plan designed by Art Pope to turn North Carolina red by gerrymandering, large infusions of money, and by orchestrating a right-wing smear campaign on Democrats. But I know you will agree with me that politics should not be a get-rich-quick forum for billionaires. Be informed: check out this article by Jane Mayer in The New Yorker, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/10/state-for-sale.  

With a large turnout in the 2016 elections by a well-informed electorate, we can return to a better North Carolina, especially Western North Carolina, more focused on the needs of the middle-class.

Ruth Ballard

Hayesville

Editor’s note: The flyers attacking Jane Hipps — Sen. Jim Davis’ opponent — are from the N.C. Republican Party and state that they are “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.”

Since the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Michal Smolen has been hopping continents to finish out the post-Rio racing season, but The Smoky Mountain News caught up with him for an email conversation about paddling, Olympic dreams and the value of American citizenship. 

Mosquito spraying for Zika virus in other states has led some North Carolina beekeepers to ask what they can do to protect their beehives, and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking bee owners to let farmers and pesticide applicators know their hive locations using the BeeCheck mapping software. 

A woman perished following a fall at the Newfound Gap parking lot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week.

Sales of North Carolina Friends of the Smokies license plates brought in $118,240 to support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the second quarter of 2016.

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both have their liabilities, but his are so much more numerous and serious than hers that the race should not be nearly as close as it seems to be. 

If you’re for Trump because you agree with what you think he stands for, or if you just can’t bear to vote for any Democrat, or if you simply admire his chutzpah, or if you sympathize with his bigotry, so be it.

If you are undecided or just want more information about the Nov. 8 election, there are plenty of opportunities to get to know the candidates. Here is a schedule of upcoming candidate forums. (If any group has a forum planned that is not listed, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Jessi at 828.452.4251.)

To the Editor:

I remember John Snow. For those that don’t, he was the three-term state senator from this district who was defeated by Jim Davis in 2010. The tactics employed by and on behalf of Davis to defeat the most conservative Democrat in the state Senate were so outrageous that, the  New Yorker magazine published an exposé in 2011 called “State for Sale.” (Just Google “NewYorker-State for Sale”)

Almost a million dollars was spent to defeat Snow, many times more money than had ever been spent in a local Senate race, and most of it came from outside the district. 

One of the most effective attacks on John Snow was a blizzard of mailers stuffing all the mail boxes in the district. All of them contained either outright lies or twisted “facts” attacking his personal character or his very conservative voting record in the Senate. To this day, Sen. Davis says he had “nothing to do with them.”

Well guess what, another Sen. Davis flyer has appeared in district mail boxes. This time it is an attack on Jane Hipps, who is running to unseat him this November. True to form it contains a very questionable allegation that some would call a lie. The flyer reads “Jane Hipps told the Macon County Democratic Men’s Club the very first thing she would do in the State Senate is to raise our income taxes by at least 15 percent.”

I have been in the Democratic Men’s Club since it was formed and I am now the treasurer of the Club. I don’t think I have missed any meetings, and I have heard Jane Hipps speak many times. I have never heard her say she would raise any tax by 15 percent.

The Supreme Court decided in the Citizens United case to allow the super rich to buy our politicians. Isn’t it time that the price of a politician was reduced to something the middle class could afford? Isn’t it time we respectfully discuss real policy differences? It is just hard to believe that our local dentist Jim Davis would become the poster child for this kind of dirty politics.  

Louis Vitale

Franklin

To the Editor:

In the August 31 edition of The Smoky Mountain News, guest columnist Hannah McLeod asked “Where are all the women?” in reference to the presidential election. 

My answer is that thoughtful and smart women — those not voting gender or who wisely do not see the contest as man versus woman — are supporting a truthful proven leader and successful businessman who is not a seasoned politician. That candidate is Donald Trump, who campaigns to create jobs, revive an eight-year economic disaster, reform immigration policy, tighten security to keep us safe in a world rampant with terrorism, rebuild our military and return the USA to the position of respected and admired world leader. 

Trump loves Americans — all of us. This is not an election to reach a milestone, satisfy a quest for equalization or serve as a means to unite women. This election is one where we must elect a president who will restore our country’s economy, culture, safety and prosperity to expected levels. There is much more at stake other than a historic notch in our belts.

Women who think Hillary Clinton is a candidate worthy of the female vote should check out her record of lies concerning Whitewater and Travelgate. As secretary of state she mishandled requested protection for Americans in Benghazi where four Americans including our ambassador were killed.

