U.S. Senator Kay Hagan visited the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation Aug. 6, meeting with Chief Michell Hicks, Vice Chief Larry Blythe and members of the Tribal Council to receive an update on the reservation and discuss her advocacy on behalf of Western North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

“I am so honored to have the opportunity to visit Cherokee today, a place so deeply tied into the history and fabric of our state. Cherokee continues to be a vital part of our tourism economy in North Carolina,” Hagan said. “Every year, people from all over come to visit the unique cultural and historic sites of the western North Carolina mountains, whose beauty is unmatched anywhere in the world.” 

Hagan, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Children & Families, also toured the Birdtown Recreation Center and visited with local children. Hagan is cosponsoring legislation to address the unique challenges faced by Native American children. The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act would establish a commission within the Office of Tribal Justice of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The bill would require the commission to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local and tribal programs that serve Native children, identify models of successful initiatives and make recommendations on federal policy to improve the current system by building on the strengths of Native communities.

“We can and must do better for our kids,” Hagan said, explaining that the Commission on Native Children would conduct an intensive study into the issues facing  children and actions needed to ensure children have a shot at academic and economic success.

The cell phone tower proposed for the Whiteside Cove area is off the table for now. Verizon has “indefinitely suspended” plans to locate a tower in the area after requests from Jackson County planning officials that various issues be addressed in the company’s application, chiefly that the design incorporate a camouflage-style tower instead of the originally-proposed mono-pole design.

A Winston-Salem man is hoping to set a record for a good cause with his plan to run the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in nine days. Ned Erickson started his 469-mile run Aug. 9 in Cherokee and plans to finish in Waynesboro, Virginia, by Aug. 17. 

Along the way, Erickson is raising support and awareness for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Carolina Point, a Young Life camp in Brevard that’s looking to make improvements to accommodate children with special needs. 

www.nederickson.com/werunforthem.html. 

A popular trail access area and jumping off point for the Shining Rock Wilderness area at Balsam Road will be closed from Sept. 2 through early October for a resurfacing project. 

Balsam Road, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County, is a high-traffic trailhead for the Sam’s Knob area and balds of Shining Rock.

“We’ve received a number of complaints regarding the condition of the road. This project will address the numerous potholes and greatly improve visitor experience,” said Derek Ibarguen, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service Pisgah Ranger District. “To avoid the highest use times and to be able to meet the requirement of resurfacing the road during warm weather, we are implementing the project just after the Labor Day weekend and before the leaf season.”

This year’s Taste of the Market celebration at Jackson County Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 16 in downtown Sylva,will feature a tomato tasting contest right next door to the 100th anniversary festivities for Jackson County Cooperative Extension. 

A $25,000 Pigeon River Fund grant will help the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department purchase kayaking supplies to add paddling to the offerings of Base Camp Waynesville, a department program dedicated to helping town residents enjoy the outdoors. 

“This program will give us the opportunity to offer kayaking classes in our pool, in our local flat-water lakes and various local rivers,” said Tim Petrea, outdoor programming director for the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. “We will also offer two-hour kayak and paddle board sessions on local lakes and half-day, full-day, and overnight kayak/paddle board trips.”

The resources will also be used in kids day camp programs offered during summer and other school breaks. 

Using the grant, the department bought 13 single kayaks, five tandem kayaks, 10 sit-on-top paddle boards and paddles, flotation devices and other accessories. 

The goal, Petrea said, is to encourage stronger stewardship of local waterways. By putting people in closer contact with those waterways, he hopes to accomplish that aim.

828.456.2030 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The historical documentary film Cataloochee will be shown at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cullowhee at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 21.  

The documentary tells the story of the Cataloochee Valley, the settlers who lived there for a hundred years, and the movement to form the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that includes this special place. The beginning of the film includes a section on the Cherokee relationship to the land prior to white settlement. The Cataloochee settlers themselves tell the story of their time in the valley with humor and poignant memories, reflecting on how their feelings toward the national park have either changed over time to embrace the public space or remained embittered. The narrative repeats the universal themes of migration, settlement and loss of community.

Historians involved in producing the film will elaborate on the film and answer questions. The documentary was a thesis project of WCU film student Katherine Bartel. 

828.743.0585.​

The watermelons will take over Aug. 16 at the Original Waynesville Tailgate Market’s August Kids Corner Market.

