Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, April 29-May 5, 2021 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 7 139 E. Main Street, Downtown Forest City 828-245-4591 Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-7pm, Sat. 7:30-4pm www.SmithsDrugsFC.com Like us on ©Community First Media Community First Media RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF STROKE When responding to a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. • Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. • Confusion, trouble speaking, or diffi culty understanding. • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. • Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination. • Severe headache with no known cause. Remember, getting immediate medical attention for stroke is crucial to preventing disability and death, so DON'T DELAY—DIAL 9-1-1. TALK TO YOUR SMITH'S DRUGS FAMILY PHARMACIST ABOUT YOUR RISK FOR STROKE. F SPOT A STROKE A S T FACE ARMS SPEECH TIME Does the face look uneven? Can they smile? Can they lift both arms? Is one weak? Is their speech slurred? Can they repeat a simple sentence? Time to call 911 NOW! May is • STOP Stroke • Act F.A.S.T. • Spread Hope Sharing the burden for the benefi t of low income Rutherford County residents in need of a helping hand. Yokefellow Service Center is a non-profi t 501(c)3 non-profi t agency and a member of United Way. 132 Blanton Street, Spindale 828-287-0776 Because we: Because we: S ee the need ee the need H ave heart ave heart A im higher im higher R espect your value espect your value E mbrace your future mbrace your future Reasons to -DONATE -SHOP -VOLUNTEER at Yokefellow Dental Insurance 6154-0120 Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799- 4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Here's the information you requested on Dental insurance FIRST-C 1-866-694-6148 Call now to get this FREE Information Kit! dental50plus.com/southern Get dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company to help cover the services you're most likely to use – Fillings Crowns Dentures X-rays Cleanings Foothills Conservancy announces a gift of a 322-acre tract within the corridor of the National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek in Caldwell County. This "puzzle piece" in the Wilson Creek conservation assemblage was donated to Foothills Conservancy by longtime environmental steward and conservation philanthropist Tim Sweeney. The donation, which offi cially transferred to the conservancy on April 20, fi lls in a missing segment of protected public lands along the river, bordered on three sides by the Pisgah National Forest System. Now in the hands of the land trust, with plans to transfer the property to the U.S. Forest Service in the future, it forever ensures this section of forest and highly signifi cant watershed is protected, conserved and accessible for public recreation opportunities. "Starting back in 2006, Foothills Conservancy and its public and private partners began conserving land and water in the Wilson Creek watershed," said Andrew Kota, executive director of Foothills Conservancy. "Since that time, we've protected over 850 acres and 5 miles of the river for public access and public use. Our efforts here kind of culminate in this most recent project, which was made possible by this generous gift." The property includes 2.3 miles of river segment that is designated for recreation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. For many years, this section has been highly popular with river recreationists for its fi shing, swimming and whitewater boating sites. The section of Wilson Creek that runs through this property not only supports access to downstream whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking with challenging Class II-V rapids, it also boasts beautiful, cascading waterfalls and contains the trailhead for the 6-mile Wilson Creek Trail, which connects to other popular trails in the area. "This area has been very special to me and has provided me with countless days of fi shing for the last 35 years," said Morganton resident Squeak Smith. An avid fi sherman, environmental activist and retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Smith agreed to speak about the signifi cance of the property and its waters prior to the donation announcement, chatting with Foothills Conservancy staff in his waders from the banks of Wilson Creek. "When I fi rst moved here from California, I started exploring," looking for new places to fi sh, he explained. "So it didn't take long to look on a map and think, 'Wow. What's going on up there?' I took a drive through the gorge, and it was just phenomenal. The scenery is beautiful, the rock formations, the river — it was unbelievable. I've lived all over the world, I've fi shed all over the world, and I moved here specifi cally for the fi shing. It's a very unique place, and it's right in my backyard." To fi shermen, Wilson Creek is a coveted, tranquil place to spend a day catching rainbow, brown and brook trout. To families, residents and visitors of the region, it's a place for soaking up the sunshine on a picnic — or taking a refreshing dip on a warm summer day. To conservationists, though, Wilson Creek is known for more than just its popularity among outdoor enthusiasts. This land is also environmentally signifi cant for its natural and cultural resource value. "Essentially, all the water that comes down from Grandfather Mountain funnels through Wilson Creek," said Nicholas Larson, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service's Grandfather Ranger District. "And the water quality along Wilson Creek is incredibly valuable, not only for the phenomenal trout fi sheries and the recreational value that clean water