Meeting planned on Research Station’s future

A meeting on the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, to discuss a state report that recommends closing the site.

Known as the test farm, the site is a state operation that conducts agricultural research and experiments. The work at the test farm advances agriculture in the region by introducing farmers to better farming methods, more cost-effective techniques and new agricultural ventures, from new varieties of pumpkins to pest-free heirloom tomatoes to propagating ginsing.

The test farm is 407 acres. If closed, the state would likely sell it. Farmers in the region are up in arms about the prospect of closing the test farm. They say it plays a crucial role in keeping agriculture a viable occupation. The report claims that the state has too many agricultural research stations and doesn’t need all of them. The report claims the Waynesville test farm is “less essential to the system than others” and the other sites can take on the research being performed at the Waynesville site, saving the state money.

The meeting will be held at the Agricultural Building across from the test farm on Raccoon Road. Sen. Joe Sam Queen, D-Wayensville, called for the meeting.

WestCare tourney helps chaplaincy program

WestCare Health System will hold its first golf tournament Friday, May 16, at the Smoky Mountain Country Club in Whittier.

The tournament will benefit the WestCare Health System chaplaincy program, which provides spiritual and emotional support for patients, their families and WestCare staff. The chaplaincy program is led by Chaplain Ron Allen and includes 15 volunteer chaplains at Harris Regional Hospital and five at Swain County Hospital.

Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. with lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Corporate and hole sponsorships are available. The tournament play will be Captain’s Choice and will feature prizes for first and second place of flights, hole-in-one, closest to the pin, putting contest, longest drive and the “Halo Award,” which is a challenge to church teams.

For more information on the tournament call the WestCare Foundation at 828.586.7669 or email michele_garashi@westcare.org.

Bethel Middle holds annual greenhouse sale

The Spring Plant Sale at Bethel Middle School Greenhouse will start open Saturday, May 3, and last from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale lasts May 5-9 and the greenhouse will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Some of the great plants grown by the students available this year are hanging baskets, ferns, bedding plants and vegetable transplants.

The greenhouse is located at Bethel Middle School off of Sonoma Road in the Bethel Community. Call 828.646.3442 for more information.

Free physicals offered to student athletes

Haywood Sports Medicine will offer free pre-participation comprehensive sports physicals for middle and high school student athletes, starting at 6 p.m. May 29 at Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center.

All Haywood County sixth through 11th grade students who plan to participate in a school sports activity for the upcoming school year are eligible to have a free pre-participation physical.

Times for the physicals will be as follows: Canton Middle School, 6 p.m.; Bethel Christian Academy, Haywood Christian Academy and Bethel Middle School, 6:30 p.m.’ Waynesville Middle School, 7 p.m.; and Tuscola High, 7:30 p.m.

Students will need to pick up and complete a medical history packet and parent authorization form at their respective schools prior to receiving the free physical. For more information, call 828.452.8077.

League hosts Mountain Landscapes meeting

The League of Women Voters of Macon County will host a presentation on the Mountain Landscapes Initiative program at noon on Thursday, May 8, at the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin.

Stacy Guffey, Macon County planner and participant in the development of the project, will explain this regional program to help guide Western North Carolina toward healthy growth.

Citizens will learn how they can participate in the process by attending sessions of the upcoming week-long public workshop that will be held at Western Carolina Universtity in mid-May to create a “Tool Box” of planning and development guidelines for the seven western counties. For additional information see www.mountainlandscapesnc.org.

Lunch is available at noon, by reservation. Call 828.524.5192. The program will begin at 12:15 p.m. and the public is invited.

Jeremiah Johnson honored by Harrah’s

A Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel employee who volunteers to teach the art and discipline of Judo to area youngsters and adults was selected from among more than 85,000 company employees world-wide to receive the Harrah’s Entertainment 2008 Chairman’s Award for Community Service.

Jeremiah Johnson of Bryson City is a third shift Environmental Services Supervisor at Harrah’s Cherokee. As a Swain County volunteer, he teaches two-hour Judo classes two days a week, raises money for various local non-profit organizations, and conducts fire safety, drug and alcohol prevention, self-defense and anti-bullying classes for school-age children in the area.

“This is the first time in our 10-year history that Harrah’s Cherokee has had a company-wide Chairman’s Award winner,” said GM Darold Londo. “The Chairman’s Award is the highest honor an employee can earn in the company.

Johnson is a Master Sensei in Martial Arts (Judo) who works with the Swain County DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program, Swain County Sheriff’s Department and Bryson City Police Department, said Londo.

“And when he isn’t volunteering in the community, Jeremiah can usually be found helping 13 employees in his department with their GED (General Educational Development) classes. Jeremiah often attends class with them, helps with their studies, and even assists instructors in providing one-on-one tutoring,” Londo added.

As a company-wide Chairman’s Award winner, Johnson received $5,000 and a gift valued at $2,500. He and a guest also will fly to Las Vegas June 4-7 as guests of honor at a Chairman’s Award banquet at Caesars Palace. The getaway also includes tickets to an Elton John Concert and a special hotel spa pamper package.

Sapphire is the place for REACH spring fundraiser

REACH of Jackson County will hold its fifth annual spring fundraiser at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley from 6:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5.

REACH receives some government funding, but not enough to support both ongoing and growing programs.

“Fundraising events help to supplement outside funding as well as to provide an evening of fun for local supporters,” said Sandy Frazier, Development Director for REACH. “This year’s event is proving to be the most elaborate fundraiser REACH has ever attempted. We have a new location at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley in Cashiers and a new, later date that will allow REACH’s seasonal friends to enjoy the event,” added Frazier.

The event’s theme is “Luck Be a Lady” from the popular musical “Guys and Dolls.” There will be a buffet dinner, two guest speakers, high stakes fun with live and silent auctions as well as a live band to play throughout the evening. Guests and volunteers are invited to enjoy socializing in their 1940- and 1950’s style dress.

Tickets are $75 a person with all proceeds going toward the KidREACH Counseling Center and the Youth and the Arts program.

For more information contact Sandy Frazier at 828.631.4484 or visit www.reachofjackson.com.

Ghost Town opens for 2008 season

Ghost Town in the Sky, North Carolina’s mountain top family theme park, will open for the 2008 season on Friday, May 2. Ghost Town is famous for its Wild-West theme, live-action shows and beautiful setting on top of Buck Mountain, which is elevated over 4000 feet. The park is nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains and is four miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The multi-level, 90-acre park features live action shows, rides, crafts and live music. Musical guest performances, along with a series of cartoon and comic book characters, have been scheduled throughout the season. A complete entertainment and special events schedule can be found on http://ghosttowninthesky.com/Special/upcomingEvents.html.

Things to look forward to this season include the new American music hall and a new gem mining attraction as well as the re-opening of the Cliffhanger roller coaster in June.

Daily admission tickets and season passes are available at www.ghosttowninthesky.com or at the ticket gate located at the entrance to Ghost Town.