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Waynesville, Lake Junaluska hammer out details of merger
 

Waynesville, Lake Junaluska hammer out details of merger

The town of Waynesville has a large checklist to tackle in the coming months before Lake Junaluska is officially added…
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Sylva Walmart sign decision pending
 

Sylva Walmart sign decision pending

Sylva town leaders once again have a public hearing on the docket to decide the fate of oversized Walmart signs,…
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New Sylva women’s center a dream come true for WNC doctor
 

New Sylva women’s center a dream come true for WNC doctor

Dr. Janine Keever still remembers that do-or-die moment in her undergrad chemistry class like it was yesterday. The grades just…
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More hellos than goodbyes: Topography forces cell phone companies to weigh cost-benefit of erecting new towers
 

More hellos than goodbyes: Topography forces cell phone companies to weigh cost-benefit of erecting new towers

As long as Realtor Sammie Powell leans back in his chair in his home office, he can talk on his…
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Franklin a host site for Chick-fil-A Leadercast
 

Franklin a host site for Chick-fil-A Leadercast

The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin is hosting a one-day leadership event from 8 a.m. to…
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New high-tech training center to be a feather in Franklin’s cap
 

New high-tech training center to be a feather in Franklin’s cap

A state-of-the-art training facility built by Drake Software is the latest addition to Macon County’s economic landscape.
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State debates drug testing for aid recipients
 

State debates drug testing for aid recipients

A bill that recently passed the state Senate would take social assistance away from anyone using drugs by requiring state…
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‘Dusty Roads’ photo exhibit opens in Canton
 

‘Dusty Roads’ photo exhibit opens in Canton

Photographer Barbara Sammons will be showcasing an exhibit of her work from May 7 to July 31 at the Canton…
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J. Creek Cloggers kick into the summer
 

J. Creek Cloggers kick into the summer

The J. Creek Cloggers are gearing up for a lively summer festival season. A high-energy dance team based out of…
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David Holt partners with local musicians for Jackson concert
 

David Holt partners with local musicians for Jackson concert

The legendary David Holt and local gospel group Mountain Faith will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the…
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Dog lovers unite for trifecta of good times in Sylva
 

Dog lovers unite for trifecta of good times in Sylva

Woofstock, a benefit festival for ARF (the Humane Society of Jackson County), will take place from noon to 3 p.m.…
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Nominations open for Mountain Heritage Award
 

Nominations open for Mountain Heritage Award

Western Carolina University is accepting nominations for the Mountain Heritage Award, an honor bestowed annually on one individual and one…
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Reba McEntire to play Harrah’s
 

Reba McEntire to play Harrah’s

Legendary country singer Reba McEntire will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.
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HCC Crafts students debut work
 

HCC Crafts students debut work

The graduating class of Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts program will exhibit some their best work at the Southern Highland…
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WNC breweries medal big in beer competition
 

WNC breweries medal big in beer competition

All five North Carolina breweries west of Asheville medaled in the recent Carolinas Championship of Beer during the Hickory Hops…
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Waynesville galleries get ready to paint the town for the season’s first art walk
 

Waynesville galleries get ready to paint the town for the season’s first art walk

If the litmus test of a community’s health is how strong its art scene is, then, by the looks of…
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Cliff swallows return
 

Cliff swallows return

That’s the news. Our common breeding swallows have always been purple martins, barn swallows, and northern rough-winged swallows. To a…
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Sign up for the WNC trail event of the decade
 

Sign up for the WNC trail event of the decade

A national convergence of Appalachian Trail fans and hiking enthusiasts will descend on Western Carolina University this summer for the…
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Bugle Corp recognized for their volunteerism
 

Bugle Corp recognized for their volunteerism

In honor of National Volunteer Week, Friends of the Smokies is recognizing the work of the Elk Bugle Corps. The…
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Protected watershed offers rare public hike
 

Protected watershed offers rare public hike

A guided hike to the usually off-limits Waynesville watershed will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April…
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Protestors call for action on global warming
 

Protestors call for action on global warming

A group of about 30 demonstrators gathered last Monday at the public fountain on Main Street in downtown Sylva to…
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Winter floods close some Smokies trails, repairs pending
 

Winter floods close some Smokies trails, repairs pending

A section of the Noland Creek Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be closed to hikers and horseback…
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Races, paddling, music and more at NOC
 

Races, paddling, music and more at NOC

Visitors to the Nantahala Gorge this weekend can take in a full lineup of freestyle paddling competitions, outdoor activities, film…
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Be a responsible ramp picker this spring
 

Be a responsible ramp picker this spring

Spring means ramp season in Western North Carolina, but the ramp population in Southern Appalachians is being hurt by over-harvesting.
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Have what it takes to be a junior ranger?
 

