Entrepreneurs and owners of existing small businesses from around Western North Carolina shared $7,000 in prize money to help launch or grow their companies during the inaugural LEAD:Innovation conference on April 22 at Western Carolina University.

The Russ Wilson Quartet will host an evening of jazz standards, swing and blues at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

The 18th Heritage Alive! Mountain Youth Talent Contest was held at the Greening Up the Mountains Festival on Saturday, April 25, in Sylva.

To the Editor:

As events unfold in Baltimore, the failure of liberal ideologies becomes clear. We’ve also seen the failures in Ferguson and even going back as far as Watts.

In spite of all the high minded speeches about the War on Poverty, the reality is that LBJ and his liberal camp have always considered black Americans as inferior to other races and we see this in their decision to simply throw more money at the problem which makes black Americans even more dependent.

Listening to some of the black protesters in Baltimore talk to reporters, the problem becomes clear in their answers; basically uneducated and dependent on the government for welfare and a total loss of self-respect. One could go on for hours talking about the various things we saw, such as destroying their own businesses and automobiles, but all of it goes back to one single root cause, lack of education and a lack of self-worth.

I doubt if the educational system in Baltimore is much different that it is in New York so I’ll toss in some information for you.  

Catholic schools in New York City graduate almost all of their black students and in fact some 90 percent of the kids go on to college or some sort of trade school. And, they do it for less than half of what a public school costs. Most of their students are from high crime and poverty areas of NYC.

In contrast, only a little more than 20 percent of the black public school students go on to higher education. NYC public schools are broken but their administrator’s only response is to throw more money at the problem.

To fix the problem, we must face the fact that teachers unions exist for teachers only and to protect their jobs. A teacher who uses drugs or has sex with a student cannot be fired, at least in NYC.  

Obviously, the problem in Baltimore is similar in nature to NYC and lies in the powerful control teacher unions have over education along with a completely useless Department of Education.

Breaking the choke hold teachers unions have on our educational system is the first step. But then we must find ways to restore self-respect, break up the single parent disaster supported by food stamps and other welfare that keep black Americans on the plantation.

Unlike the clap-trap mouthed by people like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, there are thinking black Americans who understand the problem and all agree that the human mind is a terrible thing to waste. Liberal ideology has not and will not work.

Bob Wilson

Franklin

To the Editor:

Imagine that in 2015, you, as an American citizen, don’t feel at home in your own town. You go out for pizza or to get braces for your child, and the TV blames you for all the ills of America. You turn on talk radio and it’s more of the same. Televisions and radios across town send the same message: you are unwelcome, you are bad, you are to blame.

Most of the messages are false. They put words in your mouth that you never said. They attack your patriotism, second guess your every move and motive. The talking heads attack your leaders viciously, lying about their military service, undermining their legitimate authority. If that isn’t enough, there are some pastors in town who have made it clear that you are not welcome in their church. 

Are you supposed to just accept this treatment? You ignored it, but it got stronger and more pervasive. What’s worse is that too many people believe the noise and vote accordingly. The results are trickling down on us from Raleigh and Washington, D.C.

What has happened to America, that this has come to pass as normal? There was a time in this country when everyone watched the same news channels and it was just news, not hate speech. But almost 20 years ago, a conservative ideologue started Fox News and public discourse and policy in America have deteriorated ever since.

We are by definition nice people.  We just want to live our lives without being picked on or bullied. But to bullies, that is like an invitation. So now we have to stick together and fight back. It’s a sad state of affairs that it has come to this.

The seed for this scenario was planted in 1985, when the Fairness Doctrine was thrown out by the FCC. When Congress voted to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, Ronald Reagan vetoed the legislation. Apparently, some folks aren’t interested in fairness, but rather winning at all costs.

In our experience, fairness is always a good policy. Just ask us Democrats and/or liberals. 

Dan Kowal

Franklin

To the Editor:

The people have been told for years, particularly by Republican candidates running for the General Assembly, “We will cut your taxes.”

They have cut your taxes if you made over $88,000 per year. If you have made less than that you have seen no cut and, in most cases, have seen your taxes raised. You may not have a raise in income tax but you will probably pay much more every day for sales tax.

