Reelected Hamlet, Mull to Canton board
 

Reelected Hamlet, Mull to Canton board

To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for Ralph Hamlett and Gail Mull for Canton aldermen.  …
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Steep slope protections a very real economic incentive
 

Steep slope protections a very real economic incentive

Jackson County commissioners are going to pass a smart steep slope ordinance that will help as this region shakes off…
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More than one way to skin environmental regulations
 

More than one way to skin environmental regulations

According to Steve Ford, in a piece for NC Policy Watch called “Policies, power, pride divide the NC House and…
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The Eagle Lady says goodbye to Blue Ridge School
 

The Eagle Lady says goodbye to Blue Ridge School

Nearly 200 people gathered at Blue Ridge School this month to hear a parting presentation from Doris Mager, known around…
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Like a good neighbor: LTLT to clean up Duncan Oil site this winter
 

Like a good neighbor: LTLT to clean up Duncan Oil site this winter

Thanks to some fortunate happenstance and a lot of hard work from the staff at the Land Trust for the…
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Long absent lake sturgeon returned to North Carolina
 

Long absent lake sturgeon returned to North Carolina

Absent for more than half a century, lake sturgeon returned to North Carolina waters as more than 3,000 fish were…
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Nominees sought for new Forest Service committee
 

Nominees sought for new Forest Service committee

A new committee focused on revisiting recreation fees in national forests in 13 southern states and Puerto Rico is seeking…
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Forest Management Plan informational meetings scheduled
 

Forest Management Plan informational meetings scheduled

A pair of public meetings outlining the next steps of the plan revision process for the Nantahala and Pisgah national…
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Be bear aware
 

Be bear aware

It’s a scarce year for the fall foods such as acorns and grapes that bears depend on to prepare for…
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Bat week in the park
 

Bat week in the park

It’s bat week in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and park rangers are celebrating by setting up bat information…
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Women writers who took me by the hand
 

Women writers who took me by the hand

Many readers — and I am one of them — are fascinated by books lists. There are scores of these…
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Jamison to discuss mountain dance, new book
 

Jamison to discuss mountain dance, new book

Warren Wilson College professor Phil Jamison will present his new book Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I got it. Growing up outside of Burlington, Vermont, I came out of the womb with a Phish album in-hand. Founded…
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Luxury hotel opens in Bryson City
 

Luxury hotel opens in Bryson City

The Bryson City Cork & Bean, one of the town's favorite eateries, has added luxury lodging to its menu of…
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Jackson gets closer to having a tourism director
 

Jackson gets closer to having a tourism director

Jackson County could have a tourism director in place closely following the new year if the field of five that…
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Tires, bluegrass and tourism: Mountain Faith’s big break brings visitors to Jackson
 

Tires, bluegrass and tourism: Mountain Faith’s big break brings visitors to Jackson

High Country Tire Shop is an extra-busy place these days. Ever since Mountain Faith, the bluegrass family band whose members…
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Canton Girl Scout’s bullying project wins national award
 

Canton Girl Scout’s bullying project wins national award

Girl Scout Elizabeth Martin has remained quiet and humble for the last couple of weeks as local leaders shower her…
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Ingles makes a few tweaks to expansion plans
 

Ingles makes a few tweaks to expansion plans

Ingles Markets has gotten approval for a few minor changes to its site plan as it moves forward with a…
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A new model of health care: Cherokee celebrates new hospital
 

A new model of health care: Cherokee celebrates new hospital

After a week of rain, the sun rose brightly over the new Cherokee Indian Hospital and the crowd attending its…
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Jackson code enforcement audit returns favorable results
 

Jackson code enforcement audit returns favorable results

“All OK — but it could be better” seemed to be the message from a report the Jackson County Board…
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New compensation rules for disabled workers worry local organizations
 

New compensation rules for disabled workers worry local organizations

In his 38 years at the helm of Haywood Vocational Opportunities, George Marshall has seen his share of change in…
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LTLT becomes Mainspring Conservation Trust
 

LTLT becomes Mainspring Conservation Trust

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee has outgrown its name.
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Waynesville’s window dressing: Candidates, others weigh in on whether town’s reputation for hampering business development has merit
 

Waynesville’s window dressing: Candidates, others weigh in on whether town’s reputation for hampering business development has merit

Some candidates running for office in Waynesville are accusing the town of running off businesses and claim the town’s development…
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Final hearing on Jackson steep slope rules draws opinion
 

Final hearing on Jackson steep slope rules draws opinion

After a three-year saga of writing and rewriting and elections and public hearings, Jackson County is likely to adopt a…
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Observing the outside world with inward eyes
 

Observing the outside world with inward eyes

Looking back I can remember that 1975 was a wildflower sort of year.   1980 was a tree sort of year. 1984 was…
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Little T basin honored for aquatic diversity
 

