That’s us, using our children as ‘escape goats’
 

That’s us, using our children as ‘escape goats’

My wife and I like to host small parties or entertain our friends every three years or so, not because…
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HB2 could be called ‘Hate Bill 2’
 

HB2 could be called ‘Hate Bill 2’

To the Editor: Recent letters have provided more smoke than light regarding HB2, also known as House Bill 2, which…
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Trump cares only about being the winner
 

Trump cares only about being the winner

To the Editor: For one who has never held an elected office, Donald Trump is a brilliant politician. His TV…
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Not your average tourist: Waynesville man reflects on decades of travel in the jungles of Ecuador
 

Not your average tourist: Waynesville man reflects on decades of travel in the jungles of Ecuador

When life gets hectic, most people have a vacation spot where they go to unwind — perhaps a family cabin…
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NOC paddler to appear in summer Olympics
 

NOC paddler to appear in summer Olympics

When Team U.S.A. marches into the Olympic stadium this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Opening Ceremonies of…
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Sculpture winds through WCU trails
 

Sculpture winds through WCU trails

A nature-based sculpture project launched by Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum aims to feature outdoors art while promoting discussion…
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Plant defenses are not-so-pleasant for us humans
 

Plant defenses are not-so-pleasant for us humans

Like poisonous serpents, some plants developed toxic properties in order to protect themselves against predators. Besides insects, the major plant…
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Teaching children how to succeed at life
 

Teaching children how to succeed at life

Near the end of The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups, Dr.…
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New stage to open next month
 

New stage to open next month

Sitting on a bench one recent sunny afternoon, Steven Lloyd gazes to his right, a big smile immediately rolling across…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I awoke to yelling outside.
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Camera crazy: Downtown Sylva comes alive during filming of big-budget movie
 

Camera crazy: Downtown Sylva comes alive during filming of big-budget movie

An air of excitement and expectation reigned over downtown Sylva last week as crews and stars alike rolled in to…
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The long road to the big screen
 

The long road to the big screen

Getting a movie to come to town isn’t something that happens overnight.
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‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Three Billboards,’ and economic ripples
 

‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Three Billboards,’ and economic ripples

“Three Billboards” isn’t the only major filming project going on in Jackson County this month. Last week, ABC wrapped up…
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Seasoned administrator to take helm at HRMC
 

Seasoned administrator to take helm at HRMC

Rod Harkleroad has been named as the new chief executive officer of Haywood Regional Medical Center.
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World Methodist Museum to mark 60 years
 

World Methodist Museum to mark 60 years

A celebration will be held May 22 to mark the 60th birthday of the World Methodist Museum, which is located…
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Waynesville rolls out compromise in ongoing food truck debate
 

Waynesville rolls out compromise in ongoing food truck debate

New rules for where and how food trucks can set up shop in Waynesville attempt to balance the popular and…
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Haywood’s dropout program rescued
 

Haywood’s dropout program rescued

An innovative high school dropout program in Haywood County was rescued from the chopping block this week after county commissioners…
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Democratic candidates face off in congressional election
 

Democratic candidates face off in congressional election

Two Democratic candidates will face off in the June 7 election for a chance to unseat U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows,…
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Obscure budget stats a ‘bellwether’ of economic recovery
 

Obscure budget stats a ‘bellwether’ of economic recovery

Haywood County could be turning a corner after a slow, stubborn climb out of the recession, according to some obscure…
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For a change, Haywood isn’t facing a dire budget year
 

For a change, Haywood isn’t facing a dire budget year

Haywood County commissioners were greeted with silence at their meeting Monday night when they asked if anyone in the audience…
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Predatory attack or ill-fated dinner search?
 

Predatory attack or ill-fated dinner search?

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is terming an incident that left a Las Vegas man with a puncture wound…
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Bear euthanized following backcountry bite
 

Bear euthanized following backcountry bite

Campers at the Spence Field Appalachian Trail Shelter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park spent a harrowing evening in…
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Cherokee pays off millions of debt
 

Cherokee pays off millions of debt

A massive load of debt left the shoulders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians last week following enactment of…
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Events for readers and writers
 

Events for readers and writers

Salvation sought through moonshine  Terry Roberts will present his new novel The Holy Ghost and Speakeasy and Revival at 3…
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The Left still has something to learn about tolerance
 

The Left still has something to learn about tolerance

I’ve been observing something for years — though recently it has snowballed  — and it has always struck me as…
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Let’s work toward a better Maggie Valley
 

Let’s work toward a better Maggie Valley

To the Editor: Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “The republic is a dream. If we stop dreaming, we will…
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Governor’s office is still in the dark
 

