(10/11/12)  The state’s growing Latino population is placing additional needs on  community services. Twenty five people from North Carolina are in Mexico this week to participate in the Center for International Understanding. Farmers in Jackson County and many of the other agriculture based counties in the state find their farming operations in jeopardy during disasters when Latino workers are also victims of the disaster. For example when the tornado’s in the Spring of 2011 tore through sections of Wake county, health departments struggled to find ways to communicate health concerns with to Hispanics.  In Jackson County and other counties with significant farming operations, the lack of adequate sanitation facilities, moving from location to location to follow the crop harvest, little flexibility in work hours and lack of private tranportation, and limited communiucations skills. This week at the Sylva Rotary Club meeting, Nathan Dollar from the Vecinos Farm Worker Health Program defined many of this agencies programs which often operate late at night in order to accommodate the workers who normally return to tjheir native country after the harvest season,  normally concluding with the harvest of Christmas trees. Nathan worked tirelessly as a translator atthe NC MOM Free Dental Clinic, and gave information about how this health program is supporting the farm workers in our area.

Melton Funeral Home in Sylva Thursday announced the passing of Jackson County business and civic leader Eldridge Painter who had served as a Jackson County Commissioner and a term as Chairman of the Board of Commisisoners. He had also servied on the Harris Regional hospital Board, as a Sylva Town Alderman, The Airport Authority and the NC Aeronautics Council, Mountain Trace Board, and numerous other positions.  The Funeral will be at Melton Funeral Home on Saturday at 2:00 p-m. The family will receive friends Friday night from 6-8 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

Gary Neil Carden will be one of six Tarheels recognized in Raleigh on October 30th. As has been reported several times Carden will receive this highly deserved recognition for literature.  A literature and drama teacher turned storyteller, Gary Neil Carden is an award winning playwright whose tales are informed by mountain life in North Carolina. Growing up with his grandparents in Jackson County, he heard stories at family reunions, funerals and weddings. Instructive, frightening, funny, or downright peculiar, these stories fueled several collections, including “Mason Jars in a Flood,” that received the Appalachian Writers Association Book of the Year prize. The tales also provided inspiration for the PBS documentary “Mountain Talk.” His play, “The Prince of Dark Corners,” is based on a real life outlaw and now is a PBS film. He has been honored by the North Carolina Folklore Society and presented an honorary doctorate by Western Carolina University.

MedWest workers likely eligible for unemployment benefits

According to the criteria established by the North Carolina Job Service (Employment Security Commission) workers who are displaced due to reductions in force such as that announced today are likely candiates for unemployment compensation.  According the a Job Service spokesperson, “each employees situation is different. compensation would be based upon wages for the last quarter of 2011 and the first two quarters of 2012. The individual would most likely have to use up and paid time off and/or vacation time before becoming eligible for compensation.” Generally when an employee becomes unemployed due to no fault of their own, such as insubordination, unauthorized absences, or inappropriate job performance they are eligible for unemployment. Affected employees will need to make an appointment with a Job Service counsellor in order to find out exactly what they are eligible for and how to apply for those benefits.  The Job Service is located just above the Jackson County Public Library on Ridgeway Street.  The office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Bridge in Franklin to be named for Nathan B Henry

(10/07/12) The Viet Nam Veterans Association in Franklin announced today the bridge over US Highway 64 and US Highway 441 will be named to honor Nathan B. Henry in a ceremony to take place on Thursday. Henry was a POW in Viet Nam for six years.  Below is a short biography written by Nathan B. Henry. For a complete summary of PFC Henry’s service and report of his capture simply Google his name.

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME  copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors). NATHAN B. HENRY Staff Sergeant- United States Army Captured: July 12, 1967 Released: March 5, 1973                       I am twenty-five years old and still single. I like girls and parties as well as the outdoors. I was born in Franklin, North Carolina, a small town in western North Carolina. I am the youngest of three boys and have no sisters. I was drafted in September 1966 and arrived in Vietnam in February 1967. I was captured on 12 July 1967 in the La Drang Valley near the Cambodian border west of Pleiku. I was serving with the Fourth Infantry Division. My job was a radio operator (RTO). I was on a search and destroy mission when I was captured. I was in prison five years and eight months. I always kept faith in God and in my government. I would like to say these are the greatest days of my life since I have been given back my freedom. I finished high school in 1965 and plan on going to college and majoring in forestry. I am thankful to God and the American people for my being alive today.  America is the greatest country in the world and I hope we can keep it free throughout the future. It is hard to find words to express my gratitude to the American people. The only thing I can say is God bless you.  I love each and every one of you.

