Home for the summer: Birders seek out migrating birds in the mountains
 

Home for the summer: Birders seek out migrating birds in the mountains

In a woodsy neighborhood up a winding mountain road from Franklin, late May is pretty quiet — at least from…
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A fantastic collection of life-changing stories
 

A fantastic collection of life-changing stories

I have always been a Russell Banks fan, and when I look back over the last 40 years, he has…
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Ray Stevens to play Franklin
 

Ray Stevens to play Franklin

Legendary comedian and singer-songwriter Ray Stevens will be hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, at the Smoky…
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New interactive Cherokee history program
 

New interactive Cherokee history program

“Cherokee Friends,” Ani-Tsalagi Digali, is an exciting new program that will expand on visitors’ experiences within the community of Cherokee.
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Summer, fall art classes at The Bascom
 

Summer, fall art classes at The Bascom

A wide array of adult art classes and workshops are now open to those interested at The Bascom in Highlands.
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Exhibit honors Cherokee artisan legend
 

Exhibit honors Cherokee artisan legend

“Solitude & Mystery,” an exhibit showcasing for the work of John Julius Wilnoty will be held from 3 to 5…
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Celebrate Appalachian culture, history
 

Celebrate Appalachian culture, history

The 5th annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13, in downtown…
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Mountain music, clogging, storytelling and more
 

Mountain music, clogging, storytelling and more

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will be hosting a day of Western North Carolina culture from 2 to 5 p.m.…
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American Gonzos bring rock, funk to WCU
 

American Gonzos bring rock, funk to WCU

American Gonzos will perform as part of the Summer Concert Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 11, in the Central…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Part Two: The Wedding As I adjusted my tie in the hotel mirror, I noticed more grey hairs in my beard.
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It’s good to be the queen: A conversation with Rhonda Vincent
 

It’s good to be the queen: A conversation with Rhonda Vincent

In art, as in life, what matters most is following your heart, never compromising your beliefs and holding steady to…
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Coach’s article was great, but let’s clarify
 

Coach’s article was great, but let’s clarify

To the Editor: First, and foremost, I want to thank you for the article in The Smoky Mountain News, your…
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Playing the blame game in Jackson County
 

Playing the blame game in Jackson County

To the Editor: Have you noticed when officeholders (elected or unelected) are attempting to wiggle out from responsibility for some…
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Reflections on ‘Sweet 16’ and the future
 

Reflections on ‘Sweet 16’ and the future

What’s your dream job? Recent college graduates are perhaps honing in on the difficult task of searching for a satisfying…
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Cherokee tribe signs instructional agreement with UNC
 

Cherokee tribe signs instructional agreement with UNC

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will have free opportunities to attend UNC Asheville as part of an…
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Cherokee Preservation Foundation director resigns
 

Cherokee Preservation Foundation director resigns

Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, executive director of the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, submitted her resignation to the board and staff effective July…
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Dispute over Cherokee pay raises headed for court
 

Dispute over Cherokee pay raises headed for court

A group of Cherokee people angry over Tribal Council’s decision last fall to give itself a 15 percent pay raise…
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Jail deficiencies in November suicide, report finds
 

Jail deficiencies in November suicide, report finds

Following discovery that a March suicide in the Jackson County Detention Center had occurred during an 85-minute gap in jailers’…
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Swain asks SCC for more programs, better communication
 

Swain asks SCC for more programs, better communication

In addition to wanting more curriculum classes offered for residents, Swain County commissioners want better representation on the Southwestern Community…
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Swain to beef up courtroom security
 

Swain to beef up courtroom security

Swain County commissioners know they need to address security concerns at the county administrative building in Bryson City, but they…
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All eyes on promised parley between Frog Level merchants and Open Door
 

All eyes on promised parley between Frog Level merchants and Open Door

Waynesville town leaders plan to broker a sit-down between Frog Level merchants and the Open Door soup kitchen in coming…
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WCU students charged in off-campus fight
 

WCU students charged in off-campus fight

A pair of Western Carolina University fraternity brothers are facing assault charges after student Zach Denson left an off-campus party…
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Four arrested for illegal fishing
 

Four arrested for illegal fishing

Four men from Buncombe and Henderson counties are facing a slew of Class 3 misdemeanor charges after officers with the…
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Angel Medical takes over mental patient supervision
 

Angel Medical takes over mental patient supervision

Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland has found some recent budget relief since Angel Medical Center took over supervising mental health…
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Better communication a must for Main Street, Sylva merchants say
 

Better communication a must for Main Street, Sylva merchants say

Improving communication between the Main Street Association and downtown merchants was the goal of a survey sent out to merchants…
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New restaurant hopes  to bring foot traffic back to downtown Canton
 

