<< Back to Archives 2009 2009 Archives 2 SMN July | August | September | October | November | December 7/09 7/1/09 PETA targets bear zoos in national campaign How Bob Barker took on the Eastern Band Will Sylva vote expose usual fault line? Scott aims higher Tourism office takes tech strides Canton election hangs on vision for town Stimulus funds boost WNC mass transit Jackson eyes options for current library site Cherokee needs new superintendent after personnel upheaval Sanford affair is either high school drama or Greek tragedy Traveling through time Freaks and morality Rainforest style eco-adventure comes to the Nantahala Gorge New bike shop opens in Bryson The Naturalist's Corner A nose for finding rare plants Back to top 7/8/09 441 corridor plan poised for passage Duke starts dredging above Dillsboro Dam South Main redesign could ‘raze’ the bar Long-time Sylva mayor won’t run again It’s cold in the cracks Ghost Town coaster an open-and-shut case ‘Rainbow people’ — fewer this time — grace area forest Cherokee could do better regulating bear zoos Take a chance on Ravens Cherokee youth re-enact ancient fishing practice Expedition maps prehistoric Cherokee fishing weirs Fish weir Q&A The Naturalist's Corner From the chaos come ‘uktena’ Back to top 7/15/09 Public split on South Main’s future Change of signage overdue, according to brand’s owner Big developer in foreclosure as lenders call their loans Macon to create broad plan — again Threats on all fronts Macon themselves heard Developer’s plight mixed blessing for community Harrah’s Cherokee Casino builds the future A door opens and the light shines for Irene Jackson Paper proud of its successes Chick-lit at its finest The Naturalist's Corner Pawpaw is unique among fruits Back to top 7/22/09 Region to get assisted living campus Wellco to close shop HVO to purchase Wellco site Europe’s unrest lead to creation of Wellco Ghost Town still honing bankruptcy comeback plan Veterans touch down in Washington for memorial visit Cataloochee Resort developer says retail component viable Empty jail beds fuel feud between Swain sheriff, county Bastion of biodiversity Volunteers keep the Smokies ticking New Swain jail fails to rake in overflow inmates Waynesville’s South Main presents a vexing problem Can Duke supporters sleep at night? The Great Cranberry experience Don West’s affinity for Appalachia The Naturalist's Corner Wildflowers peaking right now Back to top 7/29/09 Clean energy future may be blowing in the wind Macon mulls workforce challenges Fundraising ramps up for Waynesville skate park Barker visits WNC in campaign to help bears Townhomes one of few additions to Sylva housing in a decade Investor in Jonathan Creek project claims he was wronged Graham proposes takeover of Swain land A few moments – and 10 days – to celebrate cultural understanding Cookouts, lightning bugs, and the relatives Recipes Toole explores boxing from inside the ring WNC Fly Fishing Trail lures new anglers to Jackson streams Local authors proud of fishing trail map Thoroughly modern millipedes The Naturalist's Corner A fine flower to start with Back to top 8/09 8/5/09 Indie film brings big economic boost Cherokee leaders to PETA: back off our bear zoos Scenic beauty, yes, but what about things to do? Macon hires point man in new push for economic development Off and running State budget cuts target after school program for teens Jackson County offers incentives to land new manufacturing jobs Haywood celebrates completion of historic courthouse renovations County ensnared in lawsuit over historic courthouse renovations Workers will come if we create jobs, great lifestyle The pains of summer vacation Jackson County’s mosaic is still being painted A mentor’s mark Particular parables and perverse ponderings Facing unpleasant changes in aftermath of hemlock die off Outfitters brace for early end to season The Naturalist's Corner Letting nature point the way Back to top 8/12/09 More than a number A dollar here, a paintbrush there Homeschooled students on the rise Departing director recommends dissolving Jackson EDC board Megow-Dowling announces resignation Cherokee school bridges tradition and the future Land swap integral to Cherokee school Prison to remain open, but future not rosy Lake island dwellers lobby for fire protection Funding cut for after school program is a mistake An eye for mountains Oxford American: The best magazine ever When the Park becomes a classroom Pointing kids toward a love of the park The Naturalist's Corner Touch-me-nots and poison ivy Back to top 8/19/09 The long fight Cash settlement amount proves a sticking point The road to a cash settlement 9-12 group is voice for those dissatisfied with government Proposed apartments denied tax breaks Healthcare debate civil at tele-town meeting Q&A with Congressman Shuler Queen gets early challenger for state Senate seat Macon group finishes study of living history farm Waynesville looks at ways to cut energy use Lawsuit filed to seize Dillsboro dam Jackson EDC still taking old board’s heat Town helps HVO seek state grant Schools vs. prisons is an easy choice Goodman’s second ‘classics’ story The Naturalist's Corner