Little T basin honored for aquatic diversity

The Little Tennessee River Basin got national attention last week when it was named the first Native Fish Conservation Area…
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Renovations at Max Patch Pond complete
 

Renovations at Max Patch Pond complete

Anglers at Max Patch Pond have better fishing opportunities now that the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the U.S. Forest…
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N.C. on track to meet new ozone standard
 

N.C. on track to meet new ozone standard

North Carolina is on track to meet the new ozone compliance standard, with the entire state currently meeting the new,…
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New guides demystify elk viewing, road biking in Haywood
 

New guides demystify elk viewing, road biking in Haywood

A pair of new guides to the outdoors in Haywood County, produced by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, will…
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Prescribed burn planned near Cataloochee
 

Prescribed burn planned near Cataloochee

A 600-acre prescribed burn near Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will start soon, perhaps as early…
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Share the woods during hunting season
 

Share the woods during hunting season

Hunting season is underway in Western North Carolina, with bear season opening Oct. 12. Bear season opened last week and…
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‘Eagle Lady’ to celebrate 90th birthday with raptor program
 

‘Eagle Lady’ to celebrate 90th birthday with raptor program

Doris Mager, known as “The Eagle Lady,” will celebrate her 90th birthday by giving a birds of prey program at…
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Putting the squeeze on trout: Study says that acid and warming waters could make life harder for trout
 

Putting the squeeze on trout: Study says that acid and warming waters could make life harder for trout

From habitat destruction to competition with non-native trout, Southern Appalachian brook trout have met their share of challenges over the…
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Let’s go surfin’ now …
 

Let’s go surfin’ now …

In a surfing genre memoir complete with a SurferMagazine, globe-trotting storyline, all set to a 1960s rock & roll soundtrack,…
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Haywood Art Studio Tour to showcase local artists
 

Haywood Art Studio Tour to showcase local artists

The Haywood Art Studio Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 23-24.
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Spookmoot at Folkmoot
 

Spookmoot at Folkmoot

A celebration of all things Halloween will be held Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in…
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WCU Homecoming
 

WCU Homecoming

“Purple on the Prowl!” will be the theme as the Western Carolina University community comes together to celebrate Homecoming 2015…
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Ready for ‘Designer Bag Bingo’?
 

Ready for ‘Designer Bag Bingo’?

Michael Kors, Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Nine West, Anne Klein, The Sak and Fossil will be featured during “Designer Bag…
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‘Family Fun Night’ to feature Darren Nicholson Band
 

‘Family Fun Night’ to feature Darren Nicholson Band

Bluegrass/Americana act The Darren Nicholson Band will perform during the “Family Fun Night” fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 30, at the…
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Gibson Brothers at Cataloochee Ranch
 

Gibson Brothers at Cataloochee Ranch

Acclaimed bluegrass act The Gibson Brothers will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Cataloochee Guest Ranch in Maggie…
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Carolina Chills
 

Carolina Chills

As the leaves change and the air becomes crisp, the mountains of Western North Carolina transform into a landscape of…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

It’s my favorite time of the year. There is nothing like fall. To me, this season isn’t about pumpkin lattes, pumpkin…
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A Unique Touch: Pincu Pottery combines nature, art
 

A Unique Touch: Pincu Pottery combines nature, art

About halfway between Bryson City and the Nantahala Outdoor Center, a small, unassuming building sits alongside the road. The structure…
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Rep. Mark Meadows not a worthy congressman
 

Rep. Mark Meadows not a worthy congressman

To the Editor: Politics is often described as the art of the possible. The recent resignation of Rep. John Boehner,…
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Signed letters better than mystery ads
 

Signed letters better than mystery ads

To the Editor: Letters to the editor in a newspaper illustrate the highest tradition of a free press. Letters represent…
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Letter writer was wrong about Republicans
 

Letter writer was wrong about Republicans

To the Editor: A recent letter writer has gone over the top with the surreal allegation that the Republican Party…
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War on men evidently is going strong
 

War on men evidently is going strong

To the Editor: Seventeen pages of your Oct. 7 issue (including the cover) were dedicated to “Women in Business,” more…
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Corporate charm rebuttal misses mark
 

Corporate charm rebuttal misses mark

To the Editor: The BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism at WCU has responded to my letter regarding BB&T bank’s practice…
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Support Gavin Brown for Waynesville mayor
 

Support Gavin Brown for Waynesville mayor

To the Editor: I am writing to express my support for the re-election of Gavin Brown as mayor for Waynesville.…
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Raymond Fairchild recognition long overdue
 

Raymond Fairchild recognition long overdue

To the Editor: Congratulations to legendary banjo player Raymond Fairchild for his induction into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and…
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