Brad Letts. File photo
 

Superior Court judge nearing EBCI Supreme Court confirmation

Superior Court Judge Bradley B. Letts has confirmed he has the intention of vacating his seat on the bench to…
Read More

Comment

Macon County manager announces resignation
 

Macon County manager announces resignation

After more than a decade of leadership in Macon County, Derek Roland announced last week that he intends to resign…
Read More

Comment

Judy and Ed LaFountaine have a deep connection to Lake Junaluska. Donated photo
 

Lake Junaluska names leadership award winners

Judy and Ed LaFountaine, wife and husband, are the 2024 recipients of the Junaluska Leadership Award, an honor bestowed annually…
Read More

Comment

Wreaths Across America returns to Waynesville
 

Wreaths Across America returns to Waynesville

Started in 1992 by Morrill Worcester with the donation and placement of 5,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery during the…
Read More

Comment

Pactiv Evergreen’s paper mill, which sits on a 185-acre parcel straddling the Pigeon River in Canton, has been closed for more than a year.
 

Documents indicate shuttered Canton paper mill will soon be sold

The old paper mill in the heart of Canton will have a new owner by the end of the month…
Read More

Comment

Folk/blues artist Scott Low will play Highlands Sept. 15. File photo
 

Ready for Highlands Porchfest?

The Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment (CLE) will host its annual Highlands Porchfest music festival from 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept.…
Read More

Comment

‘Social District of Sylva Celebration’
 

‘Social District of Sylva Celebration’

The Main Street Sylva Association will host its “Social District of Sylva Celebration” from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at…
Read More

Comment

Appalachian Smoke will play Bryson City Sept. 14. File photo
 

Appalachian Smoke rolls into Bryson City

Americana/bluegrass act Appalachian Smoke will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City. 
Read More

Comment

Darnell Farms is a popular destination in WNC. File photo
 

Fall into Darnell Farms

The annual corn maze and pumpkin patch will continue through Oct. 31 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. 
Read More

Comment

Barbara Brook will be part of the studio tour. File photo
 

Haywood County Studio Tour

Presented by the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), the annual Haywood County Studio Tour will be held from 10 a.m.…
Read More

Comment

Natti Love Joys will play Sylva Sept. 13. File photo
 

Reggae, soul at Lazy Hiker

The Natti Love Joys will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. A roots-rock-reggae…
Read More

Comment

Artisan demonstrations will be held in Dillsboro Sept. 21. File photo
 

‘Youth Arts Festival’

The annual “Youth Arts Festival” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Jackson…
Read More

Comment

They’re more than an itchy irritation — mosquitos kill hundreds of thousands of people across the world, every year. File photo
 

Doing battle with the world's deadliest animal: WCU researchers join the fight against mosquito-borne diseases

Sure, mosquitos are an important link in the food chain for amphibians, birds and other insects, but they’re annoying, they’re…
Read More

Comment

The festival will offer visitors the opportunity to see sorghum being processed. Donated photo
 

Sorghum festival comes to East Tennessee

The 25th Annual Sorghum Festival will allow visitors to have the opportunity to observe sorghum cane being processed into molasses…
Read More

Comment

Volunteers should be prepared to work in the sun, get a little dirty and possibly wet. Donated photo
 

Volunteers needed for the ‘Big Sweep’ stream cleanup

Haywood Waterways is calling for volunteers to take part in a county-wide cleanup event that removes tons of trash from…
Read More

Comment

Award winners including Malia Crowe Skulski, Natrieifia Miller, Kaylyn Barnes, Callia Johnson, Susan Sachs, Beth Wright and Kahawis. Smokies Life photo
 

GSMNP employees receive education award

A team of Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees was recently awarded the 2023 Excellence in Education Award at a National Park Service…
Read More

Comment

Smokies spenders pump billions into local economies
 

Smokies spenders pump billions into local economies

A new National Park Service report shows that 13,297,647 visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2023 spent $2.2…
Read More

