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When will the school shootings end?
“But for the grace of God, it could have been my child.” News of college and school shootings cut straight…
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Updating voter registration records
Have you moved, changed your name, mailing address or phone number since you registered to vote in the county, state…
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Bethel bridge earns National Register designation
The oldest metal truss bridge in the state of North Carolina has earned inclusion on the National Register of Historic…
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Dogwood Health Trust to transform communities
The Health Equity Coalition will hold a forum to explore new ways of connecting community to philanthropy. The $1.5 billion…
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Reflections on Haywood NAACP pilgrimage
By Katherine Bartel • Secretary, Haywood County NAACP “My little brother Isaiah is, as you would call it, ‘a boy of…
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Insurance premiums rise for Jackson employees
Jackson County employees are now paying significantly higher premiums for their health insurance following a plan change that went into…
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Price tag falls for Green Energy Park project
A Green Energy Park makeover under discussion in Jackson County could be a good bit cheaper than originally discussed, with…
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Council nixes proposed penalties for campaign law violations
A proposed ordinance that would have laid out the criminal penalties for violating laws regulating election campaign practices was withdrawn…
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Shooter pleads guilty to second-degree murder
On Friday, May 3, Justin Scott Fuller, 31, of Waynesville, pled guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of…
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Canton looks to maintain property tax rate
The Town of Canton’s preliminary proposed budget shows an increase over last year from $8.7 million to more than $9.2…
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Clyde park to reopen
Much like the Pigeon River itself, it’s been a long and winding journey for the Town of Clyde in recovering…
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Protest filed — again — against McCoy’s candidacy for chief
Following a battle that involved hearings before both the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Board of Elections and the Cherokee…
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On the upswing: Golf industry changes with the times
Golf is more than a game in Western North Carolina — the wellbeing of the popular past time can be…
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Grievances filed against Shining Rock interim head
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories on Haywood County’s public charter school, Shining Rock Classical…
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Make way for elk (and trout): Haywood, Jackson counties seek designation as state’s elk and trout capitals
If you want to see an elk, the Elk Capital of North Carolina would probably be a good place to…
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New mapping program available for farmers
A new program will allow growers to map crops by herbicide-resistant traits.
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Farm Bill causes changes for loan limits
The 2018 Farm Bill resulted in higher farm loan limits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among other changes.
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Crews conquer fire in Linville
The Brushy Ridge Trail near Linville Gorge reopened last week following successful containment of a 3-acre fire there April 30.
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Magnolia trifecta
It’s May! That means my 2019 Forest Service bird survey has begun — another six weeks of roaming the wilds…
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Still jazzy after all these years
I first discovered Lawrence Ferlinghetti in high school and his book Starting From San Francisco and have read everything he’s…
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Remembering Riley as a seventh-grader, during Teacher Appreciation Week
The thing I miss about teaching is human connection, being part of something bigger than myself. When I was in…
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Diversity strengthens our community
To the Editor: A letter to the editor in The Smoky Mountain News (Let’s All Embrace God’s Healing, March 27,…
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Jesus, health care and a fair system
To the Editor: On Saturday I went to the Jackson County Recreation Center for a workout. I was guided into…
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Imagine this happened to you
To the Editor: Imagine that you go to your general practitioner and she reminds you that it’s time for a…
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We need to stop senseless violence
To the Editor: Doubtless, most of you know about the tragic death of Riley Howell, and if you are like…
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Haywood’s hero: The life and legacy of Riley Howell
At this time last week, few knew of him and most all those who did were of the home —…
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Audit finds issues with Athletic Department accounting at Cherokee schools
A recently completed report commissioned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Office of Internal Audit and Ethics has concluded…
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Franklin transfers ownership of Nikwasi Mound
After months of debate, Franklin Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to transfer the deed for Nikwasi Mound over to…
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Foundation established in Riley Howell’s honor
It’s barely been a week since Riley Howell’s heroic acts at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, but a group of…
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Searching for answers: Mass shootings linked to multiple factors
A senseless tragedy. Those words are repeated over and over again in the aftermath of mass shootings in the United…
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Congressional hearing explores Catawba casino
Political leaders in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are optimistic following a recent congressional hearing on legislation that would…
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Sylva’s proposed budget features less spending, level taxes
At $4.06 million, Sylva’s proposed budget for 2019-20 will be nearly $200,000 lower than the adopted budget for 2018-19.
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Planning underway for Cullowhee’s future
Development of a plan to guide Cullowhee’s future is now underway, with a three-day marathon of activities held April 22-24…
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WCU fundraising campaign surpasses $60 million
More than 12,000 donors contributed over a five-year period to raise over $60 million for scholarships at Western Carolina University.
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HRMC Names 2019 Mercy Award winner
Haywood Regional Medical Center recently announced that Johanna Dewees, RN, has been recognized as the hospital’s 2019 Mercy Award winner.…
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Espresso yourself: Orchard Coffee opens in Waynesville
Halfway up a steep hill in downtown Waynesville, and just a stone’s throw from the Haywood County Historic Courthouse, sits…
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Espresso yourself: Orchard Coffee opens in Waynesville
Halfway up a steep hill in downtown Waynesville, and just a stone’s throw from the Haywood County Historic Courthouse, sits…
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This must be the place: Welcome home, Riley. Our American hero.
There has been a lot of deep thoughts and emotions running through my mind this past week. And I don’t…
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All I-40 slide lanes to open by sunrise
All four lanes of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee state lane will be open to traffic before sunrise on Wednesday.
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Haywood Healthcare Foundation will help fund proposed HCC facility
Last month, Haywood Community College President Dr. Barbara Parker told Haywood commissioners that HCC wanted a new $7.2 million facility…
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Waynesville police chief to retire in June
Longtime Waynesville Police Chief Bill Hollingsed will retire in June after more than 20 years at the helm of the…
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Riley Howell, hero of UNCC shooting, returns home
Although the impact of the shooting at UNC Charlotte will continue to be felt for some time, residents of the…
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WCU’s ‘Lead the Way’ fundraising campaign total surpasses $60 million goal
More than 12,000 donors contributed over a five-year period to raise over $60 million for scholarships at Western Carolina University.
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Year of the bird: Killdeer nest prompts planning shuffle for Greening Up The Mountains
Every year, Sylva’s population quadruples on the last Saturday in April as more than 10,000 people flock to the tiny…
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I-26 project will prompt Parkway realignment
An upcoming widening project on Interstate 26 in Buncombe and Henderson counties will impact the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Bill aims to restore permanent funding for conservation
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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Plans complete for Macon/Jackson timber project
An environmental analysis is now complete for the Southside Project, expected to improve forest health, diversity and wildlife habitat in…
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Blue Ridge grant awards to stimulate heritage projects in WNC
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership (BRNHA) has awarded 19 grants totaling $190,171 to support projects across the North…
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The first truly showy woodland flower
Editor’s note: This column first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2005. Hepatica doesn’t display the earliest flowers…
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With title, Nikwasi Initiative can move forward
The volunteer board members of the nonprofit Nikwasi Initiative are appreciative of the public’s interest in our mission and role…
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