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…
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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.
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Business briefs
 

Business briefs

Canton biscuit maker finishes strong Canton resident Chris Sellers competed recently in the final round of Bojangles’ 18th annual Master…
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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…
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‘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…
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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,…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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”…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Ghost Town gunfighter says shooting injury was no accident
 

Ghost Town gunfighter says shooting injury was no accident

Four months after he was injured in a staged Old West gunshow, a former Ghost Town in the Sky gunfighter…
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Cullowhee planning initiative out of the gate at last
 

Cullowhee planning initiative out of the gate at last

People who live and work in Cullowhee are being invited to share their opinions on growth and planning with a…
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Campus visits ‘vital’ to Western Carolina recruiting efforts
 

Campus visits ‘vital’ to Western Carolina recruiting efforts

Jacob Flannick • SMN Correspondent Hundreds of high school students from across the state and beyond toured the campus of Western…
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Tribal Council OKs plans for rehab facility — again
 

Tribal Council OKs plans for rehab facility — again

For years, enrolled members and leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have called for the tribe to open…
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Tasing threat against 14-year-old mascot investigated by Swain
 

Tasing threat against 14-year-old mascot investigated by Swain

A man threatened to tase a young Cherokee girl at a football game last month, but it is unclear just…
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Sylva getting pretty good at filling empty town board seats
 

Sylva getting pretty good at filling empty town board seats

The Sylva town board will appoint a new leader to an empty seat on the board in coming weeks —…
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Turning around community hospitals is what MedWest’s prospective buyer does best
 

Turning around community hospitals is what MedWest’s prospective buyer does best

When a “for sale” sign went up on the hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties earlier this year, it…
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Maggie man pleads to reduced charges in dispute with town
 

Maggie man pleads to reduced charges in dispute with town

After getting caught up in the politics of Maggie Valley and facing felony forgery charges, Joseph Maniscalco Thursday pleaded guilty…
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The Whopper survives DOT project near Clyde
 

The Whopper survives DOT project near Clyde

Haywood County residents won’t be down a Burger King when the state Department of Transportation starts its major reconstruction of…
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New Tribal Council chair is first woman to hold position
 

New Tribal Council chair is first woman to hold position

Terri Henry has been elected as the first female Tribal Council chair of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, some six…
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Mountain Momma
 

Mountain Momma

I don’t buy the theory that texting has fueled an explosion in writing among kids. The claim is texting is…
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WCU workshop to combine business strategy, storytelling
 

WCU workshop to combine business strategy, storytelling

“Telling Your Story,” a workshop that combines business management, marketing, entrepreneurial activity and economic strategies with the art of storytelling,…
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Open call for Balsam Mountain Roller Girls
 

Open call for Balsam Mountain Roller Girls

The Balsam Mountain Roller Girls want you. A flat track female roller derby league based out of Haywood County, the team…
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Nantahala Brewing to host bottle launch party
 

Nantahala Brewing to host bottle launch party

The craft beer bottling line launch party will be a 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Nantahala Brewing Company in…
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Mural opening at Canton Library
 

Mural opening at Canton Library

A reception for the opening of a new mural in the children’s room of the Canton Branch Library will be…
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Tickets on sale for REO Speedwagon, Robin Thicke at Harrah’s
 

Tickets on sale for REO Speedwagon, Robin Thicke at Harrah’s

Tickets are now available for iconic rockers REO Speedwagon and pop star Robin Thicke who will perform at Harrah’s Cherokee.…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

My ears are still ringing. From Nov. 1-5, I went and saw nine bands. Yep, that’s nine acts in the…
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Appalachia comes to life, through food and music
 

Appalachia comes to life, through food and music

Exiting your vehicle at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, a cold, late fall wind hits you in the face like…
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Strawberry wine and its place in Smokies lore
 

Strawberry wine and its place in Smokies lore

Jack Coburn was a regional entrepreneur who had come to the Smokies in the 1890s. Jack liked to laugh, drink,…
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Biological Station launches campaign for its library furnishings
 

Biological Station launches campaign for its library furnishings

The Highlands Biological Station (HBS) is trying to raise money to buy furnishings for its newly renovated Reinke Library and…
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Parkway to have its own weather forecasting site
 

Parkway to have its own weather forecasting site

Thanks to a new partnership, travelers along the Blue Ridge Parkway can access real time current road and weather conditions…
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Classic Hike to explore Fontana’s Lakeshore Trail
 

Classic Hike to explore Fontana’s Lakeshore Trail

Renowned hiking expert and author Danny Bernstein will lead the next Friends of the Smokies Classic Hike on Tuesday, Nov.…
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Park plans controlled burns in Cades Cove
 

Park plans controlled burns in Cades Cove

Smoke could be heavy in the Cades Cove area this month due to a series of controlled burns in the…
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