Conservation fund donates land to HCC New boating ramp opens on Cheoah Lake Duke lobbies for rate hike amidst protest Preserving Cherokee tradition Back to top 8/26/09 A popular road reveals a dark side Graham, Swain still squabbling over emergency coverage in isolated area Maggie board OKs assisted living facility in town limits Big decisions ahead in debate over land-use plan Jackson EDC says new direction key to future WCU welcomes freshman class WCU ranks highly among master’s degree universities Library supporters close to $1.6 million fundraising goal Coalition builds momentum for Nikwasi park Bulb crusher helps recycling efforts Ghost Town still in the red despite $1.53 million in revenue Land sales challenge basis for vested rights, some argue Webster scrambles to drum up candidates for town board Forest Hills mayor misses deadline, will run write-in campaign The art of storytelling (in the style of an 8-year-old) Ripe tomatoes and other simple pleasures | Recipes A force of lyrical storytelling The Naturalist's Corner Foliage forecast: wet spring means average color Abbey’s tenure at ‘Redneck U’ Back to top 9/09 9/02/09 Pooches pose problem in Sylva Junaluska deals with same dog issue Woman claims officers denied her medication during DWI incident Graham jerks the rug out from Swain County in Deal’s Gap Niche tourism strategy debuts ‘micro’ Web sites Free clinics feel recesssion’s pinch Spinning tales, weaving dreams Old timers recall Roosevelt’s trip to the Smokies Methane collection system at landfill in the works Settling on North Shore dollar figure just isn’t going to be easy Florida’s loss likely means our gain – and challenge Vivid descriptions fail to save flawed book Paddlers get restricted access to Chattooga The Naturalist's Corner Panthertown trail plan designates use A natural passion for history Back to top 9/9/09 Preserving craft and livelihood NC’s tourist trails Follow the yellow brick road Haywood gets rolling on methane project Emotional healthcare debate brings out both sides in Sylva State workers group chastises Shuler for health care opposition Player death prompts sickle cell testing for Western Carolina student athletes Macon group takes aim at day care shortage WCU to pass on electric rate hike Lake J seeks state help for dam, sediment Borrowing bikes a big hit at university If not now, then health care reform may never pass The dark side of the Romantics Quantifying solitude The Naturalist's Corner Grouse habitat dedicated to outdoor lover Casada releases premier fly-fishing book of the Smokies Zahner’s special affection for Highlands Back to top 9/16/09 Watershed assessment still underway Swain makes cuts to plug million dollar shortfall Sheriff, Swain point fingers over budget shortfall Judge refuses to dismiss Mathis slander case against Council on Aging board chair Permit lapses for proposed Jackson County golf course Sign snatching a futile effort to enforce ordinance without teeth A seven-year vigil for peace Peace conference aims to foster multi-faith dialogue Rooting out landslide prone slopes Dam fight between Duke, Jackson goes to federal court Duke countersues Jackson Macon wades gingerly toward transportation plan Family time before deployment a mix of emotions Hard drive connects, but some data is lost Entering the mind of a terrorist The Naturalist's Corner Scholarship to fund WCU students at Highlands Biological Station A gifted writer, a great naturalist Back to top 9/23/09 The new caretakers Documentary tells captivating tale about the creation of GSMNP County settles Cameron lawsuit for $75,000 Local restaurants support Haywood County farmers After delay, schools getting lottery dollars Expert offers tips to keep downtown businesses kicking Landslide maps one component of steep slope planning Buck Knob residents, officials seek fire protection compromise ‘John Muir’ makes a return visit to WNC WCU marching band director honored with national award Film highlights Asheville’s many offerings The Naturalist's Corner Revealing a love for the Smokies Back to top 9/30/09 Bridging the divide Maggie chases festivals as ticket to tourism Task force declared finished as draft plan advances for public review Shortchanged again, WNC demands highway dollars back What’s in a name? Swain at last makes foray into animal control Duke faces stiff opposition to proposed rate hike Cat lovers quietly care for wild colonies Lasting precedent doubtful as county closes books on erosion suit Corridor K inches forward Graham and Swain part ways over Deal’s Gap debate It’s time to go, but the cord won’t cut so easily Citizen groups from all 50 states call for swift action on climate change September in the Mountains | Recipes Rebellion reigns in historical novel Working to bring back the American chestnut The Naturalist's Corner Storytelling traditions live on Back to top 10/09 10/7/09 Angel CEO says hospital investing in its future Angel Medical continues to stand alone Loss of transparency likely for Haywood under new hospital joint venture Task force wants final crack at honing road list Libraries see increased usage as recession lingers Hazelwood clings to its post office under