Get a taste of the wild with students in the Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College as they host the 10th annual Wildgame Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. 

A 6-mile stretch of Rainbow Springs Road near Franklin will stay closed through mid-May for logging going on nearby.

Share ideas for making Franklin more pedestrian and cyclist friendly during a public input meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at First Presbyterian Church’s Tartan Hall. 

WinterFest Smoky Style will return for its second year Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, injecting the February doldrums with the excitement of sled dog racing, timber sports and music.

A purchase of 48 acres adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and the Highlands of Roan by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy saved the tract from development.

Sodas get a lot of bad press for the amount of calories from sugar and it’s important to remember that even "natural" sodas sweetened with cane sugar contain calories.

Enrollment has fallen in Haywood County Schools every year since at least 2008, and Jimmy Rogers was on the school board every single one of those years.

Waynesville lumber company Oaks Unlimited Inc. got recognition in Raleigh last week, named 2016 Exporter of the Year by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It exports 75 percent of its production to a dozen countries outside the United States.

“Oaks Unlimited has shown the world the quality of North Carolina forestry products for more than 40 years,” said Steve Troxler, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner. 

Specializing in high-quality, kiln-dried ash, cherry, hickory, poplar, red oak and white oak, Oaks Unlimited recently purchased 10 acres next to its existing facility to add a boiler, dry kiln and lumber shed. It offers lumber certified through the Forest Stewardship Council, and Appalachian hardwoods verified sustainable by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers. 

www.oaksunlimited.com.

The water of Lake Junaluska was a balmy 41 degrees as a parade of 158 people — sanity questionable — lined up for a chilly dip as part of Haywood Waterways Association’s annual Polar Plunge this past Saturday.

Water levels at Lake Junaluska are falling following the start of a drawdown to dredge silt and litter — and make repairs to infrastructure.

Newbie beekeepers will get a leg up with an all-day class in beginning beekeeping Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center in Waynesville.

The Jackson County Arts Council is looking for local artists/designers to participate in their spring fundraiser event “Trashion Show” to be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in the community room of the Jackson County Library Annex in Sylva. 

The arts council is looking for creative outfits made either from recycled materials or upcycled (consignment) fashions. The two categories are “Couture” and “Trashion.” Entry forms are posted on the arts council website: www.jacksoncountyarts.org. Entry deadline is March 3.  Prizes will be awarded.

An information meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the arts council office in Sylva. For more information, email the Jackson County Arts Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the JCAC office at 828.507.9820.

By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist

In Sons of Wichita, Daniel Schulman relates a story about Charles Koch’s attempt to apply his libertarian management theory known as Market-Based Management to Wichita Collegiate, the private school located near the Koch compound. The school, cofounded by Bob Love — an associate of Fred Koch from the John Birch Society — became embroiled in an “acrimonious uprising” after Charles Koch, who was chairman of the school’s executive council, applied techniques from his management system designed to force everyone in an institution or business into an entrepreneurial role.

To the Editor:

This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter, when many Christians abstain from animal foods in remembrance of Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the desert before launching his ministry.

But meat-free Lent is much more than a symbol of religious devotion to Christ. It helps reduce the risk of chronic disease, environmental degradation, and animal abuse. Dozens of medical reports have linked consumption of animal products with elevated risk of heart failure, stroke, cancer, and other killer diseases. A 2007 U.N. report named meat production as the largest source of greenhouse gases and water pollution. Undercover investigations have documented farm animals being beaten, caged, crowded, deprived, mutilated, shocked and subjected to all manner of cruelty.

Lent offers all of us a superb opportunity to honor Christ’s powerful message of compassion and love by adopting a meat-free diet for Lent and beyond. After all, it’s the diet mandated in Genesis I-29 and observed in the Garden of Eden. 

Our supermarket offers a rich array of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, as well as the more traditional vegetables, fruits, and grains. Entering “vegan recipes” in our favorite search engine offers more products, recipes, and transition tips than we can use.

Wade Moore

Waynesville

To the Editor:

Have you ever heard of a man being fired for his “strong leadership style”?

Ella Kliger

Franklin

By Ron Robinson • Guest Columnist

The other day I attended a basketball game at Western Mountain University. I could not help noticing a very large person sitting in the upper decks near the rafters. He seemed intensely focused on the game and was continually smiling. Sometimes even grinning. My curiosity was growing, so at halftime I climbed the stairs to his seat.

A man accused of breaking into an occupied home at Lake Junaluska a week ago was arrested Monday night after allegedly breaking and entering into a Cove Creek home.

The resident of a house on Cove Creek Road reported to deputies that he and his wife came home around 7 p.m. to find a white Mercury Mountaineer SUV parked in his driveway. He said they saw a black man run across the yard, get into the SUV and drive away. The couple got into their car and followed the SUV, calling 911 to inform dispatchers of the incident and the location of the SUV as it drove down Cove Creek Road toward Interstate 40.

Deputies, assisted by the NC Highway Patrol and Maggie Valley Police Department, stopped a 2006 white Mercury Mountaineer shortly thereafter on I-40 eastbound at the exit 20 off-ramp, and the driver was taken into custody.  

Marqui Antown Miller, 35, of Mill Spring in Polk County, was arrested and charged with one count of felony breaking and entering involving the incident on Cove Creek Road, one count of felony burglary regarding the Lake Junaluska home invasion on Hickory Hill and one felony fugitive warrant from South Carolina where he is wanted on charges of first-degree burglary and grand larceny. Miller was jailed on those charges in lieu of $150,000 secured bond. His court date has been set for Feb. 17.

While most people are mourning the coming of another Monday, Rob Russell will be rejoicing as he returns to his job at Western Carolina University Feb. 15. 

Construction on the 0.7-mile connector road through Southwestern Community College has come to a halt after the contractor working on it defaulted on its $15.9 million contract this week.

How do you know you have it? 

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.

To the Editor:

Any who frequent Main Street Waynesville on Wednesday afternoons will know that a group calling ourselves Neighbors for Peace, have been vigiling in front of the courthouse  every week since before Shock and Awe — soon to be 13 years. Among the signs we hold are: “We Are All Prisoners of War,” “War Is Not the Answer,” and “War Is Costly; Peace Is Priceless.”

 In support of the last of these, here are some of the costs of war recently compiled by fellow peace activist Curt Torell of Carrboro:

• Costs to military personnel — Of the 2.5 million U.S. troops deployed in our “wars on terror,” over 50 percent suffer chronic pain, 20 percent wrestle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or depression, and 20 percent have sustained traumatic brain injury. These have led to a suicide rate of one active service member and 22 veterans every day. More than 6,800 American troops and 6,780 private contractors have died, and 970,000 new disability claims are pending before the VA.

• Costs to our present and future well-being — While Congress cuts programs for basic human needs, our costs of post-9/11 wars — including future veteran care — stand at $4.4 trillion. We’ve spent $7.6 trillion on defense and homeland security. Yet spending those same dollars on peaceful industry — education, health care, infrastructure, and renewable energy — could produce many more and better paying jobs.

• Costs to our security and image — These wars have created more enemies and extended the battlefield worldwide to places like Paris and San Bernadino. ISIS is using our bombing to recruit, while our employment of torture and drones tarnishes our moral credibility.

• Costs to our planet — The Pentagon is the largest institutional consumer of oil and biggest producer of toxic waste, dumping more pesticides, defoliants, solvents, petroleum, lead, mercury, and depleted uranium than the five biggest American chemical corporations combined.

 These costs are the consequence of an addiction that is out of control. Breaking free of any addiction is not easy. War profiteers will need to shift into new industries. Youth will need to find other challenges. Politicians will need to find constructive ways to look strong and win votes. But people do overcome addictions every day.

To “break clean” from the war addiction, Mr. Torell suggests the following: 

(1) Acknowledge war as an addiction. (2) Call upon a “higher power” to form a “coalition of the willing” to renounce war and promote human rights. (3) Admit the error of using war as a tool of foreign policy that has harmed millions, and make amends to those who have suffered. (4) Learn new ways of dealing with nations that abuse human rights, such as committing to a new code of international conduct, and working through the UN and International Court, rather than acting unilaterally to advance our own interests. (6) Halt the sale and stockpiling of weapons while finding new avenues for economic growth that promote life and do not destroy our planet.

 If the costs of this addiction disturb you, join us in front of the courthouse on Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m., as we seek to proclaim that “War Is Not the Answer.”

Doug Wingeier, 

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I would like the economics professors who wrote a letter in last week’s Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17086) to please explain with some specifics how Western Carolina University Professor Ed Lopez has been “subjected to unjustified criticism.” In the guest column I wrote I used the professor’s own writings to discuss the situation, using direct quotes from those writings. If you feel I mischaracterized the professor’s position I would be happy to engage you on specifics.

You write that “misguided, misinformed, and in some cases ideologically biased voices have been raised against Professor Lopez and his initiatives.” The sentence is a bit of an unspecific ad hominem, which quite frankly could be turned around in at least a couple of your cases. I wonder, is it ideological to point out that Dr. Lopez is a frequent speaker for groups funded by both the Kochs and Art Pope, both of whom fully acknowledge their ideological and political goals.

