A new five-year strategic plan from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will guide management of the Appalachian Trail over the coming years with an emphasis on reaching younger and more diverse populations, engaging partners and AT clubs and communities and keeping the organization’s finances healthy. 

Nantahala Area SORBA, the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, will hold an end-of-year celebration 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Innovation Brewery in Sylva to recognize their contribution to the mountain biking climate in the far west.

Waynesville Middle School seventh graders got to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Purchase Knob Education Center last week.

Prescribed burns are planned in the Nantahala Ranger District of Nantahala National Forest and areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the next few weeks. 

Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley had its third earliest opening day in history when a winter storm and chilly temperatures allowed for lifts to open at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. 

To the Editor:

It was very sad to witness all the hateful rhetoric tossed around during elections this year. I don’t think I’ve seen such a display of lies and distortions, and we have sunken to a new depth of slime. The scary part is that we may never dig ourselves out. Will we ever be able to bring honesty and decency back to the political arena? I just don’t know, and based on what I recently observed, we may not. Reason and logic have given way to hatred of any opposing ideas using any means to defeat an opponent. 

People that I look to for leadership joined in and immersed themselves in the slime and were a great disappointment to me as human beings.

Politics should not resort to the fights that fans get into after a football or soccer game and should rise above all the fracas. But, sadly, it doesn’t.  

I understand the liberal ideology where anything goes and spare none to win, but it brings humanity down to a new level. In short, take no prisoners.  

I also understand the liberal view that people are simply cattle and need to be herded around by those who consider themselves superior to them. Were they to have their way, we would be a dictatorship and all opposing parties would be outlawed as they did in Communist Russia, Venezuela, Cuba and other countries where one party rules. Keep the lower classes supplied with food stamps and cell phones to keep them happy while the political elite run amok, getting rich off the backs of others.

The conservatives fell into much of the same trap and failed to make their case, spending their time defending themselves or poking at their opponent.  That left little time for them to explain the real problems the country faces and what they expect to accomplish.

Perhaps the liberals intended to prevent the sane logical and reasoning politicians from getting their point across and it was all part of the plan to keep the opposition preoccupied defending their ideas.

As a member of humanity, I’ve always felt an obligation to help pull my fellow man up to something better, but the liberals just see humans as so many cattle to be led by those so-called intellectuals who would rule them.

Problem is, under their system too many people pay the price. Some 40 million retirees are being wiped out by liberal economic programs we simply can’t afford. Our young grow up looking for some charismatic elite rulers to take care of them rather than bringing innovation and creativity to the nation.  

Can we ever bring sanity and honesty to political campaigns, or must we always resort to lies and distortions? Can opposing parties ever sit down at a table and discuss our real problems in a sane and honorable way? Can we ever solve problems? I just dunno, but perhaps I’m just disappointed in political campaigns that have sunk to new lows.”

Bob Wilson

Franklin

To the Editor:

Your opinion piece from the summer titled "Changing mind now won't undo the damage" left out a more common solution to the annexation of the 775 homes in Lake Junaluska with its woefully and poorly maintained Lake Junaluska sanitation infrastructure.

Really, why should the homeowners of Waynesville pay for the seemingly intentional lack of proper maintenance that occurred over 30 to 40 years? This gave them a reduced cost on utilities during that time. Now, with a clear road to annexation, their failure will be paid for by Waynesville homeowners with just a portion of the cost going to the Lake Junaluska folks. Is this really fair?

So annex them. It is good for them and ultimately good for Waynesville. But for 15 years put them in a special sanitation sub-district so that they can pay for their lack of oversight, diligence, etc. Have them pay for at least 75 percent of their mess before the current

Waynesville homeowners and business owners have to take on their debts. 

Did Waynesville homeowners vote to accept the infrastructure debts of Lake Junaluska? Lake Junaluska homeowners voted to have Waynesville homeowners take on Lake Junaluska debts. Where is the reverse? This is a pig in a poke that will cost an estimated $10 million over about five years.

Make it more fair, then proceed. Neither Rep. Joe Sam Queen nor Rep Michelle Presnell nor any public officer has developed a fair solution before annexation. Annexation without fair apportionment of infrastructure debts harms the majority of Waynesville taxpayers and rewards the Lake Junaluska homeowners. Lake Junaluska management shirked its responsibility in order to keep utility costs abnormally low.

Let's be fair to all and annex Lake Junaluska but put them in a special sub-sanitation district for more than 10 years.

