The Hayesville town square will be the scene of another concert on Friday May 27. The Junction Band, headed by Clay County native Susan Gray Riley, will play "oldies" from the 50s and 60s. The concert will run from 7 to 9 pm. Bring your chairs, and enjoy a fun-filled evening. The Hayesville junior varsity cheerleaders will provide food and drinks to raise money. The concert itself is free; however, donations are welcome.
If the weather is bad, the concert will move indoors to the Gathering Place room of the Hayesville First United Methodist Church right off the square. Take your chairs with you to the church.
Susan Gray Riley is the Junction Band’s lead vocalist. She has been a member of the Georgia Mountain Fair staff band since 1977. A member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, she has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlanta Society of Entertainers.
Bill Puckett, also a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, is the band’s guitar/vocalist. He played bass with the blue grass duo, Jim and Jessie, and is a retired member of the Atlanta Seventeen Orchestra.
Max Harper, the band’s saxophonist, has played that instrument for more than 40 years with artists from Nashville and elsewhere. He is also a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.
Ken White, drummer and vocalist, is a retired school band director. He has played bass and drums with various bands and orchestras.
Gary Moore, bass/vocalist, has been playing bass for more than 40 years. Gary is an established luthier, maker of stringed instruments—in Gary’s case, guitars. He spent one year traveling with the renowned group “Up with the People.”
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) is a sponsor of the Hayesville concert.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Hayesville Is Where It's Happening: Clay County's 150 th Birthday
2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Clay County, North Carolina’s smallest county. Visitors to Hayesville, the county seat, will find sesquicentennial celebrations all summer and fall. Located in southwestern NC, Hayesville is a two-hour drive through the lovely Southern Appalachian Mountains from Asheville, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Chattanooga, TN. Lake Chatuge, one of the most beautiful TVA lakes, is a short distance south of town; it offers water sports and recreation to visitors all summer long.
Clay County was founded in 1861, the same year that the Civil War started. Most of the land that is now Clay County was previously the eastern part of Cherokee County. Farmers living in that area found that Murphy, the Cherokee County seat, was too far for them to travel to and return home on the same day if they needed to transact legal business at the courthouse. George Washington Hayes, who was running for election as representative from Cherokee County, promised voters that -- if he won -- he would introduce legislation to split the county. Thanks to voters in the eastern part of the state, he did win. He soon fulfilled his promise. The North Carolina General Assembly passed the legislation authorizing the split in February 1861. The new county was named after Henry Clay, the great US senator from Kentucky who had died in 1852. The county seat, Hayesville, was named after George Washington Hayes, the man who made the new county a reality.
Activities celebrating the county’s founding will take place all summer and fall. The focus of many of the activities will be the quaint Hayesville town square with its 1888 courthouse. The square’s historic appearance appeals to both visitors and filmmakers, who have used it as the setting for movies.
Sesquicentennial activities will peak between July 2 and July 10. The July 4th weekend will feature a traditional patriotic Independence Day parade with floats honoring the 1861 founding. Highlights of the following weekend will be the 25th annual rodeo at the Cutworm Corral and the Festival on the Square. All events include food and beverages and activities for kids.
While you’re here for these celebrations, tour the Old Jail Museum just off the square to learn about Clay County’s history. Nearby, you can check out the Cherokee Heritage Village that will introduce you to the area’s Native American heritage. To see Lake Chatuge’s beauty, visit the dam and the newly opened Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail. Jackrabbit Mountain is a major center for mountain biking in the Southeast.
In addition to the July 2-10 events, others also celebrate the sesquicentennial. Come to the Car-B-Que on June 11, a festival on the square celebrating antique cars and barbeque. Or come in August and enjoy the Family Fun Fest on August 11 and the 21st Annual Mountain Golf Tournament on August 27 at the Ridges Resort. This golf tournament offers 18 holes with team and individual prizes. The proceeds fund college scholarships for Hayesville High School students. August 27 and 28 also feature open houses at Clay County heritage homes.
Come in early fall and see the Tractor Parade and 4H festival on September 24. Come a little later October 23 and 24, and visit the Third Annual Punkin Chunkin Festival, where individuals and teams compete to see which of them can hurl pumpkins the greatest distance. Competitors use their own homemade medieval siege machines.
Plays run at the Peacock Playhouse throughout the summer and fall. Clay County has long had as residents a talented group of amateur actors and directors in the Licklog Players. Free concerts by local musical groups take place on the square on Friday evenings every few weeks all summer.
Visitors to Clay County can stay at B&Bs, mountain cabin rentals, and campgrounds. Restaurants offer a range of choices including fast food, pizza, barbeque, sports bar, Mexican, traditional home cooking, American grill, and European-style fine dining.
Visitors in the market for second homes or retirement homes will find a large selection of houses with mountain and lake views at a wide range of prices.
Clay County residents are an engaging mix of local people and recent arrivals. Local people share a Scots-Irish heritage with strong family ties, a rich musical tradition, and a culture of craftsmanship. Many local farmers raise cattle and grow their own vegetables. Recent arrivals come from everywhere. In addition to retirees from Atlanta and Florida, they include people who were simply driving through the area; they saw it, fell in love with it, and decided to stay.
Clay County Sesquicentennial calendar: www.claycounty150.org
Car-B-Que and Festival on the Square: www.clayhistoryarts.org
Clay County Chamber of Commerce: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Rodeo and Golf Tournament: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Concerts in the Park: www.cccra.net
Farmers Market http://mountainvalleyfarmersmarket.com/
Plays by Licklog Players at the Peacock Playhouse: http://licklogplayers.org/
Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail: http://www.sabacycling.com/
Lake Chatuge and its dam: http://www.tva.gov/sites/chatuge.htm
Clay County was founded in 1861, the same year that the Civil War started. Most of the land that is now Clay County was previously the eastern part of Cherokee County. Farmers living in that area found that Murphy, the Cherokee County seat, was too far for them to travel to and return home on the same day if they needed to transact legal business at the courthouse. George Washington Hayes, who was running for election as representative from Cherokee County, promised voters that -- if he won -- he would introduce legislation to split the county. Thanks to voters in the eastern part of the state, he did win. He soon fulfilled his promise. The North Carolina General Assembly passed the legislation authorizing the split in February 1861. The new county was named after Henry Clay, the great US senator from Kentucky who had died in 1852. The county seat, Hayesville, was named after George Washington Hayes, the man who made the new county a reality.
Activities celebrating the county’s founding will take place all summer and fall. The focus of many of the activities will be the quaint Hayesville town square with its 1888 courthouse. The square’s historic appearance appeals to both visitors and filmmakers, who have used it as the setting for movies.
Sesquicentennial activities will peak between July 2 and July 10. The July 4th weekend will feature a traditional patriotic Independence Day parade with floats honoring the 1861 founding. Highlights of the following weekend will be the 25th annual rodeo at the Cutworm Corral and the Festival on the Square. All events include food and beverages and activities for kids.
While you’re here for these celebrations, tour the Old Jail Museum just off the square to learn about Clay County’s history. Nearby, you can check out the Cherokee Heritage Village that will introduce you to the area’s Native American heritage. To see Lake Chatuge’s beauty, visit the dam and the newly opened Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail. Jackrabbit Mountain is a major center for mountain biking in the Southeast.
In addition to the July 2-10 events, others also celebrate the sesquicentennial. Come to the Car-B-Que on June 11, a festival on the square celebrating antique cars and barbeque. Or come in August and enjoy the Family Fun Fest on August 11 and the 21st Annual Mountain Golf Tournament on August 27 at the Ridges Resort. This golf tournament offers 18 holes with team and individual prizes. The proceeds fund college scholarships for Hayesville High School students. August 27 and 28 also feature open houses at Clay County heritage homes.
Come in early fall and see the Tractor Parade and 4H festival on September 24. Come a little later October 23 and 24, and visit the Third Annual Punkin Chunkin Festival, where individuals and teams compete to see which of them can hurl pumpkins the greatest distance. Competitors use their own homemade medieval siege machines.
Plays run at the Peacock Playhouse throughout the summer and fall. Clay County has long had as residents a talented group of amateur actors and directors in the Licklog Players. Free concerts by local musical groups take place on the square on Friday evenings every few weeks all summer.
Visitors to Clay County can stay at B&Bs, mountain cabin rentals, and campgrounds. Restaurants offer a range of choices including fast food, pizza, barbeque, sports bar, Mexican, traditional home cooking, American grill, and European-style fine dining.
Visitors in the market for second homes or retirement homes will find a large selection of houses with mountain and lake views at a wide range of prices.
Clay County residents are an engaging mix of local people and recent arrivals. Local people share a Scots-Irish heritage with strong family ties, a rich musical tradition, and a culture of craftsmanship. Many local farmers raise cattle and grow their own vegetables. Recent arrivals come from everywhere. In addition to retirees from Atlanta and Florida, they include people who were simply driving through the area; they saw it, fell in love with it, and decided to stay.
Clay County Sesquicentennial calendar: www.claycounty150.org
Car-B-Que and Festival on the Square: www.clayhistoryarts.org
Clay County Chamber of Commerce: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Rodeo and Golf Tournament: www.ncmtnchamber.com
Concerts in the Park: www.cccra.net
Farmers Market http://mountainvalleyfarmersmarket.com/
Plays by Licklog Players at the Peacock Playhouse: http://licklogplayers.org/
Jackrabbit Mountain Bike and Hiking Trail: http://www.sabacycling.com/
Lake Chatuge and its dam: http://www.tva.gov/sites/chatuge.htm
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Jackrabbit Trails Grand Opening on April 30, 2011
Who: The Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association
The Tusquittee Ranger District, USFS
What: Jackrabbit Trails Grand Opening
When: Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Where: Jackrabbit Mountain Bike & Hiking Trails, Jackrabbit Road, Hayesville, NC 28904
Time: 10:00am
Details: Festivities begin with speeches from all collaborating parties, Mike Riter of Trail Design Specialists and dignitaries to discuss the history, collaboration, funding, construction, usage and future trail plans and goals.
Ribbon cutting ceremony will take place immediately after the speeches for not only the existing 14.5 mile trail system, but also for the new 'Bike Practice Trail' which is expected to be completed prior to this date.
This will be followed by 1) group mountain bike rides led by SABA, 2) group trail runs led by members of the Young Harris College cross country team and 3) group hikes led by the Mountain High Hikers.
Music- Slideshow Presentations- Food
Free commemorative water bottle to the first 200+ who register
Souvenir brew glasses, t-shirts, caps and stickers for sale (proceeds to benefit trail maintenance/projects)
Jackrabbit Campground (Loop A-40 sites) will be open for this weekend celebration. Reserve a 2-night stay at http://www.reserveamerica.com, or one night stays can be obtained on-site on a first come, first serve basis (call Tusquittee Ranger District at 828-837-5152 for more info).
Other lodging choices can be found on the links page of http://www.sabacycling.com under the Chambers of Commerce links
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association
The Tusquittee Ranger District, USFS
What: Jackrabbit Trails Grand Opening
When: Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Where: Jackrabbit Mountain Bike & Hiking Trails, Jackrabbit Road, Hayesville, NC 28904
Time: 10:00am
Details: Festivities begin with speeches from all collaborating parties, Mike Riter of Trail Design Specialists and dignitaries to discuss the history, collaboration, funding, construction, usage and future trail plans and goals.
Ribbon cutting ceremony will take place immediately after the speeches for not only the existing 14.5 mile trail system, but also for the new 'Bike Practice Trail' which is expected to be completed prior to this date.
This will be followed by 1) group mountain bike rides led by SABA, 2) group trail runs led by members of the Young Harris College cross country team and 3) group hikes led by the Mountain High Hikers.
Music- Slideshow Presentations- Food
Free commemorative water bottle to the first 200+ who register
Souvenir brew glasses, t-shirts, caps and stickers for sale (proceeds to benefit trail maintenance/projects)
Jackrabbit Campground (Loop A-40 sites) will be open for this weekend celebration. Reserve a 2-night stay at http://www.reserveamerica.com, or one night stays can be obtained on-site on a first come, first serve basis (call Tusquittee Ranger District at 828-837-5152 for more info).
Other lodging choices can be found on the links page of http://www.sabacycling.com under the Chambers of Commerce links
Upcoming Concert in the Park
The Hayesville summer concert season will kick off Friday April 29 in the Hayesville town square. The concert will run from 7 to 9 pm. Bring your chairs and enjoy a fun-filled evening. The Hayesville junior varsity cheerleaders will provide food and drinks to raise money. The concert itself is free; however, donations are welcome.
If the weather is bad, the concert will move indoors to the Gathering Place room of the Hayesville First United Methodist Church right off the square. Take your chairs with you to the church.
The group that will play does not have a name, but its four musicians are well known on the local musical scene. They include Rob Tiger (guitar and vocals) and Rebekah Scott (vocals), both of whom have played with Irons in the Fire. They also include Pat List (guitar and vocals) and Keith Layton (guitar and vocals), both of whom played with Gnarly Fingers and Martin Breedlove. The members of the group have only recently begun to play together, but they have been very well received at the Daily Grind in Andrews.
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) is a sponsor of the Hayesville concert.
If the weather is bad, the concert will move indoors to the Gathering Place room of the Hayesville First United Methodist Church right off the square. Take your chairs with you to the church.
The group that will play does not have a name, but its four musicians are well known on the local musical scene. They include Rob Tiger (guitar and vocals) and Rebekah Scott (vocals), both of whom have played with Irons in the Fire. They also include Pat List (guitar and vocals) and Keith Layton (guitar and vocals), both of whom played with Gnarly Fingers and Martin Breedlove. The members of the group have only recently begun to play together, but they have been very well received at the Daily Grind in Andrews.
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA) is a sponsor of the Hayesville concert.
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