The door to the Colonial Theatre’s annex hangs limply from its hinges following flooding on Aug. 17, 2021. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Canton begins to explore rebuilding flood-damaged facilities

In addition to the devastating loss of life and tremendous damage to private property, Tropical Storm Fred caused millions in…
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A Georgia grand jury will convene in May to decide if Donald Trump should be criminally prosecuted for activities related to the 2020 election. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

In advance of midterms, Republicans fight for the soul of the party

With President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings through the roof and a recent spate of setbacks in the Senate, Republicans appear…
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The proposed vehicle fee would help fill potholes, like this one photographed on Holtzclaw road in 2018. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Canton may try vehicle tax again

Four years after the Town of Canton made an unsuccessful push to impose a vehicle tax to fund much-needed road…
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Cherokee man sentenced in child sex abuse case
 

Cherokee man sentenced in child sex abuse case

Cherokee resident Forrest Cole Stamper, 28, will spend four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to…
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Persons with information on Carrie Bryson are encouraged to call the Haywood County Sheriff’s office. Facebook photo
 

Missing persons cases aren’t always what they seem

Every so often — about 20 times a year — Western North Carolina’s social media networks flare up with impassioned…
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Author responds to Tuscola pulling ‘Dear Martin’
 

Author responds to Tuscola pulling ‘Dear Martin’

After Haywood County Schools administration pulled “Dear Martin” from a 10th grade English II class , The Smoky Mountain News…
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A gazebo protects the natural spring in Waynesville’s Sulphur Springs Park. Cory Vaillancourt photos.
 

Grant could bring new life to historic Waynesville springhouse

Today, almost nothing remains of Waynesville’s majestic old Victorian-era hotel — except for some faded photographs and sepia-toned memories that…
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Brock Butler.
 

All this everything: Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove

It is said that a cat has nine lives. If so, then singer-songwriter Brock Butler may just be half-feline.
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The summit of Rich Mountain. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: It’s a Monday, it’s so mundane, what exciting things will happen today?

Just east of Hot Springs, I pulled off U.S. 70 and turned into the small, muddy parking lot. Emerging from…
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Black History Month gets underway at WCU
 

Black History Month gets underway at WCU

CULLOWHEE – A series of activities, exhibits and events are planned at Western Carolina University in recognition of February as…
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Cawthorn sues N.C. Board of Elections over attempt to disqualify him
 

Cawthorn sues N.C. Board of Elections over attempt to disqualify him

On Monday, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district, filed…
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Macon Animal Services offers adoption special for dogs
 

Macon Animal Services offers adoption special for dogs

Due to overcrowding, Macon County Animal Services has implemented an Adoption Special. The adoption fee for dogs, 6 months and…
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A North Atlantic right whale and calf. Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries.
 

WCU history project is helping inform a whale documentary

When Vicki Szabo, associate professor of history, finished her 2008 book on medieval whaling, she quipped in the acknowledgements she…
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WNC students benefit from strong partnerships
 

WNC students benefit from strong partnerships

The Southwestern Commission is working with partners around the region to help alleviate some of the challenges associated with broadband…
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WCU historian, class watch developing Russia-Ukraine crisis
 

WCU historian, class watch developing Russia-Ukraine crisis

CULLOWHEE – David Dorondo, an associate professor of history at Western Carolina University, is watching the escalating tension between Ukraine…
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Mission Hospital Emergency Department in Asheville // Peter H. Lewis photo
 

COVID-Infected Workers Force Mission to Redeploy Dwindling Staff, Postpone Surgeries

By PETER H. LEWIS, Asheville Watchdog Staggered by COVID-19 infections, both among incoming patients and its own healthcare staff, Mission…
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A close encounter of the pleasant kind
 

A close encounter of the pleasant kind

Sometimes the right book just comes along.
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Wild ducks test positive for avian flu
 

Wild ducks test positive for avian flu

After a wild duck shot in Hyde County Dec. 30 tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, agencies…
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Mike Carraway/NCWRC photo
 

Balance of bear country: Wildlife Commission takes input on future of WNC bear sanctuaries

Nearly 40 people weighed in on a controversial proposal to allow bear hunting in three mountain sanctuary areas during a…
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Forest Service releases revised management plan
 

Forest Service releases revised management plan

A decade after it first reached out to stakeholders for the project, the U.S. Forest Service has released its revised…
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Macon rep joins ag and natural resource committee
 

Macon rep joins ag and natural resource committee

Rep. Karl Gillespie, who represents Macon, Graham, Cherokee and Clay counties in the N.C. House of Representatives, has joined the…
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Police need more resources to succeed
 

Police need more resources to succeed

Make no mistake, it would be a stretch to say a partnership between Western Carolina University and the town of…
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Truth, not lies, will keep us free
 

Truth, not lies, will keep us free

To the Editor: If we really seek the truth, we go to primary sources — those who originate an idea, policy,…
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Clampitt can’t have it both ways
 

Clampitt can’t have it both ways

To the Editor: Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, in The Smoky Mountain News addressed his membership in the Oath Keepers. 
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No to sanctuary bear hunting
 

No to sanctuary bear hunting

To the Editor: The Bear Education and Resource (B.E.A.R.) Task Force stands in opposition to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission…
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Fight indoctrination with truth, integrity
 