They have imposed sales taxes on electricity, natural gas, entertainment and movies. They have increased tax rates from 2 percent to 4.75 percent on modular homes and manufactured homes (mobile homes) and taken off the cap on the maximum tax.

You will also be paying sales tax for your dentist, doctor, mechanic, electrician, plumber and for work done on service contracts. You will now pay sales tax on farm equipment and if you gross less than $10,000 per year, you will lose your farm deduction.

They have eliminated all personal exemptions and repealed the $50,000 business income deduction. They have eliminated the $4,000 deduction for most government retirement income and the $2,000 deduction for private retirement.

They have also eliminated deductions for premiums paid on long-term care insurance, medical expenses, earned income tax credit and cost of meal plans at colleges.

Who wins from these tax bills? Corporations have been paying 6.9 percent. This drops the tax rate to 6 percent for 2014 and to 5 percent for 2015.  Individuals have been paying 7.5 percent, 7 percent and 6 percent and will now pay 5.8 percent. Figure this tax advantage for those making millions.

Calculate how much more you will pay and remember it when you vote for members of the General Assembly in 2016.

Clayton Ramsey

Franklin

Bradley Letts will have to keep his day job, but the Superior Court Judge will soon begin serving as a temporary judge for the Cherokee Supreme Court. 

William Holland Thomas, a self-made, prominent businessman, a revered chief in the Cherokee tribe, a politician and a colonel in the Confederate Army, spent the final 20 years of his life fighting mental illness. He passed those years, as he put it, “in a mad man’s cell.” No diagnosis of his condition exists, though biographers E. Stanley Godbold and Mattie U. Russell contend that Thomas was possibly suffering the tertiary state of syphilis, which causes erratic behavior and bouts of insanity.

QUESTION: I don’t like to eat red meat … How much protein should I be getting each day and what are some sources besides red meat?

ANSWER: The amount of protein you need each day depends on your age, activity level and also any medical conditions you have.  Generally a sedentary male should be consuming about 56 grams of protein per day and a sedentary woman about 46 grams each day.

A discussion on falconry and the importance of birds of prey to a healthy ecosystem — as well as a chance to meet those birds — will be the centerpiece of Trout Unlimited Cataloochee’s next meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Rendezvous Restaurant in Maggie Valley.

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will kick off its annual lineup of eco tours to ecologically important areas throughout the region with a wildflower hike to Whitewater Falls Thursday, April 30, led by botanist Gary Wein.

The time is drawing near for synchronous fireflies to once more light up the night in the Smokies, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced this year’s dates for up-close firefly viewing at the park’s Elkmont Campground. 

The park has a limited number of passes to see the fireflies from Tuesday, June 2, through Tuesday, June 9. The passes, which cost $1.50 each, can be reserved starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 30, at www.recreation.gov. Typically, they sell out within minutes of going on sale, though the park holds back 85 passes for each day to go on sale at 10 a.m. the day before the event. 

During each evening, shuttles ferry viewers to and from the campground for an additional $1 per person. The prices are designed to regulate the number of people flooding the site at any one time rather than as a way for the park to make money. 

Synchronous fireflies are a particular species of firefly that lives only in certain habitats at certain elevations. For a short window each year, they give a showy mating ritual in which all the males in the forest blink simultaneously, making the forest appear to be lit by blinking Christmas lights. The annual event at Elkmont attracts viewers from across the region. 

With warmer weather comes the opening of a lengthy list of campgrounds and recreation sites in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests that had been closed for the winter. 

Newly reopen recreation areas include:

• Nantahala District: Nantahala River facilities and Wayah Bald.

• Pisgah District: Cradle of Forestry and Lake Powhatan.

Newly reopen campgrounds include:

• Nantahala District: Appletree Group Camp, Balsam Lake Lodge, Standing Indian Campground and Van Hook Glade. 

• Pisgah District: Lake Powhatan Campground and Sunburst Campground, which has vault toilets only and no drinking water until mid-May.

A complete list of spring openings is available at www.1.usa.gov/1HxwN5s.

