Needy get more money for heating aid

Low-income families in Swain County that rely on financial assistance to heat their homes may be able to turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees this winter if fuel prices remain moderate.

Heating assistance is capped at $300 per household per winter.

“When the fuel prices are up really high, that’s less fuel for the customer,” explained Kim Cunningham, who manages the heating assistance program with the Swain County Department of Social Services.

Cunningham has two pots of heating assistance money at her disposal. Money from the state helps the elderly and disabled. A second pot, provided by Foundation for the Carolinas and Duke Energy’s Share the Warmth program, is used to help low-income families with children.

Last year, the Foundation for the Carolinas gave out $200 per family. This year it was upped to $300 per family.

A second factor in how far the funds go is the weather. It’s hard to tell exactly where the winter stands so far on that front.

“It actually did get cooler earlier this year. Normally we have one or two days of cold weather and then it warms up again,” Cunningham said. “We released funding earlier this year than we normally do.”

But a couple of late warm spells could negate the early cold snap in total number of cold days. If a particularly cold winter strikes, the state will give out a second round of funding, Cunningham said.

“It allows us to assist one more time, but we never know year to year,” Cunningham said.

— By Becky Johnson

Haywood CCC seeking award nominees

The Commission for a Clean County is asking for nominations of businesses, civic organizations, community clubs, schools, adults and children of school age for its sixth annual “Community Pride” awards program.

The awards are given to honor extra special efforts to control litter, recycle, minimize waste and beautify the surroundings.

This year a new category of “school age children” is being added. Children, individually or in Scout groups, are eligible for this award.

An award ceremony will be held in February at the Waynesville Country Club where winners in all categories will be honored.

Entry forms are at all Haywood County town halls and the chamber of commerce office. You may also request that an entry form by calling CCC Secretary JoAnna Swanson at 828.452.1550.

Maggie Valley Club hires new manager

Richard Brucki has joined Maggie Valley Club as general manager. Brucki brings with him an extensive background in club management, and his addition contributes to the renaissance taking place at the club.

Brucki came to Maggie Valley Club after a year as GM of Columbia Country Club in Columbia, S.C. Prior to that, he spent seven years as general manager of Providence Country Club in Charlotte, and held the same post from 1996-98 at the Old North State Club in New London, N.C. Earlier in his career, Brucki was GM at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, N.C.

“We wanted a veteran general manager with the best experience possible, and Richard Brucki was the perfect fit,” said Peter Dejak of Signet Golf Associates, which manages Maggie Valley Club. “He’s very positive and team-oriented. His approach to our organization has been very valuable, and he will set a high standard as we move forward.”

Brucki will oversee all day-to-day operations of the club, golf shop, golf maintenance department, and food and beverage department. He will also be in charge of the club’s resort rental program as well as facility maintenance, accounting and administration.

“I am thrilled to be here. The owners are very committed to making this a first-class operation,” said Brucki. “We have an excellent staff to build what I think is going to be something very special.”

For information call 866.659.4725 or visit www.maggievalleyclub.com.

Sounds of Jackson County on sale

An album created to raise funds for the construction of a new Jackson County Library called The Sounds of Jackson County is now on sale.

The albums, which feature local musical talent from all genres, are being offered five for $5 each. The albums can be found at City Lights Book Store, Sylva Insurance and Riverwood Pottery. They also may be purchased by calling Linda Watson 818.631.4784. The sale ends Dec. 24.

Maggie Valley Lights contest starts Dec. 1

The first annual Maggie Valley Lights competition will start Dec. 1. More than 24 businesses and homes have signed up to participate to be part of the decorating competition, judging will be by residents and guests to Maggie.

There will be prizes for first, second and third place in the amounts of $500, $300 and $200, respectively. The prizes will be announced the second week of January and will be posted at the Maggie Valley Visitor’s Bureau office on Soco Road and published in the Waynesville Mountaineer. Donations are being accepted and proceeds will be used to decorate the town in the future.

Ballots can be picked up at participating businesses and can be dropped off at Maggie Valley Area Visitor’s Bureau, Legends Sports Grill, Teague’s, Jelly Bellies, Joey’s Pancake House, Smackers, Country Vittles, Maggie Mountaineer Crafts, BB&T, and Snappy’s.

Ballots must include the voter’s name and address to be counted. Voters are asked to consider creativity and visual impact, not just the amount of lights displayed.

For more information contact Michael Meissner at 828.926.4320.

WCU folk life series to show ‘Rank Strangers’

The “Telling Mountain Stories” fall folk life series will continue at Western Carolina University on Tuesday, Dec. 5, with a screening of the documentary film “Rank Strangers: The Story of Mrs. Hyatt’s OpraHouse,” a performance by the Hominy Valley Boys, and a display of photographs by Ken Abbott.

Opening the free program at 5:30 p.m. will be the Hominy Valley Boys, a traditional music band composed of two sets of brothers who are featured on the “Rank Strangers” soundtrack – Cliff and Matt Wright of Haywood County and Ben and Mike Rathbone of Buncombe County.

The film, a creation of Rod Murphy and Scott B. Morgan, examines the entertaining and poignant connections that make up the typical American community gathering. Shot on location in Asheville, the production tells the story of a tradition of musical gatherings that began more than 50 years ago, and which continues to this day.

A selection of images from “Rank Strangers” that were taken by visual artist Ken Abbott, a visiting instructor of photography at WCU, will be on display in the museum lobby through Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The program will be held in the auditorium of WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center, which is located on the ground floor of WCU’s H.F. Robinson Administration Building. For more information, call 828.227.7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.

Luminaria ceremony to honor cancer victims

Lake Junaluska will host a special luminaria ceremony at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 to honor those lost to cancer.

The ceremony will begin outside Stuart Auditorium immediately following the annual Lake Junaluska holiday concert. The Cockman Family will provide musical entertainment.

Pastor Jim Thurman will conduct a memorial service for the luminaria ceremony. Special gold luminarias may be purchased in advance or on the spot for $25, which also includes a white luminaria that can be used at Waynesville’s culminating Relay for Life event May 11-12, 2007.

County looks to Queen to get funding for HCC

Haywood County commissioners are seeking permission from the state legislature to hold a countywide vote on whether to enact a half-cent sales tax to raise money for additions at Haywood Community College.

The commissioners already asked the state legislature once, but it was blocked by Sen. Keith Presnell, R-Burnsville, who represented Haywood County in the Senate for the past two years. Presnell was opposed to the measure because he didn’t support a tax increase.

Presnell was defeated this fall by Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, who said he is committed to helping the county fund HCC improvements if that’s what the people of Haywood County vote for. Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, had gotten the legislation passed in the state House of Representatives, but it also had to pass the state Senate.

Haywood County commissioners became miffed with Presnell since they weren’t asking Presnell to raise taxes, but to give the county autonomy to hold a countywide vote on whether to raise the tax.

“I am a little concerned with his ideology being so rigid it would not even allow the citizens of Haywood County to make their own decision regarding a half-cent sales tax for the community college,” County Commission Chairman Mark Swanger said of Presnell during the campaign this fall.

Commissioners voted this week to try the measure again.

“We have a new legislative delegation in Raleigh,” Swanger said, referring to Queen.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley, a Republican, said a measure to help HCC should not be viewed as partisan.

“It is the engine that drives the economy,” Ensley said of HCC. If the improvements can’t be paid for with a temporary sales tax, the county will have to foot the bill from property taxes, Ensley said.

— By Becky Johnson