Nov. 24, 2011

www.yanceycountynews.com

Brush Creek - Burnsville - Cane River Crabtree - Egypt - Green Mountain - Jacks Creek Pensacola - Price’s Creek - Ramseytown - South Toe

vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v Nov. 24, 2011 W Vol. 1, No. 46

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50centsHave a Happy Thanksgiving!

By Jonathan AustinYancey County News

The home of the late Dr. Elpenor Ohle was heavily damaged by fire Tuesday afternoon in Celo.

Many county natives were patients of Ohle at the Celo Health Center, where he served as its first physician for 30 years after graduation from Harvard Medical School.

Fire quickly spread in the wood and stone structure, and four local fire departments responded to battle the blaze. Upon arrival, flames were roaring out of the upstairs and the roof was beginning to bow.

Greg and Elizabeth Barrus were living in the house, which is owned by the Celo Community.

Greg Barrus said no one was home when the fire broke out, but that he and his son arrived to try to battle the flames with a small hose.

He said a wall of windows blew out from the pressure of the blaze.Barrus said the community had debated condemning the structure

several years ago but that he and others urged renovation to try to save it.

“The house was in very bad condition. We worked two years” renovating and replacing structural elements, including “floors, walls and plumbing.”

Local builder “Dick Kennedy and his crew put a new roof on it.” Burrus wasn’t certain of the fire’s cause, though he said the family

kept a fire burning to maintain warmth in the home’s large, stone heat mass.

Yancey County NewsOHLE HOUSE IN CELO BURNS

Who’s right in the Mountain Air tax conflict?By Jonathan AustinYancey County NewsThe struggle to find agreement

about the value of properties at Mountain Air and what was to be its masterpiece neighborhood, Sett lers Edge, balances on perceptions, aspirations, and dreams.

Originally, Settlers Edge was touted as the best of the best at Mountain Air, the county’s premier golf and tennis residential development.

Just consider the words of Randy Banks, president of Mountain Air,

in a dated but still accessible online letter to development residents and prospective buyers:

“ The Settlers Edge opportunity is very limited – just 15 spectacular homesites, 10 mountaintop estate homes designed exclusively for Settlers Edge by renowned archi tect Al Pla t t , and 38 condominium homes in an enclave of mountain lodges designed by Cottle Carr Yaw, the firm that conceived the award-winning Falling Leaf Members’ Lodge and Slickrock Village Green.”

See page 5 A sign and the unfinished foundation of a home are all that note the dream of the Settlers Edge development at Mountain Air.

2 Nov. 24, 2011 • yANCEy CoUNTy NEWS

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your Neighborhood

South Toe Elementary School wishes to send out a special thank you to all who donated to our Fall Festival. The school had a very successful night due to the generosity of those listed below. Again thank you from the students, staff and families of South Toe Elementary.

Kenneth SimmonsDorothy PondyKari HopkinsMerri StellaKat MooreRon Moore

Jeff GoodmanHands On! Children’s Museum

Cooper’s Hunting SupplySpringmaid Mountain

Santa’s LandGreen Mountain Coffee and Keurig

Blue Ridge Fitness CenterRio Alden

Price Creek StoreDerek FreemanMountain Farm

Stone Supply, Inc.Kristin TidwellJoyce JohnsonLois Hancock

Yancey Common TimesGinnie & Richard Parmalee

Dixie’s StampedeBuzz Coren

June and Jerry JeromeDollywood

Linville CavernsCanvas on Demand

Knife & ForkRipley’s Aquarium

Cedar JohnsonDave WilsonLoretta Forde

Rob LevinAppalachian Ski Mountain

McWhirter PotteryHeritage LumberBernstein Glass

Navitat Canopy AdventuresClear Creek Guest Ranch

Jason KingGrandfather Mountain

PRO NailsBurnsville Chevrolet/ Buick

GO GroceryMonkey BusinessTommy MayberryMarket on OAK

Mountain View RestaurantSouthwest Trading Company

Mayland Community College Cosmetology DepartmentGourmet Gift Baskets

China WokSoap Shed

Lightning LanesJill’s HairportTan Express

Grassy Creek Golf RestaurantJames Bourne

Burnsville FloristDance ExpressAnchor’s Away

Advanced Auto PartsSimply Elegant

Fox Country StoreEnchanted Forest

Mary Jane’s Café and BakeryDebbie Littledeer

Nancy RothJamestown-Yorktown Museum

Chimney Rock State ParkStampin’ Up

Switzerland CaféJudy Scheckel

Pink CalyxCareen Lovell

Books & BeansGrassy Creek Clothing

Parkway PlayhouseSouthern Appalachian Repertory Theatre

Shear PerfectionYancey Funeral ServicesNew To You Furniture

Lori GougeMelanie’s MeadowTweetsie Railroad

Susan Austin, publisher of the Yancey County News, poses with student leaders at South Toe Elementary School after donating $338 to the school PTO earned from a successful newspaper subscription sale. The PTO has received more than $800 from the Yancey County News in 2001. In total, the newspaper has given county schools more than $1,000 this year.

Nov. 24, 2011 • yANCEy CoUNTy NEWS 3

Observations, questions about absentee ballotsopinion/outlooks

WHO WE AREThe Yancey County News is the only independent

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Susan Austin ........ Advertising/PublisherJonathan Austin ........... Editor/Publisher

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The Yancey County News (USPS publication No. 3528) is published weekly - every Thursday - for $25 per year in Yancey County, $35 per year out of county. Published by Yancey County News LLC, Periodicals postage paid at Burnsville, NC.

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To be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.

I have been enjoying reading through the past issues of the newspaper. I have been reading them in reverse order (which is probably a bad idea, but I was interested to learn about the absentee ballot issue). In the second issue about this topic (the follow-up to your initial report), you listed many instances of persons who had been charged with criminal offenses who had also filed for absentee voting ballots.

You gave the dates of their arrests and/or their convictions or the dismissals of charges against them, but it was not clear to me how those dates related to the dates of their absentee ballot applications or the dates of elections. What is the sequence of events? Did they file for absentee ballots before or after their charges were reduced or dismissed? How closely in time? You need to document the sequential and temporal relationships between these events in order to reveal a pattern which would clearly suggest impropriety.

It was also not made clear whether these absentee voting applications were, in each of, or some of, or none of these cases, witnessed by sheriff’s department employees. (In the first article about this, this aspect was detailed clearly, but not in the second article.) Please do make this clear. Does the sheriff’s department routinely witness absentee ballot applications for other citizens as well, not only for citizens who’ve been arrested? Why? Are they sent downstairs by the elections commissioner’s office to get a witness signature?

Have you attempted to interview the persons identified in the article? An important and thus far unanswered question is WHY are these people (who’ve been charged with crimes) requesting absentee ballots in the first place? Do people who’ve been charged and then had those charges reduced or dismissed tend to celebrate by planning a vacation trip during the next election week? Or do they tend to leave town after an encounter with the local justice system in order to avoid the possibility of having additional encounters with it?

Absentee ballots present an interesting and important issue, and I do hope you’ll follow up on it and investigate even further. E.G.:

1. Does Yancey County have an unusually

large percentage of absentee ballots, compared to other N.C. counties? (I looked into this after one election a few years ago, and it did seem to be the case then.)

2. Does anyone record the postmarks from which absentee ballots are mailed? If not, shouldn’t they? Isn’t the intent of absentee voting to enable people to cast their votes when they know in advance that they’ll be out of town on election day? So are they actually mailed from out-of-town? From where? Is it a random set of locations and postmark times/dates? Or, do batches of them come in with postmarks stamped with a single location and date?

3. Do many of them come in with local postmarks? (If so, why are they casting absentee ballots?)

4. Is there a pattern to absentee voting choices? I.E., do absentees’ votes for candidates in a given race resemble the distribution of votes cast locally? Or do absentee votes tend to favor, say, an incumbent in a given race more than does a random sample of votes cast at local polling places? If so, what possible explanations could account for that difference?

