http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com?source=rss Latest Staff Storys posted to The Mountaineer. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:30 EDT Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:30 EDT en-us Copyright 2011 Mountaineer Publishing http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/may-22-is-pesticide-disposal-collection-day-in-haywood/1002986?source=rss ]]> North Carolina Cooperative Extension and North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services will co-sponsor a Pesticide Collection Day for the public on Wednesday, May 22, at the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center on Raccoon Road. On the collection day, we can collect any pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.) that are in original containers and are clearly labeled. There is ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/may-22-is-pesticide-disposal-collection-day-in-haywood/1002986 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:07:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (Staff) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/medwest-seeks-capital-partner/1002296?source=rss At its meeting on May 13, 2013, the MedWest governing board voted unanimously to explore alignment with a capital partner. As part of the action taken, the board established the following objectives that will guide its exploration: • Secure the MedWest hospitals’ long-term stability and financial viability • Elevate and promote the quality of local healthcare services to the communities we serve • Make needed ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/medwest-seeks-capital-partner/1002296 Tue, 14 May 2013 22:59:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (Staff) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/canton-hosts-relay-for-life-may-17/1002240?source=rss ]]> Sneakers, sleeping bags and cancer education? It must be the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, a 12-hour event to celebrate survivorship and raise funds for cancer research, education, advocacy and services. Relay For Life will be held at the Canton Recreational Park from 6 to 6 a.m. Friday May 17 into the morning of Saturday, May 18. The Relay For Life brings together teams from local businesses, ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/canton-hosts-relay-for-life-may-17/1002240 Tue, 14 May 2013 17:26:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (Staff) Briefs http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/memorial-day-ceremony-planned-at-historic-courthouse/1000608?source=rss Haywood County veterans, family members and friends are invited to a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m., Monday, May 27, at the Historic Courthouse in Waynesville. The event is sponsored by the Haywood County Veterans Council and the Haywood County Veterans Services Office. Salem Wyatt, a Haywood County native and U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and Germany, will be the keynote speaker. Wyatt’s military ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/memorial-day-ceremony-planned-at-historic-courthouse/1000608 Tue, 14 May 2013 03:49:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (Haywood County Public Information Office) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/tax-hike-explored-for-school-safety/1000502?source=rss ]]> The possibility of raising taxes to improve school safety is still on the table as county and school leaders discuss their priorities. County commissioners, school board members and law enforcement representatives held a joint meeting Thursday evening to hear public comment and find some direction on the issue before drafting next year’s budget. The school board recently requested funding for eight new employees, ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/tax-hike-explored-for-school-safety/1000502 Mon, 13 May 2013 01:50:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (DeeAnna Haney) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/military-salute-photo-contest-to-run-on-facebook-in-may/999599?source=rss ]]> Get your photos ready. The Mountaineer is running a military salute picture contest on Facebook in May, with entries accepted from May 13 to 17 — or until there are 50 entries, whichever comes first. No photos will be accepted before Monday, May 13. Readers should email a jpeg of one photo, full name of people (or person) pictured and when the photo was taken to: lifestyles@themountaineer.com. One entry per ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/military-salute-photo-contest-to-run-on-facebook-in-may/999599 Wed, 08 May 2013 16:34:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (Staff) Around the County http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/camp-hope-trial-under-way/998821?source=rss ]]> A jury in the civil battle over the future of Camp Hope was selected Tuesday afternoon, and the five-men, seven- women group will determine the fate of Canton’s historic property. Town leaders are fighting to keep about 100 acres that has been open and free to the community since 1926. An Asheville couple is seeking to obtain the property after receiving reverter rights when they purchased a tract of land ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/camp-hope-trial-under-way/998821 Tue, 07 May 2013 06:00:00 EDT news@themountaineer.com (DeeAnna Haney) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/950514?source=rss ]]> It doesn’t matter if you’re leaving town for a day or a decade; the problem is always the same. There is only so much time. I am an eternal optimist, always thinking I’ll get things done in advance and that I’ll be sitting pretty by the time I’m set to leave. In reality, of course, I’m usually shoving the damp clothes I didn’t have time to fully dry into a bag as I head out the door. I’m sure my leaving Waynesvill... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/950514 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:40:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Arts & Entertainment http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/pickin-through-the-winter/950497?source=rss ]]> CANTON — When the weather turns warm in Haywood County, people know where to turn for their mountain music and dance fix. Every Friday, all summer long, pickers and singers and cloggers meet at Canton's Rec Park for a few hours of listening, visiting and jamming. For more than two decades, Pickin’ in the Park has been quite the party, with a diverse, all-ages group and a vitality that can't be beat. It's a big ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/pickin-through-the-winter/950497 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 05:09:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Arts & Entertainment http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/plenty-of-puppies/950370?source=rss ]]> There's something called "puppy therapy," and it's complimentary with any stop by Sarge's Animal Rescue any Saturday. Currently, the no-kill nonprofit has two litters of puppies to visit, in addition to plenty of older dogs and cats. One group of pups is a Plott hound mix, while the other seems to be a beagle/blue heeler