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have embarked on exciting futures for our hospitals and communities.  

Early this month, we unveiled new names and logos for our hospitals that highlight our connection to Duke LifePoint Healthcare. While this was the first visual representation of our relationship with Duke LifePoint, the benefits of our becoming part of its system began several months ago.

The Western Carolina University College of Business is establishing a new, for-profit limited liability company designed to provide entrepreneurial business, scientific and technical services to help spur economic development activity in Western North Carolina.

The new LLC will replace WCU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which was created in 2007 to serve as a catalyst for the creation of successful entrepreneurial ventures in WNC while providing hands-on learning experiences for WCU students.

The company will increase the potential to generate revenue from professional and consultative services provided by faculty and staff; provide broader access to financing necessary for product development, business expansion and technology transfer; and enhance the potential to generate revenue for internships and other forms of student financial aid.

Once the for-profit entity is fully established, university officials will identify a manager to run its day-to-day operations. Ed Wright, director of the CEI, will be entity’s faculty contact.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.227.3603.

A public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Cashiers-Glenville Recreation Center will take the public’s temperature on a proposed fire tax for Jackson County residents in the Cashiers-Highlands area. 

The county’s board of commissioners has been discussing the possibility of a fire tax for a few years, with the 2013 board even considering a referendum vote. The idea was discarded when it became clear that support for a fire tax was not unanimous among the county’s fire chiefs, but in January chiefs from the Cashiers and Cullowhee districts came to commissioners to say that something had to be done about their aging equipment, growing response time and difficulty attracting volunteers. Meanwhile, Macon County was pressing Jackson for help paying for fire services rendered to Jackson residents in the Highlands area who are more accessible to Macon County’s fire response than to Jackson’s. 

A tax for Cullowhee is not currently being considered, but a proposed fire tax would charge 2 cents per $100 of property value to Cashiers properties and 0.9 cents per $100 for properties in the Highlands area. Currently, Jackson County’s tax rate is 28 cents per $100 of home value.  

Residents can deliver comments, limited to three minutes apiece, at the meeting, or send written comments to Board Clerk Angie Winchester, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 401 Grindstaff Cove Road, Sylva, North Carolina, 28779. Detailed information about the proposed tax is available through a link on the right-hand side of the page at www.jacksonnc.org. 

— By Holly Kays, staff writer

The Proctor Revival Organization will once again honor the history of Graham County May 1-31 with “A Time To Remember” celebration.

The celebration will focus on the construction of the Fontana Dam as well as the deep, pioneering roots of Graham County. The event will strongly focus on the people of Graham County, Western North Carolina, and elsewhere who contributed to the success of World War II by their contribution to the construction of the dam and on how this historical event changed the world as well as the culture of our citizens.  

The power generated at Fontana Dam enabled the accelerated production of the nuclear material needed to complete the Atomic Bombs. The communities of Proctor, Judson, Bushnell and Japan were destroyed and 6,000 residents were forced to relocate and re-establish their livelihoods during this difficult time in American history. 

For a full schedule of events, click on www.proctorrevival.com or www.fontanavillage.com.

A solid marble statue is the newest art installation by the Waynesville Public Art Commission. 

The WNC QuickDraw will be from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville.

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the “Last Shot Fired” at the Battle of Waynesville, there will be a weekend of events May 8-10 at The Shelton House in Waynesville and around the community. The full schedule is as follows:

Haywood Regional Medical Center’s recent decision to purchase the Evergreen Family Medical Center in Canton will keep Evergreen employees from losing their primary care physician and will expand health care services to the entire community. 

Since Evergreen announced in January that it would close the clinic and pharmacy at the end of March, Evergreen employees and their families have been protesting in hopes of finding a way to keep them open.

QUESTION: Why is there sugar in my milk?

ANSWER: When you see grams of sugar listed on the nutrition facts panel of plain (unsweetened/unflavored) cow’s milk it’s lactose or milk sugar. Dairy farmers and milk processors haven’t added any sugar to that milk, it's just the naturally occurring sugar in milk (lactose) that is considered a carbohydrate.

A new edition of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Local Food Guide is out in time for the spring growing season. 

