Pumpkin People and Mountain Moonshine Update

They usually appear much sooner.  Last year they were vandalized.  So I feared the Pumpkin People would not make their presence known this year.  Fortunately I was wrong.  They are back, still waving at folks passing by on US 276.

 A never-ending smile must be difficult to maintain.

 Not to mention a hand held in a perpetual wave.

Brevard is the county seat of Transylvania County.  Last week's District Court session included an appearance by "Uncle Buck," charged with selling non-tax-paid alcohol (called moonshine, or 'shine around these parts).  Some of the charges against Uncle Buck were dismissed.  He pleaded guilty to three counts of posessing and selling non-tax-paid alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana.

The judge ordered a suspended sentence of thirty days and Uncle Buck was ordered to serve unsupervised probation for a year.  Most of the citizens of our county breathed a sigh of relief.  Hardly anyone wanted the judge to be harsh with Uncle Buck.  We are happy to see him carving his bears with a chain saw and chatting with people who drop by his place.

One of Uncle Buck's bears provides a welcome sign to visitors.

Mountain Moonshine

He came to Transylvania County from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  A self-proclaimed mountain man and chainsaw artist, Uncle Buck opened a place of business on US 276 just outside our community.  He called the business "Uncle Buck;s Rustic Treasures" and utilized space on both sides of the road.

Hearing that Uncle Buck got busted for selling moonshine, I drove over to his business for a look-see.

I ignored the sign and parked there even though I am NOT a redneck.

An old shed has been converted into a workshop and display building.

While he makes other figures, Uncle Buck's bears are his most popular items.  Behind this very large bear you can see a small pond.  You can rent a paddle boat if you wish.

Some more of Uncle Buck's bears.  He will make custom signs for the bears while you wait.

This is the barn which got Uncle Buck in trouble with the law.

You see, Uncle Buck has a working moonshine still inside the barn.  The local sheriff's office received several complaints from citizens alledging that they saw Uncle Buck selling some of the 'shine (no doubt to tourists).  A sheriff's deputy made a visit and found two quart jars full of liquid.  He questioned Uncle Buck as to the contents and Uncle Buck admitted it was moonshine from his still in the barn.  The deputy informed Uncle Buck that it was against the law to sell the liquor.

The sheriff called the Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) agent.  Yep, Uncle Buck was reported to the revenuers.  The ALE and the sheriff's department worked together investigating Uncle Buck and his 'shine.  On three separate occasions, Uncle Buck sold the illegal moonshine to undercover ALE agents.

The authorities conducted a search of Uncle Buck's property.  In addition to the moonshine, they found a marijuana plant, a pipe with marijuana residue, and a Ziploc bag of marijuana.  Uncle Buck was arrested and charged with three felony counts of selling non-tax paid liquor, a felony count of growing marijuana, and a misdemeanor count for possession of marijuana.  Uncle Buck was released on a two-hundred dollar secured bond.

Thinking this might be a story of interest, I decided to drive down to Uncle Buck's and see what I could find.  I asked my dear husband if he wanted to go with me and he politely declined.  I must admit I was a bit reluctant and already had several stories to explain why I was there taking photographs.  I am really not a good liar, so I had practiced all three explanations beforehand and planned to use the most appropriate one for my confrontation with Uncle Buck.

I need not have worried.  I walked all over both sides of the road and didn't see a single soul.  I did note with amusement the new sign on one of the bears.

You just have to smile, don't you?

Stay tuned for more about Uncle Buck.  I think he wants to make a name for himself.