Hundreds of callers, online donors and private sponsors teamed up to raise $202,351 for work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through the Friends the Smokies’ 21st annual telethon last week. It was the second year in a row telethon donations topped $200,000.

“It was heartwarming to see the support pledged by so many individuals during Friends of the Smokies’ telethon. Their gifts will have a lasting impact on the Smokies and we are truly thankful,” said Cassius Cash, superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The television program is over, but park supporters can still donate to the telethon online at www.friendsofthesmokies.org/donate. The money will help fund more than $800,000 of park needs this year, including black bears management, programs for school children and preservation of historic buildings. 

Stocking will resume in North Carolina’s hatchery-supported trout waters now that testing for whirling disease in fish raised at Marion and Brevard fish hatcheries has come back negative. 

Stocking had halted after the disease was confirmed in rainbow trout collected from the Watauga River near Foscoe in late July — the first occurrence of whirling disease in North Carolina. Caused by a parasite, whirling disease is often fatal to juvenile fish and can severely impact adult fish’s chance of competitive success in the environment, but it does not affect people or pets. 

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will resume stocking but will not retroactively stock locations that did not receive fish during the testing period, due to drought conditions and concerns of high water temperature there.  

Biologists will continue to test waters in the Watauga River basin to determine the extent of the disease’s spread, with results expected within two weeks. 

Report observations of fish with deformities or strange swimming behaviors, as well as fish with rice-like gill lice attached to their gills, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Budding fly tyers looking to get beyond the basics may enjoy a second-level fly-tying class at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, offered 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 29 at the center.

A small study on Satulah Mountain near Highlands hopes to shed light on what might be responsible for poor reproduction in a pair of rare species.

An orientation for volunteers who’d like to tell visitors about the history of Mingus Mill in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The Cowee Pottery School in Franklin, an emerging nonprofit outlet for people of all ages wanting to play in clay, has announced its September pottery options.

Students are given an opportunity to learn to create beautiful objects, both functional and nonfunctional, in an atmosphere of both fun and productivity.

• Lydia Patillo will teach on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from Sept. 1-29. Students will learn to center, throw, trim and glaze a variety of forms.

• Doug Hubbs will also teach a daytime wheel class on Friday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. from Sept. 11-Oct. 2. Students will start out with salsa bowls, move to salad bowls and finish their throwing experience with at least one serving bowl. They will then glaze all their bowls.

• Hank Shuler is scheduled to teach three hand building classes in September. These include a Sunday afternoon class called Advanced Doowhockers, which means a variety of thingy-ma-bobs. No experience is required to design and complete a number of projects on lazy Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13-27. On Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2-30 (skipping Sept. 9), Shuler will teach a ceramic box class. Salt boxes, key boxes, earring boxes, boxes for all occasions.  Students will hand build a variety of boxes for several uses. On Thursday afternoons, Shuler teaches Hand Building for Gifts. The emphasis will be on student selected projects and functional items to be passed on as gifts.

• Maria Greene will teach a class designed to bring parents, grandparents and aunts together with a child or children to participate in a class where everyone enjoys the pleasure of working with clay. This Wednesday evening class will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. from Sept. 2-30 (skipping Sept. 23). 

• On Monday evenings, Molly Suminski will teach a multi-generational class as well entitled Kids Play for All Ages. Both the children and their accompanying adults will have a blast in this hand building class. The class meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Sept. 5-26.

The registration fee for each class is $7 per meeting hour per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. Included in the clay cost is glazes and multiple kiln firings. Class registration fees range from $42 for 6 hours to $84 for 12 hours.

www.coweepotteryschool.org or 828.524.7690 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

An exhibition of works by photographer Cathryn Griffin will be on display through Friday, Sept. 25, in the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University.

Great Smoky Mountains Association’s “Carroll Best and the White Oak String Band” has been named among the best of the year by earning an award nomination in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual competition.

The 14th annual RailFest will be held Sept. 5-6 at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad depot in Bryson City.