A Save the Trails ride and run through DuPont State Forest will be held Aug. 23 to help Pisgah Area Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association raise money to maintain trails that mountain bikers use. The event will feature four long-distance fun races — no timekeeping involved — with volunteers also needed to make everything go off smoothly. 

A handful of teachers, high school and college students recently completed a program designed to teach them about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through six weeks of hands-on engagement.

Friends of the Smokies will take to the silver screen from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, for the 20th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon to benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over the last two decades the broadcast has raised more than $2.9 million. 

To the Editor:

The Johnny-come-lately public hearing on fracking scheduled by the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) at Western Carolina University on Sept. 12 appears to be nothing more than a public relations move to appease those Western Carolina residents whose opposition to the practice has finally been acknowledged in Raleigh.  

This hearing, like numerous other after-the-fact gambits by politicians, will essentially do nothing to reverse state law on fracking which was enacted by the Raleigh crowd without a millisecond of public input. While some local jurisdictions, including town boards, are standing up to Raleigh by passing anti-fracking resolutions for environmental reasons, these are merely symbolic gestures trumped by state law. Bottom line: the state legislature has basically emasculated local governments. 

MEC chairman Jim Womack said recently that the Western Carolina hearing was scheduled “to give voice to the people of the west.” How noble of the MEC to allow citizens of the region to voice their concerns over fracking when, in the end, it will make little or no difference. In fairness, the hearings may have some small impact on the draft oil and gas rulebook now in place thanks to Raleigh, but a little tweaking here and there doesn’t change the basic game. 

Mr. Womack went on to state that local concerns, while “meaningful” are still only “symbolic” and that passage of anti-fracking resolutions is “probably not a good thing” because it might offend the industry, heaven forbid. Apparently, it doesn’t matter if the industry is offensive to the people. Amazingly, he then suggested that voters should note those local public officials objecting to the fracking and “go the ballot box armed with that information.”

So, let me try to understand this conundrum. Mr. Womack wants voters to possibly punish elected local officials who oppose fracking, but it is perfectly fine for the state legislature to ram through this legislation with no prior public input. In other words, the state has spoken (Big Brother), and any local yokels who oppose Big Brother can be voted out. Here’s a suggestion. Have people go to the ballot box armed with the knowledge that their state representative(s) supported and passed fracking legislation in record time without public input. What about that scenario, Mr. Womack? 

Perhaps the public comments next month at WCU will have a positive impact on how fracking is rolled out in North Carolina. After all, the three-minute comments will be recorded by the MEC. Let’s just hope the recording isn’t erased once it’s played in the sequestered back rooms of the state legislature.

Gerald Soud

Rabun Gap, Ga.

To the Editor:

First, kudos to Gerald Green and the Jackson County Planning Council for requiring Verizon to use cell tower designs that do not ruin our beautiful views. I applaud their continued work to ensure Verizon conforms to permit application requirements. Yes, we can have technology and beauty!

Second, I am appalled that our legislature passed a bill allowing fracking and then Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law while most of us didn’t even know it was under consideration. The bill was sponsored and strongly supported by Rep. Jim Davis, R-Franklin.

And the chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners doesn’t think fracking will go any further than drilling some test wells and that makes the law OK? Excuse me? Oh, yes, and it’s now illegal to publish the names of the chemicals used in the fracking mix. Is that suspicious or what? 

And last, the state says it’s illegal for any “county, town, or local entity to prohibit fracking.” Are you kidding me? Let’s take that one to court. And I implore the Jackson County Commissioners to join with Swain (and hopefully other WNC counties) and come out against fracking.

Third, a developer is considering putting food trucks in the vacant lot in Cashiers by the second traffic light. If you haven’t seen the sample, go by and look. I for one do not want that look (multiplied by 3? 4? 5?) in our quaint town, not to mention the impact on the restaurants who serve food here every summer and live in the area.

 Marti Senterfit

Cashiers

The Waynesville Craft Beer Faire will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville.

The 40th annual Mountain Heritage Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at Western Carolina University. 

The event will once again feature the traditional foods competition A Gathering In, where baked goods, canned and dried foods and — this year — sweet potato recipes will vie for ribbons. The Best in the West Sweet Potato Recipe will highlight the importance of sweet potatoes in the Western North Carolina region. 

The weeks ahead provide plenty of time to prepare preserved entries and plan winning recipes. Food entries will be accepted at the Mountain Heritage Center at specific times leading up to the festival.

