Artist Teresa Pennington has created a rendering of how  the new arch will look once installed.
 

2023 A Look Back: Throwback Award

Million-dollar mountaintop vacation homes, phony moonshine from corporate mega-distilleries, dime-a-dozen seedy strip malls — none of these things are Appalachian…
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Fake News Freakout!  Episode 8
 

Fake News Freakout! Episode 8

Welcome to the eighth installment of The Smoky Mountain News’ annual Fake News Freakout. I feel like I say this…
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A mountain biker curves along a trail in Berm Park, the mountain biking skills course within Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Nature Park.
 

Ringing out the Year of the Trail: A highlight reel of trail news in 2023

Declared to be the Year of the Trail more than a year before it even began, 2023 had a lot to…
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The Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon will return to Waynesville April 6.
 

Set your race calendar

With a new year approaching, it’s the perfect time to start setting fitness goals — and to plan for participating…
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Home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell State Park offers a chilly environment more frequently seen in locations much further north.
 

Hike into the 2024

The standing tradition of starting the New Year off on the trail will continue at N.C. State Parks Monday, Jan.…
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A hiker navigates a snowy trail.
 

The Winter Hiking Challenge

Registration is open for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s fourth annual Winter Hiking Challenge, asking participants to complete 60 miles…
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Pisgah National Forest covers more than 500,000 acres.
 

Forest Service enhances 128 plans with old growth protections

The U.S. Forest Service has issued a proposal that would amend all 128 forest land management plans in its jurisdiction…
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Will Harlan.
 

Celebrate biodiversity

Delve into the amazing biodiversity of the Southern Appalachians with a program offered at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at…
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N.C. sees uptick in hunting accidents
 

N.C. sees uptick in hunting accidents

Across the state, there has been an increase in firearm-related hunting incidents involving serious injury and fatalities. 
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Year-in-review tool breaks down weather trends
 

Year-in-review tool breaks down weather trends

The N.C. State Climate Office has launched a year-in-review tool that gives a review of trends and records at weather…
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CeCe Hipps
 

Hipps steps down as Haywood Chamber president

At the Dec. 20 Haywood Chamber of Commerce board meeting, CeCe Hipps announced that she would be stepping down next…
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Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact
 

Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact

At least one Cherokee teenager is believed to have died as the result of a local teen suicide pact under…
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Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience played Asheville on Dec. 9.
 

Over the hills and far away: Warren Haynes' Christmas Jam returns to Asheville

It’s been some 43 years since John Bonham, iconic drummer for rock gods Led Zeppelin, tragically passed away at age…
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The true story of a teacher who defied Hitler
 

The true story of a teacher who defied Hitler

In 1933 Germany, headmistress Anna Essinger was ordered by the newly-elected Nazi party to fly a Nazi flag above her…
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The Pale Blue Dot is a photograph of Earth taken Feb. 14, 1990, by NASA’s Voyager 1. The image inspired the title of scientist Carl Sagan’s book, “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,” in which he wrote: “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.” NASA photo
 

We of the pale blue dot never learn

My Christmas wish is that every artificial light on earth gets turned off for 24 hours between Christmas Eve and…
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Christmas – finding beauty in the mess
 

Christmas – finding beauty in the mess

It’s hard to believe Christmas is less than a week away. With more gifts to buy, a Christmas puzzle partially…
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A sickness in the soul of America
 

A sickness in the soul of America

To the Editor: The Eagles rock band has interpreted life in America over the last five decades. Yet, the lines…
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Acts of kindness are always welcome
 

Acts of kindness are always welcome

To the Editor: Believe it or not, there was a time within my life – and I’m 87 years old…
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Melissa McDevitt (center) shown here with parents Tom and Maggie, went missing on Dec. 9, 2022. Maggie McDevitt photo
 

Near to where her soul is: Missing hiker Melissa McDevitt is coming home

Almost exactly a year after a hiker vanished in the backcountry of British Columbia the night before a trip home…
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Of the lawsuit’s 31 defendants,  17 are or were associated with the  Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Holly Kays photo
 

Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office answers police shooting lawsuit

In a 65-page answer to an extensive lawsuit  filed in response to the December 2022 police shooting of Jason Harley…
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The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office was ordered to turn over recordings from Nov. 9. File photo
 

Haywood sheriff to release footage of alleged constitutional violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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The outgoing chair, Commissioner Paul Higdon (right), congratulates  the new chair, Commissioner Gary Shields. Bob Scott photo
 

New leadership sees new direction for Macon

Macon County will see a change of leadership for the coming year after the county commission unanimously voted to appoint…
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Reduced funding will affect a number of nonprofits in the coming year. File photo
 