provides — but also for the biota here, the rare species occurring just in this section of river." The tract along the river contains habitat for the brook fl oater, an at-risk, endangered species of freshwater river mussel. It is also home to the signifi cantly rare Edmund's snaketail dragonfl y and the seagreen darter freshwater fi sh. Sightings of several vulnerable and signifi cantly rare animal and plant species have also been recorded within a one-mile radius of the property as well. "The lands that we currently administer here for the national forest are a two-mile section just below where we're standing right now," Larson explained, standing just above the riverbank on the newly acquired property. "That area, though, is a gorge — it's really quite limited, access-wise. This property will allow us to facilitate people coming into the woods, providing easy access to the water without the danger of rapids, and just quite frankly the ability to park vehicles so that folks can get out into the forest and into the river." Additionally, the improved access to both the national forest and river will allow emergency management services to conduct quicker, more direct rescue efforts in the area, especially in times of heavy recreational use when other access points may become overcrowded with visitors. "This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic played a huge role in both heightening and highlighting the need for more public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities in North Carolina — and this Wilson Creek property is one of those very natural treasures, as one of only fi ve designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in the entire state," Kota said. "It's critically important for groups like Foothills Conservancy and our federal, state and private partners to protect as much land and water in this watershed as possible. Not only for the aquatic and terrestrial habitat protections, but for public use — offering people opportunities to improve their mental and physical well-being and health and to improve our quality of life in general." Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefi t of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofi t, Foothills Conservancy serves eight counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell, and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba, and Yadkin. Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930. Wilson Creek property donated to Foothills Conservancy of NC The 322-acre donation, with 2 miles of river frontage in Caldwell County, will expand the National Wild and Scenic Wilson Creek area Article Provided By: Hayley Benton The Rutherford County Endowment awarded nine grants totaling $36,750 to Rutherford County nonprofi ts in its recent grant cycle. The Endowment, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), has awarded grants totaling $1,576,693. "These awards are possible because people who care about this community built a fund over time," said Advisory Board Vice Chair David Eaker. "Nonprofi ts have faced so many challenges over the past year. We are pleased to award these grants to help important community organizations address the needs of those continuing to suffer from the pandemic and to aid in our community's recovery." The 2021 grants are: • $4,740 to Basics Christian Ministries to provide homeless and low-income people with laundry and shower facilities. • $5,000 to Chase Corner United Methodist Ministry to assist low- income people with rent. • $3,000 to Grahamtown Team for educational support to children who need assistance with remote learning. • $4,000 to Least of These Carolinas to provide monogrammed duffel bags packed with items and clothes for children transitioning into foster care. • $4,000 to NC MedAssist to provide medication for low-income people. • $5,000 to Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity for home repairs for low-income veterans. • $3,000 to Rutherford Housing Partnership to replace roofs for low- income families. • $5,000 to Salem United Methodist Church/Washburn Community Outreach Center to add climate control to a storage facility used for food distribution to low-income people. • $3,000 to Yokefellow Service Center to provide medical equipment for low-income people. In 1996, local residents established the Rutherford County Endowment as a permanent charitable endowment to meet local needs. Gifts added to the Fund's principal are preserved and invested, while grants from the Fund support nonprofi ts in Rutherford County. To make a tax-deductible contribution, donate online at www. R u t h e r fo r d C o u n t y E n d o w m e n t . org or by mail to the Rutherford County Endowment, c/o CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Dr., Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803, memo line: Rutherford County Endowment. The local volunteer Advisory Board includes: John Condrey, Lucille Dalton, David Eaker, Nancy Giles, Jean Gordon, Jackie Hampton, Sally Lesher, Keven McCammon, Tommy Miller, Jill Miracle, Mike Tanner, Judy Toney (Chair), Diane Warner & Michelle Yelton. CFWNC works with families, businesses & nonprofi ts to strengthen communities through the creation of charitable funds and strategic grantmaking. A permanent charitable resource, the Foundation manages over 1,200 funds a& has facilitated more than $276 million in philanthropy since its founding in 1978. Learn more at www.cfwnc.org. More info about the Rutherford County Endowment can be found at www.RutherfordCountyEndowment. org. Rutherford County Endowment Awards $36,750 in Grants Article Provided By: Lindsay Hearn Spend it here, Spend it here, keep it here! keep it here! BUY LOCAL LOCAL

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