Biodiesel station opens in Cullowhee
 

Biodiesel station opens in Cullowhee

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The delivery of 3,000 gallons of B-20 biodiesel manufactured by Smoky Mountain Biofuels made…
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Doctor's resolution
 

Doctor's resolution

Here is a copy of the resolution, which was passed by the Medical Executive Committee on Dec. 6 and affirmed…
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Jackson County mulls EDC participation
 

Jackson County mulls EDC participation

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Two years have passed since the Jackson County Commissioners suspended their participation with the…
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Land for Tomorrow wins Jackson support
 

Land for Tomorrow wins Jackson support

Jackson County Commissioners passed a resolution Monday night (Dec. 18) encouraging the state General Assembly to provide funding for the…
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Mediation needed, says medical staff: Doctors vote 50-2 to ask HRMC administration to find ‘win-win’ solution
 

Mediation needed, says medical staff: Doctors vote 50-2 to ask HRMC administration to find ‘win-win’ solution

The Haywood County medical community sent a strong message at a countywide meeting of doctors last Tuesday night (Dec. 12).…
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Moratorium stops high-rises
 

Moratorium stops high-rises

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Macon County Commissioners unanimously approved a moratorium on high-rise development Monday, giving county planning…
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Affordable college is available
 

Affordable college is available

By Bill Rhodarmer I read with interest a recent column in a local news publication concerning the high cost of…
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Temporary high-rise ban a wise move
 

Temporary high-rise ban a wise move

The last thing Macon County — or any of the counties west of Asheville — needs is a high-rise condominium…
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Winter workout
 

Winter workout

By Michael Beadle Just because the temperatures drop and days grow shorter doesn’t mean you have to give up your…
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The Naturalist's Corner
 

The Naturalist's Corner

Winter solstice
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Survey shows more mountain residents  enjoy the outdoors
 

Survey shows more mountain residents enjoy the outdoors

A statewide survey to gauge support for making hunting on Sundays legal revealed some interesting side statistics on outdoor recreation.
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Hospital board stands by ER decision
 

Hospital board stands by ER decision

A new set of doctors will take over emergency room operations at Haywood Regional Medical Center at midnight on the…
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Speace’s style still rings true
 

Speace’s style still rings true

Something I’ve noticed over the years is that the longer you’re on this planet, the smaller said planet seems to…
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Five questions
 

Five questions

Tell us about what you do. How did you learn what you do? What are your duties day-to-day? What about…
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Hospital board stands by ER decision
 

Hospital board stands by ER decision

Despite outcry from the medical community and general public, the hospital board of Haywood Regional Medical Center has stood by…
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Selling national forest land is just a bad idea
 

Selling national forest land is just a bad idea

The proposed sale of U.S. Forest Service land to find money for counties who have lost revenue from declining timber…
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Jackson commissioners take control of airport authority appointments
 

Jackson commissioners take control of airport authority appointments

Jackson County Commissioners last week strategically deferred making a decision about who would become the newest member of the Jackson…
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Give the lasting gift of independent media
 

Give the lasting gift of independent media

Several years ago, as Christmas approached, I remember my youngest daughter saying, “I can’t imagine what I want for Christmas;…
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It is a sad day, indeed
 

It is a sad day, indeed

Thursday night, the Haywood Regional Medical Center Board chose to breach the hospital’s contract with Haywood Emergency Physicians rather than…
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Reality, outcomes and education spending
 

Reality, outcomes and education spending

This deserves emphasis, given the central role that public education plays in North Carolina political debate: our schools have vastly…
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Emergency physicians air concerns, hear public input at community forum
 

Emergency physicians air concerns, hear public input at community forum

Haywood Emergency Physicians expressed concern at a public forum last Tuesday night (Dec. 19) about the turnover of emergency room…
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The news of 2006
 

The news of 2006

2006 was a big year for news in the mountains. From the economy to the world of politics, there’s been…
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Winter workout and wear
 

Winter workout and wear

By Rachel Tomlinson With the winter season in full swing, dressing appropriately to prevent cold injuries is often overlooked, especially…
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New fish species gets boost from Fish and Wildlife grant
 

New fish species gets boost from Fish and Wildlife grant

The sickle-fin redhorse, a new species of fish recently discovered that dwells in only a handful of rivers in WNC,…
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Resolving to go green(er)
 

Resolving to go green(er)

