Dig through record bins on Feb. 15 in Waynesville.
 

‘Yonder Mountain Record Show’

Presented by Astro Record Store, the “Yonder Mountain Record Show” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb.…
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City Lights presents ‘The Accident Report’
 

City Lights presents ‘The Accident Report’

Ralph Ellis will discuss his new novel, "The Accident Report," in conversation with Susan Puckett at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb.…
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‘Blue Suede’ by Dori Settles.
 

HCAC’s ‘Inspired by a Song’

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) latest exhibit “Inspired by a Song” is being showcased at Haywood Handmade Gallery in…
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Ready for the ‘Outhouse Races’?
 

Ready for the ‘Outhouse Races’?

A beloved winter spectacle in Western North Carolina, the 19th annual “Outhouse Race” will return to the slopes at 3…
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Grand Funk Railroad will play Cherokee Jan. 10.
 

Harrah’s welcomes Grand Funk Railroad

Classic rock megagroup Grand Funk Railroad will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event…
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Books about Christmas, and as a gift
 

Books about Christmas, and as a gift

The Christmas season, dreaded by some, beloved by others, especially children. Already you’ll find houses festooned with lights and yards…
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Spooky reading for the spooky season
 

Spooky reading for the spooky season

One of the best things about the East Coast is the fall. Last November, I made a trip to California…
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Plemmons will have served almost exactly eight years as clerk of court.
 

Haywood clerk of court announces resignation

Haywood County’s elected clerk of superior court Hunter Plemmons has announced that he is resigning from his position effective Nov.…
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The Henderson County Democratic Party is in the midst of a leadership change.
 

Violent threats lead Henderson County Democratic chair to resign

As chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party, Leslie Carey has spent years helping to build the county’s progressive infrastructure…
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The federal government is sick, says Paul Maddox, and he thinks he’s got the cure.
 

Cancer researcher Paul Maddox targets NC-11’s ills

Paul Maddox has spent decades studying sickness. A cancer researcher, tenured professor and lifelong learner, he’s spent much of his…
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Moving mountains: REACH of Haywood County | Preventing abuse, supporting survivors
 

Moving mountains: REACH of Haywood County | Preventing abuse, supporting survivors

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month in the United States. This week, the Smoky Mountain News has partnered with REACH…
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REACH of Haywood County
 

REACH of Haywood County

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to honor survivors, remember those lost to violence and recommit to…
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Sarah Kihn, REACH of Haywood County’s Development Coordinator, and her dog Luna.
 

In our mountains, behind closed doors

Every October, we see purple ribbons, social media posts and brief mentions on the news about Domestic Violence Awareness Month.…
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Women of vision: Celebrating resilience and community
 

Women of vision: Celebrating resilience and community

More than 180 guests gathered at Chestnut Ridge Wedding Venue in Canton for REACH of Haywood County’s third annual Women…
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Mistaken perceptions
 

Mistaken perceptions

Domestic violence is widely misunderstood. Most individuals who have not had the unfortunate experience of living through it often hold…
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Katie Miller teaching community advocates about forensic evaluations.
 

The cycle of healing: Finding wholeness after violence

The natural world moves in cycles, each step following another, just as the seasons change or a wound slowly mends.…
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Getting free: Terror, violence and … finally freedom
 

Getting free: Terror, violence and … finally freedom

For close to four decades, I’ve been an advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. It…
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Picture by Lynn Carlson with therapy dog Julip.
 

When love becomes a weapon

For many of us, pets are family. They greet us at the door, comfort us when we are sad and…
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Martha: A life silenced by domestic violence
 

Martha: A life silenced by domestic violence

Not all domestic violence victims escape. Some are too ashamed or fearful to leave. Some are bound by cultures or…
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Victims of domestic violence can often find their options limited.
 

Legal aid is a crucial lifeline

“Why doesn’t she just leave?” It’s a question asked countless times when trying to rationalize why someone in an abusive…
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From enforcement to empathy: How law enforcement has evolved through the years
 

From enforcement to empathy: How law enforcement has evolved through the years

When Jeff Haynes entered the law enforcement academy in 1990, empathy wasn’t a word heard often in the ranks. Officers…
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Just a piece of paper?: The effectiveness of a domestic violence protective order
 

Just a piece of paper?: The effectiveness of a domestic violence protective order

A Domestic Violence Protective Order, sometimes called a restraining order, is one of the most important legal tools available to protect…
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Breaking the cycle: Protecting survivors, strengthening families
 

Breaking the cycle: Protecting survivors, strengthening families

Behind closed doors, domestic violence and child abuse often unfold side by side, feeding off the same roots of fear…
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Invitation to register for Reflections of Inspiration’s free annual conference on ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
 

Shining a Light: Honoring the missing, protecting the living

Across the United States, Indigenous women face an epidemic of violence that is as urgent as it is often overlooked.…
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Tea at Crown & Thistle Tea Room.
 

Tea that warms the heart

In today’s world, success in business is no longer measured by profit alone. More and more companies — large and…
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Remember When?
 

Remember When?

Remember your young teen years, seventh and eighth grade — hopeful, scared, blooming, awkward, wondering. Sound familiar? How about shyly looking…
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More than a year after the storm, recovery efforts are proceeding — slowly — in Western North Carolina.
 

