Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 announces its annual small works show, “It’s a Small, Small Work 2012,” from Wednesday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Dec. 29.

To the Editor:

The 2012 Election results are in and it gives me hope. Tip O’Neill, the former distinguished Democratic Speaker of the House, said “All politics is local.” The sweeping Republican victory in Macon County tells us that we are on the right track. No matter what the presidential results, Macon County and the State of North Carolina are moving forward, and that is reason for hope and change.

The Democrat’s dominance of the past is fading. The leadership of the Democratic Party is out of sync with the citizens. We look forward on the local, regional and state level to reduced debt, reduced regulation, educational reform, economic reform and reduced unemployment. Thank you Jim Davis, Paul Higdon, Mark Meadows, Pat McCrory, Melissa Evans and God Bless Macon County and the State of North Carolina!!

Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Republicans could now be situated to hold their majority in the House for quite some time. She spoke of a “structural advantage” the party holds “because of the way Republican voters are spread out over the country … with strength in suburban and rural areas.”

A footnote to this is in Chicago, where the headline on Yahoo News reads “Absentee Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. re-elected.” Thank God we do not live in Chicago.

Les Slater

Franklin

To the Editor:

Harry Reid, the leader of the Democrat Senate in Washington says, “Tax the rich.”

Is Harry a fool or does he think we are?

All tax hikes are passed on to the customer. We all know that when we get to the cash register the taxes are added on to the bill. The same thing happens when the “rich” make an iPad or a cell phone and then sells it to us — the tax is added on to the price we pay.

Look at the price of gas. If the rich pay higher taxes on the gasoline, then we pay a higher price at the pump. They add the tax into the cost of everything we buy. Same thing happens to the price of food. When the farmers and rich grocery store owners are charged more tax, then the price of food goes up.

Who does Harry think he is fooling? We are all in this together. When Harry says tax the rich, we will all pay more for everything. That is a foolish idea.

Call Sen. Kay Hagan, she works for Harry: 202.224.6342. Tell her we are no fools. We cannot afford Harry’s tax hike and higher prices on everything we buy.

Lynda Bennett

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

During the campaign, Barack Obama let it be known that he believes in redistribution of your income … this means giving government entitlements to the takers from the makers.

We do know a little about how redistribution of income will be accomplished. Though it is entirely possible, given the “ruler” mentality of the Obama administration, I don’t expect brown or black shirts at my door to physically require me to hand over my earnings in cash. No, the taking will be more subtle through all manner of taxation.

This is what is in store for us in the next four years of Barack Obama’s presidency.

If a Democrat Senate allows the Bush tax cuts allowed to all taxpayers to expire in January 2013, 100 million Americans will be affected (including those in the lowest tax brackets). The average U.S household will see an average increase of $3,700 in taxes. The child tax credit will be reduced from $1,000 per child to $500 per child. The amount of college tuition that can be deducted will be drastically decreased. Dependent care credit for families with children in day care will be reduced. The return of the “marriage penalty” will increase taxes for the lowest two tax brackets of married couples.

Obamacare taxes are supposedly levied on small businesses, insurers and manufacturers, but the ultimate payer is the consumer. Here are some of the Obamacare taxes: individual mandate excise tax; employer mandate tax; surtax on investment income; excise tax on comprehensive health insurance plans; medicine cabinet tax; health savings account withdrawal tax hike; flexible spending account cap – aka, “special needs kids tax; tax on medical device manufacturers; reduced medical itemized deduction from 7.5% to 10% of adjusted dross income; tax on indoor tanning services; Blue Cross/Blue Shield tax hike; excise tax on charitable hospitals; tax on innovator drug companies; tax on health insurers; and a tax hike on a type of bio-fuel.

You can expect more control from the IRS that will allow the IRS to disallow completely legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks “substance” and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed.

Add these disallowed deductions, increased tax rates and all other taxes imposed by government and we will find these increased taxes will impact all hard-working families.

Shirley Slaughter

Cashiers

Animal rescue to host two holiday events

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will sponsor its Home for the Holidays event Nov. 21 through Dec. 31 to enable people to adopt dogs and cats from the Haywood County Animal Services at a reduced rate.

The organization will pay a portion of the adoption fee so dogs during this time will be available for $60; while male cats can be adopted for $28 and females for $38. The fee includes the cost of spay or neuter and a rabies vaccination. The Haywood County Animal Shelter is located at 245 Hemlock Street in Waynesville.

Also, Dec. 2 through Dec. 24, Sarge’s volunteers will be wrapping holiday gifts at Mast General Store in downtown. There is no charge for the complimentary wrapping but a donation to Sarge’s is requested.

www.sargeandfriends.org or 828.246.9050.

Harrah’s HEROs help Habitat for Humanity

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort’s HERO (Harrah’s Employee’s Reaching Out) program enlisted volunteers to help Haywood County’s Habitat for Humanity put the finishing touches on a home for a local family.

Resort workers helped with finishing details such as painting, caulking and cleaning to have the home ready for move-in day.

“It was very rewarding knowing that the Habitat staff of volunteers really appreciated our contribution as the house would not have been ready for the opening ceremony without our assistance. Our team of HERO volunteers were amazing and pitched in to conquer the tasks assigned without hesitation and did an excellent job,” said Lumpy Lambert, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort’s Assistant General Manager.

Haywood Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for its community and committed to helping needy families realize their dream of home ownership.

www.haywoodhabitat.org or 828.497.8853.

Free military funeral honors in Haywood

The Haywood County Honor Guard offers free military funeral honors for deceased veterans, if requested by the family. As a minimum, military honors include the folding and presenting of the U.S. Flag to the next of kin and the playing of Taps.

The local Honor Guard is comprised of volunteers from Waynesville VFW Post 5202 and American Legion Post 47.