Rick Helfers

Waynesville

To the Editor:

A recent letter to the editor states a moral equivalence between ISIS weird beards who behead journalists, crucify Christians, drive crosses into the throats of children in front of their parents, and turn young girls into sex slaves with the horrible unintended consequences of war and the mismanagement and gross negligence of some of this administration’s officials. One must wonder if people who think like this are not living happily in the land of OZ.

Tom Davis

Webster

To the Editor:

I am writing in regards to the Nikwasi Indian Mound. I am concerned for the community of Franklin and the image it is giving off to the rest of this country. Franklin has a lot of part-time residents that live elsewhere and a lot of others who are keeping up on the goings-on that are deciding whether to retire or visit here.

First off, I cannot believe that the Town of Franklin has missed the mark concerning the return of the mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). This is an opportunity to close some wounds, restore a church to a culture that has thousands of years’ history to the land, and to demonstrate understanding and goodwill. Folks, when I ask people what religion they feel Franklin is, they say “there are a lot of Christians.” 

However, the Town of Franklin doesn’t uphold that image. Here is why. They are hypocrites not loving their neighbor as themselves. If they would look at this issue from a cultural standpoint, they would understand they are withholding a church from a people that lost it because they were forced by Christians that coveted their land, some stole it, murdered them for it and waged war against the Cherokee all because of gold. Christians were hostile against them back then and that is still continuing today because it is obvious they are not culturally sensitive people. 

The mound has looked horrible since it was desecrated with herbicide. Indians consider that like burning a church. If you understood culture, the Town of Franklin would have never done that to the mound. They altered it, which was also against the instructions from the Macon County Historical Society when the deed was transferred to the Town of Franklin. 

I had to go research a bit at the library to maybe find some answers why Franklin refuses to return the Nikwasi Mound. They claim it’s rightly owned by people that bought it. They claim that EBCI is a sovereign nation and what would happen if they owned a piece of land in the middle of Franklin. They claim that the complications from it being privately owned interfere with them returning it.

Those arguments are invalid. First, EBCI owns two other mounds and they are not going to alter, remove, or put a casino on it or use it to take over land. If you were culturally educated you would understand this is not something that is allowed in Indian culture to do to sacred sites. The deed being in EBCI’s name is no different if I put a piece of land that I owned in the name of the EBCI. All we are looking at is a real estate transaction. 

Here’s the interesting piece of information I came across in Barbara McRae’s book called Franklin’s Ancient Mound, Teresita press, 1993. The Siler family oversaw the matters with the Indian Removal process (Jacob Siler was the man that served in the legislature in 1839-40 when issues concerning matters of the Cherokee Indians were discussed). It was also Jesse and Harriet Siler that acquired the Nikwasi Mound in the 1800s and built a gazebo on it. The mayor of Franklin, Bob Scott, married a Siler descendant. 

Now I couldn’t help but to wonder if this is why it is so difficult to return the mound is because Mayor Bob Scott has personal family history against the Cherokee Indians and he is still enforcing cultural insensitivity. I really would like to know because that is sure what it looks like after reading the history about the mound and watching the behaviors of a culturally inept council.

The other argument is why didn’t the Indians purchase the mound back in 1949 to get it back? I can tell you why … they were poor, still struggling to survive from what happened to them after the removal. They couldn’t afford it folks. Again, cultural ignorance shines right through because some refuse to learn about others to understand it from their point of view.

I think the Town of Franklin needs to re-think its decision of just allowing the EBCI to take on the expense of maintaining the mound but not own it. You are killing the Town of Franklin’s chance to heal wounds, to perhaps let the EBCI build the community by building a museum next to the mound to attract visitors here. You are missing an opportunity to show what Christianity is really about and not look like hypocrites to the rest of the world like some of the white ancestors were. There is no room for racism, not loving your neighbor and treating others like outsiders in the Christian religion.

After gaining some knowledge on the history of the mound, Bob Scott, you have a lot of explaining to do because most of the arguments in the media from the Town of Franklin are horribly invalid and definitely culturally insensitive. I would suggest returning the mound before we end up on national news with Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson making your political life difficult  and ruining Franklin’s reputation.

Rachel Truesdell

Franklin

Every attentive person knows there is a revolution occurring in language, and much of what was once communicated by words is now communicated by images. Texting is quicker than calling, snap chatting quicker than texting, and emoticons quicker than either. My students, for whom emoticons are second nature, are smart, and they have a thorough understanding of icons and symbols. Formal research and informal observations for the last decade tell us these students learn differently than previous generations. Their learning responds directly to their environment’s demands. They learn interactively. They learn through images. They learn through sound. Very few students learn primarily through the written word. And yet the state test they must pass for English IV is a variety of excerpts from literary works and historical documents, followed by multiple-choice questions. 

