Sex & the Courthouse – Again????

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Deborah Keller

SBI misconduct points to yet another sex scandal in District Attorney Ted Bell’s office. One can hardly forget the actions of

former judge Randy Pool, the allegations of Bell’s ongoing relationship with a deputy clerk of court, and a rumored new entanglement with one of his employees. Yet sexual scandals in the courthouse aren’t limited to just those, anymore it seems.

In recent court filings obtained at the McDowell Courthouse, SBI Agent Randy Wood – a long-time married man, is accused of engaging in similar unlawful actions against several women as well as engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a prosecuting attorney in District Attorney Ted Bell’s office.

SBI Agent Randy Wood (contributed photo)

On June 1, 2023, the first Wood case, thefemale victim (who will not be named due to the conduct at issue) submitted a Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order making the following claims:

“[Agent] Randy Wood text me asking if I was good. I called him to discuss a stalker situation that I had for months. He chuckled and asked if I was surprised. I said uh yes and I’m beginning to not feel safe because they are coming right up to the house! He explained that he had handled it and that he was always watching from afar. I asked him what that meant. He laughed and said I will always keep you safe and I’m always watching you. How are you always watching I asked?? He then said he had his resources. Curious I had to have more info. He said he had to go and would call me tomorrow. I asked him to come over and tell me more about this watching from afar.”

Agent Wood’s behavior allegedly became more troubling from there.

The court granted the victim’s request for a no-contact order against Agent Wood that continues in effect as of the date of this writing.

In a June 5, 2023 Complaint and Motion for Domestic Violence Protective Order, a second female victim (who will also not be named due to the conduct at issue) requested a protective order against Agent Wood based on the following allegations:

“On Saturday June 3 Randy wanted to take [unidentified individuals] out on the boat. Due to a change in his behavior, I said no and things escalated. Randy has been doing drugs, alcohol, stopped taking his meds for his mental issues and because of that me and [unidentified individuals] are afraid of what he’s capable. Randy is currently under investigation with the SBI which he blames me for and will text [unidentified individuals] calling me ‘a dirty mothe*****er’ trying to get them on his side. Randy has placed me in fear of harm due to his unpredictable state. He has a history of aggression, narcissistic behavior, and mental instability.”

The court granted the second victim a no-contact order against Agent Wood as well, and, on June 9, 2023, issued a second order keeping the no-contact order in place based on finding “threats of continued harassment” by Agent Wood. That order is also in effect as of this writing.

In its second order, the Court also noted that this matter is tracking [the two other domestic violence cases] and that “Defendant was served. Defendant is in rehab in Florida.”

DA Ted Bell swearing in Asst DA Cydney Joyner (contributed photo)

Most concerning, however, is that multiple individuals working at the courthouse (speaking on condition of anonymity) have alleged that Assistant District Attorney Cydney Joyner entered into a sexual relationship with Agent Wood prior to these incidents and, after the two victims above filed their complaints, drove Agent Wood to the rehab facility in Florida. And when a file concerning Wood went missing in the clerk’s office it was found in ADA Joyner’s possession.

Those same sources uniformly represented that D.A. Bell has been aware of this situation (as well as other improprieties that these individuals have not yet authorized Foothills Catalyst to disclose) for quite some time.

Despite the conflicts of interest, potential interference with legal proceedings, and appearance of impropriety created by an undisclosed sexual relationship between a prosecutor and law enforcement officer, D.A. Bell has not suspended Attorney Joyner or placed her on leave pending an investigation into these issues.

In fact, because of his refusal to comment on this matter, there is no indication that DA Bell has launched and/or requested any investigation (much less an independent investigation) or taken steps to preserve evidence regarding Attorney Joyner’s alleged actions.

Unfortunately, with history as a guide, D.A. Bell’s extraordinary efforts to shield former-Chief District Court Judge Randy Pool from similar misconduct provides little reason to believe that he will address this matter with any greater level of candor, transparency, or fidelity to ethical mandates that should govern his handling of this situation.

Regardless of whether District Attorney Bell does so, however, we will continue reporting on this matter as it develops.

Advisory: McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Need Your Help Identifying This Individual and/or Locating This Vehicle

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Press Release

McDowell County Sheriff’s Office investigators need your help identifying this individual and locating this vehicle.