Canned goods and heritage foods may be dropped off at the Cordelia Camp Building on campus between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24; baked goods and the Best in the West Sweet Potato dishes (along with their respective recipes) from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26.

828.586.4009 or 828.227.7129, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.mountainheritageday.com.

The Masters of Illusion’s Believe The Impossible professional magic showcase will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

Western Carolina University’s 125th anniversary Big Birthday Bash will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the A.K. Hinds University Center lawn in Cullowhee.

All alumni, friends, students, faculty, staff and members of the surrounding community are invited to take part in the festivities, including a picnic on the lawn featuring barbecue, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, funnel cakes, deep-fried goodies, lemonade, tea and birthday cake.

Also on tap will be a variety of old-fashioned games and photo opportunities with props representative of 125 years of WCU history. The tentative schedule includes musical entertainment provided by the Dirty Guv’nahs, and partygoers will be eligible to win a variety of door prizes. Student hosts will be giving guided tours of a walking trail featuring university landmarks and points of historical interest as part of a project by a WCU history class.

The university’s Cat-Tran shuttle service will be available to assist in transporting off-campus guests from designated parking areas to the site of the bash. No pets are allowed, although service animals are welcome.

The final quasquicentennial event is set for Friday, Dec. 5, in the Ramsey Center, with music from the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band (which will have just returned from its appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade), refreshments, remarks from the chancellor and special recognition for those who will graduate during the December 2014 commencement (the last graduating class of WCU’s 125th year).

828.227.3033 or www.celebrate125.wcu.edu.

The 2014 Haywood County Fair will be held Aug. 19-24 at the Haywood County Fairgrounds in Lake Junaluska.

Bingo will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Apple Orchard Building. Just a few of the door prizes include restaurant and automotive gift certificates, pottery, jewelry, crafts, and silk flower arrangements. All proceeds raised will go back into the Haywood County Fairgrounds maintenance and upkeep. 828.712.3458.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Members of the Cashiers area are organizing a new civic association to direct the community’s future.

The formation of the association is an outgrowth of a planning project a group of Louisiana State University students undertook last year. The students, led by LSU landscape architecture professor and part-time Cashiers resident V. Frank Chaffin, studied the area in terms of demographics, land use and projected growth. Their semester-long study resulted in the recommendation of aesthetic-yet-functional element such as the creation of a public park and preserving in-town wetlands.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

As residents in the Cashiers area pull together to address their community’s needs through the creation of a civic association, members of some of the region’s established grassroots groups weighed in on what makes such an organization successful.

There are many worthwhile upshots from The Sounds of Jackson County recording project, but two stand out among them: one, that something special can indeed happen when a community comes together; and two, the support for a new Sylva library is strong, and county commissioners need to sharpen their pencils in the upcoming budget year and find a way to find a way to pay for it.

By Michael Beadle

Freezing temperatures may keep some people bundled up indoors, but not Adam Fox.

When the temperatures dip into the teens and 20s, it’s prime time for scaling the sides of mountains for an ice climbing adventure.

By Eugene Shuler

Winter is a great time to go fishing. Don’t believe me? Just look at what you don’t see this time of year, and that’s other people on the water fishing your favorite spot.

By Chris Cooper

Beautiful and alarmingly odd, Andrew Bird makes music that ambles pretty far outside description or categorization. “Chamber pop” perhaps? And what the heck is he talking about half the time? How did he find so many things that rhyme with formaldehyde in the song “Fake Palindromes”?

By Michael Beadle

For Victor Raul Moraloza, each day is a gift.

From being a high school wrestling champion to surviving a grenade explosion in the Vietnam War to treasure diving off the coast of Colombia to creating award-winning metal sculptures that are sold all over the United States, Moraloza has always been willing to take that gift and do what he could with it.

TV

Yeah, fine: burn your television, TV is bad. It’s mind numbing and makes us lazy. Blah blah blah. But if you’ve been without it for three years like I’ve been, getting the “basic cable package” is quite a joyous experience. The season premiere of “24” was awesome, “American Idol” is just as silly and pointless (and entertaining) as ever, and even getting to watch the news is nice. Heck, we tuned in to CBS for a while, and that almost never happens. Sorry Dave.

August is runners’ month in Western North Carolina. A slate of races throughout the region will give athletes a chance to stretch their legs. 

