Welcome to DKos Asheville. This space appears each weekend to share links to news and opinion from Asheville and Western North Carolina. The floor is open for comment and discussion. Wishing all a good day from this beautiful part of the world.
“Daily Kos fights for a progressive America by empowering its community and allies with information and tools to directly impact the political process.”
I’m back this weekend with local and regional news today, and wider state news tomorrow.
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — Downtown Marion is once again going to be filled with cryptid believers, folklore fanatics and more as the 2024 WNC Bigfoot Festival kicks off Saturday, May 18.
"You may come a skeptic, but you’ll leave a believer after attending the WNC Bigfoot Festival," the festival's official website says.
AN ESTIMATED 40,000 PEOPLE TAKE IN ALL THINGS BIGFOOT DURING MARION'S BIGFOOT FEST
Since 2018, the festival, which is free, has continued to grow and attendees gather from across the country every year.
"Whether you’re interested in learning more about the mysterious creature, trying food inspired by Sasquatch, or you want to try your hand at the Bigfoot Calling Contest, there’s something for everyone planned during the 2024 WNC Bigfoot Festival," the festival's website says.
- 10:00am Festival Begins
- 10:15am Opening Ceremony – Mayor Steve Little
- 10:30am Blue Shades Band
- 11:00am Christian Macleoud American Cryptid & Paranormal
- 11:30am Zach Bales Paranormal Roadtripper
- 12:00pm BIGFOOT CALLING CONTEST
- 12:30pm Blue Shades Band
- 1:00pm Margaret Langley Haunted Broughton
- 1:30pm Terry Wendill Rock Hill Bigfoot
- 2:00pm Blue Shades Band
- 2:30pm Rick Reles & Lori Wade
- 3:00pm NC Squatch Watchers
- 3:30pm Blue Shades Band
- 4:00pm Tim Dills
- 4:30pm Blue Shades Band
Wally the cat arrived at Laps and Naps scrawny, anemic and elderly, his matted hair covered in fleas. His owner could no longer keep him, after years of loving care.
Buster the cat had hyperthyroidism and needed medicine twice a day, and his fellow feline companion, Sabu, struggled with diabetes. They lived in a loving home until their owner had a stroke.
In both instances, these homeless, elderly cats could have been at high risk for euthanasia. But Laps and Naps, a local nonprofit founded in 2020 by Nancy Gavin, Pamela Havens and Tina Kannapel, provided them a second chance.
Today, Wally is regularly cuddled by his new owner, Eartha McQueen, who calls him Wally Boo. Meanwhile, Buster and Sabu are currently living with a foster family.
In 2023, the nonprofit placed 62 senior cats in new homes and recently purchased 5 1/2 acres to expand the organization’s mission.
Xpress caught up with Gavin, who shared what it means to specialize in the rescue of senior felines.
Press release from Explore Asheville and UNCA:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (May 17, 2024)UNC Asheville and Explore Asheville proudly announce that the prestigious American Kennel Club (AKC®) Disc Dog Challenge will take place June 2 in Asheville, North Carolina. Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, nearly 45 dog athletes will compete at the recently renovated Olympic-level Karl Straus Track and Field facility on campus.
“We are thrilled to welcome the (AKC®) Disc Dog Challenge to Asheville and showcase our community’s passion for pups,” said Vic Isley, President and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “This event not only strengthens our reputation as a premiere dog-friendly destination but brings a lively, nationally televised sporting event to a newly renovated facility made possible in part by the power of travel and hospitality.”
The AKC Disc Dog Challenge, hosted in collaboration with the UpDog Challenge, brings together serious dog athletes for an exhilarating display of talent. This fast-paced and fun sport transforms the simple game of fetch into a series of exciting competitions. From Freestyle to Time Warp, Frizgility to Far Out, dog athletes and their humans will compete in various games, showcasing their skills and agility.
“I’m extremely proud and excited to partner with Explore Asheville to host the AKC Disc Dog Challenge,” said Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. “We have never hosted an event like this on our campus, and I cannot think of a better place to showcase Asheville’s love for dogs than by helping put this event on.”
The AKC Disc Dog Challenge is scheduled for June 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public; the first 400 spectators, including leashed, well-behaved dogs, will be able to observe the competition from bleachers. The competition will be filmed to air on ESPN later this summer. Concessions and local food trucks will be available.
