Volume 37- Issue 4
Page 7
A Look Back On MerleFest through the eyes of the Cougar Cry
By: Loni Miller and Robin Dew, Former
Reporter for the Cougar Cry in 1989
As many of you know Merlefest will
be celebrating its 20 year anniversary
this year. So in honor of this, the staff
at the Cougar Cry has decided to do
our very first Cougar Cry Past Story
on Merlefest. However after looking
through all of the 20 year old papers we
were unable to find anything on the very
first Merlefest. We did find something
about the second Merlefest, written by
Robin Dew, a staff member in 1989,
entitled Merle Watson Festival.
“The second annual Merle Watson
Festival was held the weekend of April 28-
30,1989 on the grounds ofWCC.
The Festival was held in honor of
Merle Watson, a hluegrass and blues
guitar player, who was killed in a tractor
accident in Caldwell County in 1985.
On Friday, April 28,1989, the festival
began at 6:45 p.m. Performances were
given by Doc Watson, New Grass
Revival, the Smith Sisters, George
Hamilton IV, and the Moody Brothers.
On Saturday, April 29, the festival
began at 12:00 p.m. Performing on
Saturday were Doc Watson, The Tony
Rice Unit, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys,
Mac Wiseman and the Wildwood Express, Jack
Lawrence, the Smith Sisters, Hot Rise, the Red
Knuckles and the
Trailhlazers, Ralph
Stanley and the Clinch
Mountain Boys,
Performing on Sunday,
April 30,1989, was
Doc Watson with
Peter Rowan and the
Nashville Bluegrass
Band, Emmylou
Harris, Bill Monroe
and the Blue Grass
Boys, and John
Hartford.
Although there were a few showers in the late
afternoon of all three days, the festival was
attended by approximately 9,500 people. It was
a great success!”
Looking back to when Merlefest just started
to where it is now is just amazing. Last year
alone Merlefest had 82,618 people for the
fours days on campus. Many of the names
listed in that original article have played
at Merlefest more than once. Last year
Emmylou Harris performed on Sunday, and
this year Tony Rice will be back.
For a full list of performing artists at this
years MerleFest check out the MerleFest
website at www.merlefest.org
Respiratory Care .. .
A Life and Breath Career
At Wilkes Community College!
Looking for an exciting and dynamic career?
Then consider Respiratory Care.
Did you know diat:
» Respiratory therapists are the health professionals responsibkd for
takir^ cam of padenis witti arKt al3rK)rmalltl0« of fh@
cardioputmonary system.
• Respiratory therapists care for newborn infants, children,
aduJts and the elderly
- The Bureau of Labor Siattstics projects an increase In demand
for respiratory therapists of 42.6% through 2008.
• Career cppoTtunlties are ex»li6nt and earning potential is
competitive with other health professions..
• Respiratory therapists are cardic^lnKtnary specialists, and as
such» are respected merr^tiers of the heaiUi care team.
Call today! May 31, 2007 is the deadline for
completing the application process.
For more Information
about dstaining
an AS degree
ar«! becoming a
respiratory therapist,
contact the
WCC Adrr««sioos Office
at 336-838-6135
or calf
Billy Woods
tne Raspiratory Therapy
Program Director
at 336-«38-6496
or
bilty.woods^vnikescc.ectu
WILKES
COMMUNrTY
COLLEGE
Smokeless Does Not Mean Harmless
Paul Turner, Director of the NC Spit
Tobacco Education Program, was recently
on the Wilkes Community College campus
to present the program, “Smokeless Does
Not Mean Harmless." He explained that
spit tobacco (smokeless tobacco) comes
in two forms: chewing tobacco and snuff
and has more 2500 chemical compounds,
28 are known to cause cancer. Each dip
of spit tobacco contains the same amount
of nicotine as 2-5 cigarettes. Using spit
tobacco can hurt athletic performance—
the nicotine in spit tobacco narrows blood
vessels, raises blood pressure, and makes
the heart work harder.
Turner explained that spit tobacco is
not a safer alternative to cigarettes. It is
true that many people think spit tobacco
is not as bad as cigarettes. Spit tobacco
use is connected with a variety of health
consequences. The most common are
oral health problems (cavities, gingivitis,
periodontal disease, and pre-cancerous
lesions). The following are examples of
potential health concerns.
Nicotine addiction and dependence.
Nicotine blood levels achieved by spit
Tobacco use are similar to those from
cigarette smoking.
Short term - immediate artificial increase
in heart rate and blood pressure.
Diseases and conditions of the
cardiovascular system: Increased heart rate,
stroke, complications of high blood pressure,
heart attacks, delayed wound healing due
to decreased blood flow, decreased stamina
and endurance. Increased risk of stomach
problems i.e. ulcers, indigestion, and potential
Stomach cancer, staining of teeth and halitosis
(bad breath), sensory effeas, spit tobacco
lessens a persons sense of taste and ability to
smell, tooth abrasion. Substances found in
spit tobacco products scratch teeth and wear
away the hard surface or enamel. Periodontal
disease, gingivitis, and bone and tooth loss.
Constant irritation to the spot in the mouth
where a small wad of spit tobacco is placed can
result in permanent damage to periodontal
tissue. It can also damage the supporting bone
structure. The injured gums pull away from
the teeth, exposing root surfaces and leaving
teeth sensitive to heat and cold and more
vulnerable to tooth decay. Erosion of critical
bone support leads to loosened teeth that can
be permanendy lost. Dental decay, sugar and
sweeteners are added to spit tobacco during
curing and processing to improve the taste.
The sugars react with bacteria found naturally
in the mouth, causing an acid reaction that
leads to tooth decay and Leukoplakia. These
conditions may occur as a result of “chewing’ or
“dipping” tobacco because the irritating juices
are left in contart with gums, cheeks, and/or
lips for prolonged periods of time. Leukoplakia
appears either as a smooth white patch or
leathery-looking wrinkled skin. It can become
cancerous in three to five percent of all
cases.
All forms of spit tobacco contain high
concentrations of cancer-causing agents
(carcinogens). These substances subject
users to increased cancer risk.
In 2006 Wilkes Community College was
awarded a grant from the NC Health
and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF). A
primary focus of the grant funds is to
educate college students about tobacco
prevention and cessation.
ABOUT THE NC HEALTH AND
WELLNESS TRUST FUND:
The NC Health and Wellness Trust
Fund makes North Carolina stronger,
both physically and economically,
by fixnding programs that promote
preventive health. Created by the
General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a
portion of North Carolina’s share of the
national tobacco setdement, HWTF has
invested over $55 million (as of 2006)
to support preventive health initiatives
including teen and college tobacco use
prevention, health disparities, obesity,
and a medication assistance program for
seniors. For more information, please
visit www.healthwellnc.org.
I have a new philosophy: I’m only going to dread
one day at a time.
—Charles Schulz
i
cold turkey alone can be difficulC
With free, confidential support from Quitline NC, you
don’t have to go it alone. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-
784-8669) any time between 8 a.m. and midnight to talk
to a professionally trained Quit Coach. They'll help you
warm up to cold turkey and stay tobacco-free for good.
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Health
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