Comment

Harris will be bad for the country
 

Harris will be bad for the country

To the Editor: This is in response to Cory Vaillancourt’s two articles in The Smoky Mountain News’ August 21 edition.…
Read More

Comment

GOP becoming a fascist party
 

GOP becoming a fascist party

To the Editor: I have seen banners and bumper stickers that read, “Socialism or Freedom.” I would hardly call the…
Read More

Comment

Trump appointed only the best
 

Trump appointed only the best

To the Editor: It is exceedingly rare for members of a former president’s cabinet or inner circle of advisers not…
Read More

Comment

Food prices are too high
 

Food prices are too high

To the Editor: To establish a baseline, acknowledge that there are various factors that influence prices at the grocery store.…
Read More

Comment

The aroma from the plants could be smelled just about anywhere in the building. Kyle Perrotti photo
 

Cherokee celebrates first day of adult recreational cannabis use

It’s been almost a decade in the making, but anyone over 21 with a valid ID can purchase THC products…
Read More

Comment

Here’s what’s keeping America’s elections experts up at night
 

Here’s what’s keeping America’s elections experts up at night

A  bipartisan panel of election law experts is largely satisfied with the integrity of the American election system, but they’re…
Read More

Comment

Rep. Justin J. Pearson of Memphis, Tennessee, speaks to a group of college Democrats at Western Carolina University. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Another school shooting, another call for assault rifle bans

Remarks given by Tennessee State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, stumping for the Democratic presidential ticket during a visit to Western…
Read More

Comment

Jackson aims for traditional middle school
 

Jackson aims for traditional middle school

Jackson County Schools is taking a stab at a traditional middle school and applying for a state grant to fund…
Read More

Comment

Pigeon Center hosts farm-to-table dinner
 

Pigeon Center hosts farm-to-table dinner

Celebrate the change of seasons with your friends and neighbors at a farm-to-table dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21,…
Read More

Comment

The moderate drought now covers more Western North Carolina counties.
 

Moderate drought expands in WNC

Last week brought a moderate drought back to parts of Western North Carolina, and the latest state drought monitor report…
Read More

Comment

ZZ Top will play Cherokee Sept. 6. File photo
 

Harrah’s Cherokee welcomes ZZ Top

Classic rock icons ZZ Top will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Formed in…
Read More

Comment

Jackson Grimm will play Waynesville Sept. 6. File photo
 

Americana, folk at Scotsman

Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at The Scotsman…
Read More

Comment

Outlaw Whiskey will play Bryson City Sept. 7. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

Ready for classic rock, country gold?

Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Unplugged Pub in Bryson City. 
Read More

Comment

A bull elk stands amid a herd of about 30 elk grazing in a field near Couches Creek in the Oconaluftee area. Holly Kays photo
 

Word from the Smokies: Dedicated Smokies volunteer force protects elk and people

At 3:30 p.m., traffic flows smoothly along U.S. 441 past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The 80-some elk living in this…
Read More

Comment

Haywood County reminds residents of mosquito dangers
 

Haywood County reminds residents of mosquito dangers

As the summer season comes to an end, Haywood County Health and Human Services is urging residents to take immediate…
Read More

Comment

A Ginseng plant. File photo
 

Pause on ginseng harvesting continues in WNC national forests

The U.S. Forest Service announced that its pause on issuing permits to harvest American ginseng on the Nantahala and Pisgah…
Read More

Comment

The 2024 Steve Kemp Writer in Residence Daron K. Roberts (right) stands with the residency’s namesake, who served as interpretive products and services director for Smokies Life until his retirement in 2017. Daron K. Roberts photo.
 

Smokies Life now accepting applications for writer’s residency

Smokies Life, a nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is now accepting applications for its fifth Steve Kemp…
Read More

Comment

Fall Plant Sale at Lake Junaluska
 

Fall Plant Sale at Lake Junaluska

The Lake Junaluska Fall Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Nanci…
Read More

Comment

Smoky Mountain Beekeepers hosting intro to beekeeping class
 

Smoky Mountain Beekeepers hosting intro to beekeeping class

The Smoky Mountain Beekeeping Association is hosting an Introduction to Beekeeping class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,…
Read More

Comment

DEI creates its own controversies
 

DEI creates its own controversies

To the Editor: Kudos to the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) for rescinding the grant over the proposed passport…
Read More

Comment

Bus drivers wanted: Local schools face non-certified staffing shortages
 

Bus drivers wanted: Local schools face non-certified staffing shortages

Finding enough bus drivers to operate all necessary routes has become a common issue for school systems across North Carolina…
Read More

Comment

State Sen. Rachel Hunt won her three-candidate Democratic Primary Election for lieutenant governor back in March with 70% of the vote. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Rachel Hunt seeks to build on her own legacy in Lt. Gov. race

It’s a name familiar to older North Carolina voters largely due to her father’s two separate eight-year terms as the…
Read More

Comment

Bryson City has raised its water rates to pay for repairs and expansion to an aging system with a few glaring issues. Stock photo
 

Bryson City residents decry water rate increase

It’s been a long time coming, in a sense, but frustrations have finally reached a boiling point as Bryson City…
Read More

Comment

Waynesville Police Chief David Adams. File photo
 

Waynesville police chief to appeal certification suspension

Waynesville Police Chief David Adams had all of his law enforcement instructor certifications suspended by the North Carolina Criminal Justice…
Read More

Comment

Haywood County contains 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

Parkway visitation, spending grows

Visitors to one of the country’s most unique national park units pumped nearly $1.4 billion into local economies in 2023,…
Read More

Comment

Cannabis sales and consumption will be legal for any adult over the age of 21 on the Qualla Boundary beginning this weekend. File photo
 

Cherokee adult recreational cannabis sales begin Saturday

Beginning this Saturday, Sept. 7, anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purchase and use marijuana on…
Read More

Comment

Blue Ridge School families demand action
 

Blue Ridge School families demand action

Members of the Blue Ridge School community showed up to the Jackson County Board of Education’s August meeting to express…
Read More

Comment

The two-day event is aimed at exposing attendees to the interwoven relationships between climate, health, traditional knowledge, and the indigenous worldview. File photo
 

WCU hosts 14th annual ‘Rooted in the Mountains’ symposium

Western Carolina University is set to host the 14th Annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium, a two-day event aimed at…
Read More

Comment

Members of SCC’s first Dental Assisting class are pictured here with their instructors. Front row, from left: Instructor Kristy Lance, Kayla McEntire of Sylva, Nicole Toner of Whittier, Emily Pilkerton of Franklin, Diya Patel of Sylva, Ashley Lopez of Franklin and Abra Brooks, SCC’s Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator. Middle row, from left: SCC instructor Jeniffer Nicholson, Awee French of Dillsboro, Haley Henderson of Franklin, Kelle Williams of Robbinsville, and Kaylee Cornelius of Murphy. Back row: Madeline Potts of Cashiers, Akram Patel of Sylva, Kaitlyn Richmond of Sylva, Ansley Welch of Waynesville and Alexandria Trantham of Cullowhee. Donated photo
 

SCC’s founding Dental Assisting class celebrates at pinning ceremony

Less than a year after starting their studies, the very first Dental Assisting students in Southwestern Community College history earned…
Read More

Comment

Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund
 

Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has announced a new quarterly cycle for the Tourism Capital Project Fund (TCPF),…
Read More

Comment

Preorder Chris Cooper's latest book with discount promo code
 

Preorder Chris Cooper's latest book with discount promo code

Noted expert on southern politics and North Carolina politics Chris Cooper’s newest book will ship later this fall, and with…
Read More

Comment

Sept. 11 commemoration invites first responders
 

Sept. 11 commemoration invites first responders

A free event for all emergency responders and veterans will be held in Bryson City on Sunday, Sept. 8 at…
Read More

Comment

Closure shorten schedule on White Oak Road
 

Closure shorten schedule on White Oak Road

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will finish paving a section of White Oak Road in two weeks…
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.