Smart money had the contest for the Swain commissioners race locked down in the primary. The board’s chairman, Phil Carson, had held on to his seat and the top four Democrats would assumably come out on top in the general election.

Rep. Michele Presnell , R-Yancey, retained her seat for the N.C House, narrowly defeating fellow Yancey resident Dean Hicks in the 118th District, which includes part of Haywood County and all of Madison and Yancey.

After winning re-election in the N.C. House District 119 race, Rep. Joe Sam Queen sounded more glum than one might expect. 

“It’s a mixed night for me,” Queen said.

N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, pulled out a sizeable win over Democratic challenger Jane Hipps.

Davis has represented the mountains in Raleigh for four years, an historic era of newfound Republican control.

Haywood Community College was recently awarded a Tennessee Valley Authority Ag & Forestry Fund Grant through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The grant, Improving Technological Innovation of Forest Management Students, will fund $13,800 of hardware and software to facilitate learning experiences and employability opportunities for the college’s Forest Management Technology students. 

With four new hand-held GPS units, the forestry students will keep current with advances in forest inventory and geospatial technology and further their knowledge base. Through this state-of-the-art forest inventory technology, students will use these skills throughout their time at HCC and rely on it to complete their final capstone project of preparing an entire forest management plan. 

HCC is working with ForesTech Resource Solutions, LLC for the equipment. According to its website, the company provides technical products and services for forestry and natural resource management through the use of the latest technology, a well-developed network of strategic partners and a wealth of applied knowledge in natural resources management.  

“In order for students to be properly prepared to enter the workforce, it is very important for them to be trained on technology they will be using in the field,” explains Terry Porter, President of ForesTech.

“HCC Forestry students will have access to new and emerging technologies that are being utilized by the forest industry, state and federal agencies,” says Blair Bishop, HCC Forest Management Technology Lead Instructor. “As a result, the use of this technology will have a long-term impact on the future foresters.”  

According to Porter, “When these students are ready to enter the workforce, employers are looking for people who have been utilizing this technology. They are looking for people who are well versed and will be able to hit the ground running.” 

HCC is the only technical college in Western North Carolina to offer a two-year Forest Management degree and the only Forest Management Technology Program in the state accredited by The Society of American Foresters. 

828.627.4566.

A native of Iran who is a former Rotary Peace Fellow and past editor of publications now banned or shut down by the Iranian government will present the keynote address for International Education Week at Western Carolina University on Thursday, Nov. 20.

Ali Eshraghi, Iran project manager for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, will deliver a talk tentatively titled “U.S.-Iran: Reconfiguring the Middle East” in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Eshraghi’s journalism career spans more than 15 years, and he has published hundreds of articles and op-ed pieces in Persian, Arabic and English media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Guardian, PBS Frontline, the New Republic and Al Jazeera.

The nonprofit institute for which Eshraghi works is committed to supporting citizen journalism and media institutions to help people in parts of the world faced with conflict and crisis have the information they need to drive positive changes in their lives. 

In Iran, dozens of journalists have served time in prison or been sentenced to lashings after being charged with offenses such as “anti-government publicity” and “meeting and conspiring against the Islamic Republic,” according to information from the nonprofit organization Reporters Without Borders.

John Whitmire, associate professor and head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, said Eshraghi’s experience has given him an invaluable expertise and perspective of peace, war and conflict resolution as well as U.S. and Iranian relations.

“He is someone whose life has been committed to speaking truth to power in the interests of reforming his own community and world,” said Whitmire. “In his various vocational lives, he’s been a real exemplar of journalistic and citizen advocacy directed towards changing his own society for the better, which you can’t do unless you really uncover the ways that it is currently falling short. In his case, this has entailed a lot of risk.”

Eshraghi also serves as the chair for the Civic Institute for Advocacy and Networking and a teaching fellow in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is an alumnus of the Duke-UNC Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution and was a visiting scholar at the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Journalism and the Institute of International Studies. Eshraghi also was a research fellow at the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program at U.C. Berkeley. He studied political science and Islamic studies at Imam Sadiq University in Tehran. 

In addition to delivering the keynote address for International Education Week at WCU, Eshraghi will speak to a philosophy and religion class about his experience of religion inside and outside of Iran; an English class that has read Persepolis about life in Iran; and to journalism students about his career and what it takes to succeed.

WCU’s Office of International Programs and Services partnered with the Department of Philosophy and Religion to make Eshraghi’s visit and address at WCU possible.