Any family wanting military honors in Haywood County should make the request through the funeral home. If a funeral home is not involved, then the family can make a request through the post.

828.456.9346.

Get a job at the job fair

Haywood Community College’s CareerWorks program is hosting two days of activities at the West Waynesville campus Nov. 14 and 15, in celebration of National Career Development Day.

Nov. 14 there will be forums with local employers, and job-seekers can ask questions and receive help applying for jobs. There will be two sessions from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 15, there will be a networking event from 10 a.m. to noon, and a chance to practice interviewing skills during mock interviews from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

828.564.5093.

Economic summit in Asheville

The AdvantageWest Economic Summit will be taking place Monday, Nov. 19 in Asheville. The event will include several panelists speaking about various business topics, from business innovation to regulation to infrastructure.

The event will start with at networking reception at 5:30 p.m., at the Pack Place & Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville. The program and panel discussion will start at 7 p.m. Registration is $50 and includes hors d’oeuvres, beverages and admission to the panel discussion.

AdvantageWest is the regional economic development, public-private partnership serving the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina.

828.687.7234 or www.advantagewest.com

Highlands town square design wins top award

The Town of Highlands and Lupoli Construction have won a top award from the state for Highlands town square renovation and revitalization project. The N.C. Main Street Program has recognized Lupoli’s town square project for its design and will officially honor the work on Jan. 31 at its annual conference in Salisbury.

The new town square in Highlands features more than 21,500 square feet of retail, office, and restaurant space, in addition to a courtyard area and public restrooms. It has already become the popular site of the Friday Night Concerts.

“We are very proud of this addition to Highlands’ Main Street,” said Town Planner David Clabo. “And we are pleased that the judges recognize the investment and design improvements to our town’s business district and have bestowed this Award of Merit on Lupoli.”

Final round of GroWNC community meetings

The GroWNC Consortium will host a final series of community meetings in the region to gather community input and provide an update on the progress of local development initiatives. The meeting in Haywood County will be Nov. 29 from 1-3 p.m. and 4-6 p.m at the USDA Center.

Community members are invited to evaluate scenarios that can shape the future of the region. The GroWNC initiative focuses on growth and economic development in the five regional counties.

Workgroups have been collaborating since January to develop goals, recommendations, and initial findings focused on these core study areas: housing, transportation, land use, economic development, natural resources, cultural resources, energy, and public health.

www.gro-wnc.org.

SCC to train students for work at casino

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is partnering with Southwestern Community College to offer hands-on technical training and education for dealing live games.

In August 2012, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians began to offer live gaming, including Black Jack, Craps, Roulette and other games, at their 200,000 square-foot casino in Cherokee. 

To accommodate, the casino hired approximately 500 people, though many recruits from the surrounding area were new to the gaming industry, spurring a need for training.

“This is a truly win-win situation. The college is very pleased to serve as a link between the members of the community, who are seeking employment, and the employers seeking qualified applicants,” 
said Sonja Haynes, Southwestern Community College’s Dean of Workforce and
Economic Development.

www.southwesterncc.edu or call 828.339.4426. 

Future of Cowee School discussed at luncheon

Stacy Guffey will talk about the Macon County Heritage Center planned for Cowee School during the monthly Lunch with the League at noon on Nov. 8 in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

A plan has been proposed to repurpose the historic Cowee School as a community and heritage center. Guffey will discuss potential uses and activities for the old school, upcoming events and fundraising. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch and drink. The program begins shortly after noon and lasts one hour.

Guardian Ad Litem seeks volunteers

The Guardian Ad Litem program in Jackson, Swain, and Macon counties is seeking volunteers to help abused and neglected children as they work their way through the court system.

The Guardian Ad Litem Program trains community volunteers to be a voice for these children. Most volunteers spend four to six hours per month on a particular child’s case, which includes learning about the child’s situation, talking to the child, caregivers, professionals and others involved in the child’s life. The program requires 30 hours of training.

To volunteer call 828.587.2087 or visit www.ncgal.org.

Western North Carolina voters favored Gov. Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama despite the president’s narrow victory nationally.

Swain County voters shot down a quarter-cent sales tax increase that would have funded school construction by a 3-to-1 margin. 

The optional sales tax increase would have brought in roughly $250,000 a year and would have paid for a $2 million expansion of East Elementary to solve overcrowding. 

The Republican stronghold of Macon County chose to elect conservative Paul Higdon over Democrat incumbent Bobby Kuppers to the board of county commissioners. 

The Jackson County Commissioner race was decided by a large margin, granting incumbent Mark Jones another term in office. He defeated Republican candidate Marty Jones handily, despite the county overall narrowly going for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 

Hike amidst flowing creeks and historic remnants along the Smokemont Loop Trail on a guided hike through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday, Nov.15. The hike is sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies.

Hikers can participate in a leisurely, guided hike Saturday, Nov. 17, on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike will follow the Kephart Prong Trail, located just nine miles from Newfound Gap or five miles from Smokemont Campground. In total, the hike will be four miles, round trip, with an elevation gain of 830 feet.

The route will follow a varied walking surface — from an old gravel roadbed to old blacktop to dirt trail — as it weaves through an area that was a logging site in the 1920s and 1930s and contains the remnants of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, a fish hatchery, and a narrow gauge railway.

The turnaround point will be a backcountry shelter that was the site of a logging camp and recently renovated by the Friends of the Smokies. Hikers should bring warm clothes as well as water and lunch.

The trip is sponsored by the Great Smoky Mountains Association, and an alternate hike, should the U.S. 441 be closed due to inclement weather, will be the Old Sugarlands Trail, located across U.S. 441 from the Park headquarters building. This trail is also rated easy and will be about the same mileage.

Call 1.888.898.9102 for meeting time and place.

