Polk Lore

It’s fair to say that Keenan Nesbitt's campaign has managed to gain a little more traction than many observers expected, if the number of lawn signs and attendance at his community events mean anything. And in a typical mid-term election year, the smart money would probably still be on the current sheriff keeping his job. Incumbent sheriffs are hard to beat.

But this is not an ordinary election year. In this episode, round 2 with the independent who wants to be the new sheriff of the county,

Resources:

• Polk County Board of Elections

• Keenan Nesbitt campaign 

• “Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright disputes residency allegations, requests investigation," Tryon Daily Bulletin, August 11, 2026

Last year for Polk Lore, Jamie Ager recorded the first podcast interview of his political career. He was running for the Democratic nomination to represent North Carolina Congressional District 11, which he won. Handily.

I had hoped to talk again with Ager to see how much he’s evolved since deciding to trade the farm for politics, but his campaign staff decided he was too busy to fit me in. So I assembled some excerpts of a speech he gave during an appearance at the Saluda Outfitter in August. I hope this proves useful.

Resources

Ager for Congress campaign site

Promise to America pledge

After more than two decades of wishful thinking and dead-end proposals, the Norfolk Southern railbed that runs through Polk County is about to be replaced with a cycling and walking path. The North and South Carolina legislatures have appropriated millions of dollars to buy the right of way from Inman to Tuxedo. The Saluda Grade Trail, as it will be known, now has a dedicated, full-time project manager. This thing is happening. 

Tryon will be among the first to experience any impacts. So what’s Tryon thinking? Who better to ask than Tryon Mayor J. Alan Peoples.

For years John Vining was county director for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. His grandfather founded the Bulletin and his father later took over the paper. He's served on so much boards and committees that it's easy to loose count. If there ever was someone who deserves to be included in the guest list of a podcast devoted to the culture of our county. He’s it. 

Sources

NC Legislature overrides Stein’s veto of private school tuition vouchers

What is possible? (Tryon Daily Bulletin, May 8, 2026)

Polk Schools tribute to John Vining

Indivisible seems like a perfect way to sum up what so many Americans, including a sizable number in Polk County, are trying to do. But given how polarized we've all become, how realistic is the task of bring people with disparate politics?

Chris Silverman, one of the leaders of Indivisible Polk Foothills, the organization that helped attract about 700 people to the recent No Kings rally in Columbus, has some thoughts. Our talk didn't uncover any revolution solutions, but it was a start.

Resources

• The Indivisible Movement
• Indivisible Polk Foothills

Did you miss the third No Kings rally in Columbus? This episode of Polk Lore is a condensed version of the event, with four speakers and some (hopefully) helpful context. For example, it was easily the biggest political gathering in recent memory in our county, but how important was the turnout?

Sources

• BBC claims about 3.5%
• Research on 3.5%
• Tad Stoermer’s take on the 3.5% rule
  
• Tad Stoermer on Substack
• No Kings turnout in WNC
  
• Earth Day turnout
  

Democrats who listen to this episode are going to hear a lot of things they like. If you're a registered Democrat in Congressional District NC 14 — which includes the southeastern half of Polk County — then sit back and get ready for a straight shot of optimism. Just know that you won’t be able to apply what you hear to the March 3 primary vote, because my guest is not running as a Democrat. 

Instead, Kate Barr’s name will appear on the Republican ballot. How does that makes sense? It does if you think gerrymandering lies at the of what ails America. It also might appeal to more than a few unaffiliated voters who aren't exactly thrilled with where the GOP has led us.

Resources

• Kate Barr Can Win campaign website:
• Polk GOP Statement disavowing Kate Barr's candidacy
  

State Trooper Keith Henderson may be an exception to the rule that police officers are more comfortable asking questions than answering them. He still chooses his words carefully, though. Which is probably a good thing for someone seeking the office of county sheriff.

Compare and contrast this interview with those I conducted with Saluda Police Chief Clayton Price and former police officer Neenan Nesbitt.

Resources

Keith Henderson for Sheriff

The primary ballot in this year’s elections includes three Republicans who want to be sheriff. The incumbent, Tim Wright, is facing two challengers. For this episode, I sat down with the Clayton Price, who is currently the chief of police in Saluda. We talked at the Saluda Library on February seventeenth. 

Given the threat posed by a 1,000 cases of measles on our doorstep, I wanted to find out how our county’s health department was responding to both the change in public attitudes and the outbreak itself. After all, measles was supposedly eradicated from the US a quarter=century ago.

Natalie Trachsel, who is the current health director for the county, and Elizabeth Burnett, a nurse with the health department, agreed that it would be a good idea to share what they’ve been doing, and what everyone else in the county should be doing, too.

Resources

• Polk County Communicable Disease Updates
  
• 
  NC Division of Public Health Measles Dashboard
  
• Check your immunity quiz
  
• Enabling Vaccine Uptake: Strategies for the Public Health Sector (British Journal of Hospital Medicine)
• Exposure locations
  
• Immune amnesia
  
• Helps protect against other diseases: