Subscribers will need a hand truck this morning to bring today’s edition of the Asheville Citizen back to the house.  I can’t believe I spent an extra dollar and a quarter on the subscription just for the Thanksgiving Edition of the newspaper.  Pressed down as tight as possible the newspaper has over an inch thick of sale flyers. The dumpsters and recycling boxes will be loaded with this trash paper. If the Citizen delivers five thousand papers in Jackson County that means a stack of advertising papers over 416 feet tall. The regular Asheville Citizen itself is pretty thin by normal standards… but the flyers make the difference.  So how many trees were cut… the ink, now the trash.   Of course for radio…. more people will hear one advertisement on WRGC radio than all the Asheville Citizens delivered in Jackson County today even if only ten percent of the available population is listening to WRGC.  So how many of you really plan to read the equivalent of four standard print editions of Paradise Lost books today? Radio… leaves no clutter in the dumpster.  Thanks for listening.  Roy Burnette

The Catamounts were cruzin in Cancun Tudesday with what seems to be a sure victory over Austin Peay.  However late in the game Austin Peay captured some of the tropical heat and stormed back to edge the Catamounts 72 to 71.  By virtue of the loss the Catamounts will play another afternoon game on Wednesday against Howard University.  You can hear the game starting with the pregame broadcast on Wednesday at 1:00 p-m.   Consequently the Tradio program will be preempted in order to broadcast the Catamount Basketball game.

540 a.m. WRGC Radio owner Roy Burnette announced Monday that the station  has been testing a new computer driven music selection system over the weekend. Music-Gen is an additional feature of their Nex Gen computer system that is responsible for the current scheduling of rotation of programs, commercials, news, liners, and events. It has taken several months to get the music component assembled. Jessica Ray and Andy Rogers have worked an untold number of hours categorizing every song in the library. The daily rotation will sort through over 3000 songs and play those songs according to extremely tight playlist regulations. Jessica has done a terriffic job sorting the songs into the categories which include the era, artist, tempo, and genre.  Listeners will hear a couple of really old rock and roll standards an hour some of these will go back to  the time when the station signed on in 1957. There will also be some country songs from that time frame as well.  Listeners will also hear a couple of the songs an hour from the current top Adult Contemporary and country playlists. Also a couple that are considered Hot AC which might test the patience of some of our older listeners, just as the older songs will test the patience of the younger listners, but between the two count on hearing hundreds of songs that have proven the test of time  for general audience acceptance. Not counted in the mix include hundreds of Christmas, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Patriotic songs. These are played at specific times.  The computer knows all the songs and does not have a preference or favorites,  so the entire  library is getting airplay.  This gives the announcers more time to keep up with other happenings to talk about and look up information about the songs being played.  “This also makes the station sound the same all the time.” concluded Burnette.

The Western Carolina University Men’s Basketball team did not fare well against the Bulldogs from UNC Asheville.  This rivalry is heating up between these two near by mountain schools with UNC-A holding a lead in the win column in recent games. The WCU women’s team opens their season on Saturday also against UNC-A.  The Men Basketball team returns to action on Sunday. These games will be broadcast on WRGC Radio with the women’s game  Saturday at 4:00 and Sunday at 7:00 right after the East Sylva Baptist Church worship service.

There are lots of choices and great candidates this time.  Pick your favorites and vote.  Listeners to WRGC Radio have heard numerous political commercials over the past ten days,  enough information to make an informed decision.  So if you are a straight party line voter…. VOTE,  if you vote for the person… VOTE.  All the excuses in the world are inadequate when it comes to not voting.  Its is a responsibility that goes with being an American.

These guy’s never stop their low life schemes to take innocent people.  But a reminder to pay attention to what the scammer is asking and keep your mind about what is going on around you. A recent scam artist is working the elderly under the pretenses of taking the census.  The census was conducted in 2010, and is only taken every ten years. So if someone says they are taking a census,  chances are it is a scam.  Always ask the person to show some identification. Some faith based organizations do conduct faith based censuses. Again ask for identification and NEVER provide banking information, Social Security numbers… really nothing at all and certainly nothing more than they can get off your mail box.  Legitimate census takers whether it be political, faith based or anything else will always be more than  happy to show you a picture id.  Even still… remember what veterans say… name rank and serial number…. nothing more.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 5, 2012

Contact: Marge Howell, (919) 861-3019

N.C. DMV Seeks Applications for New
License Plate Agency in Jackson County

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is seeking applicants to operate a license plate agency in Jackson County. The current contract for the agency is concluding.