Four short videos that are part of a Watershed Film Series titled “It’s Our Water” will be shown the evening of Nov. 15 in the fellowship hall of the Bryson City United Methodist Church.

The videos will cover issues from litter to bottled water, and the focus will be on drinking water in Bryson City and Sylva. The event will begin with a 6:30 p.m. social, followed by the 7-8:15 p.m. meeting.

“This is a good-news story nestled in challenging issues of river water that is marred by pockets of unsightly litter, polluted in some locations with bacteria, and too often — too muddy,” said Roger Clapp, director of the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River. 

The program will include brief presentations about tap water and offer everyone a taste test of variously sourced water. There will also be brief discussion of bacteria levels in Scott and Savannah creeks, streams which do not contribute to public water supplies.

www.WATRnc.org

A public workshop focusing on ideas for Haywood County trails that could become part of a Regional Trails Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the multi-purpose room at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Vance Street.

The Southwestern Commission, through a grant from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and its State Trails Program, is leading a regional trails inventory and concept plan for Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. Other workshops have been held in other counties throughout the summer and fall to generate ideas.

“We have had a lot of ideas from participants in the other workshops about connecting and expanding existing trails and creating new ones,” said Sarah Graham, planner with the Southwestern Commission. “As a starting point, we are organizing the results of plans such as the Waynesville Pedestrian Plan, Haywood County Bicycle Plan and Haywood County Parks and Recreation Master Plan into a cohesive set of documents and maps.”

The primary product of this plan will be a region-wide map indicating where existing hiking trails, greenways, mountain bike trails, equestrian trails, OHV trails and some on-road bicycle routes are located.

Completion of the plan is expected in early 2013.

More than 70 fourth-graders and parents trekked across the Appalachians in Macon County as part of an annual student trip to Siler Bald. Eight hike leaders from the Nantahala Hiking Club — which is the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail Club — guided the children on the hike from Wayah Crest to Siler Bald, returning on the AT.

The field trip introduced hiking to students as a health living activity. On the hike, students learned about various plants and trees and the work required to maintain the AT as a primitive hiking trail.

Prior to the hike, the NHC gave a presentation to the students on the history of the AT, the preparations needed for a day hike and the principles of Leave No Trace outdoors ethics.

The outreach to the local school, provided by the NHC, is part of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Trail to Every Classroom program. The program’s key tenants are place-based education, service learning and volunteerism. To learn more about local hiking and volunteer opportunities to care for America’s first National Scenic Trail, visit www.nantahalahikingclub.org.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has fired up its new trout fishing webpage, which provides useful information for trout anglers looking to know more about their favorite outdoor pastime.

“We wanted to consolidate all the trout-related information on our website into one page so that trout anglers could find the information they needed as quickly and easily as possible,” said Jacob Rash, the coldwater research coordinator for the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries.

The website includes features such as maps of public mountain trout waters for fisherman looking to try out a new stream. It also publishes up-to-date information such as when delayed-harvest regulations go into effect or what the size and creel limits are for hatchery-supported waters.

Information on seasons and limits for all the seven trout stream classifications in North Carolina is accessible alongside current trout stocking information and materials discussing characteristics of the three trout species found in the state.

www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Fish/Trout/TroutFishing.aspx.

Asheville retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors has partnered with RootsRated.com to introduce a new, locally-sourced digital outdoor recreation guide for the greater Asheville area. 

Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to generate reviews of their favorite recreational areas and opportunities in the WNC region. The goal is to provide locals and visitors with first-hand, local knowledge of outdoor recreation in the area. The plan is to consolidate networks of conservationists, outdoor athletes clubs, sales representatives, guides, authors, photographers, and enthusiasts to provide people with easy access to information about outdoor recreation opportunities.

Diamond Brand Outdoors is part of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of the country’s independent outdoor retailers.

“Grassroots Retailers are already the hub of local knowledge for trails, crags, and put-ins in their respective markets. RootsRated will give us a way to capture, syndicate, share and constantly improve this knowledge, and most importantly, make it more readily available to break down barriers to participation in these sports,” said Sarah Merrell, marketing manager for Diamond Brand Outdoors. 

www.rootsratedcom.

An effort to re-establish a favorite local flower while also growing a scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is off to a blooming start.

Western Carolina University, as part of its Love Your Body Week, will hold a station run on campus at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13.

The Amazing Catamount Challenge will consist of teams of up to four participants who will be given clues to take them to locations around campus and complete activities based on various principles and concepts of loving your body. Some stations will include physical activities while others will examine positive and negative portrayals of beauty in advertising and building a healthy plate of food.

The event will end by 6 p.m. and is sponsored by the Intercultural Affairs, Campus Recreation and Wellness, Aramark, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Leadership and Student Involvement. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams.

Check-in will begin at 3:45 p.m. In-person registration will be available on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week of Nov. 5-9 or participants can contact Sarah Carter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Nov. 11.

A hiker stranded on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was successfully evacuated by rescuers last Friday after spending one night in the cold.

An air rescue operation was launched at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 in an attempt to locate and extract Steven Ainsworth, 56, who is from Washington, N.C. Ainsworth had become stranded the day before on a remote section of the trail as a result of the snowstorm that blanketed higher elevations of the park earlier in the week. Ainsworth had placed a 911 distress call from his cell phone to the Cherokee Police Department.

Salvation sought through moonshine 

Terry Roberts will present his new novel The Holy Ghost and Speakeasy and Revival at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 

Jedidiah Robbins is a man on a crusade. From town to town, his Gospel train rides the rails of 1920s Appalachia, spreading the Good News with his daughter and a loyal group of roustabouts in tow. But, Jedidiah’s traveling revival company has a secret: in addition to offering the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it also delivers spirits of another kind. 

