Frosty Foot trail races coming to Tsali
 

Frosty Foot trail races coming to Tsali

Feeling sprightly in the New Year? Then hit the trails in the Tsali National Forest Recreation Area Jan. 7 with…
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Walking trail at Lake Junaluska lengthened
 

Walking trail at Lake Junaluska lengthened

The walking trail at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is getting longer thanks to a new one-half mile extension…
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Become a Master Gardener
 

Become a Master Gardener

If you are in Jackson and Swain counties, it’s time to sign up for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service’s Master…
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A wonderful Christmas gift
 

A wonderful Christmas gift

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Wild South, the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) and the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition…
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Surf’s up on the Nanty: Paddler feedback integral to honing the new ‘Wave’
 

Surf’s up on the Nanty: Paddler feedback integral to honing the new ‘Wave’

The common phrase heard among kayakers daring the Nantahala’s new wave: “It’s getting there.” The Wave in the Nantahala Gorge…
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Nicholson returns to City Lights with a trio of new horror novels
 

Nicholson returns to City Lights with a trio of new horror novels

Scott Nicholson will visit City Lights Bookstore to present and sign his three latest horror novels: Chronic Fear, Liquid Fear…
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A season to reconnect with familiar stories
 

A season to reconnect with familiar stories

That time of year has arrived when ritual and custom weave their magical threads into our lives. We sip Uncle…
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Art classes offered at Old Armory Recreation Center
 

Art classes offered at Old Armory Recreation Center

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer art classes at the Old Armory Recreation Center beginning in January. There…
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Casino to host New Year’s Eve gala
 

Casino to host New Year’s Eve gala

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel will celebrate the New Year with a burlesque show. The evening will feature live entertainment at…
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HCC names winners in first-ever photo contest
 

HCC names winners in first-ever photo contest

Haywood Community College recently announced the winners of the school’s first photo contest. HCC student Samantha Faust’s “Learning to Swim”…
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts New Year’s Eve bash
 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts New Year’s Eve bash

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will ring in the New Year with a dinner and dance Dec. 31. As the…
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The Moody Blues to perform at Harrah’s in March
 

The Moody Blues to perform at Harrah’s in March

The Moody Blues will perform at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel on March 31 as part of their 32-city U.S.…
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Freight Hoppers to appear at Jack of the Wood
 

Freight Hoppers to appear at Jack of the Wood

The Freight Hoppers, a nationally known string band, will play at Jack of the Wood in Asheville at 11 p.m.,…
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Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir comes to Asheville
 

Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir comes to Asheville

The Soweto Gospel Choir will fill the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium with music at 4 p.m. on Jan. 29. Part of…
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Sylva resident to teach art of bookbinding
 

Sylva resident to teach art of bookbinding

Phyllis Jarvinen of Sylva will demonstrate and teach a mini-workshop on book arts and book binding at the Art League…
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WCU to offer stained glass course beginning Jan. 12
 

WCU to offer stained glass course beginning Jan. 12

Western Carolina University will hold a stained glass course every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. from Jan. 12 through…
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Over the top and proud of it: Hazelwood neighbors light up a neighborhood to celebrate the season
 

Over the top and proud of it: Hazelwood neighbors light up a neighborhood to celebrate the season

Want to see, for free, one of the best examples of folk art to be found in Western North Carolina?…
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Navel oranges bring back memories of Dad, Christmas
 

Navel oranges bring back memories of Dad, Christmas

On Christmas Eve, my dad would always bring home a huge box of navel oranges and bags of pecans, walnuts,…
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The story of the Christmas tree and the wife
 

The story of the Christmas tree and the wife

Another Christmas tragedy appeared on the horizon with the arrival of our Christmas tree. I have often thought the holiday…
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Swain courthouse slated for civic revival
 

Swain courthouse slated for civic revival

After years of talk and little action, Swain County is moving forward with a long-held dream to turn its iconic,…
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Barely legal: reincarnation of video gambling continues on borrowed time pending court challenge
 

Barely legal: reincarnation of video gambling continues on borrowed time pending court challenge

It’s early on a workday, and there’s a single player seated at one of the 18 machines in the two-room…
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Tug-of-war heats up over highway sign pointing to Cherokee
 

Tug-of-war heats up over highway sign pointing to Cherokee

Counties and towns in the region are sparring over a highway sign that points the way to Cherokee, each hoping…
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Haywood to cash in on landfill methane
 

Haywood to cash in on landfill methane

An alternative energy project to convert methane landfill gas into electricity will cost Haywood County a little extra after a…
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North Carolina wins federal award for education
 

North Carolina wins federal award for education

North Carolina will receive a $69.9 million grant award from the federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge fund…
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Learn to swim, or learn to swim better
 

Learn to swim, or learn to swim better

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer swim lessons in January, February and March. The lessons will take place…
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Jackson County Schools leading the way  on farm-to-school path
 