A dedication ceremony last week, held by the N.C. Department of Transportation, officially named a bridge at the intersection of U.S. 74 and Alarka Road in Swain County to honor Dock T. “Dockie” Brendle, a Swain County native who earned three Purple Hearts in the Vietnam War. 

He fought in many battles, including the 1968 Tet Offensive, and his last and most severe injury left him blind in his right eye and paralyzed on his left side. Despite his physical limitaions, Brendle has been instrumental in promoting veterans and other humanitarian efforts in his community. He’s a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 994 in Franklin and a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9281. 

His community felt the bridge should be named after him, but the request was at first denied by the DOT on the grounds that, as a rule, it doesn’t name roads and bridges after Purple Heart winners, on Medal of Valor winners. The people of Swain County had to show the DOT that Brendle was indeed a community figure worthy of the recognition and did so in grand fashion by holding Dockie Brendle Day in April, as well as compiling letters of support and signatures on a petition. 

Derrell Maxwell, the Oct. 29 ceremony’s emcee, formed the original committee to name the bridge after Brendle. Speakers at the ceremony included Transportation Secretary Tony Tata; Richard Norton, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 994; Phil Carson, chairman of the Swain County Board of Commissioners; N.C. Senator Jim Davis and Congressman Mark Meadows. 

Construction along N.C. 209 — locally called Crabtree Road — near its exchange with U.S. 74 will cause the state road to close for three consecutive weekends between Old Clyde Road and Carley Road as a new sewer line is installed there. 

The closures will be from 7 p.m. Nov. 7 to 7 a.m. Nov 10; 7 p.m. Nov. 14 to 7 a.m. Nov. 17 and 7 p.m. Nov. 21 to 7 a.m. Nov. 24. Signs will direct traffic along the detour from N.C. 209 to U.S. 74 to Interstate 40 West and then back onto N.C. 209 via Exit 24. 

Detour signage will be in place directing traffic from N.C. 209 to take U.S. 74 to Interstate 40 west, and then to Exit 24 on I-40 West. Traffic will then return to N.C. 209.

The $18.9 million project aims to improve safety and traffic flow along N.C. 209 and its interchange with U.S. 74. Construction began in late July, and all work save reforestation should be complete by August 2017.

A copper hammering workshop with William Rogers will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Art After Dark continues from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in downtown Waynesville.

Enjoy a stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street and Depot Street. Festive Art After Dark flags denote participating galleries.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has received a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council for $56,905 for the year beginning July 1, 2014 through June 2015. The Arts Council has designated the museum a State Arts Resource organization because of its role in perpetuating Cherokee traditions.

The 2014-15 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series will get underway with a performance by the Boys from Tuckasegee at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University

The group includes members of an earlier music group that was popular around Jackson County, the Sweet Tater Band. The band has been strongly influenced by two performers, the late folk music legend Mary Jane Queen of Jackson County’s Caney Fork community and bluegrass banjo master Raymond Fairchild of Maggie Valley. 

The First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue at the Mountain Heritage Center through next spring, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Featured performers at the December program will be the Deitz Family. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions that follow the show, which also are open to those who just want to listen.

This year’s First Thursday programs align with WCU’s interdisciplinary learning theme for the academic year, “North Carolina: Our State, Our Time.” Programs and initiatives across campus are exploring the state’s history, culture and impact.

Free.

828.227.7129.

To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, there will be two special events Nov. 8-9 at The Museum of the Cherokee Indian. 

The musical production of “42nd Street” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-15 and at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

On Oct. 30, Sen. Jim Davis and challenger Jane Hipps squared off in a debate at Southwestern Community College. It was the Senate 50 candidates’ third and final debate prior to the Nov. election. 

The first winter weather closures of the season will be in effect on the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend. 

A small section of the Blue Ridge Parkway,  between Milepost 420 (near Black Balsam Road) and Milepost 423 (at Hwy. 215), will be closed from Nov. 3 through May 2015. 

The 8th annual Highlands Culinary Weekend will be Nov. 6-9 at participating restaurants and businesses.

The four-day destination event, created by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, is one of the highlights of the fall season, which combines Highlands’ majestic mountain location with boundless activities, appealing accommodations, unique retail shops and extraordinary cuisine. 

The weekend kicks off with the Opening Night Celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Highlands Country Clubhouse. The evening includes live music, a variety of wine tasting tables and the delectable cuisine of Highlands’ local chefs. Throughout the weekend, there will also be an array of activities, cooking demonstrations, tastings and dinners hosted by area restaurants, merchants and accommodations. Experience the wares of Highlands’ fine shops by attending the annual Sip & Stroll held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7-8 in downtown. It’s impressive to see the creativity that goes into Highlands Culinary Weekend.