Prohibition is in full swing, but The Sword of the Lord train keeps the speakeasies in the towns it visits in business by providing the best that mountain stills have to offer. While beyond the gaze of federal agents, the operation eventually runs afoul of an overzealous small-town sheriff and a corrupt judge, setting in motion a series of events that could land them all in chains. 

Roberts is also the author of A Short Time to Stay Here and That Bright Land. Born and raised near Weaverville, Roberts is the director of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville. To reserve copies of his books, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Evolution of the ‘Baby Beat’ movement

Writer/poet Thomas Rain Crowe will present his book Starting From San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Sept. 21, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 

In his book, Crowe explores the dimensions of a flourishing literary excitement that deserves to be better known: The Baby Beat’s movement. This movement was led by a whole generation of young poets who were nourished by their Beat predecessors. Starting From San Francisco provides many illuminating surprises for those who thought they already knew everything about what Beat was.

Excerpt from the book, “From the early 1970s through the early 1980s, for about a decade, San Francisco was often compared to Paris and the urban centers in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. ‘A renaissance’ some of us say, now, looking back. And even then, that word used to slip from our lips in moments of projected epiphany or outlandish optimism. Centered around City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, a fleur-de-lis had sprouted and bloomed, whose petals would eventually spread into the ethnic neighborhoods in San Francisco and out over the whole Bay Area, with leafy creative vines reaching other literary and artistic circles, further afield, in Berkeley, Bolinas, the Russian River and up along the coast and north — all the way to Mendocino and the North San Juan Ridge community in the Sierra foothills and as far south as Santa Cruz. Young poets, artists and musicians coming from all over the country, and in fact the world, were arriving almost daily to add their voices to the chorus of a growing community of Beat-inspired bohemian brethren creating what would become a full-blown Renaissance.”

To reserve copies of Starting From San Francisco, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Role of railroads in Western NC

The Friends of the Library will be presenting a special edition of “How the West Was Won...Western North Carolina that is...” with Ray Rapp at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. 

Rapp served five terms in the state legislature, where he served on committees that were charged with improving and expanding rail service in North Carolina. But, perhaps more importantly for this presentation, he lectures extensively on regional rail history and has a deep and abiding love for the role trains had in making Western North Carolina what it is today. 

His knowledge of the subject is more than matched by his love of the topic. No dry lecture, this will be a railroad lovers joy ride. No registration is required and all are welcome.

To the Editor:

Almost all actions of politicians have unintended consequences. In times of tragedies their mistakes are amplified. Last week, before, during and after “Super Storm” Sandy hit the northeastern United States, governors and attorneys general in that part of the country put out blanket warnings that violators of laws against price gouging laws (laws meant to protect consumers from “excessive” pricing of essential goods and services during emergencies) would be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice for violations. While these actions may be reasonable to the emotional observer, when one applies economic logic to the circumstance it is easy to understand how laws against price gouging have actually caused the current gasoline shortages in the Northeast.

In essence, anti-price gouging laws are price controls. That is to say, they prevent suppliers of goods from charging market prices if those prices are deemed excessive by government. Needless to say, since suppliers are not in the business of losing money, when the price of any good exceeds a government mandated maximum price, suppliers will stop supplying that good. They obviously are not going to sell an item at a loss, as that is a sure recipe to put yourself out of business.

Consequently, a shortage of that good develops. We have seen this happen time and again, most notably with beef during the Nixon price controls in the early 1970s and rental properties in New York City under rent controls.

So how does this apply to the current gasoline shortages experienced by motorists in the Northeast?

Faced with threats by state officials including reductions in profits, fines, directives to set up reimbursement funds, and other penalties, merchants were intimidated to comply with the anti-price gouging laws. Consequently, a critically important market mechanism was prevented from kicking in – namely rising prices in the face of potential shortages caused by disruptions to market flow.

You see, in the free market something valued that is in short supply will always cost more than it does under regular market conditions. That is why the price of meat rises when there is a drought. Instead of a drought, the supply of gasoline to the Northeast has been disrupted by a storm.

Although they are different climatic events, the effect is the same. Yet governors and attorneys general prevented gas suppliers from raising gas prices to meet market conditions. Because of anti-price gouging laws, consumers were able to purchase gasoline before Sandy at below market prices. It’s no wonder this temporary price control on gasoline has caused shortages in their states. Demand was allowed to exceed supply. If the market were left to its own devices, prices would have been allowed to rise and there would be gasoline in New York City right now for emergency use.

But instead, state officials imposed a cap so every Tom, Dick, and Harry could fill up their tanks unnecessarily before the storm.

At the end of the day, anti-price gouging laws are indicative of how we have been running our economy for decades. All sorts of schemes have been implemented to help the poor, homeowners, consumers, students, the sick, the handicapped, etc, etc, etc… They all come with unintended consequences because they are based on emotions not logic. During normal times their consequences are bad enough. In times of tragedy they simply make things worse.

Kenn Jacobine

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Your correspondent William Fisher has written a constructive response to my recent letter about religion and politics, which deserves an explanatory reply.

To begin with, he has overlooked one important word in my letter — “among.” I said that the Mormon notions I cited were “among their beliefs” — thereby recognizing (though not stating) that there were others of a more familiar nature. No doubt adherents can make a strong case for the virtues of Mormonism. I readily acknowledge that they share with Christians general beliefs in God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, eternal life, and other basic doctrines — though specific interpretations of these vary widely. But “the devil is in the details,” and to these we must also give attention.

It is natural that encyclopedias, needing to be concise, tend to present only the positive and widely accepted aspects of a topic. It is also understandable that websites and promotional materials, seeking to be enticing, tend to gloss over or ignore entirely elements they would rather not be known. For these reasons, my summary of some Mormon teachings focused on the latter kind, and drew primarily on original sources.