Whew! And I’ve only gotten through five or six issues of the newspaper so far…

An anonymousBurnsville resident

When “Taking Care of Mama” by Mitra Modarressi arrived in four-year-old Mark Cagle’s Ledger mailbox in early October he thought it was just another monthly book selection from the Imagination Library. Right after he was born in the fall of 2007, his Mom, Debra Cagle enrolled him in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, sponsored locally by the Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children. To Mark, this was just the 48th one that he had received and one more really awesome book for him to pester his mom and Dad, Mark Cagle to read to him. What Mark, Debra and Mark Sr. did not realize, “Taking Care of Mama” was the 50,000th book delivered to a Mitchell or Yancey County child from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Little Mark is a huge Thomas the Tank Engine fan. To celebrate the occasion of the 50,000th Imagination Library book, The staff of the Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children put together a goody basket filled with Thomas the Tank Engine themed items. Mark was overcome with excitement to learn that the Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle, blocks and book were for him.

In addition to Mark, more than 1,000 children in Mitchell and Yancey Counties receive a book each month. That is more than 12,000 books per year in the homes of preschool age children. Of course, the Imagination Library’s success is due to the generous contributions of local residents. It costs just $30 to sponsor a child for one year. The Dollywood Foundation and the Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children support the remainder

of the cost associated with the program. Dolly Parton encourages folks to sponsor children:

The seeds of dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world. I hope you’ll agree to be a champion of the Imagination Library in your community. You will be amazed at the impact this simple gift can have on the lives of children and their families.

If you would like to sponsor a child (or children!) in the Imagination Library, please mail your tax-deductible contribution to: Mitchell-Yancey Partnership for Children, PO Box 1387 Burnsville, NC 28714.

The Imagination Library monthly book selections are appropriate to the child’s age and of the highest quality. The books arrive in the mail, addressed directly to the child, increasing their excitement. Whether the child is awaiting delivery of The Little Engine That Could (always the first selection) or Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come (always the final selection), parents know their child will love the book. Mark’s Mother said, “We read the books over and over. In fact, he received one yesterday. If he misses a word, he corrects us.” If you want your child to have the gift of books, please contact the Partnership for Children office at 828-682-0717 or 828-765-5130. You must be a resident of Mitchell or Yancey County and your child must be under age five.

Your child will receive one book per month through their fifth birthday.

Imagination Library celebrates milestoneDebra and Mark Cagle Sr. value reading time with little Mark.


obituariesDolly Cole Payne

Dolly Cole Payne, 79, of Puncheon Fork, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, November 19, 2011, in Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Madison County, she was a daughter of the late Rev. Earl and Lona Fender Cole.

Surviving are her husband: Eddie Payne; 3 daughters: Zetta Rosemary Dobson and Betty Loretta Reavis of Burnsville and Scarlet Marie Clark of Alexander; 2 grandchildren: Maria Reavis and Michael Clark; 2 great grandchildren: Spencer and Elise Buckner; and, a brother: Alvin Cole of Asheville.

Funeral was Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. Tim Denton will officiate. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hendersonville.

Genevieve Allen

Genevive Allen, 91 of Winterstar Loop, passed away Friday November 18, 2011 in Brookside Rehabilitation and Care. A native of France, she was the wife of Lt. Col. Jack Allen who died in 1987. She had been a resident of Mount Mitchell Lands since 1975. She was an active member of the Mt. Mitchell Ladies Golf Association, having won the Golf Championship in the years 1984, 1985, 1986. Genevive was a supporter of the Humane Society and an advocate of Animal Rights and enjoyed Gardening.

She is survived by many friends including caregivers Harlon Parker and Betty Jones of Burnsville, and her dog Mitch.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Yancey County

Humane Society, P.O. Box 1016, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Lyda Woodby HigginsLyda Woodby Higgins, 89, of Burnsville, went

home to be with her Heavenly Father Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Mission Hospitals Memorial Campus. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late James and Alice King Woodby, and the wife of the late Horace Higgins who died in 2000.

Surviving are 2 sons: Horace Higgins, Jr. and wife, Eleanor, of Burnsville and Kenneth Higgins and wife, Yvonne, of Midland, NC; 4 grandchildren: Denise Dunn, Kevin and Kenny Higgins and Diane Reaves; 5 great grandchildren: Alexis and Jordan Dunn, Carson Higgins, Toni Hildebrand and Kelly Venters; sisters: Maude Woodby Bradford and Mary Kampf; brothers: Jim, Bill, Claude and George Woodby; and, several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral was Tuesday in West Burnsville Baptist Church, of which she was a member. Pastor Charlie Carroway officiated. Burial followed.

Donations may be made to West Burnsville Baptist Church, P. O. Box 38, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is assisting the Higgins family.

Melvin Richard Fox Jr.

Melvin Richard Fox Jr., 52, of Micaville, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2011, at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of Bernice Williams Fox and the late Melvin Fox. He was preceded also preceded in death by 2 brothers: Jimmy Dean and Gary Lee Fox.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are sisters: Vicky Moore and husband, Michael, of Micaville,

Linda Hensley and husband, “Cat”, of Burnsville; a brother: Jerry Fox of Micaville; and, several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral was Monday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Rev. David Garland will officiate. Burial will be in the Sol Fox Cemetery.

Rosa McPetersRosa Wilson McPeters, 90, of Horton Creek,

passed away Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Nelson and Lula Chrisawn Wilson, and wife of Arthur McPeters who died in 1986. Rosa was also preceded in death by an infant son: Clifford Arthur McPeters; and, 10 brothers and sisters. She attended Paint Gap Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are her children: Doris Honeycutt and husband, Richard, James Earl McPeters and wife, Naomi, and Louise Ramsey all of Burnsville; 6 grandchildren: Pat Fox and husband Zeb, Jeff Hilemon and fiancée, Kim, Kenny Ramsey and wife, Anna, Richard Ramsey, Cathy Laws and husband, Randy, and Jacquie Hollifield and husband, Randy; 11 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; and, a brother: James W. Wilson of the home.

Funeral was Tuesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Haskie Honeycutt, Jr., Seth Metcalf and Scot Garland officiated. A graveside service was Wednesday in the Westall Cemetery at Hamrick.

John Barry KramerFather John Barry Kramer of Green Mountain,

NC died November 16, 2011 following a long illness. A graduate of Franklin Marshall College and the Episcopal Divinity School, Father Kramer began his ministry in several small parishes in Pennsylvania before moving to North Carolina to serve as the Missioner to the Deaf, where he traveled to six congregations around the Piedmont. More recently, Father Kramer served in Valle Crucis before helping to found new Episcopal churches in Burnsville and Sparta. He also served as Chaplain to the Hospices of Yancey and Mitchell Counties.

Father Kramer trained as a consultant at the Alban Institute in New York and used his talents to assist many area churches in transition and conflict resolution.

Father Kramer is survived by his wife, Carolyn Hackney of the home, sons: Alan Reiss of Hendersonville, NC and John Kramer; daughter, Christine Kramer; grandsons: Ryan and John Christian; sister Cherie Bartles, all of Pennsylvania.

Father Kramer was an avid golfer, who often drove his beloved mountains in all months of the year to find and enjoy as many courses as possible. He helped establish the Cranmer Cup, the annual golf tournament between American and British clergy golfers held alternately in the US and the UK. His humor and wicked one-putt will be much missed by his gallery.

A memorial service in his honor is planned in April, 2012 in Asheville at the Cathedral of All Souls. Yancey Funeral Service is serving the Kramer family.

Donations in Father Kramer’s memory are requested for Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.

The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice and Mountain Medical Arts for their caring ministrations during his final days.

oleta McPeters RayOleta McPeters Ray, age 72, of the Bolens

Creek Community passed away on Saturday, November 19th, 2011 at Mission St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville. A native of Yancey County, she was the daughter of the late Ollis and Arvena Henson McPeters and the wife of the late Roscoe Ray, who passed away in 2003. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Travis Silvers and a nephew, Ronald Morgan.

