Jackson considers renovations for service centers
 

Jackson considers renovations for service centers

The large, cavernous room at the heart of Jackson County’s Community Services Center doesn’t see much action these days. It’s…
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Mistletoe’s link to romance goes way back
 

Mistletoe’s link to romance goes way back

The custom of decorating with mistletoe goes back to the ceremonials of the Druids. It is a reminder of the…
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Hunger initiative to build bridges with local agriculture
 

Hunger initiative to build bridges with local agriculture

A $10,000 grant will go toward building up food banks in Western North Carolina in partnership with agribusiness.  The award,…
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Permaculture school launches in Asheville
 

Permaculture school launches in Asheville

A 12-week permaculture school in Asheville will launch in 2015, teaching students how to create landscapes that maintain the health…
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Comment call for red wolf rules
 

Comment call for red wolf rules

A series of three public hearings in January will take public input on the future of protection for the reintroduced…
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Internships for Smokies fans
 

Internships for Smokies fans

Five summer internship positions are available for undergraduates looking to get involved with Discover Life in America’s mission to learn…
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Alum Cave Trail restoration to close trail in 2015
 

Alum Cave Trail restoration to close trail in 2015

Just after putting the final touches on the Chimney Tops Trail this month, the Trails Forever program in Great Smoky…
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Congressional act could expand National Parks
 

Congressional act could expand National Parks

The National Parks System could see its largest expansion in decades after bipartisan legislation in Washington, D.C. was introduced proposing…
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Aquatic invaders found in Macon County
 

Aquatic invaders found in Macon County

For the first time, gill lice have been found in brook trout in the Southern Appalachians. The parasitic crustaceans are…
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Smokies Association finishes $3.4 million investment in N.C.
 

Smokies Association finishes $3.4 million investment in N.C.

The opening of the Swain County Visitor Center in downtown Bryson City this year represented the culmination of a $3.46…
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Hike against hunger: Whittier man hikes A.T. to celebrate 65th birthday, raise money for food pantry
 

Hike against hunger: Whittier man hikes A.T. to celebrate 65th birthday, raise money for food pantry

Hiking the Appalachian Trail had been in the back of Andy Smith’s mind for a while, ever since a coworker…
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Country noir masterpiece gets its due — again
 

Country noir masterpiece gets its due — again

One of the things that I admire about the New York Review of Books is a special honor that they…
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Faster than thought: two book covers
 

Faster than thought: two book covers

By Steve Ellis • Guest Columnist As we leave this political season, which has been nasty, brutal and long, I’d…
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This is no time to devalue our wild heritage
 

This is no time to devalue our wild heritage

By Bill McLarney • Guest Columnist We humans are highly skilled and devilishly clever. We can create ball fields, schools,…
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Commissioners get an earful about wilderness resolution
 

Commissioners get an earful about wilderness resolution

A roomful of hunters and hikers turned out at last week’s Macon County Commissioners meeting. It was the first meeting…
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Forest users debate pros and cons of potential wilderness recommendations
 

Forest users debate pros and cons of potential wilderness recommendations

Out of the gate, the U.S. Forest Service’s first stab at listing potential wilderness areas in the Pisgah and Nantahala…
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Ridgetop towers OK’d in draft Jackson ordinance
 

Ridgetop towers OK’d in draft Jackson ordinance

Cell phone towers will now be allowed on Jackson County ridgetops — at least according a draft ordinance that’s on…
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Tribe’s new justice center opens
 

Tribe’s new justice center opens

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open its new state-of-the-art, $26 million Cherokee Justice Center on Dec. 17 following…
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Politics aside, county attorney search conducted out of fairness in Jackson
 

Politics aside, county attorney search conducted out of fairness in Jackson

Jackson County commissioners will decide in the coming weeks whether to keep Jay Coward on board as their county attorney.…
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Folkmoot named a Top Ten Festival by USA Today
 

Folkmoot named a Top Ten Festival by USA Today

Folkmoot USA was recently named a Top Ten Festival by USA Today, the only festival in the state of North…
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Noise ordinance in the works for Macon
 

Noise ordinance in the works for Macon

A noise ordinance could be in Macon County’s future as the planning board starts in on writing a set of…
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‘Play On’ poised to go online
 

‘Play On’ poised to go online

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority will launch its new website that will support its “Play On” branding campaign at…
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Haywood to patch up Pigeon Center, albeit reluctantly
 

Haywood to patch up Pigeon Center, albeit reluctantly

When Haywood County put up $35,000 to replace a chronicly leaky roof on the Pigeon Community Center in Waynesville, it…
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Former, current tax collectors build rapport
 

Former, current tax collectors build rapport

The outgoing and incoming tax collectors in Haywood County appeared shoulder to shoulder at the podium of the Haywood County…
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Macon finalizes property values
 

Macon finalizes property values

Macon County’s tying up the loose ends on a property revaluation that will likely cause tax hikes for some and…
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Waynesville’s electric system is a cash cow for the town, but can the good fortune continue?
 

