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Park camping fees to rise
Fees for frontcountry campgrounds and picnic pavilions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be a little higher after…
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Did the southeastern Native Americans take scalps?
(Editor’s Note: Readers should be cautioned that several of the descriptions of scalping and related practices presented in this column…
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Don’t stop the music: A conversation with Del McCoury
If there’s one singular force truly keeping the flame of Bill Monroe alive and kicking well into the 21st century,…
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This must be the place: ‘Set the gearshift for the high gear of your soul’
The time had come. Last Friday, right around noon, I received a message on Facebook. It was a fella looking…
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Local histories serve important purpose
For the past two centuries, local historians and writers in England have produced a large number of municipal and county…
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Duke customers: ‘Pay for your own mistakes’
Western North Carolina residents recently made it clear they do not support Duke Energy Progress’s request for a 15 percent…
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Smaller increases slated for Waynesville electric customers
Duke Energy isn’t the only utility company raising its electric rates this year amidst rising energy costs, but some local…
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Duke proposes $62 million solar rebate program
Duke Energy is proposing a $62 million solar rebate program designed to help its North Carolina customers with the upfront…
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Selling Haywood County: Economic development partnership revs up
On the west side of Jonathan Creek Road in Haywood County sits a parcel of land where crops and cows…
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Shining Rock again violates open meetings laws
A North Carolina Open Meetings Law expert says Shining Rock Classical Academy’s School Board once again violated state laws regarding…
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Charter school selects new school director
After months of searching for someone to replace founding School Director Ben Butler, Waynesville public charter school Shining Rock Classical…
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Tribe hires first-ever TABCC director
The Tribal Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission gained its first-ever director with the hire of Terri Henry, who began work on…
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Chancellor search begins: Community forums to be held; search will be confidential
The 21-member committee charged with finding the next chancellor of Western Carolina University kicked off the search process with an…
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Funding lines up for new Cashiers sewer plant
Development in Cashiers will soon reach the end of a longstanding stalemate following the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority Board’s…
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'We will never go away': The 2017 Women’s March on Washington, revisited
The day after I stood before the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and watched Missouri Senator…
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Reclaiming the past: Cherokee land acquisition bill moves forward
A recent hearing on a congressional bill that would transfer 76 acres in Tennessee to the Eastern Band of Cherokee…
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Health, DSS consolidation moves forward in Jackson
An ongoing push to see Jackson County consolidate its health and social services departments will come to a head during…
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Community conversation focuses on homelessness in Haywood County
There’s a road in Waynesville called the homeless highway. It runs from Frog Level to Hazelwood and during any given…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Will eagles dare?
A pair of mature bald eagles has been hanging out at Lake Junaluska for a few months now. I have…
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Watery restoration: Waynesville and partners restore stream flows, aquatic habitat
Waynesville is in the midst of a makeover on three of its streams, and it’s a renovation that fish, crayfish…
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Weekday programs offered at Cataloochee
Tuesdays and Wednesdays offer special opportunities at Cataloochee Ski Area, with programs now available for homeschoolers and families.
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SCC instructor will guide outdoor leadership standards
Paul Wolf, leader of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program, has been chosen as a member of the international Association…
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Land conserved along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Jackson
The Blue Ridge Parkway will soon acquire an additional 46 acres in Jackson County thanks to a pair of land…
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Insightful books to kick off the new year
In early January, I sat with two friends in a café discussing the New Year. We were all coming off…
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Let’s eliminate the power of the Electoral College
By Martin A. Dyckman • Guest Columnist Americans are asking why we now have a president whom they wouldn’t trust to…
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Lessons learned on the black diamond
While standing atop a black diamond run at Beech Mountain last weekend, several thoughts crossed my mind. It’s been a…
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GOP supports childrens’ health care
To the Editor: It is easy to understand Dr. Stephen Wall’s compassion for young children. Knowing Dr. Wall well, I…
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I’ll have a beer and hash browns
To the Editor: It’s been interesting to read the controversy about the Sunday “brunch bill” enactment in Bryson City, Jackson…
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Impact fees to change in Jackson
A state law passed in July 2017 will lead to changes in water and sewer fees across North Carolina this…
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Cherokee sues opioid companies
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has filed a federal lawsuit seeking damages from 23 companies that manufacture or distribute…
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Court dismisses majority of Mystic Lands claims
This story was updated Jan. 22, 2020. Mystic Lands property owners may have prevailed in court over one issue —…
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Minor parties seek NC ballot access
Disillusionment with the two-party American political system has been around for a long time, but with a polarizing President in…
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NC Congressional districts struck down
Just one month before candidates start signing up to run for the 2018 elections, a three judge panel from the…
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Melrose to run for Superior Court judge
Waynesville attorney Mark Melrose has announced his intentions to run for Superior Court Judge for the 30th Judicial District of…
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Welch to seek second term as DA
First-term District Attorney Ashley Welch recently announced her candidacy for re-election at the GEM Country Republican Women’s Club meeting in…
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Reroute planned for Blackrock Trail
The infamously steep trail leading up to Blackrock from Pinnacle Park will soon find itself with a gentler incline following…
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Brewery trademark dispute dismissed
The ongoing and exhaustive trademark dispute between Sylva’s Innovation Brewing and Bell’s Brewery is now over.
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Life in Limbo: Franklin native fighting to have rights restored
Hannah LeAnn Nix says she’s not the same person she was a few years ago when a judge deemed her…
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Canton wants to help you sign up for Haywood alerts
Haywood County’s new emergency alert system startled many Jan. 11 with a “shelter in place” notification just after 6 p.m.,…
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Canton water leaks irk public
A series of water line breakages in Canton during a recent period of extreme cold provoked unusually lengthy complaints from…
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Brunch Bill finally passes in Maggie Valley
It was déjà vu all over again in Maggie Valley, where the Board of Aldermen once again passed the controversial…
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Eye of the beholder: Outdoor photographer shares love of the craft
Catch him if you can. For the last few years, Steve Yocom has made quite a name for himself as…
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This must be the place: ‘You know I’m such a fool for you’
They said it happens. When I was younger, and very much so in conversation nowadays, it was always said that…
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Grant awarded to Women’s History Trail
The Women’s History Trail (WHT), a project of Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, has received a $740 grant from…
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Duke Energy rate hike request to hurt working families
Working families in Western North Carolina know that when you earn less money, you tend to use less electricity to…
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I support our state’s treasures
To the Editor: In light of Mr. Holliday’s letter to the editor on Jan. 3, I’d like to take this…
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A rising tide floats all boats
To the Editor: The column written by Martin Dyckman in the Jan. 3 issue of The Smoky Mountain News attacking…
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A $4 million thank you
To the Editor: As a member of the Swain County community, I believe there is a long overdue amount of…
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Implore leaders to protect environment
To the Editor: I recently read Boyd Holliday’s letter to the editor about the environmental damage our senators are doing…
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