The fields of Public Choice Theory and Austrian economics are largely ideological by their own definition and assertion (would you like some von Mises quotes to back that up?). The proposed Center would seem to have a focus on branches of economics that are far from mainstream. That hardly seems like a prescription for benefiting our students (“our” as in products of North Carolina and our public university system).

Within your own department I would contrast the proposal with Dr. Ha’s record, which gives an exemplary example of practical and useful research focused on the local and regional economy. Perhaps a Center for Mountain Economies focused on the challenges we face in Western North Carolina would be more suitable for the area.

As colleagues of Dr. Lopez, it is perhaps expected and understandable that you would come to his defense. Unfortunately, your letter doesn’t provide much of a defense.

Furthermore, to suggest that the criticisms  leveled at the proposal are “not only unjust but detrimental to the people of North Carolina, the stature of the UNC system, its commitment to academic freedom, and in the final analysis, counter-productive” is little more than emotionally charged language that at the least can be disposed of as high dudgeon and at its worst betrays a failure to understand the basic democratic process or the purpose and place of a publicly funded university.

In addition to my earlier comment, let me further note that in my guest column (www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/17008) I specifically exempted Dr. Lopez’s teaching or selection of content from criticism — criticism of the subject matter is not criticism of the teacher. 

Further, I think it is rather hard to argue that The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage has focused on Dr. Lopez’s character or teaching. The reporting has been straightforward in looking at the grant and the circumstances surrounding its offer.

Dr. Lopez’s behavior, his teaching, and his character are not at issue. And they should not be without demonstration that he acted outside the norms, procedures and processes of the institution in pursuing the grant.

Parenthetically, it is worth noting that the premise of much of Dr. Lopez’s writing is that individuals act out of self-interest and that institutions can be manipulated by small and/or powerful groups in ways that enhance self-interest over institutional purpose. Dr. Lopez correctly uses the example of sugar subsidies as a flawed policy, but why not subsidies from billionaires to move public institutions in preferred directions? Could that not speak to a flawed or perhaps undemocratic policy?

Mark Jamison

Cullowhee

By Jimmy Rogers • Guest Columnist

If Central Elementary in Waynesville is forced to close because of budget cuts and losing enrollment to charter schools, Haywood County will know who to thank — politicians like Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, who have voted time and time again for budgets that shortchange our public schools in order to keep tax breaks for folks at the top.

A nuisance algae capable of harming stream habitats has come to Jackson County, and water users will have to help out to keep it from spreading.

Deep snow in the mountains last week stranded a transmission tower repairman near the summit of Mount Pisgah Jan. 25, launching a massive and technical high-altitude snow rescue operation.

A section of Cullowhee Creek in Jackson County will turn into a laboratory — with elementary school students as its researchers — through a project called “Watershed Moments: Exploring Science and Math in Cullowhee Creek.”

‘Cat on a Ledge’ by acclaimed Waynesville painter Jenny Buckner was recently named an “Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence 2015” by Southwest Art, a renowned publication within the industry.

Haywood County Schools have pulled the trigger on Saturday school, announcing that this Saturday (Jan. 30) will be a snow make-up day. School will dismiss at 12 p.m.

To the Editor:

We the undersigned, Western Carolina University’s economics faculty, wish to express support for our colleague Dr. Ed López, WCU’s BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism. Unfortunately, he has been subject to unjustified criticism in this publication. In contrast, we who know him best have the highest, most profound confidence in his personal integrity and have no hesitation about sharing that opinion publicly. 

As practicing academic economists, we also endorse the integrity, value, and relevance of his research. Only a small minority of faculty at any institution nationwide can even approach the quality, quantity, and impact of his research publications. In the few years he has been on the faculty at Western, he has made a distinguished contribution to improving the university’s public stature and intellectual climate.  

Furthermore, we fully endorse his efforts to establish a Center for the Study of Free Enterprise. The Center will directly benefit our students and we are dismayed that misguided, misinformed, and in some cases ideologically biased voices have been raised against Professor López and his initiatives.  

This is not only unjust but detrimental to the people of North Carolina, the stature of the UNC system, its commitment to academic freedom, and in the final analysis, counter-productive.  

Robert F. Mulligan, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics

James H. Ullmer, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics

Inhuck Steve Ha, Ph.D. 

Professor of Economics

Zac Gochenour, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics

To the Editor:

Regarding the school district’s budget shortfall, rather than the proposed drastic reductions in the public schools programs and the possible closing of Central Elementary School: why is no one talking about increasing revenue? Of all the government services we benefit from, the schools are one place where we cannot put off needed spending until another year. If a student gets behind we cannot so easily make it up next year.