Surviving are her two daughters: Carolyn Silvers and husband Donald; Sharon Woody and husband Daniel all of Burnsville. Four grandchildren: Jeff Silvers and wife Jennifer, Jessica McIntosh and husband Toby, Jamie Woody and Jeremy Woody. Five great-grandchildren: Katlyn Silvers, Kaylie Silvers, Trevor Silvers Gabriel Silvers and Alieva Silvers; sister, Dorothy Morgan and husband, Harley of Marion; niece, Tonya McIntosh and nephew, Rodney Morgan.

Funeral was Tuesday in the Chapel of Yancey Funeral Services. Brother Binnie Albanesi will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to CarePartners, Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

Rachel Lynnette McKinney

Rachel Lynnette McKinney, 42, of the Bowditch Community, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, November 21, 2011 at her home. A native of Yancey County, she was the daughter of Linda Burleson McKinney of Burnsville. She was preceded in death by her grandparents: Edd and Addie ‘Bill’ Hall Burleson and an uncle, Tommy Burleson. Lynnette was a former employee of Taylor Togs and a member of Bowditch Union Church.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her aunts: Mary Lou Wilson of Burnsville, Meritta Good of Mars Hill and Libby Burleson of Marion; and cousins: Edwin Burleson, Tony Good and Kristyl Mace.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Friday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. The Revs. Ronnie Whitson and Jim Shoup will officiate. Burial will be in the Casie Thomas Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friend one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

To view this obituary online or send a condolence, visit www.holcombebrothers.com

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Banks says development at risk with high taxesFrom the front

Settlers Edge was to be the crowning achievement at this mountain enclave. But then the economy tanked at about the same time the county was conducting its eight year revaluation of tax values.

The bank that had financed the development was shut down by the federal government, the developer was left holding parcels it had touted as million dollar properties, and the tax office had to assign value to the properties.

Tax officials say they used common and accepted measures to value the Settlers Edge property. It had been surveyed as individual lots, they say, and some of those had sold. It had been advertised as a premier development “with its own Concierge, its own neighborhood Caretaker and its own edge-of-the-world spa and fitness facilities,” Banks wrote.

So the county taxed it as such, to the tune of about $22 million.

Banks appealed, and on Nov. 16 he presented evidence arguing that the 2011 valuation was inflated and not reflective of comparable values assigned by the county tax office.

Despite the advertising and astronomical prices, Settlers Edge “never got finished, regardless of the plans,” he said. Other developments in the county -

including some in Mountain Air - were valued at what he thought was a much more valid number, Banks argued. “Tracts throughout the county were not done this way,” he said.

The list of comparisons he presented included properties outside Mountain Air and some inside, including Celo Heights, Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Preserve at Wolf Laurel, and Hawksnest.

According to his presentation, developments elsewhere in Yancey were given a tax value based on the raw land, and that value didn’t exceed $28,000 an acre. So why, he asked, was the undeveloped Settlers Edge valued at over $1 million an acre?

“I think you are required to be consistent,” he said. “In all cases, these properties (he presented) have had lots sold. And (the sale price of) those lots didn’t get taken and used as the basis (for the tax value of) the whole property.”

He continued: “Consistently within Yancey County, the precedent is, until a lot is sold in a parcel it isn’t taxed” based on that high sales price. “A drawing does not make a final deal.”

He argued that elevating tax value of a parcel under consideration for development before the development is sold will have dire repercussions. “You aren’t going to have any more developments,” he said.

“We’ve spent $30 million just getting people to come look at these properties,” he said, but what he sees as inflated tax values creates a disincentive for such efforts. “If I can’t stay in business and bring more of them here, then that stops.”

Banks made similar arguments in appealing prior year valuations on the property, but both the local Board of Equalization and Review as well as the state Property Tax Commission upheld the values assigned to the property. He now has appeals on those before the state Court of Appeals, and most likely will begin the appeal process for the 2011 decision.

Countering Banks is a county tax office intent on applying fair and equal valuations on property throughout the county.

Yancey County Tax Assessor Jeff Boone said the property in Mountain Air was valued based on a ‘schedule of values’ formula that is common in tax estimation.

North Carolina general statutes require each county to adopt a list of market values for the various elements of real property appraisal at the beginning of the county’s revaluation cycle. The schedule of values reflects such detail as per acreage price for land based on the characteristics of the land.

W h i l e h e s e e m e d t o acknowledge that values may seem out of place, “a lot of the

confusion is ... that a lot of the property has changed (hands), which contributes to value increases at revaluation time.

But Boone said state law does not allow his office or the county to change values based on the fact that the owner feels it is unfair. “We need to find out if we can rewrite the schedule of values” if changes are required, he said. “We’re bound by that (schedule of values) until 2016.”

County Commissioner Dale England, who resigned from the county Board of Equalization and Review after the board voted to affirm the appraisal values, said this week that he quit because he has invested too much personal time and effort just to see the tax issue passed forward for a state board or court to resolve.

Mountain Air residents and developers “own less than 1 percent of the land in Yancey County and pay 18 percent of the taxes,” he said, and he said the issue over the taxes could be resolved without additional thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Mountain Air “offered to value Settlers Edge at $100,000” an acre, and they offered $6 million in tax value for common country club property that at other resorts is not valued individually at all, he said. That seems fair, he said.

This December, Parkway Playhouse proudly presents its final production of its 2011 Season, Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity. Come home for the holidays. In this heartfelt revue that sold out three year’s in a row at Greensboro’s Triad Stage, Reverend Roy Ledbetter and the Open Heart Community Fellowship congregation bring the Christmas story to life in an Appalachian setting with down home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. Created by Boone native, Preston Lane and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek, this new holiday musical is a storytelling journey from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus. In the tradition of the medieval mystery plays of Old England, Beautiful Star weaves music, humor and awe together, re-telling great stories from the Bible in a festive gathering of family and friends.

Beautiful Star, a heartwarming and spiritual theatrical performance for the entire family, runs December 8,9, and 10 with performances at the Bald Creek Methodist Church, located at 29 Bald Creek School Road.“The play is set in a mountain church and the opportunity to perform the play in one of Burnsville’s historic churches is a privilege and an honor” commented Parkway Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Andrew Gall. “The atmosphere, location, and message of the production could not be better for what I hope will be one of the most exciting

productions we have ever attempted at the Parkway Playhouse.”

Tickets for performances of Beautiful Star, range from $10 to $15 and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. All seating is general admission and is limited. Advance reservations are recommended.

Show times for Beautiful Star are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday December 8, 9, and 10.

For more information, reservations, and driving directions please call the Parkway Playhouse at 828-682-4285 or visit the Parkway Playhouse website at www.parkwayplayhouse.com.

Parkway presents ‘Beautiful Star’ for Christmas


UARA Racing

Kaleb Pressley carries on a family traditionBy Kassie Hughes

Having a well know name among the UARA-STARS, Kaleb Pressley held his own and finished ninth in the championship points after competing in 11 of the 15 events. The Pressley name and racing just go hand in hand. His father Ken, along with uncles Mike, Charlie and Robert were drivers with much success in their own rights. Grandmother Sadie was known to tear up the track a time or two in the powder puff races at the local Asheville track back in the day. Cousin Coleman Pressley was the 2010 UARA Champion, but it is on the wings of his legendary late grandfather Bob Pressley that he gets his true racing spirit. Young Pressley is a quiet young man with conviction and determination to keep that 54 machine running with the front.

“Our year turned out pretty good, better than our previous runs with the UARA,” says the Ashville native. “We certainly learned and gained a lot of knowledge that will pay off next year when we run for the championship.”

During the tour ’s season opener at Hickory Pressley had his strongest run at the track, finishing seventh. As the next few races went by, the team decided to experiment with different things that took some getting used to.

“After Hickory, we struggled for the next couple weeks. We realized that what we were doing was good, but not good enough,” said the 08’ Newport

track Champion. “We decided to start meshing some old school stuff with new school stuff. Once all five guys were on the same page, we started producing better results.”