The individual pictured is a person of interest in the recent theft of a 1999 F350 stolen from Cumberland Sand & Gravel in the Glenwood area.

Anyone with information that can help identify this suspect or locate this truck is asked to call Detective Richard Pittman of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME(652-7463). You can also text your tips to Crime Stoppers by texting TIP MCDOWELLSO and your information to 888777. With Crime Stoppers, your identity remains anonymous.

MCSO: Felon Charged with Gun Possession

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Anna Burton

Lieutenant Chris Taylor with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged 36-year-old Jason Darryl Causby with felonious Possession of Firearm by Felon. A magistrate issued Causby a $25,000 secured bond.

On January 4^th, 2023, Lieutenant Taylor and Community Supervision Officers searched Causby’s residence. The search turned up a handgun. Causby is a convicted felon and is prohibited by NC Law from possessing a firearm.

Marion Motor Vehicle Crash Update

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Press Release

On Tuesday January 3, 2023 a motor vehicle collision occurred in the intersection of North Main Street and McDowell High Drive involving two vehicles.

Preliminary investigation at this point has shown that a 2014 Ford Truck, occupied by two juveniles, one legally licensed 16yoa and his passenger 15yoa, were leaving McDowell High School. According to numerous witnesses, the truck had a green light and was attempting to make a left turn from McDowell High Drive onto North Main Street. It was at this point when a 2006 Ford SUV driven by Brandon Pierce Love 32yoa of Kathy Street in Marion, was traveling South on Main Street. Love did not stop for the red light in his direction and traveled into the intersection where the two vehicles collided. Also inside Love’s vehicle in the rear seats were two juveniles ages 8yoa and 6yoa.

It appears at this time through the investigation that none of the occupants in either vehicle, including the drivers were wearing seatbelts. When the collision occurred, both the driver and the passenger of the Ford Truck were ejected out of the passenger side door. After the ejection, both of those occupants came to rest in the grass on the shoulder of the road beside First Citizens Bank. After the collision the SUV traveled into the oncoming lanes and back into his lane of travel before coming to rest on the shoulder near Bojangles.

McDowell County EMS transported a total of five patients to Mission Hospital in Asheville. Numerous injuries were sustained by occupants in both vehicles. At the time of this release, all but two of the individuals still remain at Mission Hospital in Asheville receiving care. One of the juveniles in the rear seat of the SUV was the most critically injured in the crash. That individual has undergone surgery and is in critical condition today.

This investigation by the Marion Police Department is still ongoing. No charges have been filed at this point, but are expected as the investigation is concluded. Our agency would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved including any witnesses or bystanders that rendered aid to those injured prior to emergency personnel arrival. We would also like to take this opportunity in the wake of this severe crash to remind ALL occupants to please wear seatbelts when inside of a vehicle.

Investigators need your help identifying the driver of a vehicle involved in a theft of a trailer

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Anna Burton

On December 9th, 2022, a trailer was stolen from the parking lot of Baldor in Marion. Investigators need help identifying the vehicle in this photo attached.

Anyone with information concerning the theft, or whereabouts of the vehicle in question is asked to call Detective Richard Pittman at 652-2237 or McDowell County Crime Stoppers at 65-CRIME (652-7463). You can also text your tips to Crime Stoppers. Text TIP MCDOWELLSO and your information to 888777. With Crime Stoppers, your identity remains anonymous.

State Historic Preservation Office Begins McDowell County Comprehensive Architectural Survey with Grant Funds from National Park Service

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Press Release

RALEIGH

Nov 16, 2022

McDowell County has been chosen as the subject of a comprehensive survey of historic buildings and landscapes planned from 2022-24. Funding for this architectural survey comes from the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF), administered by the National Park Service, for hurricanes Florence and Michael. Because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a major disaster in McDowell County following both storms, the county is an eligible location for planning projects intended to document the degree of damage from past storms as well as provide preparedness for future disasters.

As national emergencies arise, Congress may appropriate funding from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to provide relief for historic preservation projects in areas impacted by natural disasters. The HPF uses revenue from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf to assist a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars. In 2018, hurricanes Florence and Michael, as well as Typhoon Yutu, caused extensive damage to communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, the Northern Mariana Islands, South Carolina, and Virginia. Congress subsequently passed Public Law 116-20 to provide ESHPF assistance to these six states and one territory related to damages from these storms.

North Carolina has chosen to allocate funding to support the survey of historic resources to determine the overall degree of damage, as well as provide data for resiliency planning for our state’s treasured cultural resources. McDowell County was selected from among other eligible counties because the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) has not previously conducted a comprehensive architectural survey of the county. The 2022-2024 architectural survey will intensively document historic buildings and landscapes from the early 19th century through the 1970s, including those in Marion and Old Fort and rural areas. Data gathered during the survey will assist McDowell County in planning for the preservation of its historic resources.

The State of North Carolina has hired NV5, a Cary, N.C-based cultural resources consulting firm, to complete the project. Kenneth Zogry will serve as Principal Investigator. Preliminary fieldwork will start in December. A survey of rural McDowell County will occur in mid-to-late 2023. A survey of Marion is anticipated to occur in late 2023 or early 2024.

An architectural survey entails documentation of buildings and landscapes that are at least 50 years old. Fieldworkers take photographs, draw site plans, and collect oral history from people they meet on site. They conduct a limited amount of archival research to establish countywide patterns of historical development. NV5 will also identify properties that appear to be potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as historic districts. National Register properties are potentially eligible for state and federal tax credits for certified historic rehabilitation. The McDowell County Comprehensive Architectural Survey will culminate in a final report that analyzes the history of the county through the lens of its historic architecture.

At the conclusion of the survey, the HPO will share the final report and geospatial data collected during fieldwork with the National Park Service and will retain all materials from the survey as part of the statewide architectural record. Public access to the information will be available through HPOWEB, the HPO’s geographic information system, which is accessible online at http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/. The survey material will facilitate the environmental review necessary for state and federal undertakings and will aid in planning for future economic and community development projects. Survey products also will be useful for the continued development of heritage tourism programs in McDowell County.

For more information on the McDowell County Comprehensive Architectural Survey, contact Elizabeth C. King, Architectural Survey Coordinator for the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, at elizabeth.king@ncdcr.gov or 828-250-3108, or Kenneth Zogry PhD, Senior Historian for NV5, at kenneth.zogry@nv5.com.

About the State Historic Preservation Office
In North Carolina, the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) is an agency of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The HPO carries out state and federal preservation programs that assist private citizens, non-profit institutions, local governments, and agencies of state and federal government in the identification, evaluation, protection, and enhancement of properties significant in North Carolina’s history and archaeology.

The HPO oversees the statewide architectural survey; administers the National Register of Historic Places for North Carolina properties; conducts environmental review of state and federal actions affecting historic and archaeological properties; provides technical assistance to owners in the restoration of historic properties, including those owners seeking state and federal rehabilitation income tax credits; provides grant assistance for historic preservation projects; provides technical assistance to local preservation commissions; and provides historic preservation education, including publication of preservation plan updates and the HPO newsletter, Worth Saving (http://www.hpo.ncdcr.gov/newsletter/newsletter.htm).

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.

Election Interference Reported in Rutherford and McDowell Counties

Posted on November 13, 2022 by Deborah Keller

11-13-22

After the 2020 election, county and state elections officials were worried about what could happen at the polls. Conspiracy theories and false claims of voter fraud have been circulating nationally and in North Carolina, sparking concerns for front-line election workers.

There were twenty-one (21) reported incidents of intimidation and interference in our 2022 N.C. midterms.

“One incident of voter or election official intimidation is too many, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect voters and election officials,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesman for the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

“We take these allegations very seriously. Substantiated incidents will be investigated and referred to prosecutors, if warranted by evidence. In some cases, law enforcement is involved,” he said.

“We need to keep these numbers in perspective. More than 3.75 million voters cast ballots in the general election at more than 2,650 Election Day polling places and 359 early voting sites,” Gannon said.

“Most voters cast their ballot successfully at an orderly polling place, with no issues. We thank election officials, poll workers, and voters for participating in a successful election, largely free of major issues,” he said.

During early voting, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, State officials reported sixteen (16) incidents in ten (10) counties around the state. Many of the potential cases of intimidation involved election observers or people campaigning for candidates photographing voters or poll workers.

The Justice Department sent federal poll monitors to five counties in North Carolina for Election Day. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division sent monitors to Alamance, Columbus, Harnett, Mecklenburg and Wayne counties, the department said.

Of the five (5) incidents reported on Election Day, the State said two were “potential election worker intimidation” in Wake and Rowan counties. The board reported “potential voter intimidation” in Rutherford, Granville and Halifax counties.

On Election Day a voter was told by a campaigner in Rutherford County that they could not go in the polling site without ID and an election observer photographing curbside voters.

During early voting in McDowell County an observer refused instruction of election official to move outside the buffer zone while talking on the phone and grabbed her arm momentarily.

The Following are Election Day incidents reported by the State Board of Elections:

Rowan County

Potential election worker intimidation: “Campaigner refused to keep proper distance from curbside voters, called chief judge a derogatory term, and grabbed and threw her cell phone. Same individual then approached and took photos of another election official’s car, then taunted and threatened her.”

Rutherford County

Potential voter intimidation: “Voter told by campaigner to not enter polling place without ID and that law enforcement was arresting people on site who had active warrants.”

Wake County

Potential election worker intimidation: “Election worker followed in car from voting site.”

Granville County

Potential voter intimidation: “Campaigner aggressively pushing candidates to curbside voters, leaning into their cars, ignoring voter requests to be left alone.”

Halifax County

Potential voter intimidation: “Observer photographing curbside voters.”

Early voting incidents

Columbus County

Potential election worker intimidation: “Observer following one-stop workers in their car.”

Potential election worker intimidation: “Photographing or filming workers.”

Mecklenburg County

Potential election worker intimidation: “Monitors at county board office approaching one-stop workers returning supplies to county office and photographing license plates.”

New Hanover County

Potential voter intimidation: “Electioneer ‘harassing’ students walking to class at a one-stop site.”

Potential voter intimidation: “Electioneers getting into heated shouting match potentially intimidating voters.”

Potential election worker intimidation: “Observer angrily confronting election official.”

Wake County

Potential voter intimidation: “Electioneer in buffer zone aggressively pushing materials on voters entering the site making them feel very uncomfortable.”

Potential voter intimidation: “Observer photographing curbside voters.”

Pitt County

Potential voter intimidation: “Voter was photographed by electioneer while approaching the voting site.”

Potential election worker intimidation: “Individual at an early voting site (unrelated to voting) harassed election worker claiming it was illegal to conduct early voting.”

Harnett County

Potential voter intimidation: “Observer getting too close to voters in the voting enclosure and making curbside voters feel intimidated.”

Potential voter intimidation: “Electioneers videotaping voters coming and going and informing the voters they were being recorded.”

McDowell County

Potential election worker intimidation: “Observer refused instruction of election official to move outside the buffer zone while talking on the phone and grabbed her arm momentarily.”

Wayne County

Potential voter intimidation: “Observer yelling at voter when using phone magnifier.”

Guilford County

Potential voter intimidation: “Electioneer photographing voters.”

Cabarrus County

Potential voter intimidation: “Monitor photographing curbside voters.”

Ted Bell…….No Choice, No Change!

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Deborah Keller

**Opinion**

10-23-22

On May 17, 2022 this county along with McDowell County essentially voted to re-elect Ted Bell for DA for four more years. This was in spite of all the things he has and has not done during his tenure.

D.A. Bell (often referred to by some at the courthouse as the “Invisible Man” since he so rarely tries cases himself) is running unopposed for his office….again. Only thirteen percent (13%) of this county voted him in to represent us in the Republican primary.

This is a man who in case you have forgotten has:

Altered body cam video in a major death by officer case (verified in court), not charged any officer in that case, not released the official SBI report concerning this case or any other case involving the Sheriff’s office.
Who let his friend Judge Pool off the hook for sexual misconduct on the bench. Yet persecuted a woman for eight (8) months for a social media post against a candidate accusing them of “calling” her, then dropping the case on the day of the hearing.
Who has as of yet to try the Word of Faith Fellowship cases after over 6 years, but tried a littering case right away against an attorney who complained about him.
Who also refuses to show families the body cam video from questionable cases about the death of their loved ones until made to by a court order.
Who reportedly has had numerous complaints made about him to the NC Bar Association.
Who lied about his political endorsements while campaigning knowingly endangering the positions of multiple law enforcement officials for violation of the Hatch Act.
Who rarely tries cases in court preferring to have his staff do the majority of the work.
Who is involved in a lawsuit for conspiracy and denial of constitutional rights along with several judges against a local attorney.

Unfortunately we have no choice in this matter. He will win this office even if he only receives one vote. So where does that leave us, the people whom he refuses to represent? We must be diligent in watching and reporting what Ted Bell does and does not do in the next four years. Reporting him to the bar when it is applicable.

When you vote DO NOT MARK your ballot for him. Leave it blank. Show the sentiment of NO CONFIDENCE by not voting for him. Let him see the numbers of how many did not vote for him. You do have a choice by not marking the ballot on any individual who is unopposed if you disagree with their politics.

Hopefully the Bar will act against him the way they did the DA in Henderson County and remove him from office and allow another DA to be appointed. We deserve a DA with integrity, and one who will be transparent and actually represent all the people of this community.

At the very least he could resign and go into private practice but either way he is here now and we have to deal with it as best we can. Stay alert, stay vigilant, and do not allow him to comfortably feel he can continue to act as he has in the past.

Mr. Bell we are watching! The things you have done and not done will NOT be forgotten. Be aware that Karma comes for all, even you.

David and Goliath…….Rutherford County Courthouse 2022

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Deborah Keller

**Opinion**

10-04-22

I went to court this week to watch a case being heard that a local attorney had put forward against several judges, a lawyer and the District Attorney (D.A.). It is a case that has been two years in the making.

I was curious, as this appears to be a classic David and Goliath situation. One young lawyer who went against a judge who was committing sexual offenses in office triggered the “good ole boy” network to come out in force. These judges and the DA knew about their colleague’s misconduct yet they turned a blind eye and let it continue. Once this attorney brought it to light the judge in question resigned.

The offending judge’s colleagues, however, could not let this behavior pass. How dare someone question one of their own? It could not be allowed to continue. They as a group decided to put him out of business according to statements made by witnesses. It appeared no one should dare question a judge’s behavior.

The judges started recusing from hearing his cases. They accused him of writing articles in RC Catalyst about them, yet NO one has presented an article with his name on it. He does admit that he consulted on some of the articles written. Since he was the attorney in question about the Judge Pool case of course he was consulted about the articles concerning the judge. He knew all the details and RC Catalyst wanted to make sure we were correct in their presentation.

Supposedly “a friend” of his who decided to work with the judges, DA, and the other private attorney in this matter showed them emails where he discussed the articles. Yes he was assisting with the technical verbiage of our articles, but so do doctors, engineers, and other professionals when we needed specific guidance on presenting the information in an article.

Did he actually write them….NO. The recusals were all based on this erroneous allegation of him writing articles about them. The defendants also recused from another attorney who was not involved in this at all, based off an incorrect phone number they had obtained. They had to remove his recusals.

They presented this refusal to hear cases in several ways assisted by the District Attorney. Cases were continued multiple times. They did not inform the attorney or his clients that their case would be continued so they continued to have to get off work and show up to court only to be sent home. If they did not show up they were charged with nonappearance even though their case was continued.

One case in particular that was mentioned in the court case was a person who had a DUI whose case had thirteen (13) continuances. (Shameful on the courts part here….)

This recusal matter effectively was shutting his practice down, as people knew his cases were not being heard. The judges and the DA knew this would work in time.

The judges arranged this in a way that it seemed the attorney had no legal recourse. Suing judges is just unheard of. It never occurred to these people in these high positions that anyone would have the audacity to question them and their behaviors.

It did not help that his former “friend” was on a personal social media vendetta against him. She was constantly putting innuendo out about him, his family members, and his motives as an attorney. She admitted on Facebook to working closely with the DA and others in this effort.

All this was being done in a concentrated effort to discredit him not only as an attorney, but also as a person. The “powers that be” wanted him to not only stop investigating them but to go away and disappear. If you are from here then you know the far-reaching powers of the “good ole boy” network. It has been used here for over a hundred years and God help you if you were on the wrong side of them.

Times are changing, however, and people are not tolerating the absolute power and protection these people are afforded. The little people, the unheard, the unprotected are beginning to speak up.

So David went up against Goliath this week in court. The presiding judge was from Mecklenburg County. One humorous note was when the private attorney being sued who was representing himself asked to be compensated for his legal fees to pay himself in this case. Even the judge rolled his eyes at that statement.

The defendant also admitted to receiving confidential attorney/client information on a thumb drive from a deputy sheriff in a hallway on a case in process for a completely unrelated matter because the attorney being sued was mentioned in it. The exact wording in court stated that the deputy said “I got something you would be interested in” when he gave it to him.

It seems they took someone’s cell phone they arrested and made a flash drive of all the conversations with his attorney and distributed them to unauthorized persons. (No conspiracy here…)

The judges, DA, and attorney involved asked for the case to be dismissed. The judges and the DA had someone from the Attorney General’s office in Raleigh representing them. She did everything she could to discredit the young attorney who was representing himself. She leveled insults and innuendoes about his practice and his person.

The young attorney stood his ground against the giants in the room. He calmly explained his claim in court to the presiding judge while not responding to the taunts of the AG office representative. The DA sat alone in the very back of the courtroom watching quietly.

After hearing from both sides the judge took the case and told them all he hoped to have a decision later in the week. The DA looked visibly stunned that it was not thrown out immediately. He left quickly once the judge made his statement.

No one knows how this will play out but regardless of the ruling it will most likely go to the appeals court. Just the very act that someone would finally sue the people of the “good ole boy” network itself for committing conspiracy and denying someone their constitutional rights is hopefully the beginning of the end of their protection and abuse of power. Maybe….

An update will be posted when the judge’s ruling comes in. Regardless this is quite a case and will not be forgotten.

Just like the song says, “The times they are a changing.”

Hillbillyland: Myth & Reality of Appalachian Culture

Posted on September 30, 2022 by Gayle Clayton, BS, MA

An exhibit examining the myths and misconceptions behind the mountain “hillbilly” stereotype will open Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) in Old Fort.

“Hillbillyland: Myth & Reality of Appalachian Culture,” will run through May 7, 2023, at MGM, 24 Water Street, in Old Fort. It is on loan from the Western North Carolina Historical Association in Asheville.

The hillbilly stereotype is rooted deep in the history of the United States. It started in the 19th century with the Southwestern Humor Tales’ accounts of excess, violence, and “backwards” behavior related to moonshiners. National newspapers, such as “Harper’s,” perpetuated these stories and influenced how the nation saw Appalachian life.

Popular culture latched on to these stories and produced shows such as “Ma and Pa Kettle,” “Thunder Road,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” and “Hee-Haw” to capitalize on the public’s oversimplified, and sometimes negative, view of Appalachian culture.

Mountain people sometimes fueled the stereotype, especially when it profited them. This included musicians acting like rubes for fans, residents catering to the tourist by acting like “real mountain people,” and artists playing “simple” to sell their products.

Hillbillyland explores how the hillbilly stereotype thrives in today’s popular culture. The power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype are explored through photography, poetry, and short prose.

These writings and images are set inside the themes of religion, music, arts and crafts, moonshine, and isolation. Designed not to extol the hillbilly stereotype, these pieces seek to challenge and complicate them while encouraging the visitor to think about the reality, complexity, and nuances of mountain life.

Photographs in the exhibition include historical ones by Bayard Wooten, George Masa, and Doris Ulmann, and modern photographers Rob Amberg, Tim Barnwell, and Don Dudenbostel, as well as images from the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Special Collections and other regional collections. Most of these photographers come from outside of the region and reflect the fascination with the region and the people who live in its deepest coves and hollows.

The poetry and prose in the exhibit were written by individuals with deep roots in Western North Carolina. They include the late Jim Wayne Miller, Fred Chappell, Robert Morgan, Michael McFee, Jane Hicks, Kathryn Stripling Byer, Ron Rash, and Wayne Caldwell.

For more information about Hillbillyland, contact Jesse Bricker at 828-668-9259 or jesse.bricker@ncdcr.gov or visit Mountain Gateway Museum’s website at www.mgmnc.org.
_______________________________________________________

About Mountain Gateway Museum
A regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) is the westernmost facility in the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources’ Division of State History Museums.

Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of historic Mill Creek in downtown Old Fort (McDowell County), the museum uses artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, and special events to teach people about the rich history and cultural heritage of the state’s mountain region, from its original inhabitants through early settlement and into the 20th century.

As part of its education outreach mission, MGM also assists nonprofit museums and historic sites in 38 western NC counties with exhibit development & fabrication, genealogical research, photography archives, traveling exhibitions, and consultations. For more information, visit the museum’s website at www.mgmnc.org or call 828-668-9259.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.