The guide lists farmers markets, farms and restaurants and grocers selling local produce in the Southern Appalachians. It is free at various locations throughout the region. 

New this year is information about farmers markets accepting credit, debit and food stamp payments. The guide also highlights several multi-generation family farms, as well as listings of restaurants, wineries and bed and breakfasts committed to serving local food. 

www.appalachiangrown.org

A $500 grant from the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ Auxiliary will mean some hands-on science for students of Hayley Cox and Noal Castater, both teachers in Haywood County. 

Cox, a fourth-grade teacher at Junaluska Elementary School, plans to use the money for water testing kits, hands-on activities, books and magazine subscriptions. 

Castater, an agriculture teacher at Waynesville Middle School, has already used grant funding to teach his students about hydroponics — a soilless method of growing plants — and will use the $500 to expand his system by snaking 30 feet of PVC pipe on a greenhouse wall for a vertical garden. Students will drill holes in the pipe and maintain the system to grow up to 320 plants. When harvest time comes, students will learn about sales and marketing as they sell the herbs and lettuce. 

Grants go to projects that enhance learning, using conservation and environmental practices. Applications are already open for next year, for which the deadline is Dec. 1. 

Gail Heathman, 828.452.2741 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Paul Carlson of Land Trust for the Little Tennessee was named Outstanding Conservationist in the 2015 Roosevelt-Ashe awards given out by Wild South, an environmental organization that works in several southern states.

Carlson, LTLT’s founding director, led LTLT for 18 years, helping to conserve and protect thousands of acres before transitioning from the role director to senior advisor at the end of 2014. 

“We’re inspired by these conservation heroes who have given so much of themselves to help save wild places and wild things in the South,” said Ben Colvin, Wild South’s development director. “Their stories remind us that the greatest conservation achievements are rooted in personal passion.” 

Heritage Life Skills, a fourth-year event featuring classes in survivalist cooking, self-defense and food production skills is coming up May 29-31 at Haywood County Fairgrounds, with registration rates jumping after May 1.

Appalachian Trail hikers in search of a satisfying meal found it at the First Baptist Church of Franklin this year — 633 of them, representing 44 states and seven foreign countries.

More than 200 fifth graders from Jackson County Schools spent two days learning about natural resources at East LaPorte Recreation Park this month.

The grand opening of the Fly-Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Cherokee, originally intended for May 1, has been rescheduled to 10 a.m. June 6.

The 18th annual Greening Up the Mountains spring kickoff street festival will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Sylva.

The third annual Beer Garden will return to McGuire Gardens with craft beer offerings from Heinzelmannchen and Innovation breweries. The two businesses will also release a Heinz-Syl-Vation Collaboration Ale (blackberry spring wheat ale). Live music at the garden will include Alma Russ, Ian Moore and Dr. Pockets. Entry to the garden is $5, with craft beer and prepackaged treats from the Evolution Wine Kitchen sold separately.

Films created by Western Carolina University students will be screened at the sixth annual Controlled Chaos Film Festival at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee.

Folkmoot USA invites area collectors to its spring-cleaning fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the old Hazelwood Elementary School in Waynesville.

American Idol Season 13 winner and Asheville native Caleb Johnson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

To the Editor:

As a long-time N.R.A. member, I wish to respond to Publisher Scott McLeod about his recent gun control column. I haven’t read Senate Bill 708 so will not comment on it. 

However, his “by the numbers” source —  The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence — has very inflated numbers about guns, as most anti-gun groups do. They simply are not true. If true gun facts are sought, please go to the FBI website or go to www.nraila.org. Most anti-gun groups grossly alter the facts.

Also, most law enforcement agencies support concealed carry by responsible citizens. A bad guy with a gun can only be stopped by a good guy with a gun. Our fine cops can never be everywhere all the time. Seconds count.

How can anyone believe criminals will obey gun control laws? They don’t obey any laws. Criminals are afraid of people with guns and respect them. It’s as simple as that.