The sentences in what Mr. Fisher calls a “mishmash” are condensations of paragraphs in the following Mormon documents: Foreword to the Book of Mormon; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith; Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; writings of Lorenzo Snow, Mormon president, 1898-1901; Sermon of Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873; Journal of Discourses of Brigham Young; and Doctrine and Covenant Stories, a picture book for Mormon children (page references available on request). The only non-Mormon sources used were denominational pamphlets about Mormonism, published, no doubt, to warn their adherents against the tactics of Mormon home visitations.

Not being a scholar in these matters, I have been greatly helped in identifying these teachings and their sources by a friend and retired deacon in Florida who has researched them more fully than I.

The Bible, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon all contain both uplifting and less savory elements — as do the religions they inform. The Mormon website presents the positive side of its religion, but makes no mention of the aspects described in my letter. Hence, many may not even know of them.

However, adherents, supporters, and inquirers of any faith need to be aware of and acknowledge its “feet of clay” — and then decide whether the assets outweigh the liabilities. The intent of my letter was to point out the inconsistency of making fallacious charges about Obama’s religion while ignoring the more bizarre aspects of Romney’s. I don’t want to let people ignore the latter, or pretend they don’t exist, by just looking at the glossy print materials and website presentations.

For example, the Mormon website proudly asserts that the “Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,” by virtue of its name, is a “Christian Church.” However, its name is not to be found in the list of 37 member denominations of the National Council of Churches, or the 349 member churches of the World Council of Churches, or the 12 members and 109 associates of the World Evangelical Alliance. Instead, they energetically seek to win people away from those churches and into their own. Within the community of Christian churches, this practice is considered unethical and is colloquially labeled “sheep-stealing.” (A congregation I once served was gravely upset by having some of our faithful members persuaded by home visits of Mormon missionaries to leave us and join their movement.)

I am sorry if some were offended by my letter. I only sought to get a fuller picture before us.

Doug Wingeier

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter in celebration that the elections are now over.

I will not miss the never-ending supply of politically charged letters and opinions to the editor that have been inundating your publication over the past few months. It’s like having a bad case of poison oak flare up every time there is an election. While I am glad to see my fellow countrymen and women participate in the political process, I am often taken back by the general belief that publishing one’s political views in such a one-sided format has any effect other than irritation to others. 

So it occurred to me, what will the plethora of political one-hit wonder writers do with all their free time until the next election cycle? May I suggest the following: find a worthwhile humanitarian project to support; volunteer at a church, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, nursing home or hospital; cut some fire wood for someone who needs help with heating this winter; collect some can goods and support a local food pantry; be a mentor to some children who might need a positive role model in their life. The list goes on and on.

I have personally found that taking this approach creates a sense of individual responsibility and respect that begins to eclipse the need to focus so boldly on what politicians stand for and more importantly the need to publish such views in a paper. True hope and change begins within ourselves and how we act upon meeting the needs of others. God Bless. 

Kevin Sandefur

Waynesville

To the Editor:

As a nearly 50-year-veteran of the tourism industry and one of the “authors” of the Florida accommodation tax legislation in the 1970s I must underscore the importance of preventing politicians from having anything to do with the execution of any marketing plans.

Commissioner Jack Debman insists on referring to the monies derived from tourists who pay the bed tax as being “local taxpayer monies” and thus should be under the oversight of the local county commissioners.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Except in a very rare instance, a resident of Jackson County will not be paying the bed tax. It is a tax levied nearly 100 percent on out-of-county, out-of-state visitors and therefore is not a tax accountable to local politicians.

How many of the local commissioners are experts or even marginally knowledgeable about tourism marketing? One that I know of, and his business caters more to the affluent visitors, unlike the rest of Jackson County.

The county government should, like most counties, be a conduit for collecting and dispersing funds only in accordance with the approved expenditures by the tourism board. In other words, let the board operate without political influence. The money should be in a separate account managed by the tourism board and spent according to the best interest to expand tourism expenditures within the borders of the county.

Unfortunately, what I see is too many political hands stirring the pot locally. Appoint the tourism board, let them make the decisions for expenditures and the county pay the bills accordingly from the tourism fund.

As one on the sidelines and having dealt with many, many forms of “boards” in the tourism industry, we are making it a complicated issue to the detriment of the local businesses who either rely on or cater to out-of-county visitors.

While I respect what the county officials are responsible for in the daily operations of Jackson County, this is not a place for them to have control or final say so.

David Redman

Sylva

Orthopedic physical therapist Todd Watson will speak at a free Dine and Learn seminar that addresses the links between physical therapy and back pain from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the MedWest Rehabilitation Service office on the MedWest-Harris campus in Sylva.

Watson is a professor of physical therapy at Western Carolina University and board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Watson will help attendees learn how physical therapy techniques can be used to treat lower back pain. The seminar will focus on the importance of early physical therapy treatment to maximize daily function and prevent future episodes of back pain.

Attendance is limited so advance reservations are required to attend.

828.586.7235.

The Waynesville Recreation Center recently had a new design placed on the basketball courts.

This was the first time the lines had to be removed so the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department decided to go with a new layout. The courts now have a wider baseline, darker wood in the three point area, and each court has the department’s logo at center court. Carolina Hardwood of Clyde completed the work.

“The new design adds a lot of color and we think everyone will be very proud of it,” said Rhett Langston, director of the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department.

828.456.2030.

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) has opportunities for volunteers who are committed to helping girls develop courage, confidence and character.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting – whether you have an hour, a day, a weekend or more. Specifically, Jackson County Girl Scouts is in need of dedicated adults to take on the role of troop leaders. Each troop is led by at least two registered leaders.

There is a need for troops leaders able to meet in the evening or on weekends to fit the schedules of working families. Volunteers can serve long-term or short-term roles. They can lead a troop that meets for the entire school year, or run a program that finishes in a couple of weeks.

