From bars to research, Cullowhee poised for growth on all fronts
 

From bars to research, Cullowhee poised for growth on all fronts

A grand and engaging vision for Western Carolina University’s Millennial campus as a place where academics, research, private industry and…
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More working poor using food pantries to get by
 

More working poor using food pantries to get by

A clean-cut looking Perry Matthews walked into the food pantry with a smile on his face. He wore a crisp,…
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Food shortages persist in the land of plenty
 

Food shortages persist in the land of plenty

Counties in Western North Carolina have seen dramatic increases in the number of people who need food assistance — either from…
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Frog Level Brewing Company event to benefit Sarge’s
 

Frog Level Brewing Company event to benefit Sarge’s

The Frog Level Brewing Company will host a Dogs and Suds event to raise money for Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation…
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Summer conference to dispel stereotypes
 

Summer conference to dispel stereotypes

Lake Junaluska will host the Native American Tribal Social Justice Issues Conference June 29- July 1. Richard Twiss, a member…
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Cherokee language course to be offered
 

Cherokee language course to be offered

A one-day intensive course in the Cherokee language will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June…
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Cherokee gathering casts light on generational trauma
 

Cherokee gathering casts light on generational trauma

When the microphone opened up to the crowd, Laura Stout felt compelled to say her piece. She raised her hand,…
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Performer or panhandler? Street musicians scarce where codes ban begging
 

Performer or panhandler? Street musicians scarce where codes ban begging

The warm weather and sunshine brings a flurry of people to Waynesville’s downtown to enjoy the local fare — but it…
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Jackson sheriff makes a stand against countywide alcohol
 

Jackson sheriff makes a stand against countywide alcohol

Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe is refusing to grant permits for businesses wanting to sell alcoholic beverages despite voters overwhelmingly…
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The allure of Panthertown Valley is timeless
 

The allure of Panthertown Valley is timeless

The announcement in November 1989 that the remote 6,300-acre Panthertown Valley tract in Jackson County had passed into the public…
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Some tips on coexisting with black bears
 

Some tips on coexisting with black bears

There are steps you can take to lessen conflicts on avoiding conflicts with black bears emerging from hibernation. The N.C.…
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Guided hike to Andrews Bald in the Smokies
 

Guided hike to Andrews Bald in the Smokies

A guided hike to see the wild rhododendrons of Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be…
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Hit the trail with Outward Bound race
 

Hit the trail with Outward Bound race

N.C. Outward Bound School will hold a 5K and 8K trail race on Saturday, June 9 at the N.C. Arboretum,…
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Take on the French Broad triathlon
 

Take on the French Broad triathlon

The French Broad Challenge Triathlon will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Carrier Park in Asheville as…
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Soccer camps this summer in Waynesville
 

Soccer camps this summer in Waynesville

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department is offering two summer soccer camps, a British Soccer Camp and a TetraBrazil Soccer…
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Fishing day for kids
 

Fishing day for kids

A free kids fishing day will be held in various spots across the mountains on Saturday, June 2. The event…
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Arboretum’s Discovery Camp and the ultimate in outdoor learning
 

Arboretum’s Discovery Camp and the ultimate in outdoor learning

Kids can explore nature, wildlife, the environment and science during week-long Discovery Camps held at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville…
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Homeowners get rooftop solar incentives from Progress Energy
 

Homeowners get rooftop solar incentives from Progress Energy

More than 150 homes in North Carolina are now producing power from rooftop solar photovoltaic panels thanks to Progress Energy…
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Forage for your lunch on edible wild plant hike in Haywood
 

Forage for your lunch on edible wild plant hike in Haywood

A wild edibles adventure will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Cove Creek Gap…
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Time to go birding
 

Time to go birding

The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society chapter is leading birding outings throughout the summer, with the next one planned for May…
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Trail maintenance in wilderness areas
 

Trail maintenance in wilderness areas

Training for people new to trail work will be held from May 29 through June 1 through the Wilderness Skills…
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Volunteers needed to help in Panthertown
 

Volunteers needed to help in Panthertown

A trail workday in Panthertown Valley will be held Saturday, May 26, and is open to anyone willing to lend…
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Aqua fitness class to be offered at WCU
 

Aqua fitness class to be offered at WCU

An aqua fitness class at Western Carolina University will be held from 12:10 to 12:55 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays…
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A day in the life
 

A day in the life

Up at 4 a.m. to try and catch up on a little correspondence before I hit the road for the…
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Does this grow here? The answer holds key to farming future
 

Does this grow here? The answer holds key to farming future

• Black Perigord Truffles: Three years ago researchers brought in Filbert trees that had their roots inoculated with truffle spore.…
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Burley and beef to broccoli and biofuel: Test farm plants seeds of new farm economy without forgetting its roots
 

Burley and beef to broccoli and biofuel: Test farm plants seeds of new farm economy without forgetting its roots

