Equine disease suspected
 

Equine disease suspected

A horse in Henderson County has been tested for suspected equine infectious anemia shortly after a horse in Surry County…
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Pipeline on Parkway would have no significant impact, Park Service says
 

Pipeline on Parkway would have no significant impact, Park Service says

The National Park Service has found that allowing an underground natural gas pipeline within the Blue Ridge Parkway will have…
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Western North Carolina is home to the southernmost populations of wild cranberry. Adam Bigelow photo
 

Notes from a plant nerd: Leftover Cranberries

Many of us may be tired of cranberries by now, having eaten our fill, and then some, at our recent…
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The final perimeter of the Hurricane Ridge Fire includes 796 acres between Hurricane Gap and Interstate 40. USFS map
 

Hurricane Ridge Fire response concludes

Progress continues on the Hurricane Ridge Fire, which in a final update from the U.S. Forest Service Friday, Dec. 2,…
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C.S. Lewis bio is worth a read
 

C.S. Lewis bio is worth a read

Mention the name C.S. Lewis to other readers, and they might recollect him in any number of roles. The younger…
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The truth about climate change is staring us down
 

The truth about climate change is staring us down

The truth, even when it’s staring you down Clint Eastwood style, is easier to ignore than to act on. Just…
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Your one and only Christmas 2022
 

Your one and only Christmas 2022

As they say, “What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s…
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A Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) gazes into the camera at the Lowry Park Zoo in Florida during a National Geographic Photo Ark shoot. See more portraits at natgeophotoark.org. Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark photo
 

Through National Geographic Photo Ark, people can look endangered wildlife in the eye

Joel Sartore lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, but he — and his camera — are constantly on the move.
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More than 11,600 students are enrolled at Western Carolina University. WCU photo
 

WCU Trustees approve tuition, fee increases

“Extraordinary” inflation and the need to match state salary increases will prompt increases to the cost of attendance at Western…
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Clubs announce new approach annual blanket drive
 

Clubs announce new approach annual blanket drive

Mountain Projects and Waynesville Rotary Club paired for many years to coordinate a popular Christmas holiday blanket drive.
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WNC Historical Association selects Brent Martin as winner of literary award
 

WNC Historical Association selects Brent Martin as winner of literary award

The Western North Carolina Historical has selected author Brent Martin’s “George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North…
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Team members Logan Fender, Lane Horton, John Brand, Jackson Parrott, Scout Schulhofer and Grayson Perkins competed in the open concrete category.
 

Construction students compete in Atlanta

Students from Western Carolina University’s Kimmel School of Construction recently had the opportunity to participate in real-world construction scenarios at…
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Jackson County’s new board of commissioners is, from left to right, John Smith, Todd Bryson, Mark Letson, Mark Jones, Tom Stribling. Jackson County photo
 

Jackson County Commission welcomes new members

On Monday evening, Dec. 5, before a room full of family and community members alike, three men took the oath…
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Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. addresses the House Rules Committee during a Nov. 16 hearing. Photo from U.S. Congress video
 

Congressional committee discusses seating Cherokee Nation delegate

Shortly after the 1835 Christmas holiday celebrating peace and good will toward men, U.S. government officials met with a group…
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JCPS will once again expand pre-K capacity
 

JCPS will once again expand pre-K capacity

Jackson County schools will once again expand its pre-K capacity at the start of the 2023-24 school year, this time…
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Wilke was sworn in earlier this week by District Court Judge Donna Forga. Kyle Perrotti photo
 

New sheriffs shuffle staffs

Across North Carolina’s seven westernmost counties, a whole slew of new sheriffs was sworn in on Monday, Dec. 5.
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Haywood Community College’s new Health Sciences Building is impressive to look at, but it’s what’s inside that really counts as it will expand, enhance and modernize the nursing student experience.
 

HCC opens new health sciences building amid statewide nursing shortage

At a time when North Carolina faces a serious nursing shortage, Haywood Community College has invested in its nursing program…
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‘Not our jurisdiction’:
 Office of Charter Schools will not get involved in SRCA dispute
 

‘Not our jurisdiction’:
 Office of Charter Schools will not get involved in SRCA dispute

The Office of Charter Schools decided a recent dispute between Shining Rock Classical Academy and a parent is outside its…
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Left to right: Abby Bryant, Eleanor Underhill, and Kevin Fuller. (File photos)
 

The sound of community: With Christmas Jam back from hiatus, ‘Jam By Day’ returns

After four years of radio silence, the nationally revered Warren Haynes Christmas Jam will return for its 31st installment on…
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Moses Creek Conservation Area, Florida. (Garret K. Woodward photo)
 

This must be the place: Morning comes wearing diamonds, where she is, the sun is shining

Hello from Room 128 at the Red Roof Inn in Hardeeville, South Carolina, just north of the Georgia state line…
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Mission Hospital and HCA are accused of gross negligence and reckless misconduct.
 

