Opinion

Whether you know it as Stratton Bald or Bob Bald, the mountain was named for Robert “Bob” Stratton – an early pioneer who settled in that area.

Whether you know it as Stratton Bald or Bob Bald, the mountain was named for Robert “Bob” Stratton – an early pioneer who settled in that area.

Mountain areas named for pioneers

Marshall McClung
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Our mountains have names that date back to pioneer times.  Some are listed by one name on maps and known by locals as another name. Stratton Meadows – elevation 4,920 – is called John Meadows by locals. The area is named for John Stratton who settled there in the 1830s.

Discernment

Eric Reece
Thursday, May 18, 2023
My friend Michael called one afternoon and I could hear the anguish in his voice. He asked if I could come over right away. I stopped what I was doing and headed over. He was suffering and wanted to talk about discernment. He was struggling with some decisions in his life.

Crisp served county, country well

Marshall McClung
Monday, May 15, 2023
Sometimes those – whose actions are beneficial to the most people – often go under-appreciated or forgotten as time passes. Vicki Teem and Shirley Crisp – who provided much information for this article – were recently discussing the current reconstruction of the Sweetwater Road section of N.C. 143.
The Robbinsville Presbyterian church and school – shown here in 1902 – sat where the Masonic Lodge now sits.

The Robbinsville Presbyterian church and school – shown here in 1902 – sat where the Masonic Lodge now sits.

Presbyterian Church steeped in town

Eric Reece
Thursday, May 4, 2023
In April 1897, two ladies from Robbinsville – Mrs. M.C. Foute and Mrs. Martha Barker – traveled to Waynesville to attend the meeting of the Asheville Presbytery. They petitioned the group for a Presbyterian Church to be started in Robbinsville. The Rev.
Joanna Bald is called “Teyahalee” by the Cherokees, which means “Lizard” or “Lizard Place.”

Joanna Bald is called “Teyahalee” by the Cherokees, which means “Lizard” or “Lizard Place.”

Cherokees named much of county

Marshall McClung
Monday, May 1, 2023
Although Graham County was named for William Alexander Graham – who was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly – it was the Cherokees who named many sections of this area, long before white settlers arrived here.

Slick Willie, the Calvinist

Scott Kamps
Monday, May 1, 2023
Nancy Pelosi infamously said of the 2,000-plus page healthcare bill that became Obamacare, “But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it...” Reagan famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” George H.W. Bush notoriously said, “Read my lips: no new taxes.

Make sure you volunteer

Eric Reece
Friday, April 21, 2023
I used to visit a homebound member who had a beautiful yard. Her and her late husband had farmed their place for many years. In the backyard was a beautiful tree much younger than the stately trees towering the backyard. I asked her about the tree and she told me it was a “volunteer tree.
This photo shows wreckage of helicopter that crashed in Joyce Kilmer Forest in 1962, during a spraying operation for the elm-spanworm infestation. Photo courtesy of Jeff Wadley/Civil Air Patrol

This photo shows wreckage of helicopter that crashed in Joyce Kilmer Forest in 1962, during a spraying operation for the elm-spanworm infestation. Photo courtesy of Jeff Wadley/Civil Air Patrol

Joyce Kilmer has withstood tests of time

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Senior citizens say that you have to be tough to handle old age. Joyce Kilmer Forest would certainly qualify as an “old timer “and has withstood several tests of nature and man. Most notable was the arrival of the chestnut blight that virtually wiped out the American Chestnut tree.

Easter victory!

Eric Reece
Thursday, April 6, 2023
The 1847 Battle of Buena Vista was a victory for an American force that was outnumbered, 3-to-1. In 1850 – recounting the battle in Congress – Rep.