For ticket sales, a complete schedule of events and list of participating businesses, click on www.highlandsculinaryweekend.com. 

Acclaimed rock act Daughtry will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

Bethel

• The Cold Mountain Corn Maze. Open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $8 for ages 4 and older, ages 3 and younger free.

Renowned storyteller Donald Davis will be performing “Our Stories Take Us Home” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

The Live in HD Series will continue with “Carmen and The Legend of Love” at the ML Performing Arts Center in Highlands.

The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association will present Broadway star Terrence Mann, Western Carolina University’s Phillips Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre, with the Hardee-Rives Award for the Dramatic Arts on Friday, Nov. 7. The annual award honors notable contributions to the dramatic arts in North Carolina and will be bestowed during an association meeting in New Bern.

The Beautiful Offerings Tour featuring Big Daddy Weave, with special guests Chris August, Dara Maclean and Group 1 Crew will perform an evening of contemporary Christian music at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

To the Editor:

Recently I have heard folks say things like, “My daddy” or “Momma” would “roll over in their grave if I don’t vote for all the Republicans like we always have, but I’m sure not happy with some of them this year.”

To those folks, I say, give yourself permission to vote for a Democrat or two if you agree more with their record, or their stance on the issues, or their personal character.”

It would not mean you are no longer Republican, or no longer conservative; it just means for this election, for specific offices, you are supporting an individual ... a neighbor ... whom you believe will best serve the needs of our county, our schools, our region or our state.

Sherry Miller

Otto

To the Editor:

Don’t we all desire what’s best for our kids? The best schools. The best teachers. The best extracurricular options. The best friends. But how often do we consider an even broader picture — like the best school board? Or the best school board members?

Wende Goode is running for the Haywood County School Board. Why? It is a lot of hard work and very little tangible reward, perhaps. It’s because she loves kids! 

A wife and mother of two, Wende loves people. She serves people. She helps people. And the world is a better place because of this.

Each year, Wende spearheads a local church’s outreach event to children at Central Elementary. And she’s done so for years. The Vine of the Mountains hosts each August, just prior to school beginning, the “Vineival” — a carnival-style event where children receive so much more than just prizes and sweet treats. They receive backpacks filled with school supplies. And they receive love.

Wende, as the mother of two sons, has spent many hours volunteering in schools. She knows many students. Many teachers. And the system. And she knows all of these well.

That’s why I believe wholeheartedly that she would make a wonderful addition to our Haywood County school board. 

I want the best for my kids. Don’t you?

Vote for the best. Vote for Wende Goode on Nov. 4.

Maureen Miller

Haywood County

To the Editor:

I would like to applaud The Smoky Mountain News for the articles on the Haywood County Commission candidates. It was fair and impartial and all six candidates had a chance to qualify their answers. Naturally, those who are in the trenches have more insight into certain issues, but we must remember as Kirk said that the first time or beginning as a commissioner is new to all.

While serving on the school board is government experience, it is not the same as being a commissioner where the day never ends. Calls can come at any time and involve any issue. The question is not that one is better than another, as I am impressed with the quality of the incumbents but I feel that perhaps governmental service should not be a career. However, the voters in their wisdom can retire any one they want.

One item not mentioned in this campaign as far as I noticed is any refinancing of bond issues to benefit from the much lower interest rates. I’m sure that this was done and that’s the reason for its absence from the discussion.

I have observed that this campaign has been very clean and sign disappearance has been little. That speaks well for all.

Some opine that elections are too costly, but they don’t suggest alternatives. We have many offices that could and should be nonpartisan, and why we continue with the archaic is unexplainable. 

We should applaud the candidates for the county commission for offering their services that consume so much of their time. A clean election should be the 11th commandment as we’ve all seen the other. Thanks Smoky Mountain News for these articles.

KG Watson

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

In the campaign financial reports from 2012, Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Yancey, spent $107,039 with $3,611 from individuals and Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, spent $920,258 with $62,666 from individuals. (Contrast Joe Sam Queen spending $128,871 with $88,632 from individuals.) Given who paid for our politicians’ campaigns, it is not surprising that in the last two years of legislation big business got everything they wanted.

So it is important to ask: What kind of people are these masters of our elected representatives? They dumped more pollutants into the nation’s waterways than General Electric and International Paper combined. They generated 24 million metric tons of greenhouse gases a year. They developed chemicals and helped craft the legislation that protects the fracking cocktails, which are exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act. They promote the burning of a denser, dirtier and cheaper coal. They used thousands of miles of unsafe pipelines causing millions of gallons of spills, resulting in at least two deaths. 