The agency, currently located at 454 E. Main St., Suite 3, in Sylva, will continue to operate on a month-to-month basis until a new contractor is in place. DMV’s policy is to seek new applicants whenever a contract expires or ends.

Plate agency applications (Form MVR-93 or Form MVR-93AA) are located on the Connect NCDOT website. Interested applicants are invited to download an application form <https://connect.ncdot.gov/business/DMV/Pages/default.aspx> for a motor vehicle LPA or call (919) 861-3332 with questions. The application must be returned to NCDMV no later than Friday, Dec. 7.

LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently, about 120 license plate agencies operate across North Carolina.

***NCDOT***

(11/03/12)  The heavy snow that fell early in the week is still on the ground at Newfound Gap. At the top of the Smokies snowfall totals reached 36 inches.  Even though the temperatures have reached into the 60′s this week,  the snow melt has been negligible.  Even where there have been considerable snow melts there remains an accumulation of two feet or more.  Those wanting to come to the Smokies and see the huge snow can get there via Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee.  Because of the huge snowbanks created with removing the snow from the roadway parking will be at a premium. However it the snow remains a spectacular site.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel Presents “Chef’s Harvest of the Dead” Blue Plate Special Lunch Fundraiser on Halloween! Choice of: Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry Glaze, Pan-Seared Chicken with Fresh Herbs &Mushrooms, or Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter & Toasted Hazelnuts. Served with: Garlic & Leek Chunky Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens Braised with Ginger, Tomatoes & Onions, Buttermilk Rolls, Butternut Squash Apple & Mascarpone Bisque, & Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Streusel Wednesday, October 31,st from 11-2 at The Community Table on Central Street next to Sylva Pool. $5 MINIMUM Donation. Dine-in or Carryout, call us at 586.6782 to place your order!

The National Weather Service has upgraded the Winter Weather Advisory

to a Winter Storm Warning. The National Weather Service issued the warning

for high winds, low visability during snow showers, and cold temperatures.

Make sure you have stored water, and extra food and be preprepared for

several days of power outtage. Those running short on medications

because of it being the end of the month should contact emergency services if there is a

liklihood of running out of medications

Anyone who can fill in the details is urged to join in the talk.

Wasn’t her mother from the Wike family in Cullowhee? The Wikes were always excellent basketball players,  especially Clarence and later on Matt Wike was an exc excellent player.  I can’t recall all the details.  RB

eMarketer’s annual analysis of how people are spending their media time

shows the average adult spent 92 minutes with broadcast radio each day

in 2012. That’s down two minutes from a year ago — and down

six minutes from 2009. But eMarketer’s Clark Fredricksen thinks

broadcasters shouldn’t be alarmed by the small decline. “Radio is still

strong compared to most other media.”

If you don’t listen to radio 92 minutes a day then you are not average.

The American Chestnut Summit is going on this weekend in Asheville.  Find out the latest news in what researchers have been able to figure out for the recovery of this giant of a tree which once dominated the forests on Western North Carolina until the total population of about 4 billion trees were wipped out by a fungus from the orient which was accidentially intoduced to the United States in 1904 through products shipped into New York Harbor. For the past 40 years researchers have made great strides… including resistent strains of fungi from wheat, vines, and Chinese Chestnuts to make the modified American Chestnut blight resistent. Re-introductions of the modified strain are being made… also some of those modified trees are thriving in old mine dumps of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states.

Maude Barlow, best-selling Canadian author and human rights activist, is the chair of the board of Food & Water Watch. She is also an executive member of the San Francisco–based International Forum on Globalization, founder of the Blue Planet Project, and a Councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council.