Medwest Health Care System announces a significant reduction of force action.

(10/09/12)  Following a national trend for smaller and regional hospitals Medwest Health Care Systems announced Tuesday (October 9, 2012) that a reduction of of over 80 staff members would be taking affect immediately. Hospital spokespersons stated the primary reductions would take place in clinical departments and that patient care would not be impacted. Referencing the national health care concerns, health insurance costs and the paying agency, and the focus on wellness and preventative treatments the Medwest system just as many other hospitals are seeing a reduction in patient occupancy, shorter stays, and a greater focus on a care plan the patient is to follow at home. Medwest officials did not give specific details about the layoffs other than clinical services and assistance.  The employees affected will be notified within the day of their employment status options they may have as far as unemployment compensation are concerned.

The Smoky Mountain Chapter of the Viet Nam Veterans Association in Franklin announced today that the bridge located over US Highway 64 and US Highway 441 in Franklin will be named in honor of Nathan B Henry who was a POW in Viet Nam for six years.  The naming ceremony will take place on Friday October 12th at 2:00 p-m with Henry and members of his family along with other veterans and members of the Viet nam Veterans Chapter in Franklin.  Below is a summary of his captivity as written by Nathan B. Henry. For a detailed summary of PFC Henry’s capture and service one can simply Google his name.

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME  copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors).
NATHAN B. HENRY Staff Sergeant- United States Army Captured: July 12, 1967 Released: March 5, 1973                       I am twenty-five years old and still single. I like girls and parties as well as the outdoors. I was born in Franklin, North Carolina, a small town in western North Carolina. I am the youngest of three boys and have no sisters.
I was drafted in September 1966 and arrived in Vietnam in February 1967. I was captured on 12 July 1967 in the La Drang Valley near the Cambodian border west of Pleiku. I was serving with the Fourth Infantry Division. My job was a radio operator (RTO). I was on a search and destroy mission when I was captured. I was in prison five years and eight months. I always kept faith in God and in my government. I would like to say these are the greatest days of my life since I have been given back my freedom.
I finished high school in 1965 and plan on going to college and majoring in forestry. I am thankful to God and the American people for my being alive today.  America is the greatest country in the world and I hope we can keep it free throughout the future. It is hard to find words to express my gratitude to the American people. The only thing I can say is God bless you.  I love each and every one of you.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Already this month you may have noticed players in the National Football League, Major League baseball, and at many other sports events wearing pink attachments to their uniforms, pink socks, belts, or shirts.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). This an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October is designed to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. As well as providing a platform for breast cancer charities to raise awareness of their work and of the disease, BCAM is also a prime opportunity to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection.

NBCAM was founded in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries which was a maker of anti-breast cancer drugs. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first time the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer.^[2] In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.

In October 1983 the Race for the Cure was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, where 800 people participated. According to the organizers, by 2002 the number of participants reached 1.3 million and the event was held in over 100 US cities. The event is also being organized in several other parts of the World.

This month in Sylva numerous businesses will have Pink Displays in their windows to show their support for breast cancer research and to promote mammograms as one of the early detection methods.  While often overlooked in the greater promotion of Women’s Breast Cancer, the number of men becoming victims of breast cancer continues to rise as well.

The 50^th Class Reunion of Sylva Webster Class of 1962 will take place on Saturday October 13^th at 6:00 p-m.  The event will take place at the Waynesville Country Club. Any member of the class 1962 who has not made reservations are urged to call Mary Moody at 586-8631.  Special guest at the reunion will be Arnoff Conroddy who was a foreign exchange student from Germany is returning to Sylva for this opportunity to visit with his high school graduating class.

