Archived (29788)
Children categories
Prison to remain open, but future not rosy
By Julia Merchant • Correspondent The minimum-security Hazelwood Prison in Waynesville is the only correctional facility of its kind to…
Read More
If not wind, then what?
To the Editor: Well, I am at a disadvantage in this discussion on wind energy development in North Carolina. My…
Read More
Pointing kids toward a love of the park
Eric Sink, a teacher at Summit Charter School in Cashiers, N.C., looks forward to loading his fifth-graders up on a…
Read More
More than a number With teacher layoffs, impact of school budget cuts hits home
It’s not an uncommon scene: people rattling a tin can outside Wal-Mart to raise money, whether it’s a cheerleading squad…
Read More
Oxford American: The best magazine ever
There aren’t many things that cause my weary heart to quicken. The local bookstore, Netflix, rain crows and, yes, the…
Read More
Methane-powered foundry opens at JCGEP
The Jackson County Green Energy Park recently opened the first landfill methane-fueled art foundry in the world. “Because of the…
Read More
Lake island dwellers lobby for fire protection
Homeowners on Buck Knob Island in the middle of Lake Glenville say they are owed fire protection by local volunteer…
Read More
Megow-Dowling announces resignation
Jackson County’s economic development director Dorothea Megow-Dowling had been on the job for less than a year when she announced…
Read More
Cherokee school bridges tradition and the future
While some students dread returning to the classroom this time of year, children in Cherokee have been asking for weeks…
Read More
When the Park becomes a classroom: From real life science to a trip back in time, the Smokies provides fertile ground for learning
While most national parks serve as conduits for science, the Smokies is a window on history as well. Churches, schools,…
Read More
Land swap integral to Cherokee school
The Cherokee faced a long, uphill battle spanning decades to secure the idyllic tract of land now housing a brand…
Read More
A dollar here, a paintbrush there: Community rallies to save teachers, support schools
They came. They saw. And this past Saturday, they — nearly 1,000 volunteers from almost 50 churches — painted, scraped,…
Read More
Touch-me-nots and poison ivy
Jewelweed, or “touch-me-not,” is one of the most appealing wildflowers commonly encountered throughout Western North Carolina. Many recognize the plant…
Read More
Mountain granny comes to life in book by former WCU student
Former WCU student Matthew Link Baker will read from his new book, My Mountain Granny: The Story of Evelyn Howell…
Read More
Junior bids farewell to forest service
Harry “Junior” Ward, Jr. recently retired from the North Carolina Forest Service as the Haywood County Ranger. Ward was a…
Read More
Homeschooled students on the rise
More parents in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties opted to teach their children at home this year, concurring with…
Read More
An eye for mountains: An Ansel Adams of the Smokies, George Masa was one of the greatest photographers of his era. So why have so many people never heard of him?
By Michael Beadle There’s a view on the way up to Clingmans Dome, an overlook where a maze of finger-like…
Read More
Departing director recommends dissolving Jackson EDC board
Jackson County’s Economic Development Commission has again been thrust into turmoil, a near constant state of affairs for the entity…
Read More
Funding cut for after school program is a mistake
“I can see test scores going down and higher dropout rates in high school,” he said. “These kids are struggling.…
Read More
Slow cookers converge for Franklin BBQ festival
The Mountain High BBQ & Music Festival will be held at the Macon County fairgrounds Aug. 7-8. Gates open at…
Read More
New economic development coordinator learns the ropes
Trevor Dalton, Macon County’s first paid economic development coordinator, is back on his home turf. Dalton, 24, grew up in…
Read More
Jackson County’s mosaic is still being painted
Although I sometimes wish that the maps of my Jackson County had a more beguiling shape — perhaps a bear…
Read More
County ensnared in lawsuit over historic courthouse renovations
Haywood County is being sued for $2 million by the contractor in charge of renovations to the newly restored historic…
Read More
Scenic beauty, yes, but what about things to do?