Throughout the year, Pressley and the J &W Tires team brought home numerous awards including G-Force Shift of the race at Pressley’s beloved Newport. They were also successful at Lonesome Pine Raceway, claiming the Holley Performer Award for gaining the most positions during the fourth of July Weekend. The second go-round to The Pine, the team won Racing Electronics’ 2nd place award during the Memorial Day Weekend.

Out of the two visits to Kingsport, Pressley won WP Racing Shocks 11th place award and his second AR Bodies Hard Luck Award. The other AR Bodies award was awarded to him at Anderson.

Turning the page to the 2011 chapter, Pressley humbly wanted to give credit, where credit was due.

“I just wanted to thank J & W Tires, my dad (Ken), Sam, and all the guys on my team that helped me this year. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t do what I love to do.”

For more information on Pressley and the rest of the UARA-STARS visit them online at UARA-STARS.com or call (828)692-3833. Fans can also follow the series on Twitter (@UARASTARS) or on Facebook (United Auto Racing Association).

Mountain Heritage FFA had 15 members to compete in the State Dairy Evaluat ion contest on Nov. 17, and eight competed in the FFA Contest and 7 competed in the 4H Contest. Here are the results:

F FA S r. Te a m - Kaitie Bigelow, Whitney Bowers , Ashley Hi l l , and Shane Murphy, finished 3rd out of 69 teams. They finished 2nd out of 11 in the Region. They will be recognized with a plaque on stage at State FFA Convention later this summer. Shane Murphy was the high scoring individual on the Sr. FFA Team, finishing 4th out of 263 individual competitors overall. He also was the 2nd high scoring individual in the Region.

Murphy had this to say about his success, “I was very surprised, but I am extremely happy that I was able to do so well in such a tough event.”

FFA Jr. Team - Nicaela Branton, Luke Gibbs, Allie Gordon, and Blake Tschudy, finished 11th out of 53 teams and 3rd out of 11 in the Region. Sophomore, Allie Gordon, was the high scoring

individual on the J r. F FA Te a m , finishing 35th out of 172 individual competitors.

Yancey Co Sr. 4H Team A - Lauren Evoy, Courtney B o o n e , E m i l y Ray and Montana Riddle, finished 6th out of 22 teams. Montana, first year dairy judger, was

the high scoring individual on the team finishing 8th out of 71 individual competitors.

Yancey Co. Sr. 4H Team B – Blake Elkins, Damian McFarland and Morgan McNeil, finished 12th out of 22 teams. Damian was the high scoring individual on the team finishing 13th out of 71 individual competitors.

“I thoroughly enjoy seeing these

students work so hard and achieve such high level of performance. It is extremely enjoyable to work with such dedicated students. I would like to say special thanks to Yancey County Cooperative Extension Service Director Tres Magner and 4H Specialist Linda Semon for working with us on providing this opportunity to many of these students.

“If it hadn’t of been for their assistance, 7 of these students would not have been able to compete in the 4H Contest. I also would like to thank Fred and Ted Woodby, as well as, the family of Burl and John Austin for allowing us to visit their Dairies, numerous times to prepare for this contest. Also thanks to the many businesses and individuals who sponsor our FFA Chapter” said FFA Advisor Chad Ayers.

Local FFA members compete at dairy test


Bee Log Elementary recently welcomed mathematics professor Dr. William McGalliard from Appalachian State University on Nov. 8, for a “Family Math Night”.

Dr. McGalliard travels around Western North Carolina to promote engaging math activities that families can inexpensively recreate at home. This parent involvement activity involved a night full of math games and family learning. Staff members, parents, and students were all engaged in hands-on math exploratory activities. The event was a huge success and parents commented that they “enjoyed the opportunity to spend quality time learning with their child”.

Bee Log Elementary would like to thank all the families for showing their PAWS by participating and showing enthusiasm toward their child’s education! Thank you Dr. McGalliard for your insight into making math a more enjoyable experience and helping our students to “believe” and “achieve” great things!

Math educators shares lessons with students, teachers, parents

Family math night was a big success at Bee Log Elementary School.

The Yancey Mitchell Board of Realtors had their annual awards luncheon at the Burnsville Town Center on Nov. 11. Anne Rasheed with Blowing Rock Investment Properties was a guest at the luncheon and inducted in 2012 officers and directors.

Jann Godwin with Timberline Properties was presented the Realtor of the Year award by past recipient Sue Stewart with Alpine Real Estate.

Vicki Greene with Tree House Mountain Realty was presented the Citizenship award by past recipient Sandee Terry with Real Property People.

The 2012 Officers and Directors for this are Director Joanne Williams with Spruce Pine Real Estate; 2012 Board President Sue Stewart with Alpine Real Estate; Director Vicki Greene with Tree house Mountain Realty; Director Sandra Whitehouse with Carolina

Mountain Realty; 2012 Board President Elect Dale England with Green Cove Properties; Director Nancy Ogle with Carolina Mountain Realty; 2012 Board Secretary Robin Robinson with Carolina Mountain Realty; 2012 Board Treasurer Debbie Wilson with Carolina Mountain Realty; Director Katherine Owens with Carolina Mountain Realty

Sue Stewart with Alpine Real Estate was presented the President pin by Anne Rasheed.

Nancy Ogle with Carolina Mountain Realty was presented the MLS President award by Sandra Whitehouse with Carolina Mountain Realty.

Outgoing Board President Sandra Whitehouse with Carolina Mountain Realty was presented the President award by incoming Board President Sue Stewart with Alpine Real Estate.

Realtors honor members, induct leaders


An update from your very own new and locally owned pharmacy ...

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We want to say thank you to the community for all of the support you have given us during our first five months of operation. We continue to welcome new customers and to serve our existing customers with great care. We appreciate our corporate neighbor recognizing The Prescription Pad for making a difference in our community through lower drug prices. Give us a chance to earn your business and we will do everything in our power to make sure your experience is different than what you’ve become accustomed to. Customer service is paramount at The Prescription Pad of Burnsville.

We’re committed to making a difference in our community and are looking forward to being able to announce some exciting new programs we have planned for the near future.

We will have additional giveaways during the upcoming holiday season. Please stop by to see what we’re giving away and register to win. They will make great Christmas gifts.

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Winter Studio Tour is coming!Every year the high country

of western North Carolina beckons to new visitors to come take the Toe River Arts Council’s (TRAC’s) popular free and self-guided tour of artists’ studios and galleries. Folks from all over the United States and even overseas make a pilgrimage to seek and buy art right at its creative source, a tradition that started more years ago when a small group of emerging artists decided to open their studios for a weekend holiday sale.

That little tour has grown into a major event. Twice a year hundreds of craft lovers come to the scenic mountain communities of Mitchell and Yancey counties to enjoy the Toe River Studio Tour. Some visitors become so enamored of this “trek with TRAC” that they return year after year. Their tradition of taking the studio tours sometimes surpasses two decades of annual and bi-annual visits.

The Studio Tour take place on December 2, 3, and 4. Tour participants will have a chance to meet with local artists at receptions held on Friday of the Tour at the Spruce Pine TRAC Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m., where an exhibition of all 100 Tour participants is on display. Pouring over the maps of the tour, the visitor may decide to add one or two new artists to the list of old favorites. With their itineraries planned, they head for the hills keeping their eyes open for the red and white signs that studios and galleries post by the roadside to guide and welcome them. December Tour hours are Friday from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over the years, family reunions have centered on touring the studios of the Toe River Valley. TRAC’s executive director Denise Cook recalls “sisters meeting sisters to take the studio tours.”

For other tour takers, the touring experience is about more than arts and craft collecting. Artists love to demonstrate their skills and explain the processes involved; friendships are formed. There is always the thrill of discovering a new talent about to take wing and fly. The Studio Tour closes the gap between artists and public, Denise Cook explains; “buying art at the

source eliminates much of the impersonality and formality of the art market. Buyers can watch work being made; they can question the artists and make their purchases all the more significant to them by what they’ve seen and heard.”

Another useful resource for planning studio and gallery visits is the Toe River Arts Council’s website, which hosts an online gallery of

artists’ work and includes d ig i ta l images , a r t i s t s ’ statements, biographies, and contact information. The address is: www.toeriverarts.org. Further information about the Toe River Studio Tour is available by calling the Burnsville TRAC Gallery at (828) 682-7215 or the Spruce Pine Gallery at (828) 765-0520.


