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Winter means waterfowl at Lake Junaluska
Anyone who follows the Naturalist’s Corner knows that I have devoted much ink to the birds one might encounter at…
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Keith Presnell
1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list? Jobs, to make sure we have infrastructure…
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Three commission seats up for grabs in Macon
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Macon County’s three Democratic commissioners are facing a challenge from three Republican contenders in…
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Voters need to look closely at the Good Governance Legion
By Lee Shelton As the Nov. 7 election date approaches, the “Good Governance Legion” is, again, “banging their noise makers”…
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Smith thrills in his new dark suspense
“The Ruins does for Mexican vacations what Jaws did for New England beaches.” — Stephen King The Ruins by Scott…
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The value of endorsements
Come Nov. 7, voters will choose candidates based on many different factors. In almost all cases, those choices will be…
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Mixed allegiances make Haywood race especially difficult to call
The scene at Haywood County commissioner meetings today is quite different from that four years ago. In the year prior…
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The horrifying beauty of Halloween made simple
“Excuse me, miss, but did you happen to see a princess and a small cow come through here a minute…
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How ‘bout them toad suckers? Ain’t they clods?
When my wife came home the other evening, she asked if I had heard about the toad-sucking dog on NPR.
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Simple living
By Kathleen Lamont Have you heard? The recent marriage of sustainable food production and big business is on the rocks.
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Macon sheriff's race
Robert Holland, 39, has been Macon County Sheriff for four years and with the sheriff's department since 1991. He is…
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Spotlight on Endangered Species in WNC
Green Salamander — Although listed by the state as endangered and recognized as a species of concern by the U.S.…
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Paying for the purchase
Here’s how Swain County plans to pay for the school land purchase.
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Cowee Mound preserved for future generations, historic interpretation
Cowee Mound, a 71-acre site in Macon County and once a major Cherokee village, will be preserved thanks to a…
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Some critical of price paid for Swain land
The price of a recent land purchase by Swain County for school expansion has raised some eyebrows among candidates running…
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Saving before endangering: Federal bill could help prevent species from becoming listed as endangered
If you’re not careful, you could miss it.
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Most Swain candidates cite need for land planning
As growth and development accelerate in Swain County, discussion over the need for road and slope regulations has increasingly taken…
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Five vie for three seats on Haywood board
There are five candidates running for three seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. Kirk Kirkpatrick, Democrat, attorney Kirkpatrick…
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Taylor’s touts congressional clout on campaign trail
By Michael Beadle It’s a chilly fall morning in downtown Bryson City, and U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor steps up into…
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Shuler camp presses message that change is needed
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer It’s 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Andrew Whalen, 11th Congressional District candidate Heath…
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Candidates divided on county’s role in initiating planning efforts
All five candidates running for Haywood County commissioner say they support a proposed slope development ordinance, which is poised for…
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From the pick of the old time pickin’ litter
By Chris Cooper Rafe Stefanini: Ladies Fancy Rafe Stefanini is something of a walking encyclopedia of old-time fiddle and banjo…
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Old instruments sing again: Community band effort provides new homes for neglected instruments
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Jacob Clark, a sixth-grader at Waynesville Middle School, likes the trumpet. “It’s easy to…
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Recommended diversions
Freakonomics OK, I’m often late to the game, but this book published a few years is just fascinating. While working…
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Occupational reading
Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers by Amy Stewart. Algonquin Books, 2006.…
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Bonfoey keeps seat in tight race against Forga
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Mike Bonfoey defeated Republican challenger Donna Forga 34,445 to 29,771 to retain his position…
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Democrats sweep commissioners race
It was a tight race between two candidates running for Swain County commission chairman, but Chairman Glenn Jones hung on…
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Haire keeps 119th House seat
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer District 119 incumbent Phil Haire, D-Sylva, has once against defeated Marge Carpenter, R-Waynesville, for…
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Kirkpatrick, Upton and Curtis in Haywood
An unusually large margin separated Democratic and Republican candidates in the Haywood County commissioners race, suggesting that Republican candidates were…
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Help for those with mental illness: Waynesville couple helps start local NAMI chapter
By Michael Beadle When John and Suzanne Gernandt’s son Matthew began showing signs of schizophrenia, it might have been misread…
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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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