Not to be caught, they used the churn of a tugboat’s engine to break up waterborne spills, or on land just buried them. They drove the prices of oil above $147 a barrel in July 2008, battering a global economy about to enter a free fall. They’ve taken large amounts of materials (oil, pine) off the market, betting on price disruptions the company itself creates. 

Is water next? They profited from trade with the state sponsor of terror and reckless would-be nuclear power, supplying Iran with the largest methanol plant in the world. 

They trade in unregulated derivatives, dubbed “financial weapons of mass destruction,” that banks are banned from. Their very essence is to exploit breakdowns in the free market.

They get richer as the costs of what they destroy are foisted on the rest of us — ill health, foul water and a climate crisis. To voters they hide by selling fear of abortion, gun control, entitlements and government. What voters should fear is big business becoming our government through the election of their puppet politicians.

John Geers

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Eleven years ago, I came home from work to find my wife — Wende Goode — holding our newborn son Tristin on our sofa. Tears poured from her eyes as she explained she could not go back to work; she needed to devote her life to our young family.

Before our children came along (we added a second child, Westin John, five years ago), Wende was a social worker who worked with young families.

Going from two incomes to one hasn’t been easy, but I’m daily blown away by how she pours her heart into volunteering at our boys’ schools (Tristin’s at Canton Middle; Westin’s at Clyde Elementary) and rushing the boys to Kindermusic, science clubs and youth sports leagues.

Through all her volunteering, she listens carefully to the amazing teachers who dedicate their lives to the development of all our children. She spends hours in conversation with parents of other children. She knows what issues matter to all of them, and she wants to make a difference on their behalf.

That’s why Wende is running for Haywood County’s school board this fall. As her husband of 18 years, I can tell you Wende has more integrity, honor and backbone than any woman I’ve met. You can rest assured she will stand up for our teachers, for parents and for all our children.

So please take a few moments on Nov. 4 and make sure there’s a fresh voice on the school board: Vote for Wende Goode.

Tyler Norris Goode

Clyde

To the Editor:

Most of the talk regarding education has been about teacher pay, which is critical such that we can continue to recruit and maintain highly qualified teachers. Certainly, North Carolina teachers deserve better pay; it is also important to consider all of the support that contributes to teacher effectiveness and student learning at the local level.

Classroom teachers in Haywood County schools could not do the work they do without the assistance of the educational support staff.  The Transportation Department maintains our buses and the bus drivers safely transport our students as they travel to and from school each day.  The child nutrition program provides breakfast and lunch for students and staff on a daily basis. The custodians clean our schools and take care of the school grounds.  The maintenance department works to keep schools running and safe. Instructional assistants work directly with our students and teachers to provide a quality education for our students. Central office and school-based administrators along with administrative assistants work diligently to ensure schools have the support they need. 

I have not named all the educational support staff, but my point is they also play a critical role in educating our students. These dedicated employees continue to do a great job even with the budget cuts. 

While the budget did provide raises for many North Carolina teachers, keep in mind that the state’s budget also provided pay raises for other public school educational support staff. However, whereas most state employees received $1,000 and five bonus days for the 2014/2015 school year, our non-certified public school employees and central office staff received a $500 pay raise for the 2014/2015 school year and no bonus days. This equates to $41 a month for a 12-month employee. I have a difficult time rationalizing how our legislators think it is OK to do this to our educational support staff. How do you explain to a school custodian that he/she will receive $500 while a custodian cleaning the executive mansion receives $1,000 and 5 bonus days?  

I say thanks to educators and educational support staff for their dedication. Please keep our educators, educational support staff, and most importantly our students in mind as you vote on Nov. 4.  

Candie Sellers

Candidate for Haywood School Board

To the Editor:

The Senate race in North Carolina is the most important election in our state this year. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., has been and will continue to be a rubber stamp senator for President Obama and Sen. Harry Reid 96 percent of the time if she is elected. More than $20 million has been poured into our state from outside to get her elected. We have a senator who represents an unpopular president more often than she does the people in her state? The senator we elect is suppose to represent us, not the president.  

N.C. Rep. Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, has helped Gov. Pat McCrory get North Carolina’s unemployment rate down to 6.9 percent. Our state’s tax rates were among the highest in the South. Tillis and McCrory changed that. Without the Reid/Obama campaign money this Senate race would not be close.  

Any person who is unemployed should vote for Tillis. He has played a big part in reducing the unemployment rate in North Carolina from 9.8 percent to 6.9 percent. We need two senators who will represent the people in North Carolina, not just one. It should not be a tough choice to decide who the other senator should be.

