Wildfires torment residents, tourism
 

Wildfires torment residents, tourism

Our backyard is on fire. From Knoxville to Asheville, a large cloud of smoke is currently hovering over this corner…
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Local water supplies drying up: Paper mill may have to suspend production
 

Local water supplies drying up: Paper mill may have to suspend production

The severe drought plaguing Western North Carolina has taken its toll on the local water supply, and residents are being…
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Swain family faces evacuation as fire encroaches
 

Swain family faces evacuation as fire encroaches

Home to the Hancock family for generations, the hills and hollows along Silvermine Road are an ingrained identity for siblings…
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Burn bans still in effect
 

Burn bans still in effect

With dry conditions reigning and wildfires raging, it’s currently both dangerous and illegal to start a fire nearly anywhere in…
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Arson suspected in WNC fires; Smoke and fear hang over Franklin Veterans Day celebration
 

Arson suspected in WNC fires; Smoke and fear hang over Franklin Veterans Day celebration

While marked by all the usual trappings of red-white-and-blue-infused color guards, antique cars and patriotic speeches, last week’s Veterans Day…
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Despite fire growth, wildfire containment improving; rain desperately needed
 

Despite fire growth, wildfire containment improving; rain desperately needed

As of press time Nov. 15, Western North Carolina was ablaze with 22 wildfires burning through more than 50 square…
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This must be the place: An Ode to Election 2016
 

This must be the place: An Ode to Election 2016

Hate didn't get us to this point. It also didn’t win the election. A stagnant Congress for the last 16…
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Choose physical therapy over painkillers
 

Choose physical therapy over painkillers

By Shannon Icenhour • Guest Columnist Fall is almost over, but October was not just for trick-or-treating; it also represented…
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Sorry, but Bob Dylan did deserve the Nobel
 

Sorry, but Bob Dylan did deserve the Nobel

I’d like to take a few minutes to say a few words about the column by Jeff Minick two weeks…
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Wildfire Response in Western NC
 

Wildfire Response in Western NC

To the Editor: I live by Standing Indian Campground on West Old Murphy Road. Last Wednesday I watched the helicopters…
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Together we can create something
 

Together we can create something

To the Editor: As someone who is regarded as white, why am I a member of the Jackson County NAACP?…
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Coming to grips with her own image
 

Coming to grips with her own image

Among Americans the two most egregious social stigma are smoking and obesity. We relegate smokers to sidewalks and rooftops when…
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Western NC struggles with historic drought
 

Western NC struggles with historic drought

Western North Carolina continues to be in a severe drought as wildfires rage through the mountains. The lack of rain has…
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Welcome home
 

Welcome home

The lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, once ranged across North America from the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay drainages down the…
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Wildlife students recognized with scholarship
 

Wildlife students recognized with scholarship

Two Haywood Community College students have been recognized for their leadership, scholarship and dedication to the wildlife management profession with…
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N.C. ozone levels measuring up against new federal standard
 

N.C. ozone levels measuring up against new federal standard

With a new, more stringent ozone standard now in effect, North Carolina’s numbers are looking good.
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Widespread burn bans now in effect
 

Widespread burn bans now in effect

The North Carolina Forest Service has issued a burn ban for 25 Western North Carolina Counties, effective immediately and until…
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Campfire restrictions enacted in the Smokies
 

Campfire restrictions enacted in the Smokies

Campfires in the backcountry of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are a no-go following the park’s decision to issue…
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Wildlife rides out the drought
 

Wildlife rides out the drought

From his vantage point on the banks of the Tuckasegee River, it’s not that hard for fly fishing guide Alex…
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Low water levels cut the season short
 

Low water levels cut the season short

Fontana Lake looks more like a narrow river running through a canyon right now as drought conditions persist across the…
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Data-driven analysis drives modern weather forecasting
 

Data-driven analysis drives modern weather forecasting

Some things change, and some things stay the same.  Thousands of years ago, humans developed visual and spoken languages to…
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Sales tax increase fails in Swain County
 

Sales tax increase fails in Swain County

About 58 percent of voters in Swain County voted against increasing the sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent.
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Davis hangs tight to N.C. Senate seat
 

Davis hangs tight to N.C. Senate seat

Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, will keep his seat in the N.C. Senate after an easy victory over Jane Hipps, D-Waynesville,…
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Rep. Presnell survives challenge
 

Rep. Presnell survives challenge

Rhonda Cole Schandevel, D-Canton, ran a surprisingly good campaign that was well financed, but in the end, it wasn’t quite…
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Haywood County voters choose booze
 

Haywood County voters choose booze

For the first time since 1952, Haywood County voters were allowed to make a decision on whether or not to…
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Haywood County schools: Francis to keep school board chairman seat
 

