Cross-posted on Thunder Pig.
Richard Bernier, of URTV's Sound Off Buncombe (Charter Channel 20), sat down with Don Yelton for an hour, and here is the video. It will be airing later in Buncombe and Madison Counties.
Providing Information and Commentary on Political Events and Citizen Activism that affect Western North Carolina from a Conservative perspective, also allowing respectful debate on the issues of the day.
Cross-posted on Thunder Pig.
Spring Creek has an expose that is part of an ongoing series about corruption in local and state governments. Go check it out. I can't because the page is badly formatted, and scrolling back and forth a million times just to read an article isn't worth it to me. The webmaster over there should realize not everyone has a monitor that is 1920 pixels wide.
It has been my experience that where you find gambling, there you will find corruption. Local, State, Tribal, Federal...follow the money.
Hat Tip: Don

I attended the Nikwasi Celebration in Franklin, NC today, and it was a good event.
Gordon Mercer, of the Public Policy Institute, was the Master of Ceremonies and Cherokee Chief Michell Hicks the Featured Speaker.
There were more speakers, songs, dances, craft demonstrations, Cherokee food, and a stickball exhibition game that was quite intense.
I have a lot of video to edit my way through, and since I lost my MP3 player, my options are limited, as I was using it to catch audio when I had to change memory cards in my camera and when I changed batteries. I plan on having an hour and a half to two hour show out of it by Tuesday afternoon.
Here is what is inscribed on the main marker beside the mound:
NIKWASI MOUND
You are standing on land that has been part of a town for about three thousand years. This mound was the spiritual, political, and physical center of the Cherokee town of Nikwasi. A council house or town house on top of the mound held the sacred fire, and everyone gathered there to hear news, make decisions, dance, and participate in ceremonies. Surrounding the mound were about one hundred houses, a field for playing stickball, and a dance ground, as well as hundreds of acres of crops, orhards, and gardens.
The Cherokee dominated the southern Appalachians for thousands of years. When Alexander Cuming visited Nikwasi in 1730, the Cherokees had men and women leaders in autonomous towns that functioned democratically. Cuming called a council here that was attended by more than two thousand representatives from Cherokee towns. Cuming chose an Emperor, and took a Cherokee delegation to London. In 1761 the British, former allies of the Cherokee, destroyed Nikwasi. After theCherokees rebuilt, the Americans destroyed it in 1776. The Cherokees rebuilt again and lived here until this area was taken by the Treaty of 1819.
A Cherokee legend tells that spirit warriors came out of the mound to help defend the Cherokee against an attack when the Cherokee men were away hunting. The legend goes on to say thst the spirit warriors also saved the town of Franklin from destruction during the Civil War.
The Nikwasi mound is one of the largest surviving mounds in the original Cherokee territory of 140,000 square miles. In 1946, the schoolchildren of Macon County saved their pennies and bought the mound through the Macon County Historical Society to save it from development. It is now owned by the Town of Franklin.
And here are some pictures to look at until tomorrow:


I will be away from the computer most of the day, at the Nikwasi Celebration in Franklin, NC.
The Nikwasi Celebration, a community event of cultural exchange to recognize the inclusion of the Nikwasi Mound on the Cherokee Heritage Trails, will be held this Saturday, May 17, at the Big Bear Park in Franklin.Source: Macon NewsThe Nikwasi Mound, located in downtown Franklin, is one of the best-preserved ancient Native American mounds in the country. Long ago, Franklin was the village of Nikwasi, and the village townhouse sat atop the mound. Here, the village people would gather to welcome visitors, hold ceremonies, and tell stories.
Saturday’s celebration will begin at the Nikwasi Mound at 10 a.m. The Cherokee Elementary School Choir will sing “Amazing Grace” and the “Trail of Tears Song.” The featured speaker will be Cherokee Chief Michell Hicks. The Macon County Historical Society will speak on Native American site preservation, and a new heritage trail marker will be unveiled.
Robin Cape Wants You To Learn About the History of Downtown Asheville !
And she also wants you to join in the Soviet-Style "Master Plan for Downtown" in Asheville...where budding Apparachik can exercise their skills in applying "progressive philosophy" to making everyone reliant on the government. And to give homeless people parks to crap in, too.