Jim Mueller

Glenville

To the Editor:

I’m really impressed with Tom Hill, candidate for District 11 of the U.S. Congress, hoping to unseat the incumbent, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers. I have seen both of these candidates speak. Rep. Meadows is a slick public speaker who dances well when trying to avoid answering difficult questions.  He must be a very successful salesman, but I keep looking around for the snake oil.

Tom Hill is authentic, genuine, believable and trustworthy. What you see is what you get. Born and raised in Henderson County, he studied hard, earned a Ph.D. in physics and worked in the aerospace industry. Learn more about him at tomhillforcongress.com.

Rep. Meadows has many hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on his re-election. According to opensecrets.org, his money comes from large corporations and partisan political action committees who keep donor names secret. Tom Hill accepts only small donations from private citizens. Rep. Meadows promotes legislation for special interests while Tom Hill will look out for the rest of us.

Rep. Meadows has done irreparable harm to this district and wants to do more. Remember around this time last year when our national parks were shut down during leaf season? Not only did Rep. Meadows instigate the shutdown, he voted against last year’s government funding bill that ended it. And he even voted for another shutdown this year by voting against the government funding bill passed in September. If it were up to Rep. Meadows the government would stay shut down forever. Is he an anarchist?  

I’m voting for Tom Hill for Congress in District 11. We need a mountain native to look after the interests of a mountain district. With the problems facing this country, I sure would rather have a scientist looking out for me than a snake oil salesman.  

Carole Larivee    

Waynesville

To the Editor:

Are you better off now than you were, say, a year ago? For most of us that depends on whether the bank account is larger and we have more money in our wallets. In North Carolina, that depends on how much money you make.  

This year, we all got a cut in our income taxes. Near the bottom of the income scale, your taxes went down about 0.2 percent, so you may not have noticed. In the middle of the scale the decrease was about 1.2 percent, and the top earners saved almost 2 percent on income taxes. However, if you’re among the working poor and used the Earned Income Tax Credit in the past, forget it because the GOP legislature repealed it. 

Have you noticed that you’re spending more on your kid’s school supplies? It got worse this year when the tax holiday for school supplies was repealed. If your child is in college, their meal plan is now taxed for the first time. You also lost the deduction for your college savings plan.

You also now pay sales taxes on your electric and natural gas bills for the first time. Same for movie tickets, concerts and shopping at a farmers market.

Retired on a pension? You lost that deduction. Own a farm? You lost a bunch of deductions this year, and even more if your farm income is less than $10,000.

Trying to get ahead with a small business outside of your usual work? The $50,000 exclusion for that income is gone.

Planning on buying a modular or mobile home? You’ll now pay the full sales tax rate and the $300 cap on that tax is gone. 

With the “tax reform” that our Republican legislators gave us, the break-even point is about $80,000. If you make less than that, you pay more taxes; if you make more than that, you pay less.  That $80,000 is more than twice what half of households in Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties bring home in a year.  

And they thought you wouldn’t notice!

John Gladden

Franklin

To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Mr. Hunter Murphy for election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. I have known Mr. Murphy and his family since they moved to Waynesville in 1995. I would like to consider myself as Hunter’s mentor in that I played a large role in his entry into the legal field. In addition I consider Hunter a friend.

Mr. Murphy’s stature in the legal community goes without parallel. He is considered a worthy and trusted advocate. Mr. Murphy has practiced both in the Superior and District Court divisions of the trial courts of North Carolina. His primary practice is in the District Court, which is truly the place where humans are most affected by the legal system. All disciplines of the law must be understood. Hunter’s knowledge of the law and appreciation of this dynamic is unequalled. Most importantly, a practitioner in the District Court judge setting must display humility and an understanding of the human condition. Hunter continuously demonstrates those characteristics, and it is these qualities that would serve him well as a judge on the Court of Appeals.

In his community, Mr. Murphy is known as a good father, a husband and is quite active in his church setting. I have practiced law for over 42 years in Waynesville. It would be an asset to this community and the state of North Carolina for Mr. Murphy to be elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the upcoming election.

Gavin Brown

Waynesville 

To the Editor:

The actions taken in the last few years under Republican leadership have awakened a sleeping giant of economic development. Not only have you opened the door for industry and jobs to discover North Carolina, but you have put in place future changes that will enhance the attraction for additional economic progress. While some disagree with these changes, the end results will be indisputable and show their selfish priorities.

Having said all that, I would like to propose action that I believe would create an all but immediate flood of capital, industry and jobs to our state.