threat of closure Maggie pins hopes on director to turn corner on festival grounds New plan aims to corral chaotic thoroughfare Price tag on land a deal killer for Jackson greenway Duke’s rate hike request is poorly time, not needed Kephart’s novel a time capsule from bygone era A sanctuary for scientists The Naturalist's Corner Costa’s eye for unique insect details Back to top 10/14/09 One of area’s first mega developments in trouble BMP’s problems not apparent Cherokee immersion school aims to save language Oconaluftee Institute chooses Queen as program coordinator Collins, Scott battle for mayor’s post in Franklin | In the running Swain auditor warns that drastic measures needed Most like plans for Russ Avenue makeover New and improved appraisal method aims to better calibrate property values Amid tough times, DSS director denied raise Treadway, Reidmiller run unopposed Saving Judaculla Rock The mystery of Judaculla Rock Obama haters showing their true colors Public domain Public art and community involvement A memoir about misguided parents Fly-fishing duo takes top spot in local tournament The Naturalist's Corner Kephart’s fast friendship with the Barnetts Back to top 10/21/09 Robust citizen input vexes public officials Most make extra effort to hear public Maggie hopefuls say tourists and locals important Three seek two seats on Maggie Valley board Election guaranteed to bring new leadership in Dillsboro Drill mimics real disaster, right down to tunnel collapse Haywood again looks at old Wal-Mart for DSS building Haywood says state shirking responsibility Marc Pruett earns praise from all sides for his work Unfinished hotel mars Sylva landscape Keeping commissioner on hospital board lends accountability Is this the change you waited for? Corridor K brings anywhere America right here to WNC Whimsical tales defy explanation The need for speed Tales from the trail The Naturalist's Corner A great observer of the Smokies Back to top 10/28/09 Balsam Mountain Preserve property owners pull off grassroots fundraising on a colossal scale Haywood County braces for economic impacts of prolonged I-40 closure No quick fix for rock slide that closes I-40 Sylva candidates split on funding for downtown projects Canton’s future pivots on heated board race | Downtown platform Macon rallies to defense of river and wins HRMC, WestCare affiliation creates MedWest Haywood-WestCare Joint Operating Agreement Frequently Asked Questions Hospital denies county commissioners a seat at the table Waynesville Rec Center struck by vandals Irritating public comment must be tolerated Cullowhee a good sports town for athletes and spectators Old houses, spirits and comfort food | Recipes A peculiar angst A page from the past The Naturalist's Corner Withstanding winter’s cold Back to top 11/09 11/4/09 Tracing the roots of WNC’s signature style Enamored with stacked stone and timber, planners push mountain look Fee charged to overseas visitors would fund tourism marketing abroad Third party steps in to run Balsam Mountain Preserve Residents value rural heritage and environment in highway debate WNC juggles perceptions and realities of rockslide blockade Swain fails to make headway in cash settlement talks Regional election results New leaders to forge future for Dillsboro with or without railroad Franklin voters stick with familiar faces 21 write-ins get votes in Webster Fresh faces will lead Canton Allen joins Knotts on Sylva board Price and Pauley ride easily into office in quiet Maggie race Ugly public discourse and the future of truth Cream of the Crop Ivey’s ‘Up River’ offers valuable lessons Ahead of the curve HCC offers green building certificate for construction students The Naturalist's Corner Blue Ridge Parkway kicks off 75th anniversary The grand finale Back to top 11/11/09 New generation of doctors prefer stability over autonomy State passes off child support enforcement to counties House clears Shuler on ethics rap | Timeline | The allegations Dueling downtown bookstores to join forces in Waynesville New company part of a long local legacy Angling for Sam’s Club discount, Swain jailer uses county credit card to buy TV Furlough translates to pay cut for most WCU professors Surge in last minute write-ins makes Webster election a popular affair Lawsuit alleging poor treatment in Macon jail hits dead end Maggie may mandate mountain motif A gift from the grave on Veteran’s Day You may hear a Blue Dog howl Typical Zombie fare Back to nature The Naturalist's Corner Satulah has long been a WNC favorite Back to top 11/18/09 When the health care crisis hits home When insurance falls short, out-of-pocket costs become rapidly out-of-reach Past illness leaves woman ‘uninsurable’ At free clinics survival trumps politics While politics reign in Washington, real people struggle with health care costs Developers have plans for sites near Wal-Mart Shuler caught short of truth Hope of paper mill job attracts hundreds to ESC WCU rides wave of new applicants Caliber of student could rise as admissions get more selective Haywood library to accept canned food in lieu of fines Swain braces for loss of jail revenue Ghost Town’s spotty financial disclosure