Now her lies mount about all the official emails supposedly turned over to investigators only to find out thousands were destroyed. When accused of mishandling classified documents she professes that she did not know “C” on an email denoted it was confidential or classified. Are we to believe someone with over 30 years in government serving on numerous committees requiring confidential screenings cannot recognize a symbol for classified?

Hillary Clinton is no champion for women. Gender voters should know Clinton ran a war room when her husband first ran for president to crack down on bimbo eruptions from women Bill Clinton sexually harassed. Hillary Clinton denigrated, denounced, discredited, intimidated and targeted women who were known as Bill Clinton’s bimbos. Google women like Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Willey and Juanita Broderick. There’s a long list that includes Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern with whom President Bill Clinton committed acts in the Oval Office that led to his impeachment. 

Yes, a female presidential candidate is something women can and eventually will be proud of and support. But not this woman. She does not deserve the votes of women who are sincere supporters of trustworthiness and women’s rights. In the future we women will all be proud of a female president who deserves our respect, admiration and vote. That woman is not Hillary Clinton. 

Carol Adams

Glenville

To the Editor:

I was one of the people who was turned away from Rep. Mark Meadows’ meeting at the Macon County Courthouse on Aug. 30. A group of about 30 people thought the congressman was having a public meeting to discuss the Forest Service Plan Revision for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. He was quoted as saying that it is important to get a real open, honest dialogue. If this was truly the intent, why was the meeting closed to his constituents but not those who support the congressman’s preferences? 

I spoke with Meadows, and he said the North Carolina Open Meetings Law only applies when there is a majority from any one government agency in attendance. 

Obviously, the congressman, the government officials, and Forest Service staff in attendance knew this fine point of the law. They followed the letter of the law but blatantly violated its spirit.  

The content of this meeting was of utmost importance, but the way it was held should be a cause of concern. They seem to have forgotten that this government should be of, by, and for the people.  

Press reports indicate that one of the major concerns expressed at the meeting was access in Wilderness in case of emergencies. Macon County’s EMS director said local emergency workers have not had a problem getting in touch with the local district ranger when emergencies have occurred. Yet Meadows questioned a district ranger making decisions on health and safety. If I was a district ranger, I would feel somewhat indignant that my knowledge, experience and qualifications are  considered insufficient in making such decisions. 

As a senior citizen quite older than the average age in the district, I resent the statement that Wilderness is beyond my capabilities. A senior citizen has to be moderately fit to enjoy the Wilderness, but maybe more seniors would become fit and enjoy better health if the wonders of nature without noise, distractions, and threats of hunters were more available to them. And, let me add, most folks can walk on a trail but most folks cannot hunt because of lack of skill, equipment or desire.  

I urge Rep. Meadows to right this wrong: hold a public meeting open to all his constituents and have the willingness to listen to all opinions, even those he may not agree with.   

Olga Pader

Franklin 

A revamped website is allowing people to discover North Carolina’s natural heritage in new ways through the N.C. Natural Heritage Program.

Classroom lessons focusing on Cherokee culture and ecology of the Great Smoky Mountains will expand to schools in seven Western North Carolina counties thanks to a $102,500 grant that the Cherokee Preservation Foundation awarded to Friends of the Smokies.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville is finally ready to show off its new second main stage, the Daniel and Belle Fangmeyer Theater, at an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday Sept. 24.

A museum honoring the American house cat is set to open soon in Jackson County, but cash and volunteer hours are needed to make it happen. 

Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute and Department of Political Science and Public Affairs are seeking questions from voters to be asked during a series of debates in September and October.

Macon County Sheriff’s Office concluded “Operation Thunderstruck” on Sept. 9 with 26 arrests for drug-related offenses while three suspects are still at large. 

To the Editor:

Widespread reports of Muslim terrorist activity in the media of late, and the incessant drumbeat of political rhetoric, have combined to stoke our fears about exercising our historic American hospitality to “welcome the stranger” by hosting refugees. Countries much less affluent than we have far outstripped us, percentage wise, in providing food and shelter to those who have lost everything due to violence or natural disaster. 

My experience with Muslim people has been quite different. While living for extended periods of time in countries where Muslims (and adherents of other religions) significantly outnumbered Christians (e.g., Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Palestine. Hong Kong, Korea) and visiting others for shorter periods of time (China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Israel), my wife and I have had nothing but the most cordial, constructive, and harmonious relations with the local populations. Also, while actively sponsoring refugees in another U.S. locale, we found the experience to be stimulating and enriching. 