• The Main Street Mile Run for Children will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, in downtown Waynesville. It ends in front of the courthouse after a one-mile jaunt down Main Street that is mostly downhill.

The run, now in its fifth year, will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, South Carolina. The first 300 runners will receive a free race t-shirt, and a post-race party featuring live music by Fire Ball Coma, food, drinks, local beer and games for kids will be part of the fun. Runners will also get a loaded race schwag bag. Awards given to top racers. $20 until Aug. 21; $25 on race day. www.communityfitnessevents.com/waynesville-main-street-mile/

• The 33rd annual Maggie Valley Moonlight Run and Sunset Run will be held Saturday, Aug. 23. Hosted by the Town of Maggie Valley and the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Sunset Fun Run for children will begin at 7:45 p.m., taking place entirely inside the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The 8K road race will start at 8:30 p.m., beginning and ending at the Festival Grounds after traveling up and back along Soco Road in the heart of Maggie Valley. The Sunset Fun Run will precede the adult race at 7:45 pm. $35 through Aug. 21 and $40 on race day for the 8K; $10 for the fun run. Awards will be given to top finishers. Register at www.imathlete.com/events/eventoverview.aspx?fEID=19010.

• The Franklin Riverfest 5K will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, along the Little Tennessee Greenway in conjunction with the first annual Riverfest Festival in Franklin, sponsored by the Franklin Daybreak Rotary. The 5K benefits several local charities. Cost is $20, or $25 after Aug. 14. www.franklinriverfest.com.

• The Rotary Club of Highlands will host its second annual Twilight Rock ‘n Roll 5K beginning 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Kelsey Hutchinson Park, with check-in beginning 4 p.m. Walkers welcome. The first 100 participants will receive a t-shirt, kids will get glowsticks, the all finishers will get a free beer from Ugly Dog Pub. Awards will be given to top finishers, and a concert lasting until 10 p.m. will make it a whole night out. Chairs, coolers and refreshments are encouraged. $30 pre-registration and free for kids under 10; $35 on race day. Register at www.active.com/highlands-nc/running/distance-running-races/twilight-rock-n-roll-5k-2014-7223630. 

According to a new National Park Service report, the 9.4 million people who visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2013 brought more than $734 million to communities near the park, supporting 10,734 local jobs. 

These figures are slightly down from 2012, when visitors spent about $741 in local communities. The 16-day government shutdown in October accounted for most of the difference, though the report’s authors also cited inflation adjustments as a cause. 

U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber conducted the survey along with Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. Their report showed $14.6 billion of direct spending by 273.6 million national park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park, supporting more than 237,000 jobs for a cumulative economic benefit fo $26.5 billion. Lodging accounted for about 30 percent of the spending, followed by food and drink at 27 percent and fuel at 12 percent. 

The full report is available at www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm. 

A cliff face might not seem like a hospitable place to forge a life, but for a good-sized group of endangered species, the craggy ledges and rock faces re home. Programs Aug. 14-15 at the Highlands Biological Station will highlight these important habitats. 

A 64-year-old Michigan man is recovering after a fall while hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last Sunday afternoon (July 27), an accident that kept him and his rescuers holed up in the backcountry for 24 hours while waiting out a tremendous thunderstorm.

Faith-inspired environmental advocacy is the focus of Western North Carolina Alliance’s newest program, Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina. The program started in two years ago as WNC Green Congregations and is now looking for donations to hire a director and further its effectiveness. The goal is to raise $29,500 by the end of August. 

“We are so happy that the Creation Care Alliance has chosen to be part of WNCA,” said Julie Mayfield, WNCA co-director. “We have worked closely with them for more than two years and have effectively supported each other’s efforts. Creation Care Alliance brings a vital and unique voice to environmental advocacy and education, and we help inform and focus their voice to be as strategic as possible.”

The network of people of faith and congregations will work to bring practical and hopeful solutions to their congregations and to broader secular communities by engaging hearts and minds through education, service and advocacy. Its primary focus areas are “food and faith” and “just energy/climate change.”

Among the group’s plans for the next year are clergy gatherings, educational panels and a local foods potluck. 

WNCA Campaign Coordinator Anna Jane Joyner, 828.258.8737, ext. 210. www.creationcarealliance.org.

Western Carolina University ranked as the No.1 college for outdoor adventures in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic in a recent online poll by outdoors magazine Blue Ridge Outdoors. 

