The need for speed: Waynesville elite cyclist Nancy Lux competes nationally with BMW-Bianchi women’s cycling team
 

The need for speed: Waynesville elite cyclist Nancy Lux competes nationally with BMW-Bianchi women’s cycling team

By Michael Beadle By day, Nancy Lux crunches numbers as a certified public accountant in Waynesville. After work, you may…
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Whose woods are these? N.C. governor battles Bush administration over road-building in national forests
 

Whose woods are these? N.C. governor battles Bush administration over road-building in national forests

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley called last week for roadless areas to be protected in the Nantahala and Pisgah national…
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Tea Leaf Green’s mixed bag contains a few nuggets for jam band disciples
 

Tea Leaf Green’s mixed bag contains a few nuggets for jam band disciples

By Chris Cooper It’s tricky when you find the word “hype” used repeatedly in the glowing fan reviews of a…
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A moveable feast: Mélange of the Mountains returns to Balsam Mountain Inn March 23
 

A moveable feast: Mélange of the Mountains returns to Balsam Mountain Inn March 23

By Michael Beadle Succulent shrimp. Marinated roast beef. Creamy soups and sweet vegetables. And don’t forget dessert.
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New changes, dates for Folkmoot
 

New changes, dates for Folkmoot

With a property deed to their headquarters in hand and more than 30 years of cultural performance already in the…
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Parade of Nations set for Saturday, July 26
 

Parade of Nations set for Saturday, July 26

The annual Parade of Nations will showcase international folk troupes along Main Street in Waynesville on Saturday, July 26, as…
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Building towards the future
 

Building towards the future

Standing in the hallway of the former Hazelwood Elementary School in Waynesville, amid old furniture, dusty windows and walls with…
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Folkmoot generates $9.2 million economic impact
 

Folkmoot generates $9.2 million economic impact

Folkmoot USA had a $9.2 million impact on Western North Carolina in 2013, according to an economic impact study conducted…
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Pacific Island troupe embraces tradition, family
 

Pacific Island troupe embraces tradition, family

For Joe Ahuna, it’s about one word — “ohana.” “Ohana means family,” he said. “[We want people] inspired to go…
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Harlem Hellfighters deserve their due
 

Harlem Hellfighters deserve their due

I have always been something of a fanatic about graphic novels and my collection includes Maus (which depicts the holocaust…
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Chamber music in Waynesville
 

Chamber music in Waynesville

The Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival will continue with the Jasper Quartet at 7:30 p.m. July 20 at the Haywood Arts…
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Storytellers at Franklin Folk Festival
 

Storytellers at Franklin Folk Festival

Two renowned storytellers will be performing during the Franklin Folk Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19,…
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Roddick, Courier to play tennis exhibition in Cashiers
 

Roddick, Courier to play tennis exhibition in Cashiers

The Andy Roddick Mountain Challenge will be July 25-26 at the Cedar Creek Racquet Club in Cashiers.
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BBQ festival in Maggie Valley
 

BBQ festival in Maggie Valley

The Smokin’ in the Valley Western North Carolina BBQ Festival will be from noon to 9 p.m. July 25 and…
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Collective Soul brings 90s rock to Harrah’s
 

Collective Soul brings 90s rock to Harrah’s

Renowned rock band Collective Soul will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at Harrah’s Cherokee.
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Folkmoot brings music, dance to Franklin
 

Folkmoot brings music, dance to Franklin

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s official international folklore festival, will hit the stage for a special performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday,…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I am the human sponge. As far back as I can remember, into the early days of my youth, I…
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The King is dead, long live the King: Elvis impersonators set record in Cherokee
 

The King is dead, long live the King: Elvis impersonators set record in Cherokee

Hundreds of Elvis Presley fans converged on Cherokee last weekend to pay homage to the King. They arrived from a…
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Getting at the nitty gritty of history
 

Getting at the nitty gritty of history

Regional histories are my favorite literary genre. It’s in them that the nitty-gritty of everyday life is most clearly portrayed.…
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Plott Balsams kickoff nature series in Sylva
 

Plott Balsams kickoff nature series in Sylva

A six-part lecture series on nature, ecology and conservation will kick off with a program titled “Plott Balsams Business Case…
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Birders bring Africa to Highlands
 

Birders bring Africa to Highlands

Highlands will get a chance to experience South Africa through a presentation from Jim and Ellen Shelton, long-time birders whose…
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Jump on the Jackson farm, garden and studio tour
 

Jump on the Jackson farm, garden and studio tour

More than a dozen farmers and gardeners will be featured in the annual Jackson County Farm Tour coming up July…
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From kayaks and greenways to high school science labs, Pigeon River Fund doles out grants
 

From kayaks and greenways to high school science labs, Pigeon River Fund doles out grants

Water quality, aquatic habitats and outdoor recreation will see a boost in Haywood County thanks to $132,000 in new grants…
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Battle for the brookie
 

Battle for the brookie

As the only native trout in North Carolina, brook trout is a well-loved fish, but it’s fallen on some hard…
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Rare wetland habitat to get an upgrade
 

Rare wetland habitat to get an upgrade

A three-acre wetland near Cherokee Central Schools will get $25,000 worth of restoration work thanks to a grant that Great…
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Growing native in Highlands
 

Growing native in Highlands

A slate of programs July 23-25 at the Highlands Biological Foundation will highlight the benefits of gardening with native plants,…
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HCC student takes top spot in national lumberjack competition
 

HCC student takes top spot in national lumberjack competition

Haywood Community College student Logan Hawks recently placed third in the nation in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Collegiate Lumberjack Competition.…
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Rafting’s restrained rebound: Commercial outfitters attempt to paddle back from record rain year
 

Rafting’s restrained rebound: Commercial outfitters attempt to paddle back from record rain year

The summer is shaping into a pretty good rafting season for Tee Davis. “It’s awesome, man,” said Davis, owner of…
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Haywood dogs go bulletproof: Group donates Kevlar vests for local police dogs
 

Haywood dogs go bulletproof: Group donates Kevlar vests for local police dogs

The four-legged officers of Haywood County are now bulletproof, thanks to a donation from the Western North Carolina Dog Fanciers…
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A few problems with one-sided letter
 

A few problems with one-sided letter

To the Editor: In his column, Martin Dyckman disparages supply-side economics but contradicts himself two paragraphs later stating that teachers…
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Your property rights are at risk
 

Your property rights are at risk

To the Editor: Republican Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, co-sponsored SB 786, which is now law. • It fast tracked fracking…
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The truth about Common Core
 

The truth about Common Core

To the Editor: Common Core and understanding the ramifications of the future of our children’s education are something all citizens…
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Can anyone afford to get sick?
 

Can anyone afford to get sick?

By John Beckman • Guest Columnist About eight months ago I had a misunderstanding with a pile of lumber which,…
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Once again, WNC health care landscape shifts
 

Once again, WNC health care landscape shifts

Haywood County’s hospital was in trouble. The average number of patients staying overnight had dropped precipitously, causing severe problems to…
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Suite of school leadership changes announced in Haywood
 

Suite of school leadership changes announced in Haywood

The summer ritual of naming new principals and assistant principals before the start of the next school year wrapped up…
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WestCare to open primary care clinic
 

WestCare to open primary care clinic

WestCare Health will launch a new full-time primary care clinic in the Health and Human Sciences Building at Western Carolina…
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Canton business, neighbors in parking dispute
 

Canton business, neighbors in parking dispute

A Canton business has recently found itself in the midst of a heated parking debate. Blackbear Automotive & Transmission, located…
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Macon commissioners pass resolution opposing additional wilderness
 

Macon commissioners pass resolution opposing additional wilderness

Macon County commissioners voted unanimously last week to endorse a resolution stating that no new wilderness areas in Macon County…
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Franklin aldermen vote no to hospice grant
 

Franklin aldermen vote no to hospice grant

Hospice House of WNC suffered a setback last week when the Franklin Board of Aldermen made a split decision not…
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Fracking presentation draws a crowd in Jackson
 

Fracking presentation draws a crowd in Jackson

A question-and-answer session concerning fracking drew a full crowd to a recent Jackson County Planning Board meeting. Western Carolina University…
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Jackson still mulling landslide mapping
 

Jackson still mulling landslide mapping

Landslide hazard maps for the Wayehutta Creek watershed in the Cullowhee area of Jackson County were unveiled recently. The mapping…
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Construction turns up Cherokee grave in Franklin
 

Construction turns up Cherokee grave in Franklin

Macon County’s project to turn the 48-acre Parker Meadows project into a tournament-level softball and baseball complex met some complications…
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With food allergies on the rise, schools grapple with how to keep students safe
 

With food allergies on the rise, schools grapple with how to keep students safe

In light of the growing number of children with food allergies, a new policy has been adopted by Haywood County…
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Hospital back online following fire
 

Hospital back online following fire

Three weeks after a fire in the power room knocked out electricity at Haywood Regional Medical Center, the hospital is…
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Expanding the Circle: Circles of Hope program to attack poverty in Jackson County
 

Expanding the Circle: Circles of Hope program to attack poverty in Jackson County

Monty Williams didn’t know a whole lot about the Circles of Hope program when he sat down to his first…
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Duke LifePoint sale to finalize by July 31
 

Duke LifePoint sale to finalize by July 31

The sale of the MedWest hospital trio in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties will be finalized by the end of…
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Jackson takes another step toward controlling Cullowhee growth
 

Jackson takes another step toward controlling Cullowhee growth

The latest development to throw down a stake in Cullowhee intends to build a 488-bed student housing complex on a…
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Franklin hires town manager
 

Franklin hires town manager

After a closed session Monday, the Franklin Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to give Interim Town Manager Summer Woodard a…
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