In both types of experience we have been able to learn from other cultures, receive generous hospitality, and put into practice American values of service, unselfishness, and benevolence. When we allow our attitudes and behavior to be governed by fear and security concerns, however, we negate our rich national heritage of welcoming the stranger, forego opportunities for learning and growth, and project a selfish, mean-spirited image. 

Sad to say, this latter attitude has seemed to prevail in our country ever since 9/11. Hate crimes against Muslims have tripled, exacerbated by irresponsible speechifying and biased commentary. Bigotry, hate mail, school bullying, and (not always veiled) incitement to violence are openly expressed. Many American Muslims live in constant fear of rejection and persecution. The media focuses on the negative, “terrorist” dimension, while stories about Muslim contributions to society, both here and abroad, are hard to find. 

Hate, violence, intolerance, and religious persecution have been practiced in every age, nation, and culture — as much or more in so-called “Christian” eras and countries as in any other. Treatment of Native Americans, Chinese, Mormons, African Americans, Jews, etc., in our history are prime examples. Rather than “the pot calling the kettle black,” can we not put our best foot forward by reaching out with welcome and support for the “others” who are already here, open our hearts and homeland to human beings fleeing war, famine, and persecution in places like Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Burma, and support their desire and motivation to make a new life for themselves and become contributing members of our society, as the ancestors of most of us have always done? 

Doug Wingeier

Waynesville 

To the Editor:

I have said many times that I love living in a small town; yesterday, something happened that perfectly illustrates why I do.  

For many, many years my family and I have processed and frozen enough peaches to enjoy in the winter. I always get my fruit at Tallent’s Produce, so have become good friends with Bruce and Steve. We have shared tears over deaths and laughs, over many things.  

Yesterday, I went by to get my peaches. Since I am almost 85 years old, I don’t pick up big baskets like I used to, so asked if they would hold them for me until the next day, when I would have family available. Without hesitation, Steve said, “I’ll give you 15 minutes, and then will be right behind you!” Even though their stand was still open, he followed me home, put the peaches on the porch, and then returned to their business! Where, but in a small town, would that happen?

I decided to list just some of the ways that I, personally, benefit from the small-town atmosphere; the list is long. I have always had the newspaper delivered to my home; the box was near the road, a fair walk for me. After I became less active, I came home one day and found that the carrier had moved the box closer; later he moved it even closer. We lease our farm to Nelson Thibault — who now brings the paper to my back door!

When my husband died, after 62 years of marriage, I closed my kitchen and do very little cooking. My family and I eat out daily. We have several favorite places; when we miss a few times, the staff always greets me with ….. “Are you OK? We were worried about you!” I use a cane, which I am prone to forget and someone always brings it to me. At the grocery store, the cashier came out from the counter to give a hug and  “I’ve missed you!” When I got home, Nelson stopped what he was doing, and carried my groceries in. Small town, for sure!I decided to read just one issue of the newspaper to see what evidence of small town volunteerism I could find that benefit the whole community. The list is really long: 

• Charity Car Show to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation — Many volunteers to make it happen.

• Public Safety Day — Kids can meet fire fighters, law enforcement and emergency personnel. A few of these folks are paid, but most are volunteers.

• 4-H Clubs all need volunteer leaders.

• “Back to school” really brings out the volunteers — We all know how important volunteers are to the school system.

• Youth sports — There is no way to count the volunteers it takes to make these programs work.

• Mountain Youth Talent contest

• Shriners’ Horse Show benefits Shriners’ Children Hospitals.

• Zonta Club holds “Boots and Bling” to benefit REACH

• Franklin Federated Women’s Club.

• Almost every week, there is a notice of a benefit for someone who has had a fire or medical problem that is very expensive.

This is a very incomplete list and does not include the dozens of churches and all their contributing organizations.  I really feel sorry for folks who don’t live in a small town.

Margaret Ramsey

Franklin

A relaunched carbon offsets program will give business, organizations and individuals in Western North Carolina a way to turn their energy emissions into efficiency upgrades for area nonprofit and organization facilities.

A meeting between leaders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians brought tribal members a little closer to being able to gather plants on national park land. 

The Haywood Community College Foundation will hold a Shine & Dine Gala from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. 

Maggie Valley Area Chamber of Commerce recently elected three new members to the board of directors: Dave Angel, owner of Elevated Mountain Distilling Company; Scott Neilson, co-owner of Cabbage Rose Gifts; and Tammy Brown with Cataloochee Ski Area.

National forest users who want to share their thoughts on issues and projects, including the forest plan revision, will have a chance during a slate of upcoming meetings.