No previous Girl Scout experience is necessary. To volunteer, one must be at least 18 years of age or older, be a positive role model and must become a member of the Girl Scouts for $12 per year.

www.girlscoutsp2p.org or 828.488.6537 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western Carolina University is seeking applicants for the next class of its University Participant Program, which offers a two-year, on-campus living and learning experience for college-age persons with intellectual disabilities.

The goal of the UP Program is to facilitate the transition from secondary school to adult life through education, employment and independent living. WCU undergraduate students are recruited and trained to provide paid and unpaid support services, such as attending classes with program participants, engaging them in social and recreational activities, and helping them with on-the-job training.

UP Program participants must be between 18 and 25 years old and also have been enrolled in a high school special education program.

Applications for fall 2013 are due by Saturday, Dec. 1. The application fee, which is nonrefundable, is $50.

www.up.wcu.edu or 828.227.3297 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Macon County Public Health and Angel Medical Center are hosting a Ladies Night Out talk Nov. 13

The topic will be Diabetes Awareness, and the guest speaker will be Jennifer Trippe, a registered dietician with Macon County Public Health. She will discuss ways to reduce risk for developing Type II diabetes.

The program will be held two times that day in the cafeteria at AMC. One will be at 4 p.m. and one will be at 6:30 p.m. The same presentation will be given at both meetings.

Ladies Night Out is a free monthly program on various health topics for women with an emphasis on the importance of regular health screenings. The Franklin Bi-Lo and Fatz of Franklin are corporate sponsors of the program and provide snacks and door prizes. Dodge Packaging Specialties, Inc. provides paper products.

828.349.2426.

Mountain Shapes and Colors Art and Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the Swain Center at Southwestern Community College.

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood graduate Samantha Mallard and current student Brandon Skupski won the Design Emphasis contest at the International Woodworking Fair.

The Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series continues with The Strivers Row Poetry Show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Documentary series continues Nov. 13 at WCU

Western Carolina University’s next film in its series from the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the theater of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

“Bag It,” a documentary about plastic bags, evolves into an investigation into plastic and its effect on the environment and people’s bodies. While directors Michelle Hill and Suzan Beraza are unable to tour with the film, “Bag It” narrator and front man Jeb Berrier, an actor and host for a morning television show on Plum TV, is scheduled to appear on their behalf.

WCU’s Arts and Cultural Events series, or ACE, in collaboration with South Arts, sponsors the tour of independent films and filmmakers that provides communities across the South access to smaller films and opportunities to join film directors in discussion. All events are free and open to the public. Refreshments and a question-and-answer session will follow.

828.227.3622 or ledavis.wcu.edu or www.ace.wcu.edu.

Veteran’s Day ‘dinner and a movie’

The community is invited to attend “Dinner and a Movie” with a showing of “Courageous” from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day), at the High Street Baptist Church in Canton.

Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The kid-friendly menu features pizza, nachos, cookies and assorted soft drinks.

The movie begins at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

www.HighStreetBaptist.org or 828.648.8830.

An array of films showcased at library

A handful of films will be shown at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Two films by Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai will headline the anime program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The program of anime, or Japanese animation, begins with a morning session featuring several popular Japanese-language TV shows. Then, after a brief intermission, the movie program begins at 1:20 p.m.

A 1937 musical comedy featuring Fred Astaire will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. When a rumor spreads that young and wealthy Joan Fontaine will elope to marry an American, everyone assumes that it must be Astaire. While one schemer plots to bring them together, another plots to drive them apart and he has no idea why.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 Charlie Brown in a pickle as his erstwhile friends impose upon the hapless would-be-host to provide a memorable and traditional Thanksgiving feast. The library will also be giving away one free movie check out voucher to each patron who attends the movie.   

All movies at the library are free and open to the public. The films are projected onto an 8-by-10-foot screen, with a theater-style sound system. Free popcorn and refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library.

828.488.3030.

Decorate your cake, and eat it, too

A basic cake decorating class will be offered every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 through March 4, at the Southwestern Community College campus in Franklin.

The basic cake decorating class is designed to teach the fundamentals of cake decorating, step by step. Students will learn how to use cake decorating tools, cake preparation and basic decorating techniques. Attendees will also be able to take the cake home.

The class is $35 per person and will take place in Room 102 of the Macon Annex.

www.southwesterncc.edu.

‘Fire & Ice’ exhibit comes to Gallery 86

An exhibition “Fire & Ice: Pottery, Glass, and Metalwork” will make its debut at the Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 in downtown Waynesville on Wednesday, Jan. 16, and stay up through Saturday, Feb. 9.

The exhibit celebrates the heating and cooling process involved in the making of pottery, glass and metal work. An artist’s reception will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.

Artist’s featured in the show include Brad Dodson (pottery), John Nickerson (pottery), Bob Brotherton (pottery), Cathey Bolton (pottery), Terance Painter (pottery), Grace Cathey (metal work), Teresa Sizemore (metal work), Susan Hutchinson (metal work), Dianne Lee (glass), William and Katherine Bernstein (glass), Fitzallen Eldridge (glass), Aaron Shufelt (glass), Judy McManus (glass) and Tadashi Torii (glass).  

Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

www.haywoodarts.org or www.facebook.com/haywoodarts.

Lego building contest stacks up Feb. 2

A Lego Extravaganza building contest for children ages 5 to 15 will debut at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in Waynesville. It is put on by the Haywood County Public Library.

Participants are asked to think of a favorite book and then create an original Lego design related to the book. Then bring your Legos and build your creation on the day of the contest. Participants in the older age divisions (9-11 and 12-15) will compete for prizes and will be judged on the originality and creativity of their construction, and on the quality of their poster presentation/oral report. Ages 5-8 will not be in formal competition. Register this week to participate.