Every week there are 10,000 people retiring. For the most part, a great number of those people would like to retire in North Carolina. We have everything retirees are looking for. Beaches, mountains and metropolitan cities. Many choose to pass up those advantages and choose Tennessee, Florida and Texas because of the personal income tax.

I realize your plans are to eliminate that tax, but I believe an action that could be taken immediately would trigger an immediate flood of not only retirees, but their assets would come with them and create thousands of jobs in the construction, real estate, medical, home furnishings, restaurants, insurance, grocery and untold other businesses. The increased revenue from this growth would more than offset any lost tax revenue. My proposal would be to immediately eliminate the state personal income tax for residents over the age of 65. The gradual reduction for other taxpayers could continue along your proposed schedule. An action like this would certainly prove to be the catalyst for a huge economic engine that would dwarf the growth of other states. 

Remember, this demographic has little or no impact on infrastructure. They do not impact the school system except to generate more property tax to support education and they have virtually no impact on law enforcement or needed facilities for incarceration, nor do they have a large impact on HHS.

This proposal could be quantified by Art Pope’s department and I believe it would be a positive impact on our state budget. I urge you to also consider the thousands of people who are part-time residents and return to Florida to pay their property and vehicle taxes and vote. Many of these part-timers would leave Florida and make North Carolina their primary residence.

Bruce Gardner, 

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I truly believe Tom Hill will stand up for us, the common person. If you haven’t seen many television ads for him, or seen too many signs, it is because he has not accepted money from corporations or big money interests. Tom Hill wants to go Washington because he is as fed up with the direction this country is going as are most of us! 

 Tom Hill will work to close offshore and other tax loopholes that are robbing our country of just revenue so that large corporations and the very rich pay their fair share. Tom Hill believes in ending the wars on foreign soil and putting that money back into this country where we need it, rebuilding our infrastructure and putting people to work at jobs that pay a living wage.

Support Hill over Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, in this congressional election.

Connie J. Conklin

Dillsboro

To the Editor: 

What have the incumbent county commissioners brought to Haywood County?

I am a 55-year resident of Haywood County. The current Haywood County Board of Commissioners has given us a massive debt of well over $69 million, with almost $9 million a year going just to debt payments, this in a county of just 59,000 residents.

I think about the countless job losses in the name of tourism. According to the Haywood Employment Security Commission, three out of every four workers in Haywood work outside the county. Yes, 75 percent can’t find work in Haywood. What had you rather have, a ballfield on J Creek or jobs for your family? Thirty-three percent of Haywood residents do not even own their home.

Everywhere you look you see great increases in unreasonable government regulations, building permits, massive unconstitutional ordinances. Every aspect of our lives has been touched. Our inalienable rights — guaranteed by God himself — have been trashed by the Haywood County Emergency Management Ordinance, written and implemented without your vote by the commissioners themselves.

I say it is high time for a change in leadership.

I support replacing the three incumbent commissioners with three honest, liberty-loving defenders of the Constitution who each believe in a balanced budget, lower taxes and less intrusions into your personal lives. This year I will vote for Denny King, Phillip Wight and Dr. Windy McKinney for Haywood County Commissioners.

Eddie Cabe

Haywood County Taxpayer

Editor’s note: We reserve Eddie Cabe’s right to support whomever he wants in the upcoming election, but for accuracy’s sake a few points of fact need clarification. According to the Haywood County Finance Office, Haywood County’s total debt is $57.6 million, not $69 million. According to the Haywood Economic Development Commission, Haywood County has a workforce of 28,000, of which 11,000 leave Haywood to find work. That’s 39 percent who leave to find jobs.  

My weekdays begin at 5 a.m. I have time to drink coffee with my husband, thank him for making my lunch, make myself presentable and read, pray, and meditate. I also clean out the cat’s litter box, which is perhaps as important as anything in preparing me for the harsh truths of my students’ lives. I am three months into my 16th year of teaching public high school.

Duke Energy Progress customers may see some changes in their communities as the utility embarks on a new initiative to modernize outdoor lighting across its service area. Duke will replace more than 100,000 mercury vapor street and area lights with advanced LED fixtures. 

The project is part of Duke’s Lighting Modernization Program, which seeks to replace mercury vapor fixtures in its North Carolina service area by October 2016. Plans call for about 9,000 lights to be upgraded each month. 

“We’ve heard from our customers that they want more energy-efficient outdoor lighting options and we want to be responsive,” said Emily Henson, Duke Energy’s director of outdoor lighting. 

The utility has also committed to investigate and consider new, more efficient lighting options as they become available in the market, and to share those options as part of the utility’s ongoing commitment to serve outdoor lighting customers.