Maude is the recipient of ten honorary doctorates as well as many awards, including the 2005 Right Livelihood Award, the Citation of Lifetime Achievement at the 2008 Canadian Environment Award, and the 2009 Earth Day Canada Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award. In 2008/2009, she served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United Nations General Assembly

Our State Magazine announces winner of song contest

10/16/12)  For the past couple of months WRGC has been following the story about the song competition being sponsored by Our State Magazine.  It was published today (Tuesday) that Aarron Burdett from Saluda has won the competition with his song entitled “Going Home to Carolina.”  Burdett is a frequent performer in the Asheville music scene having collaborated on albums with members of  Big Daddy Love, Accoustic Syndicate, Free Planet Radio, and Snake Oil Medicine Show. “As judges we had a great opportunity  to hear some passoniate songs about North Carolina,” said Rhiannon Gibbons, lead singer for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, “Aaron did a wonderful job capturing the strong connection that I think we feel about this state.”‘Burdett will receive the $500.00 prize, professional production of the song in a studio and the opportunity to perform the song at various events and festivals across the state.  To learn more about Burdett and to listen to a live version of the song visit ourstate.com/songwriting.

Local residents are more likely to hear the sounds of running hounds and perhaps gunfire this week,  it is no call for alarm its only the opening week of hunting season. Hounds have a hard time reading no trespassing signs, but normally when chasing a bear or other wild game they pass through the area quickly. Landowners cooperation is encouraged. The hunting regulations call for hunters to have written permission to be on a land owners property.  Most hunters will respect the property for which they get permission to hunt.  Getting the written permission gives the land owner a name and phone number to call in case something is damaged or trash is left behind. Squirrell and Bear season is open,  check the regulations for additional details.  Ignorance of the law is absolutely no excuse and carry no weight with the game warden.

540 a-m WRGC Radio will be broadcasting and streaming the political debate from the Community Room at the Jackson County Library starting Monday at 7:15 p-m. Candiates include Hayden Rogers and Mark Meadows for US Congress; Mike Clampitt and Joe Sam Queen for State Representative, John Snow and Jim Davis for NC Senate, Marty Jones and Mark Jones for Jackson County Commissioner.  The debate is being sponsored by the Macon County League of Women Voters, Canary Coalition, WNC Occupy, Sylva Herald and Smoky Mountain News. For the stream go to wrgc.com and click on the icon for the political debate.

The Western Carolina University Marching Band, the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band has announced that 22 high school bands will be competing in the October 20th Tournament of Champions Band Competition at E.J Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee. Local Bands include the Smoky Mountain High School band who will take the field at 11:45, Pisgah Band at 2:00 p.m. Enka at 3:00 p.m., and Tuscola at 3:45. The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will perform their show at 4:00 p-m

The bridge over US Highway 64 and US 441 which is the Atlanta exit in Franklin will be known as the Nathan B Henry Bridge after today. Henry was a POW in  Viet Nam from 1967 through 1973.  The Franklin native received serious injuries in combat actions in the Viet Nam war and was consequently captured.  One can Google Nathan B Henry and read a report of his service record.  Today’s ceremony will feature numerous local, state, and federal political leaders, members of the Viet Nam Veterans Chapter for Franklin, agents from other veterans organizations, and members of Henry’s family. Henry will give a response to the actions as part of the ceremony.  This honor will cap an effort by many local veterans groups and community leaders who value his service.

So far there have been 300-thousand voter registrations since January, which is less than the Presidential election in 2008, but the number is expected to climb after the local boards of election process their remaining voter registration applications. Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina, Bob Hall says one reason there are fewer registrations is that four years ago there was a boom in registrations and consequently there arer fewer uinregistered voters, “There are not as many to choose from.” Hall stated. This year there are as many unaffiliated voters registering as Democrats and Republicans combined compared to 2008 when Democrats had five times as many registrations as Republicans.  If you miss the deadline you can register at an early voting site and cast your ballot the same day during the early voting period. Brent Laurenz, Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education says while Presidential and gubernatorial election might be a driving interest in the election there are  many local and state races where every vote counts. The number of registrations is expected to increase after coounty elections process their backlog of voter registrations.  The NC Center for Voter Education published a voter guide avauilable on their website at ncvoterguide.org. Brent Laurenz added,”Elections do have big consequenceds and it is important to go out and vote.  That old adage of my vote doesn’t matter, theres less of that thinking any more in the past decade so so.