Waynesville’s electric system is a cash cow for the town, but can the good fortune continue?

If Waynesville has a dirty little secret, it’s this: a cash cow runs through its power lines. Of course, it’s…
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Bomb threat disrupts WCU graduation
 

Bomb threat disrupts WCU graduation

A bomb threat was received by the Jackson County 911 office shortly before the beginning of Western Carolina University’s fall…
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In murky aftermath of bid snafu, truckers jostle for trash contract
 

In murky aftermath of bid snafu, truckers jostle for trash contract

A tug of war between two Jackson trucking companies over a high-stakes contract for hauling trash was settled last week…
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HCC builds desk for Forest Service
 

HCC builds desk for Forest Service

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood instructor Brian Wurst and students recently finished a project for the U.S. Forest Service…
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‘John Parris’ Christmas’ returns to Webster
 

‘John Parris’ Christmas’ returns to Webster

The Webster Historical Society will present its 4th annual “John Parris’ Christmas” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the…
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Carolina Brass to play Waynesville
 

Carolina Brass to play Waynesville

Carolina Brass will feature a variety of holiday and classical songs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Waynesville…
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Comment

Balsam Range, Meals on Wheels raise $12K
 

Balsam Range, Meals on Wheels raise $12K

On Dec. 6, acclaimed bluegrass group Balsam Range began it Winter Concert series with The Molly Tuttle Trio at The…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I’ve always felt the greatest gift is the gift of music. Though I’ve never been a huge fan of receiving…
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Maggie Valley venue enters second act
 

Maggie Valley venue enters second act

With one flick of a light switch, Grier Lackey is illuminating a dream. “What do you think?” he said with…
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WCU dorm gets LEED certification
 

WCU dorm gets LEED certification

Western Carolina University’s Harrill Residence Hall has become the university’s second building to be LEED-certified for its comprehensive energy-efficient and…
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Giving Tuesday nets Smokies $18,000
 

Giving Tuesday nets Smokies $18,000

Friends of the Smokies raised more than $18,000 for Great Smoky Mountains National Park on GivingTuesday, far more than its…
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Smokies hires superintendent
 

Smokies hires superintendent

For the first time since Dale Ditmanson retired in January 2014, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a permanent superintendent.…
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Franklin greenway gets some extra acreage
 

Franklin greenway gets some extra acreage

The Little Tennessee Greenway will offer users a bit more space to enjoy the outdoors following Dick and Melissa Jones’…
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Graffiti for a good cause
 

Graffiti for a good cause

Ten high school students from the Haywood Community Learning Center recently armed themselves with colorful spray paint to mark the…
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Tuscola takes all in FFA event
 

Tuscola takes all in FFA event

Tuscola High School students dominated Future Farmers of America’s Land Judging competition this year. The competition tests students’ ability to…
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Trail crews drill for backcountry emergencies
 

Trail crews drill for backcountry emergencies

Appalachian Trail license plate funds are helping to make the woods a little safer for the volunteers who maintain the…
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A feathery Christmas: Birders head outdoors for annual bird count
 

A feathery Christmas: Birders head outdoors for annual bird count

There’s plenty of tradition and symbolism that goes along with the holiday season, but for birders no tradition is more…
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Comment

Extreme commenting on plan for national forests
 

Extreme commenting on plan for national forests

Yogi Berra said it best — “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” When I read Holly Kays’ Nov. 12…
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Comment

Start your holiday shopping at the bookstore
 

Start your holiday shopping at the bookstore

For all of you who haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, for you who scorn Black Friday, who keep telling…
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Comment

Letter writer needs help connecting the dots
 

Letter writer needs help connecting the dots

To the Editor:  I certainly hope Santa brings Bob Wilson a “Connect the Dots” book — he could use the…
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Comment

Time for many to relearn tolerance
 

Time for many to relearn tolerance

To the Editor: The letter “Democrats hurting African Americans” (SMN, December 3) confuses race with economics. The implication that Democrats…
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Plutocrats drive modern GOP agenda
 

Plutocrats drive modern GOP agenda

To the Editor: It’s amusing to hear Republicans and other reactionaries describe Democrats and the Democratic Party. Contrary to their fiction-based…
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What do people really want?
 

What do people really want?

Dr. Graeme Potter • Guest Columnist As one of the practicing, board-certified OB/GYNs in the community who provide prenatal care, I’ve…
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Hard to believe that it has been 14 years
 

Hard to believe that it has been 14 years

I am in my office between classes, eating egg drop soup out of a little plastic container with a white…
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Scottish heritage alive in Franklin
 

Scottish heritage alive in Franklin

Scotland’s roots run deep in Western North Carolina. Since before this country’s inception, Scottish immigrants have been migrating to these…
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