Landmark Learning, an outdoor training institute in Cullowhee, has released its fall lineup of outdoor safety training courses. With everything from how to doctor a snakebite in the backcountry to how to warm a hypothermic person fast, the courses provide the knowledge base outdoors professionals and recreaters need to stay safe. Fees vary. To register for any course, contact 828.293.5384 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All courses offered on the Cullowhee campus. 

Bluegrass/gospel legends Dailey & Vincent will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The inaugural Haywood County Fall Sports Tailgate Kickoff Party will be from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Smathers Square on Main Street in Canton.

Some of the most riveting and moving student-created films from Western Carolina University’s Controlled Chaos Film Festivals in recent years will be shared at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at The Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

In anticipation of the growing popularity of the Youth Arts Festival, the Jackson County Green Energy Park is seeking both new participants and returning alumni artists to assist with this year’s event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 20, in Dillsboro.

A public hearing over a controversial cell tower in the scenic Whiteside Cove area of Cashiers will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Cashiers Glenville Recreation Center.

The proposed Verizon tower has riled up nearby residents, who have expressed concern over the impacts to the scenic landscape. Others have acknowledged the lack of decent cell coverage in the area and are willing to live with the blight of a tower, albeit begrudgingly.

Verizon made some  concessions to its tower design at the behest of Jackson County Planning Director Gerald Green — most notably making the tower look like a pine tree.

Since the Whiteside tower was first proposed, property owners have been writing to the Jackson planning board to express their concerns. 

“While I recognize the importance of improving cell phone service to Cashiers and nearby communities, I understand there are better solutions and alternatives to this site which Verizon could consider that would have less negative impact on property values of nearby owners and on the scenic landscape,” Ann McKee Austin, a Realtor in Cashiers, wrote this week.

More than three dozen comments have come in in advance of the public hearing.

Craig Pendergrast, whose property neighbors the proposed tower site, has urged the county to reject the 120-foot tower.

“Think of it as the equivalent of a 12-story building to consider just how out of place and intrusive the proposed tower would be,” he wrote.

Following the public hearing next week, the planning board will make its recommendation to the county commissioners, who hold the ultimate decision. Commissioners may attach conditions to the permit, or even disallow it. They’ll take information gathered during the public hearing into account when making a decision. 

— Jeremy Morrison, News Editor

The Swain Farmers Market is enjoying its new location near the Tuckasegee River in downtown Bryson City on Island Street. Initially, there was some concern that the move to a new spot could hurt the market.

“The first Friday was probably the most people we ever had,” said market president Mike Glover. “It’s gonna work out fine. It’s gonna work out great.”

The new site is more scenic and offers considerably more space than the market’s former parking lot digs. Vendors spread out across a grassy expanse as musicians entertain near a barn and the river flows in the distance.

“It’s more like a family affair,” Glover said, taking in the scene.

The Swain farmers market made its move in mid-July. The market is scheduled to run each Friday morning through October.

To the Editor:

“I not only voted for the law, I was one of the co-sponsors,” Davis said. “I’m really comfortable with what they’ve done.”

“Overwhelmingly, they’re against fracking,” he said. “I think those people are concerned. My background is in science and I’m concerned as well. But as long as we can do this safely, I think it’s a good thing.”

Listed above are two quotes from Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, in the article “ Fracking opposition organizes in WNC” from The Smoky Mountain News (July 9 issue). 

After reading this article I was outraged by the disregard for public safety and public opinion when it comes to fracking in North Carolina. 

I would like to remind all “representatives” in the N.C. House and Senate that they are elected to those positions to represent the constituents in their districts. If the overwhelming majority of your constituents are against fracking, for very good reasons, then why vote to fast track it. One huge problem in politics today is that legislators vote for themselves and their party first and not for the citizens that elected them. 

I also do not think that Sen. Davis’ background as an orthodontist in no way, shape or more classifies him as an expert in fracking for natural gas. The Republicans in the legislature are ruining this great state that I was born and raised for future generations to come. I hope they all get what they deserve come election time. 

Tyler Beamer

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

Paige Roberson, Sylva’s town manager, says she would be surprised if anyone opposes Sylva’s plans to extend its ETJ expanding territorial jurisdiction). That may be a perfect example of confirmation bias at work. Ms. Roberson may not see why anyone would object to her statement that “We just want it to look nice,” but the implication is that the folks who live in the proposed ETJ don’t have their own ideas about what would look nice.

