Archived (29788)
Children categories
No taxes this weekend on back-to-school items
Time to go shopping — this weekend, Aug. 5 through Aug. 7, is the annual back-to-school tax free weekend. Retailers…
Read More
Swain Visitor Guide kickoff scheduled
The Swain County Chamber of Commerce and The Smoky Mountain News will host a meet-and-greet at the chamber office from…
Read More
New urgent care center to open in Sylva
MedWest Health System will open a new Urgent Care Center on Aug. 15 in Sylva. It will be located at…
Read More
Back-to-school date lands Macon in court
If this were a race, Macon County Schools would win for being the first in Western North Carolina — maybe…
Read More
Natural gas in Maggie may be a long shot, but worth a try
Maggie Valley’s business community hopes to bring natural gas lines to the valley, but it will hinge on drumming up…
Read More
Fontana Dam post office targeted for closure
The U.S. Postal Service wants to close Fontana Dam’s tiny post office to save money, a downsizing move critics say…
Read More
Being the middleman for bulk liquor sales at Harrah’s not as lucrative as it seems
Harrah’s Cherokee casino bought nearly half a million dollars of liquor over the past year, netting almost $50,000 in profits…
Read More
Cherokee election politics fixed on looming casino debt
In the current political debate, the word ‘debt’ has become ubiquitous. Cherokee is no exception, where discussion of the debt…
Read More
Scattered county offices could find new home in old lumber yard in Jackson
Jackson County commissioners are considering whether to renovate the former Southern Lumber Co. building to get the county out of…
Read More
Jackson manager wants more say in hiring, firing
Chuck Wooten’s wings are still clipped as Jackson County’s manager, at least for now, but it looks like he’ll get…
Read More
A new life in the cards for Haywood’s prison?
The oft-threatened closure of the state prison in Haywood County has finally come to pass, but by now, it hardly…
Read More
State prisons, county jails play musical chairs with inmates
Counties with jail beds to spare will soon be able to make a little cash housing state prison inmates. Under…
Read More
Haywood prison gets death sentence: Community laments loss of inmate work crews
Western North Carolina is losing one of its strongest municipal work forces. And a quick look at their record of…
Read More
WCU students have mixed emotions about countywide alcohol vote
Western Carolina University and the Cullowhee area could prove the decisive battleground in the coming debate about whether alcohol sales…
Read More
Meth lab cleanup costs sloughed onto counties
In what promises to become an increasingly expensive proposition, county taxpayers must now pick up the tab for cleaning up…
Read More
Pilot on pot patrol hits the jackpot
After hours of scouring the ground for renegade marijuana plants from the air last Thursday, the pilot of a Highway…
Read More
Workshops help artists get their game on
Two Handmade in America Craft Labs are coming to Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Graham County. Learn how to…
Read More
Sylva artist headlines art society gathering
The next meeting of the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August…
Read More
Festival to celebrate moonshiner, minus the notorious merchandise
The Popcorn Sutton Summer Jam is scheduled for noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 6, at the Maggie Valley…
Read More
Narnia’s magical world behind the wardrobe comes to life in Franklin
The Overlook Players will present Narnia at 7:30 p.m. from August 4-6, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, August…
Read More
Kaleidoscope artist to make appearance at Junaluska craft show
Phil Coghill, a professional kaleidoscope artist and woodturner, will be one of the newest artists to participate in the Creative…
Read More
Art After Dark gallery stroll is August 5
Art After Dark returns to downtown Waynesville from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 5. Working studios and galleries…
Read More
Hundreds of dogs to take to the streets of downtown Waynesville
The Downtown Waynesville Dog Walk will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, at the Haywood County Courthouse, and…
Read More
Ever popular Balsam Range to give free concert in Sylva
Balsam Range, a renowned bluegrass band across the region, will play Sylva’s Concerts on the Creek series at 7:30 p.m.…
Read More
Franklin’s Mountain High BBQ festival offers shot at state title
Franklin will be hopping with all things barbecue at the Mountain High Barbecue Festival and Car Show on August 12…
Read More
Take a stroll down Tomato Alley at Canton’s Mater Fest this weekend
For the last seven years, Canton has celebrated Haywood County’s biggest crop with a festival in its honor. This year,…
Read More
Chess as a metaphor for life
When you think chess club, the quintessential picture that comes to mind probably doesn’t include a cowboy or a retired…
Read More
2008: A look at all involved
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer From playing a girl with big dreams that go nowhere in Haywood Arts Repertory…
Read More
The best of 2008
Every year about this time, reporters dig out their old files and back editions and start cruising the headlines for…
Read More
Haywood Waterways lauds water quality heroes
The Haywood Waterways Association announced its water quality heroes for the year at its annual banquet in December. Here’s who…
Read More
It’s past time for land use review to get started
The acknowledgement by Waynesville’s leaders that they let a review of the town’s much-heralded land use plan languish and now…
Read More
Nurse shortage forces closure of mental health facility
The extraordinarily difficult struggle to find nurses licensed in psychiatric care has forced the state agency that oversees mental health…
Read More
It’s all about the kids, right?
We stood looking at the dinosaur for quite awhile. As parents of children ages 7 and 3, we are more…
Read More
Public lands feel the pressure: a recurring theme
Conflicts over public land continued to heat up in 2009 as more people turn to outdoor recreation in WNC. More…
Read More
Bad economy leads to a few good things
By John Beckman • Guest Columnist A lot of attention lately has been focused on how bad the economic downturn…
Read More
Boars and otters among Wildlife Commission changes
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is now taking public comment on several proposed changes to hunting and fishing regulations. The…
Read More
A look back at the year’s top environmental stories
The past year has been marked by some good and not so good news for the environment in Western North…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner
Snowbirds are here No, I’m not talking about your Uncle Bernie and Aunt Esther from New York City. I’m talking…
Read More
Winter wear
(Note: A version of this essay will appear in an upcoming issue of “Chinquapin: The Newsletter of the Southern Appalachian…
Read More
Best wishes for Sylva in 2009
By Chris Cooper Last year I wrote a “suggested Christmas play list” for the holiday. It may have been a…
Read More
Today’s boys
The Trouble With Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators…
Read More
Motive behind Cherokee fire remains mystery
An apparent arson fire that burned the Tribal Operations Program building in Cherokee in the early morning hours of Dec.…
Read More
Save the planet by changing your diet
By Rudy Beharrysingh • Professor, Southwestern Community College Editor’s note: This series of green living tips is provided by Sustainable…
Read More
With each visit home, college daughter is more grown up
By David Curtis Just a short two weeks ago I was texting my daughter, who was in the process of…
Read More
Jackson board sets sights on historic property
The Jackson County Planning Board is considering establishing a historic preservation commission to help maintain significant landmarks and districts. Such…
Read More
Dressing right for winter weather
By Doug Scarborough • Contributing writer With the winter season here, dressing appropriately to prevent cold injuries is often overlooked.…
Read More
Voters to decide on alcohol sales at Harrah’s
Voters in Cherokee will decide whether alcohol should be sold at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino now that enough signatures have been…
Read More
Dissatisfied, HRMC once more on the hunt for ER docs
Haywood Regional Medical Center will terminate its contract with the corporate physician staffing outfit that supplies doctors for the hospital’s…
Read More
A stellar year for Cataloochee’s elk
When the first batch of 25 elk were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park seven years ago, it…
Read More
