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New North Carolina ID law turns away voters
 

New North Carolina ID law turns away voters

To the Editor: The North Carolina Legislature has passed, and Gov. McCrory has signed, a bill requiring a photo ID…
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Meadows should re-think vote on food for poor, elderly
 

Meadows should re-think vote on food for poor, elderly

By Doug Wingeier • Guest Columnist Back in March, my wife and I, together with a couple from Brevard, paid a…
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Green Energy Park at a crossroads: Jackson commissioners ponder future of venture
 

Green Energy Park at a crossroads: Jackson commissioners ponder future of venture

The future of Jackson County’s Green Energy Park may depend on county commissioners doubling down.
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Cherokee Bear Zoo in legal crosshairs
 

Cherokee Bear Zoo in legal crosshairs

Two enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians plan to sue the owners of the Cherokee Bear Zoo…
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At long last, skate park vision now a concrete reality
 

At long last, skate park vision now a concrete reality

Waynesville Alderman Gary Caldwell was the man of the hour, or perhaps the man of the decade, during the official…
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Swain school officials take swift action against football player for racial insults on Facebook
 

Swain school officials take swift action against football player for racial insults on Facebook

A Swain County High School junior varsity football player was suspended from school for 10 days and kicked off the…
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Wide-open race for district attorney in 2014
 

Wide-open race for district attorney in 2014

District Attorney Mike Bonfoey publicly announced plans to retire next year when his current term of office expires. Bonfoey has been…
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Meet the candidates for Bryson town board
 

Meet the candidates for Bryson town board

Candidates have lined up to run for the town board in Bryson City this November after two current aldermen have…
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A dozen candidates gunning for just four seats in Franklin town election
 

A dozen candidates gunning for just four seats in Franklin town election

This year’s election in Franklin is shaping up to be one of the most interesting — and crowded — the…
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Smokies and Parkway open to windshield tourists only
 

Smokies and Parkway open to windshield tourists only

The impasse at the federal level will touch all areas of operation at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and…
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Shutdown irks tourism industry on the eve of leaf season
 

Shutdown irks tourism industry on the eve of leaf season

The tourism industry in Western North Carolina is not letting the shut down of visitor facilities on the Blue Ridge…
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Turned Away: Visitors, residents barred from national park
 

Turned Away: Visitors, residents barred from national park

When Joe and Dolly Parker approached the entrance of the Deep Creek campground Tuesday morning, the sign read “Office Closed.”…
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The fastest way down: Cataloochee Ski Area
 

The fastest way down: Cataloochee Ski Area

What started as an unsure adventure turned into a passion-filled career for Jim Rowell.
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Putting the pedal — and roots — down in the Smokies
 

Putting the pedal — and roots — down in the Smokies

What looked like a risk to some was a dream for Diane Cutler and Andy Zivinsky.
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Food for the soul
 

Food for the soul

The feeling of a new customer walking through the door never gets old for Haley Milner.
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Magic in a bottle
 

Magic in a bottle

If you build it, they will come. If you brew it, they will come and party.
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Showcasing the history of the open road
 

Showcasing the history of the open road

A loud roar echoed from the back of the building. The deafening sound is terrifying, yet exhilarating, with the smell…
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Heart of the matter
 

Heart of the matter

It’s the sound of the ancient mountains, the unique people and rich culture of Southern Appalachia. It’s the sound of Soldier’s…
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Family-run Christmas tree farm stakes out its roots
 

Family-run Christmas tree farm stakes out its roots

When Myra Sawyer looks around the Sawyer Family Farmstead, she couldn’t image living anywhere else in the world.
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Holding heritage in his hands
 

Holding heritage in his hands

It was a summer job that literally molded itself into a future.
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Maggie town manager, festival director suspended over concert debacle
 

Maggie town manager, festival director suspended over concert debacle

The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen voted unanimously last week to suspend Town Manager Tim Barth and Festival Director Audrey…
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The crossroads of humanity and nature
 

The crossroads of humanity and nature

I like visiting those sites here in the Smokies region where there is what I think of as an “overlay;”…
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Pitch in on public lands day
 

Pitch in on public lands day

Celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 28 by volunteering at DuPont State Forest to help clear a section…
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HCC fish and wildlife students honored
 

HCC fish and wildlife students honored

Haywood Community College has honored two Fish and Wildlife Management program students for their achievements in the field. Jacob Longworth…
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Chimney Rock State Park gets recognition for going green
 

Chimney Rock State Park gets recognition for going green

Chimney Rock State Park has become North Carolina’s 70th tourist destination to earn recognition for its environmentally friendly practices, according…
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Muzzleloading and pig picking
 

