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Bardo pledges to defer to deans
Western Carolina University Chancellor John Bardo in an interview with The Smoky Mountain News last week said that he is…
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Suttles gets nod for Haywood sheriff
The Haywood County Democratic Party has tapped Chief Deputy Bobby Suttles to replace outgoing Sheriff Tom Alexander. Suttles is a…
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WCU in ‘flux’ as it braces for state budget cuts
Proposed budget cuts at Western Carolina University are beginning to affect students like Will Furse, who says he won’t graduate…
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WCU Cherokee studies professor wins Oklahoma book award
Robert Conley, the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University, is winner of the 2009 Arrell Gibson…
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Gardeners get a bargain
By Jane Young Haywood County Master Gardeners had you in mind when they wrote The Gardener’s Guide to Growing in…
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Community lobbies DOT to save a piece of history
Citizens in the Oak Grove community of Macon County hope to save a bridge from demolition by the Department of…
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Feeling slighted, TDA yanks grant
Farmer Skipper Russell thought he was helping drive tourism with his famous corn “maize,” an agricultural attraction he operates each…
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Savage salvation
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. HarperCollins, 2008. 752 pages. Wally Lamb’s newest novel, The Hour I First…
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Franklin wants process for releasing closed session minutes
The Franklin aldermen on Monday night (Feb. 2) unanimously voted to formalize a process for releasing the minutes from previously…
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Another piece of farmland saved
Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a historic and scenic farm in Buncombe County, has been permanently protected through a conservation agreement…
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The Naturalist's Corner: When not to feed the birds
Last week I wrote about the spiraling cost of birdseed and about experimenting with different seed and protocol for those…
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TVA ruling could signal beginning of a new era
A recent court victory by the state of North Carolina will require the Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce emissions at…
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How to decide?
A new rule could make it easier to open up trails in national parks to mountain biking. Mountain biking isn’t…
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Park-and-ride in Haywood gains traction
A shuttle to transport commuters between Haywood and Buncombe counties is gaining momentum following the state’s recent offer to donate…
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Landowners held accountable in wake of landslide
Property owners at the site of last month’s landslide in Maggie Valley are being tasked by county officials with the…
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Electing sheriffs leaves too much to chance
By Bob Scott • Guest Columnist A municipality would never think of electing a chief of police. But in North…
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Owls remain mysterious, alluring
Of late, I have been hearing the owls sounding off on the slopes and ridge lines behind our home. Some…
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Haywood gets serious about tapping landfill methane
Haywood County officials want to tap the pent up methane in the county’s landfill to help the environment and hopefully…
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Prone to landslides, Haywood seeks priority in slope hazard mapping
The landslide last month that destroyed a home in Maggie Valley has spurred the Haywood County commissioners to ask the…
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Can mountain bikes find a home in the Smokies?
Mountain bikers face a long, steep climb in their fight to see more trails opened to tires in the Great…
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Dreams for Swain’s old courthouse hinge on big money
Swain County would need more than $4 million to renovate its historic courthouse, putting plans for a cultural museum to…
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Software CEO doing well in bad times
Drake Software CEO Phil Drake is taking the tough economic times with ease. He believes he can get through the…
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Swain leaders indifferent to lack of building regulations
Attempts to pass Swain County’s first-ever planning regulations are showing signs of movement, but not in the direction that planning…
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A duty to protect Swain’s citizens
By Curtis Cochran • Guest Columnist As sheriff of Swain County, I would like to take this opportunity to respond…
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Sawmill manager: World going to hell
T&S Hardwoods General Manager Jack Swanner sat in his office with an ashtray full of cigarette butts next to him…
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Across the mountains, companies scrape to avoid layoffs
Jackson Paper employee Tim Coggins Jr. has something a lot of people don’t have these days — job security. Jackson…
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Task force seeks answers to water shortages
As a task force continues to probe solutions to the drought-induced water shortage in Jackson County, one idea on the…
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The ultimate rock ’n’ roller
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Feb. 3 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of music legend Buddy Holly,…
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The Naturalist's Corner: To feed or not to feed?
Anyone who reads this column regularly knows I am a fan of backyard bird feeding. The constant feathered activity just…
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Haywood sheriff candidates
Q: Haywood County has a growing Hispanic population. How will you address language barriers in serving that population? Hollifield: Would…
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New job yanked from resigned mental health director
Tom McDevitt, the former director of the Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health who resigned amid scrutiny last fall, was…
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Wildlife could be affected by hunting laws
It’s not too late to weigh in on a few controversial changes to the state’s hunting laws under study by…
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Expensive parking holds new Sylva fire department in limbo
A proposed expansion to the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department building could be up in the air now that the project…
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Bicentennial celebration of a mountain community
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer An exhibit focusing on the history of Haywood County is now on display at…
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Despite landslide worries, state slope rules face uphill battle
A controversial bill to regulate development on steep slopes to prevent landslides will be reintroduced in the state legislature this…
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Jackson leaders grapple over ending fight with Duke
An effort to end a six-year-long dispute between Jackson County and Duke Energy failed in a 3-2 vote last week,…
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Quieting the monster cries
For nearly a year, my 3-year-old son Jack has been obsessed with heavy machinery. We rent films from the library…
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Cherokee covers lunch for its own
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has recently begun funding the school lunches for enrolled members of the tribe who…
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Haywood Sheriff candidates line up for questions from public
Five candidates vying to be the next Haywood County Sheriff appeared at a question and answer forum Saturday, Jan. 24…
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Your friendly guide to area museums and historical sites
By Christi Marsico While looking for something fun and inexpensive to do in these tough economic times, look no further…
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Haywood County eyes old Wal-Mart shell for offices
A hulking space in the strip mall along U.S. 74 in Clyde that has sat vacant since the departure of…
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A new take on murderess legend
Midwinter by Maurice Stanley. Whittler’s Bench Press, 2008. 208 pages. North Carolina’s folklore and music resonates with the pain of…
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Tough budget facing legislature as session begins
The state legislative session began in Raleigh this week with the big issue being the budget during tough economic times.…
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Military a strong pull in this economy
The military remains a popular employment choice for young people today, and the poor economy is probably helping steer many…
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Landmark victory: NC forces TVA to clean up its act
It was the ultimate David and Goliath battle. North Carolina officials, fed up with coal-fired power plants pumping pollution into…
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Celebrating the vision of Joe Legge
Joe Legge’s “official funeral ceremony” was held at the Estatoah Wayfarers’ Chapel in Dillard, Ga., on Jan. 17 at 4…
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Canton mayor looks to state for help with business venture
Canton Mayor Pat Smathers is determined to realize his dream of turning a historic house in downtown Canton into a…
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Long-awaited Panthertown maps, trail signs move forward
The Friends of Panthertown has received a $7,500 grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to develop a trail…
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Dillsboro dam fight heads into state hearing
In the latest in Jackson County’s quest to save the Dillsboro dam from demolition, the county will get its day…
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