Cliff Williams

Swain County

To the Editor:

It appears the long arm of the liberal press has made it to your publication. Scott McLeod’s anti-gun rhetoric (The Smoky Mountain News, April 15, www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/15568) concerning “super permits” (your words) is laughable at best. You failed to mention that these so called super permits would only be issued to highly qualified personnel such as retired police officers and retired military personal, with extensive training backgrounds. These people would only play a first responder role and in no manner would they have the authority of police officers.

 All too often, innocent people die at the hands of crazed shooters, simply because no one is present with a firearm to prevent the carnage. This compounds the tragedy. You can never protect the first person of these mass shootings as they fall victim to the element of surprise. Sadly, because of draconian gun laws that forbid carrying weapons on campus or in hospitals and many other places, other people present have no recourse but to cower and wait for their bullet to arrive.

By your own admission, you state you have never spoken with Sen. Tarte, sponsor of Senate Bill 708, which would allow the advanced concealed carry permit (nothing super here). I simply looked the bill up and got the same information you did online. So it doesn’t matter that other reporters have spoken with the senator, which you used as a source.

 To use the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, (formerly known as National Council to Control Handguns, then became known as Handgun Control Inc.), is not a great way to make your case, sir. The stats you published provided by that organization do not hold water, as no source is mentioned where these stats came from. Typical liberal speak! Just throw a bunch of numbers out there and if half the people reading the article believe it, mission accomplished! The Brady Bunch makes no reference as to where they acquired this information you printed. Why? They made it up!

You were quick to throw in bad police shootings, rare as they are, but like the national media, make no mention of the good shootings by police every day. Your biggest piece of misinformation was most police agencies support stricter gun laws. Fact is, most police agencies condone concealed carry laws. That’s why 48 states have concealed carry laws on the books; a huge majority.

Last but not least, it seems to me you see our most sacred document, The Constitution, as standing in the way of your agenda, which is gun control, under the guise of rational and reasoned debate. It is that very document that allows you to print your opinion and allows you to live in a democracy we all enjoy. Also, you stated the Second Amendment complicates issues concerning guns. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s not complicated at all. It’s quite clear: “a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Obviously law, and the interpretation there of, is not your strong suit.

 In closing, please understand we are at war (remember the War on Terror)? Terrorists’ main targets are civilians, and in countries where guns have been taken away from its citizens, the people become easy prey for these cowards. Why anyone would want to relieve us of our guns at a time in history when we need them most is ludicrous.

A. J. (Duke) De Luca

Otto

A man attempting to rob alleged pot growers and dealers in the Bethel community of Haywood County was shot and killed Friday night.

At least that’s the story the alleged pot dealers have given cops to explain why a man was shot and killed in their trailer. So far, no one has been charged in the fatal shooting, but detectives with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office continue to work through the investigation, most likely trying to sort out who fired the fatal shot and whether claims of self-defense are legitimate or if charges are warranted.

Meanwhile, a bevvy of drug and burglary charges have been made in connection to the events.

The alleged husband-and-wife pot dealers — Michael Hurst, 58, and Lorie Hurst — claim two men broke into their house while they were home Friday night and tried to rob them. 

Lori managed to call 911 in the midst of the robbery. Deputies raced to the home, only to find one of the alleged robbers, Bill Worley, 49, of Canton, had been shot. Worley was still alive when cops got there but died from the gunshot within minutes, despite emergency medical personnel rushing in and trying to save him.

The other alleged robber, Charles Henson, 47, of Canton, had fled the house, but cops searched about and found him, and arrested him for felony burglary.

Meanwhile, detectives also discovered the marijuana plants growing on the Hurst’s property, along with evidence of drug sales being conducted. The Hursts have been charged with felony marijuana growing and misdemeanor possession.

— By Staff Writer Becky Johnson, based on Haywood County Sherriff’s Office reports

QUESTION: My 8 year old child is very resistant to trying new vegetables. Can you give me some ideas on how I can get him to eat more vegetables?

ANSWER: It’s great that your goal is to introduce more vegetables into your child’s diet. The important thing to remember is that it may take multiple attempts to get your child to try a new vegetable – so don’t give up! There are a few ways that you can go about getting your child to taste (and hopefully enjoy) new vegetables.