Reduction in federal funding for crime victims hits home

The holidays are often viewed as an opportunity for families to gather together and share seasonal cheer, but when there’s…
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Macon County commissioners proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system. File photo
 

Changes for FRL: Jackson looks at Macon’s recommendations for library system

After Macon County proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system agreement, Jackson County commissioners are taking a look at…
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Partisan races for 2024 election set
 

Partisan races for 2024 election set

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ended last week, and after a slow start, a flurry…
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The Macon County Board of Education was unanimously opposed  to a partisan school board race. File photo
 

Macon BOE to remain non-partisan

Despite the intention by some commissioners to make the school board race partisan in Macon County, it will remain non-partisan,…
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Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues
 

Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues

After more than two months of operating under a continuing resolution, Tribal Council has approved a new budget for the…
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Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election
 

Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election

The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that it is decided during the Primary Election, despite…
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Haywood gets financial reporting award
 

Haywood gets financial reporting award

Haywood County has been recognized with the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance…
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Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund
 

Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund

Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) will reopen its cycle for tourism capital projects Jan. 1, 2024. $600,000 is available…
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Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation
 

Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation

The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce as one of two…
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Because trout require clean, cold water, trout fishing goes hand-in-hand with environmental conservation. NCWRC photo
 

Billion-dollar catch: Report reveals economic impact of N.C. trout fishing industry

The economic impact of trout fishing in North Carolina has more than tripled since 2014, clocking in at $1.38 billion…
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A record 4,056 bears were harvested in North Carolina during the 2022 bear season. NCWRC photo
 

Expanded bear season proposed for WNC

A significantly expanded bear hunting season and loosened rules about bait usage are among the rule changes the N.C. Wildlife…
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The Black Bear Fire sparked Nov. 16  following a tractor-trailer crash. USFS photo
 

Last WNC wildfires contained

For the first time since Oct. 23, Western North Carolina is free of active wildfires. 
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Updated drought maps are released every Thursday. U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map
 

Extreme drought leaves North Carolina

Drought conditions are the best they’ve been in a month, according to the latest map from the Drought Management Advisory…
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Cataloochee Ski Area opened  for the season Nov. 29. File photo
 

Explore the world of snowmaking

Go behind the scenes with snowmaking at Cataloochee Ski area with field trips offered Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Tuesday, Feb.…
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Wildlife photo contest open
 

Wildlife photo contest open

The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition is now open, accepting entries until 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2024. 
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Namesake chosen for red spruce greenhouse
 

Namesake chosen for red spruce greenhouse

A namesake has been chosen for the $2 million greenhouse the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway is building to…
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The Haywood County Sheriff's Office was ordered to turn over their recordings from Nov. 9.
 

HCSO to release body cam footage to plaintiff alleging Fourth Amendment violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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Comment

Adjusting to life in a meat locker
 

Adjusting to life in a meat locker

I’m trying my best to get this column out to you, but it’s not as easy as it seems. My…
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Comment

Friendship House.
 

It only takes one person to change a life

Many years ago when I was an educator, my school was tasked with reading a book titled “The Cycle of…
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Knife fights over deck chairs
 

Knife fights over deck chairs

To the Editor: The world as we know it is changing dramatically. We have entered the era of the polycrisis…
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Lumpy Lambert, executive director of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, shares progress from the construction site Dec. 11.
 

Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring

The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy is abuzz these days as 200 on-site construction workers hustle…
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Comment

The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court in Asheville.
 

Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit

The court has made its decision in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s request to dismiss  many of the complaints in…
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Comment

Kathy Greeley.
 

Alumna gift will create endowment for interior design program

Students in Western Carolina University’s interior design program soon will have access to new experiential learning opportunities thanks to a…
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Comment

Here’s what the disloyalty cards look like in downtown Waynesville’s Twigs & Leaves Gallery.
 

Courting disloyalty: New program encourages shoppers to patronize Waynesville businesses

The disloyalty card is here and it’s, in a sense, exactly what it sounds like. 
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Cherokee One Feather Editor Robert Jumper discusses proposed changes to the Editorial Board ordinance with Tribal Council during a Nov. 21 work session.
 

Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn: Council, chiefs will retain appointments

An ordinance seeking to change the makeup of the Cherokee One Feather’s editorial board made it back in front of…
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Comment

This map shows where the social district would exist in Franklin.
 

Public hearing set for Franklin social district

The Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the…
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Comment

Macon County School Board.
 

Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan

Macon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan. 
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Comment

Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period
 

Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon , Friday, Dec. 15, and if the…
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