Penland Director Jean McLaughlin announces retirement: 8A...

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NEWS-JOURNALMITCHELL

SPORTSMountaineer baseball team wins 2 games over spring break; three of last four: page 1B

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTPenland Director Jean McLaughlin announces retirement: page 8A

PHOTO SUBMITTEDFire on the Mountain featured blacksmith Lee Sauder.

SPRUCE PINE – Spruce Pine Main Street is hosting the annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this coming Saturday in downtown Spruce Pine.

This year marks the 11-year anniversary of the event where thousands of visitors gather on the streets of Spruce Pine to celebrate the art of blacksmithing.

Festival attendees will find a variety of smiths and tool vendors displaying and selling their work, with some booths featuring live demonstrations. The Hands-On Tent sponsored by Penland School of Crafts allows people of all ages to try their hand at the art of blacksmithing with assistance from an experienced blacksmith.

Other activities for people both young and old include live demonstrations occurring throughout the day. The third annual forging contest is a “Spoon” competition, where participants are given a rod of iron, one hour and minimal tools to create their best spoon. The winner re-ceives a bronze spoon created by Rachel Kedinger.

In addition, the Toe River Arts Council offers an ex-hibit honoring the work of famous blacksmiths from the southeast and beyond and culminates with award win-ners and a reception at TRAC in Spruce Pine the Friday before the festival.

This year’s event features demonstrations from 2017 Master Blacksmith Lee Sauder, Seth Gould and April Franklin. A Master Blacksmith demonstration workshop is 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, April 28. Advanced reserva-tions are required and can be made by sending an email to Stacey Lane at [email protected].

A free lecture by Sauder is at the Penland Campus at 8 p.m. the day of the festival.

A curated show takes place Thursday, April 27, through Saturday, April 29, upstairs at TRAC featuring work from artists hand-selected by Sauder.

Admission is free and the festival takes place rain or shine. Email [email protected], [email protected] or call 828-765-3008 to volunteer or for more information.

Fire on the Mountain returns to Spruce PineAnnual blacksmithing festival now in 11th year

PHOTO SUBMITTEDMitchell County preschoolers Ana, left, and Mia Dellinger are the Buncombe County ambassadors for the 2017 March for Babies. The 5-year-old twins, daughters of Chad and Ciji Dellinger, were born at 32 weeks.

Ask Ciji and Chad Dellinger and they would likely say the

only thing more difficult than getting pregnant was being pregnant.

“We struggled with fertili-ty for three years,” Ciji said. “We finally decided to try in vitro.”

The in vitro procedure worked, but what followed has made the couple’s 5-year-old twin daugh-ters, Ana and Mia, Buncombe County’s am-bassadors for the 2017 March for Babies, a walking event sponsored by the March of Dimes.

Ciji went into labor 25 weeks into her pregnancy. She was admitted into the hospital June 26, 2012, and was on complete bed rest until her daughters were born Aug. 7 at 32 weeks.

Mia, born at 3:15 a.m. and weighing 3 pounds, 13 ounc-es, and Ana, who came along a minute later weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces, spent the first six and a half weeks of their lives in the neonatal in-tensive care unit, or NICU.

“March of Dimes was in-valuable during that time,” Ciji said. “The support they give families with education

about the roller-coaster that is the NICU is incredible. We didn’t go home. Altogether we were in the hospital for 85 days.”

Ciji said Mia and Ana both had complications from being premature, but Ana was clearly the sicker of the two.

“It’s because of all the re-search March of Dimes does that Ana is here today,” Ciji said. “And if it hadn’t been for the community’s support

and our fam-ilies’ support I don’t know what we would have done.”

It was basi-cally word-of-mouth and so-cial media that got Ana and

Mia named March of Babies ambassadors, Ciji said. Sup-porters of Mia and Ana can buy T-shirts and bracelets to raise money for March of Dimes and Ciji has created a strong social media cam-paign.

But just because her high-energy, fun-loving, smart and sweet twin 5-year-old girls show no lasting af-fects from being born prema-turely, it does not mean Ciji and Chad have even begun to forget what they experienced.

“Research done by March of Dimes is what makes 24 or 25-week-old babies live,” Ciji said. “Our story would have been a lot different without the March of Dimes.”

PHOTO SUBMITTEDMia and Ana Dellinger spent more than six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit after being born pre-maturely.

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cmcg

March for BabiesDate: Saturday, May 6

Registration: 9 a.m. – start: 10 a.m.Walk distance: 3 miles

Where: McCormick Field, 30 Buchanan Place,

Asheville

BY BRANDON ROBERTSEditor

MARCHING ONMia and Ana Dellinger named ambassadors for March for Babies

Bakersville boy is Iredell County ambassador

Bakersville resident Stephanie Pitman de-livered her now 5-year-old son, Gabe Trout-man, at 24 weeks. He weighed 1 pound, 14 ounces and had the first of 11 ensuing sur-geries at just 6 days old. He spent the first six months of his life in a Statesville Hospi-tal, according to an article by James Neal on Statesville.com.

Stephanie was told Gabe would be blind and never walk, according to the article. It was a diagnosis Stephanie refuted. She was right. Stephanie, her husband, Brandon Pitman, and Gabe walked April 8 in the Iredell County March for Babies .

2A • MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL • APRIL 26, 2017

See answers in classifieds.

Rotarian Mike Tollison, left, presents a handmade Rotary mug to Mitchell County Board of Commission Chair Vern Grindstaff. Grindstaff gave the club an update about county projects and the outlook for the upcoming fi scal year.

GRINDSTAFF UPDATES ROTARY ABOUT ‘STATE OF THE COUNTY’MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTS

PETS OF THE WEEK WEEKLY

RECIPEEasy Garlic

Cheese Bombs

INGREDIENTS- 1 tube of biscuits- 3 oz. mozzarella cheese in brick- 1/4 cup salted butter melted- 2 teaspoons dry Ranch seasoning mix- 2 teaspoons garlic pow-der or - 3 teaspoons minced garlic

INSTRUCTIONSPreheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with silicone bak-ing mat or parchment paper. Set aside. Cube cheese into 3/4” pieces. Open biscuits and place on cutting board. Place one piece of mozzarella cheese in the middle of each biscuits. Pinch seams to close the cheese inside and form rolls. Place rolls on bak-ing sheet, spacing them about 2” apart. Mix melted butter with garlic and Ranch seasoning. Brush rolls with butter. Bake cheese bombs for 13 to 15 minutes OR until golden brown on top. When done, brush rolls with remaining butter and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm with a side or marinara sauce for dipping.

THURSDAY

P.M. THUNDERSTORMSHigh: 72Low: 53

6-DAY FORECAST

Mitchell County Animal Rescue is a non-profit humane society formed in 1984. The shelter opened in 1994 as a joint program with the county.

Mitchell County residents can call 828-765-6952 to schedule in unwanted pets. All pets are spayed or neutered before leaving for their new homes. The Mitchell County Animal Rescue Inc. is located at 2492 Highway 19E. Hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Vaccinations are up to date through adoption date. Heartworm tested upon request on dogs more than 6 months old. All adopted pets are microchipped with 24Petwatch Microchip permanent ID. Pets are spayed or neutered upon adoption.

Queenie needs to go on a diet. If it were up her, she would lay around in the sun all day. She needs a home that will work on getting her weight down.

Rascal is a fun-loving guy. If you are looking for a cat that loves attention and wants to be around you 24/7, Rascal is the guy for you. He wants to be held and loved on, but he also loves to play.

Bowman Class of 1967 reunion set

The Bowman High School Class of 1967 is gathering its 50th class reunion at 2:30 p.m. Sat-urday, May 13, in the Bakersville First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

The event begins with a time to greet each other and participate in the pro-gram with the opportunity for all classmates to share what has transpired in their lives over the past 50 years, then go for a walk around Bakersville be-fore dinner, which will be served at 5 p.m. This short walk ends at the gazebo in the yard of the high school across the street from the church.

Cost is $20 per person. Make checks payable to Barbara Young and mail to Barbara Sparks Young, 318 Forest Heights Dr., Marion, NC 28752 no later than May 8. Call Young at 828-442-6918 or Wanda Ledford at 828-310-8694 for more details.

Memorial service set for May 28

American Legion Post 122 is having a memorial service honoring the men and women who have made the ultimate sacri-fice for our country and way of life.

The Memorial Service is 3 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at Faith Baptist Church on Highway 197 N. in Burns-ville.

Call the Rev. Harvey Sharpe at 828-682-0853 or Les Heavner 828-675-0290 for more information.

FRIDAY

MOSTLY SUNNYHigh: 75Low: 61

SATURDAY

PARTLY CLOUDYHigh: 81Low: 62

SUNDAY

SCATTERED T-STORMSHigh: 77Low: 60

MONDAY

THUNDERSTORMSHigh: 66Low: 43

TUESDAY

SUNNYHigh: 64Low: 48

Have you ever wondered how the Relay for Life fundraising dollars are used or what happens at an event?

Relay for Life is the sig-nature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Events help reduce the bur-den of cancer in our com-munities. More than 1.5 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Here are a few ways contributions are being utilized: In 2015, $150 million was used for can-cer research grants. More than 361,000 nights of free lodging were provided at American Cancer Society Hope Lodge facilities. In addition, 316,000 rides to and from treatment were provided. Locally, more than $35,000 was raised in 2016 to help fight cancer and ease the pain and suf-fering of this disease.

Relay for Life is a team fundraising event where team members honor can-cer victims, survivors and caregivers. At an RFL event there is a welcom-ing ceremony, a survivor lap where people affected by cancer walk a desig-nated track, a caregiver

lap recognizing those who provide support to loved ones during treatment and teams then walk the track to begin the celebration. When not walking, par-ticipants visit other team sites, participate in activ-ities, play games and par-ticipate in other forms of entertainment.

Since darkness is sym-bolic of the fear cancer patients may experience, luminaries are lit after sunset to remember those who have been lost, to cele-brate cancer survivors and show anyone who is affect-ed by cancer is not alone. Closing ceremonies wrap up the event as people are reminded to participate in RFL until cancer is eradi-cated.

Relay of the Blue Ridge encourages everyone from Avery, Mitchell and Yanc-ey counties to the Survivor Brunch at 10 a.m. Satur-day, May 6, at the Spruce Pine Fire Department where Anne Castro is the guest speaker. The main RFL event is at 6 p.m. Fri-day, May 19, at Mitchell High School.

Call Russell Saxon at 828-765-9265 for more in-formation.

Relay spotlight: Survivors Brunch, main event

THOMPSON SERVES AS HOUSE PAGE

PHOTO SUBMITTEDPictured, from left, is N.C. Speaker of the House Rep. Tim Moore, Grey Thompson and his father, former Rep. Gregg Thompson.

RALEIGH – Gregory J. “Grey” Thompson Jr., a stu-dent at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, re-cently served as a page for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He is the son of former Rep. Gregg Thompson and Nancy. He is also the grandson of Doris Thompson, of Spruce Pine.

Thompson was sponsored by Rep. Grier Martin, R-34, of Wake County. He was appointed and intro-duced to members of the House Tuesday, March 28, during session.

CORRECTIONA story in the April

19 News-Journal about Spruce Pine’s budget in-correctly stated expected revenues for the current and upcoming year. Town finance officer Dave Lindsey said he expects general fund revenues for the current year to be around $2.38 million when including the sale of the old town hall and an increase in prior year taxes received. He ex-pects revenues of $2.1 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

We regret the error and are happy to correct it.

NEWS IN BRIEF

APRIL 26, 2017 • MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL • 3A

RANTS AND RAVES

Editor’s note: Rants and raves are subject to edit-ing for hate speech, foul language or the specific mention of a business, individual, agency or orga-nization.

Mine Creek in Bak-ersville is terrible.

All the Trump haters on the rants and raves need to get off their food stamps and wel-fare. They need to get a real job and take care of their kids.

I wonder if drugs are being flown in from Florida to one of our little airports in the area? I think that it needs to be checked out.

Good coverage on the schools this past week – keep it up.

Do we seem to enjoy living in the past? How many times have we tried to raise money for the theater? Look at how much money is being spent on the courthouse and the flower bed at the inter-section in Spruce Pine.

I think the govern-ment wants us to stay high on pot so we don’t know what they are trying to pull on us.

We see so many lazy people walking around. It’s starting to look like a circus around here. These people need to get up and exercise and dance.

I can’t believe that parents want to raise tax money by keeping their kids stoned on marijuana. What has happened to the morals in America?

To the person on Cane Creek, why can’t you leave a mother and daughter alone? You need to stop running your mouth and you need to learn to keep your nose in your own business.

I always said divid-ed we fall. Looks like Trump is going to get us in a nuclear war. He will divide us even more.

People of the white race that brutalize the blacks are nothing but cowards.

The only thing that Trump can do is drop bombs because he sure can’t control Congress.

The only thing “fishy” is why and how Trump got in the White House. Keep up the good work on the rants and raves.

The same people who sit around and com-plain about there being nothing to do around here won’t even show up to Fire on the Moun-tain. There’s a differ-ence between nothing to do and not doing nothing.

It’s called rants and raves for a reason, peo-ple. It’s OK to call and say something good every now and again.

Thank God we got all this much-needed rain this week.

Call 828-765-0347 after 5 p.m. to leave a rant or rave.

BAKERSVILLE – The following arrests took place between Sunday, April 16, and Sunday, April 23, ac-cording to reports on file at the Mitchell County Sher-iff’s Office.

RANDALL MYERHOFFER, 38, of Deer Park Lake Road, Spruce Pine, was arrested by Deputy J.B. Holmes for communicating threats and assault on a female. He is being held in McDowell County Jail on a $5,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court May 17.

ERIC ENGLISH, 35, of 38 Hillcrest Drive, Bak-ersville, was arrested by Deputy C.H. McClintick for failing to pay child support. He was released on a $500 cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in court May 9.

CITATIONS ISSUEDERIC SHANE ENGLISH, 38, of Hillcrest Drive,

Bakersville, was cited by Sheriff Donald Street for driving while license revoked.

JEREMY DEAN ALLEN, of 1640 Altapass High-way, Spruce Pine, was cited by Sheriff Donald Street for driving while license revoked.

PROCESS SERVED/CALLS FOR SERVICE Mitchell County Deputies served 10 civil papers and

responded to 181 calls for service during this period.

CRIMES AND ARRESTS

BAKERSVILLE – The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners this past week had its first official meeting overseeing the Department of Social Ser-vices.

