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Wednesday, 06 January 2010 15:43

Aspects of life from a rural cove

This marks my tenth year of writing a weekly Back Then column for The Smoky Mountain News. In all that time I have belabored neither editors nor readers with my poetry. Brace yourselves. The time has come. It is winter…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Nonprofits struggle in adverse fundraising climate

It has been a difficult year for environmental nonprofits. State budget cuts have meant fewer grants and philanthropic endowments have suffered with the stock market. Meanwhile, the focus of giving has shifted towards social issues, like providing food, housing and…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Decision pending soon in Jackson’s last chance to save the Dillsboro dam

After years of battling Duke Energy in nearly every legal arena it could scout out, Jackson County was dealt a major blow last week when the U.S. Court of Appeals denied its plea for federal intervention. Jackson County is trying…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Folkmoot, Evergreen Packaging form multiyear partnership

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Festival, has locked down its first presenting sponsor. Evergreen Packaging has partnered with the Festival as its presenting sponsor for 2010 through 2013, becoming the first international corporation to develop a multiyear relationship with…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

2009: Looking back at the newsmakers

The Smoky Mountain News is paying homage this week to some of the newsmakers of 2009 by dishing out our annual awards. Few would chalk up 2009 as a year they want to remember, given the generally gloomy pall cast…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

New festival director seeks a larger audience for Maggie Valley

The hunt for a festival director for Maggie Valley is officially over. Beating out 22 other applicants, Audrey Hager took over the position in mid-December. With Hager at the helm of the town’s struggling festival grounds, Maggie Valley is hoping…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Fund for Haywood County announces $16,000 in grants for recession relief

The Fund for Haywood County recently handed out $16,000 in grants to county nonprofits providing services for recession relief. The Fund for Haywood County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, was established in 1994 by a…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

We need good journalism; for now that means newspapers

By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist I’ve spent most of my life minding my own business. I was raised by people who were reticent; reticent in their demeanor and in their culture. My grandfather didn’t have much education, only through…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

WNC experts share the music, movies and books they loved in 2009

It’s the end of another year, and everyone knows what that means — a deluge of countdowns featuring the year’s best releases, of course. While every expert in the world pieces together a list of the best books, movies and…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Dickens’ backstabbing best friend explores London’s underworld

Drood by Dan Simmons. Little, Brown & Company, 2009. 775 pages. I must admit, I’ve never been much of a Charles Dickens fan. Other than watching those wonderful film adaptations (“Oliver” and “A Christmas Carol”), I have only read A…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

The Naturalist's Corner

2010-to be continued Will 150-foot long fiberglass wands magically spin electricity from mountaintop zephyrs across Western North Carolina in the near future? The issue of industrial-sized wind turbines along the ridgetops of Western North Carolina is sure to blow up…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Worthy of support

Western North Carolina has a plethora of environmental groups, making it easy to find the one that best matches up with your own passion. Many groups rely on memberships not only for financial support. More members also give an organization…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

The colors of winter

For my wife, Elizabeth, and me, winter doesn’t arrive until the first of each year. From now until spring is our finest season. She doesn’t have to keep her gallery-studio on the town square in Bryson City open all the…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Outrage erupts over Sylva teen club

A little-known teen club shook the Town of Sylva out of a slumber last week and shone a bright light on the private lives of young adults. Concerned parents brought 500 signatures to a town board meeting demanding that it…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Jackson commissioners take over airport authority

Facing a moribund governing body and a facility once again in need of expensive repairs, the Jackson County board of commissioners did what it’s been unwilling to do in the past –– assume management of the airport. The commissioners totally…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Striking while the iron’s hot

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has found a silver lining in the Interstate 40 closure following a massive rockslide in late October near the Tennessee line. It is taking advantage of the months-long shut down by fast-tracking maintenance work…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Safeguarding the settlement

A cash settlement with the federal government in lieu of the long-promised North Shore Road will reap annual dividends for Swain County for years to come. The county will put the money in a lockbox and only use the interest…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

EDC audit out of reach due to spotty records

Jackson County commissioners closed the book on a painful chapter in the county’s history on Monday, announcing they would give up their quest for an audit of the economic development commission. The commissioners had hoped to present an audit of…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Sylva bypass makes the cut

Jackson County commissioners were split over whether to endorse the construction of a controversial new highway outside of Sylva when the issue came up for a vote at a county meeting Monday. The highway was included on a wishlist being…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Haywood tourism leaders critical of state’s response to rockslide

State officials have not turned a blind eye to the economic pain caused by the rockslide in Western North Carolina, but Haywood Tourism Development Authority officials say their strategy is off the mark. First off, the state’s tourism division is…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Snowstorm puts damper on critical shopping weekend

Business owners in Western North Carolina are wrapping up an absurdly challenging year. On top of dealing with a lingering recession and a rockslide that has shut down a major section of Interstate 40 for months, they faced a major…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Tuscola produces two division I quarterbacks in five years

In the space of five years Tuscola High School’s football program has produced two big-time college quarterback prospects. While Friday night lights are a huge draw in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the relatively small pool of athletes makes…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Locals do what it takes for fresh tracks

For seasoned Smoky Mountain outdoor enthusiasts, snow in the forecast means the chance to indulge suppressed fantasies. Whether its getting fresh tracks on some obscure slope they see on the road to work or heading up to the blocked-off Blue…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Tourism turnaround set back by rockslide

After a slight increase in overnight visitors this fall following a dismal summer, Haywood County tourism officials are dreading November reports.“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Lynn Collins, executive director of Haywood County Tourism Development Authority,…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Shuler scores millions for Swain in North Shore Road debate

Claude Douthit has spent half his life fighting the federal government over the North Shore Road. The decades-old debate dates back to the 1940s, when the federal government flooded a road outside Bryson City with the construction of Lake Fontana.…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Slump in construction leads Maggie to can building inspector

The Town of Maggie Valley decided Monday to lay off its building inspector after already trimming 10 hours off his weekly schedule earlier this year. Town Manager Tim Barth said there was a strong economic case to discontinue the town’s…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Yeah right, sure it’s gonna snow

“Winter Storm Warning, Haywood County.” That’s what it said on television Thursday night, up in the top right corner of the program we were watching. Winter storm warning. Yeah, we’ve heard that one before. “Better get to Ingles quick,” I…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Fix the flaws, stay the course

Waynesville’s land-use plan is an ambitious set of ideas adopted during a booming economic era and thus full of the optimism of such times. Now that times are tougher, we hope task force members charged with updating the plan don’t…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Accomplished musician will head Junaluska Singers

Melodie G. Galloway will take over as the new musical director for the Lake Junaluska Singers starting Jan. 1. “Directing the Junaluska Singers represents a lifelong dream for me,” said Galloway. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

New book takes closer look at baskets and their makers

Anna Fariello believes that artifacts — somewhat like windows — can act as passageways to a culture’s soul. “Material culture can be a window onto the changes that occur in social and cultural history,” said Fariello, an associate professor and…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Love and sonnets meet in Shakespeare’s Italy

The Sonnet Lover by Carol Goodman. Ballantine Books, 2007. 368 pages. In The Sonnet Lover (Ballantine Books, ISBN 978-0-345-47957-0, $24.95), Carol Goodman takes her readers on yet another exploration into worlds literary and classical. Known for works relating to the…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Skiing the Blue Ridge: A newcomer’s tale

So the snow is coming down in sheets Friday, and Bethany says, “Do you think it’s going to be real snow?” We just moved to Waynesville from northern Wisconsin in November, so at that point we’d largely disregarded the previous…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Naturalist's Corner

One less whooper Cayuga, Ind. – Wildlife Officials announce arrest. Enforcement agents for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have announced the arrest of a suspect in the recent shooting of a federally…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Mistletoe and sycamore ring in winter

Each season has characteristic features that signal its arrival. Winter is no exception. Two of my winter favorites: mistletoe and sycamore. Coon Cove — the name assigned to our valley on a late 19th century deed — is surrounded on…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Road failures cast uncertainty on Wildflower’s future