Swain County students got creative on the theme “Wetlands are Wonderful” this spring, sending in their bookmark designs for a contest hosted by Swain Soil and Water Conservation District. 

After learning about wetlands in class, third- through fifth-graders sent their designs in competition for cash prizes, with the first place winner from each school getting their bookmark printed off and distributed school-wide. 

The winners were:

• Swain East Elementary — First place, Hailey Strickland; second place, Aiyana Toineeta; third place, Emma McCoy. 

• Grace Christian Academy — First place, Brixton Reed; second place, Tazanna Jones; third place, Kirsten Lee Walters.

Jackson County snagged one of eight statewide awards given to individuals and organizations that protect public drinking water sources. 

The county won the inaugural 2015 N.C. Source Water Collaborative award in the groundwater planning category, recognizing its water recharge ordinance, adopted in July 2013. The ordinance established standards to ensure that groundwater is replenished as well as withdrawn. 

“The Planning Board worked hard on the Water Recharge Ordinance with the help of the public and Board of Commissioners. We are happy to see it being recognized at the state level,” said Gerald Green, Jackson County Planning Director. 

Nominations for next year are being taken at www.ncswc.org. 

The towns of Franklin and Canton were among 10 municipalities across the state to win a grant for bicycle and pedestrian planning from the N.C. Department of Transportation. 

Each town will receive $36,000, with a 10 percent match required. The money won’t go to one specific project; rather, it will be used to develop an overall strategy for bike and pedestrian planning. 

The grant, now in its 12th year, aims to help North Carolina towns and cities develop an overall strategy for expanding bike and pedestrian opportunities. To date, $4.3 million has been awarded to 164 communities. 

The initiative is sponsored by DOT’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation and Transportation Planning Branch. 

The Benton McKaye Trail Association recently completed a major reroute of the trail’s path through the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.

Virtual views of some of America’s most iconic places are now online, with Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain and DuPont State Forest among their number. 

Though the wetland bordering U.S. 441 on the North Carolina-Georgia line isn’t that noteworthy on first glance, it’s an ecological treasure trove that Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is excited to have purchased. 

A celebration of spring and its waterborne joys will be held April 24-26 at Nantahala Outdoor Center with a Spring Fling featuring the Hometown Throwdown freestyle kayaking event, Nantahala Racing Club Slalom Series kick-off, a vendor fair, live music and scheduled releases on the Nantahala.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will spend $600,000 in 2015 on projects to benefit the Parkway and the plant and animal life calling it home. Every year, the Foundation collaborates with Parkway staff to come up with its list.

To the Editor:

Thank you Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, for raising my taxes. As with the majority of North Carolina citizens who earn less than $84,000 a year, my total state tax bill went up. Most of the promised tax cuts went to the higher income taxpayers and large corporations. So much income was lost by these cuts that the state budget is now in the red. You have to admire Sen. Davis faith in “trickledown economics” even though that economic philosophy has never been proven to work.

Thank you Sen. Davis for supporting the redistribution of wealth. He supports legislation that redistributes sale tax revenue to “poorer” counties. That could mean the loss of about $1.5 million for Macon County and a loss of $44,000 for the town of Franklin. This is money you and I would have to make up with our local tax dollars. Could it be that most of those “poorer” rural counties vote mostly Republican, and most of those “rich” counties vote mostly Democratic?

Thank you Sen. Davis for making sure the uninsured in Macon County stay uninsured. By voting to prevent Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, he has guaranteed that at least 1,500 Macon County citizens will stay without health insurance. Every time one of these uninsured goes to the emergency room and can’t pay the bill, the hospital charges us more to make up the difference. So you and I pay a higher health premium, and since we already paid for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina with our federal tax dollars, we lose twice.

Now I know what a “fiscal conservative” is.

Louise Vitale • Franklin

A special performance by WCU alumna and recording artist Jeanne Jolly will take place as part of the Friends of the Arts benefit on Friday, April 24, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band drummer Seth Estes, who graduates in May with a bachelor’s degree in music education, has been selected for a position on the drum line of the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, known as “The Commandant’s Own,” in Washington, D.C.