The board met April 17 for an informational talk about how DSS operates. Board Chairman Vern Grindstaff said DSS Di-rector Paula Holtsclaw discussed certain parts of DSS and took questions from commissioners. No action was taken during

the meeting.The meeting’s agenda

shows the meeting covered foster care training, the DSS attorney, use of vehi-cles and the department’s compliant policy.

“It was a very positive meeting,” Grindstaff said. “We’re all on the same page.”

Grindstaff said commis-sioners all share the same goal of reducing the num-ber of children in foster care in the county and get-ting the DSS budget “under control.”

“It’s going to be a learn-

ing curve for at least four of us commissioners,” GBrindstaff said about dealing with social ser-vices.

Commissioner Ken Hol-lifield served on the DSS board of directors for 12 years before commissioners in March voted to dissolve it.

The action was taken over growing concerns about the number of fos-ter children, around 80, in social services and the department’s mounting budget. Grindstaff said commissioners will have

separate meetings for DSS business, most likely the first Tuesday of each month.

An operational audit of DSS began this past week, too. County Manag-er Kathy Young said the audit’s first phase focuses on the foster care program.

She said key aspects of the audit include determin-ing why foster care cases in Mitchell have increased and whether current staff-ing levels are adequate. The audit does not include an evaluation of employees’ performance, Young said,

adding its focus is “just the process.”

E x e c l i n k , a M a t -thews-based consulting company, is conducting the audit. Young said the first phase is scheduled to be completed by June 30.

The audit was requested during a commissioners’ meeting in February 2016. At the time DSS was seek-ing approval for three addi-tional positions and Com-missioner Keith Holtsclaw included an outside review of DSS operations as part of the motion to approve the positions.

Commissioners have first DSS meeting; audit underwayBY DAVID PURTELLReporter

PHOTO SUBMITTED

MARCHING FOR A CAUSEBrandon Pitman, left, Gabe Troutman and Stephanie Pitman, of Bakersville, walk in the Iredell County March for Babies.

The difference commu-nity partnerships make was highlighted with the Rural Education Partners of Mitchell County mento-ring program at Greenlee Primary School.

Local adults and Green-lee faculty have joined to improve literacy and en-courage lifelong learning for students ages 6-7.

“We want to give our students the opportunity to dream big, to believe in themselves and to achieve their goals,” said Julie Weatherman, Greenlee principal. “Mentors for our students are the motivat-ing factor and Rural Edu-cation Partners volunteers have become an integral part of our school and com-munity.”

Volunteers spend one hour a week reading with children who need extra support.

In addition to assisting with reading skills, volun-teers serve as positive role models, trusted resources and caring supporters for students.

“In rural communities, collaboration among agen-cies is crucial to ensuring a happy, healthy future for our youth,” said Misti Sil-

ver, Mayland Community College’s faculty/coordina-tor of the human services program. “MCC is proud to partner with Rural Educa-tion Partners of Mitchell County to provide opportu-nities for college students to have a positive impact in the lives of children in Mitchell County.”

Volunteers are sought from different areas in the community. Mayland Community College and Mayland Early College High School students are among those who give back to their community. Cur-rent volunteers are stu-dents pursuing majors in early childhood education, human services technology, associate in arts and busi-ness.

V o l u n t e e r s i n s p i r e younger students to dream big and reach their edu-cational goals, planting a seed for the love of learning early on.

“The partnership with Mayland and Greenlee Primary School is a great example of the Rural Edu-cation Partners mission in action,” said Lori Gilcrist, director of Rural Education partners. “One of our goals is to develop a coordinated

collaborative system that improves access to educa-tion in Mitchell County. We connect members of the business, government, edu-cation, civic, faith and vol-unteer communities to do that. By working together, we help prepare students for productive and creative lives right here in Mitchell County.”

Mentoring program highlights community partnerships

PHOTO SUBMITTEDMayland Community College and Mayland Early College High School students who volunteer with the Rural Education Partners of Mitchell County are, from left, Amber Burrell (human services), Martha Basilio (Early College student), Jennifer Guerrero (human services) Nicole Silvers (early childhood) and Brenna MacLachlan (super senior at MECHS, transferring to East Tennessee State Un iversity to pursue a degree in education). Not pictured is Nate Huendo (computer engineering, transferring to Western Carolina University).


Periodical postage paid in Spruce PineRegular yearly subscription rates: $27 in Mitchell, Avery & Yancey Co.; $37 for seasonal residents of Mitchell County; $47 for out of countyPostmaster: Send address changes to: Mitchell News-Journal, P.O. Box 339, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. In the event of typographical errors in advertisements, the Mitchell News-Journal is responsible only for the space occupied by the actual error.

Our StaffPUBLISHER AND EDITOR

Brandon Roberts – [email protected]: David Purtell – [email protected]: Cindy Lindsey – [email protected]

OFFICE MGR.: Dawn Wynkoop – [email protected]

Our MissionThe Mitchell News-Journal is published with pride for the

people of Mitchell and adjoining counties by Community Newspapers Inc., Athens, Georgia.

We believe strong newspapers build strong communi-ties – “Newspapers get things done!” Our primary goal is to publish distinguished and profitable community-oriented newspapers.

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Tom Wood, Chairman Dink NeSmith, PresidentRachel Hoskins, Regional Publisher

261 Locust St. • P.O. Box 339 • Spruce Pine, NC 28777 828-765-7169 • Fax: 828-765-1616 • USPS 639-240

NEWS-JOURNAL

The Mitchell News-Journal welcomes letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Deadline to submit a letter for publication in the coming week’s edition is 5 p.m. Friday. All writers are expected to follow the our letters policy:

• Letters must be exclusive to the News-Journal;• Letters must include the writer’s full name, street

address and daytime telephone number for verification. The writer’s name and city of residence will be published – names cannot be withheld;

• Letters must be original – no photocopies;• Letters should be 500 words or fewer;• We do not publish poems, excerpts from other publica-

tion or lengthy submissions of scripture; or letters signed by groups or multiple individuals;

• Letters endorsing or criticizing a business will not be published;

• We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity, style and libel. Publication of any letter is the sole discretion of the Mitchell News-Journal.

U.S. SenateSen. Thom TillisG55 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510202-224-6342

Sen. Richard Burr217 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510202-224-3154

U.S. CongressMark Meadows1516 Longworth HOBWashington, DC 20515202-225-6401

or11 Crystal St.Spruce Pine, NC 28777828-765-0573

Gov. Roy CooperOffice of the Governor20301 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-0301919-814-2000

NC SenateRalph Hise16 W. Jones St. Room 1026Raleigh, NC 27601-2808919-733-3460828-766-8329 in Mitchell

NC House Josh Dobson 16 W. Jones St.Room 1006Raleigh, NC 27601-1096919-733-5862828-442-4370 in McDowell

Mitchell County’s U.S. and state elected officials

Mayor Darla Harding828-765-2068

Jackie Rensink828-467-4344

James Acuff828-385-0219

Larry McKinney828-765-9398

Rocky Buchanan828-765-6298

Spruce Pine town officials

ChairMatthew “Vern” Grindstaff325 Belvedere DriveBakersville828-467-3369

Ken Hollifield124 Ray Wiseman RoadSpruce Pine828-765-4557

Keith Holtsclaw468 Apple LaneSpruce Pine828-765-1637

Jacob Willis108 Louis DriveSpruce Pine828-520-1061

Danny Burleson218 Hickory Hill CircleSpruce Pine828-766-0599

Mitchell County Commissioners

OPINIONwww.mitchellnews.com

MITCHELL

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The dangers of playing the blame gameReactions to the so-

called repeal of HB2 show one reason why Democrats are already in trouble for the 2018 and 2020 elections. They had hoped this year would be a time of unity to mobilize opposition to the “mis-ad-ministration” of the other party in Washington and the state legislature.

Instead of strengthening their party and bringing it together for successfully ridding the state of much of the damage from HB2, the repeal has brought about more disappoint-ment and disunity. In-stead of unifying and cel-ebrating the achievement of their party’s leader, Gov. Roy Cooper, Dem-ocrats have broken into angry factions.

Many of the state’s more important and influential figures have attacked the governor for “selling out” by accepting a compro-mise, which is, so they say, worse than HB2 it-self.

Mark Joseph Stern, writing for Slate, noted, “As soon as the ‘compro-mise’ bill was revealed, however, LGBTQ groups lined up against it, argu-ing, in essence, that the cure would be worse than the disease. They are ab-solutely correct. The mea-

sure, HB142, would be an unmitigated disaster for LGBTQ rights. It substi-tutes the old anti-trans policy for new, equally cruel one—and prevents cities from protecting their own LGBTQ residents. This bill is not a compro-mise. It is a capitulation.”

The editorial board of The Charlotte Observer joined the chorus criti-cizing Cooper, calling his actions “a betrayal of the promises the governor made to the LGBT com-munity.”

Continuing its harsh at-tack, the Observer wrote, “This was the first real test of leadership for Gov. Cooper, a Democrat, and he failed spectacularly by inexplicably discarding his earlier promise not to accept any deal that left people vulnerable to dis-crimination.”

Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality North Carolina, wrote “Bitterly disappointed in a man I truly believed was the fu-ture of North Carolina.”

Chad Griffin, president

of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote that while Cooper was taking credit for HB2’s repeal, “He did no such thing. In-stead he signed a new ver-sion of HB2 and betrayed [his] campaign promise.”

One radio caller, angry with Cooper and the com-promise, said she would rather carry the burden of HB2 for a lifetime than accept a compromise or anything other than the law’s unconditional repeal.

At least this caller rec-ognized the choices that were then available to Cooper:

1. Negotiate a compro-mise with the legislators who passed HB2 in the first place, who still sup-ported it, and who still had control of the legisla-ture, or

2. Live with HB2 indefi-nitely, at least until, when and if, the political situ-ation in North Carolina changes.

Most Republicans were not eager to repeal HB2. Lt. Gov. Dan Forrest de-fended it and opposed the compromise: “I’m proud of the stance we’ve taken. I’m proud of the work we did to protect women and kids in bathrooms. I’m proud of the work we did to uphold the Constitu-tion. I think that the only

thing that was wrong with HB2 was the false narra-tive and the negative nar-rative from the left, from the media, from the leftist groups out there who were coming against North Carolina and boycotting North Carolina.”

Forrest’s comments are a reminder that legislative supporters of a full repeal were a minority against a steadfast majority that was unwilling to support and vote for an uncondi-tional appeal.

To get HB2 repealed, there had to be a compro-mise.

It is certainly fair to criticize the compromise and work for an expansion of protections for gay and transgender rights.

But now is not the time to turn on Cooper just be-cause he did not get it all.

There will be other chances, after elections in coming years. But Dem-ocrats who are trashing Cooper and those who supported the compromise are jeopardizing their par-ty’s unity and its chances to do well in those upcom-ing elections.

D.G. Martin hosts “North Carolina Book-watch,” which airs at noon Sundays and 5 p.m. Thursdays on UNC-TV.

D.G.MARTIN

Political opposites try listening to each otherFor the past year, some of North

Carolina’s leading Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conserva-tives, left-wingers and right-wing-ers, tried something different.

They talked to each other. And I don’t mean they trolled each other on the internet, calling each other pinkos or knuckle-draggers.

Under the auspices of Duke Uni-versity, 30 leaders met five times for all-day sessions featuring civil con-versations about how to help more North Carolinians earn enough to support their families.

Those who were listed as partic-ipants included Raleigh business-man Art Pope, a financial backer of Republican candidates; state GOP Chairman Robin Hayes; for-mer GOP gubernatorial candidate Chuck Neely; the AFL-CIO’s Ma-ryBe McMillan; former Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter, a Democrat, and former Democratic state Rep. Rick Glazier, who leads the N.C. Justice Center.

And while they didn’t convince each other to change their political philosophies, participants said it was a useful exercise in better un-derstanding the other person’s point of view.

“We felt it was really important for the future of the state for people who honestly disagree with each other, have a place where we could listen to each other’s opinions … and perhaps form some relation-ships,” said former state Sen. Leslie Winner.

The North Carolina Leadership Forum was the idea of two people

– Winner, the former head of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem, and John Hood, the president of the John William Pope Foundation in Raleigh. It was prompted by a Hood column.

Winner is a liberal and Hood is a conservative. They both agreed that there was not enough conver-sation among people with different political views and that they should make some effort to cross the parti-san divide.

Duke’s Center for Political Lead-ership, Innovation and Service, which is looking at ways to try to fix the nation’s politics, agreed to host the effort.

There was no playbook on how to do this, Winner said. The sessions were private and off the record -- they did not involve any govern-mental body -- so that people could speak candidly.

Hood said there were several traps they tried to avoid: not to pay too much attention to the past, both good and bad, and to avoid coming up with any sort of 10-point plan to solve a particular problem.

The aim, Hood said, “was to have a civil dialogue about persistent and even unbridgeable differences, as opposed to a dialogue that leads to consensus, which is easier.”

Fritz Mayer, who headed the Duke project, called it a “fascinat-ing exercise” and said Duke had funding to bring in another group of North Carolina leaders in the fall.

Hood said this project alone can’t dramatically improve things in the state. But he said participants hoped that similar projects will be replicated in communities across the state.

“It is contrary to human nature to attack people ... if you know people personally,” Hood said. “It is not that you are going to agree on ev-erything. It is just that you are not going to make all of your disagree-ments personal.”

Hood recalled the old “Firing Line” TV program hosted by conser-vative William Buckley, where he engaged politely with liberals such as John Kenneth Galbraith.

Winner said the group came away seeing the issue in perhaps less black and white and a little more gray.

“I don’t think we changed minds,” Winner said. “I still think we should raise the minimum wage and John doesn’t.”

Mayer said the group may have come out of the experience with a little more intellectual humility – perhaps more open to viewing dif-ferent evidence.

Rob Christensen has covered politics for The News & Observ-er of Raleigh for nearly four decades and is also the author of “The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics.” Write to him at [email protected].

RobCHRISTENSEN


BIRTHS

SOCIALwww.mitchellnews.com

MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTS

TREE HOUSE MOUNTAIN REALTY CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

The employees of Tree House Mountain Realty in Spruce Pine began celebrating 10 years in business April 14 with an open house. Pictured, from left, is broker Harper Wilson, Pat Wilson, agent Rebecca Teague, agent Lisy Thomas and agent Vicki Greene.

Poets Cathy Larson Sky, of Spruce Pine, and Pat Riv-iere-Seel, formerly of Yancey County, will give a poetry reading at the Spruce Pine Public Library at 7 p.m. Mon-day, May 8.

Sky is one of four emerging poets from Western North Carolina chosen this year to participate the North Car-olina Poetry Society’s Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series, or GCDPS. Riviere-Seel is the region’s Dis-tinguished Poet for 2016-2017.