In 2005, two investment partners from Atlanta broke ground on a massive project on the slopes of Cowee Mountain in north Macon County with hopes of creating a new paradigm for mountainside development in Western North Carolina. However, four years…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Health care facilities to create new jobs

After successfully enlisting the help of local government, Haywood Regional Medical Center and Maggie Valley Health Investors are chasing state grants to fund two new medical facilities in Haywood County. Haywood County commissioners agreed to apply on HRMC’s behalf to…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Waynesville gets on board rail movement for passengers and freight

Last week, Waynesville’s town board linked up with a growing grassroots movement that is calling for increased rail capacity. The town board unanimously passed a resolution to support a move to rail service in North Carolina. “To me, it’s just…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

State snuffs out smoking in bars and restaurants

Promptly after ringing in the new year, North Carolina will usher in a smoking ban in restaurant and bars on Jan. 2. While most restaurants are moseying on with the status quo for now, Pasquale’s Italian Restaurant in Waynesville is…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Towns use fees, restrictions to push back against video gambling look alike

Local governments have begun the process of regulating cyber sweepstakes machines, which are multiplying rapidly across Western North Carolina. The responsibility for regulating cyber sweepstakes has largely been left in local governments’ hands until a consensus is reached at a…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Campaign reminds shoppers to spend where they live

When store owners pack up their holiday decorations next month, there’s one thing Karen Wilmot hopes they will leave up — a sign that reminds residents to shop local. As director of Swain County’s Chamber of Commerce, Wilmot handed out…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Franklin could reap windfall from sale of property

Franklin’s leaders are trying to decide what to do about a valuable piece of property on the outskirts of downtown, and they’re hiring outside consultants to help them. The town purchased the Whitmire property in January 2005 for $1,585,373 with…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Sylva borrows mantra of national buy local movement

As the holiday shopping season nears its final frenzy, Sylva’s business community is stressing the importance of buying local. The Downtown Sylva Association has seized on a national campaign called the 3/50 Project to encourage local people to patronize their…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

One dollar reaps rewards seven times over

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Directory. With the final throes of Christmas shopping underway this week, the message seemed particularly relevant and is reprinted here with permission. It’s all about…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Waynesville panel may recommend rolling back rear parking mandate

A movement is afoot to roll back some of the smart growth principles of Waynesville’s land-use plan by loosening commercial development guidelines. A blue-ribbon committee appointed by the town has spent the past few months combing through the town’s land-use…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Swain settles lawsuit over sewer line cost overruns

Swain County commissioners have settled a ten-month long lawsuit with Buckeye Construction for $30,000, far less than the $127,000 originally demanded. “I think the county came out a winner on this, even though it cost us,” said Commissioner Glenn Jones.…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Round and round we go, where it ends, nobody knows

In the news business, the interplay between the Internet, mobile devices, television and print is at a precipitous crossroads where everything is changing so fast no one truly knows what the future will hold. It’s both exciting and scary for…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Christmas gifts from the heart

According to the government standards defining poverty in the 1950’s, I was poor. My father did not hold a regular job. My mother took in ironing for neighbors before landing a job in the Bethel School cafeteria washing dishes. We…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Recipes, 12/16/09

My Mother’s Chicken Pot Pie • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves—cubed • 1 cup sliced carrots • 1 cup frozen green peas • 1/2 cup of sliced celery • 1/3 cup butter • 1/3 cup chopped onion •…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Savagery taints classic town in King’s new novel

Under the Dome by Stephen King. Scribner, 2009. 1,074 pages Before I had read 20 pages of Stephen King’s new opus, I found myself thinking about Thornton Wilder’s Our Town — not because the small town, Chester’s Mill in Under…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Holiday gear guide

Nobody knows their way around the gear section of an outfitter store better than the people who work in them every day. The purveyors of serious outdoor clothing and equipment are almost always addicted to their own product. The Smoky…
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