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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To prevent the spread of invasive pests, anglers should:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The telethon is sponsored by Mast General Store among others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To the editor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connie Jean Conklin

Dillsboro

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

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

Carol Adams

Glenville 

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

John Gladden

Franklin

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

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

Bob Clark

Waynesville  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.waynesvillebeer.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More on the event

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

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

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

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern

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

Experience a “TASTE of LOCAL” at Ingles Markets in Asheville — 1865 Hendersonville Road. Thursday, August 13th  3:30 - 6:00

The Dillsboro Arts & Crafts Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, on Front Street in downtown.

The second annual Best of Controlled Chaos Film Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center in Highlands.

The Blueberry Festival will be held fro 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Cherokee Indian Fair Ground.

To the Editor:

Dear House and Senate national representatives:

Are you going to allow Obama to precipitate another constitutional crisis without some sort of consequences to himself?

As reported widely — only after it was a done deal — U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power chose to raise the issue of Iran’s continuing human rights violations. These were avoided during the negotiations, when the U.S. had leverage. Now, like bringing the deal to Congress, this is all for show.

Mr. Representatives, from what has been reported widely, what Obama is doing is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal. 

Obama can call this abomination an agreement all he wants. Poppycock! The bottom line is that it is a treaty between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Treaties between the U.S. and other countries MUST be ratified (or not) by the Congress.

These unconstitutional actions have been going on far too long by Obama. As reported widely in the media, both his administrations have been replete with one scandal after another and felonies too numerous to list,committed by himself or his henchmen.

Isn’t it time that he was removed from office for his numerous crimes? Isn’t it time that Obama and the other criminals in (and the ones who have resigned or been forced to resign) his administrations be brought before the bar of justice and the legal process ending in incarceration for their crimes against the American people begins? Or are we so far into the interregnum that the rule of law no longer applies and we are truly living under the rule of man? I demand to see some leadership on this issue — soon. Otherwise, there’s always “An Appeal to Heaven.”

Carl Iobst

Cullowhee

To the Editor:

I am a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee who has not lived in Cherokee since 2006. I now live in northwest Montana but am hoping the new leadership in Cherokee will bring transparency into Tribal government.

I appreciated your article about openness in Cherokee in last week’s edition.

I grew up in Cherokee and have been proud to be Tribal member. I moved home in 2006, and I bought a cabin in the woods off the main road. I went to work for the casino, and when I wasn’t working I stayed home, sewed and made jewelry. My motto was, “hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil!” Know that what you say in any small community can be misinterpreted, especially when you’re related to half the people there. Just wanted to count my blessings and enjoy my semi-retirement.

I am an advocate for animal rights and found out there is still a bear concession in Cherokee. Thought when PETA came in they shut them all down? Found out there is the “Cherokee Bear Zoo,” with the bears living in concrete pits. I am horrified and ashamed as a Tribal member. This is not part of our culture.

I have been blessed in my professional life working for the federal government and have visited tribes and tribal communities all over the U.S. in my position as a project specialist. I have never heard of another tribe or community that supported this kind of facility that houses wild animals. I am ashamed and embarrassed for my tribe.

Ann Sneed

Montana

To the Editor:

Since the proposed Shining Rock Classical Academy Charter School has been in the news lately, I would like to offer the following thoughts.

I truly believe that the parents and organizers of the school want what they consider best for their children. Children are indeed precious, and I think all of us who have children want to see them off to a good start, to succeed and to have happy and fulfilling lives. I also believe that the impetus for the school has been the concern that the public school may not provide enough enriching experiences for bright students.

My response to this concern is that my three children (all in college or beyond) have excelled academically in the public school system, the only limit to their achievements being the level of their desire. Moreover, I strongly feel they profited from their contact with the broad range of backgrounds of their classmates. They all developed friendships with students from quite diverse homes, and this has led them to become better citizens, and to develop more mature perspectives.  

Of course my wife and I did our best to supplement what the public school provides, with travel, books, and a variety of educational experiences. These indeed are a responsibility and even a duty of all parents, but the Haywood County School System does have an obligation as well to provide enriched experiences for the gifted students that would profit from them. The current cutbacks in funding have hurt the ability to provide more than they currently do.

I think the public has several concerns about the charter school, some of which I share. The first of these is that it smacks of elitism, and that the students of the charter school are somehow superior. There is already so much polarization in our country that this is a dangerous idea to foster, and one which leads to hostility and misunderstanding.

Another concern is that the charter school will take desperately needed funds from the public schools and uses it in ways that may be inefficient and even experimental.  

Finally, there is concern that by funneling off bright and well-prepared students, it impoverishes the public school experience for all. I would add that the quality of education is diminished as well for gifted students who are sequestered with other gifted students, as it deprives them of real world context for their learning. Rubbing shoulders with children that come from all walks of life can only give students from more advantaged homes a greater sense of the diversity of their community and their place in it.

In closing, it is apparent that the organizers of the Charter School have expended considerable activity and money on this project. I would venture that had they spent the same effort on enriching the public school experience, they would be further along toward their goals. I would hope to see them reconsider, and invest in the excellent school system we have now, and use their talent and energy to contribute, rather than to divide.

And if they should do so, I believe their children, and Haywood County, will do very well.”

Billy Dinwiddie

Waynesville

It’s that time again — get together your best garden produce and crafty handiwork to enter in the Haywood County Fair, this year scheduled for Aug. 25 to 31.

Several local teenagers were among those who recently completed a six-week internship in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Fears that the bird flu could spread to North Carolina have prompted the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to take measures to prevent that happening. 

All poultry owners — even those who keep just a few chickens in the backyard — must register for an N.C. Farm I.D. number. The goal is to make it easier for the department to alert poultry owners in the event of an outbreak. Anyone who is already part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan is exempt from the requirement. www.ncagr.gov/ncfarmid/index.htm

No poultry shows, live bird sales or poultry swap meets will be allowed from Aug. 15 to Jan. 15, 2016. This includes county fairs, meaning that neither the Haywood nor the Macon County fairs will include poultry shows this year. 

The flu, though not found to affect human health or food safety, has wreaked havoc on poultry farms in the 21 states where it’s been found so far. At this point it hasn’t reached the East Coast, but as it’s thought to be carried by migratory fowl, Officials are bracing for possible introduction during fall migration. 

www.ncagr.gov/avianflu.

Emerald ash borers recently found in a Graham County trap mark the invasive insect’s first appearance in Western North Carolina since it was first discovered in the United States in 2002. 

The finding triggered quarantine rules for the county: no hardwood firewood can be taken out of the county, nor can plant parts of ash trees. Only firewood treated by an approved method such as kiln heating can taken out of the county.

“This is a devastating pest to ash trees, eventually killing the trees where the insects are found,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. 

The emerald ash borer lays its eggs underneath the bark of ash trees, where the larvae then hatch and create tunnels in the living part of the tree before emerging as adults. Affected ash trees display a loss of leaves, increased woodpecker activity and clumps of shoots emerging from their trunks. The beetles have caused the decline and death of tens of millions of trees across the country. 

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will put purple, triangle-shaped traps out during early August to monitor for the ash borer’s presence in other counties. While Graham is the first WNC county where it’s been found, it is present on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in 11 other North Carolina counties down east.

Improvements to the crowded trailhead parking on the east side of Panthertown Valley, a recreation area in the Nantahala National Forest outside Cashiers, are underway.

The main trailhead on the Transylvania side of Panthertown is limited to make-shift parking along the side of a gravel road. The new parking area will create up to 12 designated spaces.

“On super peak days people are parked all along the shoulder of the road. This should relieve some of that pressure. It may not park everybody on peak times, but on normal days, it should provide adequate parking that doesn’t encumber the roadway like it does now,” said Matt McCombs, spokesperson for the national forests in Western North Carolina.

Parking on the road shoulder will still be a necessity on summer weekends given the volume of waterfall-seeking hikers.

The access road to the trailhead will be closed weekdays through Aug. 14.