The Karl Straus Track in Western North Carolina has been newly renovated into an Olympic-level facility including Mondo Track Surface. This benefits Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff, while also attracting local, regional, and national athletic events. The improvements include an eight-lane resurfaced track, a new video scoreboard, and additional seating. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority invested $1,500,000 in the renovation and expansion of the track.
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority has announced this year’s recipients of its prestigious annual awards. Dr. Winona Houser has been named Employee of the Year, and Lisa Hoyle has earned the esteemed Hayes Award for Quality and Safety.
Each year, these awards recognize individuals within our organization who exemplify our core values—integrity, responsiveness, teamwork, and innovation—and who have made significant contributions to the safety and quality of the healthcare services we provide.
CIHA officials commented, “Dr. Winona Houser has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to patient care, embodying the highest standards of integrity and compassion in her role. Her proactive involvement in patient care and continuous efforts to improve healthcare delivery have earned her the admiration and respect of her colleagues. Dr. Houser’s outstanding contributions span various facets of hospital operations, from patient care to mentoring and education. Her commitment to excellence not only enhances patient outcomes but also strengthens our community.”
Family tourism became of primary interest to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as a source of income in the 1950’s. As lumber harvesting declined on the Qualla Boundary, it seemed the best, most achievable resource to tap. As early as 1914, tribal leaders were investing in family tourism.
“During the early part of the century, logging and farming provided income and sustenance, but the tribe also turned to tourism as a source of income. The first Cherokee Indian Fall Fair, in 1914, was subsidized by the tribal council specifically to encourage tourism. The opening of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in 1934, adjacent to the Qualla Boundary, although controversial with the tribal government, was finally welcomed as a way to attract visitors, who brought a new source of income.” – from the “Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook”, Barbara Duncan and Brett H. Riggs, 2003, Museum of the Cherokee People (formerly Museum of the Cherokee Indian) and the University of North Carolina Press
As pointed out by Duncan and Riggs in their book, marketing culture can be a mixed blessing. The clients that the Cherokee people of that day sought had gotten a romanticized image of what it means to be Native from watching wild-west shows and Western movies. The image of the noble savage pervaded American visions and when they heard the term “Indian” they had a very distinct, if misguided, look in mind. And, back in the day, we knew who we were, and if we had to play a role to keep the interest of the visitors, who had the revenue we desired, so be it. It wasn’t just a show for the tourists. Even visits to heads of state in those days might include a tribal official donning a “war bonnet”, which was not a piece of ceremonial clothing for the Cherokee people but did and does have ceremonial importance to Plains peoples. Up until the early 2000s, it was common to see roadside “chiefs” wearing war bonnets in front of movie set-style tipis (a façade with no living quarters) selling opportunities to take a picture with an “authentic Indian”.
A local Asheville company is encouraging people to get out into nature and discover the abundance of edible foods that are available right here.
No Taste Like Home runs foraging tours showing people the diversity of foods that can be found year-round, right in the mountains and sometimes in our one's own backyard.
Alan Muskat, the founding CEO of No Taste Like Home, wants people to get out and discover, though he understands their hesitancy to do so.
“I noticed people were afraid of nature and they still are, and you know motivating them with something to eat is a good way to break down that wall.”
He understands people can be afraid of just randomly picking leaves off the ground but has this warning.
“There are dangers to foraging, and you could eat the wrong thing," Muskat said. "There’s dangers to not foraging is what people don’t realize. What we’re eating now is not healthy for you. If you don’t eat wild food, I guarantee you you’ll get sick."
After several years of closure due to lack of funding, Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently opened new, improved versions of the Look Rock campground and picnic area. And just in the nick of time. Located on the Foothills Parkway West, this off-the-beaten path area of the national park offers welcome reprieve from busier places like Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome. Improvements to the campground and picnic area include power and water hookups, new tables and fire rings, and better accessibility for people with disabilities.
Warren Bielenberg
The facilites at Look Rock and the Foothills Parkway were conceived some 70 years ago when people had already started griping that our national parks were overcrowded and underfunded. The National Park Service now refers to this period as “The Poverty Years,” and the reasons for the funding drought were obvious: During World War II, the United States government diverted the bulk of its spending toward the war effort.
When World War II ended in 1945, Americans celebrated by hitting the road like never before. Gas was cheap, and industrialization and the booming economy allowed more and more families to own one of the era’s big, bulbous automobiles. People wanted to see the snowcapped mountain peaks and red rock canyons that beckoned in magazines.
Thanks for stopping by, wishing all a fine weekend.
“Be safe out there!” Lamont Cranston