Legendary rock act The Steve Miller Band will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern

With evolving regulations and a complicated system of reporting, there is no end in sight for the work university officials are doing to put a stop to sexual violence on campus.

A month after the sudden death of Maggie Valley Mayor Ron DeSimone, longtime alderwoman Saralyn Price has decided to seek the mayor’s seat as a write-in candidate in the fall election.

Question: What is acetic acid and is it bad for me?

Answer: Acetic acid…. sounds like one of those scary chemical ingredients that fearmongers warn you to avoid. If you were to inhale acetic acid it could cause your eyes to become irritated, you’d feel a burning sensation in your nose, you might feel congestion and a sore throat.

The 2014 IBMA “Entertainer of the Year” Balsam Range (bluegrass/gospel) will perform during the open house and barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department on Mount Pleasant Church Road in Sylva. 

Barbecue begins at 3 p.m., with Balsam Range at 6 p.m. There will also be live music from the Trinity River Band. Barbecue is $10 per person, which includes dessert and drinks. Kids ages 12 and under are $6. 

Acclaimed actress Barbara Bates Smith will bring her performance of “Granny D” to North Carolina NAACP President Reverend Barber at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Harris Chapel A.M.E. Zion in Canton.

The Open Air Indian Art Market will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual in Cherokee.

The Haywood County Fair will be held through Aug. 31 at the Haywood County Fairground in Lake Junaluska.

Rock legend Joan Jett & The Blackhearts will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Acclaimed bluegrass act Balsam Range recently received eight nominations by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Country music stars Marty Stuart and Connie Smith will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

To the Editor:

The August 17 Town of Waynesville Planning Board meeting provided first-time meeting participants a crash course in the government planning process. To the credit of the board, its chair and town staff, the special-use permit hearing for the proposed Shining Rock Classical Academy charter school was managed professionally and largely courteously.  This despite the highly personal and emotionally charged nature of the proceedings.  

As a meeting rookie, I was particularly struck by three aspects of the proceeding which I feel deserve more attention from town leadership and area residents. Since one of the options afforded the proponents given the negative result of this meeting is a re-submission of its request, it is important that these issues are considered. 

Traffic and safety are inextricably linked

The planning board is charged to make its special use determination based on six criteria. Two of the six, adequate means to deal with traffic and protection of public safety, are inextricably linked. The board was presented with a request in which the attention to implications on local traffic were not adequately researched. While significant time was invested in consideration of entry to the property (this analysis hastily provided just in time for meeting but not contained in the initial submission), little preparation or analysis was provided related to the access from U.S. 276.  The dangerous curves of the two roadways in question, proximity of two intersections, and high volume of traffic already present at this site were treated by proponents as minor details that could easily be addressed through the creation of phantom turn lanes.  

In their haste to meet a self-determined deadline, proponents have placed the planning board in the untenable position of assessing the overall impact on the public without the necessary information. Further, if in the end a plan is provided that somehow addresses the complicated, dangerous traffic environment, the school opening should not be allowed until the necessary traffic improvements are completed, not merely planned. 

The town has unfairly tasked the planning board

I was surprised and dismayed to learn that, at least in regards to special use school projects, the town has a byzantine, dangerously flawed planning process. The planning board was tasked with evaluating a woefully incomplete proposal. The flaws within the submission wasted the town staff’s time, the board’s time and the time of citizens forced to endure the hours it took to recognize the deficiencies. Town staff should be empowered to set a standard that requires special use school projects proponents to adequately address the six criteria prior to consideration by the board. The rushed and incomplete nature of this submission placed an unfair burden on the board.

The appointed members of the planning board should not be placed in the position of final determination of issues that impact citizens lives at this level. By design, the special use process for school projects unfairly limits citizen input. Decisions of this magnitude should be reserved for elected officials whose decisions are subject to voter review. Under the current process, the town board inexplicably retains authority over elements of this proposal, e.g. extension of sewer and water access, while delegating more sensitive and community impactful elements, e.g. location of the school campus. Leave final authority to elected officials who can be held accountable for the full impact of their decisions.

