The Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department has achieved many goals on the master plan created several years ago. While that plan has been updated a few times, its time to wrap that one up and start a new one.

“About 8 years ago we were one of the first counties west of Asheville to do that… We’re in the process of finishing up that plan,” Director Jeff Carpenter.

As the old plan finishes up, the Department wanted community feedback and direction for the new master plan. To get this feedback, they conducted an online survey of local residents.

“We got close to 800 responses to our survey. Indoor pool was the #1 answer in the community. Walking areas was another big answer, and picnic areas and playgrounds were very high too.”

People are wanting areas to play, workout, and see their tax dollars at work.

“Everybody can use parks,” Director Jeff Carpenter.

Western Carolina University is accepting nominations for the Mountain Heritage Award, an honor bestowed annually on one individual and one organization that has played a prominent role in the preservation or interpretation of Southern Appalachian history and culture. Nominations for the award will be accepted through Monday, June 24.

“Beginning with the award’s inception in 1976 and continuing through 2006, WCU gave out one Mountain Heritage Award each year,” said Scott Philyaw, director of the university’s Mountain Heritage Center and chairman of the awards committee. “Because the contributions of individuals are often different from that of groups and organizations, making direct comparisons difficult, the university’s awards committee decided to begin giving out two awards in 2007 – one to an individual and one to an organization.”

Letters of nomination should not exceed five pages and should include the full name of the individual or organization being nominated, with a website address if applicable; the mailing address of nominee; nominee’s birth or founding date; a list of the nominee’s accomplishments; a list of the awards and other recognitions received by nominee; information about the nominee’s influence in the relevant field of expertise such as crafts, music or organizational cause; and information about the nominee’s role as a teacher, advocate, leader or preserver of mountain culture.

Nomination letters may be hand delivered to the Mountain Heritage Center, located on the ground floor of WCU’s H. F. Robinson Administration Building or mailed to Scott Philyaw, 151 H. F. Robinson Administration Building, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, or emailed to philyaw@wcu.edu.

David Starnes, director of Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, displays a commemorative drum head while students celebrate an invitation to participate in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The famous group from Western Carolina University has been honored time and again with invitationals, awards and accolades. The latest in the long list? An invitation to 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“We are honored as well as excited to represent Western Carolina University, the School of Music and the entire Catamount Nation on national television in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Starnes. “It is undoubtedly one of the greatest events a band student of any age can experience and we feel privileged to offer our members this opportunity. Our band program has received numerous national honors that carry great prestige. However, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has not been a part of our resume – until now.”

The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is one of only ten marching bands selected from across the country to perform.

“When you are the best band in the land, you might as well share it with the rest of the world,” Chancellor David O. Belcher said.

The new bills reflect vehicle property tax information and vehicle inspection and registration information. The new program will require one payment for both bills. Both tag renewals and tax payments must be paid in full to renew registration. Those with a July tag will be among the first to receive the notices by mail. By this time next year, the program should include all NC vehicle owners. Upon receiving your payment, the Department of Motor Vehicles will renew your registration and forward your tax revenues to your local county office. This new program doesn’t affect your mortgage or home property tax. Your vehicle tax is due at the same time your registration is due. The increase in your bill is your property tax, because the registration fee has not changed. For more information, visit the NC DMV website.

Jr. Ranger being sworn in.

As part of National Parks Week (April 20-28), the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is participating in National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 27.

For young children, there will be lots to do and learn with guided Ranger tours, demonstrations and workshops, and real wild firefighters to talk to. For children who complete special programming that day, there is a award ceremony where they will be presented with a Junior Ranger badge.

For middle and high school students, there is also the career day opportunity for them to learn what the park does, how it functions, and what employment opportunities exist within the park from computer work to trees and flower care.

For more information on Career Day, contact Emily at 865-736-1713.

For more information on Junior Ranger activities, contact Lloyd at 865-436-1292.

Better Business Bureau Western North Carolina President Norma Messer warns taxpayers to be extra cautious of a tax scam. “They may receive an email that appears to be from the IRS. The IRS never sends emails. The message claims there was a problem with your taxes and its impossible to refund your check to be mailed out unless you click that link and if you do, they access your computer and you never get any money.” The point of the scam is to retrieve private information such as bank statements and social security numbers to commit identity theft. If you think this has already happened to you, visit ncdoj.gov or call 877-5NO- SCAM

Saturday, April 27 starting with the 5K run at 9 AM, festival hours 10 AM-5PM, held on Main and Mill Streets. Including children’s performances, heritage dancers, youth talent show, and three musical stages featuring local music acts: Freight Hoppers, Buchannon Boys, John Luke Carter, Positive Mental Attitude, Porch Forty, Noonday Sun, Secondhand String Band, Matt Williams, and Pearly Peach, just to name a few. Storytelling, face-painting, and an inflatable slide plus food vendors. WRGC will be broadcasting live all day long hosting competitions and giveaways. The festival is one of the largest local events, drawing 10,000 visitors annually to Jackson County.