mix. They are all, needless to say, adorable. For more information, call 246-9050 or visit ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/plenty-of-puppies/950370 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:32:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-moment-with-margaret-cho/950357?source=rss ]]> It's hard to put Margaret Cho in a box — or a paragraph, for that matter. She sings, writes, designs clothes, models and — at least in a few episodes of "30 Rock" — becomes Kim Jong Il. But above all and everything, she captivates/shocks/delights audiences with her stand-up shows. The comedian is known for addressing all kinds of taboo topics, from her love and support for the LGBT community her lack of it for ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-moment-with-margaret-cho/950357 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Staff) Features http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/947745?source=rss ]]> This is my third January editing The Guide, and so this is my third January worrying about the same issue — of not having much going on in the county. While this definitely poses a problem when creating a weekly guide of what to do, I’ve always, actually, kind of relished these doldrums. This might not be music festival time, but it is prime knitting, soup making and indoor potluck weather. It’s time, if you so ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/947745 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:28:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Arts & Entertainment http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-weekly-dose-of-dance/947687?source=rss ]]> FINES CREEK — The stars seem brighter out here. Maybe that’s a romantic notion, or maybe it’s simply true, as little Fines Creek is miles away from all those well-lit grocery stores, gas stations and parking lots in Waynesville, Canton and Clyde. Even on a Saturday night, the tucked-away township is often nearly silent, with only a few glowing houses illuminating the pitch black. At least, that’s how it used to ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-weekly-dose-of-dance/947687 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:29:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Arts & Entertainment http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/on-the-bus-with-21a/947680?source=rss ]]> As we go about our daily lives — with all our mistakes, revelations and lessons learned — it’s easy to feel like many people live in our heads. Doesn’t everyone have an inner old lady, drunk and socially awkward youngster? Tim Stoeckel certainly does — especially as he nears the end of the rehearsal process for “21A.” In the one-man show, the 25-year-old plays no less than eight characters, all of whom happen to ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/on-the-bus-with-21a/947680 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:50:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Features http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/no-more-nutmeg/947005?source=rss ]]> MAGGIE VALLEY — When people say there are two sides to every story, they probably haven’t been to Maggie Valley, where sometimes it can feel more like 20. As donut lovers have probably noticed by now, the Nutmeg Bakery Café shut down at the end of 2012. What its fans may not know, however, is the controversy the now-closed business left in its wake. Reading the blistering comments left on Facebook and TripAdvisor,... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/no-more-nutmeg/947005 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:35:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/br-welcomes-john-driskell-hopkins/942736?source=rss ]]> Folks tuning in to today's country music channels know the Grammy-award-winning Zac Brown Band. Atlanta's John Driskell Hopkins has been doing vocals and playing guitar with ZBB since 2005 and enjoys engineering and songwriting credits on the band's platinum-selling "You Get What You Give" and "The Foundation" albums. When the multi-talented Hopkins decided to produce a solo project featuring his own songs, he ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/br-welcomes-john-driskell-hopkins/942736 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:57:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Mary Ann Enloe) Arts & Entertainment http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/an-emotional-school-board-meeting/935997?source=rss ]]> There were many applause breaks and even a few tears at Monday night's Haywood County Board of Education. Not only was it was it the last meeting of the year, but the evening was a goodbye to two longtime school board members — and a hello to two more. Both outgoing board members — 16-year veteran Walt Leatherwood and four-year member Ann Barrett — were given plaques for their service, not to mention several ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/an-emotional-school-board-meeting/935997 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:50:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) News http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/935467?source=rss ]]> Do you know those movies that pick you up, shake you around and don’t let you go until you get a mildly life-altering understanding of the world? Yes? No? I think I do, or least I’m always chasing that. It draws me to art-house cinemas in far-away cities and the less popular aisles of video stores. This weekend, it drove me to Netflix, and I still haven’t fully recovered. Due to some pretty racy stuff and ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/stinas-picks/935467 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:03:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Features http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-close-knit-community/935334?source=rss ]]> With knitting needles in her hands and purple yarn wrapped around her finger, Pam Ring looked at home. An unfinished linen skirt was growing slowly, stitch-by-stitch, in her lap, and she had far yet to go. But Ring, the outgoing president of the Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild, wasn’t bothered. She, like everyone in the group, doesn’t knit for instant gratification. She does it, in part, because she simply can’t ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/a-close-knit-community/935334 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:18:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Features http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/the-music-of-gentlemen/932403?source=rss ]]> ASHEVILLE — The music industry is awash in niche genres these days. Between newgrass (Sam Bush, anyone?) and K-Pop (think Psy of “Gangnam Style”) and so many others, you’ve probably heard more of them than you know. But have you listened to “Two Man-Music” yet? Well, time’s a wasting. Andy Bean and Fuller Condon, aka The Two Man Gentleman Band, have an old-timey, upbeat aura that doesn’t fit neatly into any ... http://themountaineer.villagesoup.com/p/the-music-of-gentlemen/932403 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:55:00 EST news@themountaineer.com (Stina Sieg ) Arts & Entertainment