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County honors Martin Luther King
Despite Sunday’s bitter cold, some 100 people turned out for the march (top photo) and service (middle photo) in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Ray Menze, president of the Jackson County Arts Council, which co-sponsored the event along with Bridging Jackson Communities, said the turnout was “impressive” and that the march was “fantastic.” Extremely cold temperatures prompted organizers to shorten the march, beginning at the Sylva Fire Department rather than God’s Holy Tabernacle, but still ending at the Bridge Park site. “Both the march and service were great,” said BJC President Mary Sue Casey. Members of Cherokee High School’s cheer squad (bottom photo), from left, Maggie Mintz, Celine Lambert, JaNecie Belt, Isaiah Ganilla and Kayla Smith recited the Pledge of Allegiance in their native Cherokee language, a moment Casey described as “very emotional and stirring.” The Rev. Frank Blount, who spoke at Sunday’s service, once marched with the Rev. King. “We hope that the spirit and the legacy of Martin Luther King will live on year round,” said Blount, whose mentor was the late Rev. Joe Smith, preacher at Sylva’s Liberty Baptist Church for more than 50 years. The local African-American community plans to raise $5,000 so that one of the pillars of the planned Bridge Park pavilion will be dedicated in Smith’s memory. – Herald photos by Nick Breedlove |
