Gun range suddenly a tourist destination
 

Gun range suddenly a tourist destination

While most people have certainly heard of agritourism, ecotourism and even necrotourism (visiting famous cemeteries and gravesites), most may not…
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Formerly home to the Palaestra Combat Sports Club, this building in downtown Sylva will soon hold an outpost of Bryson City’s Nantahala Brewing Company. Holly Kays photo
 

Nantahala Brewing will expand to Sylva

Nantahala Brewing Company will move forward with opening an outpost in Sylva after the Sylva Board of Commissioners voted unanimously…
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More than 100 people attend a support rally for the family and friends of Scott Knibbs. Macon Media photo
 

Supporters rally around Scott Knibbs family

More than 100 people gathered at the Macon County Courthouse on May 8 to rally in support of Scott Knibbs’…
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Primary results roll in to Jackson
 

Primary results roll in to Jackson

Jackson County voters went for a mixture of something different and stay the course when they cast their Primary Election…
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Jim Tate (left) and John Shearl.
 

Macon commissioner keeps his seat

Macon County District 1 Commissioner Jim Tate won a third term on the board beating out Republican challenger John Shearl. 
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Ben Bushyhead
 

Swain County elects new chairman

Swain County Board of Commissioners will have a new chairman in November after a majority of voters cast their ballot…
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Some races settled in May 8 election
 

Some races settled in May 8 election

Although the results have not yet been certified in North Carolina’s May 8 Primary Elections, there were several races where…
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Paying the price: Will checkered past haunt congressional candidate?
 

Paying the price: Will checkered past haunt congressional candidate?

Last week, Phillip Price prevailed in a competitive three-way Democratic primary for the right to challenge incumbent Asheville Republican Congressman…
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Taking the longtime Appalachian craft of corn shuck dolls to a whole new and creative level, Karen Collis can spend upwards of 70 hours on one piece, many of which being sold to collectors around the world.
 

Aw, shucks: Haywood County crafter keeps heritage craft alive, vibrant

You’ve probably driven by the Red Barn Greenhouse & Garden Center on Dellwood Road between Maggie Valley and Waynesville a…
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Weaver Susan Morgan Leveille.
 

This must be the place: Never forget what you made, what made you

It seems like a race against time. As a longtime arts and entertainment editor, I find myself in the backwoods…
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Interactive drumhead painting from the WCU School of Art and Design Roadworks Art Trailer.
 

Roadworks: Experiential Arts Opportunities

The Western Carolina University College of Fine and Performing Arts presents WCU Roadworks, a free outreach program offering experiential arts…
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Living in the moment with ALS
 

Living in the moment with ALS

We rode in silence. I glanced at the clock as we came to another stoplight. Already five minutes late, I…
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Brene Brown.
 

Moms, remember to breathe it all in

Last week, I went to a conference in L.A. with 800 other moms who tell their stories through creative outlets,…
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Now or never for the red wolf
 

Now or never for the red wolf

To the Editor: The red wolf, which once ranged from Pennsylvania to Texas, is now battling extinction in the wild…
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Plott Creek no place for apartment complex
 

Plott Creek no place for apartment complex

To the Editor: As with most newly proposed developments everywhere, all the standard comments come out in newspapers and town…
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State, local GOP need to re-think their role
 

State, local GOP need to re-think their role

To the Editor: I am a 59-year-old disabled veteran and lifelong Christian conservative. And I am appalled at what I…
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Yes, we are in danger with a wall
 

Yes, we are in danger with a wall

To the Editor: Yes, we do need a wall to protect ourselves. A couple weeks ago a contingent of Guatemalan…
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Rep. Meadows needs history lesson
 

Rep. Meadows needs history lesson

To the Editor: In 1804 a Republican-dominated House of Representatives voted impeachment charges against a sitting Supreme Court judge. The…
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Discovering a writer who sings to my heart
 

Discovering a writer who sings to my heart

Time to have some fun. And Adultolescence (Keywords Press, 2017, 248 pages) is just the place to go for that…
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Job Corps center expands opportunities
 

Job Corps center expands opportunities

The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is increasing its partnerships and training options, providing more opportunities for the students…
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HCC students take fifth at national competition
 

HCC students take fifth at national competition

The Haywood Community College student chapter of The Wildlife Society finished fifth place overall against 24 other schools at the…
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A red wolf walks along a roadside in eastern North Carolina. Donated photo
 

Red wolf status grim, review says

A five-year red wolf status review, released April 24, showed that only about 40 red wolves are left in the…
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Glenville no wake zone request denied
 

Glenville no wake zone request denied

Jackson County’s request for a no wake zone on Lake Glenville has been denied following an April 26 vote from…
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Smokies chief ranger retires
 

Smokies chief ranger retires

After 35 years of service — 30 of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Chief Ranger Steve…
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Blackpoll warbler at Beaver Lake. Tim Carstens photo
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Not quite a wrap

The starting date for my annual bird survey for the U.S. Forest Service is May 1. All of our nesting…
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A firm foundation: SCC graduates 100th class of future National Park Service officers
 

A firm foundation: SCC graduates 100th class of future National Park Service officers

It’s been a full morning on top of a full week, and I’m tired when I file into the fluorescent-lighted…
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Health and social services consolidation final in Jackson
 