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CHRISTMAS SINGING SETThe Christmas Story in Songs and Scriptures

will be presented by choirs of the community at Micaville Presbyterian Church on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.

The public is invited to attend, and refreshments will be served following the cantata.

I have always considered myself as a hunter. My passion in my younger days consisted of a shotgun and a sky full of dove. I was a decent shot; however my dad was a fantastic shot. I had seen him take a limit of birds with only one box of shells. Add in the fact my grandfather hunted big game around the world and you can see I could easily be intimidated by my family’s hunting prowess. In October of 2005 my grandfather, Papa as he was called, left this world to be in a better place. My dad had never been fortunate enough to go on a big game hunt with Papa, so that Christmas we decided we would a special hunt in part remembrance and honor of Papa, and in part to do something together that Papa and Dad never had.

We debated over different species based on cost, distance, and timing. Eventually we decided on something I would call an American treasure. We chose the great bison, a truly magnificent beast with a history like no other animal in North America. The buffalo, as it is also called, is a herd animal, once nearly extinct but now with sustainable populations that with conservation efforts should never have to worry about endangerment again. We felt like this would be a fantastic first choice of a shared big game hunt. In simple terms we would need to spot a herd, and take an animal.

North Dakota became our destination, as we found a guide who had a large land mass with free ranging bison occupying the grounds. Pingree, North Dakota to be more precise. Although it could be found on the map, we later found out it consisted of nothing more than a diner and a crossroad. We would take the hunt in November, during the Thanksgiving week, allowing me time for the hunt without exhausting all my vacation days at work.

Now I was searching for an identity in hunting. Again, when you grow up listening to the stories shared by my grandfather, and watching my dad nearly limit out before a bird ever gets by his zone of fire so you can pull the trigger, intimidation is immense. During the winter of 2005 I was introduced to the compound bow. After taking just a few shots, I felt a fire inside. Wow! This is what I wanted to do. This is how I wanted to hunt. I just needed to learn how and be good enough with the bow to hunt ethically.

The winter and spring passed and by summer I was more comfortable with a bow than I was with a shotgun. I was consistent out to 60 yards, which was my goal for the bison hunt. I refrained from hunting anything with my bow until our trip to North Dakota, as I wanted the bison to be the first animal I took with a bow.

But as with all good stories, there is always a setback. Mine occurred in late June of 2006. I began having pain in my left shoulder.

Soon, the pain was great enough that I was

losing sleep. I visited several doctors and a rehabilitation facility but the pain would not subside. I eventually got to the point that I could not pick up a 2-liter soda with my left arm. I was only getting about 1 hour of sleep each day and that was with the help of drugs such as Percocet. Finally, one doctor recommended a neurosurgeon in Raleigh for me to see. After a few X-rays, and several attempts at an MRI, we discovered several vertebrae collapsed on a nerve bundle that led to my left shoulder and arm. The pain had driven me to the point of tears, and during the 45 mile drive to Raleigh my wife had to stop the vehicle several times to allow me to get out and ‘walk it off,’ but the other concern was the loss of feeling in my fingers. The nerves were damaged but we were not sure how bad. When the surgeon suggested I have surgery soon, we agreed. When I asked how long before we have it, he responded that week. We had to stop the damage as soon as possible to prevent any permanent loss of feeling, if we were not too late already.

I was not able to work for a couple of months after the surgery, so depression naturally set in. I was not drawing a paycheck, I could not do anything for the most part following the surgery, and I had that one other bit of knowledge sitting in the back of my mind; I had a bison hunt in North Dakota in just a few more months. Late August and early September I decided I was going to beat the pain and get my head on straight. I grabbed my bow, something I had not done since June, and turned the draw weight down as far as I could. I would guess there were no more than a couple of threads inserted through the limbs into the riser of the bow. Even though I was practicing everyday prior with a 65 lb draw, I was not able to pull back 35 lbs when I first started back. But I had reason to prevail. By the first week of November I was not only shooting as well as I had before, but I was now shooting at 75 lb draw weight, and I was

shooting consistently out to 70 yards.Dad and I traveled buy pickup to North

Dakota, leaving on a Friday at 1 p.m. and arriving at 3 p.m. on that Sunday. The only stops came for gas, food, or bathroom breaks, as we took turns sleeping and driving. Well, we would time the breaks when we came to a Bass Pro, Cabela’s, or Gander Mountain. Yes, I did have each one marked on the map. When we arrived in Pingree, we were greeted by the guide, Oren. Just a few minutes after we were shown the house we would stay in, a couple of teenagers came up and asked Oren if they could use the skinning shelter, as one had just taken a small buck. I asked the kid how big he was and the response came “Oh, he’s just a little 4 pointer. I’m going to cut the antlers and make a rattle out of ‘em.” As we stepped outside to see the small buck, we quickly came to the realization that a 4 pointer here meant a 4 x 4 not counting the brow tines. And as far as small goes, if it is less than 200 pounds, it is small.

Afterwards, Oren drove us several miles through the land, where we spotted the first herd of buffalo. I had not envisioned this scene in my pre-hunt thoughts. North Dakota was an absolute paradise of land, and these creatures seemed to perfect to tend it. Another party was to meet at the house that evening and we headed back. After meeting the other couple of hunters and getting to know each other, Dad and I headed to bed, as we would be the first to hunt that next day.

The morning saw a thick layer of frost and a strong blistery wind. The temperature was only 25 degrees, but that was favorable to the norm, where the temps could drop below zero. The high was predicted to be in the low to mid 50s but a wind would steadily blow from the north. I went outside with one of the other hunters to check my sight on the bow. The previous night I had taken a small amount of ‘ribbing’ from the others for bowhunting the buffalo and I was ready to prove myself in front of my new audience. I took three shots from 60 yards, placing all within a three-inch circle. And that was with a 25 mile per hour wind. Redemption, baby!

Oren picked up Dad and I and we headed out to search for the herds. It did not take long to spot a good size group and we decided to take our chances. Shortly after exiting the truck, we proceeded toward the herd trying to be careful of wind direction. Then, in a storm of lightning quick reactions and thundering hooves with billowing clouds of dust, the herd stampeded toward us. Dad and I ran to a large boulder using it to shield us from the thunder beasts. Just as a flock of birds will weave and turn in unison, the buffalo did as well and slowed to a halt near a dry river bed about a half mile away.

See next page

outdoors

Bill Howard’s

Outdoors

Following in my Papa’s footsteps


From page 10This provided an excellent chance for me

to stalk the herd without alerting them. While a herd animal like this provides easy shots from a distance, it can be a true challenge for a bowhunter. It only takes one animal to either see or scent you and the whole herd will disappear to the horizon. I explained to Oren and Dad how I intended to stalk up to the herd. Everything worked to plan as I made my way the river bed, slowly followed the bed alongside the tall bank down to where the herd was located, and climbed the edge far enough to get a reading from the rangefinder. At 30 yards - a distance I was very comfortable with - stood a nice bull. I set down my pack, drew the bow and eased over the edge once again. Just before squeezing the trigger release I noticed directly behind the bull was a female. If by chance I have a pass-thru on the shot, I could hit the other. I let down the bow and dropped back into the river bed. I noticed Oren and Dad were watching me with binoculars, so I hand-signaled what I was up against. After a few minutes, I drew back once again and tried to position myself for a shot. One female had worked her way closer to the bank, caught sight of me, and just as quick as this sentence ends, the herd was gone.

