Things and Stuff: 01/03/02

Notes from our business community
- and everywhere else

SYLVA HERALD READERS...

may notice a different look with next week's paper. This newspaper will change page width to comply with new industry standards. Column sizes will be narrower beginning next week, though the pages will remain the same height. The new size should result in newsprint savings and will be both more cost efficient and environmentally sound. The new pages will measure slightly more than 11.6 inches in width as compared to the current 13.25 inches, but will remain 21.5 inches high.

A DATE WAS ACCIDENTALLY OMITTED...

from last week's final installment of The Sylva Herald's history series. The article that was reprinted, "Ruralite to Broadcast Election Returns," was taken from the Oct. 30, 1928, edition of The Ruralite.

HAVE YOU SAVED A LIFE TODAY?...

The answer to that question can be "yes" when you donate blood. The American Red Cross urges you to begin the new year by donating the gift of life for the more than 1,500 patients who need blood in this area every day. The next local blood drive will be Friday, Jan. 4, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Community Service Center in Sylva. Types O negative and B negative are at a critical level at this time. All eligible donors are encouraged to donate.

HARRY WHITE...

president-elect of Jackson County Farm Bureau, was named winner of a special award at the organization's recent annual meeting. In order to win the award for their county president, local Farm Bureau agents met specified insurance production levels during a contest that provided agents an opportunity to express appreciation to their presidents, who serve on a voluntary basis.

WITH THE COMPLETION...

of Macon Bank's corporate headquarters overlooking the Franklin area from a ridge east of U.S. 441, some 85 corporate employees are moving to the new offices. The 36,000-square-foot building will also house loan processing offices and a training facility for the mutually-owned community bank. The bank's corporate center will serve full-service branches in Western North Carolina - Sylva, Franklin, Highlands, Murphy, Brevard and Hendersonville. Macon bank, which has served WNC since 1922, employs a total of 178 people. Assets at the end of November exceeded $450 million.

FILL IT UP FOR THE SMOKIES...

Drivers in Western North Carolina now have one more way to help raise money for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two local convenience stores will donate one penny per gallon of gasoline sold to Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a non-profit organization that raises money and provides volunteers to support park projects and programs. The participating stores include Tiger Mart at Exit 31 off of I-40 in Canton and Casino Mart in Cherokee. Proceeds from the Tiger Mart location will support the return of elk to GSMNP. (See related story on page 1A.) Proceeds from the Casino Mart location will help fund other projects and programs on the North Carolina side of the park.

"The Smokies are a special place," said Andy Jordan, owner of the two convenience stores, "and I want to give my customers an easy way to help preserve and protect our national park." Jordan estimates that the promotional gasoline sales could raise a total of $20,000 during 2002.

Each store will also promote the state of North Carolina's Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park license plate. Since their introduction in 1999, the license plates have raised more than $100,000 for park projects and programs. The license plate is available any time from any local North Carolina license plate agency office. Of the added fee for the specialty plate, $20 goes to Friends of the Smokies to support GSMNP, including the return of elk to the Smokies and the Parks as Classrooms program for area school children. For more information about Friends of the Smokies, call (828) 452-0720.

ALMOND TWIRLERS...

will host its regular 8 p.m. square dances Thursday, Jan. 10, and Thursday, Jan. 24, at the old Whittier School. Caller will be Marty Northrup. For information, call 497-2490.