The reading is free and open to the public. The GCDPS is a free program of the North Carolina

Poetry Society that pairs an established North Carolina poet with four newer writers who wish to develop their work. From December through May, the students and the Distinguished Poet correspond or meet to discuss and work on about a dozen of each student’s poems. The series includes a GCDPS reading at Western Carolina’s annual Literary Festival in April and the opportunity to set up joint readings of the student poets and the Distin-guished Poet at the students’ home libraries.

Sky’s poems have appeared in Western North Carolina Woman, Pinesong, Kakalak and the Great Smokies Re-view. Her chapbook, “Blue egg, my heart,” was published by Finishing Line Press in 2014.

She received three awards in 2015 from the North Car-olina Poetry Society, including winning first-place in the Thomas H. McDill category. Sky has an Master of Arts in Folklore from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a traditional Irish fiddle teacher and performer, a former “Our Lives” columnist for the Raleigh News and Observer, traditional music reviewer for The Independent and the author of two unpublished novels.

Riviere-Seel’s more recent poetry collection is “Noth-ing Below but Air” (2014), a semifinalist for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. She is also the author of two poetry chapbooks, 2004 “No Turning Back Now” (2004) and “The Serial Killer’s Daughter” (2009). The Se-rial Killer’s Daughter won the Roanoke-Chowan Award and has been staged by Shared Radiance Theatre.

Riviere-Seel has taught in UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program, has been poet-in-residence at the North Carolina Zoo and co-edited the antholo-gy Kakalak 2016. She has also worked as a newspaper journalist, publicist and lobbyist. She lives in Asheville.

The Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series sup-ports the mission of the North Carolina Poetry Society to foster the reading, writing and enjoyment of poetry across the state. The GCDPS originated when the NCPS Board voted in 2003 to follow the advice of Fred Chappell, then North Carolina’s Poet Laureate. He had written and advised the NCPS president about various approaches to take in furthering the NCPS mission of encouraging the reading, writing and enjoyment of poetry.

To apply, students fill out the application form found at www.ncpoetrysociety.org/gcdps/ and email it along with a three-page sample of the student’s poetry to Dr. Catherine Carter at Western Carolina University at [email protected]. Poems and applications can also be mailed to Dr. Carter at 421 Coulter Building, Depart-ment of English, Western Carolina University, Cullo-whee, NC, 28723.

Counties included in the western region are listed at www.ncpoetrysociety.org/gcdps/gcdps_application/. The application requires the signature of a parent and of a teacher or public librarian for students under 18.

Pair of poets coming to Spruce Pine LibraryReading part of Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poets Series

Paige Kathryn Upchurch

Nolan Kian Buchanan

Jaymus Lee Laws

Nick and Coree Upchurch, of Belmont, announce the birth of their daughter, Paige Kathryn Upchurch. She was born Feb. 12, 2017, at Gas-ton memorial Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. Her grandparents are Allan and Penny Golabek, and Dan and Lydia Upchurch.

Julie McDowell and Zach-ary Buchanan announce the birth of their son, Nolan Kian Buchanan. He was born March 21, 2017, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. He weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounc-es and was 21 and 1/2 inches long. His grandparents are Angie and Tony McDowell, and Mark and Selena Bu-chanan. Dr. Murphy attended his birth.

Jeff and Autumn Laws an-nounce the birth of their son, Jaymus Lee Laws. He was born April 3, 2017, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19 and 1/2 inches long. He has one big brother, Jenson. His grandparents are Jerry and Rose Laws, and the late Rick and Carol Adkins. Dr. Murphy attended his birth.


OBITUARIES

FAITH & COMMUNITYwww.mitchellnews.com

We Offer Only the Best at a L0wer Cost.

Webb Funeral Home has been a part of our community for over fifty years and we know how important it is to keep funeral costs

within the budget of every family.Certainly quality, convenient facilities, and professional services

you can depend on are important, but so is price.Webb Funeral Home has offered a low price funeral package

for many years.The best doesn’t have to cost you more, in fact it may cost you less.

Webb Funeral Home(828) 765-4277 www.webbfh.com

Understanding & Sympathetic Service Since 1945157120

NEWTONTheresa Beauvais

Theresa Beauvais, 83, recently passed away in Newton after a brave battle with ALS. Her life will be celebrated Mass of Christian Burial at noon Friday, May 5, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Newton with Father Jim Collins officiat-ing.

The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

It was Terry’s wish that, in lieu of flow-ers, memorial donations be made to the Monastery of the Precious Blood, 700 Bridge St., Manchester, NH, 03104.

Condolences may be sent to the Beau-vais family at www.willisreynoldsfh.com.

Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Cre-matory in Newton is honored to serve the Beauvais family.

GREENSBOROMary Lou Riddle Greene

Mary Lou Riddle Greene, 87, of Greens-boro, went to be with the Lord Friday, April 21, 2017, at Beacon Place Hospice in Greensboro.

Lou was a member of Vandalia Baptist Church in Greensboro.

A funeral service was 2 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2017, at The Loflin Funeral Home Chapel in Liberty with the Rev. Rodney Mitchell officiating. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the funeral home.

Lou was the daughter of the late Greene and Mae McKinney Burleson and was also preceded in death by her husband, Ted Greene; and son, Alfred Harold Greene.

She is survived by her sons, Roger Ted Greene (Bonnie), and David Greene (Janet); granddaughters, Jennifer Marie Greene (Stephen Milton) and Amy Crisco; grandson, John Paul Greene (Carley); and great-granddaughter, Emily Crisco.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave-nue, Greensboro, NC 27405.

Please share your thoughts and mem-ories with the family at www.LoflinFH.com.

Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty is hon-ored to serve the Greene family.

SPRUCE PINEG.W. Grogan

Dec. 5, 1945 — April 14, 2017G.W. Grogan, 71, of Teller Trail in the

Altapass Community, Spruce Pine, died Friday, April 14, 2017, at his home.

Born on December 5, 1945, in Beckley, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Harry and Genevieve Adkins Grogan. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Richard Smith. He was the owner of G.W.’s Used Cars in Spruce Pine and was previously employed by RVH Transport Inc.

G.W. loved boating and fishing. He en-joyed trading, cooking and being on his tractor. He was a member of the Spruce Pine Moose Lodge and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Spruce Pine.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 49 years, Pamela M. Grogan, of Spruce Pine; his son, Jerry Grogan, and wife, Samantha, of Key West, Florida; his daughter, Karen Grogan, of Canton; his grandchildren, Riley and Devin Grogan; and his brother, Larry Welch, and wife, Iona, of Lester, West Virginia.

A funeral service for G.W. Grogan was 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in the Chapel of Webb Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Holder officiating. A time to support the family, share memories and receive friends was 3 p.m. until time of service Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Interment followed in the Spruce Pine Memorial Cemetery.

Words of comfort may be emailed to the family by going to www.webbfh.com, se-lecting G.W. Grogan’s name and signing his guestbook. Webb Funeral Home in Spruce Pine is honored to assist the Gro-

gan family. Mr. Grogan’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook.

LITTLE SWITZERLANDCharles Michael ‘Mike’ Hopson

Charles Michael ‘Mike’ Hopson, 69, of Little Switzerland, went home to be with the Lord Monday, April 17, 2017, at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville. A native of Mitchell Coun-ty, he was one of 11 children to the late Mitch and Essie Woody Hopson. He was also preceded in death by sisters, Mary Gertrude Wilson, Callie Elva Turpin and Betty Joe Brydge; brother, Harrison Don-ald Hopson; and infant brother, David Edgar Hopson. Mike was a U.S. Navy Veteran, having served during the Viet-nam Era. He was an undercover federal law enforcement agent with the United States Forest Service until his retirement in 1988. He was also a member of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church who loved fish-ing and gardening.

Left to cherish his memories are his loving daughter, Lisa Hopson Hoilman, and husband, Allen, of Spruce Pine; Sandra Burnette Hopson, as Mike would laugh and say, “My best friend and part-time wife”; sisters, Geneva Leona Lawrence, and husband, Dickie, of New Bern, Brenda Sue Peterson, of Burnsville, and Alice Fay Honeycutt, and husband, Benny, also of Burnsville; brothers,

Garlin Ray Hopson, of Baltimore, Mary-land, and Stanley “Cotton” Hopson, and wife, Sharon, of South Toe; his canine best friend, Roscoe; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

The family received friends from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Liber-ty Hill Baptist Church. Funeral Services were immediately following at 1 p.m. The Rev. Stanley “Cotton” Hopson, the Rev. Daniel Whetstine and the Rev. David Gillespie officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery with military honors con-ducted by the Sgt. E.L. Randolph, Chapter No. 57 D.A.V. Pallbearers were Dwayne Hopson, Matthew Hopson, Tim Peterson, Trae Peterson, David Winters and Kenny Turpin.

Visit www.yanceyfuneralservice.com to send online condolences to the Hopson family.

BAKERSVILLEJames Robert Stewart

James Robert Stewart, 85, of the Led-ger Community, went home to be with the Lord Friday, April 21, 2017, in the Smoky Ridge Health and Rehab in Burnsville. He was the son of the late Teague and Kate Norman Stewart. James was a member of the Bear Creek Baptist Church, where he had served as the assistant choir di-rector. He and Nina loved going to gospel music events for many years. He was a retired serviceman for People’s Furniture Company. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Stewart Willis; and a grandson, Matthew Ryan Stewart.

He is survived by his wife, Nina Bu-chanan Stewart, of the home; son, Randal Stewart, and wife, Linda, of Bakersville; daughter, Janie Yelton, and husband, Buster, of Spruce Pine; four grandchil-dren, Andy Stewart, and fiancée, Skylar Elrod, Adina Bair, and husband, John, Kyle Stewart, and fiancée, Kimberly Moore, and Tabitha Robinson, and hus-band, Billy; and great-grandchildren Haven and Gabby.

Funeral services were held at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 23, 2017, in the Bear Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Bruce Cannon and Buster Yelton offici-ating. Entombment followed in the Bear Creek Mausoleum. The family received

friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to the Bear Creek Church Building Fund, 327 Bear Creek Church Road, Bakersville, NC 28705, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge, 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777.

James’ family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Smoky Ridge Health Care and Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge for their love and care for James during this difficult time.

Henline-Hughes Funeral Home is as-sisting the Stewart Family.

BAKERSVILLEHelen Ollis Wilson

Helen Ollis Wilson, 86, of Wilson Road, Bakersville, went home to be with the Lord April 16, 2017. She was a native of Mitchell County and a daughter of the late Earl and Pearl Ingram Ollis.

She was a member of Snow Hill Baptist Church and was retired from Hampshire Hosiery. She enjoyed working in her flow-ers, gardening and especially spending time with her family.

Survivors include one brother, Billy Lee Ollis, of Spruce Pine; two sisters, Eliza-beth Crowder, of Spruce Pine, and Joyce Jean Ollis, of High Point; two grandchil-dren, Daniel Hodge, of Estatoe, and Jamie Wilson, of Bakersville; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death in addition to her parents by: her husband; James A. Wilson, her son; Harold Van Wilson, and one infant child, two sisters; Lucille Dun-can, and Zora Burleson, and three broth-ers; Howard, Ernest, and Roy Ollis.

Funeral services were 2 p.m. Wednes-day, April 19, 2017, in the chapel of Hen-line-Hughes Funeral home with the Rev. Don Ford officiating. The family received friends one hour prior to the service. In-terment followed at Snow Hill Cemetery.

Henline-Hughes Funeral Home is as-sisting the Wilson Family.

FORK MOUNTAINHerbert ‘Bill’ Yelton

Herbert “Bill” Yelton, 88, of Fork Moun-tain, went home to be with the Lord Satur-day, April 15, 2017, at Blue Ridge Region-al Hospital. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Dee Street and Onald Yelton Salts. He was also preced-ed in death by a daughter, Margie Boone, who passed away in 2012; two infant sis-ters; a sister, Anna Haywood; and broth-ers, Charlie Salts and Cate Yelton. Bill was a member of Beans Creek Church of Jesus Christ who loved to trade guns, knives, watches and go to flea markets. Bill worked for many years with the town of Bakersville until his retirement.

Surviving is his loving wife of 65 years, Iva Lee Yelton; daughters, Sue Yelton Taylor, and husband, Steve, of Bakers-

ville, and Rita Yelton Hotchkiss, and husband, Alan, of Burnsville; sis-ters, Marie Barnard, and husband, Kyle, of Talbot, Tennessee, and Jessie Jones, of Rutherfordton; brothers, Arlie Salts, and wife, Gladys, of Yulee, Florida, and Junior Salts,

of Bakersville; brother-in-law, Roy Hay-wood, of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchil-dren, Dawn “Tinker” Gurley, Linda Ayers, Veronica Boone, Cindy Boone, Crystal Hughes and Josh Ollis; 12 great-grand-children; four great-great-grandchildren; and dear friends who they considered their adopted children, Andrew Buchan-an and Vickie Yelton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Beans Creek Church of Jesus Christ. The funeral

services followed at 7 p.m. with his Pastor G.B. Garland, his associate pastor David Byrd and brother Steve Taylor officiating. A graveside service was 11 a.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, in the Edwards Cemetery on Fork Mountain. Pallbearers were Steve Taylor, Alan Hotchkiss, Justin Gurley, David Gurley, Dwayne Ayers, Josh Ollis and Andrew Buchanan.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Hospice and the nurses at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital for the wonderful care given to Bill and asks memorial donations to be made to either Beans Creek Church of Jesus Christ or to Hospice of the Blue Ridge, 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. Visit www.yanceyfuneralservice.com to send online condolences.

NEWLANDRev. Ken Lance

The Rev. Ken Lance, 76, of Aretis Lane, in the Roaring Creek Community of Newland, died Friday, April 21, 2017, at his home. A funeral service was Mon-day, April 24, 2017, at the Powdermill Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Burnop officiating. Interment followed in the McCoury’s Rock Freewill Bap-tist Church Cemetery. Words of comfort may be emailed to the family by going to www.webbfh.com, selecting the Rev. Ken Lance’s name and signing his guest-book. Webb Funeral Home of Spruce Pine is assisting the Lance family. The Rev. Lance’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook.