ETJ is a fundamentally undemocratic law and its current use has made that even worse. When originally proposed in the 1950s for the areas around Raleigh, ETJ might have made some sense. Back then the idea was that the larger cities would eventually annex outlying areas while providing additional services like water, sewer, and police and fire protection. It seemed like a reasonable proposition that municipalities that might be on the hook for expensive infrastructure ought to have a say in development patterns.

Unfortunately that’s not how ETJ came to be used. Some smaller municipalities — Webster is an example — used ETJ to create a zoning buffer between itself and other areas of the county. When annexation or the extension of expensive infrastructure isn’t at play, then ETJ becomes a takeover and little else. The statutes granting ETJ powers require proportional representation for residents of the ETJ on planning boards and boards of adjustment. This allows some participation in the process, but the fact is that ETJ residents don’t get to vote for the boards of commissioners that ultimately have say over the terms of the zoning ordinances or are the seat of appeal on variances and adjustments.

And the sad fact is that many municipalities simply ignore the requirement for proportional representation. Webster’s ETJ, even after a recent adjustment, is as big or bigger than the town itself in both area and population yet its planning board does not reflect that.

ETJ may not be a good deal for town residents either as their taxes go to fund administration of the town’s ordinances in the ETJ and may end up funding lawsuits or court actions arising from variance or adjustment requests. ETJ residents pay no town taxes.

Sylva proposes its ETJ extension as a slam-dunk, but the statute requires that they get permission and agreement from the town of Webster. Where the ETJs of two towns overlap, the standard is to draw a line in the middle. Ms. Roberson suggests that Sylva could draw its line up to Webster’s borders. It can’t without permission, and the Webster town board would be foolish to grant such permission.

Ms. Roberson is right about one thing — the area around the intersection of N.C. 107 and N.C. 116 cries out for development standards and appropriate planning. There is a much better way to accomplish that goal. I have suggested for years that the area in question would be ideal for a community based zoning district. A CBZD (central business zoning district) similar to the ones in Cashiers and along the U.S. 441 corridor and the proposed one for the Cullowhee area could be a joint effort including the county, the municipalities, and the large institutions in the area like SCC and Jackson County schools.

Cooperation and participation should be the watchwords and that can be better accomplished by a joint effort rather than by a land grab by a single municipality. The statute permits municipalities to participate in CBZDs so there aren’t any legal hurdles to a joint effort, an effort that is inclusive and gives the residents and businesses in the area a greater say in their future.

Mark Jamison

Webster

By Ed Kelley

When I think of the mountains of Western North Carolina, I like to believe I know a lot about them. I was raised in Haywood County and have lived here over half a century. I think of myself as “young,” but I look at old pictures and see how the face of these mountains has changed since I was a kid, not only from a physical standpoint with all the development that is going on, but from a cultural angle as well. I may not have the depth of knowledge of more scientific folks, and I may not be as objective as a good reporter should be, but I think I have something to say.

More than 700 acres outside Cashiers has been placed in a conservation easement by the Albert Carlton family, protecting the tract from development in the future.

Eating healthy can also mean eating safe. In North Carolina, three food borne diseases are at the top of health inspectors’ list of things to prevent — norovirus, salmonella and listeria.

• Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting disease, is a short-lived but intestinally violent disease that results in diarrhea and vomiting. It can be mistaken for a stomach bug or flu-like sickness. Development of the disease generally takes 48 hours.

• Salmonella is characterized by the sudden onset of nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea with mucous. Salmonella is not typically a serious disease. There is no cure, but symptoms may be treated. Dehydration is the primary concern. Onset is usually 6 to 72 hours after ingesting bacteria.

• Listeria is a rare, but serious disease.

“Almost everyone that acquires a listeria infection is hospitalized, and about 20 percent die,” said Susan Grayson, head of the Dairy and Food Protection Branch of the Department of Environmental Health in the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.

There are about 2,500 cases of listeria reported in the U.S. each year. Those who have weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or those on immunosuppressants, are more susceptible to the disease.

While health inspections and restaurant ratings help arm customers with the information to make smart decisions about where they choose to eat out, it is up to the customer to note those ratings and pay attention to their environment.

“The best thing they can do is to probably pay attention to the grades that are posted,” Grayson said.

However, a grade does not necessarily reflect a restaurant’s day-to-day operations.

“Recognize that the grades are a snapshot in time,” Grayson said.