The only New Year’s resolution that I know I have kept came after a particularly devastating New Year’s morning back…
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Outside in 06
 

Outside in 06

The Smoky Mountain News Outdoors section has printed scores of news about the environment, adventure sports and outdoor activities in…
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Recommended diversions
 

Recommended diversions

Traditions It’s over now, but the 24 hours between Christmas Eve afternoon, say around 6 p.m., and the evening of…
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Abandoned library 06
 

Abandoned library 06

Well I just received a hurriedly written letter from 2006. (It was on a page torn from a Gideon Bible).…
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Doctors criticize board’s decision and its process
 

Doctors criticize board’s decision and its process

The current falling out between Haywood Regional Medical Center and the ER doctors is a symptom of a larger problem…
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It’s that time again
 

It’s that time again

By Kathleen Lamont The tradition of New Year’s Resolutions can be accurately traced to 153 B.C., although it could go…
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Working on the fly
 

Working on the fly

By Michael Beadle Wintertime may not offer the best opportunities for fly-fishing, but that doesn’t mean fly fishers aren’t busy.
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Start the year with some drama — HART style
 

Start the year with some drama — HART style

By Michael Beadle What is art? What makes a relationship stand the test of time? How do you move on…
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I Got A Guitar For Christmas ... Now What Do I Do?
 

I Got A Guitar For Christmas ... Now What Do I Do?

By Chris Cooper Christmas is one of those times where there’s a surge of buying in the instrument market, and…
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Recommended diversions
 

Recommended diversions

Small, but Big Something most retail stores do before a busy Christmas season is run some kind of “sales report”…
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Steps towards manhood
 

Steps towards manhood

I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan. Gotham, 2006. 208 pages. Dear Chris, Your questions…
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A brief history of a complicated situation
 

A brief history of a complicated situation

By Sarah Kucharski In January 2005, Jackson County Commissioners called in more than $1.2 million in loans issued to six…
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The EDC question: Comparing and contrasting various models, as Jackson  looks toward the future
 

The EDC question: Comparing and contrasting various models, as Jackson looks toward the future

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer If there’s one thing economic development officials agree on, it’s that there’s no one…
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Haywood pushes legislative agenda
 

Haywood pushes legislative agenda

Creation of a one-half cent local option sales tax to support building needs at Haywood Community College and tax relief…
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Phoenix says transition smooth despite patient complaints
 

Phoenix says transition smooth despite patient complaints

A corporate entity took over emergency room operations at Haywood Regional Medical Center last week, and so far it hasn’t…
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Details of the new policy
 

Details of the new policy

A new public comment and meeting policy has been adopted by the Swain County Board of Commissioners. Here are some…
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Swain change lets the sun shine in
 

Swain change lets the sun shine in

Swain County commissioners have adopted a new policy designed to keep the public more informed and give them a bigger…
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Hopeful thinking for the coming year
 

Hopeful thinking for the coming year

New Year’s resolutions? Don’t believe in most of them, especially those that are akin to a miracle diet or those…
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Suffering through a fever to find the holiday spirit
 

Suffering through a fever to find the holiday spirit

Sometime before daylight on the day before Christmas Eve, Tammy and I were gently nudged out of sleep by a…
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The Annual Balsam CBC
 

The Annual Balsam CBC

The fifth annual Balsam Christmas Bird Count was conducted last Saturday, Dec. 30. The 15-mile diameter circle, which covers a…
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Self-preservation
 

Self-preservation

Land For Tomorrow is a statewide initiative launched last year to set aside $1 billion for land conservation over the…
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Speaking out
 

Speaking out

More than 300 people attended a public hearing on Land For Tomorrow in Asheville last week, overwhelming the expectations of…
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Support builds for Haywood land trust
 

Support builds for Haywood land trust

Dave Curphey’s story is a dime a dozen. Fed up with the urban sprawl that ruined his small town in…
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WLOS no longer available on Mediacom
 

WLOS no longer available on Mediacom

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Local Mediacom cable subscribers up late Friday night saw their ABC affiliate WLOS Channel…
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Overcoming a dysfunctional relationship
 

Overcoming a dysfunctional relationship

Haywood Regional Medical Center, the entire medical community and its volunteer board of directors have some work to do. That…
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County must take role in new Jackson EDC
 

County must take role in new Jackson EDC

The business sector in Jackson County will benefit from the renewed efforts to establish a working Economic Development Commission.
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