Haywood County schools: Francis to keep school board chairman seat

Chuck Francis will again return to chair a Haywood County School Board that has set high marks for achievement, climbing…
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Rogers, Ensley win Haywood seats
 

Rogers, Ensley win Haywood seats

It had been said about newcomer Brandon Rogers that if signs could vote, he would win. 
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Republicans claim both seats in Macon
 

Republicans claim both seats in Macon

Republican incumbent Paul Higdon will keep his District 3 seat on the Macon County Commission while Republican Karl Gillespie claimed…
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Republicans capture majority on Jackson commissioners
 

Republicans capture majority on Jackson commissioners

Jackson County government will flip to the Republican side once again following successful campaigns from Ron Mau and Mickey Luker,…
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Republican unseats Democratic incumbent in Swain: David Monteith reclaims seat
 

Republican unseats Democratic incumbent in Swain: David Monteith reclaims seat

Republican challenger Kenneth Parton was the top vote-getter in the Swain County Commissioners’ race and was able to unseat longtime…
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Corbin captures easy N.C. House win
 

Corbin captures easy N.C. House win

Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, will trade in his seat on the Macon County Board of Commissioners for a place in the…
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Meadows re-elected for third term in Congress
 

Meadows re-elected for third term in Congress

Incumbent Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, will continue to represent the 11th District of North Carolina after defeating Democratic challenger Rick…
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Clampitt upsets Queen for N.C. House
 

Clampitt upsets Queen for N.C. House

Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, thought the third time would be a charm. 
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HCC student wins entrepreneur award
 

HCC student wins entrepreneur award

Haywood Community College Career & College Promise student Ezekiel MacMillan was recently awarded the third place National Association for Community…
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Library looks for input on strategic plan
 

Library looks for input on strategic plan

The Haywood County Public Library has roots dating back more than a hundred years, but today’s library has its sights…
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Rash of car break-ins in Haywood
 

Rash of car break-ins in Haywood

Haywood County Deputies responded to the Haywood Regional Medical Fitness Center around 6:15 a.m. Nov. 2 in reference to nine…
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Legislation to keep Fontana houseboats makes its way through Congress
 

Legislation to keep Fontana houseboats makes its way through Congress

Houseboat owners on Fontana Lake may get to keep their floating homes after all if legislation passes to exempt Fontana…
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Local nonprofit selected to manage hospital funds
 

Local nonprofit selected to manage hospital funds

Barring an unforeseen breakdown in contract negotiations, the Haywood Healthcare Foundation will manage the estimated $20 million in funds that…
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HCC seeks damages from architect, construction company
 

HCC seeks damages from architect, construction company

Haywood Community College’s new Creative Arts Building was supposed to be a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly facility.
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Planning council membership, trailer park rules to change in Cullowhee
 

Planning council membership, trailer park rules to change in Cullowhee

Mere months after the much-debated Cullowhee Community Planning Standards became county ordinance, commissioners are set to consider a pair of…
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Volunteers, donations needed in dog rescue effort
 

Volunteers, donations needed in dog rescue effort

Haywood County officials and volunteers continue to minister to the needs of 140 — and counting — dogs removed from…
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Contamination persists at SCC shooting range, testing shows
 

Contamination persists at SCC shooting range, testing shows

The first round of soil removal at Southwestern Community College’s lead-contaminated shooting range has substantially reduced the concentration of metal…
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Up in smoke: Wildfires rage across a bone-dry WNC
 

Up in smoke: Wildfires rage across a bone-dry WNC

Billowing smoke and inundations of suited-up firefighters have become the norm for many areas in Western North Carolina over the…
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Per capita loan program approved in Cherokee
 

Per capita loan program approved in Cherokee

Twice each year, every Cherokee tribal member gets a payout of thousands of dollars — called a per capita payment…
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Midwest Heart, Southern Blues: Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters roll into WNC
 

Midwest Heart, Southern Blues: Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters roll into WNC

Taking a seat on the old couch, my foot began to tap immediately. The living room full of friends and…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

The most important band in America My ears are still ringing. After catching two nights of the Drive-By Truckers this…
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Haywood art grants given
 

Haywood art grants given

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), serving as a Designated County Partner of the North Carolina Arts Council, is pleased…
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Haywood County continues animal rescue
 

Haywood County continues animal rescue

Haywood County officials and volunteers continue to minister to the needs of 140 – and counting – dogs removed from…
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‘Large scale’ animal evacuation underway by Haywood County
 

‘Large scale’ animal evacuation underway by Haywood County

According to a press release issued earlier this morning, Haywood County officials are currently involved in the rescue of more…
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Witch-hazel has adapted as a late flowering plant
 

Witch-hazel has adapted as a late flowering plant

Editor’s note: this article first appeared in a November 2003 edition of The Smoky Mountain News. If you take a…
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