The project is a cooperative effort between Friends of Panthertown and the U.S. Forest Service and uses a grant from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Division of Parks and Recreation. 828.524.6441.

A plan to guide wildlife management in North Carolina for the next 10 years is being developed and public input sought.

The plan outlines threats to species of concern and their habitats, as well as possible measures to address those threats.

The current North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan dates back to 2005, Federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, conservation stakeholders and members of the public were all involved in creating it. 

Features of the revised plan that differ from the 2005 version include:

• Including global warming as a threat for species and habitats.
• A ranking proccess for conservation status, risk and needs of various species.
• Better access on varying electronic platforms. 
• An evaluation process for prioritizing species for conservation, research and management. Some types of ocean species and insects that were not included in the last plan were added in this version.   
• Improved habitat descriptions of 12 aquatic, eight wetland, 21 terrestrial and 17 river basin habitats.
• Specific threats for each habitat and recommendations for each.

The plan is online at www.ncwildlife.org/conserving/2015wildlifeactionplan.aspx. Send comments by Aug. 18. to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The body of a missing Haywood County man was found in Richland Creek near Lake Junaluska on Aug. 3.

Johnnie Rathbone, 67, of Mauney Cove Road in Waynesville, was reported missing by family members Monday morning after not having heard from him since Saturday. During routine patrol, a deputy found Rathbone’s car around 2:45 p.m. at a parking area off U.S. 19 near Lake Junaluska golf course.

Search and rescue personnel discovered Rathbone’s body around 5 p.m. in Richland Creek about 200 yards from his car. An autopsy will be performed to verify cause of death.

A child from Macon County has been diagnosed with La Crosse Viral Encephalitis according to Macon County Health Director Jim Bruckner.

The child is home and recovering from symptoms, but Bruckner said it is important for everyone to take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses.

“La Crosse Encephalitis is actually the most common mosquito-borne illness in North Carolina, and is found predominantly in the western part of the state,” said Bruckner. 

Two other mosquito-borne diseases, Eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, are also found in North Carolina. While Eastern equine encephalitis is found largely in the eastern part of the state, West Nile virus is found statewide.

Donald Dewhurst, M.D. of Macon County Public Health said La Crosse symptoms occur from a few days up to two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. There may be neurologic symptoms such as confusion or loss of balance and in more severe cases, convulsions or coma may occur. Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to the disease. 

 www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/arbovirus.

A former Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice following an Oct. 25 party that involved underage drinking and led to charges of statutory rape against two other men.

A Jackson County detention officer was fired this summer after firing a Taser gun on a coworker.

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern

When Chad Arnold pulled into War Paint Kennels during fall bear season in 2011, Jerry Parker pegged him as just another flat-lander willing to fork out big dough to bag a bear.

QUESTION: Are chickens given steroids? 

ANSWER:  NO!

Despite what you may have heard from that TV celebrity doctor, the fearmongering food blogger, or even a well-intentioned neighbor; chickens in the United States are not given hormones (steroids) to promote their growth, and in fact it’s illegal.

A 1-mile race through downtown Waynesville on Friday, Aug. 21, will benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Greenville, S.C.

Several Franklin property owners have made it a priority to garden with wildlife in mind, earning recognition from the National Wildlife Federation as Certified Wildlife Habitats. 

Following in the footsteps of the Franklin Garden Club at Clock Tower and Rankin Square, the Historical Society Museum and Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum have attained certification along with the UPS Store at Franklin Plaza, which may be the tiniest and busiest little green space in the entire state. 

To qualify, gardens must provide wildlife with food, water, cover and a place to raise their young. They must also employ sustainable gardening techniques, such as use of native plants an limited water consumption. 

Easy to get started with a birdbath, some shrubbery for cover and food, hanging a birdfeeder and birdhouse and watch to see the little creatures arrive,” said Franklin resident Debby Boots. “This is a good project for any church or school group who wants to help and learn more about wildlife.”

www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify-Your-Wildlife-Garden.aspx

The animals of Balsam Mountain Trust will make the rounds next week in a pair of library programs in Waynesville and Sylva.