Over a hill about a mile and half away, we spotted the herd again. I had studied bison behavior prior to the hunt, and confirmed it with Oren, that when a bull, especially the alpha bull goes down, the others will attack it. They will begin by nudging it to get it back on its feet, and if unsuccessful, will basically become more and more forceful in order to revive it or show its own dominance in order to take over the alpha role. Since Dad was using a lever action, I suggested he and Oren position themselves for the bull he wanted and I would work my way around to the side of the herd. Again, the plan seemed to work as if I knew what I was talking about. Dad brought down the alpha bull from 125 yards using a lever action 45-70 with iron sights. Dropped him straight down. The remainder of the herd tried to figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, I had worked my way up to 60 yards when the trailing buffalo spotted me. He was becoming anxious and I could tell this would not play out very long. Again, I was confident at 60 yards, and this is the distance I was anticipating. I set the arrow flying and watched as the arrow spiraled to the right and struck the beast true … in the snout of his nose. In my anticipation, I neglected to adjust for

the 25 mph crosswind. Here was a buffalo, somewhat in shock and highly irritated as an arrow shaft was protruding halfway down the bridge between his eyes with blood pulsating outward. The buffalo galloped off. If there is a positive in this, my buffalo startled the rest of the herd, causing them to stampede away from Dad’s trophy. My buffalo also separated from the herd, baffled from the pain, blood, and likely cross-eyed vision. I told Oren and Dad to take care of Dad’s kill, and I was going to follow my buffalo and hopefully get another shot.

After stalking for another mile and a half, the injured buffalo was walking behind a set of mounds with a crevice running between them. This would my opportunity. I jogged to the east, up to the mounds and crouched near the crevice. As the buffalo neared the opening, I quickly ranged the ground for a decent estimate of where the buffalo would cross. When the brown-and-black bison came into the opening, I drew the bow, stood and let loose the projectile. The broadhead struck the side of the buffalo, causing a quick kick and buck, and he took off once more. Then, about 200 yards later, he stopped and lay down. I walked up to him once more. Thirty yards, broadside, laying down and looking at me, I released one more ethical and measured shot. In just a few more minutes, the great beast of lore and legend was resting peacefully in another place, having left this worldly presence.

I called my wife and mother to tell them of the success. I also shared a prayer of thanks. Thanks for the chance to share this hunt with my dad, something my grandfather and dad never had the chance to do. Thanks for the opportunity to experience such a great creature in his habitat of beautiful and fertile land. Thanks for the challenge of the hunt and providing me with such a formidable prey. Thanks for the nourishment he would provide my family for such a long period of time. Thanks for providing the necessary incentive to push me forward after the injury and surgery. Thanks for the memory I will possess until I too, leave this worldly presence. In God’s name and spirit, I give thanks.

Bill Howard is a Hunter Education and a Bowhunter Education Instructor, a wildlife representative and the BCRS program chairman for the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, and an avid outdoorsman. He can be reached at billhoward [email protected].

Seeking a trophy with first arrowBailey honored as top math teacher

Kristi Bailey, third grade teacher at Micaville Elementary School, has been named Yancey County Schools Outstanding Elementary Mathematics Teacher for 2011. Kristi is a graduate of Mountain Heritage High School and Millligan College with a BS in Elementary Education. For fifteen years, Kristi taught sixth grade Social Studies/English Language Arts at Cane River Middle School and began teaching second and third grades at Micaville Elementary School eight years ago. While at Cane River Middle, Kristi coached basketball, volleyball, and softball. At Micaville, Kristi serves as NCAE and NC Wise Representatives, is Relay for Life Coordinator, and is on the Staff Advisory Committee.

As a teacher, Kristi continues to learn by attending Math Partners and Math Foundations trainings. Kristi feels both these trainings changed the way she teaches math and says, “Students must have a true understanding of math concepts. Understanding these concepts helps build a foundation for success in middle, high school, and college math. Using ‘math tricks’ may help students succeed on elementary standardized tests but true understanding helps build future success for higher-level math studies. These math concepts follow stepping stone order. If a student misses a concept, the teacher must back up until the student has mastered the concept. My math class is open, flexible, fun, and hands-on. We discuss and talk about math and the different options and ideas students use to solve problems.”

Mrs. Michele Laws’, principal at Micaville Elementary, says, “Kristi is a master teacher, especially in math. Her students love math and are very successful! I love to observe her math lessons. Students are very engaged in learning and can apply math concepts to new situations.”

Kristi is married to Walter Bailey. They have one daughter, Abbey, a sophomore at Mountain Heritage High School.


CLASSIFIEDS

YHS Pet Press

Call the shelter at 682-9510 for more informa-tion on these or other pets, or plan to visit us at 962 Cane River School Road.

Wildflower is a strikingly beautiful adult spayed female cat. She is a good mouser and loves people!

Lucky is an adult neutered male Walker Hound is active and fun. He loves be-ing in the house and jogs in the park. A fenced yard would be best.

Freckles is 9-10 month old neutered male Australian Shepherd mix. He is somewhat shy at first, so he needs patience and love.

Barney is a large adult neutered male cat. He is a beautiful black tabby on white. He loves to cuddle and he is really sweet.

The Yancey County News

will be closed for Thanksgiving

on Thursday but WILL BE OPEN

9-11 a.m. on Friday.

Have a Happy

To BUySomeone to cut firewood in exchange for wood. Load for load. All hardwood. Must have truck and saw. 284-4682

FoR RENT3 bedroom/2 full bath double wide on private lot. No smokers. $300 deposit. $625 monthly rent.284-4682

SERvICESCrafters wanted for new upscale gift shop in Burnsville. Rent your own booth!! $15 per linear foot per month. Depth of Booth varies. We sell your products – 100% profit of your crafts goes

back to you. Call immediately for your application! 828-678-0059.

MISCELLANEoUSLooking for some EXTRA Christmas MONEY?? Advertise your items FOR SALE in the Yancey County News! Only FIVE Dollars for FIFTY WORDS! Call Susan to place your ad today! 678-3900.Shepard’s Way Thrift Store now has Christmas Decorations for Sale! Stop by and browse our clothing racks for Coats, adults and kids clothing, health and beauty items, Gift baskets, magazines, DVD’s, and much much more! Santa will also be stopping by soon!Give the gift of reading! Subscribing to Yancey County’s ONLY LOCALLY OWNED Newspaper can provide a year’s worth of great information! Only $25 will get your home delivery started TODAY! Call 678-3900 to sign up NOW!


By John RosemondDevon Corneal is an

attorney and a writer. Her essay, “Can You Hear Me Now? Why Parents Can’t Get Kids to Listen,” was published online by The Huffington Post (Nov. 3, 2011). In it, Ms. Corneal carps about her children not listening to her. She identifies the three children in question as “a son, a stepson, and the manchild I married.” She refers to them as “boys.”

For years I’ve said that the most sexist non-joke is told by women who when asked how many children they have include their husbands in the count. Often, when a woman cracks this non-joke, her husband is standing close enough to hear. His response is to roll his eyes and maybe even laugh along with everyone else. He does not storm out of the room, refuse to talk to his wife for several days, withhold affection, or do equally immature things of that sort. He doesn’t even bring it up later in an attempt to point out that it is demeaning and disrespectful (perhaps fearing that she will tell him to grow up and get over it). He lets it roll of his back. Good for him. Or not.

I guarantee that women of two-plus generations ago did not speak in such terms about their husbands. Something has changed, obviously. I propose that the something is the anxiety women now bring to the parenting process, another huge difference between then and now. Not so long ago, women approached the raising of children with confidence in their authority. They tended, therefore, to be calmer and less prone to cerebral meltdown than are today’s hyper-stressed moms. And the typical mom in 1957 had three children; today’s mom has one, maybe one point five.

Another huge difference between then and now: Whereas the mom of 1957 read virtually nothing on “parenting,” today’s mom reads as much as she can. In the process, she allows what I call “psychological boogeymen” into her head. These boogeymen scream at her constantly to watch her every child-rearing step lest

she commit some egregious and apocalyptic parenting faux pas that will certainly doom her child to a life spent sleeping under overpasses, or worse, not going to Harvard.

The boogeymen cause her to believe, furthermore, that any misbehavior on the part of her kids is indication that she has either done something wrong or failed to do something she should have done. For better or worse, it all comes back to her - or so she thinks. If her child gets into the gifted program at school, she gets all puffed up and manages to slip it into nearly every conversation. If he fails his spelling test, she is pursued by the hounds of guilt and tells no one. Thus, I tell my audiences that parenting has become bad for the mental health of women. No woman has ever disagreed.

