Emergency vehicles line Champion Drive around noon on April 5.
 

First responders monitoring situation at Canton mill

Emergency services workers from several jurisdictions were responding this morning to reports of a fire at Evergreen Packaging’s Canton papermill.
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Haywood County COVID-19 update
 

Haywood County COVID-19 update

“To date, over 18,000 people in Haywood County are at least partially vaccinated. Mass vaccination efforts have been running smoothly,…
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CDC Extends Moratorium on Renter Evictions to June 30
 

CDC Extends Moratorium on Renter Evictions to June 30

Just as it was about to expire at the end of March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
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Dillsboro break-ins prompt caution for Jackson County businesses
 

Dillsboro break-ins prompt caution for Jackson County businesses

Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton is urging local businesses to secure their buildings after multiple Dillsboro restaurants were broken into…
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Latino vaccine clinic to take place April 4
 

Latino vaccine clinic to take place April 4

The International Friendship Center, the Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers and Vecinos have hosted six weekly Latino COVID-19 vaccine clinics…
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Violet Lemon Pound Cake
 

Violet Lemon Pound Cake

As spring gets underway, Violet Season is officially here. Violets are some of my favorite spring flowers, for they signal…
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Easter then and now
 

Easter then and now

Growing up, my family had a little blue and white camper at Ocean Lakes Campground in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.…
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Spring & Easter Events
 

Spring & Easter Events

Easter Celebrations
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Self-care Tips for Stress Awareness Month
 

Self-care Tips for Stress Awareness Month

Chronic stress can cause depression, anxiety, insomnia headaches and other symptoms that affect our health. During Stress Awareness Month in…
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Dating an adult on the spectrum
 

Dating an adult on the spectrum

By Heather Nation Editor’s note: In recognizing World Autism Awareness Day April 2, we typically think of parents’ stories of…
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R&R on the Outer Banks
 

R&R on the Outer Banks

When my mom told me she wanted to rent a beach house somewhere for a week just for her, me…
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Revamped Bryson City market to start in May
 

Revamped Bryson City market to start in May

The farmers market in Bryson City is growing, with Swain County Cooperative Extension and the Swain County Tourism Development Authority…
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Podcast series explores Black Appalachian music
 

Podcast series explores Black Appalachian music

A six-part podcast mini-series exploring the intersection of Black history and Southern Appalachian music through the Great Smoky Mountains Association…
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The Storybook Trail of the Smokies will wind against a backdrop of peaceful forest and rushing waterways. NPS photos
 

Read through the woods: Storybook Trail promotes literacy and nature

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park hopes to help visitors experience the Smokies story in a new way thanks to…
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Ramsey Prong Bridge is in need of replacement, but supply delays are extending the project’s timeline. NPS photo
 

Road closures extended in Greenbrier

A delay in supplies for the Ramsey Prong Bridge replacement project is causing an extended closure for Ramsey Prong Road…
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Even as a drive-thru, Winter Lights drew high attendance
 

Even as a drive-thru, Winter Lights drew high attendance

The first-ever drive-thru Winter Lights experience at the N.C. Arboretum brought record numbers of people to see the bright holiday…
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Book details atrocities in Chinese factories
 

Book details atrocities in Chinese factories

Historically, and presently, the women at Masanjia experienced worse torture and degradation than men. The guards would jam and twist…
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Compromise on new jail project urged
 

Compromise on new jail project urged

Bob Clark • Guest Columnist | The request to the Haywood County commissioners from the Sheriff’s Department for $15 million…
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Emerging from a difficult year of COVID-19
 

Emerging from a difficult year of COVID-19

By Dr. J. Scott Hinkle • Guest Columnist | The COVID-19 crisis is winding down. This time last year we…
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Our republic’s future depends on virtue
 

Our republic’s future depends on virtue

To the Editor: I’m beginning to understand what Benjamin Franklin meant when encountering a woman on the street following the…
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Educational system is in real trouble
 

Educational system is in real trouble

To the Editor: I have often been critical of our educational system for being more enamored of trendy fashions than…
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Long overdue regulation bans rebel flag in Haywood County Schools
 

Long overdue regulation bans rebel flag in Haywood County Schools

J.D. Moore started his first year at Tuscola in 1999. He was an athlete, played football and basketball. He learned…
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Sen. Corbin again leads health care push
 

Sen. Corbin again leads health care push

With the support of a bi-partisan panel including commissioners from Macon and Graham counties as well as the head of…
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Reps. Clampitt, Pless make big ask for mental health
 

Reps. Clampitt, Pless make big ask for mental health

Filed in the General Assembly on March 15, House Bill 280  contains only 112 words, but if it gains legislative…
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Papadosio.
 