BAKERSVILLENaomi P. Leamon

Naomi P. Leamon, 97, of N.C. 226 South, the Ledger community in Bak-ersville, died Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Mitchell House Assisted Living in Spruce Pine. A funeral service was 3 p.m. Thurs-day, April 20, 2017, at the Grassy Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Calvin H. Fryar officiating. Interment followed in the Grassy Creek Memorial Gardens. Words of comfort may be emailed to the family by going to www.webbfh.com, se-lecting Naomi Leamon’s name and sign-ing her guestbook. Webb Funeral Home of Spruce Pine is honored to be assisting the Leamon family. Mrs. Lamon’s obituary has also been posted on Facebook.

SPRUCE PINEDonald ‘Duck’ Silver

Donald “Duck” Silver, 66, of Spruce Pine, died Friday, April 21, 2017, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine with his family by his side. In keeping with Donald’s wishes, no services are planned. Family and friends wishing to share a thought or memory are encour-aged to do so online at www.chadbeamfu-neralservice.com. Beam Funeral Service & Crematory is assisting the Silver fami-ly. Visit www.beamfuneralservice.com or by call 828-559-8111 for further informa-tion or to sign the online guestbook.

DEATH NOTICES


COMMUNITY CALENDARwww.mitchellnews.com

Looking backTO PROTECT AND TO SERVE:

MITCHELL COUNTY’S LAW ENFORCEMENT IN 1960

UPCOMING EVENTS

ThursdaySpruce Pine Rotary Club meets at

noon Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church.

Al-A-Non meets at 8 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 15 Hemlock Ave. in Spruce Pine.

A Celebrate Recovery program is at 7 p.m. at Bear Creek Baptist Church.

Play and Learn is 10-11 a.m. at the Mitchell County Public Library in Bak-ersville.

The Hope 4 Mitchell County Mar-tial Arts Academy meets at 5:30 p.m. for children and 6:30 p.m. for adults in the Spruce Pine First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Classes are $1 per per-son and are for new martial arts students only.

Spruce Pine Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Sunshine Hill Apartments on Biggerstaff Road.

Bakersville Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursday of the month at Helen’s Drive-In.

Bakersville Masonic Lodge No. 357 AF & AM meets at the lodge the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Sup-per is at 6:30 p.m. and meeting at 7:30 p.m.

FridayAn adult coloring club meets from

3-4 p.m. at the Spruce Pine Library. The Color Me Happy Club meets

from 10 a.m.-noon at the Mitchell County Public Library in Bakersville.

SaturdayThe Tipton Hill Community Foun-

dation hosts a country breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of every month at the old Methodist Church across from Jerry’s store.

MondayBoy Scout Troop 505 meets at

6:30 p.m. at Spruce Pine First Baptist Church. Call 828-467-1629 for more in-formation.

Al-A-Non meets at 8 p.m. at Ledger Baptist Church.

Blue Ridge Duplicate Bridge Club meets at noon at Spruce Pine United Methodist Church, 11090 S. Highway 226.

The Roan Readers book club meets from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Mitchell County Public Library in Bakersville.

The Hope 4 Mitchell County Mar-tial Arts Academy meets at 5:30 p.m. for children and 6:30 p.m. for adults in the Spruce Pine First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Classes are $1 per per-son and are for new martial arts students only.

Spruce Pine Moose Lodge No. 1159 meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Mon-days of the month.

TuesdayThe Kiwanis Club of Spruce Pine

meets at 7 p.m. at Western Sizzlin’ in Spruce Pine.

Mitchell County SafePlace’s Sup-porting U program meets 5-6 p.m. at the Mitchell County SafePlace office.

An adult coloring club meets from 6-7 p.m. at the Spruce Pine Public Li-brary.

Preschool Story Time is 11 a.m.-noon at the Mitchell County Public Li-brary in Bakersville.

Roan Mountain Chapter No. 29 OES meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Bakersville Lodge. Covered dish supper is at 6:30 p.m.

Coffee and Conversations is 5:30-6:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the conference room at Hospice and Palliative Care of the Blue Ridge.

WednesdayThe Toe River Model Railroad

Club meets from 2-5 p.m. at the Spruce Pine Public Library and other times by arrangement.

The breastfeeding class and support group “In My Mother’s Arms” meets at 10 a.m. at the Bakersville Community Health Center’s Integrated Care Center.

The Knit and Crochet Club meets from 10-11 a.m. at the Mitchell County Public Library in Bakersville.

MEETINGS

PHOTO SUBMITTEDMitchell County’s law enforcement community poses for this picture circa 1960. Pictured, from left, is Mitchell County deputies James Edwards and Joe Stewart, Mitchell County Sherriff Sam Gouge, Spruce Pine Chief of Police Jim Burleson, Spruce Pine Police Officers Ray Gunter and Cotton Burleson, Spruce Pine Detective Herb Teague, Mitchell County Jailer Zeke Howell, and North Carolina Highway Patrolmen Charlie Radcliffe, R.E. Pipes and Lee Lance. The cars appear to be, from left, a 1960 Ford, a 1960 Pontiac, a 1959 Chevy and a 1959 Ford. The Mitchell County Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of Mitchell County’s history. We welcome comments, picture identifications or questions by calling 828-688-4371, sending an email to [email protected] or visiting mitchellnchistory.org.

Reading challenge – The Spruce Pine Public Library is having a Spring Reading Challenge until May 20. Call 828-765-4673 for more information.

S i n g i n g – R h o n d a Gouge and Friends perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 30, for 5th Sunday Night Sing-ing at Bear Creek Baptist Church.

Showcase – In Tandem Gallery in Bakersville is featuring ceramic artists Julie Wiggins and Po Wen Liu through April 30. Call 828-688-6428 for more in-formation.

MCHP – The Mitchell County Health Partnership meets from noon-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Helen’s Restaurant in Bakersville.

Special Olympics – Special Olympics Mitch-ell County is hosting the regional Spring Games Friday, May 5, at Mitchell High School, with a rain date of May 12. The open-ing ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. on the track.

Trivia – The High Coun-try Caregiver Foundation is hosting a 6 p.m. dinner and 7 p.m. trivia contest Friday, May 5, at the Cross Street Commerce Center. Visit www.hccgf.org to reg-ister.

Ramp dinner – The Buladean Community Foundation’s annual ramp dinner is at noon Saturday, May 13, at Buladean Ele-mentary School. Hamburg-ers and hot dogs will be available. Adults are $10, children 6-11 are $5 and children under 5 are free with a paying adult. Call 828-467-9168 or 828-766-

9719 for more information.

Auction – The Spruce Pine Montessori School’s annual auction is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20. Emai l [email protected] for more information.

Recital – Elevation Academy of Dance is hav-ing a recital at 6 p.m. Sat-urday, May 20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Moun-tain Heritage High School. called “An American Trib-ute.” Tickets are $7 for adults; $5 for children over age 5 and for veterans and current military.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR POLICY

The Mitchell News-Journal accepts announcements for upcoming meetings and events from nonprofit groups and organizations in Mitchell County.

Calendar notices should include no more than 35 words and will run no longer than one month prior to the event.

Ongoing calendar notices will now appear in the print edition of the News-Journal in an abbreviated form, but the expanded version will be published in the events section at www.mitchellnews.com.

No announcements from businesses or for-profit organizations or indi-viduals will be published as a free calendar listing.

Any and all exceptions to this policy are made at the discretion of the editor.

Send calendar notices by email to [email protected]; by fax to 828-765-1616; by mail to Mitchell News-Journal, P.O. Box 339, Spruce Pine, NC 28777; or bring to our office at 261 Locust St. in Spruce Pine.

The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, or WFBR, is soliciting ideas to improve the lives of women in the High Country.

The Women’s Fund is requesting letters of inqui-ry from organizations who have not previously re-ceived a grant from WFBR. The Women’s Fund is ac-cepting letters until 5 p.m. Monday, May 1. Any orga-nization that has received a grant from the Women’s Fund in the past needs not submit a letter, but must apply for a grant by July 1.

The Women’s Fund gives grants exclusively to pro-grams serving women and girls in the High Country. Organizations serving all genders but have programs within their organization serving only women or girls may apply. If invited to apply for a grant, appli-cations are due July 1.

Submit letters by email to [email protected] or mail to WFBR, P.O. Box 1838, Boone, NC 28607.

Interested parties may find more information at www.womensfundoft-heblueridge.org/grants/apply/.

Email Alex Cusimano at [email protected] or call 828-264-4002 for more infor-mation.

WFBRcalls for grant letters of inquiry

Pictured, from left, is Jon-athan Silver, Kiwanis Pres-ident Harry Anderson and Richard Crouse. Silver and Crouse presented a pro-gram outlining the goals and missions of Trail Life, a spiritual-based organization for boys from kindergarten to 25 years of age sponsored locally by Altapass Baptist Church in Spruce Pine. There are 600 Troops in 48 states with about 24,000 members. The local troop was char-tered in April 2013 – the first year of the national organiza-tion – and has 24 members and 10 adult leaders. The goal of the organization is developing Christian outdoor and leadership skills.

KIWANIS HEARS ABOUT ‘TRAIL LIFE’

PHOTO SUBMITTED


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTwww.mitchellnews.com

An era will soon come to an end at one of the more prestigious craft schools in the United States.

Director of Penland School of Crafts Jean Mc-Laughlin will retire in De-cember 2017, according to a press release.

McLaughlin began work-ing at Penland in May 1998 and has presided over an “extraordinary period of growth, development and stabilization at the school,” according to the press re-lease.

Penland has built new studios, expanded pro-grams and scholarships, conducted two successful fundraising campaigns, greatly solidified its base of support and grown its endowment from $2.1 mil-lion to $17 million during McLaughlin’s two decades at the helm.

One of McLaughlin’s first projects was commission-ing architect Abie Harris and landscape architect Sam Reynolds to create a campus master plan, which

has guided the more visible changes at Penland. Major infrastructure upgrades include new studios for iron, wood, printmaking, letterpress, drawing and painting, and book arts, with construction under way for new photography and papermaking studios. The clay, metals, glass, and textiles studios were im-proved or expanded. There were major renovations to historic Horner Hall and The Pines and many other old buildings were repaired or renovated. Several new housing structures were built, and attention was paid to accessibility and campuswide safety.

Under McLaughlin’s leadership the school was placed on the National Register of Historic Plac-es as the Penland School of Crafts Historic District, and the Jane Kessler Memorial Archives was established to preserve Penland’s history. Dozens of new scholarships were endowed, the workshop

program was expanded, a writing residency was established and new pro-

grams were created to serve the local communi-ty. All of this was made

possible through a sig-nificant expansion of the staff and the support of a devoted board of trustees. McLaughlin’s accomplish-ments were recently hon-ored nationally when she received a 2016 Distin-guished Educator’s Award from the James Renwick Alliance.

“I came to Penland with big aspirations,” McLaugh-lin said. “I knew how pow-erfully the school had af-fected the lives of artists, and I knew how import-ant its history had been to the craft movement in our country.

“My desire was to make change happen that would evolve and improve Pen-land without losing its dis-tinctive character. Look-ing back, I see so many moments that fill me with pride – accomplishments that were made possible through the wise coun-sel and enthusiastic sup-port of many people. I am grateful to have been part of making these important

and needed improvements happen.”

McLaughlin came to Penland after 16 years at the North Carolina Arts Council, first as director of visual arts and later as director of statewide ini-tiatives. A native North Carolinian, she holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from North Caroli-na State University and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“The quality of Jean Mc-Laughlin’s leadership has been extraordinary – an inspiration to us all,” said Alida Fish, chair of the Penland Board of Trustees speaking on its behalf. “For the past two decades, she has provided a vision keen-ly focused on growth and innovation. Thanks to her unwavering commitment, Penland is now well-posi-tioned for continuing suc-cess.”

A national search for a new director is under way.

Penland Director Jean McLaughlin to retire

Jean McLauglin

MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTS

A group of women talk during The Artisan League of Little Swiz-terland Arts and Crafts Gallery sea-son-opening reception this past Fri-day upstairs at Books & Beans. The gallery is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. sevan days a week.

Artisan League of Little Switzerland Gallery has season-opening reception

The Artisan League of Little Swizerland Arts and Crafts Gallery upstairs at Books & Beans had its season-opening reception this past Friday.

“We would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all who contributed to and attended our gallery opening,” said Lisi Szymczyk, ALLS president. “We had wonderful art, a great turnout, delicious food, tasty wine and a most awesome rainstorm that did not put a damper on the festivities.”

The next ALLS event is its spring crafts mar-

ket, which takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri-day, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, at Geneva Hall next to The Switzerland Inn.

The ALLS was formed in October 2012 to pro-mote the arts and be a resource for artisans of all mediums and skill levels in Little Switzerland.

Members range from emerging artisans to award-winning professionals who work in col-lage, fiber, jewelry, literature, painting, photog-raphy, pottery, woodwork and more.

Email [email protected] or call Szymczyk at 828-765-4679 for more information.

BY BRANDON ROBERTSEditor


Public Health express-es the importance of adult and children being up-to-date with their vaccina-tions.

Every dollar spent on childhood immunizations saves $18.40 and prevents disease.

Public Health inspires adults to begin walking regularly, a 10 percent weight loss could reduce an overweight person’s lifetime medical costs by up to $5,300, as it would lower costs linked to chronic diseases.

Public Health cheers on those willing to stop using tobacco, which causes a number of cancers.

Public Health prevents community violence and crime by organiz-ing a domes-tic violence awareness campaign, and spruc-i n g u p c o m m u -nity areas s u c h a s playgrounds and sidewalks.

Public Health coordinates with com-munity groups to bring Farmer’s Markets and neighborhood grocery stores within walking dis-tance for many residents. This will encourage diets high in fruits and vegeta-bles.

Public Health establish-es community gardens so residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables, with extras going to feed the hungry.

Public Health asks local restaurants to provide nutrition information on their menus so people are aware of the calories, fat and sugar they are con-suming.

Public Health urges local parks and recreation partners to increase phys-ical activity opportunities.

Public Health encour-ages drivers and passen-gers should always wear a seatbelt.

Public Health inspires

children to wear a hel-met when riding a bike or a motorcycle. Drivers should be aware of cyclists and share the road.

Public Health demon-strates securing infants and toddlers in rear-fac-ing child safety seats until that seat’s height and weight limit for rear-fac-ing use is reached.

Public Health promotes not texting while driving.

Public Health endorses never driving impaired or let family or friends drive impaired. Drive defensive-ly and at posted speeds.

Public Health provides pedestrians with cross-walks and reiterate wear-ing reflective clothing at night.

Public Health educates others

on how local t ranspor -tation, in-frastruc-ture, and land use decisions

affect our community’s

ability to safe-ly choose walking,

biking or public transit over driving. Biking and walking encourage phys-ical activity, improve community cohesion, and reduce motor vehicle pol-lution.

