Tie flies like a pro
 

Tie flies like a pro

A three-week fly-tying course will teach participants to tie flies from the Southern Appalachians, 6-8 p.m. Mondays Jan. 15-29 at…
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Learn how to prepare for backcountry emergencies
 

Learn how to prepare for backcountry emergencies

Cullowhee-based Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months. 
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Registration trends show deepening dissatisfaction with major parties
 

Registration trends show deepening dissatisfaction with major parties

As North Carolina prepares for federal, state and local elections in 2024, emerging trends in partisan registration that began in…
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Some minority voters gain ground, others don’t
 

Some minority voters gain ground, others don’t

It’s no secret that North Carolina is growing, but as its population grows, the composition of its electorate is changing…
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Western North Carolina is still reeling from the closure of Pactiv Evergreen’s century-old paper mill in Canton. A Shot Above photo
 

Leading N.C. attorney general candidates speak out on Canton mill issues

Two congressmen, both hoping to become North Carolina’s next attorney general, with be faced with a host of official duties…
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Engineering professor Martin Tanaka (left) and graduate student Clayton Bardall  discuss their mouthguard research at WCU’s Scholarship Showcase. Donated photo
 

Engineering and athletics team up with Penn State on head impact research at WCU

Clayton Bardall, a graduate student in Western Carolina University’s Engineering Technology program and tight end for WCU’s football team, recently…
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A cyberattack hit the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ computer network in December 2019.
 

Conviction overturned in cyberattack case

The Cherokee Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of a man who was prosecuted for his alleged role in a…
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Western Carolina University plans to replace or renovate the Jordan-Phillips Field House and components of Whitemire Stadium and the Ramsey Center, among other projects. File photo
 

Athletics upgrades on the way at WCU: University to ask legislature for help with $130 million to-do list

Western Carolina University is gearing up to take its first bite out of an estimated $130 million in needed upgrades…
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Newly matched, Little Brother Kayden and Big Brother Taylor are looking forward to visiting game shops, playing board games and discovering active activities. Donated photo
 

Consider becoming a Big Brother

January is National Mentoring Month, a great start to 2024 and an opportunity to give a young person a great…
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Swain Genealogical and Historical Society to explore Chambers family history
 

Swain Genealogical and Historical Society to explore Chambers family history

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, in Bryson City, Frank March and Henry Chambers will present “The Lamon Chambers Map”…
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Boyce Deitz coached the Swain County Maroon Devils football team 1977-1997. Swain High School Athletics photo
 

Deitz leaves behind a legacy in WNC

Boyce Deitz’s influence on Swain County athletics was rich and storied, but the program to which he dedicated two decades…
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The Milsaps children, shown here, have moved in with their grandparents amid a tough family situation. Donated photo
 

Mountain Projects helps local family during increasingly common struggle

Donna Milsaps, of Jackson County, has encountered struggles that are hard to comprehend for some, but all too familiar for…
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Jackson to move school board race to November
 

Jackson to move school board race to November

The race for Board of Education in Jackson County is one step closer to being moved to November elections after…
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New Parks and Rec Director for Jackson
 

New Parks and Rec Director for Jackson

There is a new director at the head of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, after commissioners made their…
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Amanda Pruitt Motley. File photo
 

Motley named CFO of Haywood Regional Medical Center

Haywood Regional Medical Center has named Amanda Pruitt Motley as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 8, 2024. With…
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Kelsea, Kyle, Kyle’s son, Carson, and Baby Charlotte in a photo snapped not long before she passed. Donated photo
 

A courageous tale comes to an end: Baby with rare genetic disorder passes away close to Christmas

Most people don’t contribute to the world over a lifetime what Charlotte Joy Norris did in just two short years.…
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2023 A Look Back: Grinch Award
 

2023 A Look Back: Grinch Award

The Grinch who Stole Christmas and Pactiv Evergreen have a lot more in common than just a shared color scheme…
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2023 A Look Back: Hometown heroes award
 

2023 A Look Back: Hometown heroes award

When Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its 115-year-old paper mill in Canton earlier this year, local leaders had to…
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A kayak-view photo looks upstream from the paper mill site in Canton.
 

2023 A Look Back: ‘That’s so Metal’ Award

This one goes to the Pigeon River, due both to the actual metals found in a sampling site along its…
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2023 A Look Back: Micromanager(s) of the Year Award
 

2023 A Look Back: Micromanager(s) of the Year Award

Sometimes there are awards that call for two winners, like back in the day before the College Football Playoffs system…
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Automated fee machines dispense parking tags at 13 lots  in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
 

2023 A Look Back: Meter Maid Award

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has earned this one for its decision to begin charging for parking, effective March…
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Bill Wilke.
 

2023 A Look Back: Not on my Watch Award

Newly elected Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke stepped into some big shoes following the retirement of longtime Sheriff Greg Christopher,…
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Macon County Commissioner  John Shearl called for County Manager Derek Roland’s resignation earlier this year.
 

2023 A Look Back: Nobody puts baby in a corner award

The classic 1980s dance film Dirty Dancing taught all of us that “nobody puts Baby in a corner.” And if…
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2023 A Look Back: You Wanted It, You Got It Award
 

2023 A Look Back: You Wanted It, You Got It Award

Congrats to Macon County GOP’s newest slate of officers. A dedicated bunch who fought hard, and allegedly dirty, to secure…
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Gary Carden remains a Western North Carolina insitution.
 