It is in all of our benefits to give our students the best education possible. Better education generally equals better-paying jobs, putting more money into the economy, helping us all out. Businesses don’t move into communities with poor schools. The best schools have music programs, science enrichment, and integrated programs like the A+ program at Central Elementary. We don’t serve our students well by trying to force them all into a single learning model. 

Music, sports, and A+ performance give students that might not be academically gifted a chance to shine and lead, giving them an incentive to keep working at their academics. They also provide opportunities for college scholarships. Non-revenue sports like cross-country give all team members a chance to compete and contribute. Haywood County Schools has held its own compared to other schools in the state in many of its programs. Case in point, we placed multiple students in the middle school all-region Jazz Band once again last week. Let's not cut them back.

Central Elementary has a unique program: the arts integration A+ program. It used to be a school that attracted students from other parts of the district. It’s A+ program has been badly hurt by past budget cuts, losing its full-time arts teacher/A+ coordinator, cutting back to art every other week and cutting out drama and dance specials. It’s been a testament to the teaching staff attracted to the A+ concept that it continues to be an excellent school and to perform at or above district averages most years in year-end testing. 

If a school needs to be closed because the district has lost sufficient enrollment that we don’t have enough students for all of our buildings, that is one thing, but if we are thinking of closing a good school with a unique program just to save money, that is shameful. I’ll gladly pay more taxes to keep my community’s schools a point of pride and to insure the next generation has every opportunity I had growing up or more. Put increasing revenue on the table, not just cuts.

Paul Super

Waynesville

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist

People generally don’t care to hear how things are done better elsewhere, but there are some things about North Carolina that are done better elsewhere and now is the time to talk about one of them.

The dismissal of Waynesville Town Manager Marcy Onieal is the case in point.

A new program rewarding people who turn in poachers aims to crack down on illegal wildlife harvest. 

“Despite our constant efforts, it is not possible for our officers to apprehend all violators on their own,” said Lt. B.J. Meyer of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s law enforcement division. “We need the guidance and support of the public to be most effective, so we rely on our citizens to assist in the reduction of wildlife crimes.”

Rewards from the Turn-in-Poachers program, or TIP, range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the severity of the crime and fines assessed by the court. All tips will remain anonymous, but the  Wildlife Commission must receive names and contact information to provide an award. 

The program was developed in partnership with the N.C. Bowhunters Association through a state law that established the Wildlife Poacher Reward Fund. The fund receives 10 percent of replacement and investigative costs from wildlife cases, as well as money from the restoration fees convicted wildlife violators are required to pay. 

Submit tips:

• Online at www.tipsubmit.com/webtipforms/webform.aspx?id=127&AgencyID=1304.

• Using the free smartphone app TipSoft.

• By texting 274637. Start the message with WILDTIP and include your name to be eligible for an award. 

• By calling 1-855-WILDTIP.

Report wildlife violations other than poaching to 1.800.662.7137.

An exhibition highlighting the return of North America’s wolves and peregrine falcons from the brink of extinction will be on display at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville through May 8.

An avid local hiker will share the story of her pilgrimage along the 208-mile Camino Primitivo in Spain at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Community Room of the Jackson County Library in Sylva.

Allen Newland with A Shot Above aerial photography took these shots on Sunday, Jan. 24, showing the aftermath of Snow Storm Jonas in Haywood County.

Thursday, Jan. 28th at Ingles Markets — Candler, NC, Sand Hill Road — 3 to 6 p.m.

A public hearing on Duke Energy’s plan to build two new power plants to replace its soon-to-retire Asheville coal plant will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Buncombe Count Courthouse in Asheville. 

Initially, Duke had planned to replace the coal plant with a 650-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant and 45-mile transmission line to Campobello, South Carolina. The plan drew opposition from people who felt that the transmission line be a blight on the mountain landscape.

In response, the utility revised its proposal to eliminate the transmission line. It wants to build two 280-megawatt units and potentially a third 193-megawatt unit in 2023 if demand at the time warrants it. 

Environmental advocates have praised the new plan as a vast improvement over the initial proposal while questioning size of the project, especially the provision for a third unit.

“Duke has told the public that they are looking for cleaner alternatives, then they turn around and ask the public utilities commission for permission to build the additional unit seven years before they say it might be necessary,” said Julie Mayfield, co-director of MountainTrue. 

However, according to Duke’s regional president Lloyd Yates, the plan “balances concerns raised by the community and the very real need for more electricity to serve this growing region.” 

The Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon will send runners all around Waynesville on Saturday, May 14 — and for anyone looking to get in on the action, the time to start training is now.

Smokies Superintendent Cassius Cash has issued a challenge to all hardy souls wishing to join him in celebrating the National Park Service’s 100th birthday this year: hike 100 miles of trail inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park between Jan. 1 and Dec. 6.

To the Editor:

Startling new findings show that if you are a middle-aged white person, your life expectancy is dramatically declining. Almost every other demographic in the western world is doing better. In the United States, every other group — including blacks, Hispanics, the young and the old — are all living longer. According to Angus Deaton, a Nobel prize winning scientist, the reasons driving these higher death rates are suicides, drugs and alcohol abuse, and chronic untreated diseases. 

I think the real underlying reason is fear. Fear of change; fear of losing power; fear of other religions; fear of immigrants; fear of losing your job; fear of rising minorities; and fear of the rising power of women. You name it. The ground they grew up on has shifted under their feet. Most have worked hard all their lives and have little or nothing to show for it. And many in this group have no health insurance. For this group their anger is palpable, and for some, the only escape is through drugs, alcohol and suicide.

Fear is a powerful emotion and it is basic to our human nature. When used in a smart way, it can be a effective political tool. Its use in politics is nothing new. Our history is littered with effective rants against immigrants, religions, minorities, especially blacks. Today's politics are no different. Just mention, the Muslim religion, Syrian refugees, Mexican immigrants, minorities or women's rights, and that fear fills the room with angry voters who are looking for someone to bring back the good old days.

This use of fear is not only dangerous to individuals but it is corrosive to our politics. We have real problems to solve. If all a candidate has to offer is fear and divisive attacks, then the solutions we can all agree on are never going to happen. Promising to recreate the false nostalgia of the past, ignores who we are today, the real changes we must accept, and the bright future that is possible.

We must find a way to work together, and ignore the fear being trumpeted by the hate mongers. Our goal should be fairness and equality for all. That can only be achieved if we all put our emotions in check and get down to the hard work required for real democracy.

Louis Vitale

Franklin

To the Editor

 Closing the stable after the horse has bolted describes Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech last Tuesday night. After almost seven and a half years in office Obama now appeals for civility and partisanship. 

This is the president who mockingly jabbed “I won” to Republican congressional leaders during a 2009 meeting about Obama’s stimulus package where Republicans expressed concerns about spending and tax credits in the package. This is the president who has ignored military leaders’ advice on how to handle ISIS and other U.S. involvements in world conflicts. This is the President who stated that “if Congress doesn’t act I will.”

He has kept that “promise” by changing Obamacare law and making up his own amnesty law by executive orders. Soon to come are Obama’s proposed gun control executive orders that threaten our Second Amendment rights. What comes out of Obama’s mouth has nothing to do with his actions. 

 Following the State of the Union, Democrat National Chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz discredited the Republican response speaker from South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as a Republican token female not fit to assume the response role. She then launched into a tirade about diversity. Democrat diversity in presidential candidates boils down to an aging governor, a socialist and a candidate about to be indicted for public corruption. All are northeasterners! No geographic diversity there! 

The Republican candidate slate includes business persons, physicians, a female, Hispanics, an African-American, governors and senators hailing from states throughout the nation. That is a picture of the diversity in the USA and for that matter in the Republican Party, Ms. Wasserman-Shultz. 

The Democratic Party and the Obama administration are a debacle that hopefully we will never have to experience in office again.

Carol Adams

Glenville

Tony Lossiah was a good man, a quiet guy with a caring heart. He loved his family and worked hard on the job, say the friends and family still mourning his loss in the tightknit Cherokee community. 

No charges will be filed following suicides at the Jackson County Detention Center in November 2014 and March 2015, District Attorney Ashley Welch announced last week.

Democratic candidates who pledge to fight for more education funding could resonate with parents witnessing the impacts of the funding shortfall in Haywood Schools. Or those voters could likewise be turned off by candidates making political hay over the issue.

You may have seen the news about an outbreak of norovirus in Boston that caused over a hundred students in Boston who had eaten at a Chipotle restaurant to become ill. www.wsj.com/articles/norovirus-confirmed-in-boston-chipotle-outbreak-1449684009 It’s important to remember that we can also make ourselves sick at home if we don’t handle food properly and observe food safety in the home. Norovirus is a very contagious virus.

By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist

The proposed $2 million gift from the Charles Koch Foundation to Western Carolina University to establish a Center of Free Enterprise raises several questions.