We are and will con-tinue to be committed to assuring the conditions allowing the people of Avery, Mitchell, and Yanc-ey counties to be healthy, not just in the clinic…but in the community.

Our mission is accom-plished through an orga-nized community effort focusing on: health promo-tion, disease prevention, education and awareness, access to and provision of care, and quality and value.

Our ultimate goal is to protect and improve the health of the citizens of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties and to maintain a healthy envi-ronment.

DID YOU KNOW?For many people, “community

health” means “publicly-funded health care,” or health care for indi-viduals who otherwise cannot afford to access it. In reality, public health is much more extensive, and benefits us all. Let’s walk through a typical day and see how public health im-pacts all of us!

• After you first arose this morn-ing, did you brush and floss your teeth? Hopefully, you go to your den-tist regularly and follow directions to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Public health also keeps your teeth healthy through fluoridation of the public drinking water supply, which began in 1945. It has resulted in a 40-70 percent reduction of tooth decay in children and a 40-60 per-cent reduction in tooth loss in adults. Forty percent of the U.S. population, however, still live in areas without a fluoridated water supply.

• After you dressed, did you stop for breakfast? Did you have orange juice, or perhaps scrambled eggs, or maybe a bagel with cream cheese? You can be sure that your orange juice, eggs and cream cheese are

not contaminated with bacteria that would make you sick because public health regulates the safety of your food supply. We also teach and pro-mote safe food handling practices that kill bacteria and help you and those who handle your food from con-taminating it.

• After you had your safe, and hopefully healthy, breakfast, did you or your neighbors send children off to a day care center or school? It is the public health system that works to make sure that children are fully im-munized, so that they cannot catch or transmit measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, polio, or other childhood diseases that are killers when they go to school or day care. In the 20th century when tens of thousands of children died or were permanently disabled by these diseases. It takes a continuous effort to make sure that all infants and school children get their shots. We monitor vaccination rates, actively seek out unimmunized children, and offer shots in our clin-ics.

• When you arrived at your office, it probably didn’t even cross your

mind that no one is smoking. De-cades of public health research and action have led to our knowledge that tobacco use kills and to many actions designed to reduce smoking, includ-ing clean indoor air regulations.

• Perhaps most in the news late-ly and most on people’s minds these days, is being prepared for anything. It is difficult to predict what we might be faced with in the future but we can be rest assured that public health practitioners are prepared for health emergencies. We all hope that we will never have to worry about an-other intentional release of anthrax spores, witness anymore natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, or worry about another influenza pan-demic. Nonetheless, public health is prepared for the worst and will be the first responders in case of an emer-gency to ensure that the population is protected from whatever comes next.

• I think you get the picture, pub-lic health is all around you. And as we move forward to address these challenges and others, we must be prepared for what comes next.

What does public health mean to you?

Opioids, which include Oxycontin, Percocet, Vi-codin and morphine, are powerful painkillers. In the past, opioids were mainly used for patients with cancer pain, at the end of life, or after major surgery. But starting about 20 years ago, there was a big push for doctors to prescribe opioids for acute and chronic pain of all types, such as head-aches, fibromyalgia, ar-thritis and back pain.

At the same time, doc-tors were told, incorrectly, these medications were not addictive. As a matter of fact, doctors were told fewer than 1 percent of pa-tients on long-term opioid therapy became addicted or dependent on the med-ications. Furthermore, starting patients on these medications, doctors were told, would return them to normal function – they

would get their lives back.But after prescribing

opioids to millions of pa-tients for non- cancer pain, we have learned these medications are addictive. One-third of patients prescribed opioids for two months or more – just two months – become addicted or dependent.

Moreover, when family members of these patients are polled, they believe even a larger percentage of patients on long-term opioids are addicted or dependent on the medica-tion – 50 percent instead of 33 percent. Fewer than 25 percent of patients on long-term opioids return to full employment, so they are not the cure-all we were promised.

If you are younger than 25 and take an opioid for any reason – after a surgery, tooth extraction, etc. — you are 50 percent more likely to become addicted. A young brain should not be exposed to opiates unless absolutely necessary.

Now, pain is very per-sonal and emotional for many people. There are

many people whose lives have been changed for the better because of opioid therapy, but the above statistics are sobering.

Opioid medications and their cousin, heroin, have led to a surge in overdos-es and overdose deaths. Deaths from opioids and heroin now surpass deaths from car wrecks, homicide or suicide in this country. It is a national and local crisis.

Because of an evolving understanding of opioid pain medications and the

drastic increase in people living with addiction, and overdose deaths, providers are becoming more cau-tious about prescribing these medications.

E. Blake Fagan is a family physician and chief education officer at the Mountain Area Health Education Cen-ter. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and is a graduate of MAHEC’s Family Med-icine Residency Pro-gram in Asheville.

Lessons from the opioid addiction epidemic

E. BlakeFAGAN

MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL

April 26, 2017ACLASSIFIEDS

KING CROSSWORDANSWERS 4.26.17

Legals continued on pg 11A

LEGALSLANDSCAPING /YARD WORK

KEL'S CUTS OUTDOOR SER-VICES Reasonable rates formowing, weed eating, brush re-moval, flower beds and anyoutdoor projects. 6 years expe-rience and I love what I do!Free Estimates. 828-385-1288.

DUNCAN'S LAWN LAND-SCAPING AND TREE SER-VICE. All types of outdoor ser-vices. Call Brent 828-385-1159.

Ray's Tree Service andLandscaping: Tree re-moval, view clearing,roundovers, pruning,trakhoe and chipper ser-vices. Free estimates, in-sured. Call 828-467-1113.Need Home Repair, RoadWork, Tree Work, Lot Clearing,Firewood, Mowing, Weed Eat-ing, Mulch? Call THE WOODYARD. Located above MaylandTech. 828-385-1471.

HOME REPAIR / MAINTENANCE

Cooper Pressure Washing.Pressure wash houses, decks,etc. Marty 828-675-4003.

CONSTRUCTION, GAS,PLUMBING, ELECTRIC –Save with one contractor. Re-pairs and alterations. Licensedand Insured. The ElectricPlumber, Inc. 828-688-2064.

AAA Garage Doors. Automaticopeners, sales/service, in-stalled, residential/commercialsprings, sections & track. 828-688-0039.Painting, carpentry, wallpaper-ing. Call Lawrence Glenn 828-765-2845 or John Glenn 828-765-0621.

GENERALEMPLOYMENT

ELECTRICIANCurrently taking applications forexperienced electrician. Musthave 5 years industrial/ com-mercial experience. Start pay$20.00 per hour. Contact infor-mation: DR Electric Inc. 828765-1997. Office located at711 Altapass Hwy Spruce PineNC 28777.

ELECTRICIAN NEEDEDImmediate openings for elec-tricians with at least 5 yearsexperience in Commercial, In-dustrial and Residential elec-trical work. Work available inWestern North Carolina. Musthave valid drivers license,high school diploma and theability to pass drug screening.Call 828.765.0891 for applica-tion. Salary depending on ex-perience.

Switzerland Cafe, Hwy 226A,Little Switzerland, seekingkitchen workers & servers. Full-time. Weekends & holidays.Great pay. Must be drug free.Call for appointment 765-5289.

PART TIMECare for elderly gentleman,light housekeeping. $12.50/hr.,2 hours per day, Monday andThursday. 828-592-1616 or828-592-5062.Part-Time seasonal hotel frontdesk clerk needed. Call 704-607-2704.Part-Time seasonal hotelhousekeeper needed. Call 704-607-2704.

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITIES

MAY CoalitionSimple...Business Loans828-765-8880

MISCELLANEOUSFOR SALE

Happy Jack ® Skin Balm: stopsscratching & gnawing. Pro-motes healing & hairgrowthwithout steroids. For dogs &CATS! Griffith's General Store828-688-2369 (kennelvax.com).

Use Happy Jack Mitex & EarCanker Powder to treat yeastinfections. GRASSY CREEKHARDWARE. 828-765-5286(kennelvax.com)

WANTED TO BUYBOXWOODS. Wanting to buylarge yard boxwoods and fieldsof boxwoods. Call 828-385-0533.DISCRETE BUYERS- FINEWATCHES, GOLD, SILVER,JEWELRY, AND COL-LECTIBLES. CASH PAID. TOPDOLLAR. GOLD-N-CLIPPER,410 MAIN STREET HIGH-LANDS. (828)526-4989 30YEARS.

HOMES FOR RENT2BR/2BA House with carport.Bakersville area. Call 828-688-2428.Spruce Pine, 3BR/2BA,1200SF, new survey, 1.6AC,$89,900. No credit, no bank.828-765-3132, johnkeenproper-ties.com.

APARTMENTSFOR RENT

Nice one, two and three bed-room apartments. Commercialspace for rent, 1100 sq. ft. Allfor rent in and near Town ofBurnsville. Call 828-284-0849or 828-682-4456.

Azalea Valley Apartments, 477Charlie Brown Road,Burnsville, NC – 2BR/1BA,HUD approved. Service ani-mals only. $400/month,$375/security deposit. Undernew management. Call 828-424-6437.

MOBILE HOMESFOR RENT

2BR/2BA, available to viewMay 1. 828-688-4587.

2BR furnished trailer. Gardenspot, quiet, private. Fork Moun-tain Community. 828-688-2297.

WAREHOUSE /STORAGE

STORAGE BUILDINGSFOR RENT IN LEDGER.CALL 828-766-5120.

LEGALSAdministrator's NoticeHaving qualified on the 7th day ofApril, 2017 as Administrator ofthe estate of Eric Floyd Willis,deceased, late of MitchellCounty, North Carolina, this is tonotify all persons, firms andcorporations having claimsagainst the decedent to exhibitthe same to the undersignedAdministrator on or before 11July, 2017.All persons indebted to theestate should make immediatepayment.

This the 12th day of April, 2017.

John Patrick Willis, Administrator3175 Rabbit Hop RoadSpruce Pine, NC 28777

#333544 – 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3

This notice is to inform registeredPrivate Schools that the MitchellCounty Schools System isplanning to submit an applicationfor the following federally fundedprograms: Title I (Part A)-Improving AcademicAchievement of DisadvantagedStudents, RLIS (Rural LowIncome Schools). Title II(Professional Development forTeachers, Principals and others),Title III (Language Instruction forEnglish Language Learners),Title VI Part Part B (Individualswith Disabilities). These Federalprograms make provisions for theparticipation of children who livein Mitchell County attendancearea but are enrolled in nonprofitprivate schools.In accordance with federal non-regulatory guidance guidelineson services to non-publicschools, Mitchell County Schoolsextends an invitation to ameeting on May 16, 2017. Themeeting will be at the districtcentral office located at 72Ledger School Road Bakersville,NC at 1 PM. During this meetingwe will discuss requirements andprovisions of service to privateschools. Please notify MarkHughes at Mitchell County Boardof Education (828) 766-2233 [email protected] of yourintent to attend. This meeting isonly for those private schoolswithin Mitchell County School

yattendance area and registeredon the NC State NonpublicSchools site.

#334829 – 4/19, 4/26

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE16 SP 21Under and by virtue of the

power of sale contained in acertain Deed of Trust made byDavid Garvin Blevins andJacqueline English Blevins, wife,(David Garvin Blevins andJacqueline English Blevins, bothdeceased)(Heirs of David GarvinBlevins: David Garvin Blevins,Jr., Dale Blevins, Oscar SamuelBlevins aka Sam Blevins, StevenBlevins aka Steve Blevins andUnknown Heirs of David GarvinBlevins) to F. Blair Williams,Trustee(s), dated the 13th day ofMarch, 2008, and recorded inBook 472, Page 411, in MitchellCounty Registry, North Carolina,default having been made in thepayment of the note therebysecured by the said Deed ofTrust and the undersigned,Substitute Trustee Services, Inc.having been substituted asTrustee in said Deed of Trust byan instrument duly recorded inthe Office of the Register ofDeeds of Mitchell County, NorthCarolina and the holder of thenote evidencing saidindebtedness having directedthat the Deed of Trust beforeclosed, the undersignedSubstitute Trustee will offer forsale at the courthouse door in theCity of Bakersville, MitchellCounty, North Carolina, or thecustomary location designatedfor foreclosure sales, at 3:00 PMon May 5, 2017 and will sell tothe highest bidder for cash thefollowing real estate situated inthe County of Mitchell, NorthCarolina, and being moreparticularly described as follows:In or near the corporate limits ofthe Town of Spruce Pine:Being Lots Nos. 20, 21 and 22

in Block "B" as will appear onthe map of survey of EnglishWoods Addition to the City ofSpruce Pine, North Carolina,dated April 1938 as surveyed andplatted by R.L. Wiseman,Surveyor, which map is of recordin the Office of the Register ofDeeds for Mitchell County, NorthCarolina, in Book of Maps No.1at Page _____, to whichreference is hereby made for afull and complete description ofthe property hereby conveyed.Together with improvementslocated thereon; said propertybeing located at 80 HillcrestCircle, Spruce Pine, NorthCarolina.But this land is conveyed

subject to certain restrictions andconditions set forth in Deed fromEnglish Woods, Inc., to SamEnglish and wife, Sudie English,dated July 31st, 1945 appearingof record in Book No. 102, Page614, Mitchell County, NorthCarolina Registry.BEING the same and identical

lands conveyed to JacquelineEnglish Blevins and David GarvinBlevins, by deed dated 14August, 1948 from Sudie H.English, widow, said instrumentbeing of record in Book 109,Page 467, Mitchell County NorthCarolina Registry.EXCEPTING from the foregoing

a small tract heretofore conveyedto Teresa Barksdale and beingdescribed as follows:BEGINNING on an iron stake,

the Northeast corner of Lot No.22 and runs thence with theEastern line of Lot 22, South 34deg East 70 foot to an iron stake,the southeast corner of Lot No.22 and the Northeast corner ofLot No. 18; thence with thesouthern line of Lot No. 22, South76 deg 30 min West 57 feet to aniron stake; thence North 12 degEast 72 feet to the point ofBEGINNING forming a trianglecontaining 1024 sq. ft. or .042acre.Trustee may, in the Trustee's

sole discretion, delay the sale forup to one hour as provided inNCGS §45-21.23.Should the property be

purchased by a third party, thatparty must pay the excise tax, aswell as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per OneHundred Dollars ($100.00)required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1).The property to be offered

pursuant to this notice of sale isbeing offered for sale, transfer

gand conveyance AS IS, WHEREIS. Neither the Trustee nor theholder of the note secured by thedeed of trust/security agreement,or both, being foreclosed, nor theofficers, directors, attorneys,employees, agents or authorizedrepresentative of either theTrustee or the holder of the notemake any representation orwarranty relating to the title orany physical, environmental,health or safety conditionsexisting in, on, at or relating tothe property being offered forsale, and any and allresponsibilities or liabilitiesarising out of or in any wayrelating to any such conditionexpressly are disclaimed. Also,this property is being sold subjectto all taxes, specialassessments, and prior liens orencumbrances of record and anyrecorded releases. Said propertyis also being sold subject toapplicable Federal and Statelaws.A deposit of five percent (5%) of

the purchase price, or sevenhundred fifty dollars ($750.00),whichever is greater, is requiredand must be tendered in the formof certified funds at the time ofthe sale.If the trustee is unable to conveytitle to this property for anyreason, the sole remedy of thepurchaser is the return of thedeposit. Reasons of such inabilityto convey include, but are notlimited to, the filing of abankruptcy petition prior to theconfirmation of the sale andreinstatement of the loan withoutthe knowledge of the trustee. Ifthe validity of the sale ischallenged by any party, thetrustee, in their sole discretion, ifthey believe the challenge tohave merit, may request thecourt to declare the sale to bevoid and return the deposit. Thepurchaser will have no furtherremedy.Additional Notice for ResidentialProperty with Less than 15 rentalunits, including Single-FamilyResidential Real PropertyAn order for possession of theproperty may be issued pursuantto N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor ofthe purchaser and against theparty or parties in possession bythe clerk of superior court of thecounty in which the property issold.Any person who occupies the

property pursuant to a rentalagreement entered into orrenewed on or after October 1,2007, may after receiving thenotice of foreclosure sale,terminate the rental agreementby providing written notice oftermination to the landlord, to beeffective on a date stated in thenotice that is at least 10 days butnot more than 90 days, after thesale date contained in this noticeof sale, provided that themortgagor has not cured thedefault at the time the tenantprovides the notice oftermination. Upon termination ofa rental agreement, the tenant isliable for rent due under therental agreement prorated to theeffective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEESERVICES, INC.SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEEc/o Hutchens Law FirmP.O. Box 10284317 Ramsey StreetFayetteville, North Carolina 28311