New restaurant hopes to bring foot traffic back to downtown Canton

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern  A great restaurant at a great location in a great town — it’s all part…
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WCU students react to NC voting law changes
 

WCU students react to NC voting law changes

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern  Some opponents of North Carolina’s new voting law claim it negatively impacts college students because…
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Local NAACP members still fighting for voters
 

Local NAACP members still fighting for voters

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern  It may be too late to change North Carolina’s new voting laws, but it’s not…
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Be prepared at the polls: Voting changes are coming in 2016
 

Be prepared at the polls: Voting changes are coming in 2016

The days of simply walking into a polling place and casting a ballot are over.
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Waynesville walks the line at budget time
 

Waynesville walks the line at budget time

The town of Waynesville has rolled out a budget plan for the coming fiscal year that’s nearly identical to the…
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Large declines in animal volume question need for new shelter
 

Large declines in animal volume question need for new shelter

A new animal shelter is in the works in Haywood County despite a major decline in the number of stray…
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Paradigm shift afoot as Haywood plans new animal shelter
 

Paradigm shift afoot as Haywood plans new animal shelter

A new $3 million animal shelter on the horizon in Haywood County has become a catalyst for a philosophical shift…
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Beige – the new orange
 

Beige – the new orange

Neotropical migrants can be flashy things — think scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, rose-breasted grosbeak or those tiny butterflies of the…
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WNC conservationists get recognition
 

WNC conservationists get recognition

Western North Carolina was well represented in the round of annual conservation awards bestowed by the state’s 24 land trusts. …
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Give the A.T. some love
 

Give the A.T. some love

A coalition of trail-loving organizations will join forces to celebrate National Trails Day with an opportunity to work on the…
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Draft plan published on Chattooga River access changes
 

Draft plan published on Chattooga River access changes

A draft plan for sustainable river access on the upper segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River is now…
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Smokies trails reopened following bear incident
 

Smokies trails reopened following bear incident

The Mt. Le Conte Backcountry Shelter and trails to the popular Cliff Tops area have re-opened following closure due to…
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Solarize seeing success
 

Solarize seeing success

The Solarize WNC program — an effort to connect people interested in converting to solar energy with the resources to…
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Coal on the outs at Asheville plant
 

Coal on the outs at Asheville plant

Coal will no longer be the cornerstone of power production in Asheville when Duke Energy completes a newly announced $1.1…
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Giving new farmers a boost
 

Giving new farmers a boost

By Katie Reeder • SMN Intern Demand for locally grown food is soaring in Western North Carolina, but recruiting — and…
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Ten years of soaking up great books
 

Ten years of soaking up great books

About two months ago, I began culling books from my shelves. I live in an apartment with several thousand books,…
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Cherokee festival showcases gourd crafts
 

Cherokee festival showcases gourd crafts

Gourd artists from around the world will again be ‘gathering’ at the 13th annual Gourd Artists Gathering and Art Festival…
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Winners of Stecoah ‘Mountain Youth Talent Contest’
 

Winners of Stecoah ‘Mountain Youth Talent Contest’

The second traditional Appalachian talent showcase, the Heritage Alive! Mountain Youth Talent Contest, was held at the Bluegrass Festival May…
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Skaggs, Vincent at Cherokee Bluegrass Fest
 

Skaggs, Vincent at Cherokee Bluegrass Fest

Bluegrass superstars Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and Dailey & Vincent will headline the Cherokee…
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Crowe Brothers play Grand Ole Opry
 

Crowe Brothers play Grand Ole Opry

American bluegrass master Jesse McReynolds welcomed Haywood County’s own The Crowe Brothers to the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville…
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June art classes at Cowee, Penland
 

June art classes at Cowee, Penland

Cowee Pottery School June classes A nonprofit located in the Macon County Heritage Center in Franklin, the Cowee Pottery School…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Part One: The Ride It had been eight years to the day. Putting the car into park, I emerged from the…
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If you build it, they will come: Franklin welcomes first craft brewery
 

If you build it, they will come: Franklin welcomes first craft brewery

Cruising through downtown Franklin, one begins to wonder where exactly is the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company. You’ve been told it’s…
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Challenge those who would censor you
 

Challenge those who would censor you

To the Editor: Referring to a recent letter to the editor, the writer suggested that anything or any opinion that…
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Last Shot weekend was a great success
 

Last Shot weekend was a great success

To the Editor: Our Last Shot Fired May weekend, titled “The Battle of Waynesville and the Surrender of the Western…
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