Thursday, February 12, 2009
{The Blue Banner}
Page 6
Safety
- CoyfrNUED F
ROM Page 3
“Granted, I’m not trying to do the whole
thing, so ! guess it’s different. Mostly I’d
like to prove to myself that I’m able to do
it. It will be lovely to be away from every'-
thing, in the wilderness, carrying every
thing I need on my back and fending for
myself,” she said.
Many students said an early introduc
tion to hiking keeps them exploring trails
as adults. Hampson hiked in high school
with The American Adventure Service
Corps, a youth outdoor program.
He trekked parts of the Appalachian
Trail and the Sierra Nevada during breaks
from school.
“With UNCA Outdoors, I typically lead
kayaking, canoeing and climbing trips,” he
said. “I have led a few ‘Night Hikes’ and a
backpack trip with our Wilderness Experi
ence Program for incoming freshmen and
transfer students.”
Mills said hiking in the local mountains
attracted her family to western North Car
olina.
“My family used to go on hikes all
the time. My sister calls the Blue Ridge
Mountains ‘daddy’s mountains’ because
ray dad liked going there so much,” Mills
said. “I’ve been on a bunch of trails since
I’ve been in school here.”
Hampson said there are many places to
explore in the area besides the parkway.
“1 would recommend the Art Loeb Trail
up to Cold Mountain in Shining Rock Wil
derness,” Hampson said. “This trail would
be good for a long dav hike.”
Math
Continued from Paof. 2
munity benefit in public math education,
said the AIM director.
According to Kaplan, years ago Mis
sion Hospital officials realized a growing
need for more trained technicians. They
worked with AB Tech to create the nec
essary college degrees, to generate local
jobs for students.
As the first students entered the new
classes, around half dropped out because
of the math involved, Kaplan said; stu
dents entered college ill-equipped in math
proficiency.
The hospital then joined with AIM to
help improve student math skills.
The goal is to help Asheville high
school graduates obtain those two-year
AB Tech degrees, then go on to local hos
pital jobs, which can offer $60,000 a year
starting salaries, Kaplan said.
Last year, AIM received a $900,000
North Carolina Department of Public In
struction Grant for kindergarten to 12“'
grade city and county math teacher’s pro
fessional development.
AIM used the money to sponsor pro
grams like Math Teacher Circles for ele
mentary, middle and high school teachers.
The course teaches them how to model
problem-solving skills in their class
rooms.
The grant also funds a two-day work
shop for middle and high school teachers.
The teachers visit local businesses
where the owners discuss math’s impor
tance in dailv ta.sks.
Lost hiker
Continued from Page 3
posed to be, and it’s not; it’s five separate
trails and they’re all going in different di
rections.”
Pfundstein came across an Adirondack
shelter, a three-sided refuge, with bunk
beds. Settling down for the night, she
wrapped herself in jackets and her ham
mock.
“It was really funny looking; 1 looked
like this huge brightly colored creature be
cause of my hammock,” the UNCA gradu
ate said.
She .started out again the next morning
with a small amount of water and an apple
to sustain her.
“Supposedly they started to search for
me around eight o’clock that night and
stopped around 3 a.m.,” Pfundstein said.
“I was hiking on my last mile or two, and
I saw this search helicopter that kept cir
cling me.”
When the Winston-Salem native got
to her caution-taped car, a reporter stood
waiting.
“The reporter was like, ‘Who are you?
Are you participating in the search?’ And I
said, ‘No, I’m Lindsey. 1 think I’m the girl
they’re searching for.’ Their mouths just
dropped.”
Pfundstein said she knew she was go
ing to get out of the woods.
“My biggest concern was my family;
I got emotional when I saw my parents,”
she said. “I think staying positive and
calm allowed me to do it so quickly and
not panic.”
Politics
Continued from Page 2
ternet) can become a great resource, but it
can also hurt you if you are doing the things
that you are not supposed to be doing be
cause people can find out a lot quicker.”
These new tools, combined with an open
attitude, helped the Buncombe County Re
publican Party attract newer and younger
members.
“We are reaching out to our young
people to get them engaged and keep them
engaged. We are seeing a changing of the
guards as it relates to those that are in their
60s and 70s and trying to bring more peo
ple in that are from 18 to 45,” Johnson said.
“There is a sea of change that is happening
in our nation, and that same change is be
ing advocated here in Buncombe County
to get more people engaged and make them
feel successful.”
The Republican Party always possessed
this spirit of inclusion, but it often falls
short of its fullest potential, according to
JohiLson. To address this on the local level,
the Buncombe Republicans stress issues
over partisan ideology.
“The words of conservative, liberal H
moderate have become tainted and nic
people can’t define them,” .lohnson sai
“We’re focusing on fiscal responsibili'
We recognize the economy is tight and tl
we have got to be smart about how we u
lize the dollars that are given to our legisi
tors or that we as tax payers offer up to o
legislators to use for the betterment of o
society.”
Apart from fiscal responsibility, Jof
son wants to make sure the Republic'
Party looks after the best interests of ^
people.
“We believe that the government tl
governs best is the gove. nment that is clc
est to the people. “Over time, 1 think
have seen our party has not necessaf
done its best to be a representative oft
people. We have lost connectivity withi
common man,” .lohnson said. '
Local author and 2009 Asheville Cf
Council candidate Cecil Bothwell, said^
believes local politics gets forced out of|!
spotlight because much of it is mundane
Correction
In the Feb. 5 issue. The Blue Banner
printed an incorrect attribute to a quote.
“Currently, the university is develop
ing an initiative encouraging faculty
to submit grant proposals for the avail
able funding,” was said by John Pierce,
vice chancellor of finances and opera
tions, riot by J. William Miller.
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