The contest will be held at the Haywood County Co-operative Extension Office on Racoon Road.

828.356.2511 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.haywoodlibrary.org.

HART presents Charlie Brown “all-grown-up”

“Dog Sees God – Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” will be hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2 and 3 p.m. Feb. 3, at the HART Theatre in Waynesville.

Oh, good grief! The Peanuts gang has grown up, and it turns out that life is not a comic strip after all. Ten years removed from childhood, Charlie Brown, Pigpen, Lucy and the others are grappling with the issues of teens today. They include a stoner, a homophobe, an arsonist, a Goth performance artist, a couple of slutty, booze-swilling clique leaders and an outcast who finds happiness only at a keyboard. Turning Charles Schulz’s pleasant world into a scathingly funny psychological disaster area, “Dog Sees God” will turn childhood on its head and take you through all the happiness and pain that is the institution of high school.

Tickets are $10 per adult and $6 per student. Holdover dates will be Feb. 8-10.

828.456.6322 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.harttheatre.com.

Jackson County Arts Council offers grants for art programs

Jackson County Arts Council is now accepting grant applications for art programs for the coming year.

Theater groups, galleries, choruses, arts educators and other nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply. Public schools may apply if the proposed program supplements education in the arts. Colleges and universities may apply for funding if the proposed program will serve the broader countywide population.

Applications are due by Jan. 20.

www.jacksoncountyarts.org or 828.507.9820 or 828.507.9531.

Workplace comedy group comes to WCU

Music/comedy group the Water Coolers will take the stage at Western Carolina University at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on campus.

The group will present its unique blend of comedy, original songs and parody. Mining the workplace for laughs, the Water Coolers satirically celebrate everyday water cooler chatter – work, spouses, kids, vacations and more. From pretending you understand what the IT guy is saying to fending off parents hawking things for their children’s schools to the inflated inner dialogue of the office hottie, the Water Coolers reveal the underpinnings of workplace life in humorous and insightful songs and sketches performed by Broadway veterans.

The event is part of WCU’s 2012-13 Galaxy of Stars Series. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for WCU faculty and staff, and $5 for students and children.

828.227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Jackson County over-achievers yoga

“Yoga for Over-Achievers” with Chad Hallyburton will be from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee.

Are you motivated? “Type A?” Do you sometimes bite off more than you can chew? Spend a morning learning how to channel your “drive” in positive directions, rather than being “driven crazy” by a never-ending need to achieve and succeed. The class will include lots of movement, but also plenty of time for meditation, reflection and processing.

Free for members. $5 for non-members. Space limited. Pre-registration suggested.

828.508.2501 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Global peace initiative offered in Sylva

A “Winter Feast” group observing a 40-day period of spiritual practice open to all faiths and spiritual paths will meet bi-weekly at the Open Door Center for Spiritual Living and at Sylva Yoga.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. on Mondays at the Open Door Center and at noon on Wednesdays at Sylva Yoga.

The premise for the “Winter Feast” is derived from the idea that when people spend time each day focusing on stillness, they will discover a new landscape of inner peace.

828.226.6645 or www.opendoorcsl.org or 828.331.8994 or www.corinapia.com/YOGA.

Tickets for the Madrigal Dinners at Western Carolina University are now on sale. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Two award-winning classically trained artists will perform traditional and contemporary works at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the main hall of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.  

Guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur have earned rave reviews in solo settings, as a duo, and with ensembles and orchestras in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Richter is a former US National Finger-Picking Champion and Uzur is former principal cellist and soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. The event is supported by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.  

828.524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

Luminaries will light the way on Friday, Nov. 9, during a special candlelit Sylva Art Stroll. Candles will light up the streets outside participating merchants to welcome strollers to shop, dine and explore the historic downtown.

Amid numerous businesses, Gallery 1 invites the public to a reception for a special art exhibit titled “The Square Foot Show” featuring art work no larger than one square foot, It’s By Nature will host demonstrations by three area artists in the mediums of clay, fiber and paper, Skinny Gallery will feature works by recent Western Carolina University art graduate Tom Pazderka, City Lights Cafe will showcase the exhibit “Southern Scenic Photography” by Karen and Chris Mobley, Nichols House Antiques and Collectibles will present select pieces by fine art painter Audrey Hayes of Dillsboro, Survival Pride Clothing Store and Art Gallery will display art work by Smoky Mountain High School students, and Signature Brew Coffee Company will feature new art exhibits.

Presented by the Jackson County Visual Arts Association (JVCAA) and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Sylva Art Strolls continue through December on the second Fridays of each month.

828.337.3468 or www.mountainlovers.com.

Band invited to perform at championships

Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will attend the Bands of America Grand National Championships as a featured-performance exhibition band Nov. 8-10 in Indianapolis.

Each year, the top 90 high school marching bands in America convene at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, to vie for the title of the National Marching Band Champion. This year, the Pride of the Mountains was invited to perform at this prestigious event viewed by more than 25,000 participants, family members and enthusiasts. The band will perform at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 during the second round of preliminary competition and again Saturday, Nov. 10 at the conclusion of the national semifinal round.

www.prideofthemountains.com.

Percussion ensemble to perform at WCU

Western Carolina University Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on campus.

Under the direction of Mario Gaetano, WCU professor of music, the percussion ensemble consists of 15 music majors from Gaetano’s percussion studio. The group performs works specifically composed or arranged for percussion instruments, including drums, xylophones, marimba and timpani. 

The concert will include “Blue Rhythm Quintet” by Anthony Korf, “Mother Earth, Father Sky” by Ney Rosauro, “Essences of the Four Signs” by David Long, “Teamwork” by Lynn Glassock and an arrangement of Bach’s “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The event is free and open to the public. 828.227.7242.

