Archived (29788)
Children categories
WCU poll is first attempt of its caliber to measure political opinions on solely local scale
A new polling project developed by Western Carolina University’s Public Policy Institute and The Smoky Mountain News aims to get…
Read More
Senate clamps down on sweepstakes
If Rep. Ray Rapp has his way, the state House will crush video sweepstakes as fervently as the state Senate…
Read More
Maggie Valley first in region to pursue food and beverage tax
Restaurant and bar patrons in Maggie Valley may see an extra tax on their bills to support tourism promotion and…
Read More
With cash settlement rolling in, ideas fly on how to spend it
After decades of bitter division among Swain County residents concerning the North Shore Road controversy, people on both sides have…
Read More
Josh Fields Band on tap for Concert on the Creek
The rich, downhome sound of the Josh Fields Band will be showcased from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 2,…
Read More
Karen ‘Sugar’ Barnes brings blues to Bryson
What do you get when you mix the pristine vocals of Ella Fitzgerald with the guitar licks of Robert Johnson?…
Read More
Lonesome River Band to play in Stecoah
The Lonesome River Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 10, on the Grand Old Stage at Stecoah Valley…
Read More
Twain impersonator comes to Franklin
Marvin Cole, a Western Carolina University graduate famous for his impersonations of Mark Twain, will entertain at 7 p.m. on…
Read More
Mountain Heritage Center camp to focus on Cherokee heritage
Middle school students in the area will have an opportunity to learn about Cherokee heritage during a “Mini-Camp for Middle…
Read More
American Craft Today seeks submissions
Craft artists are invited to submit digital images of their work by July 19 to be considered for inclusion in…
Read More
Native tribes across North America converge in Cherokee for Festival of Native Peoples
Witness the arresting culture of Apache, Totonac, Aztec, Crow, Navajo and Cherokee through ancient wisdom, song, dance, legend, arts and…
Read More
Skyships over Cashiers? Local women track extraterrestrial activity
Eight-year-old Devon Heenan stood with her arm extended in the parking lot of the Ingles in Cashiers. With her cell…
Read More
A unique old time reporter
Many characters surface in stories related to Horace Kephart, regional author and one of the founders of the Great Smoky…
Read More
What is Buy Haywood?
Supported by the Golden LEAF Foundation since 2007, Buy Haywood has enjoyed success promoting the county’s farms. Its first project…
Read More
Bringing poetry back to life
Once upon a time the queen of literature, poetry finds itself nowadays, like the tale of Cinderella run in reverse,…
Read More
Ridge law questions renew development debate in Jackson
Tony Elders didn’t realize quite how much on-the-job exercise he was in for when he was hired to oversee Jackson…
Read More
New Jackson library built as regional showpiece
The Jackson County Courthouse, Sylva’s most distinctive building, was built in a rush. C.J. Harris, a prominent industrialist and wealthy…
Read More
Haywood sheriff faces lone but experienced challenger in primary
Voters in the Democratic Primary in Haywood County must choose which of the two candidates profiled here will advance to…
Read More
Ashe squares off against three opponents
Voters in the Democratic Primary in Jackson County must choose which of the four candidates profiled below should advance to…
Read More
Disobedience charges dismissed in protests of new coal plant
A group of activists arrested for civil disobedience during protests of Duke Energy’s new coal plant last year have been…
Read More
Caring for Creation bridges faith and environment
A conference that connects faith and the environment will be held at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center April 8…
Read More
Candidate profiles
Democrat candidates Steve Buchanan, 50, Bryson City resident, owner of a construction company “Most of the thefts relate back to…
Read More
The elected sheriff: Medieval tradition shows flaws in modern times
“It’s the oldest constitutional office in the state,” said Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association.…
Read More
Landslide count keeps climbing
In a record year for landslides, yet another one struck this week, this time along U.S. 441 in Great Smoky…
Read More
Arson case thickens plot in sheriff’s race
A fire at the business of a Jackson County sheriff candidate last week has cast a shadow over the race.…
Read More
Swain sheriff under fire from deep bench of challengers