Just like the days: Papadosio celebrates milestone with Haywood drive-in show

In its 15 years together, Papadosio has remained on a steady, upward trajectory as one of the premier jam-bands currently…
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Preservation Pub, Knoxville. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: Look in the mirror, who do you see? Someone familiar, surely not me

The sound of thunder and a heavy rain awoke me from a deep slumber. Opening my eyes, I relaxed into…
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William Rogers (far left).
 

Interested in metal art?

A new grant from the Center for Craft is supporting an effort to share traditional metal working techniques with the…
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Room tax increases proposed for Haywood, Bryson City
 

Room tax increases proposed for Haywood, Bryson City

Western North Carolina Republicans have introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would result in substantial changes to the…
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New tax values, fire protection costs drive rate discussion
 

New tax values, fire protection costs drive rate discussion

With the 2021 property revaluation now complete, Jackson County’s taxable value will rise nearly 20 percent over the value established…
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DWA leader announces retirement
 

DWA leader announces retirement

Downtown Waynesville Association Executive Director Buffy Phillips has apparently told members of the DWA executive board that she plans to…
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The newly unveiled vision for a road trip themed development along Interstate 40 in Sevierville is expected to welcome visitors starting in 2022. Donated rendering
 

Tribe approves $35 million for Sevier County project

Tribal Council voted 11-1 this month to allocate an additional $35 million toward a Kituwah LLC development project along Interstate…
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Tribe approves allocation plan for commercial gaming profits
 

Tribe approves allocation plan for commercial gaming profits

By unanimous vote, Tribal Council approved an allocation plan for future revenues from the Southern Indiana Casino during its monthly…
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Mountain Pediatrics re-opens Canton office
 

Mountain Pediatrics re-opens Canton office

Mountain Pediatric Group’s Canton location, temporarily closed during the pandemic, has now reopened and is accepting new patients. 
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Transparency efforts underway for cops, teachers, other gov’t employees
 

Transparency efforts underway for cops, teachers, other gov’t employees

For the very first time, the North Carolina General Assembly will consider giving the public meaningful access to personnel records…
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Dr. Dana Ayers
 

New leadership for Jackson County Schools

Jackson County Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. Dana Ayers as its new superintendent beginning June 1. 
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Glenn and Evelyn Bannerman both died of COVID-19, 17 days apart.
 

COVID-19: Those We've Lost

By Sally Kestin | Asheville Watchdog They taught students in school, delivered the mail, advised Congress, and served the country in…
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Developers plan to breathe new life into Maggie Valley's Ghost Town in the Sky.
 

Ghost Town developers reach major milestone

In another encouraging sign of progress, ownership of the land upon which Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town in the Sky amusement…
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Comment

Vaccine distribution update from Haywood
 

Vaccine distribution update from Haywood

Key Updates: Haywood County has opened vaccination to all groups eligible under North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services…
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Macon reports two more COVID-related deaths
 

Macon reports two more COVID-related deaths

Macon County Public Health received notification that two Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away.
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Detour Allows Crews to Finish Dillsboro Bridge
 

Detour Allows Crews to Finish Dillsboro Bridge

SYLVA – Just one short phase remains before a major bridge project in Jackson County is functionally complete.
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Environmental Review Process Complete for Corridor K
 

Environmental Review Process Complete for Corridor K

A major milestone has been reached in the planning phase of a project to improve Corridor K in Graham County.
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A History of the Food Pyramid
 

A History of the Food Pyramid

Have you ever felt confused when looking at any of the several iterations of the food pyramid? You’re not alone.…
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Q&A With Nutritionist Jennie Boothroyd
 

Q&A With Nutritionist Jennie Boothroyd

Dietician and nutritionist Jennie Boothroyd of Canton recently took time to answer some burning questions women have about nutrition and…
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Suzanne & Ricardo, owners of Wildcat Ridge Farm
 

Ways To Celebrate Spring in WNC

With warmer weather and some COVID-19 restrictions lifting in North Carolina, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside this…
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Stop Asian Hate
 

Stop Asian Hate

To the Editor: As a member of the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community in Jackson County, the attack…
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Comment

Canceling our freedom of speech
 

Canceling our freedom of speech

To the Editor: Protecting our freedom of speech may be one circumstance where liberals, conservatives, Republicans, Democrats, Independents virtually all…
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Vaccination volunteers, staff were wonderful
 

Vaccination volunteers, staff were wonderful

To the Editor: I can’t recall ever writing a letter to the editor in all my 64 years; but I…
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Comment

A healthy, diverse media landscape is a good thing
 

A healthy, diverse media landscape is a good thing

We who live in Western North Carolina are fortunate in many ways. We know that. It’s a beautiful place with…
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Finally, back to school for all
 

Finally, back to school for all

I’ve missed chaotic mornings fighting for the bathroom, looking for shoes under beds, packing lunches, slinging bagels in the toaster…
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Seagrass declining on N.C. coast
 

Seagrass declining on N.C. coast

A recently published report shows significant loss in seagrass along the North Carolina coast. 
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