Jackson celebrates NC Beer Month, Ale Trail
 

Jackson celebrates NC Beer Month, Ale Trail

Whether you enjoy sipping a smooth golden ale, something hoppy or a dark IPA, Jackson County’s craft breweries have you…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I remember that guy.
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Mountain Born & Bred: Haywood journalist releases collection
 

Mountain Born & Bred: Haywood journalist releases collection

Turning the steering wheel onto Johnson Street, one quickly leaves the unrelenting bustle of two-way traffic along N.C. 110. Immediately,…
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New candidates allowed to sign up in congressional race
 

New candidates allowed to sign up in congressional race

North Carolina will hold a separate election on June 7 for the congressional primary, which means it’s not too late…
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Time for spring migrants in the mountains
 

Time for spring migrants in the mountains

The cove we live in has been alive with birds for several weeks now. As alive with birds as it’s…
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Stomach illness reported on the A.T.
 

Stomach illness reported on the A.T.

Stomach bugs, possibly norovirus, have been reported among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers in Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains this season.
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Assault on BlackRock crosses the finish line
 

Assault on BlackRock crosses the finish line

Saturday dawned chilly and foggy at Pinnacle Park in Sylva, but that didn’t stop 73 people from completing the strenuous…
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Friends of the Smokies gets new director
 

Friends of the Smokies gets new director

Friends of the Smokies has a new North Carolina director after Anna Lee Zanetti took the reins this week.
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Celebrate the A.T. season
 

Celebrate the A.T. season

Every year, trail towns and businesses in Western North Carolina anticipate the influx of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers that stream through…
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Fake it till you make it
 

Fake it till you make it

“So, are you here as a reporter or as a biker?” asked one of the 100-plus shorts-wearing, bike-bearing people converged…
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Feeling the vibe: Mountain bikers converge in WNC to learn, network and explore Tsali trails
 

Feeling the vibe: Mountain bikers converge in WNC to learn, network and explore Tsali trails

The parking lot at Tsali Recreation Area was full of bikes Friday evening — more than 100 of them, strapped…
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Tragedy at Frank Lloyd Wright’s house
 

Tragedy at Frank Lloyd Wright’s house

In this story, I am God. — Frank Lloyd Wright The title of this nonfiction work, Death in a Prairie…
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Me and your pet rabbit can now share a meal
 

Me and your pet rabbit can now share a meal

A few weeks ago, I suddenly developed a thirst that I could not seem to quench. No, this is not…
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Wilderness and recreation areas are good for WNC
 

Wilderness and recreation areas are good for WNC

By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist Setting aside a modest portion of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest as Wilderness and National…
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Sometimes you wonder why
 

Sometimes you wonder why

To the editor: I wonder: • Why do people in the so-called “Bible belt” seem to trust guns more than God?…
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Let’s get the ‘dump Presnell’ train rolling
 

Let’s get the ‘dump Presnell’ train rolling

Let the campaign to unseat Rep. Michele Presnell begin. During her two terms in office Presnell has been an obstructionist…
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Macon Commissioners honor Sunshine Week
 

Macon Commissioners honor Sunshine Week

In the spirit of celebrating Sunshine Week, the Macon County Commissioners announced a decision to support and encourage transparency and…
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Woman gets 70 months for trafficking meth
 

Woman gets 70 months for trafficking meth

Jamie Lynn Swartz, 36, formerly of Sylva, will serve 70 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release…
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Cherokee implements full-circle rehabilitation for drug recovery
 

Cherokee implements full-circle rehabilitation for drug recovery

It’s been a while since the old Mountain Credit Union building in Cherokee saw foot traffic from people looking to…
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Jackson Schools look for community donations to fund football field
 

Jackson Schools look for community donations to fund football field

In the quest to replace the football field at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva with artificial turf, Jackson County…
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Canton Fire Department earns better insurance rating
 

Canton Fire Department earns better insurance rating

Now that the North Carolina Department of Insurance issued the Canton Fire Department a Class 4 rating this week, Canton…
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Schandevel’s win sets the stage for competitive House race
 

Schandevel’s win sets the stage for competitive House race

Haywood County Democrat Rhonda Schandevel will pose a formidable challenge in her bid for the N.C. House of Representatives this…
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Haywood commissioner field narrows
 

Haywood commissioner field narrows

The primary for Haywood County commissioner showed clear and overwhelming support for a single front-runner from each party, and both…
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Mountain voters buck statewide trend in Democratic Presidential primary
 

Mountain voters buck statewide trend in Democratic Presidential primary

An interesting anomaly played out in the mountains in the Presidential primary last week.
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Food truck fight coming to Waynesville
 

Food truck fight coming to Waynesville

The sticky wicket of food trucks and food carts have taken center stage in Waynesville, with a public debate in…
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State of the Arts: WCU holds art summit for WNC creative leaders
 

State of the Arts: WCU holds art summit for WNC creative leaders

In an effort to bring together the artistic hearts and minds from around Western North Carolina, the “LEAD:Arts” summit was…
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Want to own a quilt block?
 