frustrates creditors Commissioners perplexed by white paint samples Macon County asks for public input, take three Flirting with my own mortality Thanksgiving in the mountains: Memories and food from the past | Recipes Eli Book takes us back to a nostalgic time Symbolic torch passing honors national park anniversaries Parkway right-of-way battle hard-fought through Cherokee The Naturalist's Corner Smokies elk shot down in Cataloochee Valley Shooting bear on Parkway nets prison time Creeks form character across WNC Back to top 11/24/09 Legacy of a mountain family The life and times of Cataloochee Ranch Future of Jackson airport up in the air | An unstable past Macon tax hike in store to pay for new elementary school With real estate market still in flux, Macon postpones property reappraisal Loophole in video poker ban makes way for cyber sweepstakes Suspects nabbed in Macon church break-in spree As rockslide cleanup trudges on, misleading detour signs plague tourism industry Shuler collects baggage, but he’ll likely survive this one Fired up Judgment day arrives Master plan underway for Sylva’s Pinnacle Park The Naturalist's Corner Franklin students’ hard work helps greenway Nantahala headwaters tract protected Rutabagas and history of Hemphill Bald Back to top 12/09 12/2/09 Passing the torch Between language and culture Canton leaders to compare and contrast lists Compromise ends tug-of-war over who will be Harrah’s liquor distributor Macon wrestles with impact of subdivision ordinance Legal wrangling heats up in Jackson’s bid to wrest Dillsboro dam away from Duke Foundering developers create vested rights dilemma Finding the middle ground Consensus unlikely in Sylva board appointment Maggie ABC store captures share of Waynesville business Satire hits hard, but it works Tiger hurts himself with silence Cataloochee reaches out to women The Naturalist's Corner Memories from ‘up at the barn’ Back to top 12/9/09 The kindest army Bell ringers cope with corporate regulations, recession Rockslide cleanup could last through spring Steady stream of businesses look for federal help after rockslide Malicious prosecution lawsuit unfounded, magistrate rules Undocumented students receive helping hand from Franklin principal Defective slot machine zaps gambler Poore chosen as CEO for MedWest Health System Unpaid Ghost Town workers were warned pay might not come Tribal casino gets OK for gaming floor alcohol Big Ridge mortgage holders say their loans being investigated Expense keeps most undocumented immigrants out of community college Jonathan Creek park moves closer to reality WCU trustees adopt tuition increase Haywood’s lower classification pleases economic official New Sylva board member could help bridge rift Casino one step away from the total package All aboard! Of golf, relationships and life Putting Panthertown on the map The Naturalist's Corner Five miles of Parkway views preserved A skunk by any other name Back to top 12/16/09 Road failures cast uncertainty on Wildflower’s future Franklin could reap windfall from sale of property Power of the dollar Sylva borrows mantra of national buy local movement Health care facilities to create new jobs Waynesville gets on board rail movement for passengers and freight Waynesville panel may recommend rolling back rear parking mandate State snuffs out smoking in bars and restaurants Towns use fees, restrictions to push back against video gambling look alike Campaign reminds shoppers to spend where they live Swain settles lawsuit over sewer line cost overruns Round and round we go, where it ends, nobody knows Christmas gifts from the heart | Recipes Savagery taints classic town in King’s new novel Holiday gear guide The Naturalist's Corner Early mapping of the Nantahala Back to top 12/23/09 Friday nights, big time lights Shuler scores millions for Swain in North Shore Road debate Safeguarding the settlement Haywood tourism leaders critical of state’s response to rockslide Striking while the iron’s hot Tourism turnaround set back by rockslide EDC audit out of reach due to spotty records Snowstorm puts damper on critical shopping weekend Slump in construction leads Maggie to can building inspector Outrage erupts over Sylva teen club Jackson commissioners take over airport authority Sylva bypass makes the cut Fix the flaws, stay the course Yeah right, sure it’s gonna snow New book takes closer look at baskets and their makers Love and sonnets meet in Shakespeare’s Italy Skiing the Blue Ridge: A newcomer’s tale Locals do what it takes for fresh tracks Naturalist's Corner Mistletoe and sycamore ring in winter Back to top 12/30/09 2009: Looking back at the newsmakers Decision pending soon in Jackson’s last chance to save the Dillsboro dam Fund for Haywood County announces $16,000 in grants for recession relief New festival director seeks a larger audience for Maggie Valley We need good journalism; for now that means newspapers A&E: Top 10 Folkmoot, Evergreen Packaging form multiyear partnership Dickens’ backstabbing best friend explores London’s underworld Nonprofits struggle in adverse fundraising climate Worthy of support The Naturalist's Corner The colors of winter Back to top