There is, perhaps, no sheriff’s race as hotly contested as the one currently taking place in Swain County. Sheriff Curtis…
Read More
Auto dealer reinvents to stay alive
When Daniel Allison III learned last May that General Motors wouldn’t renew his franchise agreement, he couldn’t believe it. “Shock,”…
Read More
Blackrock brings Sylva its own distinctive BBQ
“Barbecue is all about slow and low,” said Blackrock BBQ owner and pit master James Aust. “The secret’s in the…
Read More
Politicians would be wise to read the Tea leaves
By Bruce Gardner • Guest Columnist The Tea Party movement is sweeping the nation and has found its way through…
Read More
Ricky Skaggs to perform at Lake Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas
Ricky Skaggs, the legendary, fourteen-time Grammy-award winning country and bluegrass artist, will be featured at Lake Junaluska’s 10th Annual Appalachian…
Read More
Literary journal honors contemporary literature from the Cherokee community
Readers will be in for a surprise when thumbing through the pages of the all-Cherokee issue of Appalachian Heritage literary…
Read More
Hill recreates horror that dad Stephen King perfected
Horns by Joe Hill. William Morrow Publishers, 2010. 370 pages. Ignatius William Perrish (“Iggy” to his friends) awoke one morning…
Read More
Franklin enjoys symbiotic relationship with AT hikers
For years, Appalachian Trail thru-hikers have been stopping in Franklin for supplies, rest, and Internet access, but last week the…
Read More
Meet the thru-hikers
It’s a sure sign of spring for Southern Appalachian communities along the Appalachian Trail: hikers loaded down with backpacks hitchhiking…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner
Pug catcher Early last week, we were inundated with small gray moths. You couldn’t open a door without two or…
Read More
The art of choosing the next book
Of late, we’ve been considering books. The feedback (mostly email) from readers to recent columns regarding books in general, book…
Read More
Maggie debates how steep is too steep for cyber sweepstakes fees
Business owners with cyber sweepstakes machines in Maggie Valley received both good and bad news last week. Luckily for them,…
Read More
Sylva market changes local foodscape
Armed with an e-newsletter and an indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit, Eric Hendrix is determined to bring the fruits of the ocean…
Read More
Rare confluence of events sets the stage for courtroom shake up
It’s a watershed year for the legal community in Western North Carolina as attorneys gear up for a hotly contested…
Read More
County and architect cross wires on library fee
Last week a confused set of Jackson County commissioners learned their new library may cost more money than they thought,…
Read More
Trash down, recycling up
The recession has been good news for landfills. Due to the economic downturn, less trash was thrown in landfills in…
Read More
Landfills hustle to catch tainted rain water before it seeps away
When it comes to landfills, rain isn’t just inconvenient — it’s dangerous. In 2009, the White Oak landfill in Haywood…
Read More
Duke, Cherokee meeting opens dialogue over Kituwah site
After a day of discussions between the leadership of Duke Energy and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the dispute…
Read More
Report shows Duke considered impact on Kituwah
In the wake of the controversy surrounding the company’s proposed substation, Duke Energy representatives claimed they were unaware of the…
Read More
Landslide damages financially-strapped Jackson development
A landslide at the Waterdance development in the Tuckasegee area of Jackson County washed out a road and dumped a…
Read More
Macon slope committee hands off proposed building regulations
After months of hard work, Macon County’s steep slope committee shared its recommendations with the county’s planning board last week.Now…
Read More
Swain starts to budge on Deal’s Gap debate
Despite Graham County pledging to end all emergency services to Deal’s Gap starting Jan. 1, its EMS director has already…
Read More
The nuts and bolts of the bench
The starting salary for a judge is $109,000, but can climb much higher for judges with a long tenure thanks…
Read More
Judicial candidates
There are three district court judge seats up for election this year. Candidates must designate which seat they are running…
Read More
Bench holds tradition of balanced temperament
Steve Bryant was fresh out of law school and just learning his way around the courtroom when the judge hearing…
Read More
