Things and Stuff: 08/17/00

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

Mac Wiseman

CHEROKEE'S ANNUAL BLUEGRASS ...

festival gets under way tonight (Thursday) at Happy Holiday Campground on U.S. 19 North. The three-day event begins at noon and continues until 11 p.m. Aug. 17-19 with open stage from 11 a.m. until noon each day. Thursday's lineup features the legendary Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen, Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys, Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Larry Sparks and The Lonesome Ramblers and J.D. Crowe and The New South. Taking the stage Friday will be The Osborne Brothers, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out and The Del McCoury Band. Mac Wiseman head's up a Saturday lineup that also includes The Osborne Brothers, The Lewis Family and Jimmy C. Newman. The show will go on rain or shine. Tickets are available at the gate. Daily rates are $25 for adults; a three-day ticket is $70. Children age 6-12 are $15 daily or $30 for all three. Children under 6 may attend free with their parents. Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs. For information, call 497-7250. Happy Holiday Campground includes full hookups, including water, electric and sewer and a lake for fishing. Hot food concessions will be on the premises. No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the concert area.

Jason Ward

CULLOWHEE NATIVE ...

Jason Ward has been elected a senior vice president at Wachovia Bank. He is based in Winston-Salem and joined the bank in 1998. A son of Ben Ward of Sylva and Fay Ward of Raleigh, Ward earned a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University and a master's from Harvard.

FEATURED IN OUR ...

Business Spotlight this week is Creative Images of Sylva. The company specializes in signs, magnetics, banners and graphics of all kinds. Look for their ad on the back page of this section.

A RALLY ...

for Democratic congressional candidate Sam Neill will be held Friday, Aug. 18, at the East LaPorte recreation area from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. A free hot dog supper will be served.

PAY YOUR CAR ...

registration online with your credit card beginning Sept. 1 at NC@Your Service, located on the Internet at www.ncgov.com. It's the state's new one-stop location for online needs.

ALMOND TWIRLERS ...

will host western square dances Thursdays, Aug. 24 and 31, at 8 p.m. at the old Whittier School. Dress for the Aug. 24 event is casual, with western attire preferred for the Aug. 31 dance. For information, call Harmer Weichel at 497-2490.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS ...

has opened an office in Asheville. Asheville native Jewel Wilson, who has worked for both Gov. Jim Hunt and former Sen. Terry Sanford, will serve as Edwards' area representative. Edwards also has offices in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Greenville. To express opinions on issues, visit the senator's web site at http://edwards.senate.gov.

THE USED BOOKSTORE ...

for the Jackson County Public Library is now open at 536 W. Main Street across from this newspaper office. All profits benefit the library, and donations (no college texts, please) are accepted and appreciated. To find out the bookstore's hours, call 586-2016 or 586-1221.

BLOOD DONORS ...

are urgently needed by the American Red Cross. Give "the gift of life" this Friday, Aug. 18, at the Community Service Center from 1:30 until 6 p.m. Call the local office at 586-2019 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

DON'T FORGET ...

the benefit barbeque and kid's day this Saturday, Aug. 19, at the East LaPorte recreation park. All proceeds will benefit Vision Trek and Eternal Harvest, two new non-profits in the area. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. For more information, call Vision Trek at 631-1387.

OUR SPORTS ...

Section this week features a column by Greg Duff of Balsam. Greg, husband of Herald News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff, is a former WCU assistant athletic director and currently heads up Cherokee's bottled water operation. His column, The Fan's Corner, which will give a fan's perspective on athletics, will appear periodically.

FORMER RESIDENTS ...

Elmer and Erma Buchanan Jones were in the area this past weekend for a family reunion. Elmer Jones grew up on Barkers Creek and Erma Jones is from Greens Creek.