Want to own a quilt block?

If you have ever wondered what those giant, colorful blocks are on the sides of buildings and other structures throughout…
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Entries sought for Taste of Chocolate
 

Entries sought for Taste of Chocolate

An open call for entries to the 17th annual Taste of Chocolate Plus is currently underway. The event will take…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Why should we care?
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Worming towards a better way: Composting project reduces waste, sparks young scientists in Jackson schools
 

Worming towards a better way: Composting project reduces waste, sparks young scientists in Jackson schools

When the bell rang for the end of school Friday afternoon, Jeff Vamvakias’ room at Cullowhee Valley Elementary emptied a…
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Forest Service considers limiting guided fishing on the Nantahala
 

Forest Service considers limiting guided fishing on the Nantahala

Complaints about overcrowding on the Nantahala River have led the U.S. Forest Service to consider limiting fishing permits for outfitters…
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Scaled-down plans for Duke’s Asheville plant approved
 

Scaled-down plans for Duke’s Asheville plant approved

Duke Energy Progress’s plan to replace its coal-fired power plant in Asheville with natural gas has garnered partial approval from…
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Volunteers needed in the Smokies
 

Volunteers needed in the Smokies

As the green season inches closer and visitation ramps up, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is looking for volunteers…
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Lake J – even when it’s bad, it’s good
 

Lake J – even when it’s bad, it’s good

Waterfowl have been scarce across Western North Carolina this fall and winter. Traditional haunts like Lake Julian in Asheville, Lake…
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N.C. voters pass infrastructure bond
 

N.C. voters pass infrastructure bond

A majority of North Carolina voters approved a significant investment in the state’s future economy during the primary election by…
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Corbin sails to primary victory
 

Corbin sails to primary victory

By the time polls closed March 15, Kevin Corbin’s soles were feeling the pain from 12 hours of standing on…
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Commissioner incumbents win Swain primary
 

Commissioner incumbents win Swain primary

Swain County commissioner incumbents Steve Moon and David Monteith received the vote of confidence in the Democratic primary election.
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Higdon, Gillespie move forward in Macon commissioner race
 

Higdon, Gillespie move forward in Macon commissioner race

Incumbent commissioner Paul Higdon and political newcomer Karl Gillespie will move on to the general election after winning the primary…
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Clampitt and Queen to face off once more in November for state house seat
 

Clampitt and Queen to face off once more in November for state house seat

After taking home 59 percent of the vote in last week’s election, Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, is looking toward a…
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Reading great books remains important
 

Reading great books remains important

Lent, which extends from Ash Wednesday to Easter, is for many Christians a time of fasting and prayer. Some believers…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

“They headed down south and they’re still running today…” As The Steve Miller Band blasted through the hit song “Take…
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WCU reaches out to special needs students
 

WCU reaches out to special needs students

It was a year-and-a-half ago that Western Carolina University’s director of athletic bands, David Starnes, was asked by United Sound…
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Donald Trump, you haven’t fooled me
 

Donald Trump, you haven’t fooled me

I’ve been watching the Trump shenanigans from afar, laughing it off as a collective momentary lapse in judgment, but as…
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Maggie Valley should make town center happen
 

Maggie Valley should make town center happen

When small towns think and act big, amazing things can happen. Anyone who has traveled has come across communities that…
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Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club
 

Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club

Despite the stereotype of volunteer firefighters as Type A alpha males, knowing your Nascar drivers and driving a pick-up truck…
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When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition
 

When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition

Little boys worship them. Bruce Springsteen memorialized them. The helpless count on them.  Volunteer firefighters are a symbol of American…
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Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement
 

Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement

Sylva’s town leaders spent a sunny Saturday indoors armed with pen, paper and heads full of ideas for bringing the…
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Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses
 

Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses

Even though the money isn’t yet in place, the town of Canton is considering several options for economic development incentives…
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Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements
 

Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements

When Canton town officials were notified that the North Carolina Department of Transportation would be repaving all of Main Street…
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Public input wanted on Savannah park plan
 

Public input wanted on Savannah park plan

A public meeting will gauge support for a plan to give Jackson County’s Savannah community its first public park at…
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