Governor’s office is still in the dark

To the Editor: There you are, governor of North Carolina, and somebody pushes a stack of papers in front of…
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Racism is not in the ‘eye of the beholder’
 

Racism is not in the ‘eye of the beholder’

To the Editor: Sorry Dad, but in your column in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17607), you…
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Connecting a new generation to 9/11
 

Connecting a new generation to 9/11

Recently, a group of Waynesville Middle chorus students were at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, and when they…
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Hot Springs fire contained
 

Hot Springs fire contained

The verdict is in on a fire that had been blazing for two weeks near Hot Springs — after burning…
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Hanging Dog Campground reopens on trial basis
 

Hanging Dog Campground reopens on trial basis

After two years of closure, Hanging Dog Campground in Cherokee County has reopened through a collaborative effort between the county…
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Comment

Get the cheat sheet to buy local
 

Get the cheat sheet to buy local

Growing season has arrived in Western North Carolina, and the new Local Food Guide from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project…
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Trail mapping project earns award for tribal member
 

Trail mapping project earns award for tribal member

A Cherokee woman received recognition from the environmental organization Wild South for her tireless work with a project to map…
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DuPont trails to close for blue ghost firefly protection
 

DuPont trails to close for blue ghost firefly protection

Closure of some trails will soon take effect in DuPont State Recreational Forest to protect the blue ghost firefly, a…
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Rivers and restaurants: TV crew falls for Jackson County  through its trout, tables and people
 

Rivers and restaurants: TV crew falls for Jackson County through its trout, tables and people

The sun is lowering toward a perfect spring evening as the crew from Fox Sports’ “Anglers & Appetites” pulls onto…
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Evolution
 

Evolution

I spend six weeks every spring doing bird surveys for the Forest Service across Western North Carolina. My travels take…
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Novel mixes Cherokee folklore with real history
 

Novel mixes Cherokee folklore with real history

This astonishing “novel” was crafted by three multi-talented western Cherokees who live and create in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It resembles a…
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Roller derby to benefit Relay for Life
 

Roller derby to benefit Relay for Life

The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will be hosting their second double header of the season on Saturday, May 14, at…
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JAM concert to honor Stuart
 

JAM concert to honor Stuart

Old-time music fans and friends of the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program are invited come together for a concert honoring…
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Comment

This must be the place
 

This must be the place

It is the eternal quest.
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Brighten the corner where you are
 

Brighten the corner where you are

It is the word of Southern Appalachia. For over a half a century, writer Fred Chappell has captured the essence…
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Making the grade: Educator reinvents dropout prevention, but budget cuts jeopardize program
 

Making the grade: Educator reinvents dropout prevention, but budget cuts jeopardize program

Kyle Ledford spent years working with at-risk youth and high school dropouts in the Haywood school system. Saving kids was…
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Comment

Dropout program in jeopardy
 

Dropout program in jeopardy

Despite wild success rescuing high school dropouts and turning their lives around, the Haywood Community Learning Center is on the…
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Comment

Caught in life’s crosshairs, students struggle not to dropout
 

Caught in life’s crosshairs, students struggle not to dropout

The trials of adulthood came early for Nicole Ferguson.
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Trying to put a square peg in a round hole? Kyle Ledford’s your man
 

Trying to put a square peg in a round hole? Kyle Ledford’s your man

If there’s one thing Kyle Ledford is good at, it’s pushing boulders uphill.
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Even with higher tax rate, Sylva budget a squeeze
 

Even with higher tax rate, Sylva budget a squeeze

Sylva residents will likely see their tax rate skyrocket 42 percent this year, but town commissioners say that even the…
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Comment

EMS costs and revaluation are catalysts for Jackson’s tax rate
 

EMS costs and revaluation are catalysts for Jackson’s tax rate

With a drop in county value and increase in emergency response costs, Jackson County is looking at a draft budget…
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Comment

Franklin budget proposal focuses on infrastructure needs
 

Franklin budget proposal focuses on infrastructure needs

Franklin’s proposed budget prioritizes a number of long-range infrastructure projects without increasing the tax rate.
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More firefighters needed, but is it worth a tax increase?
 

More firefighters needed, but is it worth a tax increase?

Waynesville leaders will face a big decision this budget year: whether to increase property taxes by 10 percent to pay…
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Comment

As volunteer fire cavalry wanes, quick response hinges on a core of paid staff
 

As volunteer fire cavalry wanes, quick response hinges on a core of paid staff

Waynesville town leaders heard something they didn’t necessarily want to hear last week.
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