Stress and anxie ty turn normally rational people into raving micromanagers. Indeed, today’s all-too typical mom is a Magnificent Maternal Micromanager (the ubiquitous 3M mother). She does it all not because her husband will not take any parenting initiative but because she does not trust him to do it right. She even tells him as much on a regular basis. He learns, therefore, to stand aside and do only what he is told to do. In the process, he begins to look like one of the kids - in need of just as much correction as they are.

And so, like many women, Devon Corneal feels she’s married to a “boy,” a “manchild.” Actually, this non-joke reveals more about her than it does her husband, and it’s not the least bit funny.

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers’ questions at www.rosemond.com.

Living

with

children

Beware the Magnificent Maternal Micromanager

Family Land TransfersThese are the land transfers with tax stamps recorded at the Register

of Deeds office from Oct. 17-Nov. 17. The value is determined from the amount of the tax stamp, unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 17, $66,094.90, Susan Benoit, commissioner, and Fidelity Bank, Witchita, Kansas, 3 Rustic Country Drive.

Oct. 17, $10,000, Russell and Tabitha Wilson to Antonio and Juan Guerrero, 1.07 acre, Lot 8 in a subdivision for Marilyn Angell, Burnsville.

Oct. 17, $1,981.99, Donny Laws, commissioner, to Yancey County via Commissioner’s Deed, one acre off Prices Creek Road.

Oct. 17, $2,724.25, Donny Laws, commissioner, to Yancey County via Commissioner’s Deed, one acre off Prices Creek Road. A parcel in Jacks Creek, deed book 149, page 179.

Oct. 17, $2,090.13, Donny Laws, commissioner, to Yancey County via Commissioner’s Deed, lot 7, Sugarloaf Mountain Estates,

Oct. 18, $30,000, the Frances M. Hamilton Revocable Living Trust to Roger B. Grinnell, 3 acres in South Toe township.

Oct. 18, $60,000, Joseph Johnson to Stephen Femiano and Liming Xu, 4.8 acres on U.S. 19, Cane River.

Oct. 18, $23,500, the Ronald S. Tichenor Revocable Trust to Bear Track Enterprises LLC, 3.29 acres in Crabtree township.

Oct. 18, $5,000, Shirley Pate to Cartie Lee Pate Jr., .91 acre, Crabtree township.

Oct. 19, $137,500, Trustees for Halls Chapel Baptist Church and Misty R. Huffman, 5.195 acres and 3.196 acres in South Toe.

Oct. 19, $10,000, Shannon and Jamie Honeycutt and Bobby James Robinson to Foxfire Real Estate LLC, .9 acre off U.S. 19E, Crabtree township.

Oct. 20, $130,000, Ada Tracy to James and Mary Ann Harley, 5 acres on Charlie’s Creek in Ramseytown township.

Oct. 20, $175,000, Sandra Gibbs to Joann W. Collins, unit 1C, Seven Pines Townhomes, Burnsville.

Oct. 20, $280,000, Davy LLC to Robert Brewster and Brenda Bennet, 19.75 acres and 2.135 acres on Crabtree Creek.

Oct. 21, $211,500, James and Helen Ray, to N.C. Department of Transportation, right of way on U.S. 19E in the Crabtree township.

Oct. 24, $25,000, Maxine and Alan Van Cooper to Trustee of the Nesmith Family Trust, 1.58 acre on NC state road 1113.

Oct 25, $75,000, heirs of Willie Dale Autrey to David Autrey and Martha Autrey, 1.37 acre on Upper Brown’s Creek Road, South Toe township.

Oct. 26, $240,000, Sarah Weiss Powell Revocable Trust to Fern Powell, Crabtree township.

Oct. 27, $6,500, Susan Hayden to Michael E. Rutkowsky, ½ interest in .87 acre and 1.42 acre on Bald Creek, Cane River township.

Oct. 28, $20,000, Janina Carpenter and Joseph Riddle to Charles and Sadie Dubois, 1 acre on State Road 1155, South Toe township.

Oct. 31, $7,500, Wolf Laurel Property Owners Association to Michael and Beth Sheerin, Lot 143, Wolf Laurel Heights.

Nov. 2, $158,000, Paul and Judith Ewing to Mets Clinical Division, Inc., 2 acres, Sled Runner Road.

Nov. 2, $100,000, heirs of Joann Bradford Hicks to James William Winders, .49 acre, Mountain View Drive.

Nov. 3, $4,67.63, Donny Laws, commissioner to Norman Rabek, 270 Tearshirt Lane, Mars Hill.

Nov. 4, $295,000, William and Susan Allen to J. Lee Lehman and Margaret Meister, lot 20, Mount Mitchell Lands West, South Toe township.

Nov. 4, $238,000, Louis and Mary Johnson to Lynda and Lawrence Blelloch, 37.14 acres off Dover Branch Road, South Toe.

Nov. 7, $107,000, Brian and Linda Knopp to Michael and Teal Fyrberg, 8.91 acees off Riddle Branch, Egypt township.

Nov. 8, $130,000, the Dan Fox Thompson and Camille M. Thompson Trust Agreement to Margaret Carroll, 1.44 acre in Green Mountain township.

Nov. 8, $10,000, Wolf Laurel Property Owners Association to Gary Frese, Lot 4, Overlook Village.

Nov. 9, $1,050, The Joint Revocable Trust of John T Moore and Jani Moore to Lewis M. Gill Jr., unit 4, Hemlock Bluff Villas Condominium, Mountain Air Country Club.

Nov, 9, $4,500, Shoal Pond Land LLC to the Jaume Family Revocable Living Trust, 1.3 acre, Crabtree township.

Nov. 10, $100,000, Howard Peterson to Morris Lee Peterson and Brenda Peterson, three tracts in Grand View Addition, town of Burnsville.

Nov. 15, $33,500, the heirs of Joan Hooker to Kevin Fizgerald, 2.661 acres on Bear Pen Road.

Nov. 15, $290,500, Dennis and Toni Hawthorn to George Jr. and Gail Hartman, lot 45, South Turkey Toe Rover Development.

Nov. 16, $47,000, Wells Fargo Bank to Raymond and Dyana Hagmaier, lot 148, Rockyknow, Mountain Air Country Club.

Nov. 17, $46,000, US Bank to Donald and Deborah Herman, 8.4 acres, 9933 Double Island Road, Green Mountain.

Nov. 17, $30,000, Ben and Earlene Hensley to Michael and Heather Dale, 2 acres in Burnsville.

The Annual Winterfest Non-Profit day at Burnsville Town Center is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Residents and businesses are invited to join the following non-profit organizations to display your goods and services:Beacon of the Hill Church – Women Helping Other Women – Sacred Heart Ladies Guild – Yancey County Humane Society – Knights of Columbus Council #12233 – Messiah of the Mountain Lutheran Church – U-Turn Ministries – Saint Andrews Ladies Guild – Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center.Space is limited and there is no charge for your table or set up. Call Kathleen Holstein at 682-7477 to reserve your space or for additional information.


You’ve been paying too much for too long!

If you are tasked with the job of being the executor for the estate of a loved one, please

realize that the legally requirednotice that must run in the newspaper can

be run in the

For MUCH LESS money! Save the money, and support the only locally owned

newspaper in Yancey County!

We are not owned by an out-of-statebusinessman. We are locally owned, and we

are TOTALLY qualified to run yourCreditor’s Notices. Just remember to ask the clerk of court for details on how to spend

less money in your time of sorrow.

Yancey County News

Take care of your car and it will take care of you! Allen Teague’s Auto Repair & Radiator Service. Radiators, Brakes,

Transmission flush. Complete automotive maintenance and repair. “Service is our Business.” 5865 Hwy. 80 S – just past South Toe VFD. 675-0876 – 32 years experience. Reliable & Trustworthy.


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develop good language skills!

