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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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Jackson Schools look for community donations to fund football field
In the quest to replace the football field at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva with artificial turf, Jackson County…
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Canton Fire Department earns better insurance rating
Now that the North Carolina Department of Insurance issued the Canton Fire Department a Class 4 rating this week, Canton…
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Schandevel’s win sets the stage for competitive House race
Haywood County Democrat Rhonda Schandevel will pose a formidable challenge in her bid for the N.C. House of Representatives this…
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Haywood commissioner field narrows
The primary for Haywood County commissioner showed clear and overwhelming support for a single front-runner from each party, and both…
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Mountain voters buck statewide trend in Democratic Presidential primary
An interesting anomaly played out in the mountains in the Presidential primary last week.
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Food truck fight coming to Waynesville
The sticky wicket of food trucks and food carts have taken center stage in Waynesville, with a public debate in…
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State of the Arts: WCU holds art summit for WNC creative leaders
In an effort to bring together the artistic hearts and minds from around Western North Carolina, the “LEAD:Arts” summit was…
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Want to own a quilt block?
If you have ever wondered what those giant, colorful blocks are on the sides of buildings and other structures throughout…
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Entries sought for Taste of Chocolate
An open call for entries to the 17th annual Taste of Chocolate Plus is currently underway. The event will take…
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Worming towards a better way: Composting project reduces waste, sparks young scientists in Jackson schools
When the bell rang for the end of school Friday afternoon, Jeff Vamvakias’ room at Cullowhee Valley Elementary emptied a…
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Forest Service considers limiting guided fishing on the Nantahala
Complaints about overcrowding on the Nantahala River have led the U.S. Forest Service to consider limiting fishing permits for outfitters…
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Scaled-down plans for Duke’s Asheville plant approved
Duke Energy Progress’s plan to replace its coal-fired power plant in Asheville with natural gas has garnered partial approval from…
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Volunteers needed in the Smokies
As the green season inches closer and visitation ramps up, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is looking for volunteers…
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Lake J – even when it’s bad, it’s good
Waterfowl have been scarce across Western North Carolina this fall and winter. Traditional haunts like Lake Julian in Asheville, Lake…
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N.C. voters pass infrastructure bond
A majority of North Carolina voters approved a significant investment in the state’s future economy during the primary election by…
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Corbin sails to primary victory
By the time polls closed March 15, Kevin Corbin’s soles were feeling the pain from 12 hours of standing on…
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Commissioner incumbents win Swain primary
Swain County commissioner incumbents Steve Moon and David Monteith received the vote of confidence in the Democratic primary election.
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Higdon, Gillespie move forward in Macon commissioner race
Incumbent commissioner Paul Higdon and political newcomer Karl Gillespie will move on to the general election after winning the primary…
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Clampitt and Queen to face off once more in November for state house seat
After taking home 59 percent of the vote in last week’s election, Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, is looking toward a…
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Reading great books remains important
Lent, which extends from Ash Wednesday to Easter, is for many Christians a time of fasting and prayer. Some believers…
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This must be the place
“They headed down south and they’re still running today…” As The Steve Miller Band blasted through the hit song “Take…
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WCU reaches out to special needs students
It was a year-and-a-half ago that Western Carolina University’s director of athletic bands, David Starnes, was asked by United Sound…
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Donald Trump, you haven’t fooled me
I’ve been watching the Trump shenanigans from afar, laughing it off as a collective momentary lapse in judgment, but as…
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Maggie Valley should make town center happen
When small towns think and act big, amazing things can happen. Anyone who has traveled has come across communities that…
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Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club
Despite the stereotype of volunteer firefighters as Type A alpha males, knowing your Nascar drivers and driving a pick-up truck…
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When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition
Little boys worship them. Bruce Springsteen memorialized them. The helpless count on them. Volunteer firefighters are a symbol of American…
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Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement
Sylva’s town leaders spent a sunny Saturday indoors armed with pen, paper and heads full of ideas for bringing the…
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Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses
Even though the money isn’t yet in place, the town of Canton is considering several options for economic development incentives…
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Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements
When Canton town officials were notified that the North Carolina Department of Transportation would be repaving all of Main Street…
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Public input wanted on Savannah park plan
A public meeting will gauge support for a plan to give Jackson County’s Savannah community its first public park at…
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Tribe looks to strengthen preference laws for tribal businesses
Change is likely coming to the ordinance outlining preference rules for tribally owned businesses. The rules come into play when…
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‘Big Slow Movers’ plague Cowee Mountain route
It’s easy to spot the unstable embankments as you drive over Cowee Mountain between Macon and Jackson counties.
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R-5000 contractor under suit: DeVere being sued by bonding company
There’s another kink in the knot surrounding the ill-fated R-5000 road project connecting N.C. 107 and N.C. 116 in Jackson…
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‘Seed money’ being raised for new Swain library
The community support behind getting a new public library in Swain County has been impressive, but the fundraising efforts have…
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Director of regional planning commission resigns
After being at the helm of Region A’s Southwestern Commission, Executive Director Ryan Sherby tendered his resignation on March 1…
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New UNC president promises to fight for higher salaries, engage WCU faculty on policy
The mood was jovial as Western Carolina University’s Faculty Senate waited over cookies and coffee for their hour with Margaret…
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Plan advances to convert old hospital to affordable lofts
Haywood County commissioners will hold a public hearing next Monday on whether to give away the “old hospital” to a…
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New district lines unveiled for Central Elementary students
Students who attend Central Elementary School in Waynesville learned this week what their new school will be come fall. SEE…
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