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MedWest asks patients: What do you want?
The new CEO of MedWest-Haywood is rounding on the county, asking residents about the hospital’s past performance and how to…
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Nonprofits struggle to win back funding
It’s been five years since the recession hit, and nonprofits in Haywood County are still struggling to get by after…
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Cherokee scores federal storm clean-up assistance
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians became the first tribe in the nation to receive a Presidential Declaration of Disaster…
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State cuts judges to keep legal system ticking
State funding cuts for magistrate judges are taking a toll on rural counties and the judges themselves. Long hours, a…
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Tide of support carries Lake Junaluska, Waynesville toward merger
Lake Junaluska homeowners and community leaders spoke out strongly last week in favor of merging with Waynesville, setting the stage for a bill to work its way through the N.C. General Assembly this summer declaring Lake Junaluska part of the…
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Cherokee becomes first tribe in space
It’s 20 degrees outside and Spencer Thomas is standing on a Cherokee soccer field holding a balloon. “Hopefully, everything goes…
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Cherokee Tribal Council mulls over second casino
Cherokee Tribal Council was asked to green light the construction of a second $110 million casino and hotel near Murphy…
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Rash’s Appalachia is both rich and flawed
Ron Rash’s latest collection of short stories echos a theme that runs through all of his works: an awareness that Appalachia…
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Getting the 'word' out
It’s a sunny, crisp afternoon in the high hills of Tuckasegee and Thomas Rain Crowe throws another log into the…
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Angelina Ballerina comes to Franklin
The musical “Angelina Ballerina” will be onstage at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the…
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Roller girls host ‘Spring Fling’Her’ bout
Smoky Mountain Roller Girls “Spring Fling’Her” bout against G-Force (Gastonia) is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the…
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Wheels Through Time to be featured on TV cable show
Wheels Through Time Museum, one of America’s most famous motorcycling destinations located in Maggie Valley, will be featured on the…
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Pride of the Mountains in the spotlight at band directors convention
Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will be highlighted next week at the national convention of the…
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Textile art exhibit opens in Waynesville
The exhibit “Textures” featuring the work of nine textile artists will open next week at the Haywood County Arts Council’s…
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Don’t be in a rush to cut courthouse trees
To the Editor: I am concerned that the decision to remove the trees at the courthouse was hasty and ill-judged.…
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Once again, we need to save Needmore
To the Editor: After all the time and effort put forth by the citizens of Macon and Swain counties, the…
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The roots of the U.S. gun culture
To the Editor: In all the current commentary about gun violence in the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy…
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A great night of music at the Bardo Center
To the Editor: What a wonderful evening recently at the Bardo Arts Center. Western Carolina University School of Music presented…
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Joining Waynesville right move for Junaluska
To the Editor: From my perspective, much of the discussion of whether or not to allow annexation of Lake Junaluska…
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Give McCrory, GOP a chance before piling on
To the Editor: Ms. Abel’s letter said that the state’s Democratic ideals are fading fast since the last election (“State’s…
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Making tourism sustainable as economic development
By Ken Stahl • Guest Columnist There appears to be controversy concerning the proposed 2 percent occupancy tax increase. This…
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Haywood picks up the torch on landslide hazard mapping
A team of laid-off state geologists will soon start mapping landslide hazard zones in Haywood County after a coalition of…
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To map or not to map? Jackson ponders the question amid spate of rain-induced landslides and steep slope rewrite
Jackson County planning board members are considering whether to re-start a landslide hazard mapping initiative that was axed by the…
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Cherokee leaders contemplate second casino in Murphy
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians could decide soon whether to move forward with a second casino near Murphy, but…
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WCU opens up the door for wine and beer sales at performance venue
People attending productions at Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center may soon have the chance…
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Drinking up the essence of thought, innovation
It’s a room full of strangers, ideas and alcohol. Still in its infancy yet gaining steam, the Drink-N-Think congregation came…
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HCC president finalists to remain off the record
The Haywood Community College Board of Trustees has decided not to release the names of its finalists for president of…
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Troubling spike in foster children prompts budget shortfalls
The number of children in foster care in Haywood County is on the rise, a depressing sign for Department of…
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Proponents of Haywood room tax increase rebut criticism
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority board responded to outcries from Maggie Valley business owners about a proposed lodging tax…
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11th-hour deal saves 100 Franklin manufacturing jobs
In a move that could save nearly 100 jobs and keep a Franklin factory from closing, an English-based company struck…
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The harbingers of spring are upon us
As you read this it may well be freezing or even icy outside. But before long you’ll be outside working…
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News from the AT
Teachers invited to bring the AT into their classroom Teachers and educators interested in incorporating the Appalachian Trail into their…
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U.S. 441 through park should reopen by May 15
Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is expected to be repaired and open by…
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Mountain scramble to Black Rock
The third annual Assault on Black Rock will test the strength and stamina of trail runners as they try to…
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Hikes of the Smokies series kicks off
A guided hike in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held on Tuesday,…
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Louisiana lagniappe
I know, I know, we’ve been in Louisiana for two weeks now, but when I look back at some of…
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Follow me, into the wild
The last time I went camping I was 10 or 11. I was in my grandparents’ backyard, snug in my…
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Prepping for the AT 2,184 miles to be ‘in the moment’
During the next several weeks, thousands of people will leave from Springer Mountain in Georgia and begin the 2,184-mile trek…
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Emotions run high as Lake Junaluska task force votes for merger
A Lake Junaluska task force voiced overwhelming support last week for merging the 765-home community with the town of Waynesville before a packed audience of homeowners. SEE ALSO: Ongoing coverage The 14-member task force has spent 10 months weighing the…
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Jackson commissioners mull request for deputies in elementary schools
Jackson County commissioners have postponed a decision on hiring deputies to man the county’s elementary schools. The school board and…
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New Haywood sheriff pledges modern, professional leadership
There’s a new sheriff in town. Greg Christopher, a 51-year-old former lieutenant in the N.C. State Patrol, assumed the role…
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Re-learning those old, familiar (bird) songs
I like “old time rock and roll” too. And I recently got some of my old time records, CDs, iPods,…
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Climbing event at Chimney Rock
An event called “Climbin’ the Chimney” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 2 is an opportunity to for…
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Duke grants to aid education, environment
Duke Energy is helping to fund new educational and environmental projects as part of its hydropower relicensing agreement in the…
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Taking the polar plunge
Around 30 daring souls splashed and jumped into Lake Junaluska last Saturday for the first annual “Polar Plunge” to raise…
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Loosiana part deaux
What better place to start part deaux than Breaux Bridge along Bayou Teche? Firmin Breaux originally purchased the area that…
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WCU trail system now open to the public
Western Carolina University’s new trail system is open and ready for bikers, hikers and runners. About 100 people turned out…
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Honest hunters have little tolerance for renegade tactics
Shock waves rippled through the mountain hunting community last week as word spread of a sweeping undercover investigation targeting dozens…
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“Operation Something Bruin:” Dozens of rogue hunters busted in illegal mountain poaching ring
Last week, state and federal wildlife officers began rounding up dozens of suspected poachers in Western North Carolina, bringing to…
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Final volume of Churchill biography a long-awaited gem
William Manchester, author of a number of best-selling books, including The Death of A President, American Caesar, and Goodbye, Darkness,…
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