Teachers and principals! Share your good news here, for all to see! Email school news to [email protected]

Food for thought for middle school

BreakfastPancakesCereal

Animal CrackersJuice/Fruit/Milk

LunchChix Fillet San’wich/

Meatball Sub/Sunbut’r w/jelly San’wich/Mix’d Veggies/Potato rounds/Baked

Apples/Pineapple Bits/Milk

Monday, Nov 28 Tues Nov 29 Wed Nov 30 Thurs Dec 1 Friday, Dec 2

BreakfastScrambled Eggs/

ToastCereal


LunchSloppy Joe San’wich/Cheese Quesadilla/

Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/

CaliVeggies/Pinto Beans/Peaches/Pears/

Milk

BreakfastPancakes & Sausage

StickCereal


LunchLasgna/Roll/Grilled

Chix San’wich/Sunbutter w/Jelly San’wich/Salad/Corn/Fruit/Fruit

CocktailMilk

BreakfastBreakfast Pizza

CerealAnimal CrackersJuice/Fruit/Milk

LunchBBQ Rib San’wich/

Fish Sandwich/Sunbut’r w/

Jelly San’wich/Cole Slaw/Baked

Beans/Applesauce/Mandarin Oranges/

Milk

BreakfastSausage Biscuit


LunchChix Taco Salad/

Corn Dog/Sunbut’R w/jelly San’wich/

Salad/Peas/Peaches/PearsMilk

What’s to eat at the elementary schools?

BreakfastChix Biscuit/Biscuit

w/JellyCereal


LunchSloppy Joe San’wich/Cheese Quesadilla/Stuff’d Crust Pizza/CaliVeggies/Pinto

Beans/Peaches/Pears/Milk

BreakfastPancakes & Sausage Stick/Breakfast Pizza


LunchLasgna/Roll/Grilled Chix San’wich/Chix Tenders/Salad/Corn/Fruit/Fruit Cocktail

Milk

BreakfastBreakfast Pizza/

WafflesCereal



Fish San’wich/Stuffed Crust

Pizza/Slaw/Baked Beans/Applesauce/Mandarin Oranges/

Milk


PancakesCereal


Lunch Chix Taco Salad/Corn Dog/Chix

Quesadilla/Salad/Peas/Peaches/Pears

Milk


PancakesCereal


LunchChix Fillet San’wich/Meatball Sub/Chix

Fingers/Biscuit/Mix’d Veggies/

Potato rounds/Baked Apples/Pineapple

Bits/Milk

BreakfastChix Biscuit/Biscuit

w/JellyCereal


LunchSloppy Joe San’wich/Cheese Quesadilla/Stuff’d Crust Pizza/CaliVeggies/Pinto

Beans/Peaches/Pears/Milk

BreakfastPancakes & Sausage Stick/Breakfast Pizza


LunchLasgna/Roll/Grilled Chix San’wich/Chix Tenders/Salad/Corn/Fruit/Fruit Cocktail

Milk


WafflesCereal



Fish San’wich/Stuffed Crust

Pizza/Slaw/Baked Beans/Applesauce/Mandarin Oranges/

Milk


PancakesCereal


Lunch Chix Taco Salad/Corn Dog/Chix

Quesadilla/Salad/Peas/Peaches/Pears

Milk


PancakesCereal


LunchChix Fillet San’wich/Meatball Sub/Chix

Fingers/Biscuit/Mix’d Veggies/

Potato rounds/Baked Apples/Pineapple

Bits/Milk

Chowing down at Mountain Heritage

Monday, Nov 28 Tuesday, Nov 29 Wed., Nov 30 Thurs., Nov Dec 1 Friday, Dec 2

Monday, Nov 28 Tuesday, Nov 29 Wed., Nov 30 Thurs., Dec 1 Friday, Dec 2

Friday, Nov 25

Happy Thanksgiving

from the Yancey County

News!!

Happy Thanksgiving


News!!

Friday, Nov 25

Happy Thanksgiving


News!!

Friday, Nov 25


UNC Health CarePeople like to gripe about overly

dry turkey on Thanksgiving. But nothing’s worse than a bird that goes up in flames.

Ernest Grant, RN, MSN, director of burn prevention and community outreach at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, said that UNC Hospitals admits one or two people each Thanksgiving with burns related to deep-frying a turkey. Deep-fried-turkey mishaps have also caused local house and garage fires, he said.

Last year, Underwri ters Laboratories, a consumer product safety organization, declined to endorse any turkey fryers because of widespread safety problems. For example, many fryers tip over easily, spilling dangerously hot oil. Most units don’t have thermostats, which means that oil can overheat and catch fire. (Watch fryers catch fire in this Underwriters Laboratories video.)

Some people fail to completely thaw a turkey before placing it in a fryer, Grant said. Because oil and water don’t mix, placing a frozen turkey in a fryer can cause ultra-hot grease to bubble all over

the place.“If done properly, you get a

very nice, tasty bird,” he said. But to avoid serious injury or property damage while deep-frying a turkey, you must use extreme caution.

To stay safe, Grant said it’s wise to leave deep-frying to the professionals. For example, Bojangles’ and several grocery chains offer fried turkeys that can be ordered for the holiday.

If you’re determined to fry the turkey yourself, Grant offered these safety tips:

• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and patted dry.

• Use peanut or cotton seed oil, which can tolerate very hot temperatures.

• Even though it’s likely to be cold on Thanksgiving, cook the turkey outside, such as on a driveway away from other objects. Don’t use the fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck or patio.

• Fryer handles can get extremely hot, so use oven mitts while you’re handling it.

Even if you’re cooking a turkey the traditional way, you should still take precautions, Grant said.

For example, some people use a flimsy aluminum pan to bake a turkey. Such pans can bend when you take them out of the oven, spilling hot juices on your hands.

To avoid injuries, Grant advised following these steps:

• Wear oven mitts that go past the wrist to protect your hands and arms from spills.

• Create a “safety zone” that extends three feet in front of the oven. Tell children not to enter that zone while the oven is on.

• Leave plenty of time for cooking so that you don’t need to rush.

• Keep a small fire extinguisher near the stove.

• If a pan catches fire, cover it with a lid to starve the fire of oxygen. Turn off the stove. Don’t try to take the pan outside, because you could trip or injure another person.

• If you’re not able to extinguish a fire within 30 seconds, it’s time to leave and call 911.

Another health hazard on Turkey Day is the bacteria lurking in your bird.

You should assume that any raw fowl contains salmonella,

said David Weber, MD, MPH, professor of infectious diseases and pediatrics in the UNC School of Medicine, and professor epidemiology in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Yes, turducken lovers – that means that your turkey, duck and chicken may each be contaminated.

To reduce your risk, follow these steps.

• Every time you cut raw meat on a cutting board or plate, disinfect it before you use it to cut items that will not be cooked. Put it in the dishwasher or wash it with a disinfectant.

• Avoid using a cutting board with a porous surface, such as wood.

• Prepare vegetable dishes, such as salads, before you handle the meat to avoid cross-contamination.

• Defrost the turkey in the fridge, not on the counter. Defrosting may take 24 hours or longer, so buy your turkey in advance.

• Use a meat thermometer to make sure the bird reaches the proper temperature: 165 degrees for at least five minutes.

Don’t let a turkey ruin your Thanksgiving Day

Celo Trails

Electric service available • ample well and septic options • planned access for horse trailers • builder recommendations • deed restrictions

Do you dream of a private Celo vacation site near some of the best riding trails

in the country? A place where a horse is the preferred mode of transportation? A place with a community barn, paddock, and grazing space just steps from your door?

Do you seek life lived harmoniously with the land amid the stunning landscape and

breathtaking views of the Black Bros. range?

Make the dream a reality at Celo Trails, a development of homesites situated

amongst generations-old laurel and hardwoods just an amble away from the South Toe River and its pristine trout waters. Each property is defined not by a surveyor’s grid but by nature. Trails tie the sites together for afternoon rides and socializing, with easy access to the stable, paddock, and managed grazing space.Priced from the mid-50s.

Email: [email protected]

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Nov. 24, 2011