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Massie questions permit hold-up
 

Massie questions permit hold-up

Jackson County Commissioner Tom Massie is skeptical of whether it is legal for the county to withhold permits that Duke…
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The blue side of Derek Trucks
 

The blue side of Derek Trucks

By Chris Cooper The Derek Trucks Band: Already Free It’s tough to find something new and profound to say about…
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Westward Revelations
 

Westward Revelations

Art in America by Ron McLarty. Viking Adult, 2008. 384 pages. In Art in America (ISBN 978-0670—01895-6, $25.95), Ron McLarty…
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Singing and dancing songs of joy: African Children’s Choir comes to WCU
 

Singing and dancing songs of joy: African Children’s Choir comes to WCU

Bright colors, vibrant beats and contagious joy flood the room as the African Children’s Choir performs, and their boundless energy…
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Waynesville land use plan review moves forward
 

Waynesville land use plan review moves forward

A comprehensive review of the town of Waynesville’s award-winning land use plan is set to begin following the town’s selection…
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County may meet with attorney on Duke permit dispute
 

County may meet with attorney on Duke permit dispute

The attorney representing Jackson County in its legal fight against Duke Energy was expected to meet with county commiseting Tuesday…
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Duke, county at odds over permits
 

Duke, county at odds over permits

Duke Energy, which sued Jackson County two weeks ago for failing to issue county permits to tear down the Dillsboro…
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Broken bridge ignites debate with Park over North Shore cemeteries
 

Broken bridge ignites debate with Park over North Shore cemeteries

Swain County residents with family buried in cemeteries in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park claim the park service is…
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Special moments, a spoonful at a time
 

Special moments, a spoonful at a time

You hear it often, mostly from those of us who are guilty. I’m talking about making a promise of spending…
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Effort to end Duke fight fails in Jackson County
 

Effort to end Duke fight fails in Jackson County

An effort to end a six-year-long dispute between Jackson County and Duke Energy failed in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night…
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Graves in the park
 

Graves in the park

When Fontana Lake was constructed during WWII, some communities were submerged by the rising lake while others were merely rendered…
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Getting to know liverworts
 

Getting to know liverworts

Some years ago, when I was first interested in plant identification, I became curious about liverworts. They are one of…
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Woodsmen’s coach Jimmy Lawrence is devoted to the sport
 

Woodsmen’s coach Jimmy Lawrence is devoted to the sport

Jimmy Lawrence, the coach for Haywood Community College’s Woodsmen’s Team and president of the South Atlantic Woodsmen’s Association (SAWA), loves…
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Incident heightens tensions between county, sheriff
 

Incident heightens tensions between county, sheriff

Allegations that the Swain County Sheriff’s Department mishandled the capture of an escaped inmate earlier this month has strained the…
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Plants that are easy to grow from seeds
 

Plants that are easy to grow from seeds

We’ve talked about saving money by growing plants from seeds, and that many more plant varieties are available as seeds…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Winter miracle
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Winter miracle

It’s late January and it’s 15 degrees outside, snow is flying, the Alberta Clipper has the huge yellow buckeye swaying…
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Dems meet to pick Sheriff Alexander’s successor
 

Dems meet to pick Sheriff Alexander’s successor

Democratic officials in Haywood County are gearing up to choose a successor to outgoing Haywood County Sheriff Tom Alexander, who…
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Poor economy boosts military recruiting
 

Poor economy boosts military recruiting

When Brandon Lenhart of Sylva was laid off from his construction job, he looked for work for four months but…
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Growing plants from seeds — the basics
 

Growing plants from seeds — the basics

Editor’s note: (This is the second of a 3-part series on growing plants from seeds.) Growing plants from seeds can…
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WestCare cuts 45 jobs
 

WestCare cuts 45 jobs

The financially struggling WestCare Medical Center with hospitals in Sylva and Bryson City has eliminated 45 full-time positions, according to…
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Bryson man pleads to lesser charge in assault case
 

Bryson man pleads to lesser charge in assault case

A mentally ill man allegedly beat by a Bryson City policeman will not be charged with assaulting the officer involved…
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Dillsboro quietly assessing merger with Sylva
 

Dillsboro quietly assessing merger with Sylva

It appears Dillsboro has launched an official study into the pros and cons of merging with neighboring Sylva, although the…
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Civil rights and the arts
 

Civil rights and the arts

Christi Marsico • Staff writer Bright colors and inventive images offering a kaleidoscope of memories and historic moments will be…
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From Here: Authors spotlight Haywood County
 

From Here: Authors spotlight Haywood County

In an expanding spotlight of regional and national acclaim, three of Western North Carolina’s own have distinguished themselves by penning…
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The view from the bench
 

The view from the bench

For 25 years, Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt has often worked as much as 12 hours a day, five days…
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More gems from the used bin
 

More gems from the used bin

Robben Ford and the Blue Line: Handful Of Blues No, it’s not out of print, nor is “Handful Of Blues”…
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The Naturalist's Corner
 

The Naturalist's Corner

Happy new ivory-billed search in 2009 May old woodpeckers be forgot and never photoshopped. A $50,000 reward has been offered…
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Merger prospect talk of the town
 

Merger prospect talk of the town

While Dillsboro leaders claim the idea of merging Sylva is in its mere infancy, opinions on the issue are already…
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Not a social networking butterfly, but I’m out of the cocoon
 

Not a social networking butterfly, but I’m out of the cocoon

Of course I had HEARD of Facebook. I may be well into the marrow of middle age by now, but…
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Franklin seeks AT town designation
 

Franklin seeks AT town designation

Franklin’s role on the Appalachian Trail Franklin is an important town on the Appalachian Trail because it is one of…
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This time, WCU passes academic integrity test
 

This time, WCU passes academic integrity test

This time, WCU passes academic integrity test If you want a messy issue with lots of overtones, then let’s talk…
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Casino job losses first since Cherokee opening
 

Casino job losses first since Cherokee opening

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is cutting 100 jobs because of the national economic downturn. The cuts represent about 5 percent of…
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An interested observer
 

An interested observer

omething banged against the office window above my desk. I assumed it was a bird of some sort. And since…
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WNC continues to captivate
 

WNC continues to captivate

There’s something about Haywood County. In recent years, the small Western North Carolina community has found itself as the setting…
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Searching for clarity after muddy disaster
 

Searching for clarity after muddy disaster

It was around 1:30 a.m. on an exceptionally rainy Wednesday that Bruce and Lorraine Donin’s world came crashing down. One…
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Macon leaders struggle with budget shortfall
 

Macon leaders struggle with budget shortfall

K-4 school on hold due to economy Due to the national economic downturn the Macon County commissioners have decided not…
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Trash or treasure?
 

Trash or treasure?

Denver Blaylock sees nothing wrong with his junkyard that straddles U.S. 276 in the Cruso area of Haywood County.
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Cataloochee reaches out to women
 

Cataloochee reaches out to women

Ski instructor Kathy New can truly empathize with the nervous beginners she teaches at the Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie…
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