Orange barrels have been flying out of the Pigeon River Gorge on Interstate 40 near the North-Carolina Tennessee border.

On Wednesday morning, N.C. Department of Transportation officials removed the final orange barrels that had closed one lane in each direction for the last month.

To the Editor:

A recent letter-writer states, “most Republican politicians will continue to tell you that tax cuts are the solution to most of your problems.”

Does he mean Republican President JFK who pointed out, “… it is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now?”

Maybe he means JFK’s Republican Vice President, LBJ, who signed JFK’s tax reduction legislation into law.

Was it Republican President Jimmy Carter he was thinking about? The same president who reduced capital gains tax from as much as 98 percent to 28 percent and asked for tax reductions of $17 billion for individuals and $6 billion for corporations?

Could he mean Republican President Clinton who reduced the capital gains rate to 20 percent? He also reduced tariffs by signing NAFTA, signed welfare reform, increased deductions for the estate tax, established Roth IRAs and increased limits for deductible IRAs.

Or maybe he means Republican President Woodrow Wilson who warned, “high rates of income and profits taxes discourage energy, remove the incentive to new enterprise, encourage extravagant expenditures, and produce industrial stagnation with consequent unemployment and other attendant evils.”

He may have Republican President Harry Truman in mind, who proposed cuts of $30 billion in today’s money.

Does he mean Republican President Obama who realized, “No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top?” This is the same Republican president who extended the Bush tax cuts to the tune of $858 billion.

Maybe he means that former Goldwater Girl and current Republican candidate for president who as senator voted to extend the Bush tax cuts in 2005 and 2006.

The writer’s expressed economic policy most nearly resembles John Maynard Keynes’ economic theory of aggregate demand. Even he was forced to admit that “taxation may be so high as to defeat its object,” that in the long run, a reduction of the tax rate “will run a better chance, than an increase, of balancing the budget.”

The recent letter-writer also wrote, “the middle and lower economic classes don’t have extra money to spend ....” But in the next paragraph, he states that the “last 20 years have seen the greatest transfer of wealth in U.S. history.” Since the lower classes don’t have money to spend, how was this miraculous transfer of wealth accomplished? Who exactly is he accusing here anyway? Which party held the White House for 12 of those 20 years?

It’s getting a little tiresome listening to Democrat malcontents who keep harping on the mote in Republicans’ eyes while ignoring the logs in their own and who blame Republicans for the very policies they enshrined into law. Their air of moral superiority while wallowing in the cesspools they accuse Republicans of dipping their toes into is a wonder to behold. Republicans live by North Carolina’s motto: “esse quam videri,” which translates to “to be rather rather than to seem.”

If only Democrats would.

Timothy A. Van Eck

Whittier

To the Editor:

There are those who would have us fear going about our daily lives due to possible terrorist attack. Even including the recent rash of attacks at Fort Hood, San Bernardino, and Orlando, the odds of dying in the U.S. due to terrorism is far less than many other risks we don’t give a second thought. 

Consider the following statistics, which reflect averages for the entire population.  Compared to terrorist attack you are more likely to die from:

• Poisoning, including drug overdose (4.400 times more likely).

• Traffic accident or obesity (4,000 times each).

• Medical mistake (at least 2,000 times.)

• Alcoholism (1,200 times).

• Crossing the street (600 times).

• Bee sting (8 times).

This is not to say we should ignore the risk. Far from it. But ginning up fear is counterproductive.

By behaving irrationally, we might very well alienate those who could be our strongest allies in stopping attacks. We provide propaganda value to ISIS beyond their wildest dreams by disrespecting Muslims and threatening to torture, carpet bomb and murder the families of ISIS members.  

Those who confuse bombast with strength and cheer wildly at these statements are only helping the cause of ISIS. How many more terrorists have been recruited with help of these thoughtless statements and reactions? 

The point of terrorism is to terrorize (duh). Many of our so-called leaders are doing their work for them. Let’s not allow ourselves to fall into that trap. We’re smarter than that … I hope.

Everett Baucom

Cruso

As my siblings and I became more interested and engrossed in politics growing up, my father always tried to impress on us the importance of understanding the political/ethical/economic/social views of others. Regardless of our point of view, he urged us to listen and try to understand those views that were different from our own. Not only does this allow for greater respect between people of different ideas, it also better prepares a person to counteract ideas or views with which they don’t agree.

September temperatures will make or break fall color quality this year, according to Western Carolina University’s new fall foliage forecaster Beverly Collins.

An infestation of destructive emerald ash borers has been confirmed in the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest and on private lands along the French Broad River, extending from Marshall to the Tennessee state line.