Mission offers ‘COVID immunity’ defense in response to malpractice suit

Hospital Corporation of America and Asheville’s Mission Hospital have responded to a lawsuit filed by a Canton woman that claims…
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PARTF funds grow Pisgah View State Park
 

PARTF funds grow Pisgah View State Park

The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, recently approved $17.4 million to…
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A cyclist goes bike packing on Ivestor Gap Trail in the Pisgah National Forest. Industry Nine photo
 

Cashing in on adventure: Outdoor recreation economy launches strong pandemic rebound

New data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis show that 2021 was a year of growth…
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Andy Tait presents Mark Yeager (left) with the EcoForester of the Year Award. Donated photo
 

Forest conservation advocates honored

Winners of EcoForesters’ Annual Awards were announced this month, celebrating achievement in ecological forestry and highlighting important issues that the…
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A new retaining wall now stabilizes the trail. USFS photo
 

Joyce Kilmer trail reopens

The Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail in Graham County is reopen after more than two years of closure. 
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Cherokee women honored for name restoration efforts
 

Cherokee women honored for name restoration efforts

Tribal members Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe have received an Attorney General’s Dogwood Award from N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein…
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A perfect gift for local lore buffs
 

A perfect gift for local lore buffs

If you’re looking for a gift for the holidays for that person in your life who enjoys reading about local…
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Here’s to inflation-fighting holiday gifts
 

Here’s to inflation-fighting holiday gifts

According to a recent U.S. News & World Report article, “The 15 Richest Counties in the U.S.,” five of these…
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A running route in South Carolina. (Garret K. Woodward photo)
 

This must be the place: Lace up the running shoes, head out the door and get after it

As of yesterday, Monday, Nov. 28, I’ve run 2,525 days in a row. I hadn’t checked in on “the streak”…
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For the love of those gathered at the feast
 

For the love of those gathered at the feast

My wife and I were truly blessed to have our children, some relatives and close friends gathered for Thanksgiving, which…
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Free speech trumps party politics any day
 

Free speech trumps party politics any day

To the Editor: Here I am, a constitutional conservative who for 40-plus years has voted, held office, and worked as a…
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It may be time to amend Constitution
 

It may be time to amend Constitution

To the Editor: Rob Schofield in last week’s Smoky Mountain News decried the current Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)…
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Will Trump answer to the American people?
 

Will Trump answer to the American people?

To the Editor: A college football coach will tell you there are three basic units that comprise a football team: offense,…
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Balsam Range performing onstage at the Bele Chere festival in Asheville. (Garret K. Woodward photo)
 

Brotherhood and backwoods tradition: A retrospective on Balsam Range

Writers’ Note: Since I started in the position of arts and entertainment editor at The Smoky Mountain News in 2012,…
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The next chapter: Balsam Range celebrates 15 years, looks ahead
 

The next chapter: Balsam Range celebrates 15 years, looks ahead

In a year that’ll surely end on a bittersweet note, beloved Haywood County bluegrass sensation Balsam Range is not only…
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Cherokee prepares for special election
 

Cherokee prepares for special election

On Thursday, Dec. 15, Cherokee voters will head to the polls for a special election that will seat two new…
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Pictured here is Swain County High School. The county’s schools have struggled to pay for state-mandated pay increases.
 

Schools struggle with state-mandated pay increases

As Swain County Schools digs into the 2022-23 budget, staff are planning for the largest fund balance allocation needed in…
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Free lunch for Swain Elementary students
 

Free lunch for Swain Elementary students

All students in Swain County elementary schools will receive free lunch this year with the help of a grant from…
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WCU’s cadaver dog training program received an award recognizing its professional development programs. Donated photo
 

WCU human remains detection K9 training program wins award

Western Carolina University’s human remains detection cadaver dog training program was recently awarded the 2022 University Professional and Continuing Education…
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Dr. Carl Schenck is shown here (front row, right) posing with his students at the Boomer Inn cabin. Note that in the left background is the stable where their horses were sheltered. Donated photo
 

Searching for Boomer Inn

Readers are now likely to be searching their own minds for the meaning of the term “boomer inn.” Could it…
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Students from Western Carolina University recently attended the Southern Conference forum at Wofford College to present research projects.
 

WCU students network at research forum

Students from Western Carolina University were given the opportunity to network with students from other Southern Conference schools and expand…
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Hurricane Ridge fire as seen by air on Nov. 24
 

Wildfire grows at Harmons Den

A wildfire reported Wednesday, Nov. 23, in the Harmon Den area of Haywood County was still burning with no containment…
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Forest Service gives Trout Unlimited $40 million for projects
 

Forest Service gives Trout Unlimited $40 million for projects

In a five-year agreement to improve watersheds on national forests and grasslands, the U.S. Forest Service will give Trout Unlimited…
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Water quality groups land grants
 

Water quality groups land grants

Environmental groups in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison Counties were recently awarded grants totaling $197,500 from the Pigeon River Fund of…
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Janet Hensley has been hosting Hiker Family Thanksgiving since 2000. Donated photo
 

Trail turkey: Thanksgiving feast 
brings Appalachian Trail family together

Twenty-two years ago, Janet Hensley, now 59, was working in guest services at a new hotel in her hometown of…
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The Marble groundwater well in Cherokee County rose after Tropical Depression Nicole but remains below median. N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council map
 

Drought improves, but holds on in far west

Drought conditions have improved across much of the state following rains from Tropical Depression Nicole, but the westernmost counties remain…
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The Wiley Oakley Bridge on the Spur is among the bridges slated for repair. NPS photo
 

Smokies to repair 19 bridge locations

Work has started on a $1.3 million effort to repair bridges at 19 locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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The stream at East Street Park has been relocated and raised up. Donated photo
 

East Street Park stream project complete

A project to improve a tributary to Shelton Branch that runs through East Street Park in Waynesville is now complete.…
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Steve Kemp worked as interpretive products and services director for Great Smoky Mountains Association for 30 years and began to publish the biannual journal Smokies Life in 2007.
 

Word from the Smokies: Smokies Life celebrates trees and their stories

Have you ever tried to count the number of branches on a tree? One limb leads to many appendages from…
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