The how-to of a jail break
 

The how-to of a jail break

It was a fairly simple inside job in the end, one easily borrowed from the playbook of any Hollywood jailbreak.…
Read More

Comment

Awaiting her fate: Jailer helped murder suspect escape jail, fled with him to California
 

Awaiting her fate: Jailer helped murder suspect escape jail, fled with him to California

The jury trial of a Swain County jailer accused of springing a murderer from jail more than four years ago…
Read More

Comment

Sid’s on Main makes a little history, from scratch
 

Sid’s on Main makes a little history, from scratch

By Paul Clark • Correspondent In the old Imperial Hotel in Canton, Sid’s on Main is creating a little history of…
Read More

Comment

GroWNC presents to EDC
 

GroWNC presents to EDC

In an effort to promote growth and a positive impact on Western North Carolina communities, GroWNC came in front of…
Read More

Comment

EDC board raises no objections to possible chamber partnership
 

EDC board raises no objections to possible chamber partnership

The Haywood County Economic Development Commission last week listened to a summary of task force reports on how it and…
Read More

Comment

The perversity of inanimate objects: logging then and now
 

The perversity of inanimate objects: logging then and now

Some steam and water-powered sawmills were established in the Smokies region during the 1870s and 1880s. But full-fledged industrialized logging…
Read More

Comment

Winds prevent containment of Linville Gorge fire
 

Winds prevent containment of Linville Gorge fire

Light rainfall over the weekend wasn’t enough to slow the Table Rock fire in Linville Gorge nor will this week’s…
Read More

Comment

Upgrades coming to Graveyard Fields
 

Upgrades coming to Graveyard Fields

Portions of the popular Graveyard Fields Loop Trail are closed for upgrades, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The agency…
Read More

Comment

Illustrated guide to Purchase Knob available
 

Illustrated guide to Purchase Knob available

Talk about mission creep. What was supposed to be a simple, final project for his Blue Ridge Naturalist certificate of…
Read More

Comment

Grants available to help Appalachian Trail
 

Grants available to help Appalachian Trail

Have an idea for a project that will benefit the Appalachian Trail but have limited funds to make it happen?…
Read More

Comment

Fire in the landscape – still a burning question
 

Fire in the landscape – still a burning question

It will likely take awhile for the smoke to clear after the Table Rock Fire near Linville Gorge in the…
Read More

Comment

Cataloochee Ski Area opens with new shop, upgrades
 

Cataloochee Ski Area opens with new shop, upgrades

Jake Flannick • SMN Correspondent Michael Wagenseil is settling into his element, arranging displays of ski equipment and clothing as he…
Read More

Comment

Tarrt delivers once again — a decade later
 

Tarrt delivers once again — a decade later

I first encountered a Donna Tartt novel some 20 years ago when a friend reverently placed a copy of The…
Read More

Comment

Civility begins with us
 

Civility begins with us

By Doug Wingeier • Columnist  The cover story in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue of The Smoky Mountain News described divisions in…
Read More

Comment

Once we did it, dancing with the Mouse was well worth it all
 

Once we did it, dancing with the Mouse was well worth it all

We had talked about going to Disney World for so long that it had become an abstraction, so distant and…
Read More

Comment

Library branches collecting food for holidays
 

Library branches collecting food for holidays

All branches of the Haywood County Public Library are currently collecting food to help meet the needs of local residents…
Read More

Comment

State reverses itself, gives Swain North Shore interest
 

State reverses itself, gives Swain North Shore interest

Swain County leaders were relieved this month when the state gave them the go ahead to tap $382,000 in interest…
Read More

Comment

Applicants sought for Haywood boards
 

Applicants sought for Haywood boards

The Board of County Commissioners is seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on the Haywood County Agriculture Advisory Board (Farmland…
Read More

Comment

Macon assistant prosecutor to challenge Moore for DA job
 

Macon assistant prosecutor to challenge Moore for DA job

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Welch, a Republican from Macon County, announced this week she will be running for district attorney…
Read More

Comment

Haywood to embrace dual chamber-economic development model
 

Haywood to embrace dual chamber-economic development model

A plan to move the Haywood County Economic Development Commission under the umbrella of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce…
Read More

Comment

Human interaction can be fatal to elk
 

Human interaction can be fatal to elk

A young male elk in Cataloochee Valley was put down by park rangers last week for repeatedly rushing and taunting…
Read More

Comment

Haywood hospital leaders vote ‘yes’ to Duke LifePoint sale  amid outpouring of public support
 

Haywood hospital leaders vote ‘yes’ to Duke LifePoint sale amid outpouring of public support

A parade of community leaders, doctors, nurses and hospital supporters voiced overwhelming support for the sale of Haywood Regional Medical…
Read More
Waynesville listens to plan for reconfiguring N. Main, Walnut
 

Waynesville listens to plan for reconfiguring N. Main, Walnut

Waynesville leaders haven’t decided whether they will back a plan to reconfigure the intersection of North Main and Walnut streets,…
Read More

Comment

Education changes, woes discussed at forum
 

Education changes, woes discussed at forum

What was billed to be a town hall style education forum for the Macon County School System, filled with parents…
Read More

Comment

Jackson leaders search for equity in fire tax debate
 

Jackson leaders search for equity in fire tax debate

Some Jackson County commissioners expressed trepidation this week over changing the way the county’s seven volunteer fire departments are funded.
Read More

Comment

Business briefs
 

Business briefs

Canton biscuit maker finishes strong Canton resident Chris Sellers competed recently in the final round of Bojangles’ 18th annual Master…
Read More

Comment

SCC schedules pair of table gaming information sessions
 

SCC schedules pair of table gaming information sessions

Over the next few weeks, Southwestern Community College will host a pair of information sessions for anyone interested in pursuing…
Read More

Comment

‘Hard Candy Christmas’ returns to WCU
 

‘Hard Candy Christmas’ returns to WCU

The 26th annual “Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Craft Show” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29-30 at…
Read More

Comment

Mountain Momma
 

Mountain Momma

Dear Pottery Barn photographers, Please consider hiring a consultant who actually has kids before you shoot your next product magazine. Otherwise,…
Read More

Comment

Salute to Johnny Cash at WCU
 

Salute to Johnny Cash at WCU

“Ring of Fire — The Music of Johnny Cash” comes to life at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, in the…
Read More

Comment

Santa Claus, author bring cheer to Franklin
 

Santa Claus, author bring cheer to Franklin

Joe Moore, author of the Santa Claus Trilogy, will make a special appearance from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov.…
Read More

Comment

Holt brings holiday bluegrass cheer to Highlands
 

Holt brings holiday bluegrass cheer to Highlands

Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts…
Read More

Comment

Music, art converge in Bryson
 

Music, art converge in Bryson

Asheville blues/rock group Mojomatic will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Swain County Center for the Arts Bryson…
Read More

Comment

This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Editor’s Note: After receiving a heartfelt letter in the mail recently from an inmate at a North Carolina correctional facility,…
Read More

Comment

Stepping to old-time rhythms in a Swain County gym
 

Stepping to old-time rhythms in a Swain County gym

By Jacob Flannick • SMN Correspondent After ending a series of lessons in which she learned the basic steps of clogging,…
Read More

Comment

Macon Commissioners honored for their vision
 

Macon Commissioners honored for their vision

The Macon County Commissioners received the 2013 Robert and Virginia Ramsey Brunner Land Conservationist of the Year Award during LTLT’s…
Read More

Comment

Improved Green Growth Toolbox available
 

Improved Green Growth Toolbox available

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has upgraded its Green Growth Toolbox to better equip communities to deal with wildlife…
Read More

Comment

Landowners protect 29 acres on Pigeon River
 

Landowners protect 29 acres on Pigeon River

Rural preservation leaders in the Bethel community of Haywood County have announced the permanent protection of 29 acres through two…
Read More

Comment

Park moves toward winter schedule
 

Park moves toward winter schedule

You know winter is just around the corner when Great Smoky Mountains National Park starts shutting down. Here is a…
Read More

Comment

Internal medicine doctor sets example for patients, students
 

Internal medicine doctor sets example for patients, students

Dr. Randall Provost walked the walk—or more accurately ran the run—when he competed in the Mountain Jug Run for Research,…
Read More

Comment

Book shares funny anecdotes about life as a park ranger
 

Book shares funny anecdotes about life as a park ranger

So, what does one do when a sedated bear wakes up in the back seat of a helicopter mid-flight or…
Read More

Comment

Parkway road closure north of Asheville
 

Parkway road closure north of Asheville

A section of Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 376 at Ox Creek Road to Milepost 355, near the entrance to…
Read More

Comment

Hermit in the house
 

Hermit in the house

I can be standing five feet from my girls and say something simple like, “wash your hands,” “brush your teeth”…
Read More

Comment

Plans unfold for fly fishing museum
 

Plans unfold for fly fishing museum

By Colby Dunn • Correspondent  Each year, an estimated 50,000 people visit Cherokee looking to hit it big, but instead of…
Read More

Comment

Hays’ new book succeeds on several levels
 

Hays’ new book succeeds on several levels

In What I Came To Tell You (Egmont Publishers, ISBN 9781606844335, $16.99), local author Tommy Hayes brings us the story…
Read More

Comment

Improving patient care is priority
 

Improving patient care is priority

The last couple of weeks have been filled with a lot of news about Haywood Regional Medical Center and its…
Read More

Comment

Cullowhee planning will help community
 

Cullowhee planning will help community

To the Editor: As a retort to the concerned citizen who wrote a letter to the editor about the intent…
Read More

Comment

Planning in Cullowhee is a community effort
 

Planning in Cullowhee is a community effort

To the Editor: I attended last week’s open forum sponsored by the newly formed Cullowhee community planning group where local…
Read More

Comment

Enough of unbridled growth in Cullowhee
 

Enough of unbridled growth in Cullowhee

To the Editor: Cullowhee is the fastest growing community in Jackson County. After several years of effort and well-attended community…
Read More

Comment

Community help needed to save education
 

Community help needed to save education

I’ve heard all the speeches and read all the legislative fantasies, and I’m still not satisfied with what I’ve heard…
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.