Hear from local experts on the history of downtown. You'll hear why downtown developed the way it did, fell into disrepair and was ultimately revitalized. We'll also talk about segregation and urban redevelopment projects and the effects on downtown and local residents.
Thursday, May 15
7:00 pm
Asheville Public Works Building
161 S. Charlotte St.
Leslie Anderson - former Director of the Downtown Development office and expert on downtown revitalization
Jim Samsel - local architect and member of the Pack Square Conservancy
Harry Weiss - Public Interest Projects and former director of the Preservation Society
We hope to have an additional speaker to talk about the East End and downtown.
This evening promises to be full of interesting stories. Even if you know the general history of downtown, you will learn something new!
Community Educational Session:
Current Issues in Downtown Development
Friday, May 30
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Asheville Community Theater
35 E. Walnut Street
This session will be an important opportunity to explore specific urban issues such as height & design, affordability and local business retention.
And I'm gonna say that Obama told Edwards to hold off for fear it would give the state to Hillary!
The video:
Source: Mexitli's Blog "Columna de Aztlan"
Hat Tip: Betsy Muse, via BLUE NC
Commentary
Could John Edwards ever prove his indecision and utter uselessness any more?

May 14,
2008
NC NEWS -- Governor Easley has released his
recommended budget adjustments for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which will
increase tax on cigarettes, beer, fortified wine and spirts. The proposed
budget will provide $12.5 billion for education including a 7% increase in
public school teachers pay. Currently, the difference between the US and North
Carolina average for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and 15 years experience
is 6.9 percent.
The budget proposal further improves the state's ability to
compete for jobs in the global economy, increases funding for mental health
services, and helps communities' better plan to deal with droughts. The
Governor also wants to expand funding for the oversight of prison parolees,
which means, "Operation FreeBird" is working.
The NC Governor also believes the budget better prepares the state
to deal with the uncertain economy by expanding the Rainy Day Fund to $848
million. Unlike most states that are facing shortfalls, North Carolina will end
the current fiscal year with a $152 million surplus. The budget also includes
$396 million in general fund budget cuts equaling nearly 2% of the total
operating budget.
Governor Easley said, "As I release the 2008-09 budget proposal,
the last one of my administration, I remain just as restless about improving
the lives of every North Carolinian. While we have made great progress in this
state, I am still not satisfied. We must build on our strengths to face the
challenges of the global economy and the best way we can do this is to expand
education at all levels."
Governor Easley's budget proposal includes a cigarette tax
increase, recommending a 20-cents-per-pack increase. The increase, which would
total 55 cents per pack, would keep North Carolina's cigarette tax among the
lowest in the nation, about 40th. Easley said, "It takes real revenue to make
real progress in education," therefore, once again singling out evil tobacco
smokers.
The budget recommends state employees receive the equivalent of
a 4 percent pay increase through a 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment and a
$1,000 one-time bonus. State employees will also receive five days of paid
bonus leave. The budget also includes a cost of living adjustment for state and
judicial system retirees.
The state mental health system will receive more than $76
million designated to implement changes in and improve services. The additional
costs will be offset by another tax increase on beer, fortified wine and
spirits.
More than $65 million is set aside for repairs to university and
state buildings along with another $97 million for pay-as-you-go finance of new
construction projects and borrowing for another 553 million in projects.
Highlighted recommendations in Easley's budget include:
PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- $492 million overall budget increase.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES -- $58.3 million overall budget increase.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA -- $107.5 million overall budget
increase.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES -- $217 million overall budget
increase.
JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY -- $49 million overall budget
increase.
NATURAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES. -- $10 million for the One North
Carolina Fund to recruit new and expanding businesses.
TRANSPORTATION
SUPPORTING THE MILITARY
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS – Financed Through Appropriations and
Certificates of Participation.
Finally, Governor Easley said, "This budget makes progress in
education, human services, public safety and economic development. I look
forward to working with the General Assembly to get this budget enacted before
June 30."
To read the complete NC Governor's recommended North Carolina State
Budget adjustments for 2008 through 2009 - Click Here.
I posted a photo essay on Thunder Pig this morning of some Cedar Waxwings in a Dawn Redwood tree.
Video Ralph, of URTV, has captured Campbell's Bridge, the last covered bridge in South Carolina. Watch it at the URTV forums.
Yesterday, I caught a Maple in the wind, and due to connectivity problems, am only now able to upload the video: