Dr. Garrett Smathers

  • World War II veteran, serving in Normandy
  • BA Degree in Chemistry and Educational Psychology from UNCA and Furman
  • MA Degree in Biology and Educational Psychology from Western Carolina University
  • PhD Degree in Botanical Sciences and Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Hawaii
  • Industrial chemist at the Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C.
  • Biltmore College (University of North Carolina at Asheville) professor
  • Park Naturalist with the National Park Service
  • Naturalist for the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
  • Naturalist for the Lava Beds National Monument in California
  • Naturalist for the National Parks in Hawaii
  • Regional, chief, and senior scientist with the National Park Service Science Centers in Mississippi, Seattle, and Washington
  • Ecological instructor at the Grand Canyon
  • Research biologist and supervisory naturalist at the University of Hawaii
  • Senior scientist with the National Space Technology Laboratories
  • Chief scientist with science centers in Denver, Colorado, St. Louis, Mississippi, and Seattle, Washington
  • Conducted study on the Appalachian Balds that was published by the National Park Service
  • Hawaii: The Fires of Life (ecological findings of the vegetation study in the post volcanic era at Kilauea Iki from 1960 – 2006 by Dr. Smathers and Mueller-Dombois)
  • Assistant principal, teacher, and coach at Bethel High School where he started the first midget football team in Bethel
  • Co-writer of the Bethel theme song
  • Western Carolina University’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award for scientific achievement and administration of National Park Service research – 1974
  • Appointment to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by NC Governor J.B. Hunt, Jr. - 1985
  • Appointed to the NC State Environmental Management Commission – 1989
  • Canton Paper Town Person of the Year - 1999

Caleb Smith

  • Harvest Bluegrass/Gospel band
  • Power Grass Music Award for Male Vocalist of the Year
  • Power Grass Music Award for Guitarist of the Year
  • Power Grass Music Award for Harvest for Album of the Year
  • Smoky Mountain Boys Bluegrass/Gospel band
  • Balsam Range Bluegrass band
  • Balsam Range has had multiple appearances on the Grand Ole Opry
  • Balsam Range collaborated with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra to record 2 albums, including Mountain Overture, that debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart at #5 and the Classical Crossover Chart at #6.
  • Balsam Range’s Mountain Voodoo debuted at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart and stayed for 45 weeks.
  • Balsam Range’s “Bluegrass Collar Dreams” reached #1 on the Bluegrass Today Chart
  • Balsam Range’s “The Girl Who Invented the Wheel” reached #1 on the Bluegrass Today Chart
  • Balsam Range, since its inception in 2007, has garnered 13 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards on the heels of 8 critically acclaimed albums.
  • Wrote “Grace for Today”
  • Wrote “God Knows”
  • Wrote “Jack Diamond”
  • Wrote “Jaxon Point”
  • Renowned luthier (maker of guitars) whose C.B. Smith company makes quality instruments

Edith Collier Stamey

  • SawDust Trail

Bill Terrell

  • Cold Mountain Calling Me (Song Writer)

Emily Terrell

  • Legends, Tales & History of Cold Mountain, Book 3 (Contributor) (Origins of the Lenoir Family, Thomas Lenoir, Thomas Isaac Lenoir)

Hugh K. Terrell

  • Sonoma, Valley of the Moon, Sunburst– A 1978 Bethel Junior High School eighth grade documentation project consisting of a collection of Terrell’s students’ interviews and writings about the historic Sunburst logging community.

Wanda Mathews Taylor

  • The Mountaineer newspaper (Columnist)

INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION (IBMA) AWARDS FOR BALSAM RANGE:

  • Entertainer of the Year (2014, 2018)
  • Album of the Year (2013, 2017)
  • Song of the Year (2011, 2015)
  • Vocal Group of the Year (2014,2015)

Click here for a full listing of Wanda Mathews Taylor's  writings and media contributions

Lenore M. Thompsen

  • Designing Corsages and Bouts
  • Designing Romantic Bouquets
  • Designing with Garden Flowers
  • Ellie has a Happy Belly - children's book
  • Seven Weeks in Low Country - short story
  • Walks with Angel - children's book
  • Birmingham
  • Discovery
  • Robb Report
  • Modern Luxury
  • Town
  • Tempus (Editor)

Steven Tingle

Steven tingle is a journalist, freelance writer, and author specializing in travel, style, and food and drink. His articles have been published in the following publications:

Articles by Steven Tingle:

  • “Man About Town: When in Rome”
  • “Fair-Weather Friendship”
  • “On the Road”
  • “Ties That Bind”
  • “The Difficult Search for Valentine’s Day Gifts”
  • “Bells & Whistles”
  • “The Perfect Beefs to Pair with Your Favorite Crime Novels”
  • “Number 100”
  • “A Ruff Holiday”
  • “Presenting Mr. Tingle”
  • “Hot Little Number”
  • “Power Play”
  • “Arte de Pasion”
  • “Core Insight”
  • “Control Panels”
  • “Man of Heart”

Tingle authored a script detailing the early history of the South Carolina textile industry that has been produced and aired on PBS in 2021.

Tingle authored his debut novel that is set in Cruso, NC:  Graveyard Fields

Tingle's second novel is set in Cruso, Bethel, and Haywood County:  Buried Lies

  • Authors Guild
  • International Thriller Writers
  • Mystery Writers of America

Member of the following Writing Organizations:

Southern School Service, Inc.

  • "The School Peddler"

Bethel Writers and Media Contributors