A righteous cause can lead to indifference to thers

The proponents of the Shining Rock are passionate about their school and their mission. One can only assume that it is this passion that has led to their apparent indifference to safety and community concerns. The degree to which their paid spokesperson artfully attempted to minimize the concerns of local residents and the future costs necessary to legitimize the site was disappointing to witness. There was no evidence that alternative sites which may not carry the burden of safety and infrastructure costs associated with this site have been evaluated. The state legislature in its wisdom has empowered groups like this to pursue their passion with little regard to local citizens or our tax dollars.

The planning board should be applauded for its attention and service. Hopefully they will be spared this experience in the future.

Dale A. Rehkamp

Waynesville

To the Editor:

In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm gave us this valuable observation. He wrote, “Because of the fact that faith and power are mutually exclusive, all religious and political systems which are originally built on rational faith become corrupt and eventually lose what strength they have if they rely on power or even ally themselves with it.”

This seems like such a dire warning to modern-day Christians who appear to be intent on weaving their particular doctrines into our national legal system. Evidence is mounting that many politicians are using highly questionable tactics to secure public monies to advance their religious/political beliefs. Pursuing public money generated by the North Carolina Lottery as well as other tax money for school vouchers to attend private and religious schools is one glaring example of slick political/religious dealing.

Does this religious/political activity suggest that many Christians are now out on the moral and ethical slippery slope? If so, will they come to their senses and retreat? Or, will they slide on down the slope, thereby corrupting their faith as well as its potential influence for all people? Could religious/political activity eventually result in private and Christian schools having to declare themselves as actual political bodies and, therefore, be required to pay taxes as such?  

Religious institutions are losing membership. Church attendance figures are dropping, especially among young people. Does anyone know if there is any cause-effect relationship in these two trends and religious/political activity? Didn’t Jesus Christ say something worth remembering about money changers in the temple? 

Sturgill Simpson sang, ”When you play with the devil you know you’re gonna get the horn.”

Dave Waldrop

Webster

Driven crazy by the barking dogs of neighbors, Judy West says she is pulling up her life-long stakes in Haywood County and abandoning her farm, but not without sounding a warning to her fellow county residents: it could happen to you one day, too.

Jackson County is looking for the public’s help with an ongoing audit of its Permitting and Code Enforcement Department.

The audit, which commissioners ordered in response to questions that surfaced earlier this year about whether the department was carrying out the responsibilities assigned to it, looks particularly at the relationship between permitting and code enforcement and the planning department. The permitting office is a relatively new creation, established in 2012 when it was split off from the planning office. Thus the two offices and their responsibilities are somewhat intertwined. 

Benchmark Planning, the company performing the audit, is using a survey as part of its evaluation and wants input from anybody who has had contact with either the planning or the permitting department. 

In addition to the survey, Benchmark’s audit — for which it will receive a flat $15,350 fee — will include a review of the departments’ structure, workflow, software system, reporting requirements and staff training. 

The survey is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/jacksoncountycustomer or through a link on the county’s homepage, www.jacksonnc.org. All survey responses should be completed by Saturday, Aug. 29.

A rehabilitation project for the aging amphitheater at Mount Pisgah Campground will get some funding thanks to a fundraising ride by the Asheville BMW Riders. 

Earlier this year, a plan to repave the amphitheater, replace sagging seating and upgrade the electrical system was chosen as a Centennial Challenge project, a program that provides matching federal funds for selected initiatives in conjunction with the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016. The club’s $6,500 donation will be doubled to more than $13,000. 

The group raised the money at the Blue Ridge High Pass Boogie. The spring motorcycle endurance challenge, now in its second year, raises funds for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Last year’s event raised money to help finish building bathrooms and an expanded parking lot at Graveyard Fields, located at milepost 418 on the Haywood-Transylvania county line. 

A new parasite has been confirmed on rainbow trout collected from the West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood County, as well as Watauga County’s Boone Fork Creek and Watauga River. 

The parasite, gill lice, is a tiny, crustacean that attaches to a fish’s gills, impeding the fish’s ability to breathe. Most fish can tolerate a moderate infestation, but for some fish — especially those suffering from other environmental stressors — the infestation can prove fatal. Impacts to local trout populations can be devastating.

Gill lice were found in North Carolina for the first time in 2014, when they were discovered on brook trout in the Cullasaja River watershed in Macon County. The creatures confirmed this month, however, are a different species within the same genus as the one previously found in Macon. The species found in Macon County affects only brook trout, while the recently confirmed species is known to infect rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Nantahala Lake in Clay and Macon counties is the only place in North Carolina where kokanee salmon live. 

The discovery of new gill lice infestations comes on the heels of whirling disease being confirmed on rainbow trout collected from the Watauga River near Foscoe. Whirling disease is caused by a parasite and damages the nerves and cartilage of affected species. Symptoms can lead to death by making fish more susceptible to predation and increasing the difficulty of finding food. 

To prevent the spread of invasive pests, anglers should:

• Remove any visible organic debris before transporting equipment. 
• Remove water from equipment before transport. 
• Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water. 
• Never move fish from one body of water to another. 

www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/WhirlingDisease/AnglerGearCare.aspx 

A fundraising broadcast to support Friends of the Smokies will air 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, on WLOS Channel 13. 

The 21st annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon — the only telethon to support a national park — will benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Over the past two decades, the event as raised more than $3 million, pulling in more than $200,000 last year alone. 

“As we celebrate the 99th year of the National Park Service and look ahead to its centennial in 2016, support from our partners at Friends of the Smokies is more important than ever,” said park Superintendent Cassius Cash, who will appear during the broadcast.

The broadcast will highlight the $880,000 worth of park projects Friends of the Smokies is funding this year. Current efforts include rehabilitation of the Alum Cave Trail by the Trails Forever crew, ongoing suppression of the hemlock woolly adelgid and other invasive pests, supporting black bear and elk management and funding for Parks as Classrooms environmental education programs for more than 18,000 students.

The telethon is sponsored by Mast General Store among others.

Donate online anytime at www.friendsofthesmokies.org, call the hotline during the broadcast or call 828.452.0720 to request a mailed donation form.

A new audio tour for the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee will give visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a trip back in time.

Visitation has been strong in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year, with numbers for the first six months of 2015 up 8 percent over last year.

Ever looked at a six-legged creature and thought of dinner? A program by “bug chef” Zack Lemann will explore the possibilities at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at The Village Green Commons in Cashiers.

A paddle tour of Lake Junaluska will tell the history of the 200-acre lake and information about the ecosystems contained within it from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.

Dozens of hunters snared in the sweeping undercover bear poaching investigation known as Operation Something Bruin have refused to take their licks quietly, and continue to kick up dust two-and-a-half-years later.

Wildlife officers adopted fake identities to infiltrate bear hunting circles. They hoped to expose the black market for bear gallbladders, illegal hunting in national parks and bear sanctuaries, unethical tactics by hunting guides for hire and rouge baiting and trapping of bears.

I really don’t get hungry between meals… do I really need to snack?

Answer: There is no rule that says you need to snack. 

To the editor:

July 29 Bernie Sanders spoke to the entire country using the Internet. It was an incredible event. Our tiny group of Bernie supporters suddenly exploded, in much the same way support for Bernie has exploded all over the country. The tiny town of Sylva had two locations participating with a total of close to 70 people showing interest.  

And it was a diverse group of people. The oldest member at our event was in his 90s and retired from NASA. And we had a group of teenagers who were excited to get their hands on voter registration forms so they could vote for Bernie, now that their 18th birthdays were getting close. We had people from Highlands and from Franklin schedule their own house parties to support Bernie.  