Phone No: (910) 864-3068https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.comCase No: 1197028 (FC.FAY)

#335272 – 4/19, 4/26

16 SP 74 Notice of Sale of Real Estate bySubstitute Trustee State of NorthCarolina Mitchell County in theGeneral Court of Justice SuperiorCourt Division Before The Clerkin the matter of the foreclosure ofthe Deed of Trust of Michael R.Buchanan and Lisa H. Buchananto Thurman E. Burnette, Trusteefor United States Department ofAgriculture, dated January 27,1994 and recorded at Book 252,Page 236, Mitchell CountyRegistry See Substitution ofTrustee as recorded in Book 573,Page 377, appointing Richard J.Kania as Substitute Trustee TO:Dylan Buchanan Lisa AnnBuchanan, a/k/a Lisa H.Buchanan Regina HaneyBuchanan Thomas Goddard -Guardian ad litem UnknownHeirs at Law of Michael R.Buchanan Occupant Under andby virtue of the power andauthority contained in that certaindeed of trust executed anddelivered by the above-namedGrantors to United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, datedJanuary 27, 1994, securingindebtedness in the originalprincipal amount of $63,000.00as recorded in Deed of TrustBook 252 at Page 236, MitchellCounty Registry (hereinafter, the''Deed of Trust''), and because ofthe default of Debtor in thepayment of the indebtednessthereby secured and the failure ofDebtor to carry out or perform thestipulations and agreementstherein contained and pursuant tothe demand of the owner andholder of the indebtednesssecured by the Deed of Trust,and pursuant to the Order of theClerk of Superior Court forMitchell County, North Carolina,entered in this foreclosureproceeding, the undersigned,Richard J. Kania, SubstituteTrustee, will expose for sale atpublic auction on May 1, 2017 at10:00 AM at the Mitchell CountyCourthouse at the usual place ofsale designated by the MitchellCounty Clerk, Bakersville, thereal property in Snow CreekTownship, Mitchell County, NorthCarolina (including anyimprovements thereon) with theaddress of 338 Hamburg Rd,Bakersville, NC 28705, and asdescribed as follows: LYINGAND BEING IN SNOW CREEKTOWNSHIP, MITCHELLCOUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA:BEGINNING ON AN IRON PINLOCATED S 01° 48' 24" E 60.05feet FROM THE SOUTHWESTCORNER OF A TWO STORYBRICK AND FRAME DWELLINGLOCATED ON THE HEREINDESCRIBED LANDS ANDRUNS THENCE N 19° 30' 35" W187.61 FEET TO AN IRON ATTHE EASTERN MARGIN OF NCSR 1195; THENCE N 73° 12' 55"


LEGALS

DON’T MISS ANYTHING THIS

Begin this spring with a subscription and never

miss a thing.

MITCHELL

NEWS-JOURNALMITCHELLNEWS-JOURNAL

Call 828-765-7169Email [email protected]

Come by 261 Locust St, Spruce PineOnline at mitchellnews.com

Our classifieds are a great place to list it.

HAVE A RENTAL THAT NEEDS TOBE FILLED?

Get a jump start and list

it in our classifieds.

NEED TO SELL YOUR HOME

OR CAR?

SPRING!

E11.85 FEET TO AN IRON PIN:THENCE THE SAME BEARING146.15 FEET TO A POINT INTHE CENTER OF HAMBURGCREEK; THENCE WITH THECENTER OF THE CREEK THEFOLLOWING BEARINGS ANDDISTANCES: S 04° 10' 32" E15.93 FEET; S 21° 46' 12" E45.06 FEET; S 43° 06' 01" E24.88 FEET: S 41° 25' 44" E32.62 FEET; S 39° 00' 15" E33.96 FEET; THENCE LEAVINGTHE CREEK AND RUNNING S60° 05' 47" W 17.37 FEET TO A40 INCH POPLAR; THENCETHE SAME BEARING 174.63FEET TO THE POINT OFBEGINNING. CONTAINING 0.64OF AN ACRE BY COORDINATEGEOMETRY. AND BEING THESAME LANDS AS SHOWN ONPLAT OF SURVEY BY WILLIAME. ARROWOOD, RLS DATED 21DECEMBER 1993 AND BEINGDRAWING NUMBER 93-M- 03-346. The Substitute Trustee may,in his sole discretion, delay thesale for up to one hour asprovided by N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.The sale will be made subject toall prior liens, unpaid taxes,restrictions and easements ofrecord and assessments, if any.The record owner of the above-described real property asreflected on the records of theCounty Register of Deeds notmore than ten (10) days prior tothe posting of this Notice is:Dylan Buchanan Lisa AnnBuchanan Regina HaneyBuchanan Unknown Heirs at Lawof Michael R. Buchanan An orderfor possession of the propertymay be issued pursuant toN.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor ofthe purchaser and against theparty or parties in possession bythe County Clerk of SuperiorCourt. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §45-21.10(b), and the terms of theDeed of Trust, any successfulbidder may be required to depositwith the Trustee immediatelyupon conclusion of the sale acash deposit of the greater of fiveper cent (5%) of the amount bidor Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars($750.00). Any successful biddershall be required to tender the fullbalance purchase price so bid incash or certified check at thetime the Trustee tenders to him adeed for the property or attemptsto tender such deed, and shouldsaid successful bidder fail to paythe full balance purchase price sobid at the time, he shall remainliable on his bid as provided for inN.C.G.S. §45-21.30(d) and (e).Should the property bepurchased by a third party, thatperson must pay the tax of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per OneHundred Dollars ($100.00)required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). This sale will be held openten (10) days for upset bids asrequired by law. If the SubstituteTrustee is unable to convey titleto this property for any reason,the sole remedy of the purchaseris the return of the deposit.Reasons of such inability toconvey include, but are notlimited to, the filing of abankruptcy petition by an owneror debtor prior to the confirmationof the sale and reinstatement ofthe loan without the knowledge ofthe Substitute Trustee. If thevalidity of the sale is challengedby any party, the SubstituteTrustee, in his sole discretion, ifhe believes the challenge to havemerit, may request the Court todeclare the sale to be void andreturn the deposit. The purchaserwill have no further remedy. Anyperson who occupies theproperty pursuant to a bona fidelease or tenacy may haveadditional rights pursuant to TitleVII of 5.896, ''Protecting Tenantsat Foreclosure Act'' whichbecame effective on May 20,2009. Additional Notice Wherethe Real Property Is Residentialwith less than 15 Rental Units:Any person who occupies theproperty pursuant to a rentalagreement entered into orrenewed on or after October 1,2007, may, after receiving thenotice of sale, terminate therental agreement by providingwritten notice of termination tothe landlord, to be effective on adate stated in the notice that is atleast 10 days, but no more than90 days, after the sale datecontained in the notice of sale,provided that the mortgagor hasnot cured the default at the timethe tenant provides the notice oftermination. The notice shall alsostate that upon termination of arental agreement, the tenant isliable for rent due under therental agreement prorated to theeffective date of the termination.This the 20th day of March,2017. Richard J. Kania SubstituteTrustee 600-A Centrepark DriveAsheville, North Carolina 28805(828) 252-8010.

#334420 – 4/19, 4/26/17

16 SP 75 Notice of Sale of Real Estate bySubstitute Trustee State of NorthCarolina Mitchell County in theGeneral Court of Justice SuperiorCourt Division Before The Clerkin the matter of the foreclosure ofthe Deed of Trust of Wadie R.Willis and Loretta L. Willis toThurman E. Burnette, Trustee forUnited States Department ofAgriculture, dated October 21,1994 and recorded at Book 259,Page 553, Mitchell County

g yRegistry See Substitution ofTrustee as recorded in Book 573,Page 598, appointing Richard J.Kania as Substitute Trustee TO:Loretta L. Willis Occupant Underand by virtue of the power andauthority contained in that certaindeed of trust executed anddelivered by the above-namedGrantors to United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, datedOctober 21, 1994, securingindebtedness in the originalprincipal amount of $80,000.00as recorded in Deed of TrustBook 259 at Page 553, MitchellCounty Registry (hereinafter, the''Deed of Trust''), and because ofthe default of Debtor in thepayment of the indebtednessthereby secured and the failure ofDebtor to carry out or perform thestipulations and agreementstherein contained and pursuant tothe demand of the owner andholder of the indebtednesssecured by the Deed of Trust,and pursuant to the Order of theClerk of Superior Court forMitchell County, North Carolina,entered in this foreclosureproceeding, the undersigned,Richard J. Kania, SubstituteTrustee, will expose for sale atpublic auction on May 1, 2017 at10:00 AM at the Mitchell CountyCourthouse at the usual place ofsale designated by the MitchellCounty Clerk, Bakersville, thereal property in Snow CreekTownship, Mitchell County, NorthCarolina (including anyimprovements thereon) with theaddress of 412 Bear CreekChurch Rd, Bakersville, NC28705, and as described asfollows: Lying and being in SnowCreek Township, Mitchell County,North Carolina: BEGINNING onan iron pin at the eastern edge ofa driveway leading to theresidence on these premises,said iron pin being located S 86°51' 47" W 14.66 feet from aconcrete right of way monumentin the northeastern right of waymargin of NCSR 1194 and runsthence N 51° 03' 54" W 158.27feet to an iron pin; thence N 32°11' 03" E 196.02 feet to an ironpin, a corner to Tommy Willis andRoger Frye; thence N 34° 47' E44.42 feet to an iron pin; thenceS 35° 50' 43" E 146.90 feet to a36" White Pine: thence N 89° 19'59" W 23.21 feet to an iron pin;thence S 23° 59' 23" E 73.76 feetto an iron pin; thence S 68° 45' W60.77 feet to an iron pin at amaple tree; thence S 03° 10' W62.70 feet to an iron pin; thenceS 51° 45' W 50.10 feet to thepoint of BEGINNING, containing0.79 acres. RESERVING fromthe above described landseasement for NCSR 1194 whichmay encroach upon the southernportion of said lands. Being thesame lands as shown on plat ofsurvey by Carl A. Reeves, Jr.,RLS dated 12 August 1994 andbearing map no. 940812B. TheSubstitute Trustee may, in hissole discretion, delay the sale forup to one hour as provided byN.C.G.S. §45-21.23. The sale willbe made subject to all prior liens,unpaid taxes, restrictions andeasements of record andassessments, if any. The recordowner of the above-describedreal property as reflected on therecords of the County Register ofDeeds not more than ten (10)days prior to the posting of thisNotice is: Loretta L. Willis Anorder for possession of theproperty may be issued pursuantto N.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor ofthe purchaser and against theparty or parties in possession bythe County Clerk of SuperiorCourt. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §45-21.10(b), and the terms of theDeed of Trust, any successfulbidder may be required to depositwith the Trustee immediatelyupon conclusion of the sale acash deposit of the greater of fiveper cent (5%) of the amount bidor Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars($750.00). Any successful biddershall be required to tender the fullbalance purchase price so bid incash or certified check at thetime the Trustee tenders to him adeed for the property or attemptsto tender such deed, and shouldsaid successful bidder fail to paythe full balance purchase price sobid at the time, he shall remainliable on his bid as provided for inN.C.G.S. §45-21.30(d) and (e).Should the property bepurchased by a third party, thatperson must pay the tax of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per OneHundred Dollars ($100.00)required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). This sale will be held openten (10) days for upset bids asrequired by law. If the SubstituteTrustee is unable to convey titleto this property for any reason,the sole remedy of the purchaseris the return of the deposit.Reasons of such inability toconvey include, but are notlimited to, the filing of abankruptcy petition by an owneror debtor prior to the confirmationof the sale and reinstatement ofthe loan without the knowledge ofthe Substitute Trustee. If thevalidity of the sale is challengedby any party, the SubstituteTrustee, in his sole discretion, ifhe believes the challenge to havemerit, may request the Court todeclare the sale to be void andreturn the deposit. The purchaserwill have no further remedy. Anyperson who occupies theproperty pursuant to a bona fide

p p y please or tenancy may haveadditional rights pursuant to TitleVII of 5.896, ''Protecting Tenantsat Foreclosure Act'' whichbecame effective on May 20,2009. Additional Notice Wherethe Real Property Is Residentialwith less than 15 Rental Units:Any person who occupies theproperty pursuant to a rentalagreement entered into orrenewed on or after October 1,2007, may, after receiving thenotice of sale, terminate therental agreement by providingwritten notice of termination tothe landlord, to be effective on adate stated in the notice that is atleast 10 days, but no more than90 days, after the sale datecontained in the notice of sale,provided that the mortgagor hasnot cured the default at the timethe tenant provides the notice oftermination. The notice shall alsostate that upon termination of arental agreement, the tenant isliable for rent due under therental agreement prorated to theeffective date of the termination.This the 20th day of March,2017. Richard J. Kania SubstituteTrustee 600-A Centrepark DriveAsheville, North Carolina 28805(828) 252-8010.