Testing canola varieties for biofuel. Growing truffles. Finding hemlocks and Fraser firs that can survive the scourge of the adelgid.…
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Bob Plott and Harold Littleton to visit City Lights Bookstore
 

Bob Plott and Harold Littleton to visit City Lights Bookstore

City Lights Bookstore will host discussions and book signings for two novelists — Bob Plott and Harold Littleton — during the…
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Adding the stories of James Still to the Appalachian canon
 

Adding the stories of James Still to the Appalachian canon

For those who don’t know, James Still (1906-2001) is one of the most beloved and influential of all Appalachian writers.…
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Redefining marriage is always defeated
 

Redefining marriage is always defeated

To the Editor: According to recent letters to the editor, Christians, or anyone else, should not be allowed to vote…
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Recognizing the enemies within
 

Recognizing the enemies within

By Martin Dyckman • Guest columnist In July of 1861, Major Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island composed a letter to…
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Welfare state has destroyed California
 

Welfare state has destroyed California

To the Editor: California is back in the news. Two Saturdays ago, Gov. Jerry Brown announced that the state’s budget deficit…
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A majority did not support Amendment One
 

A majority did not support Amendment One

To the Editor: Three letters in the May 16-22 edition of the Smoky Mountain News reflect differing views about what…
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A festival for the unassuming goat
 

A festival for the unassuming goat

Every small town needs a street festival, and what better excuse for one could there be than goats? This past…
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Swain residents don’t deserve another broken promise
 

Swain residents don’t deserve another broken promise

“It’s like déjà vu all over again,” quipped the legendary Yogi Berra after watching Yankee greats Mickey Mantle and Roger…
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Innocuous budget on the table in Jackson County
 

Innocuous budget on the table in Jackson County

Jackson County looks set to approve a budget that keeps the tax rate the second lowest in the state at…
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Cherokee’s top coffee spot taken over after loan, lease default
 

Cherokee’s top coffee spot taken over after loan, lease default

Regular coffee connoisseurs in Cherokee may have noticed a slight change in their popular downtown coffeehouse. The Sequoyah Fund, an…
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Breaking bread: Macon County commissioners aren’t going hungry at meetings
 

Breaking bread: Macon County commissioners aren’t going hungry at meetings

When it comes to staying well fed, the Macon County commissioners are leading the pack. From finger food and pizzas…
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Haywood extends financial olive branch to towns for trash hauling
 

Haywood extends financial olive branch to towns for trash hauling

Haywood County will help ease the burden faced by towns as they start trucking their trash all the way to…
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MedWest discontinuing in-home personal care
 

MedWest discontinuing in-home personal care

MedWest-Haywood will discontinue in-home aide services in Haywood County, laying off 17 nursing assistants that visit housebound patients and aid…
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Fun in Sun Summer Camp in Waynesville
 

Fun in Sun Summer Camp in Waynesville

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer the “Fun in the Sun Summer Camp” for kids ages 5 to…
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Celebrate EMS Week with open house
 

Celebrate EMS Week with open house

MedWest-Harris Emergency Medical Services will host an open house from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 23 to celebrate…
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Healthy eating program offered at Sylva library
 

Healthy eating program offered at Sylva library

Food coach Manon Fancher of Sylva will be at the Jackson County Public Library at 7 p.m. on May 31…
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Bike ride to benefit Open Door Ministries
 

Bike ride to benefit Open Door Ministries

The third annual Open Door Benefit Bike Run will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9. The fund-raiser, hosted by…
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Veterans urged to register for Memorial Day parade
 

Veterans urged to register for Memorial Day parade

Time is running out for Haywood County veterans to register to participate in the Memorial Day Parade. The Memorial Day…
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BizWorks to close two regional offices
 

BizWorks to close two regional offices

The Mountain BizWorks office in Sylva, which serves would-be entrepreneurs and other small business owners in the state’s seven westernmost…
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Free sports physicals for Haywood youth
 

Free sports physicals for Haywood youth

Student athletes can get free sports physicals Tuesday, May 29 at the MedWest Health & Fitness Center on the campus…
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Recalling Fontana: Appalachia sacrifices to generate power for the war effort
 

Recalling Fontana: Appalachia sacrifices to generate power for the war effort

A celebration honoring the sacrifice of those who made the WWII construction of Fontana Dam possible will be held as…
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Move to Amend activists on the stump locally, but Jackson commissioners are not buying
 

Move to Amend activists on the stump locally, but Jackson commissioners are not buying

Jackson County commissioners butted heads with local activists at a meeting this week, refusing to lend their philosophical support to…
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Jackson not eager to pony up new deputies in wake of alcohol vote
 

Jackson not eager to pony up new deputies in wake of alcohol vote

A request by Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe for eight additional deputies now that the sale of alcoholic beverages has…
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Recount results in: Queen wins House race by a hair
 

Recount results in: Queen wins House race by a hair

Two weeks after the primary election, an official winner has finally been declared following a recount in an insanely tight…
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