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Early to the woods
Due to contractual obligations with the Forest Service I have been in the woods a little earlier than usual this…
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Spring openings in the Smokies
Spring is here, and facilities closed for the winter are opening up accordingly in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. …
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Commission wants to lift bear baiting restriction
A proposed rule change allowing hunters to bait black bears with unprocessed food throughout the entire hunting season will be…
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Snowmaking crew makes the top cut
Cataloochee Ski Area is a finalist for the I AM a Snowmaker Award, given annually by SAM Magazine and HKD…
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Take your pick of ranger programs
Spring ranger programs have begun in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving visitors a chance to explore the Smokies…
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Lace it up
A slate of challenging long-distance races will be coming to the Smokies this spring, meaning it’s time to get back…
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Stocked trout waters to open
Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters throughout Western North Carolina will open at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 2.
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Easter on the trail
This Easter marked an important milestone for Jerry Parker, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who completed the 2,160-mile trail before it…
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A new meaning for ‘study lounge’: WCU installs solar panel and hammock lounge combo with sustainability funds
When Earth Day rolls around this year, students at Western Carolina University will be able to celebrate with a bit…
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The arts thrive only if we support them
“The arts are so incredibly vital to a quality of life, smart business and the health of a community. The…
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Questions for the legislature
By Dave Waldrop • Guest Columnist The North Carolina legislature has abandoned its responsibilities to public education under the guise…
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What lessons from the 2016 primary?
By Chris Cooper • Guest Columnist If I had to use one word to describe the North Carolina primary, it…
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On being a columnist for a small-town newspaper
Three months into this, I’ve decided that being a columnist for The Smoky Mountain News is potentially more challenging than…
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Swain County to sue federal government over North Shore Road settlement money
After waiting for years to get the money promised to them, the Swain County commissioners made a unanimous decision last…
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Community Kitchen moving to new facility
The Community Kitchen in Canton works hard to make sure no one in the community goes hungry, and now the…
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In Russ Avenue’s shadow: Neighbors fear commercial creep, struggle with identity crisis
Waynesville leaders are weighing whether to expand the commercial footprint of Russ Avenue, an issue that has pitted neighbors against…
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Franklin man shoots, kills his 22-year-old son
Macon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of 22-year-old Hunter Curtis after he was shot and killed by his…
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Whittier farmers make an offer on Drexel plant
The future of the old furniture factory in Whittier has been through more than its share of twists and turns…
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Dog owners rejoice over park drainage project
While the Waynesville dog park’s temporary closure this week might have canines a little bit antsy, dog owners are rejoicing…
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Cullowhee planning committee appointed
Nearly a year after Jackson County passed zoning standards for Cullowhee, the ordinance is set to get ground-tested with the…
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Jackson will borrow millions to fix school facilities
Leaking roofs, failing heating systems and broken pipes in Jackson County Schools will get some much-needed attention after commissioners voted…
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HCC to take over business incubator space
It will be a bittersweet transition for Smoky Mountain Development Corporation executive director Allan Steinberg. On one hand, he has…
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Commissioners under the gun to pass shooting range rules
Rules governing where commercial outdoor shooting ranges can go in Haywood County would provide security and peace of mind for…
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Regional banking powerhouse Entegra finalizes deal for Old Town Bank
Old Town Bank shareholders overwhelmingly approved the sale of the start-up bank headquartered in Waynesville last week, ending its nine-year…
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Gaming commissioners argue for their jobs back
After being ousted from their jobs when the September elections brought a new Tribal Council and executive administration, the three…
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Planning board digs into rules for industrial development
Take a drive around the mountain roads of Western North Carolina and it probably won’t be long before a tight…
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Fracking protections a key consideration in ordinance revision
When the state opened the doors for hydraulic fracturing — called “fracking” — in 2014, a flood of public opinion…
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Sacrosanct gun rights hotly debated in Haywood
Gun supporters turned out en masse this week urging Haywood County commissioners to allow concealed guns on county property, from…
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When disagreeing could still be eloquent
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” — George Orwell, 1984 For the past year, Americans have endured…
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WCU students join The Heritage Calendar project
There will be Catamount paw prints on the next edition of a calendar highlighting North Carolina’s African-American heritage as Western…
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Creative arts workshop retreats
From the beginning Cullowhee Mountain Arts (CMA) has been committed to hosting high-quality workshops taught by instructors with national and…
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Jackson celebrates NC Beer Month, Ale Trail
Whether you enjoy sipping a smooth golden ale, something hoppy or a dark IPA, Jackson County’s craft breweries have you…
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Mountain Born & Bred: Haywood journalist releases collection
Turning the steering wheel onto Johnson Street, one quickly leaves the unrelenting bustle of two-way traffic along N.C. 110. Immediately,…
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New candidates allowed to sign up in congressional race
North Carolina will hold a separate election on June 7 for the congressional primary, which means it’s not too late…
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Time for spring migrants in the mountains
The cove we live in has been alive with birds for several weeks now. As alive with birds as it’s…
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Stomach illness reported on the A.T.
Stomach bugs, possibly norovirus, have been reported among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers in Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains this season.
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Assault on BlackRock crosses the finish line
Saturday dawned chilly and foggy at Pinnacle Park in Sylva, but that didn’t stop 73 people from completing the strenuous…
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Friends of the Smokies gets new director
Friends of the Smokies has a new North Carolina director after Anna Lee Zanetti took the reins this week.
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Celebrate the A.T. season
Every year, trail towns and businesses in Western North Carolina anticipate the influx of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers that stream through…
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Fake it till you make it
“So, are you here as a reporter or as a biker?” asked one of the 100-plus shorts-wearing, bike-bearing people converged…
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Feeling the vibe: Mountain bikers converge in WNC to learn, network and explore Tsali trails
The parking lot at Tsali Recreation Area was full of bikes Friday evening — more than 100 of them, strapped…
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Tragedy at Frank Lloyd Wright’s house
In this story, I am God. — Frank Lloyd Wright The title of this nonfiction work, Death in a Prairie…
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Me and your pet rabbit can now share a meal
A few weeks ago, I suddenly developed a thirst that I could not seem to quench. No, this is not…
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Wilderness and recreation areas are good for WNC
By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist Setting aside a modest portion of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest as Wilderness and National…
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Sometimes you wonder why
To the editor: I wonder: • Why do people in the so-called “Bible belt” seem to trust guns more than God?…
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Let’s get the ‘dump Presnell’ train rolling
Let the campaign to unseat Rep. Michele Presnell begin. During her two terms in office Presnell has been an obstructionist…
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Macon Commissioners honor Sunshine Week
In the spirit of celebrating Sunshine Week, the Macon County Commissioners announced a decision to support and encourage transparency and…
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Woman gets 70 months for trafficking meth
Jamie Lynn Swartz, 36, formerly of Sylva, will serve 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release…
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Cherokee implements full-circle rehabilitation for drug recovery
It’s been a while since the old Mountain Credit Union building in Cherokee saw foot traffic from people looking to…
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