Donna Stephens — a certified food manager and former attorney who routinely scores more than 100 on inspections of her bed-and-breakfast inn, The Yellow House in Waynesville — recommends that diners take it a step further.

“Ask to have a peek in the kitchen,” Stephens said.

While the tactic may seem intrusive to some, diners can make it less so by casually asking for a look on the way to or from the bathroom, which is often located near the kitchen doors. Such is the case at WildFire restaurant on Main Street in Waynesville — one of few local restaurants Stephens said meets her criteria.

“I look everywhere I go,” Stephen said, referring to health inspection ratings. “Below a 95, there’s no excuse for that.”

Inspection score sheets allow for full or half deductions for problems, and a score may not reflect the full spectrum of reported problems. For example, having live pests or animals in the kitchen may be a two or four point deduction. However, having a pest breeding ground is only one to one-half a point off. Food being improperly stored, cooked, handled, etc, can be from a five to a two and a half point deduction.

Aside from ratings, look to see how servers handle food and utensils. Do they put their fingers on the rim of drinking glasses? If you ask for an extra fork or knife, do they touch the prongs or blade rather than the handle? A sense of professionalism and care goes a long way in helping to determine what’s going on behind the scenes.

— By Sarah Kucharski

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Donna Stephens, owner and operator of The Yellow House bed and breakfast in Waynesville, is a stickler for cleanliness.

A former professional chef for a catering company in Washington, D.C., and attorney for 16 years prior to that, Stephens understands the potential ramifications of poor sanitation, from making a patron sick to a restaurant earning a bad reputation and thereby losing business.

By Lee Shelton

I found Scott McLeod’s column, “Living in Fear....” , in theJan. 18 issue of the Smoky Mountain News very thought provoking. Following are some other thoughts on the subject from a contra-view point.

We live — and have lived — in a dangerous world, but we take much, including our safety, for granted. Civil wars are waged, diseases inflict, and anarchy grows across the globe, but these events are somewhere else. There are millions of people living in refugee camps, where they have been for years. Ethnic cleansing has taken place recently, and arguably continues.

A 15-year-old from Waynesville hopes to be part of the women’s USA BMX bike team at the 2008 Olympics after a successful run in the national BMX circuit last year.

Michele Curtis, a sophomore at Tuscola High School, ranked 10th in the nation and first in the Southeast in her age division and class. Curtis, who started racing just a year ago, has already competed in 79 races in 13 states.

The 2008 Olympics will be the first to feature competition in BMX, a sport where bike riders make laps around a dirt course with dips and jumps. BMX was an exhibition sport in the last Olympics, meaning riders would show off their riding but not compete with official teams or vie for medals. The USA BMX team will have 16 women and 32 men.

“As long as I stay in the top 10, I have a very good chance,” Curtis said of the Olympics.

Curtis will face tougher competition this year as she moves up to the next category. Last year, she competed in the 14-year-old girls category. This year, she moved up to the junior women’s division as an elite rider instead of novice.

Curtis has made a good showing in the new division. She’s already raced twice this year and has held her placement among the top 10 in the nation.

Curtis will be racing back-to-back every month through the first of July to begin qualifying for the US Olympic team. She must compete in six races in the elite category by July and rank in the top 10 riders in the Grand National Championship to qualify for the 2007 World Championships to be held in Canada.

“The Worlds will be like practice for the Olympics because all the same people will be there,” Curtis said.

Curtis learned how to ride from her boyfriend, Chris Beasley, who has been racing for years. Beasley recently moved to Florida, but the two have kept up a long-distance relationship and get to see each other at races in the Southeast regional circuit.

Curtis is on the Schanewolf Racing team. She is sponsored by Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, Fly Racing, and Schanewolf Cycle Sports in Shelby.

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer

Deep in the mountains that surround Jackson County’s Tuckasegee community, the sound of metal on metal rings out with a sharp ping as blacksmith David Brewin begins to shape a steel rod.

The rod, heated in a propane power forge, glows red, its tip approximately 2,000 degrees. Brewin deftly raises and fells his hammer, steel bending around the anvil’s curved edge and forming a graceful curl.

By Chris Cooper

It’s harder than you would think to write a song. As a musician, it is tempting to reject anything that sounds traditional or just throws together a bunch of fancy chords. And melody — that which makes a song what it is, moves a tune the way it needs to, and feel like it should — often falls subject to sacrifice.