Archived (28870)
Children categories
Community stewardship awards given
Everyone wants to live in a beautiful and litter-free place, and six winners were recognized for their efforts to that…
Read More
Dam removal possible for Cullowhee: Draft report gives optimistic findings, but questions remain
A recently released draft report bodes well for the possibility of removing the dilapidated Cullowhee Dam without compromising the water…
Read More
Congress votes to reauthorize Conservation Fund
Congress voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund following a 363-62 vote of the U.S. House of…
Read More
Birch stills were more common than moonshine stills
Editor’s note: This was first published in 2003. All this spring, golden birch catkins were dangling throughout the woodlands of…
Read More
My church embraces LGBTQ members
By Nina Dove • Guest Columnist When I walked into a Reconciling Ministries meeting at my church (First United Methodist Church…
Read More
An aging Walter still rules the roost
When Walter comes trundling down the driveway, he always reminds me of what a camera tripod might look like if…
Read More
Medicaid expansion needed in N.C.
To the Editor: North Carolina is one of 14 states that has chosen not to expand Medicaid, which provides health…
Read More
Something to believe in: A conversation with Citizen Cope
Since he first burst out on the music scene with his debut album in 2002, soul/rock singer-songwriter Citizen Cope has…
Read More
Meadows’ action is unconscionable
To the Editor: Unbelievable that Rep. Mark Meadows (R-Brevard) chose to use a black female HUD employee as a token,…
Read More
We must do better, for our children
To the Editor: Like Andrew Morgan (see Mountaineer, Feb. 25, Guest Columnist), I too am alarmed by the rhetoric from…
Read More
A book for those who love books
Yes! Yes! YES! YES! Lest you think I am wallowing in some bed of literoticism or celebrating Molly Bloom from…
Read More
The right path: Beloved Woman Ella Bird reflects on life marked by family, tradition
For the past 79 years, Ella Wachacha Bird has lived a life defined by seasons and relationships rather than months…
Read More
Committee works to establish guidelines for Beloved titles
Traditionally, the title of Beloved Man or Beloved Woman was reserved for Cherokee people who had proven themselves valiant warriors…
Read More
Funding available for Macon nonprofits
Macon County nonprofit organizations have until March 29 to apply for county funds allocated in the county’s current fiscal year…
Read More
Overdose prevention training offered
The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to implementing harm reduction interventions, public health…
Read More
Cashiers starts leadership program
The inaugural Leadership Cashiers class recently launched its seven-month program with an opening retreat at Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club.…
Read More
Trying to get most out of North Shore funds
Now that Swain County has finally received the entire $52 million from the federal government for the North Shore Road…
Read More
‘Opportunity zone’ could bring business to poor areas
When President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on Dec. 22, 2017, proponents hailed it…
Read More
Pigeon Center vandalized by intruders
A broken window, classrooms in shambles, irreplaceable items destroyed, kitchen coolers left open and perishable food thrown all over the…
Read More
‘Maggie on Ice’ falls flat
What was hoped to be a slick new attraction designed to bring more visitors to Maggie Valley during wintertime has…
Read More
Nikwasi Initiative wants deed to Cherokee mound
In a historic decision, the town of Franklin voted Monday to move forward with the process of deeding the Nikwasi…
Read More
Haywood County bond rating inches up
Thanks to the hard work and prudent fiscal decision making of both elected officials and administration, Haywood County’s been rewarded…
Read More
Ten years gone: Waynesville board weighs progress, prospects
On Friday, Jan. 29 at the Lake Logan Conference Center, Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown convened a board retreat where he…
Read More
Over the hills and far away: Music, heritage comes alive at Stecoah Valley Center
Way out in Graham County, high up in the rugged wilderness of the Nantahala National Forest, is a lonely stretch…
Read More
This must be the place: Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there
It was 60 years ago this past weekend (March 2, 1959) when Miles Davis’ seminal “Kind of Blue” album was…
Read More
Melrose claims fellow lawyer defamed him on Facebook
Waynesville defense lawyer Mark Melrose filed a civil lawsuit against fellow defense lawyer and Clyde Mayor Pro Tem Frank Lay…
Read More
First female chief ranger hired in the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have its first female chief ranger following the hire of Lisa Hendy, who…
Read More
Letts reverses retirement decision
Two days after announcing a midterm retirement from the bench, Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts reversed his decision in a…
Read More
Shaeffer recognized for service to Sylva
The Sylva Board of Commissioners recognized longtime public works director Dan Shaeffer for his nearly 20 years of service to…
Read More
Meningitis outbreak confirmed in Macon
Macon County Public Health has confirmed an outbreak of meningitis.
Read More
Public records requests shed light on closed sessions
In its role as government watchdog, The Smoky Mountain News submitted public record requests to county and municipal governments in…
Read More
Behind closed doors: Public records laws have exceptions
Woe to those public bodies that fail to comply with North Carolina’s sunshine laws; transparency underpins American democracy to the…
Read More
Closed sessions easily accessible in Jackson
Of all the local governments in The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage area, Jackson County has some of the most complete…
Read More
Detail varies in Sylva minutes
Of the nine closed-session discussions Sylva commissioners held last year, only three — all attorney-client privilege conversations related to an…
Read More
Bryson City tackles personnel issues in closed meetings
Personnel issues have been the only reason why Bryson City Aldermen have held closed meetings in 2018.
Read More
Swain uses closed meetings for contract talks
Swain County commissioners typically hold two meetings per month, and it’s not unusual for them to have a closed session…
Read More
Franklin business rarely out of public view
Of all the town and county governments in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, the Franklin Town Council had the…
Read More
Closed meetings the norm in Macon
A vast majority of Macon County Board of Commissioners meetings end with a closed session. In fact, commissioners spent more…
Read More
Development, personnel drive Haywood closed sessions
As the largest local government unit in The Smoky Mountain News’ four-county coverage area, Haywood County sees more action —…
Read More
Waynesville closed sessions boring, but by the book
The Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen meets every two weeks, or about 24 times a year, depending on the…
Read More
Small-town closed sessions few, far between
Haywood County’s five local governments more or less fall into two tiers — there’s the county and there’s Waynesville, and…
Read More
Hometown hate: Haywood Republicans welcome anti-Muslim speaker
Aided by the left and abetted by the media, violent jihadists are slowly but surely infiltrating our government, our schools…
Read More
Judge Letts to retire: Superior Court will see vacancy four months after Election Day
Amid widespread speculation about plans to run for principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Superior Court Judge…
Read More
Slide shifts traffic on U.S. 74
A slide on the westbound side of U.S. 74 on Sunday morning in Jackson County temporarily diverted traffic just west…
Read More
I-40 slide cleanup causes closure
Cleaning a rockslide on Interstate 40 near the Tennessee State lane will require the N.C. Department of Transportation to keep…
Read More
Animal shelter planning to start in Jackson County
Jackson County is facing a plethora of capital projects over the next several years, and a new animal shelter will…
Read More
Citizens Police Academy still seeking applicants
Not long after retired U.S. Air Force officer and former teacher Mary Ford moved to Waynesville with her husband, she…
Read More
Open government is part of who we are
Whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative, policy-making, quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political…
Read More
Great schools, staff are community assets
Both my parents were teachers. My earliest memories are of my dad sitting at our dining room table grading papers…
Read More