2023 A Look Back: Keeper of the Flame award

This little award may not mean all that much to him — after all, he’s one of Southern Appalachia’s most…
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2023 A Look Back: Marty McFly Award
 

2023 A Look Back: Marty McFly Award

This one goes to Cherokee voters, who decided in this year’s election to look back to build their future. 
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The tribally owned Qualla Enterprises LLC started growing cannabis this year but has not yet opened its dispensary.
 

2023 A Look Back: Hard Joint to Pass Award

Sharing smokes has proven more difficult than anticipated for the winners of this award, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’…
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This famous back-up from the beloved cartoon character Homer Simpson may have inspired Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith’s conduct during and after the events of Dec. 13, 2022.
 

2023 A Look Back: Homer Simpson Award

We can’t say for certain whether Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith backed into a literal bush as the events of…
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2023 A Look Back: Chumbawamba Award
 

2023 A Look Back: Chumbawamba Award

This award goes to Cherokee’s Sgadugi Constitution Committee, which, as the namesake band sang in its 1997 classic “Tubthumping,” keeps…
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Phillip Wight.
 

2023 A Look Back: Odd Man in award

Maggie Valley is gonna Maggie Valley. It comes with the territory. To win a seat on that town’s board of…
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The Sylva Police Department received grant funding for its Community Care program.
 

2023 A Look Back: Community Care Award

This year, the Sylva Police Department received a grant from the Dogwood Health Foundation to continue the Community Care Program with…
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Here's a look at the Zito office in the Jonathan Creek area.
 

2023 A Look Back: Honey, the Internet’s Out Again Award

O Zito, O Zito, wherefore art thou, Zito? In case you didn’t know, the phrase “wherefore art thou” is fancy Shakespeare…
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Participants pose for a photo at the Sylva Pride Pageant.
 

2023 A Look Back: Persistence as Resistance Award

This year was filled with slights and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by local elected officials. But despite the environment,…
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2023 A Look Back: Survivor Award
 

2023 A Look Back: Survivor Award

This award goes out to the Fontana Regional Library, which, despite consistent attacks throughout 2023, is still standing, and continues…
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Founder of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association Richard Mack (left) looks on as Ronald J. Wright  speaks at an event in Murphy earlier this year.
 

2023 A Look Back: Didn’t Read the Fine Print Award

Congressman Chuck Edwards apparently doesn’t read The Smoky Mountain News, but if he did, it may have saved him some…
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The race for Macon County Board of Education will remain non-partisan.
 

2023 A Look Back: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Award

The Macon County Board of Education has put in countless hours this year working to provide the best education possible…
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Amanda Seay
 

2023 A Look Back: The Hero You Never Knew You Needed Award

Not all heroes wear capes. At least not Amanda Seay. She seems more the utility pants and boots type. 
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Senior guard Vonterius Woolbright has been a key factor in WCU men’s basketball’s success this year.
 

2023 A Look Back: Comeback Player(s) of the Year Award

Raise your hand if you’ve been paying attention to Western Carolina University athletics this academic year. 
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Artist Teresa Pennington has created a rendering of how  the new arch will look once installed.
 

2023 A Look Back: Throwback Award

Million-dollar mountaintop vacation homes, phony moonshine from corporate mega-distilleries, dime-a-dozen seedy strip malls — none of these things are Appalachian…
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Fake News Freakout!  Episode 8
 

Fake News Freakout! Episode 8

Welcome to the eighth installment of The Smoky Mountain News’ annual Fake News Freakout. I feel like I say this…
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A mountain biker curves along a trail in Berm Park, the mountain biking skills course within Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Nature Park.
 

Ringing out the Year of the Trail: A highlight reel of trail news in 2023

Declared to be the Year of the Trail more than a year before it even began, 2023 had a lot to…
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The Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon will return to Waynesville April 6.
 

Set your race calendar

With a new year approaching, it’s the perfect time to start setting fitness goals — and to plan for participating…
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Home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell State Park offers a chilly environment more frequently seen in locations much further north.
 

Hike into the 2024

The standing tradition of starting the New Year off on the trail will continue at N.C. State Parks Monday, Jan.…
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A hiker navigates a snowy trail.
 

The Winter Hiking Challenge

Registration is open for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s fourth annual Winter Hiking Challenge, asking participants to complete 60 miles…
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Pisgah National Forest covers more than 500,000 acres.
 

Forest Service enhances 128 plans with old growth protections

The U.S. Forest Service has issued a proposal that would amend all 128 forest land management plans in its jurisdiction…
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Will Harlan.
 

Celebrate biodiversity

Delve into the amazing biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians with a program offered at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at…
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N.C. sees uptick in hunting accidents
 

N.C. sees uptick in hunting accidents

Across the state, there has been an increase in firearm-related hunting incidents involving serious injury and fatalities. 
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Year-in-review tool breaks down weather trends
 

Year-in-review tool breaks down weather trends

The N.C. State Climate Office has launched a year-in-review tool that gives a review of trends and records at weather…
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CeCe Hipps
 

Hipps steps down as Haywood Chamber president

At the Dec. 20 Haywood Chamber of Commerce board meeting, CeCe Hipps announced that she would be stepping down next…
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Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact
 

Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact

At least one Cherokee teenager is believed to have died as the result of a local teen suicide pact under…
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