THE CASH STUFF FOR JUNE 11, 2026

 FREE FAN DISTRIBUTION 

FOR THE ELDERLY

NOW THRU OCT. 31st

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

With the hot summer season here and temperatures, even at nighttime, running in the 70s-80s, for many people that means finding a place where they can cool themselves off and be comfortable.

But what about the elderly and disabled of our community? Those on limited incomes who simply can’t afford the high utility bills that come with running air conditioning systems crassly throughout the day? How do they get relief?

Thankfully, the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging has partnered with other state area agencies on aging and local service providers to distribute electric fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Relief from now through Oct. 31st in your community and across the state.

These are ne fans, purchased through donations for elderly and disabled adult North Carolinians age 60 and older who are able to signup for assistance, again, from now through Oct. 31st.

Last year, thanks to $85,000 in donations from Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Dominion Energy, 3627 fans and 23 air conditioners  were distributed in 93 North Carolina counties.

"Protecting the health and safety of our aging community remains a priority for NCDHHS, and it is crucial that assistance is available for those who may need it as temperatures start to rise," said Michael Leighs, Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being. "This program provides an effective solution that helps vulnerable North Carolinians stay safe, comfortable and healthy during the summer months."

For more details on Operation Fan Heat Relief, individuals should contact their area agency on aging or the NCDHHS Division of Aging at 919-855-3400. Local provider agencies can also purchase a limited number of air conditioners based on a person’s specific health conditions.

More information about Operation Fan Heat Relief, including tips on preparing for extreme heat and a list of local agencies distributing fans, is available of the NCHHS website (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging/operation-fan-heat-relief)

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AUDITOR, GOP SAID TO

PRESSURE OFFICIALS TO

REJECT EARLY VOTE SITE

By Cash Michaels

Did the Republican Party and state Auditor Dave Boliek pressure local GOP officials near Western Carolina University to reject its early voting site?

That’s the allegation that Republican election board officials in Jackson Country have made, saying that they were pressured by their own party, and according to one member, by Boliek, to dump any plans for the WCU site, which has hosted an early voting site for at least a decade.

“I’ve been told that if I don’t vote a particular way, that they will do whatever they have to do to remove me from the board,” Republican board member Jay Pavey said during the June 2nd Jackson County election board meeting. Pavey then joined the two Democratic members in voting for the early voting site to be used during the November midterm elections.  “I know that I’m bucking my party by this, and I may very well be a one-term person on the board of elections, but if that’s it, that’s fine,” Pavey continued.. “I will stand on this hill and I will die on this hill.” 

If that drama wasn’t enough, Republican Board Chairman Bill Thompson, according to published reports based on recordings of the meeting, openly admitted when pressured by Democratic member Roy Osborn that he voted against the WCU site because of “pressure from above.”

“I want you to stand up and say this is a mandate from the auditor’s office,” Osborn challenged Thompson.  “I want you to say ‘I’m gonna vote for the rec center because I’ve been told to by state auditor’s office,’” Osborn repeated. “I’ve been asked to, and I’m going to,” Thompson said.

State law requires that early voting decisions be unanimous, but since Thompson’s vote made Jackson County vote 3-1, the state Board of Elections must now consider the issue.

But the drama did’t end there.

Another Republican board member, Wes Hanemayer, had submitted  his resignation as well. According to published reports, Hanemayer said in his letter that because his “moral position” had been called into question by outside entities to the board, that was where he was drawing the line.

“If third parties feel they can demand that I take a completely illogical path, that means they are convinced they have control,” Hanemayer wrote. “With that being a clear conflict of conscience I choose not to be part of the (Jackson County Board of Elections) and submit to their control.”

Representatives of both the NC Republican Party and the state Auditor’s office admit that they are in constant contact with the Republican chairs of county election boards through the state, but denied there being any pressure campaign for them or their board members to vote a certain way. The  NC GOP spokesperson said the party “deeply committed to ensuring access to early voting locations for all eligible voters, and we are appreciative of the efforts from Auditor Dave Boliek and the state board to maintain clean voter rolls and integrity in the administration of elections.” 

All local boards in North Carolina presently have 3-2 Republican majorities, thanks to controversial 2024 legislation from the GOP-led NC General Assembly, which denied  Gov. Josh Stein a traditional appointment power of his office, giving it to Auditor Boliek.

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