What we did not have at the event was the media. We know that major corporations own the media and are suppressing information about Bernie Sanders. But we didn’t even have the local newspapers report on the event, and for this I am very disappointed.

All over this country crowds have been gathering to hear him speak and support him. A favorite saying among Bernie supporters has become, “Beware Hillary, objects in rearview mirror are closer than they appear.” He is behind Hillary, now, but only single digit percentages. He cannot be bought. His donors are not big corporations; they are people like you and I.  

If you are not hearing awesomely good things about Bernie Sanders then you are watching too much corporate television. Check out social media and you will hear about nothing else but Bernie Sanders for president.

Bernie Sanders will be in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug. 21 for the people who can’t wait to see if he gets to Asheville. Plans are being made to bring him to Asheville in September.  

Connie Jean Conklin

Dillsboro

To the Editor:

Now Democrats have once again dredged up the fabricated notion that Republicans are waging a war on women. That claim is as old and worn as Hillary Clinton, the leading Democrat candidate for President.

What we do have is a war on babies that is strongly supported by Democrat leaders. As soon as the Planned Parenthood baby parts sale was revealed, Democrat leaders such as Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman and Harry Reid and most Democrats throughout the country jumped in to support Planned Parenthood funding by taxpayers.

Republican leaders, including every presidential candidate on the debate stage on Aug. 6, call for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, the leading abortion mill in the U.S., and for diverting those funds to clinics that are truly providing health services to women.

In defense of their position, abortion supporters say a fetus has no personhood … I guess that means abortion does not murder a human life. But then, why are the aborted baby parts and even the little cadavers suitable for human scientific research? Something about that does not compute.

Abortion, the war on babies, is a dark and troubling practice in our society. That practice becomes barbaric when harvesting baby parts for sale is a byproduct of what is purported to be a women’s right to control her body. Do those who have abortions even know what happens to the body of life taken from them? Republican leaders who support withholding taxpayer funds from Planned Parenthood are on the right side of this issue.

Carol Adams

Glenville 

To the Editor:

The controversy in South Carolina revolving around the Confederate Flag has made me think about my Southern heritage. I grew up in Georgia and spent most of my working life in South Carolina. The rationale offered by those who support prominent display of the flag is to honor their Southern heritage and their ancestors who fought in the Civil War.    Over 600,000 Americans died in that war, more than any other war in American history. This war was indeed about states’ rights — states ensuring the right of landowners to not only own the land, but to enslave other human beings to work that land. That’s it! If that’s the heritage we’re supposed to be celebrating with the flag, I’ll pass.

Similarly, characteristics such as high levels of poverty, poor education and ill health that characterize many of the states of the old Confederacy are part of the legacy, but hardly worth honoring or celebrating. That being said, I choose to live in the South and there are many things worth celebrating. 

Maybe a new flag is in order that recognizes those things positive about the South. One element of the flag would celebrate food — maybe grits and barbecue. Another element would certainly be music. Jazz and bluegrass are have a uniquely southern heritage and should be represented. The literature from southern authors such as William Faulkner, Thomas Wolfe, Harper Lee and many others should also be symbolized in such a flag. Designing such a flag would be worthy endeavor to acknowledge things worth honoring that are uniquely Southern.

Those individuals who wish to fly the Confederate flag should clearly have that right. It is not a sign of honor, but it does clearly mark those who choose to exercise that right — sort of like a mark of Cain.

John Gladden

Franklin

To the Editor:

Every person who pays taxes in Haywood County needs to be aware of, and pay attention to, the creation of Shining Rock Classical Academy, a charter, public school about to begin classes in our community. The school’s application to become a charter school reveals that over a half-million dollars of Haywood County “local per pupil funds” will be transferred from our public schools to the charter school. Nearly $1.5 million more are expected from the state of North Carolina. Thus, $2 million of tax monies paid by individuals are going to this school for its first year.  The school’s own revenue projection anticipates that figure will grow to exceed $3 million by 2019.