Have what it takes to be a junior ranger?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate the National Junior Ranger Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday,…
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Homecoming
 

Homecoming

The blue-headed vireo sang to me of spring sometime around the first week of April. Blue-headeds are generally the last…
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Honeybee disappearance baffles experts
 

Honeybee disappearance baffles experts

Beekeepers in Western North Carolina were hit especially hard this winter by a mysterious rash of bee disappearances.  Amateur Haywood…
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Haywood library offers free digital magazine downloads
 

Haywood library offers free digital magazine downloads

Haywood County Public Library announces the addition of Zinio to its system. Zinio is an online service that allows you…
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Tension-soaked novel is one of Appalachia’s best
 

Tension-soaked novel is one of Appalachia’s best

Mark Powell’s The Dark Corner is probably the best Appalachian novel that I have read in the last decade. It is…
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WNC Ecofest comes to Haywood
 

WNC Ecofest comes to Haywood

WNC Ecofest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Haywood Community College. The festival…
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Folkmoot festival holds Canton fundraiser
 

Folkmoot festival holds Canton fundraiser

Folkmoot USA will kick off its 30th anniversary year with the “BIG 30” from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May…
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Historian to discuss secret son of Cashiers founder
 

Historian to discuss secret son of Cashiers founder

Local historian Jane Nardy will lead a presentation on the secret child of Mordecai Zachary at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April…
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Thunder in the Smokies rides into Maggie Valley
 

Thunder in the Smokies rides into Maggie Valley

The Handlebar Corral presents the annual Thunder in the Smokies spring rally will be held May 3-5 in Maggie Valley.
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Tennis legends Roddick, Courier to face off in Cashiers exhibition match
 

Tennis legends Roddick, Courier to face off in Cashiers exhibition match

Tennis superstars Andy Roddick and Jim Courier will play a charity exhibition match on Saturday, July 27, at Cedar Creek…
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Dunn to play Harrah’s
 

Dunn to play Harrah’s

Country star Ronnie Dunn will be taking the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, April 27, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.
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Photography exhibit goes underwater
 

Photography exhibit goes underwater

Haywood County Arts Council announces a new exhibition, “Under the Sea,” featuring work by Dr. John Highsmith from May 1-27…
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Controlled Chaos Film Festival comes to Cullowhee
 

Controlled Chaos Film Festival comes to Cullowhee

Films created by Western Carolina University students will be screened at the fifth annual Controlled Chaos Film Festival at 7…
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Aiming for the soul, one note at a time
 

Aiming for the soul, one note at a time

When finding your artistic voice, it’s about moving forward and not looking back, being true to yourself and refusing to…
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Spring up at Greening Up
 

Spring up at Greening Up

The 16th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival takes place Saturday, April 27, on Main and Mill streets in historic…
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Democrats need to unite behind Christopher
 

Democrats need to unite behind Christopher

To the Editor: I’m deeply troubled to learn that some Haywood Democrats are still disgruntled about the appointment of Greg…
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Career politicians are the problem
 

Career politicians are the problem

To the Editor: Career politicians are ruining this country. Unfortunately, once elected, most of our politicians’ concerns are to become…
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Dillsboro and Jackson need railroad back
 

Dillsboro and Jackson need railroad back

To the Editor: How will the saga of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad end? There have been many letters written…
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I will miss my conversations with Roger Ebert
 

I will miss my conversations with Roger Ebert

I cannot credit film critic Roger Ebert, who died just a couple of weeks ago after a lengthy battle with…
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WCU’s Chris Cooper named among UNC system’s top professors
 

WCU’s Chris Cooper named among UNC system’s top professors

Chris Cooper, associate professor and head of the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University, has…
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WCU names Drake to board
 

WCU names Drake to board

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors elected Phil Drake, chief executive officer of Drake Enterprises, and Kenny Messer,…
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Scholarships available for high school seniors
 

Scholarships available for high school seniors

The Fines Creek Community Association is offering $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors living within the Fines Creek, Panther…
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Free kids festival coming to Haywood fairgrounds
 

Free kids festival coming to Haywood fairgrounds

A free kids festival featuring music, activity areas, performances and give-aways will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.…
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Cemeteries ensconced by park remain a source of consternation
 

Cemeteries ensconced by park remain a source of consternation

It is a day Lawrence Hyatt looks forward to all year — venturing into the Smokies backcountry to pay homage…
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Lake Junaluska’s bold new plan to reclaim its future
 

Lake Junaluska’s bold new plan to reclaim its future

Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center has unveiled a $40 million, 10-year campus master plan in hopes of bolstering convention…
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One-size-fits-all tourism brand sought for Jackson
 

One-size-fits-all tourism brand sought for Jackson

Ask vacationers why they pick Jackson County, and you might heard words like “escape,” “relief” and “tradition.” 
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