Ledford Publishes Poetry Book

 Redhawk Publications is excited to announce the release of Brenda Kay Ledford's poetry collection, Blanche:  Poems of a Blue Ridge Woman on November 3, 2021.  This book is in  the voice of Ledford's mother and reflective of the lives of mountain women in the early 1900s to the present.

Redhawk Publications Senior Editor Robert Canipe remarked:  "This book is a terrific depiction of mountain life in western North Carolina.  Readers are sure to be transported to the mountains with each new poem they read."

Redhawk Publications is an artistic initiative of the Catawba Valley Community, publishing written works for the community, North Carolina and United States.  CVCC is the only state community college with a publishing press.

You may order Brenda Kay Ledford's book at:  https://redhawkpublications.org

Her book is available at the Beal Center; Hayesville, NC

Brenda Kay Ledford Received Paul Green Multimedia Award

Brenda Kay Ledford of Hayesville, NC won the Paul Green Multimedia Award from North Carolina Society of Historians for her blog:  Blue Ridge Poet.


NCSH held their Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Award Luncheon November 5, 2016 at the Stone Center in North Wilkesboro, NC.


For information:  www.ncsocietyofhistorians.org
                            http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com

Poet Brenda Kay Ledford's Interview on YouTube

Poet Brenda Kay Ledford was interviewed by Pam Roman, director of Clay County, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

You may watch the interview at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCUJIMPdQnI

Clay County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Academy

Fifteen graduates of the Clay County, NC Sheriff's Office Citizen's Academy conclude the six-week course on September 15, 2014.  The course provides an overview of the duties of the sheriff's office.  Judge Richard K. Walker presented certificates at the commencement ceremony.  

Present for the graduation ceremony are, front from left:  Sheriff Vic Davis, Jackie Chatterton, James Davis, John Lepore, Joy Jakelis, Kimbererly Chatterton and Lois Dinsmore; second row: Captain Jake Erhart, Ronald Jakelis and George Dinsmore; third row:  Gordon Brown, Janet Thomas, Cecile Thurston, Fred Delili, and back:  Tom Thomas, Julie Sunsted and Brenda Kay Ledford.

Judge Richard K. Walker presents a certificate to Brenda Kay Ledford at the commencement ceremony of the Clay County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Academy.  Sheriff Vic Davis congratulates the fifteen graduates of the six-week program.
Deputy Stacey Posey who is a resource officer with the Hayesville High School took these photos.

The Picture Postcards Project

Brenda Kay Ledford's photo and essay about Hayesville, NC, appeared on "The Picture Postcards Project."  Heather Lang and H.L. Hix co-edited this project to connect others with places we love.
You may view this photo at:  www.hlhix.com/inquire.

HAYESVILLE, NC CENTENNIAL FEATURES VETERAN'S EXHIBIT

MAJESTIC MULBERRY TREE

Ranger Jason Guidry and Don Schneider are pictured with the largest red mulberry tree in North Carolina.  Schneider owns the tree and received a certificate from North Carolina Big Tree Program in 2012 for his outstanding tree.  He lives off Tusquittee Road in Clay County, North Carolina.

MAJESTIC MULBERRY

A special tree,
you tower above the forest,
catching sunlight with
heart-shaped leaves.

More than an ornament,
you amaze our state
with your unusual size
and grace a century.

You lift a 69-foot crown,
toss your hair in the clouds,
offering milky white sap,
and cradle baby birds.

You hold a piece of history
in your wrinkled hands:
windstorms, fires, floods.
Your feet cleave to Clay County.
      --Brenda Kay Ledford

I thank Becky Long, editor and publisher, of CLAY COUNTY PROGRESS for giving me permission to reprint the above photo from her newspaper.