Health and social services consolidation final in Jackson

A pair of party-line votes May 7 triggered the next step in consolidating Jackson County’s social services and health departments,…
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A recent vote of the Cherokee Tribal Council prohibited non-Cherokee media outlets from sitting in the Council chambers, but The Cherokee One Feather is hoping to reverse the ban. File photo
 

Resolution to reverse Cherokee media ban withdrawn

A resolution seeking to reverse a ban on non-Cherokee media outlets — enacted by the Cherokee Tribal Council Thursday, April…
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Iconic Maggie Valley restaurant Joey’s Pancake House will reopen later this month. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Rebirth of an icon: Joey’s Pancake House reopens this month

Over the past two summers, visitors to the western end of Haywood County have experienced something few others ever have…
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Empty desks in the M.C. Nix Horticulture Complex at the Haywood Community College haven’t been full for some time now. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Every rose has its thorns: Cuts coming for HCC horticulture program

There’s a bit of pruning taking place at Haywood Community College — specifically, the Horticulture Technology program. And just like…
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Scott Knibbs of Franklin died following an officer-involved shooting at his residence. Donated photo
 

Franklin man shot and killed by Macon deputy

The lawyer for a Franklin resident killed by a Macon County deputy claims the shooting was not justified and that…
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Weapons and ammunition seized from a 16-year-old’s home after he created a ‘hit list’ with names of fellow students, school administration and law enforcement officers. Donated photo
 

Student suicide pact, hit list rocks Macon

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Macon County as school administration and law enforcement try to get to…
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Robert Saunooke (left) talks with Patrick Lambert’s attorney Scott Jones during the May 2017 impeachment hearing. Holly Kays photo
 

Impeachment attorney banned from practicing law in Cherokee

Cherokee attorney Robert Saunooke will no longer be allowed to practice law on the Qualla Boundary following a recent ruling…
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Swain completes recreation master plan
 

Swain completes recreation master plan

Swain County commissioners recently approved a 10-year master plan for its parks and recreation programs and facilities, but it appears…
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Swain County Schools could see an increase in revenue for capital projects if a quarter-cent sales-tax increase is approved. File photo
 

Swain mulls putting sales tax back on ballot

As they prepare for the annual budgeting process, Swain County commissioners are considering placing a quarter-cent sales tax increase on…
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Town of Franklin releases preliminary budget
 

Town of Franklin releases preliminary budget

With the 2018-19 preliminary budget in hand, Franklin Town Council will have a week to review it before the board’s…
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No tax increase proposed in Haywood
 

No tax increase proposed in Haywood

It was a good day for Interim Haywood County Manager Joel Mashburn, and will probably go down as a good…
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After 16 years, Perry Hines (left) has served his last meal at the Open Door. The Open Door’s new Executive Director Tom Owens (right) will begin work in early July.
 

The Open Door’s ‘next season’

One memorable afternoon several years ago, Perry Hines was sitting in the dining room of the Open Door after it…
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Unofficial Primary Election results are in
 

Unofficial Primary Election results are in

The unofficial results of the May 8 Primary Election are now in with all precincts reporting.
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Mid-day voter totals in Haywood typical
 

Mid-day voter totals in Haywood typical

It’s Primary Election Day in North Carolina, and in Haywood County, there are a number of important races on both…
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Owen Gibby calls roll for the last time
 

Owen Gibby calls roll for the last time

The first time I met Owen Gibby, he immediately reminded me of my favorite television character of all time, Deputy…
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Downtown Sylva. Margaret Hester photo
 

Tourism now the top industry in the region

By Nick Breedlove • Guest Columnist On May 6-12 we celebrate National Tourism Week, and this year’s theme from the…
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Zen and the art of trash removal
 

Zen and the art of trash removal

By Evan Boyer • Guest Columnist A few months ago, some legal trouble loomed over me, and I was told…
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Rule of law is under attack
 

Rule of law is under attack

To the Editor: Are we a nation governed by the rule of law or by Trump’s fantasy lies? Rep. Mark…
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Meadows undermines rule of law
 

Meadows undermines rule of law

To the Editor: Last week, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, took center stage with several others to interfere with the work…
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A game of adult dodge-a-ball
 

A game of adult dodge-a-ball

At Dillsboro Elementary School (1950) we played dodge-a-ball during recess. The game was set up kind of like this: a…
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Elizabeth Ellison painting.
 

The forlorn calls of the yellow-billed cuckoo

Editor’s note: This column first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2008.  O Cuckoo! Shall I call thee…
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Though they’re hidden from plain view, the trails at WCU are well used by hikers and bikers alike. WCU photo
 

Backyard trails: Local mountain bike trails surge in popularity

In 2013, Western Carolina University cut the ribbon on 7-mile trail system zig-zagging an otherwise unbuildable piece of university property.…
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Bethel student wins state poster contest
 

Bethel student wins state poster contest

Bethel Elementary School third-grader Jade Cody has been named the state winner in a poster contest sponsored by the N.C.…
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New videos explore local food scene
 

New videos explore local food scene

A new video series celebrating Western North Carolina’s local foods economy — and the small businesses and communities that drive…
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