A gift card website claiming to sell certificates and represent local businesses may not be legitimate. Giftly.com is selling gift certificates to the who’s who of Jackson County; places like Bogarts and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Tim Hall, the owner of Bogarts in Sylva told WRGC, “A customer came to me with a gift certificate for $50 from giftly.com for Bogarts Restaurant and I had no idea what it was about, didn’t know anything about it.” The company is based out of San Francisco. The Better Business Bureau reports they have a rating of A- with two complaints resolved satisfactorily and they’ve only been listed with the BBB since 2010. As always, consumers are reminded that the best way to know you are getting a legitimate gift card to local businesses is by purchasing directly through the business itself.

02/15/13 The Radio Advertising Bureau reported on Friday that radio advertising revenues grew by the largest amount in several years. Part of the growth was because of the expenditures for political advertising. But that was not the total reason. Radio stations are beginning to capture more of the “off the air” market through what is called non-traditional advertising.

Because radio stations are able to air news in an instant and many stations are all news, and others report news every half hour citizens are finding that radio keeps them informed without having to forgo the entertainment and music which is what happens when the listener has to lock in an all talk radio station. The same applies for the  twenty minute repetition cycle for the cable news channels.

02/15/2013 An abrupt change in the weather forecast got road crews busy Friday afternoon.  While Saturday was predicted to be cold with blowing snow and temperatures stuck in the mid thirties,  there was no predicted accumulation of snow.  However late Friday the forecasters began noticing a change in the predicted conditions that caused concern that the snow could actually accumulate and other  weather conditions could cause the roads to become hazardous. So crews went to work dumping thousands of gallons of salt brine on the major traffic arteries. the brine had proven to be effective in delaying the accumulation of the snow on the roads so work crews can keep the snow pushed out of the way. WRGC will keep you posted on the weather conditions Saturday and Sunday.

The Smoky Mountain Mustang Boys take round one of the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference tournament. The game was played Friday night at Smoky Mountain High School. The Mustangs cruised to a 78 to 62 win  over East Henderson. The game was stopped for a moment in the fourth period to recognize on of the East Henderson players who scored his 1000th point. Brandon Dorn finished his career with 1003 points by sinking three free shots after the record tying shot.

The Mustangs will now move on to the second round of the tournament which will be played Tuesday Night at Tuscola, probably against Pisgah.  The game was originally scheduled for Smoky Mountain High School but the schools swapped the tournament schedule this year with the anticipation that the new gymnasium at Smoky Mountain High School will be completed by tournament time next season.

The tournament games are not being broadcast on WRGC.  Once the state playoff brackets are determined then WRGC will broadcast the games of that series. Should the Smoky Mountain Mustangs get upset in the conference tournament then the ranking for the state playoff tournament could be affected.  But short of a major upset the Mustangs should be one of the top seeds in the first round anyway and likely play a home game.

The Spring Break Dream Vacation is March 30th through April 2nd.  The winner gets four nights and five days at the Summer Bay Resort.  This is a top of the line resort about fifteen minutes away from Disney World.  We are also giving away a total of $700.00 with the package.  You do have to take the trip to get the money,  this is not a take the money and run deal.

Register at the following sponsors; Hollifield Jewelers downtown, The Design Center across from Jackson Paper, Liberty Tax Service on the Asheville Highway, Tim’s Auto Parts on the Asheville Highway, Ray’s Florist and Greenhouse in the Dillsboro Court, and the Carpet Barn in the Thad Woods Business Center on the Haywood County Side of Balsam.

Good Luck

WRGC radio will have  tickets to the February 20th game between the Cats and the College of Charleston and the ESPN Bracket Buster Set for February 23rd at 2:00 p-m.

All Jackson County Offices are closing at 4:00 today

The Seventh Grade Fundraiser featuring Hoss Howard  at Cullowhee Valley School scheduled for Friday night has been postponed

The WCU Women’s Basketball team has several home games this weekend and next week.  WRGC has numerous tickets to give away.  So be listening Thursday and Friday for your chance to win tickets to see the Lady Cats and Lindsey Simpson light up the scoreboard.

WRGC Radio has received notification that Swain County Schools will be on a two hour delay Thursday.  That might change if conditions change early Thursday.  WRGC will announce the weather closings when they are received.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect starting Thursday morning for elevations in excess of 3500 feet.  Those areas could receive up to eight inches of snow.  In the valleys a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for all day Thursday. Expect sleet and snow with accumulations from a trace up to four of five inches, depending on elevation nearer the 3500 foot mark. Thursday might be a good day to go to the Great Smokey’s National Park Website and look at what the weather is like at at the top of the world. WRGC will keep you posted throughout the day when conditions worsen. Listeners are invited to call in at 586-2221 and report the conditions that you can see from where you are.

You may have noticed the EAS beeps going off more times on Tuesday.  Because of the WRGC coverage area being so much greater that before the station is required to broadcast those alerts to the listeners in the counties adjoining Jackson. This was not the case before,  but is the case now with 540 A-M being 5000 watts and becoming a primary station for lots of individuals in the other counties.