Renowned variety group The Lowe Family will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The unique group offers a blend of show stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass and gospel music, which they bring to life with an amazing six-part harmony that has pleased audiences around the world for over 25 years.

Versatile on more than 50 instruments, The Lowe Family has distinguished themselves as supreme performers across the globe and has earned the honor of being known as America’s Most Talented Family. Their music is accompanied by spectacular dance routines and a high-energy, fast-paced variety show.

www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Tickets for Little Big Town in Cherokee are now available through Ticketmaster. The renowned country group will be performing at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.

A Western Carolina University lunch speaker series is drawing to a close for the fall with a talk about community agriculture Wednesday, Nov. 14. Philip E. Coyle, professor of anthropology, will discuss “Community Gardening as Intensive, Sustainable Agriculture: The Sylva Community Garden in Comparative Perspective.”

Coyle will compare the Sylva Community Garden with Robert Netting’s intensive, sustainable agricultural type. Netting was a famous academic who helped established cultural ecology as a respected discipline.

WCU Department of Anthropology and Sociology Brownbag Series is a lunchtime series, which is free and open to the public. It is an opportunity for faculty and students associated with the department to share research and ideas with the community.

All events are held in Room 110 of the McKee Building at WCU from 12:10 to 1:15 p.m.

828.227.3837 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Historic Haywood Farmers market will move indoors starting this weekend, with Saturday’s market held from 8 a.m. until noon at the Shelton Barn House in Waynesville, just in time to get out of the snow. The site is just above the HART theater parking lot where the market is held during summer and fall months.

This year’s indoor lineup will feature a mix of vendors selling fall greens, roots, vegetable jams, jellies, pickles, scones and cracker mixes. Also seafood will be available each Saturday as well and customers can special order cakes and breads. The market will run through Dec. 8 and remain open Nov. 24.

The Jackson County Farmers Market in Sylva will also move indoors starting this weekend, to the Community Table building near the playground. 

For only the second time in its history, Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley will be open for skiing in October, with lifts ready to roll on 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Cataloochee will continue to operate for day skiing only (until 4:30 p.m.), as long as conditions allow.

The ski slope has been making snow around the clock since Oct. 29 to be added to the four inches of natural snowfall from superstorm Sandy. Cataloochee Ski Area’s snowmaking technology allows it to be consistently one the first areas in the country to open for skiing each season.

Cataloochee will be opening with three slopes this season. The current base of snow on these slopes is eight to 12 inches.

Lift tickets will be $25 per person with reduced rates for children and seniors.

As a Halloween promotion, guests purchasing a lift ticket on opening day will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a season pass.

www.cataloochee.com. 

The U.S. Forest Service is discouraging people from backcountry camping of bringing food into the Panthertown Valley area outside Cashiers in the Nantahala National Forest, following several bear encounters.

Recently, backpackers in Panthertown experienced three separate bear encounters.  A bear damaged tents and stole food even though some of the food was properly hung in trees, according to the backpackers reports to rangers. No injuries were reported. The incidents occurred in the vicinity of the Mac’s Gap, Green Valley and the Little Green Mountain area. 

The alert comes on the tails of a backcountry camping closure in the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County. Last week forest officials closed overnight camping in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam areas because of bear encounters. The bears entered campsites and went after food, and campers had a hard time scaring them away.

Campers are encouraged to not store food in tents and instead hang food high in a tree far from the trunk or put it in a secure bear canister away from the campsite. Also, campers should clean up food scraps and handle food away from the campsite.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to implement changes to its current backcountry reservation and permitting process in early 2013.

As reported last March, the National Park Service approved the park’s proposal to begin collecting fees for use of the park’s backcountry campsites and shelters. The changes include a $4 per person per night fee for backcountry camping. The money collected will fund the salaries of new backcountry rangers to help with backcountry trip planning, reservations, permits and the backcountry experience.

However, any plans could be derailed or delayed pending a potential lawsuit by park advocates. The organization Southern Forest Watch has warned the park that it, and many other outdoor enthusiasts, oppose the fees. The group said in a letter to the park’s superintendant in September that it would go so far as to take them to court over it.

Yet, the park claims the price will allow them to improve service to backpackers and law enforcement in the backcountry areas. The park listed some of its so-called improvements to the backcountry camping experience that would come along with the fee. In addition, park rangers assigned exclusively to the backcountry will attempt to increase enforcement for issues such as wildlife violations and food storage.

An online reservation and permit system will allow backcountry campers to make reservations and obtain permits 24/7. Reservations may be made at any time up to 30 days in advance. 

 “It is anticipated the online reservation and permit system will be available to the public  within the first few months of 2013,” said Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “We will provide notification of a specific implementation date later this year.”

www.nps.gov/grsm or 865.436.1297.

The upcoming International American Ginseng Expo in Western North Carolina will be an opportunity for local ginseng retailers to learn how to promote their ginseng overseas, meet wild forest ginseng experts and to network with state officials, harvesters, buyers, sellers and dealers.

The event will be held on Dec. 7 and 8 in Mills River. It is put on by The North Carolina Natural Products Association and will take place at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center.

American ginseng has been a major export crop for nearly 250 years and North Carolina Ginseng is regarded as a state and national treasure. 

The program will include recognized experts in the ginseng field from Southern Appalachia. Program highlights include presentations on the current status of wild and wild-simulated ginseng, industry rules and regulations, parameters of ginseng quality, ginseng production and poaching issues, marketing, a ginseng root auction and opportunities for value-added products.

Cost to register varies from $65 to $140, depending on timeliness. www.ncnaturalproducts.org.

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

Kristin Bail, forest supervisor of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, warned would-be ginseng poachers last week that law enforcement officers are cracking down on the illegal act.

A special presentation of the fall night sky and the first public display of new space shuttle artifacts will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute.