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Jackson gets entirely Democratic Commissioner Board
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Democrats swept the Jackson County Board of Commissioners as voters elected Cashiers’ Mark Jones…
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Lodging owners hold too much sway, say task force members
A county-appointed tourism task force charged with making recommendations to improve the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority agrees on one…
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Macon picks two new board members, new majority rule
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Ronnie Beale is the newest Macon County commissioner and will join incumbent Bob Simpson,…
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Queen retakes 47th District
Overwhelming support from Haywood County voters will return Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, to the state Senate after a two-year hiatus…
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Shuler triumphs in upset over Taylor
By Michael Beadle Call it a fourth-quarter, game-winning touchdown. A stunning upset over the perennial powerhouse. Pick your sports metaphor.
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Snow easily defeats newcomer McKim
Sen. John Snow, D-Murphy, handily won his second term in the North Carolina Senate, beating challenger Ken McKim 38,537 to…
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Upset in Swain sheriff race
One of the biggest upsets in Tuesday’s election was the Swain County sheriff’s race, where Republican challenger Curtis Cochran beat…
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Tourism task force makes final proposals
The tug-of-war over how best to spend tourism promotion dollars in Haywood County continues, but this time it appears it…
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Interrupting irruptives
Some winters there will be an influx of northern bird species into the southeastern United States. Here in the Smokies…
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Backpacking Fifth Avenue style in Hazel Creek
By Al Smith • Guest Columnist Hazel Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is located in the…
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Front-row Kid dreams of riding once again
“Riding the range once more Toting my old 44 Where you sleep out every night Where the only law is…
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What the health care system needs now
Do the rules of our health care system work anymore? That is the question posed in this column two weeks…
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The real work begins the day after the election
By Rob Schofield This year, those who care about preserving and expanding the common good in North Carolina would do…
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The school board, economics and political insight
By the time we hit the streets with this edition and this column is read, the election that has been…
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Bush tax cuts soaked the rich
By Kirkwood Callahan • Guest Columnist Every election year there are always claims and counter claims over federal tax policy.…
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Foundation connects youth with national Park
The non-profit Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation recently awarded a $98,000 grant for rangers to conduct educational outreach programs for students…
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Not so backcountry
When Al Smith arrived at the backcountry campsite in the Lake Fontana area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
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Ray or the worm – the worm or Ray?
Once again,science and scientists go head to head with the forces of nature to see who can best predict the…
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The honeymoon ends ... now
In the aftermath of last week’s election, we’ve seen a seemingly endless parade of politicians and pundits on both sides…
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Looking for ways to fix the health care system
By Mark Jaben Last time, we talked about EMTALA (the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), managed care and…
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Bush continues to “Dance with the one that brung ‘ya”
“Dance with the one that brung ‘ya” is an old Texas mantra, and Texas oilman George W. Bush has filled…
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Waiting to inhale: Environmentalists herald new Democratic Congress
Environmental activists across the country are heralding the Democratic sweep of Congress as a mandate for better stewardship of natural…
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So, what is there to do around here?
By Chris Cooper Though Sylva might not qualify as a simmering hotbed of musical and cultural hipness, to a degree…
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Recommended diversions
The New Yorker Waynesville’s James Joyce is not only an excellent writer (as evidenced in his latest work Use Eagles…
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A ghost in the city of angels
Ask the Dust by John Fante. Black Sparrow Press. $13 (paperback) — 165 pages. Back in Charles Bukowski’s youth (the…
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Farewell to familiar faces? Broadcast dispute could leave thousands without local TV news coverage
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Cable subscribers in Jackson and Macon counties are facing the possibility of losing local…
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Film explores Cherokee cultural identity issues
A documentary film on Cherokee aired nationwide on public television stations last week. The 90-minute documentary, produced by an all-Native…
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Haywood TDA challenged with windfall
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority has an extra $90,000 to spend and everyone seems to have an idea of…
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Slippery timing: Developers may try to rush plans to beat ordinance
Haywood County commissioners are poised to pass a slope development ordinance at their meeting next week, but a big question…
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Tribe, area colleges collaborate on art degrees
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Officials with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on Monday unveiled plans for a…
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Entrepreneurs open wine stores in Bryson
Swain County residents tired of the wine selection at the grocery store will soon have not one but two new…
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The natural order of things
While observing your backyard bird feeder this winter, you may be startled by a blue flash that suddenly rockets into…
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Election procedures could use some fundamental fixing
It’s time to change the voting laws and procedures in North Carolina to reflect today’s reality and to help alleviate…
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Artists at work: Franklin downtown blooms with Art Quarter Gallery and Studios
By Michael Beadle Like artists inspired by the drama of their own lives, some art studios have their own back…
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Effortless extraction from the days of fusion
By Chris Cooper Music, and the artists that make it, have no choice but to evolve as time goes by.…
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Recommended diversions
“Dexter” There is so much bad television that I’m usually way behind the curve on good new shows because I…
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Crucial issues facing America
Al Qaeda in Europe: The New Battleground of International Jihad by Lorenzo Vidino. Prometheus Books, 2005. 403 pages. The Democrats…
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Golf course on the rocks
An ongoing lawsuit against the owners of Smoky Mountain Golf Course alleges numerous problems with the course’s management under its…
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Ensley wants room tax money for recreation
Recreation programs in Haywood County could get a huge boost from tourism dollars if commissioners follow through on a recommendation…
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Commissioners to send extra room tax to corridors
Haywood County commissioners agreed on Monday (Nov. 20) to ask the General Assembly for an increase in the room tax…
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Smoky Mountain Golf Course’s ordeal: Drawn-out legal saga nears possible resolution
A three-year legal saga between the owners of Smoky Mountain Golf Course and the developers of Smoky Mountain Country Club…
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Group gathers to discuss growth in Jackson
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer About 80 area residents gathered at the Jackson County Recreation Center Thursday night to…
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Haywood waters down slope ordinance
Haywood County commissioners made significant changes to a slope development ordinance created by the county planning board before passing it…
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Slope development ordinance: Key changes
Haywood County Commissioners made several changes to the slope development ordinance before passing it. The ordinance kicks in when a…
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Macon planners seek high-rise moratorium
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The Macon County Planning Board wants county commissioners to enact a moratorium on any…
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Many Sylva building owners support downtown tax
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Most business and property owners have reacted positively to a Downtown Sylva Association proposal…
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Local governments wade into Mediacom-Sinclair fray
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Several area governments are taking steps to keep constituents who subscribe to Mediacom cable…
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Up to par? Golfers look forward to local ownership of Smoky Mountain Golf Course
While most golfers are clearing space in the closet for their clubs this winter, Travis Stephenson is already thinking ahead…
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The art of well-watching
Now is the time to start looking for yellow-bellied sapsuckers here in the Smokies region. Of the various woodpecker species…
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Going after the good guys
The fine line between a cop doing one’s duty or overdoing his duty is once again in the grip of…
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