Friends of the Smokies raised $205,562 at its 22nd annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon last week, with the hundreds of callers, online donations and sponsors bringing the telethon’s lifetime fundraising total to $3.5 million since its inception in 1995.

Harris Regional Hospital has provided a new scoreboard for the Carr Hooper Stadium and Babe Howell Field at Smoky Mountain High School as part of its longstanding commitment to Mustangs athletes, families and fans. 

CeCe Hipps, president of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, was designated by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives as a Certified Chamber Executive. The CCE is the only national certification for chamber professionals.

No charges will be filed following a District Attorney Office investigation into the death of 2-year-old Mason Lee Powell of Franklin.

The annual Mountain Youth Talent Contest was held at the Franklin Area Folk Festival on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin.

The recently unveiled “Golden Threads” mural, located outside facing Pack Square Park in Asheville is now available as a limited edition art print. 

Penland School of Crafts has open spaces in its upcoming eight-week session available at half tuition to area residents. These long workshops are an unusual opportunity to spend two months working with first-rate instructors in professionally-equpped studios.

Papageorgio’s Italian-American Restaurant is set to open Friday, Sept. 2, on Main Street in Waynesville where Apple Creek Cafe has operated for less than a year.

To the Editor:

Oh, boy. It’s like 1974 all over again. A high-profile elected official is doing his best to dodge the scrutiny of an investigative agency looking into a sex and misappropriation of funds scandal in his office.

The official is our own Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers. The agency is the Office of Congressional Ethics. This is the independent, nonpartisan agency charged with reviewing the conduct of members of Congress. Its purpose is to conduct an unbiased review of questionable behavior and issue a public report on its findings.    

There is another committee that serves this function, too. It’s the House Committee on Ethics ... similar name, similar sounding purpose, but with a wholly different approach. It’s made up of House members — not an independent staff — who have an interest in protecting each other. And after the HEC makes its report, the report is not available to the public.

Meadows’ problems started in October 2014, when his chief of staff, Kenny West, made women in his congressional office “uncomfortable,” with three testifying that he sexually harassed them. The next month, Meadows moved the man out of his office, giving him an advisory title, but in essence he did no work. However, he got paid. The same as he’d been paid as chief of staff. By April 2015, it was announced that West was no longer chief of staff, but the payments continued until August of that year.  And that broke the rules outlined in the House Ethics Manual.  

Meadows variously called the payments “severance” or “vacation” pay, neither of which held water with the OCE. Then Meadows refused to cooperate with the OCE, instead saying that he would cooperate only with the friendlier HEC … the one that would hide its report. In his attempt to obscure the facts and avoid transparency in his misuse of public funds, Meadows is hiding something. Just what, he’s not saying.  

So it’s time to make the same demand that the special prosecutor made of Richard Nixon: turn over the tapes so that we know what is behind your cover up.

Shirley Ches

Franklin

To the Editor:

Mr. Jim Gray’s letter concerning wilderness conservation in last week’s SMN, while well written, is based on a faulty assumption, and so arrives at incorrect conclusions.

His assumption is “wilderness advocates” are backward looking, only interested in returning tracts of our pubic land to a pre-Columbian state. That may have been a fair generalization a generation ago, but today we are faced with new circumstances that require a new perspective on wilderness. We need to look forward and envision a better land ethic.

Looking at current trends and projecting into the future, we see the grim realities of disappearing species and habitats, diminished ecological diversity, and even the possible collapse of whole ecosystems. America needs to preserve our remaining wild areas, not as memorials to some supposed pristine past but as genetic savings accounts that we can draw upon in the future. 

Furthermore, we cannot do this simply by picking out places that look pretty. We must choose wild areas based on where the most critical genetic information is stored.

It is laudable to bring different stakeholders together in order to balance the various forms of consumption each party represents, but it is not enough. We must listen carefully to those who actually have some scientific knowledge of the vital flora and fauna of our mountain habitats, who know which habitats are closest to vanishing forever and who have some overall plan in mind to protect and connect these threatened areas.

Wilderness isn’t a museum of the past; it is an essential bank account for the future.

Boyd Holliday

Lake Junaluska

By David Teague • Guest Columnist

More than 20 years ago, I attended a diversity training in Raleigh. A component of the training was to pair up with a partner, choose a group we identified with, and name something about that group that we never wanted to hear said again. The group identity I chose was white male.

Students at Cherokee Middle School have spent the last two years digging deep into the ecology, culture and history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through a partnership between the park and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians honoring the Park Service’s centennial.