#334524 – 4/19, 4/26

Public Notice: The Individualswith Disabilities Education Act(IDEA-Part B, Public Law108.446) Project is presently

being amended. The projectdescribes the special educationprograms that Mitchell CountySchools proposes for Federalfunding for the 2017-2018 schoolyear. Interested persons areencouraged to reviewamendments to the Project andmake comments concerning theimplementation of specialeducation under this FederalProgram. All comments will beconsidered prior to submission ofthe amended Project to the NorthCarolina Department of PublicInstruction in Raleigh, NorthCarolina. The IDEA-Part BProject is open to the public forreview and comments during theweek of May 15-19, 2017 in theoffice of Mark Hughes, Directorof Exceptional ChildrenPrograms, located at the MitchellCounty Central Office Complex,72 Ledger School Road,Bakersville, NC 28705.

#334832 – 4/19, 4/26

State of North CarolinaCourt of MitchellGeneral Court of JusticeDistrict Court DivisionFile Number: 17 J 17

Notice of Service byProcess of PublicationIn the Matter of June Keith WilliamsPetitioner:Stacy Megan Williams

To: Any unknown Fathers

referred to as John Doe of a malejuvenile born on or about May 31,2014 in McDowell County NC,RespondentsTake Notice, that a pleading

seeking relief against you hadbeen filed in the above entitledproceeding. The nature of therelief sought is a termination ofyour parental rights to the minorchild named above pursuant toNCGS 7B-1100 et seq. You are required to answer thispetition not later than May 30,2017, being 40 days from the

date of the first publication of thisNotice and upon your failure todo so, the petitioner will seek therelief sought by the petition.

This the 18th day of April, 2017.

Joseph A. Bomar, Attorney at LawP.O. Box 193Spruce Pine, NC 28777(828) 467-7079.

#336389 – 4/26, 5/3, 5/10


BAKERSVILLE – The town of Bakersville Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, is hosting the 71st North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, which is among the older festivals in the Southeast.

The two-day festival features the Rhododendron Fes-tival Pageant Friday and Saturday evenings, the Rhodo-dendron Festival Arts and Crafts Fair Friday and Satur-day and has live music, food vendors featuring local and organic selections as well as church baked goods, regional arts and crafts people, commercial vendors, inflatables and train rides for children along with the famous Ducky Derby.

There is a classic car show Saturday as well as a 10K run and street dancing Friday and Saturday nights.

There are vendor spaces available. Email Dr. Dan Barron at [email protected], call

828-284-1914 or visit www.ncrhododendronfestival.org for more information.

Rhododendron Festival celebrates 71 years

SPRUCE PINE – Em-ployees at BRP have en-sured Purple Martins will have a new place to call home when they arrive in Mitchell County this spring.

BRP has added a Super-Gourd rack system to Riv-erside Park in Spruce Pine for Purple Martins’ nest-ing in recognition of Earth Day.

“Every year BRP creates an Earth Day initiative and it challenges employ-ees to sup-port Earth Day in cre-ative ways,” said Melissa Carter, BRP office coor-dinator in Spruce Pine. “We never know what the winner will receive in each of the categories, but in the end, we all win because we are being proactive in educa-tion and conservation of our Earth.”

Purple Martins are a spe-cies of swallow that nest in groups or colonies. East of the Rocky Mountains, Pur-ple Martins rely almost completely on human-sup-plied housing for their nests, according to the Pur-ple Martin Conservation Association, or PMCA, a nonprofit organization with the goal of increasing the Purple Martin population in North America.

Carter said as she was contemplating how to pro-ceed with the challenge, her thought was to some-how share in the love for our mountains, rivers and culture.

“Earth Day is not only about keeping our Earth clean, but also about con-

servation,” she said. “We look to our mountains and rivers for beauty, inspira-tion, education and nour-ishment. This is the time of year one can’t drive a single mile without seeing someone preparing their piece of earth for garden-ing.”

The thought then came to Carter about the pesti-cides used to keep gardens free from pests. Martins are aerial insectivores, consuming insects during flight, according to the PMCA. Dragonflies are a favorite as are moths,

butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps and other flying insects.

“With so many gar-d e n s a n d pest i c ides being used, I thought it would be ed-

ucational not only for our employees, but also resi-dents of Mitchell County,” Carter said. “Of course, some of our locals already know how beneficial Pur-ple Martins are to have around.”

A blogger on the PMCA website wrote about an outbreak of cucumber bee-tles before a group of about 50 migrating Purple Mar-tins come through.

“They were in my gourd patch for about 30 minutes, then the birds moved on,” the blogger wrote. “I could hardly find a cucumber beetle when they left. The beetles were so bad, but I didn’t want to use chemi-cals in the garden, so the birds helped me a lot.”

Carter said she has seen gourds turned into beauti-ful birdhouses for Purple Martins.

“These birds migrate to Spruce Pine every year about the same time as we

celebrate Earth Day,” she said. “We created 30 bags, each containing a gourd, painting supplies, instruc-tions, information about

Purple Martins and seeds in recycled paper pods to grow in gardens.”

When an employee re-turned a painted gourd,

they received a certificate of participation, a McDon-ald’s gift card and a chance to have his or her name drawn from a bag by BRP Plant Manager Steve Floyd and have his or her bird-house displayed in River-side Park.

The birdhouses not cho-sen for display at the park are on display outside BRP. Carter said some employ-ees enjoyed the time with their family as they paint-ed, talked about Earth Day and shared informa-tion about Purple Martins while others enjoyed the creative outlet of painting the gourds.

“All the gourds turned out amazing,” she said.

“The teamwork and ideas were not all my own – I only came up with the di-rection.”

BRP Environmental, Health and Safety Coordi-nator Bernice Wilson came up with the idea of donat-ing the pole and houses to Riverside Park.

Production Coordina-tor Nicole Bullis had the thought of displaying the other gourds at BRP, Car-ter said.

“Some of our mainte-nance department per-sonnel set up our pole, and Dean McCurry made sure all of our gourds were weatherproofed,” Carter said. “This was truly a team effort.”

BRP Earth Day initiative aims to conserve Purple MartinsBY BRANDON ROBERTSEditor

PHOTO SUBMITTEDPictured, from left, is BRP’s Randy Bullerdick, Richard Gambill, Melissa Carter, Bernice Wilson, Spruce Pine Town Manager Richard Canipe, Michael Wood and Rick Hughes in front a Purple Martin habitat put in place by BRP in observance of Earth Day.

MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTSTheses colorful gourds will serve as nests for Purple Martins, a species of swallow with a migration pattern that brings some of the birds to Spruce Pine each spring.

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Although Purple Martins are common, their population

declined by almost 1 percent per year between 1966 and

2015, resulting in a cumulative decline of 37 percent, ac-

cording to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTS The line of people extended the length of the parking lot Sat-urday at the Bakerville Volunteer Fire Department during the Mitchell County Animal Rescue’s Rabies and Vaccination Clinic. Nearly 200 pets received one-year rabies vaccines; 12 pets received three-year rabies vaccines; 80 dogs received distemper/Parvo vaccines; 13 cats received distemper vac-cines; seven pets were signed up to be spayed or neutered; and eight pets received microchips. TOP: Katy Grindstaff, of Spruce Pine, whose terrier mix, Buster, receives a rabies and distemper vaccine from Dr. Stacy Jones, of Cane River Veter-inary Wellness in Burnsville. BELOW: People and their pets wait in line at the clinic.

HUNDREDS TURN OUT FOR MCAR CLINIC

PHOTO SUBMITTED

SPORTSBSECTION

NEWS-JOURNALWEDNESDAY

APRIL 26, 2017

Golf tournament fundraiser set for Saturday

The Mean Green Mow-ing Machine Club Golf Tournament is open to everyone and begins with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Grassy Creek Golf and Country Club.

The goal of the fundrais-er is raising $10,000 to-ward the purchase of lawn mower for First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine.

The fee is $60 per player and mulligans are two for $10. Entry fee includes green fee and cart. There will be prizes, lunch at The Twisted Laurel as well as long drive, clos-est-to-pin and putting contests.

Tournament format is captain’s choice and there will be a signup sheet in the pro shop.

Green sponsorships are $100 for par 3s, $200 for par 4s and $300 for par 5s.

Blue Ridge Mountains small-stream fly fishing reports, conditions

When fishing smaller streams, its not the type of fly that you use that attracts the fish, its the presentation. Wild fish are opportunistic feeders so if you make a nice cast to a feeding fish most of the time they will try to eat it. Slow down and work on not spooking the fish rath-er than worrying about fly selection.

Water flow: 90cfs

Visibility: 40 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 50 degrees F

Water condition: clear

Best time of day to fish: mid-morning through af-ternoon

Best stretch: On the upper stretches the summer growth can be cumber-some, prepare to do some trail blazing. All the small streams are fishing well, the conditions are perfect.

Best access point: Explore any of the areas right off the main road through the both the Blue Ridge Park-way and the Smokies as well as the side trails.

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Mayflies Caddis Black Stones Yellow Stones Midges

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 5X Tippet

Best fly fishing rod: 7’ 3 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: WF Trout Fly Line

Dry and Dropper rigs are working best

7-Day Forecast: Spring is beginning its preliminary stages in the Blue Ridge, gradually warming tem-peratures will begin to trigger hatches and should have most fish very active.

Mitchell High track competed against seven other schools at the April 4 Ashe County meet.

Shane Greene came in fourth in both the 200-meter dash and the 110-meter hurdles with times of 25.44 seconds and 20.44 seconds, respectively.

Mitchell’s 4x100 relay team of Ben Robinson, Noah Pitman, Jesse Pitman and Tyler McKinney placed second with a time of 49.14 seconds. The 4x200 relay team won with a time of 1:38.

The 4x400 team placed second with a time of 3:45 and the 4x800 team of Yahir Cervantes, Lochlin Vance, Alfonso Apolinar and El-liot Kadans finished second with a time of 9:59.

Other schools at the meet were Alleghany, Ashe, East Wilkes, Elkin, Starmount, Watagua and Williams Academy.

Eden Phillips won the 400 in 1:04.5 for the girls. Hannah Mc-Mahan was fourth in the 200 with a time of 30.84 seconds.

Dakota Clark finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.

The 4x400 relay team of Phil-lips, McMahan, Gracie Young and Emma Duncan won with a time of 4:36.23. The same team finished second in the 200-meter relay at 2:01.

Macie Boone was fourth in shot put with a throw of 28 feet 3 inch-es.

At the Mitchell County Invita-tional March 30 with Mountain Heritage, Madison, Ashe County and Enka, Brody Smith won the boys 400 in 52.34 seconds and Logan Hudgins finished third. Kad ans won the 800-meter race with a time of 2:20 and finished third in the 1,600 with a time of 5:21.

Smith came in second in the 200 at 23.6 seconds and Noah Pitman was third. Greene finished third in the 100 with a time of 12.74 seconds while Landon Miller was fourth. Greene was third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 50.54 seconds.

Dylan Lowery’s time of 12:31 was good enough for third in the 3,200 meter race.

The 4x200 relay team of Tyler McKinney, Noah Pitman, Jesse Pitman and Smith won with a time of 1:38.

Todd Self placed second in both discuss and shot put with distanc-es of 126 feet 11 inches and 39 feet, respectively. Kade Hoilman was third in the shot put with a distance of 32 feet 9 inches.

Adeline Phillips placed second in the girls 800 with at time of 3:06. Caroline Atkins was fourth at 3:11. In the 1,600, Phillips was third at 7:06 and Atkins was fourth with a time of 7:31.

Dakota Clark was fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.

Eden Phillips won the high jump with a height of 4 feet 10 inches. Macie Boone was second in both discuss and shot put with throws of 81 feet 8 inches and 28 feet 10 inches, respectively.

Mitchell’s girls’ relay team won the 4x200 and 4x400 with times of

2:02 and 4:35, respectively. At the North Henderson Open

March 28, Brody Smith won the 400 with a time of 52.58 seconds. Dylan Lowery won the 3,200 in 12:31.

The 4x200 relay team finished second at 1:38.14. The 4x400 team of Landon Miller, Preston Roe, Jesse Pitman and Smith also finished second with a time of 3:48.68. And the 4x800 team of Yahir Cervantes, Lochlin Vance, Alfonso Apolinar and Kadans placed fourth with a time of 9:56.

For the girls, Eden Phillips won the 400 with a time of 1:02. Emma Duncan was third at 1:07.22 and Hannah McMahan placed fourth at 1:07.28.

The girls’ 4x400 team placed second with a time of 4:35.

Other teams at the meet were East, West and North Henderson high schools, Hendersonville, Mc-Dowell and Mountain Heritage.

The Western Highlands Confer-ence Championship is scheduled for May 2 at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk.

Track team gears up for conference championshipBY DAVID PURTELLReporter

MNJ PHOTO/DAVID PURTELLMitchell’s Dustin Suiter tags the Madison baserunner on an attempted steal April 20 in Mitchell’s 6-5 win in Ledger.

Mitchell baseball got the spring break it needed this past week.

While students and teachers had the week off, the Mountain-eers took a road trip to Hender-sonville April 18 and came home with a 12-4 win. Two days later Mitchell beat Madison 6-5 to earn back-to-back victories for the first time this season. It was the Moun-taineers’ third win in four games.

Mitchell (4-7, 3-4) took a 6-3 lead into the seventh inning against Madison and allowed two runs before relief pitcher Dustin Suiter got a ground out to first base to seal the win.

The Patriots scored three runs – including two off a throwing error – in the first inning, but Mitchell’s Trystan Jenkins pitched a shutout over the next five innings.

The Mountaineers got one run in the second and another in the third when Luke Tipton’s base hit scored Jason Burleson, who dou-bled to get into scoring position.

Ben Young scored on a sacri-fice fly in the fourth inning after

advancing to third on Suiter’s double. Braeden Keller’s two-out base hit knocked in Suiter to put Mitchell up 4-3.

Young caught a runner steal-ing to end Madison’s chances in the top of the fifth. Justin Greene tripled off a blast to deep center in Mitchell’s next at bat and later scored on Jenkins’ hit to make it 5-3.