You and I have absolutely no say in how this school is run. There is not an elected school board that we, as voters, can support or replace. There was no public bond vote so that you and I could decide whether to fund this new school or not. If you want an example of taxation without representation, there it is. 

Shining Rock is a Challenge Foundation sponsored school. Go online and see for yourself the lack of educational background on the national board. There is not ONE person who was an educator before becoming a board member. One of the five members is the Director of Higher Education at the Charles Koch Foundation and never taught in a classroom. One member is, currently, the headmaster of Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy.  He made the leap from being a president of a commodity trading firm to headmaster. Rev. William Steinbrock is on the board and was the founder of the Challenge Foundation. The last two members are an entrepreneur with a degree in agricultural economics and a man who is a partner in a large insurance firm.

Surely our local school, however, will be headed by an appropriately qualified professional. Sadly, no. School Director Mr. Ben Butler states, on the school’s website, that “… I began teaching at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in 2003 after CAREERS (emphasis supplied) in print journalism and commercial photography.” He has a four-year degree in English and, to the best of my knowledge, became a teacher through the lateral transfer program, not by being an accredited teacher. He is now the person charged with overseeing the hiring of all the teachers and staff for Shining Rock. 

Lastly, take the time to review the Challenge Foundation’s proposed curriculum. In the school’s application to the state of North Carolina it is stated that Shining Rock’s intent is that all classes will be taught at the honors level or above. That may be a worthy target, but does that reflect any public school that you have heard of? What will happen to those students who are in need of help to simply get to average or those who have learning disabilities? What about those students who will struggle until they gain a mastery of English? Public schools are a shining example of democracy in action as every student is taken in with the goal of helping each student reach his or her potential. We who pay the taxes have oversight and control over how our monies are spent for educating our fellow citizens. At least we used to. 

Bob Clark

Waynesville  

Learn about the fabled bear hunting dog — the Plott Hound — during a talk at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Macon County Heritage Day at the old Cowee School.

Renown author and Plott Hound expert Bob Plott will recount the evolution of the special breed of bear hunting dogs unique to WNC, and share some of the lore surrounding the dog. He will bring a Plott hound as a special guest.

The Folk Heritage Association of Macon County is hosting the program and other festivities during the day. www.folkheritageassociation.org  

Plott’s talk is made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council.

Whirling disease has been confirmed in rainbow trout in the Watauga River in the Banner Elk area, and biologists are concerned that the disease could spread to other trout populations. 

Biologists have suspended trout stockings until they can test hatchery fish to ensure they’re disease-free — even though the diseased fish came from a trout stream that was not stocked with fish raised by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 

The disease, caused by a parasite, affects all species of trout and salmon, with rainbow and brookies — especially younger fish — appearing to be the most susceptible. Brook trout, North Carolina’s only native species, lives mainly in colder waters — the parasite’s preferred habitat. 

The Commission is also testing trout from the Watauga River, its tributaries and area aquaculture operations to determine how far the disease has spread. 

The disease, now present in more than 20 states, is spread mainly through infected fish and fish parts but can also be transmitted by birds and anglers who transfer the parasite on their equipment. 

Though there is no cure for the disease, the presence of whirling disease isn’t necessarily a death knell for fish populations. In other states, the disease has been present for decades, and impacts on both wild and stocked trout were not as devastating as feared. 

Whirling disease damages nerves and cartilage in the species it affects, which can cause fish to swim in a circular, tail-chasing pattern — hence the name of the disease. 

Report sightings of trout with deformities and strange swimming behaviors at www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing/WhirlingDisease/WhirlingDiseaseContactForm.aspx. 

A Bryson City man has been honored as North Carolina’s Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. 

Brian Cookston, a master officer with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, was recognized for his quick response to a commercial jet boat accident last year on Fontana Lake, which resulted in injuries to numerous passengers. He was instrumental in getting medical attention and other help on scene and also aided the U.S. Coast Guard investigation.