Muzzleloading and pig picking

The French Broad Rifles club will host a Primitive Black Powder Muzzleloading shoot Oct. 4-6 near Marshall.
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Gear sale, music and whitewater at the NOC
 

Gear sale, music and whitewater at the NOC

It’s a big weekend at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Sept. 27-29, with its Guest Appreciation Festival, the U.S. Slalom Nationals,…
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Child cancer benefit to race through Cherokee
 

Child cancer benefit to race through Cherokee

The annual Chief’s Challenge one-mile run and walk benefit for victims of childhood cancer will take place at 2 p.m.…
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Website offers guide to leaf viewing
 

Website offers guide to leaf viewing

The U.S. Forest Service is promoting its fall foliage webpage, which features scenic drives and other areas in the Nantahala…
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Disc golf for kids
 

Disc golf for kids

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer a beginner’s disc golf class for youth ages 8 to 17. The…
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Serendipitous hawk watch
 

Serendipitous hawk watch

The rains came Saturday. It was a good day for a soaker, from my perspective. I had writing I needed…
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New forest coalition brings once-rival groups together
 

New forest coalition brings once-rival groups together

As Brent Martin stared down the barrel of an impending tug-of-war over WNC’s national forests, he dreaded yet another round…
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Another AT book, but a new set of lessons
 

Another AT book, but a new set of lessons

An online visit reveals hundreds of books written on hiking the Appalachian Trail. These range from Bill Bryson’s A Walk…
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Mountain Momma
 

Mountain Momma

I had a bit of a wake-up call this week as I read over a fabulous collection of kid’s nature…
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Cowee Pottery School forming
 

Cowee Pottery School forming

A group of friends have come together to create a non-profit entity to operate a new pottery school in the…
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Acclaimed painter offers demo in Swain
 

Acclaimed painter offers demo in Swain

Watercolor and oil painter Jo Ridge Kelley will demonstrate oil painting techniques in a naturescape for Art League of the…
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Youth String Ensemble begins in Haywood
 

Youth String Ensemble begins in Haywood

Voices in the Laurel will hold auditions for “Laurel Strings,” a new string ensemble open to students in grades two-12…
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Musician/folklorist Lee Knight spins tales in Sylva
 

Musician/folklorist Lee Knight spins tales in Sylva

Acclaimed musician/folklorist Lee Knight will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Jackson County Public Library Complex in…
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Boho show coming to Waynesville
 

Boho show coming to Waynesville

The Boho Stage Show will bring aerial trapeze, circus acts, belly dancing, hula-hooping and other eccentric forms of performance art…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I know a lot about nothing. As far back as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with everything. How many…
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Mural brings Dillsboro’s past and setting to life
 

Mural brings Dillsboro’s past and setting to life

Dillsboro will soon be graced with a large mural depicting the cultural heritage of the village, its key landmarks and…
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Appalachian sisters joined by creative ‘spirit’
 

Appalachian sisters joined by creative ‘spirit’

Amy Ammons Garza has always looked out for her little sister, Doreyl Ammons Cain. “Make sure you mention when the…
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New ID law turns away voters
 

New ID law turns away voters

To the Editor: The North Carolina legislature has passed, and Gov. McCrory has signed, a bill requiring a photo ID…
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Class Notes: The new reality for teachers
 

Class Notes: The new reality for teachers

By Dawn Gilchrist-Young I’m writing this because I teach three sections of senior English at Swain High School, where I’ve…
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This should be heaven – and a little hell – on wheels
 

This should be heaven – and a little hell – on wheels

My people are rooted in the South. On both mom’s and dad’s sides of the family, very few have moved…
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Every good slogan needs a logo
 

Every good slogan needs a logo

The Jackson County tourism industry adopted a new logo last week to go with their new slogan: “Play On.”
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Sylva’s beloved Lulu’s under new ownership
 

Sylva’s beloved Lulu’s under new ownership

The new owners of the iconic Lulu’s on Main restaurant in downtown Sylva are dedicated to keeping around the diner’s…
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New brewery to round out Jackson’s craft beer scene
 

New brewery to round out Jackson’s craft beer scene

Nicole Dexter and Chip Owen might be the only brewmasters in Western North Carolina who left Asheville — the Mecca…
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Sweepstakes to cops: your move
 

Sweepstakes to cops: your move

A woman charged with illegally operating sweepstakes-style video gambling machines got off in court this week after prosecutors dismissed the…
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In with greenways and yoga, out with ball field sports
 

In with greenways and yoga, out with ball field sports

An indoor swimming pool, a river park in Dillsboro and more greenways emerged as top priorities in a 10-year master…
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