Step up, or step down: Whatley blames Democrats after calls to resign grow louder

Hurricane Helene recovery czar Michael Whatley is blaming Democrats for the growing chorus of criticism over his job performance —…
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Ellen Pitt (front, left of the banner) brought more than two dozen local leaders together to discuss public safety reform.
 

Somebody, do something!: WNC leaders plead for fixes to broken justice system

It was supposed to be a routine public safety forum, and in a way, it was — the faces were…
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As candidates gear up for Primary Election votes in March, fundraising becomes increasingly important on both sides of the aisle.
 

Fundraising picks up in NC-11 congressional race

With third-quarter fundraising reports now filed, campaign finance records show sharp contrasts in both fundraising totals and donor bases among…
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Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper has missed 13 of 16 board meetings in 2025.
 

Jackson commissioner skips key board meetings

Minutes from the Dec. 3, 2024, meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners show that newly elected Commissioner Jenny…
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A McGill & Associates consultant commended Jackson County’s park system.
 

Jackson County park system review shows strength, needs

Jackson County’s parks and recreation system is in solid condition overall but faces notable shortfalls in land, staffing and key…
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The Town of Clyde is out more than $3,400 in storm recovery reimbursement.
 

Clyde loses out on debris deal

It’s not a lot of money, but it’s the principle — the hurricane-ravaged Town of Clyde is out more than…
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 The Cherokee Center, shown here in 1975, is an important link between the university and the tribe.
 

WCU Cherokee Center to hold 50th anniversary celebration

Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Center will celebrate five decades of outreach and partnership with the Cherokee community on Tuesday, Nov.…
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Camp Hope is one of the region’s most unique — and underutilized — facilities.
 

Camp Hope rebuild moves forward under new design proposal

After Brevard-based Domokur + Associates outlined a plan to complete design and construction management services for rebuilding and renovating several…
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Case managers at the Renew NC intake center in Marion.
 

Governor encourages eligible residents to apply for housing recovery assistance before deadline

Gov. Josh Stein is highlighting Renew NC’s work to repair and rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Western North Carolinians…
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Action has finally returned to the diamond at the little league field behind the Waynesville Elks Lodge.
 

Play ball: Waynesville little league field opens up over a year after Helene

Last September, when Hurricane Helene brought flooding to much of the region, the little league baseball field behind the Waynesville…
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Still facing millions in damages from Hurricane Helene, Waynesville continues to move forward.
 

Waynesville incumbents look to steady recovery

Waynesville isn’t just another mountain town still recovering from Hurricane Helene — it’s Haywood County’s economic, cultural and governmental hub.…
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The Town of Canton has endured an unusual, seemingly unending string of disasters over the past five years.
 

Canton candidates confront years of crisis

This cycle, Canton’s ballot carries the weight of five hard years. A global pandemic. Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. A…
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Tiny Clyde, near the center of Haywood County, faces a number of challenges generally and specifically related to Hurricane Helene.
 

Clyde candidates consider plans for smart growth

Clyde is a small town surrounded by bigger ambitions. Tucked between Canton and Waynesville, hemmed in by interstate lanes and…
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Donor Rebecca Schlosser meets with students during an event at the newly named Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services.
 

Gift from alumna will help provide support to WCU students in their mental health journey

Universities and colleges across the United States are finding that an ever-increasing number of students are dealing with a variety…
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Early voting continues through Nov. 1
 

Early voting continues through Nov. 1

In-person early voting continues through Saturday, Nov. 1. Voters can vote in-person at their county board of elections and are…
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Imani Perry.
 

Scholar, author Imani Perry headlines Pisgah Legal’s justice forum

Nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services will welcome Imani Perry as its 14th Annual Justice Forum keynote speaker on Oct. 23 in Asheville with a free watch…
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An Amazon spokesperson said the move will not affect customers or their deliveries.
 

Amazon to close Franklin warehouse, open new site in Hayesville

When Amazon drivers in Franklin showed up for work Oct. 8, they were met not with their usual routine but…
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The federal shutdown has now entered week two.
 

Shutdown halts federal government, WNC braces again

On Oct. 1, Republican-controlled Congress shut down the federal government, bringing a renewed round of confusion, finger-pointing and uncertainty to…
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The forum, hosted by Forward Franklin, was held at the town hall last Thursday.
 

Franklin candidates weigh in on local issues

Like many municipalities this year, Franklin will have competitive races on its ballot, as five people are running for three…
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Downtown Bryson City.
 

Newcomer, incumbents vie for Bryson City Board of Aldermen

Three candidates — incumbents Tim Hines and Ben King, and newcomer W. Kent Maxey — are vying for two open…
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Shutdown disrupts some services, spares most of WNC
 

Shutdown disrupts some services, spares most of WNC

As the federal government shutdown drags into its second week, Western North Carolina has so far escaped major impacts —…
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Local housing initiatives impacted by shutdown
 

Local housing initiatives impacted by shutdown

Last week, Mountain Projects’ Amanda Singletary was convinced she’d be calling all 250 Section 8 landlords with bad news: they…
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At current activity levels, the White Oak landfill has about 20 years of capacity remaining.
 

White Oak landfill report highlights record tonnage, long-term capacity

An update on the White Oak Landfill presented to Haywood County commissioners by landfill operator Republic Services Oct. 6 shows…
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Voter registration deadline nears
 

Voter registration deadline nears

Municipal elections will soon take place across North Carolina, so now is a great time to check your voter registration…
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