In a related event: There will be a community reception for Arnoff Conroddy on Friday October 13^th,  from seven till nine p-m at the new Jackson County Library.  Members of the Sylva Webster High School classes of 1962 through 1965 are especially invited to attend the reception. Everyone is invited to stop by and visit with Arnoff who has enjoyed an incredible life in politics and publishing in Germany. The publishing company which published the Harry Potter Books was initially owned by Conroddy.

(10/06/12)  When Susan Belcher asked Grounds Maintenance Coordinator Roger Turk about having Cullowhee Lilys as the markee plant to accentuate the stage for Dr Belcher’s installation as the WCU Chancellor last spring she was disappointed to learn there were really no Cullowhee Lilys available. Since Cullowhee means “Valley of the Lily’s” Susan Belcher decided there needed to be lily’s in the Valley of the Lilys.  So the process of finding a source of the unique lily started.  A farmer in a neighaboring state who specialized in this particular lily species was found.  a contract was signed and the farmer commenced the laborous task of digging 4000 bulbs from which the Cullowhee Lily grows. The first batch of lilies were made available on Mountain Heritage Day but sales and call in orders were such that reorders were soon placed even before the first shipment was sold.  Other shipments are arriving throughout the month of October and are available at Ray’s Florist, Bryson Hooper Farm Supply and Country Road Farms. The proceeds from the sale of the Cullowhee Lily are going to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. The initial goal for the scholarship was $100,000.  Unconfirmed reports are that goal is now easily within reach.  Susan Belcher will be reporting on WRGC Radio next week. Information will be available on how to obtain a package of the Cullowhee Lily bulbs.  Looks like Susan Belcher came up with the right product, at the right time, and a farmer somewhere down south has some really desirable lily bulbs.

The 2012 Western Carolina Professional Achievement Award will be presented to Gaither Keener (class of 1972). Keener is Chief Legal Counsel for Lowes, a veteran with service in the United States Marine Corp, has made significant endowments to the Cross Country and Track and Field programs at WCU. He is also the Judge Advocate for the North Carolina Department of the American Legion and is active as legal counsel for the United States Department of the American Legion.

Distinguished Service Award to be presented on Saturday as part of the WCU Homecoming Activities

The Chancellor’s Brunch and Alumni Awards, honoring the WCU Alumni Association award recipients and the university’s Distinguished Service Award recipient, will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, in the Grand room of the A.K. Hinds University Center. This year’s Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Bob Buckner (class of 1967). Buckner is considered the father of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band which has been the recipient of numerous national awards including the Sudler trophy in 2009.  The band performs pre-game, half-time, and post-game shows at all Catamount Football home games and provides exhibition performances throughout the Carolinas. The Pride of the Mountains has been featured several times as an exhibition band at the BOA Grand National Championships (a showcase for the nation’s top high school marching bands) and at four BOA regional competitions in Atlanta, Georgia. The band participated in the 2011 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, performing the song “You” by Suburban Legends, in memory of that band’s former trombone player, Ryan Dallas Cook

Homecoming is being celebrated this weekend at Western Carolina University.  The theme for this year’s Homecoming is “Tradition Long … Catamount Strong,” Tonight at 6:15 p-m the Homecoming Parade will unfold down Main Street in downtown Sylva.  Expect community and student floats, WCU cheerleaders, the 2012 Homecoming Court,  and the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.

After the parade, Spirit  Night activities will take place at the Central Plaza adjacent to the Alumni Tower. Starting at 8:00 p-m  the event will feature music, dance,  food and lots of opportunities for alumni, friends, teachers, and students ti mingle and work up enthusiasm for Saturday’s football game with Georgia Southern.

(10/03/12)The honor flights started out of Springfield Ohio in 2004. After the completetion of the WWII memorial in Washington different groups started getting the funding and logistics in place so the veterans would be able to go see their memorial. At the time the death rate for WWII veterans was more than 1200 veterans a day. In 2011 the death rate for WWII and Korean war veterans was 900 per day.  Companies, civic clubs and different organizations have been raising money for the past ten years and have sent tens of thousands of WWII veterans to Washington DC including several trips which have included veterans from Sylva and the surrounding area. The Sylva Rotary Club and under the leaderhip of committee chairs Lynn Lazar and Larry Hinton raised thousands of dollars to make the trips possible for are WWII veterans. Now the focus has turned to Korean War veterans.  These members of “The Forgotten War” except for those hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Marines who remember the horrors of the Korean War when  wave after wave of Chinese troops attacked American positions until the barrels of the American weapons and machine guns simply melted down from the heat of a endless stream of bullets being sent down the gun barrell in an effort to hold their positions and save American soldiers lives.