He has also been highly involved in community outreach and education for safe boating, from classes for boat operators to courtesy vessel inspections at boat ramps. He is a leader in the annual campaign to discourage drinking and driving on the water.

A guided hike to the top of Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will provide an opportunity for adventure and natural beauty Sept. 4-5.

A fall schedule of classes covering the principles of emergency response and responsible behavior in the backcountry will soon kick off at Landmark Learning, an accredited outdoor education school based in Cullowhee.

The Haywood County Fair is coming up, and with it some opportunity for friendly competition. Consider putting your hat in the ring for one of these contests:

The Waynesville Craft Beer Faire will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, on the baseball field at American Legion Post 47 on Legion Drive.

Among the 25 breweries onsite, there will be selections served by BearWaters, Frog Level Brewing, Tipping Point, Boojum, Oskar Blues, Double Barley, Catawba, Innovation, Nantahala, Hi-Wire, Blind Squirrel, Sierra Nevada, Lazy Hiker, Foothills, French Broad and more. Naked Apple and Angry Orchard cideries will also be present.

Live music will be provided by Bohemian Jean (singer/songwriter) noon to 12:45 p.m., Through the Hills (Americana/bluegrass) 1 to 2 p.m., Stone Crazy (classic rock/pop) 2:20 to 3:20 p.m. and MindFrame (classic rock) 3:30 to 5 p.m. 

VIP tickets are $45, which includes early admission at noon. General admission tickets are $35. This is a 21-and-over event.

www.waynesvillebeer.com.

The Macon Aero Modelers will be hosting an AMA National Model Aviation Day celebration event at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Otto Aerodome on Tessentee Road in Franklin.

The Stephen Sondheim Broadway hit comedy “Company” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4-5 and at 3 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Americana/roots act The Honeycutters will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Cataloochee Guest Ranch in Maggie Valley.

The annual Golf and Gala event hosted by Haywood Healthcare Foundation on Aug. 25 and 26 will feature five separate golf tournaments at three courses over two days, capped off with an evening gala.

The event will raise money for the Good Samaritan Clinic of Haywood County, a non-profit medical clinic that provides care for uninsured and underserved adults who fall through the healthcare crack.

“They are an excellent organization filling a critical need in our county,” said Ginger Lang, Board Chair, Haywood Healthcare Foundation. “Every person on their small staff is exceptional, caring, and truly professional.”

Haywood County has an estimated 11,000 people without health insurance — roughly 18 percent of the population. In 2014 alone, the Good Samaritan Clinic served nearly 3,000 patients.

“Some patients we see here clearly have no other support or stability in their life,” said Chelsea Batten, a Physician’s Assistant at the clinic. “I felt drawn to help fill in the gap for patients in medically underserved areas who otherwise can’t access quality, consistent medical care. I’m also happy to work in a setting where I’m free to address patients’ spiritual needs as well as their physical, medical, mental, and emotional needs.”

One of the many lives touched by the clinic is Judy Bodker, who cleans houses for a living but doesn’t have insurance.

“I’ve been coming to the clinic for seven or eight years now,” Bodker said. “I simply couldn’t afford to pay a doctor. All the clinic staff are pleasant, and they treat me with respect.”

Donna Cianci, another patient who is a single mom with two kids, had similar praise for the clinic.

 “This is simply the best place. They spend all the time I need, and they listen,” Cianci said. “They have been here for me and I am grateful.”

More on the event

The Golf and Gala will feature men’s and women’s golf tournaments for golfers of all skills levels, with teams of two or four. Tournaments will be held at the Maggie Valley Club, the Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa and Laurel Ridge Country Club.

An evening “Garden Party” gala will be held at the Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa will be held on Aug. 26, featuring food, drinks and live music.

Register or buy tickets by contacting 828.452.8343 or visit www.haywoodhealthcarefoundation.org.

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern

Hunters accused in a sweeping bear poaching sting in Western North Carolina have turned the tables on wildlife officers and prosecutors, tarnishing an operation that was initially trumpeted as a victorious round-up of rouge hunters.