Fight indoctrination with truth, integrity

To the Editor: We are being inundated with the phrase, “Educate Don’t Indoctrinate.” It is now on billboards and in…
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Monitoring activity at the Francis Farm landfill will likely continue well into the 2050s. Haywood County GIS photo
 

End in sight for long-running Haywood landfill debacle

Work to remediate a leaky, gassy mound just northeast of Waynesville that has been nothing but an expensive headache for…
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Haywood reboots economic development arm
 

Haywood reboots economic development arm

Unaffordable housing, a lack of broadband infrastructure, a staggeringly low unemployment rate and a relatively high number of job openings…
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The region’s growth is reflected in the NCDOT’s 2020-2029 STIP project map. NCDOT photo
 

Growing pains: region reckons with development

Western North Carolina is growing, there’s no doubt about it. And as it does, there are bound to be growing…
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During an event at Bridge Park last summer, event organizers experienced technical issues due to poor wifi connection.
 

Broadband a vital factor in Jackson’s growth

Broadband will be an important part of any and all future growth in Jackson County. Now, reliable Wi-Fi is free…
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Kituwah LLC, the business arm for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has recently purchased several properties in downtown Waynesville — two buildings on Main Street that are currently home to the Jeweler’s Workbench and the Haywood County Arts Council (top) and properties on Boundary Street that contain Southern Concrete Materials. Holly Kays photos
 

Cherokee ramps up housing efforts

In response to a deepening housing crisis  and a growing  casino enterprise in need of workers, the Eastern Band of…
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Development in Swain driven by tourism
 

Development in Swain driven by tourism

Development for Swain County often looks much different than other counties, mostly because Swain has such a limited amount of…
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The former Walmart at Holly Springs Plaza is being demolished to make way for a new Ingle’s. Donated photo
 

Retailers move into Franklin

Despite the pandemic, the town of Franklin has seen an influx of new retailers in the last year. 
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Jackson municipal grants approved
 

Jackson municipal grants approved

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has approved three municipal grants for the towns of Sylva, Webster and Dillsboro. 
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‘Dear Martin’ pulled from Tuscola class
 

‘Dear Martin’ pulled from Tuscola class

Students at Tuscola High School will no longer be able to read “Dear Martin,” (Crown Publishing Group, 2017) after administration…
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Pisgah Bears unlikely to play on home turf this fall
 

Pisgah Bears unlikely to play on home turf this fall

There’s a 1% chance football will be played at Pisgah Memorial Stadium come fall. That is according to an estimation…
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John R. Miller. (photo: David McClister)
 

Show me somethin’ I can’t sell: A conversation with John R. Miller

Hailing from the rural panhandle of West Virginia, singer-songwriter John R. Miller is one of the most fascinating and captivating…
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Tsali Recreation Area. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: I dreamt that you were Joan-of Arc and I was Don Quixote

Right at the line of Graham and Swain counties, along a stretch of N.C. 28, is the entrance to the…
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Knife wielding suspect apprehended on Russ Ave
 

Knife wielding suspect apprehended on Russ Ave

Waynesville Police Chief David Adams released details of an incident that occurred in the roadway this afternoon involving a female…
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 Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Chris Shell (left) and Sheriff Greg Christopher
 

Lt. Shell graduates jail administrator institute

Forty-one jail administrators from across the state, including Lt. Chris Shell with the Haywood County Sheriff's Office, graduated on Jan.…
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Forest Service releases revised management plan
 

Forest Service releases revised management plan

A decade after it first reached out to stakeholders for the project, the U.S. Forest Service has released its revised…
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Increasingly, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has become a year-round destination. NPS photo
 

Smokies visitation blasts past 14 million

For five of the past seven years, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has posted an all-time high number of…
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Franklin man convicted of starting fire on federal land
 

Franklin man convicted of starting fire on federal land

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced that a federal jury sitting in Asheville found Casey Lee Evans,…
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Free COVID-19 Testing Site Open in Haywood
 

Free COVID-19 Testing Site Open in Haywood

Haywood County Health and Human Services is partnering with Optum Serve and Lake Junaluska Assembly to offer free COVID-19 diagnostic…
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The stranded hiker and rescuing medics are hoisted up to the medical UH60 Army Blackhawk. NPS photo
 

Helicopter rescue saves stranded Smokies hiker

 A multifaceted rescue effort extricated a stranded hiker from the backcountry of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Tuesday,…
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Riders sweep down Upper Snowbird at Cataloochee Ski Area. Holly Kays photos
 

Along for the ride: Cataloochee thrives amid warm weather, pandemic adaptations

Sun is shifting in and out of the clouds covering Cataloochee Ski Area on Friday, Jan. 14, as I catch…
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Cyclists photograph a rainbow over Cades Cove during a Wednesday ride. NPS photo
 

Cades Cove vehicle-free day now permanent

After making big changes through pilot projects at Cades Cove Loop Road and Laurel Falls Trail, the Great Smoky Mountains…
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National forests announce seasonal road closures
 

National forests announce seasonal road closures

Seasonal closures in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests have begun, with affected roads closed to motorized vehicles through April.…
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Mainspring has conserved more than 29,000 acres in the Southern Blue Ridge. Ralph Preston photo
 

Mainspring receives accreditation renewal

Mainspring Conservation Trust has earned renewal of its national land trust accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance, remaining part of…
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