In Washington DC between the Lincoln Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial one will find the Korean War Memorial.  This beautiful memorial displays a platoon of Marines on patrol on the snow covered grounds of Korea.  The monument is surrounded by a wall with the engraved images of the faces of soldiers, airplanes, and different armaments of the war.  Soon the effort will increase locally for a civic club or organization to send our Korean War Veterans to Washington DC to see their memorial. October 3rd was a special day in Knoxville when over a hundred veterans were given a trip to see their memorial.

The Viet Nam Memorial Traveling Wall is now open in Cherokee. American Legion Post 143 and several other veterans groups are coordinating activities with retired Army First Sargent Warren Dupree being on site as the primary overseer of the project.  Also on display are several Viet Nam era helicopters. All veterans from that are are especially invited go attend the event and find on the wall the  names of comrades buddies whose names have been memorialized in this fashion.  There will be a special event on Friday at 10:00 to recognize all veterans and pay special tribute to those responsible gotting the wall on display, and remember what the wall stands for. Friday will be Veterans Day at the Cherokee Indian 200th anniversary Fall Festival. Some have said this is the first time the Wall has been on display on a Reservation. Monday morning will be school day with the students from the Cherokee Central School having the opportunity to visit the wall and meet with some Viet Nam Veterans. The names of several individuals from the immediate area (Cherokee, Bryson City, Sylva, Waynesville, and Franklin are on the wall)

Three members of the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 514th Military Police Company based in Winterville, N.C., died as a result of wounds sustained in a suicide bomber attack while on patrol in Afghanistan, on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Three others were injured.

Killed were Sgt. Donna R. Johnson, 29, of Raeford, N.C., Sgt. Jeremy F. Hardison, 23, of Browns Summit, N.C., and Sgt. Thomas J. Butler IV, 25, of Leland, N.C.
“We are still grieving for these Soldiers, their families and their unit members still carrying on with their mission,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina and commander of the nearly 12,000 men and women of the North Carolina National Guard. “They were the embodiment of citizen Soldiers who put everything on hold to go in harm’s way for all of us. They will be remembered and sorely missed.”
The incident that took their lives occurred at approximately 9 a.m. local time in Khost City, Afghanistan, when an insurgent on foot approached the Soldiers’ patrol and detonated a suicide vest.

Over the weekend Cherokee was stunned when a robbery homicide was committed almost on the front steps of the Harrah’s Cherokee hotel and casino. On Sunday just before 10 o’clock the tribal police were called to the Fairfield Inn & suites with a report of shots fired. When officers arrived they found seventy-six year old Barbara Preidet, of Shelbyville, Indiana in the parking lot.
With a black mask and dark clothing the assailant grabbed Preidet’s purse and then fired a weapon. The description of the getaway vehicle is a light blue or gray Ford or Dodge extended cab truck.
Chief Hicks issued a statement saying how shocked and saddened he is by such a senseless act.
The tribal police and NC State Bureau of investigations are investigating this case as robbery resulting in homicide.

Things were a little heated on Friday night in Bryson city during the Swain high school football game. Fights, baiting and taunting and flagrant contact were the calls NCHSAA officals handed out to six players between the two teams. Two from swain and four from Hayesville. Even with the suspentions neither team is banned from post season play. Swain won 38-7 in a game that was called with almost 4 min. to go in the forth quarter. Swain coach Neil Blankenship issued a statement that reads,
“I stand by SOA, Southwestern Officials Association, and appreciate their thoroughness and professionalism in handling this matter,” stated Swain head football coach and athletic director Neil Blankenship. “I also, want to apologize to our school, fans, and community for any part we played in the whole incident.”

Many WCU fans in Sylva recall Brett Chappel’s name.  Chappel was an outstanding High School Football player, was given an athletic scholarship to play for the Catamounts, then landed the head coaching job at East Hendersonville. Chappel’s talents were able to shine at WCU when he was given the opportunity to move from defense to offense and carry the football.  Fans recall lots of exciting plays made by Brett Chappel for the Cats.  Now Brett Chappel has coached his East HendersonEagles to a 6-1 record and a national Max Preps ran king of 2497 and a 72 ranking in the state.

