Medicaid expansion equals economic growth
 

Medicaid expansion equals economic growth

To the Editor: A recent letter suggested that its author does not believe in economic projections. He may not realize…
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N.C. loses by not expanding Medicaid
 

N.C. loses by not expanding Medicaid

To the Editor: An earlier letter requires concrete proof of the success of the Affordable Care Act. Those truly interested…
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Jackson votes supports real free speech
 

Jackson votes supports real free speech

To the Editor: Thank you, Jackson County Commissioners for your courage in passing a resolution calling on the North Carolina…
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N.C. GOP leadership likes to bully opposition
 

N.C. GOP leadership likes to bully opposition

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist Whether they strut across schoolyards or along the polished halls of a state capital, all…
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Time for universal, free pre-K is long overdue
 

Time for universal, free pre-K is long overdue

“… the long-term benefits of a high-quality pre-K program can be substantial. These include higher high school graduation rates, lower…
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Franklin plans for water and sewer improvements
 

Franklin plans for water and sewer improvements

Engineers for the town of Franklin are recommending the town spend $15.1 million over the next 10 years to make…
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Haywood discusses background checks for appointees
 

Haywood discusses background checks for appointees

Haywood County commissioners debated this week whether to make volunteers who serve on appointed boards and committees undergo a background…
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Burned at auctions, Haywood retools how it recoups back taxes
 

Burned at auctions, Haywood retools how it recoups back taxes

When Haywood County gets stiffed on property taxes, it carries a big stick of last resort: the foreclosure. But since…
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Opinions sought on redevelopment plan for abandoned factory
 

Opinions sought on redevelopment plan for abandoned factory

A draft plan to revamp the old Drexel furniture factory property in Whittier into an agricultural center will be presented…
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Lawyers involved in Sylva’s bar noise dispute
 

Lawyers involved in Sylva’s bar noise dispute

Attorneys for the Town of Sylva and No Name Sports Pub are busy trying to hash out the legal road…
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University says county development ordinance shouldn’t apply
 

University says county development ordinance shouldn’t apply

County and university officials had a sit-down last week over the question of whether Western Carolina University should fall under…
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Canton moves forward with expanded Labor Day
 

Canton moves forward with expanded Labor Day

Canton has decided not to spend upwards of $60,000 to bring in a nationally known headlining music act for Labor…
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Hydropower plant proposed in Highlands
 

Hydropower plant proposed in Highlands

The town of Highlands may not be interested in investing millions to rebuild a hydropower plant along the Cullasaja River,…
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Haywood tourism authority to hire new position
 

Haywood tourism authority to hire new position

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority plans to grow its staff to five as it dives into reviewing applications for…
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Tribal Council approves $10 million for new tech, organizational overhaul
 

Tribal Council approves $10 million for new tech, organizational overhaul

Scanty wireless networks, outdated computer equipment, slow servers — technological woes have been a centerpiece of discussion at Cherokee Tribal…
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Higher ed a solid investment, study shows
 

Higher ed a solid investment, study shows

Higher education in North Carolina got some good news with the release of an economic impact study last week, which…
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Folkmoot center renovation plans finalized
 

Folkmoot center renovation plans finalized

Folkmoot USA has finalized its capital improvements and business plan for the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Hazelwood.  Since taking over…
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Babcock resigns from Folkmoot
 

Babcock resigns from Folkmoot

After being at the helm of Folkmoot USA for six years, Karen Babcock has resigned as executive director and is…
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Words, language and grammar do matter
 

Words, language and grammar do matter

“In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” — George Orwell We live in an…
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Adaptation helps plants weather the cold
 

Adaptation helps plants weather the cold

As I write this on Tuesday morning there are five or so inches of snow covering the ground outside my…
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Weigh in on Cold Mountain Game Land management plans
 

Weigh in on Cold Mountain Game Land management plans

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is working on a plan to guide management at the Cold Mountain Game Land in…
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Buy Haywood guide seeks new listings
 

Buy Haywood guide seeks new listings

An agritourism guide for Haywood County is looking for new listings to help visitors and locals alike explore everything from…
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Volunteers sought to adopt tree plot
 

Volunteers sought to adopt tree plot

Smokies rangers are looking for tree-lovers who want to try their hand at science to adopt a tree monitoring plot…
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WCU launches outdoor speaker series
 

WCU launches outdoor speaker series

A speaker series featuring outdoor adventurers at Western Carolina University will kick off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, with…
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Hike explores Smokemont
 

Hike explores Smokemont

The season’s first hike in Friends of the Smokies’ “Classic Hikes of the Smokies” series will explore Smokemont Loop Trail…
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Behind the wheel with Paul Carlson: a two-hour tour of the Little Tennessee
 

Behind the wheel with Paul Carlson: a two-hour tour of the Little Tennessee

As Paul Carlson tooled out of downtown Franklin, houses faded into rolling hayfields, and the Little Tennessee River soon took…
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Changing attitudes: Carlson reshaped ideas about conservation
 

Changing attitudes: Carlson reshaped ideas about conservation

History will no doubt remember Paul Carlson as one of the great visionaries of our time in Western North Carolina.…
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WCU history faculty members oversee project for Trail of Tears Association
 

WCU history faculty members oversee project for Trail of Tears Association

Western Carolina University history department faculty members Sue Abram and Andrew Denson are overseeing a public history project that recently…
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WCU to host tourism conference
 

WCU to host tourism conference

The impact of successful festivals and events on the economy of the 26 westernmost counties of North Carolina will be…
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Catch the Spirit holds mural fundraiser
 

Catch the Spirit holds mural fundraiser

“Golden Threads,” a dramatic 24-foot art mural created by Doreyl Ammons Cain for the Shindig on the Green in Asheville,…
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Hayes brings country hits to Franklin
 

Hayes brings country hits to Franklin

Country star Wade Hayes will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I was a weird kid growing up. And, in many ways, I’m even weirder as an adult. Since day one,…
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Winter Concert Series welcomes Snyder Family Band
 

Winter Concert Series welcomes Snyder Family Band

Acclaimed bluegrass act Balsam Range will welcome the Snyder Family Band as part of their Winter Concert Series at 7:30…
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Colonial Theatre enters third act
 

Colonial Theatre enters third act

When he thinks of the Colonial Theatre, Zeb Smathers sees untapped potential. “There are so many things it can used…
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Elections embezzlement case lands on DA’s desk
 

Elections embezzlement case lands on DA’s desk

It could be just a matter of months before District Attorney Ashley Welch decides whether to press charges in a…
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Comment

Beware the company you keep
 

Beware the company you keep

To the Editor: Jackson County Commissioners, I want to congratulate you on the entertaining meeting on Jan. 29 and your…
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Comment

In my world, estimates are different from facts
 

In my world, estimates are different from facts

To the Editor: Ed Morris’s recent letter to this newspaper criticized a letter I had written to The Franklin Press…
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Comment

Use Lent to try a meat-free diet
 

Use Lent to try a meat-free diet

To the Editor: This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter, when many Christians abstain from…
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Comment

Appreciate community support for 5K run
 

Appreciate community support for 5K run

To the Editor: On behalf of Dryman’s Chapel United Methodist Church please allow me to express thanks and grateful appreciation…
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Comment

Let’s re-think attitudes toward wood
 

Let’s re-think attitudes toward wood

To the Editor: Have you ever heard the expression “waiting for the other shoe to drop”? I thought of it…
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Does Maggie Valley need 200-foot cross?
 

Does Maggie Valley need 200-foot cross?

To the Editor: At first blush the idea of a 200-foot cross seemed kind of cool. It could make Maggie…
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Comment

The sweet dreams of snow days
 

The sweet dreams of snow days

“Dad, do you think we’ll get out of school tomorrow?” My son, Jack, is standing in the doorway of our…
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For some, facts just don’t matter
 

For some, facts just don’t matter

“It is an Internet Age paradox: We have more information than ever before and yet, seem to know less. Indeed,…
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Comment

Countin’ in the cold
 

Countin’ in the cold

I had originally intended to spend today (Monday, Feb. 16) doing a couple of short surveys for the annual Great…
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Comment

State bill seeks to strike down fracking rules
 

State bill seeks to strike down fracking rules

Bills to get rid of the oil and gas extraction rules developed by the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission have…
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N.C. Wildlife Federation wins $30K grant
 

N.C. Wildlife Federation wins $30K grant

A $30,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation will help the N.C. Wildlife Federation further its mission of conserving…
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New Satulah trail in the works
 

New Satulah trail in the works

Learn about the Highland Plateau Greenway’s vision to build a public trail to the top of Satulah Mountain at a…
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Game on (the table) at fundraising dinner
 

Game on (the table) at fundraising dinner

An annual Wild Game Dinner hosted by the Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College will serve up a meal of…
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Comment

Mark your calendar for Spring
 

Mark your calendar for Spring

The weather is wintry, but spring is just around the corner. Mark your calendar for some of these upcoming springtime…
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Database to showcase purveyors wood and forestry products
 

Database to showcase purveyors wood and forestry products

A “buy local” directory for wood-related products from Western North Carolina is looking for more businesses, artisans and organizations to…
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