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Mainstream media has lost its credibility
To the Editor: Nothing in a recent letter (“Please, just check the facts,” Dec. 14, The Smoky Mountain News) rings…
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The media is just not doing its job
To the Editor: Have we ever seen such hypocrisy? The Russians have now hacked the 2016 election, really? Liberal news…
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WOW wraps up fifth year of giving back to community
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that…
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Traditions help us deal with change, loss
Since my mom’s passing in August, many people have given me books and resources to help with the grief. They’ve…
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Christmas giving in WNC
Christmas is a time of year when communities band together to help others in need, and there’s definitely no shortage…
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Church delivers warmth of meals and companionship on Christmas Day
Caitlin Derico was 11 years old when her family’s Christmas tradition shifted from stockings to service.
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Meeting a need
It’s bittersweet. “I really would hope that this program would expire,” said Tom Knapko. “But, that hasn’t been the case…
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WOW helps pay off Christmas layaway purchases
What sometimes gets lost amidst the blizzard of radio, television and internet advertising so ubiquitous this time of year is…
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Bryson City bar donates to family resource center
The local dive bar in a small town usually gets a bad rap, but Mickey’s Pub in Bryson City tries…
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Community helps fulfill a boy’s birthday wish
Ashton Zari turns 7 on Christmas Eve, and even though he is in Columbus, Ohio, seeking medical treatment, his only…
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Crabtree General brings Christmas to Franklin
Crabtree General Store & Coffee Vault in Franklin has recently transformed into a Christmas headquarters.
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Shoplifters make downtown Waynesville’s naughty list
Something about the holidays always brings out the best — and worst — in people and Santa Claus is the…
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Suspects sought in Max Patch break-in
Detectives with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office are looking for two men they believe to be involved with a breaking…
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Two arrested in Waynesville break in
Haywood County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an alarm call around 8 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Eagles Nest community.
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New law stops TVA’s ban of Fontana houseboats
More than 350 families received an early Christmas present last week when President Obama signed a bill into law that…
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Waynesville police win SWAT competition
Waynesville Police Department’s Special Response Team recently returned home from the SWAT Round-Up International competition in Orlando with multiple awards.
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Lead contamination prompts permanent monitoring at SCC
Simply removing contaminated dirt from the Southwestern Community College shooting range won’t be enough to close out a lead removal…
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The Raleigh Roundup: Strange legislative year draws to a close
It’s been a bizarre year in North Carolina’s state legislature, and that hasn’t led to the state looking good in…
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Jackson schools hope to land 0 percent loan
Jackson County is hoping to save $2.3 million on the cost of completing critical repairs in Jackson County Public Schools…
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Moving on up: Franklin chamber gets a new building
Franklin Chamber of Commerce staff and members are excited about taking a vacant building and turning it into their new…
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Controversial sanitary district policy suspended
An unpopular policy put forth by the Junaluska Sanitary District requiring landlords to co-sign for their new tenants’ water service…
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Walnut Street charm could be casualty of Russ Avenue widening
Although many property owners and residents have lauded what they call a “much needed” widening project on Waynesville’s most heavily…
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Firefighter pleas guilty to arson in Cherokee
A Cherokee firefighter has pled guilty to federal charges for intentionally starting seven wildfires on the Qualla Boundary between 2010…
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Park works to assess post-fire situation
The smoke has cleared from the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which escaped the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nov. 28…
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‘All of the freaks have gone to bed…’: A conversation with Ron Gallo
It’s about time. It’s about time someone kicked us all in the ass when it comes to the power and…
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This must be the place: ‘Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy.’
But, I’m not sad either. Even with that Charlie Brown quote in the headline to emphasize my thoughts on the…
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A new, excitable girl in our quiet cove
Essays and columns are difficult to categorize. Dividing them into the formal and informal is about all anyone can agree…
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Environmental camps and competitions benefit from funding
Summer camps and Envirothon programs in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties will benefit from a $25,000 grant awarded to the…
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Duke Energy donates toward firefighting
The Duke Energy Foundation gave a hand toward supporting firefighters battling wildfires this fall with a $100,000 donation.
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‘No change in your pockets’: Farmers grapple with effects of historic drought year
Dowdy Bradley is 68 years old, and for nearly all of those years he’s been involved in some kind of…
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Drought diminishes due to rain
Last week’s rains caused a downgrading of drought designations across the board in Western North Carolina.
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A mystery tale with a canine hero
This is a delightful book and I am confident that it will be judged one of the best books of…
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Christmas classic comes to life
A frigid mountain wind howled through Bryson City last Friday evening as a handful of folks hurried into the Smoky…
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Under the Bright Lights: Smoky Mountain Community Theatre
It’s the heartbeat of a town. Coming into its 37th year, the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre has become a beacon…
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This must be the place: Christmas Jam, now more than ever
“You don’t know me but I’m your brother/I was raised here in this living hell/You don’t know my kind in…
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Haywood, Jackson Arts grant recipients
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) and Jackson County Arts Council (JCAC), co-administrating organizations of this year’s program, are pleased…
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HCAC receives gifts
In 2016, the Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) Gallery Committee set out to improve its Gallery & Gifts retail space…
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Story damages Jukebox Junction’s reputation in Bethel community
To the Editor: There was a story with the headline “Haywood County wipes the dust off the bottle” in the December…
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Please, just check the facts
To the Editor: In the recent edition of The Smoky Mountain News, Carl Iobst’s letter seems to indicate that traditional…
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A public servant retires
To the Editor: To my friends in Western North Carolina, I will be retiring on December 31.
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Novel idea is surely just too far-fetched
I am writing a fictional spy novel. Here is the draft outline of it.
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I love newspaper readers, but please read carefully
Some things never change, and the reality of collateral damage from news stories is one of them. Plus the fact…
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A thank you to local media
By Greg Christopher • Guest Columnist This time of year, as many people are counting their blessings, they also realize…
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All one can do is keep fighting the good fight
I don’t know about you, but I need a quiet place about now. I need to turn off the news…
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Full-time work, part-time pay
Harry S. Truman’s Secretary of State Dean Acheson said upon his return to private life, “I will undoubtedly have to…
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To serve, Haywood Commissioners leave money on the table
At just 22 years of age, Kevin Ensley became one of the youngest licensed land surveyors in the entire state…
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Carrying commissioner duties a juggling act in Jackson
When Mark Jones first ran for a seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners in 2006, he was the…
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Macon commissioners not there for money
Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale was pouring concrete on a job site when he was contacted about this story.
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Swain commissioners give little thought to salary
“You know, I really can’t tell you what we get paid,” Swain County Commissioner David Monteith said when asked about…
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Cherokee council makes more than state reps, less than congressmen
Members of the Cherokee Tribal Council are hands-down the highest-paid local representatives in Western North Carolina, with other commissioner stipends…
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