Jenkins walked two batters two start the sixth but got a double by catching a bunt pop fly and pick-ing off the runner at first base. Chance Cook led off with a hit in the bottom half of inning and ad-vanced to second on a pitch in the dirt. He scored off Cole Gilespie’s single to right field to put Mitchell up by three runs.

With rain clouds moving in, Jenkins came out to start the seventh and final inning. He had already thrown 100 pitches and gave up hits to the first two bat-ters he faced. Suiter came on in re-lief and saw the runners advance on a passed ball before giving up a run on a ground out.

The next hitter walked and

stole second as Young attempted to throw him out. The runner at third scored on the play to make it a one-run game. But Suiter got a strikeout and after an intention-al walk he got a ground ball down the first-base line to Cook, who gathered it and stepped on the bag to end the game.

Jenkins went six innings with six strikeouts, five walks and three earned runs off five hits. He also had a hit, an RBI and scored a run. Greene and Gilespie each had two hits. Mitchell had six players score and six with an RBI.

Mitchell put up six runs in the second inning at Hendersonville to pull away early. Greene pitched a complete game, allowing four runs off five hits with eight strike-outs. He also had four RBIs off four hits, including a home run, and scored twice.

Mitchell scored one run in the first inning, two runs in both the fifth and sixth and another in the seventh. Hendersonville had one run each in the first and second innings and two in the fifth.

Gilespie had a hit, three RBIs and scored once while Luke Tip-ton had three hits, two RBIs and two runs. Cook had two hits, two

RBIs and a run. Keller had two hits and two runs.

Mitchell had home games Mon-day against Owen and Tuesday against Mountain Heritage. Re-sults weren’t available at press time. Mitchell goes to Madison Friday. The regular season wraps up next week with games May 2 and May 4 against Avery .

Mountaineers win 2 over spring breakMitchell victorious in 3 of past 4 games BY DAVID PURTELLReporter

MNJ PHOTO/DAVID PURTELLRightfielder Braeden Keller makes a catch as centerfielder Luke Tipton looks on April 20 in Ledger during Mitchell’s 6-5 win over Madison.

2B • MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL • APRIL 26, 2017

Home renovation proj-ects can be both exciting and tricky. Do-it-your-selfers are inspired by de-signs showcased in maga-zines, websites and their own communities. When DIY enthusiasts see a de-sign they like, it’s under-standable that they may want to emulate these looks at home.

Remodeling is one of the larger DIY undertakings, and it goes beyond simple carpentry. Considering demolition, reconstruction, electrical, plumbing, and masonry work may be part of the DIY package, home-owners who are thinking about renovations must first stock up on the tools and other supplies of the trade. Having the right tools can mean the differ-ence between a job well done and a job that needs to be redone.

• Crowbar or prybar: Before you can put in new construction, you might have to get your hands dirty with some demolition. Crowbars or prybars can be used to pry up wood slats, remove nails or remove old decking.

• Tool pouch: A tool and fastener pouch gives DI-Yers a place other than

their pockets to store fas-teners and hand tools. Pouches can be attached to tool belts for added storage capacity.

• Stud finder: Invest in a more fool-proof method of locating studs behind drywall then knocking

on the wall. Stud find-ers can provide a picture of studs, pipes and other hidden items inside an en-tire length of wall. This is essential to driving nails where they belong and can also prevent sending fas-teners into wires or nearby

plumbing.• Level: A level is an es-

sential tool for everyone from casual decorators to more involved renovators. Whether hanging pictures or ensuring molding is par-allel, levels are must-have tools for DIYers.

• Safety glasses: Invest in a pair of safety glasses so no one working on a proj-ect deals with obstructed vision. Safety glasses also provide ample eye protec-tion.

• Extension cords: If power tools are part of the

renovation picture, exten-sion cords can safely extend power where it is needed. Be sure to invest in a gauge that is large enough to han-dle the amperage of your most powerful tool.

• Measuring tape: The “measure twice, cut once” mantra is key to home im-provements. To measure accurately each and every time, no tool chest is com-plete without a sturdy measuring tape.

• Ladder varieties: Home improvements aren’t al-ways at ground level. Pur-chase ladders of various heights so you can safely reach various areas of the home and avoid injury. Step stools, a step ladder and an extension ladder all have their purposes on the job.

• Digital inspection scope: A scope lets you see inside walls, floors and ceilings to find the exact location of pipes, wires and joists. It also can be used to seek out the source of clogged drains or any-where you desire sight into hard-to-maneuver areas.

In addition to these tools, brooms, shop-vacs, hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers can complete a basic toolbox.

Tools of the home renovator’s trade

DID YOU KNOW?Many homeowners have lofty goals for their homes. Such plans may include ex-

tensive renovations or even additions. While many of these projects create beautiful changes in a home, it’s important to consider the impact that renovations can have on property value before beginning a project. Many home improvement projects do not add as much value as homeowners may think they do. In fact, some homeowners “overbuild” for their neighborhoods. This means the amount of money invested in improvements can likely never be recuperated because the house value simply exceeds those around by too much money. To avoid overbuilding, homeowners can ask themselves several questions before beginning a renovation project.

• Will my house be the largest house in the neighborhood? Larger homes tend to have a lower price per square foot, so you may not want to improve to this extent.

• Will the house blend with others in the area? If your house will stick out like a sore thumb, it will detract from its own value and could impact the value of other homes in the area.

• Have I examined the cost vs. value of the project? Many home improvement resources analyze the cost of a project versus the overall value of that project with regard to property value. For example, a $100,000 basement remodel may not add $100,000 to the value of the home in the event you choose to sell down the line. It’s important to know which projects provide the best return on investment.

APRIL 26, 2017 • MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL • 3B

EDUCATIONwww.mitchellnews.com

Twenty Mitchell High School Future Business Leaders of America, or FBLA, students traveled to Greensboro recently to compete at the 63rd State Leadership Conference.

Of the 20 individuals that competed, 13 students advanced to the National Competition this summer in Anaheim, California. The students advancing include:

• Advertising – Timmy Greene

• American Enterprise Project – Kayla Bryant and Taylor Cook

• Annual Chapter Busi-ness Report – Anna Zheng

• Emerging Business Is-sues – Eden Phillips and Zoe Cloer

• Entrepreneurship – Victor Rousseau and Brin-kli Burleson

• Hospitality Manage-ment – Trinity Chandler, Maggie Buchanan & Ade-line Phillips

• Partnership with Business Project – Emily Robinson and Mackenzie Douglas

For the first time in the history of Mitchell County Schools , an FBLA chapter has been chartered at Har-ris Middle School.

Lead by Ella Peterson, 18 students traveled with the high school to compete and learn about the FBLA organization and the event categories.

FBLA students compete in leadership conference

PHOTO SUBMITTEDMitchell High School FBLA students at the 63rd State Leadership Conference in Greensboro.

PHOTO SUBMITTEDHarris Middle School FBLA students at the 63rd State Leadership Conference in Greensboro.

Good news from Greenlee Primary

PHOTOS SUBMITTEDTOP: Students at Greenlee Primary School Tuesday, March 28, had breakfast with their mother, grandmother, guardian or special person during “Muffins with Mom.” BOTTOM: Greenlee students had breakfast with their dad, grandfather, guardian or special person March 30 during “Donuts with Dad.”

Mayland Community College begins a new agribusi-ness technology program this fall.

The program will prepare students to manage agri-cultural businesses and agriculturally related opera-tions within diversified corporations.

Coursework includes instruction in agriculture, agricultural specialization, business management, accounting, finance, marketing, planning, human re-sources management and other managerial respon-sibilities.

Agribusiness is the business of agricultural produc-tion and includes a g r i c h e m i c a l s , breeding, crop pro-duction (farming and contract farm-ing), distribution, farm machinery, processing and seed supply, as well as marketing and re-tail sales.

The sustainable agriculture compo-nent of the agribusi-

ness technology program will focus on agricultural principles and practices that, over the long term, en-hance environmental quality, make efficient use of nonrenewable resources, integrate natural biological cycles and controls, and are economically viable and socially responsible; and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of agricultural and environmental problems.

Coursework includes principles of agroecology, crop and soil sciences, entomology, horticulture, animal science, weed science and management, soil fertili-ty and nutrient cycling, applied ecology, agricultur-al economics, and rangeland ecology and watershed management.

Potential careers with this degree include agribusi-ness owner/manager, agriculture operations specialist, agronomy salesperson, business manager, claims pro-cessor, compliance analyst, farmer, financial analyst, grain manager/superintendent, loan officer, marketer, livestock manager, sales manager or salesperson.

Visit www.mayland.edu or call 828-766-1234 for more information on this program or to register for summer or fall classes.

Mayland starting agribusiness technology program this coming fall

Agribusiness is the business of agricultural production and

includes agrichemicals, breeding, crop production (farming and contract farming), distribution,

farm machinery, processing and seed supply, as well as marketing

and retail sales.

4B • MITCHELL NEWS-JOURNAL • APRIL 26, 2017

This past year marked the 10th year of Subaru’s “Share the Love” campaign. In that time, Subaru and its participating retailers have donat-ed more than $90 million to charity.

During the 2016 Share The Love event when customers purchased or leased a new Subaru between Nov. 17 and Jan. 3, Subaru donated $250 to a choice of charities. Purchasers could choose among the local option, the Manna FoodBank, or from four other worthy causes.

“This marks our third year par-ticipating in Subaru’s Share The Love campaign and our third year supporting Manna FoodBank,” said Janet Brown, of Mike Brown Suba-ru. “While this year’s contribution was less than the previous years’ contributions, our customers had four other very worthwhile options to choose from. We look forward to the 2017 campaign and look forward

to providing continued support to Manna FoodBank.”

For the 2016 Share The Love Event, buyers of new Subarus could choose between:

• Manna Food Bank – our local charity with whom we partnered with last 2 years

• ASPCA• Make-A-Wish Foundation• Meals on Wheels• National Park Foundation Over the past two years, Mike

Brown Subaru’s local charity, Manna Food Bank, has been presented with $15,898 in contributions from Share The Love events to provide food for local communities. These contri-butions have provided more than 48,000 meals, according to Manna Food Bank representatives. This year Manna was presented with a check for $3,056.49 to provide meals in the local market. Including the prior two

years’ contributions, Subaru’s Share the Love campaigns have contributed $18,954, providing more than 57,000 meals to the local market.

“Subaru has a long history of help-ing communities and is truly com-mitted to making a difference at the local and national level,” said Mike Brown, of Mike Brown Subaru. “We also have a proven history of giving back and helping make a difference in our community. We are proud to represent Subaru in our market and join them in their campaign. We look forward to partnering with Manna Foodbank for our next Share the Love event. Not only does Subaru make world class automobiles, but they are also world class in making a difference at the local level.”

Visit Mike Brown Subaru in per-son, at www.mikebrownsubaru.com or visit www.subaru.com/share for more information.

Mike Brown Subaru presents proceeds from ‘Share the Love’ event to Manna FoodBank

MNJ PHOTO/BRANDON ROBERTSMike Brown Subaru presented a check for more than $3,000 April 19 to MANNA FoodBank. The donation was proceeds from Subaru’s “Share the Love” event. Pictured, from left, are Mike and Janet Brown, MANNA FoodBank Chief Development Officer Mary Nesbitt and MANNA FoodBank Director of Corporate Relations Alisa Hixson.

FINANCIAL FOCUS

What does conservative investing mean to older i nvestors?

If you’re a certain age, or getting close to it, you might hear something like this: “Now that you’re older, you need to invest more conservatively.” But what exactly does this mean?

For starters, it’s useful to understand that your investment preferences and needs will indeed change over time. When you’re first starting out in your career, and even for a long time afterward, you can afford to invest somewhat aggressively, in stocks and stock-based investments; because you have time to overcome the inevitable short-term market drops. At this stage of your life, your primary concern is growth – you want your portfolio to grow enough to provide you with the resources you’ll need to meet your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retire-ment.

But when you finally do retire, and perhaps for a few years before that, your investment focus likely will have shifted from accumulation to preservation. And this certainly makes some sense. Even though you may spend two, or even three, decades in retire-ment, you actually have many shorter time frames for withdrawing money – that is, selling investments – from your retirement accounts, such as your 401(k) and IRA. In fact, you may be taking withdrawals every month – and you don’t want to be forced to sell investments when their price is down. Consequent-ly, you’ll want a portfolio that’s less susceptible to market downturns. This means that you may need to reduce the percentage of stocks in your investment mix and increase your holdings in investments that have less growth potential but offer greater stability of principal, such as bonds.

If you follow this formula, you will have become a more conservative investor. But this evolution – from aggressive to conservative – isn’t that simple, or at least it shouldn’t be. If, as mentioned above, you are retired for two or three decades, you will have to deal with inflation. And even at a relatively mild 3 percent annual inflation rate, your purchasing power will decline by about half in just 25 years. This is a real threat to retirees, who, unlike active employees, can’t count on increases in earned income to over-come increasing costs of living.

Given this reality, you will have to find your sourc-es of rising income in your investment portfolio. One possibility: Dividend-paying stocks, some of which have increased their dividends for many years in a row. Still, like all stocks, these dividend payers can lose value from year to year, and they can also reduce, or even eliminate, dividends at any time. In other words, they aren’t risk-free – which brings us back to the question of how “conservative” of an in-vestor you can really afford to be when you’re retired.

In the final analysis, there’s no simple answer. On one hand, you probably shouldn’t be as aggressive an investor as you were when you were much younger and still working. On the other hand, if you were to primarily own certificates of deposit and U.S. Trea-sury securities, you might face the prospect of outliv-ing your money. Ultimately, you’ll need to maintain a balanced portfolio that helps you control risk today while providing you with growth opportunities for tomorrow.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

A tract of land near the Appalachian Trail was one of three parcels purchased in 2016 purchased by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission with the help of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Con-servancy, or SAHC, an Asheville-based land trust.

The 7-acre tract purchased by the SAHC near the Appalachian Trail is in the Highlands of Roan, private-ly owned land inside another SAHC preserve and the Pisgah National Forest.

The tract was a high conservation priority due to its location near Carvers Gap, according to an article in the Asheville Citizen-Times. The property rises to 5,220 feet elevation and has 435 feet of road frontage on N.C. 261 along the route to the Carvers Gap park-ing area within the Audubon Society’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area and the state-designated Roan Massif Natural Area, according to the article.

The wildlife commission owns or manages more than 2 million acres of game lands in North Carolina.

SAHC conserves land near Carvers Gap

PHOTO SUBMITTEDA 7-acre inholding surrounded by protected land just below Carvers Gap in the Highlands of Roan. The tract adjoins an SAHC preserve and Pisgah National Forest.

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