By Andre A. Rodriguez • Special to the Smoky Mountain News A new travel study revealed potential visitors lack awareness…
Read More
Jackson County offers incentives to land new manufacturing jobs
Jackson County leaders are considering an economic development incentive that will provide property tax credits to Stonewall Packaging in exchange…
Read More
Particular parables and perverse ponderings
Willful Creatures Stories by Aimee Bender. Doubleday & Company. 208 pages. Recently, Garrison Keilor mentioned a new writer, Aimee Bender…
Read More
Facing unpleasant changes in aftermath of hemlock die off
As if the death of hemlock trees across the Southern Appalachians wasn’t bad enough already, forest researchers believe the loss…
Read More
Cherokee leaders to PETA: back off our bear zoos
Despite public pressure from animal rights activists, including a visit from legendary game show host Bob Barker, Cherokee leaders do…
Read More
North Toe River freed of crumbling dam
A decrepit dam is being torn down along the North Toe River near Spruce Pine this week, clearing the way…
Read More
The pains of summer vacation
There, swirling miserably in the bottom of my morning coffee mug, are the dregs of summer. I had such plans…
Read More
Indie film brings big economic boost: From stunt pilots to bar scenes, movie producer weaves local people and places into script
Western North Carolina has seen its share of Hollywood productions. But unlike many of the other movies filmed here, “Road…
Read More
Workers will come if we create jobs, great lifestyle
When Macon County economic development officials met last week and decided the aging workforce was among the county’s most pressing…
Read More
Qualla’s art goes worldwide
Known for its legendary craftsmanship, Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. just launched its new website, www.quallaartsandcrafts.org. For the first…
Read More
Outfitters brace for early end to season
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Whitewater releases from the Nantahala Lake dam will be suspended in October, forcing rafting…
Read More
Letting nature point the way
Horace Kephart is best known for Our Southern Highlanders (first published in 1913, with an expanded edition in 1922) and…
Read More
Junaluska Assembly’s long-time musical maestro calls it a career with Aug. 8 performance
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The year was 1954. An up-and-coming singer named Elvis Presley was beginning his musical…
Read More
The Naturalist's Corner
You say to-mah-to, I say to-ma-to At least Avram and I are talking. Want to join us? If we could…
Read More
State budget cuts target after school program for teens
Proposed cuts to the state budget have threatened after school care for middle school students, with programs in Canton, Franklin,…
Read More
Haywood celebrates completion of historic courthouse renovations
Haywood County leaders held a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday on the steps of the newly renovated historic courthouse. The $8.2…
Read More
Macon hires point man in new push for economic development
Macon County has hired a full-time economic development coordinator, finally joining the ranks of most counties who employ paid directors…
Read More
Recipes, 7/29/09
Zach’s Barbecue Pork: Zach takes a Boston Butt pork shoulder — the cheaper cut of meat the better. He marinates…
Read More
Conversation – what conversation?
Regular readers of this column probably already know that I’ve run afoul of many regional environmental groups by questioning the…
Read More
Cookouts, lightning bugs, and the relatives
By Karen Dill • Guest Writer July brings warm and often muggy weather to the usually cool mountain glens. It…
Read More
Barker visits WNC in campaign to help bears
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians didn’t have to duke it out with other contestants or so much…
Read More
Local authors proud of fishing trail map
Ask any fisherman what their favorite stretch of stream is and you may as well be asking for directions to…
Read More
Fundraising ramps up for Waynesville skate park
By Andre A. Rodriguez • Special to the Smoky Mountain News It’s been at least a dozen years since Waynesville’s…
Read More
A few moments – and 10 days – to celebrate cultural understanding
The end of this year’s Folkmoot USA, some of the acquaintances I made during the festival, and my own ongoing…
Read More
Macon mulls workforce challenges
While it doesn’t seem like much of a news flash, it has emerged as one of the top concerns in…
Read More
WNC Fly Fishing Trail lures new anglers to Jackson streams
Alex Bell can’t resist striking up a conversation with fellow fishermen he encounters on the Tuckasegee. But lately, he’s had…
Read More
Clean energy future may be blowing in the wind
Will wind-generated power save the environment or sacrifice it? The answer depends on who you ask and it could have…
Read More