The Mustangs looked to be on a roll following two close and exciting back to back wins over Tuscola and West Henderson, but the excitement took a hit last week when the Mustangs were cat smacked by the Franklin Panthers at The Pit. The Mustangs  offense could not find traction against the Panthers and ended up with a 40-7 loss. A couple of turnovers the Panthers were able to turn into quick points helped get the momentun moving in favor of the Panthers

This Friday Night the Mustangs travel to East Henderson at Flat Rock to take on the Eagles.  Those with a good car radio can listen to the pre-game show game live on 540 a-m WRGC

Even though the Atlanta Braves were  losing to the Pirates on Monday they were still able to take consolation their post season hopes are still alive.  Even though the Pirates were beating the Braves Monday and the Washington Nationals were losing to Philadelphia the equation finally ended the Braves dreams of winning the Division.

WRGC plans on carrying the Braves playoff games,  the time for the Friday game has not been announced, hopefully it will not be in conflict with the Smoky Mountain High School Football Game.

The name Andy Shaw is immediately recognized in Sylva due to the attachment with Andy Shaw Ford. Mr Shaw passed away on Sunday. Mr Shaw along with Larry Hinton opened Andy Shaw Ford several years ago. The dealership has a unique advertising partnership with WRGC Radio. Mr Shaw was an attorney by profession, is a graduate of Duke University, and was active in a variety of environmental initiatives. The family will receive friends Thursday at Appalachian Funeral Home.

Also Padgett McCoy passed away on Sunday. Mr McCoy was the long time operater of several businesses in Sylva including F and P Supermarket then later Padgett’s Flea market on Highway 441 just south of Dillsboro. People would come from miles around to enjoy Padgetts famous hot dogs. Mr McCoy was a member of American Legion Post 104, and was always more than willing to help out anyone needing a helping hand including those at the nursing home when he spent some most of his later years. Services will be Wednesday for Mr McCoy, American Legion Posy 104 will assistt with graveside rights.

The streets of Sylva are now being patrolled by the new Dodge Charger police car. The car was purchased with capital funds allocated to the Sylva Police Department. The total cost for the fully equipped police car required that the town purchase the car from the authorized vendor as required by general statute.  The town was able to save about four-thousand dollars by making the purchase from the state contractor.  It became apparent the town needed to start replacing the town’s fleet of police cars of which three have over 150 thousand miles and were using about eighty-percent of the annual vehicle maintenance budget.  The cost of the car was thirty-one-thousand dollars. The town is in the process of establishing a three year vehicle replacement cycle.

The Southwestern Commission will be hosting a public workshop on Monday, October 1 as part of a Regional Trails Plan underway for seven counties in Western North Carolina. The workshop begins at 5:30 pm at Robbinsville Town Hall.

The workshop will focus on generating ideas for future trails in Graham County and across the region, including a discussion on potential future greenways, mountain bike trails and hiking trails.

“There’s always been a lot of interest in hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in this region,” said Sarah Graham, regional planner for the Southwestern Commission. “We hope to build upon ideas generated through GREAT and the Asheville Design Center efforts to identify county-wide concepts for greenways and trails.”

Southwestern Commission, through a grant from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and its State Trails Program, is leading the regional trails inventory and concept plan for Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties. Other workshops will be scheduled in other counties this fall.

The primary product of this plan will be a region-wide map indicating where existing hiking trails, greenways, mountain bike trails, and some on-road bicycle routes are located. It will also include recommendations, based on public input, on where new trails, greenways or routes may be located to connect to other trails or connect towns/communities to one another.

“We want to use this plan to help identify partners, pursue funding opportunities, and link communities,” said Graham.

The Plan will also include some documentation of other trail and greenways considerations for use by the towns and counties within the region. This documentation will include topics such as recommendations for more detailed planning efforts, funding strategies, partnerships and maintenance expectations.

Completion of the plan is expected in late 2012 or early 2013, with adoption by the Southwestern Commission Board and County Commissioners.