Jackson County Schools leading the way on farm-to-school path

When it comes to connecting farmers with students and substituting common cafeteria fare with fresh, local produce grown here in…
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Ringing it up: Strained finances pose a hurdle to healthier school lunches
 

Ringing it up: Strained finances pose a hurdle to healthier school lunches

Few restaurants could afford to lose $1 on every meal they serve, but in Haywood County school cafeterias, that’s the…
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Out with the fryer,  in with baked sweet potatoes: Schools balance healthier lunches with what kids will eat
 

Out with the fryer, in with baked sweet potatoes: Schools balance healthier lunches with what kids will eat

It was only 11 a.m., and already 60 fidgeting children had streamed down the lunch line at Jonathan Valley Elementary…
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Lockdown, quick arrest follow bank robbery near WCU
 

Lockdown, quick arrest follow bank robbery near WCU

A bank robbery at the N.C. State Employees Credit Union last week in Cullowhee saw a series of recent safety…
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WCU students hope new athletic director will turn the tide
 

WCU students hope new athletic director will turn the tide

Randy Eaton has been selected Western Carolina University’s new athletics director and the man designated with rescuing the school’s floundering…
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From purple ties to Liz Claiborne handbags, purple apparel all the rage at WCU
 

From purple ties to Liz Claiborne handbags, purple apparel all the rage at WCU

Just one day after being named Western Carolina University’s athletics director, Randy Eaton was shopping for purple-colored clothing at the…
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WCU announces new athletic director
 

WCU announces new athletic director

After a five-week search, Western Carolina University has found its new director of athletics. Randy Eaton, former senior associate director…
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The light of winter is ‘tricky business’
 

The light of winter is ‘tricky business’

Winter Light So much light in what we call the dark of the year, a flashing and glittering of light…
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WCU program receives grant to study impact of rising sea-levels
 

WCU program receives grant to study impact of rising sea-levels

Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines has received a $239,000 grant from the National Park Service…
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Hay prices burning through your dollars?
 

Hay prices burning through your dollars?

Learn how to cut down on winter hay-feeding bills by utilizing winter grazing techniques. A “pasture walk” is set for…
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Ring in 2012 with a 5K run
 

Ring in 2012 with a 5K run

The seventh annual Run in 2012 5K will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 1 in Jackson County. The race…
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Celebrate the sun with solstice walk
 

Celebrate the sun with solstice walk

Celebrate the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, by participating in a nighttime walk at 7 p.m. Thursday,…
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Christmas weekend hikes planned
 

Christmas weekend hikes planned

Enjoy the outdoors this Christmas by participating in a series of guided hikes scheduled to take place during the holiday…
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Nationally and here at home, sales of local foods are surging
 

Nationally and here at home, sales of local foods are surging

Local food sales are predicted to reach $7 billion nationally in 2012, according to a report released last month by…
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Come see ‘The Wave’ on the Nantahala
 

Come see ‘The Wave’ on the Nantahala

The Nantahala Gorge Worlds Organizing Committee will celebrate the completion of The Wave on Friday, Dec. 16, with a ceremony,…
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Working together to address wildlife habitat concerns
 

Working together to address wildlife habitat concerns

Work is under way on the first wildlife habitat enhancement project in Western North Carolina that relies on an outside…
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Master Stewardship on the ground
 

Master Stewardship on the ground

A North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) press release from Dec. 9 announced that work was underway, “… to restore…
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Tom Sawyer’s Tree Farm: A slice of Christmas with your choose-and-cut experience
 

Tom Sawyer’s Tree Farm: A slice of Christmas with your choose-and-cut experience

Christmas tree farming is nothing new in Western North Carolina thanks to the perfect climate, perfect soil and preponderance of…
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Local author places in national book award program
 

Local author places in national book award program

Author Deanna K. Klingel of Sapphire was recently awarded the bronze medal in the children’s literature division of the National…
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Tuscola’s Brooke Palay wins poetry competition
 

Tuscola’s Brooke Palay wins poetry competition

Eleven students from Haywood County high schools competed in the second Poetry Out Loud district competition at Tuscola High School…
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Coffee with the Poet: ‘Women’s Spaces and Women’s Places’
 

Coffee with the Poet: ‘Women’s Spaces and Women’s Places’

Join City Lights Bookstore for the Coffee with the Poet series at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 15, for a presentation of…
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A ‘kafka-esque’ story that offers redemption
 

A ‘kafka-esque’ story that offers redemption

Saddle up, kind hearts. I have a winner. Like most good things, this book came to me from a good…
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The sage gardener won’t put off these chores
 

The sage gardener won’t put off these chores

If you haven’t covered your greens yet — and I’m among those who have not — it’s time. We’ve been…
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Marketing success depends on cooperation
 

Marketing success depends on cooperation

To the Editor: With reference to Quintin Ellison’s and Becky Johnson’s excellent reporting on the tourism marketing program for Jackson…
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Think before making a taxpayer-backed loan
 

Think before making a taxpayer-backed loan

To the Editor: “When asked about the likelihood of the AM radio station surviving in today’s advertising landscape, Jackson County…
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