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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, thought the third time would be a charm.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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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