Carmaleta Monteith. Donated photo
 

Endowment for Cherokee Hospital Foundation Established

The Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the well-being of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians by strengthening…
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Chad Ray Lequire. File photo
 

Swain man convicted in drug trafficking case

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch today said a Haywood County jury recently convicted a Bryson City man on seven criminal…
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Man sentenced for sexual contact with minor
 

Man sentenced for sexual contact with minor

Rogelia Vega Evans, 26, of Lexington, North Carolina was sentenced to 180 months in prison for engaging in sexual contact…
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HRMC announces walk-in mammography
 

HRMC announces walk-in mammography

Haywood Regional Medical Center announced the launch of a convenient walk-in mammography clinic at the HRMC Breast Center, located on…
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The time to prepare for an emergency is now, say local officials.
 

Dangerous storm bears down on WNC

A growing tropical storm that’s expected to become a major hurricane is tracking through the Gulf of Mexico and appears…
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The Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

This must be the place: 'The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining'

Stepping out of my apartment building in downtown Waynesville on Wednesday morning, I noticed several American flags lining Walnut Street,…
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Old Crow Medicine Show will play Cullowhee Sept. 28. File photo
 

Old Crow Medicine Show to headline Mountain Heritage Day

A beloved long-time Western North Carolina tradition, the 50th annual Mountain Heritage Day will be held from 10 a.m. to…
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Jamey Johnson will play Cherokee Sept. 20-21. File photo
 

Jamey Johnson returns to Harrah’s Cherokee

Country megastar Jamey Johnson will hit the stage for a two-night stand Sept. 20-21 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Born…
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Michael Fitzpatrick will play Waynesville Sept. 27. File photo
 

Folkmoot welcomes renowned cellist

Folkmoot USA will present world-renowned American cellist and composer Michael Fitzpatrick at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at the Folkmoot…
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The New Quintet will play Stecoah Sept. 21. Donated photo
 

Americana, folk at Stecoah

Rising Americana/old-time ensemble The New Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Stecoah Valley Center in…
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Autumn leaves blanket a bridge along Alum Cave Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This October’s Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, held Oct. 27–29, will be the first fall event of its kind hosted by DLiA. Smokies Life photo
 

Word from the Smokies: Fall adventure supports research into park biodiversity

As days grow shorter in the Great Smoky Mountains, the colorful landscape hums with life. Creatures large and small scurry…
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Cradle of Forestry announces fall events
 

Cradle of Forestry announces fall events

The following are the Cradle of Forestry’s fall events:  Sept. 28: National Public Lands Day Times: 10 a.m. to 5…
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NC Wildlife Resources Commission director to retire
 

NC Wildlife Resources Commission director to retire

After 34 years of service to the state of North Carolina, Cameron Ingram, executive director of the North Carolina Wildlife…
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All of the Smoky Mountain News coverage area is now in a moderate drought. Ncdrought.org photo
 

Drought expands in WNC

Over the last couple of weeks, the drought has expanded in Western North Carolina, and it now covers all of…
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Camp out with Misfit Mountain animal rescue
 

Camp out with Misfit Mountain animal rescue

Join Haywood County’s Misfit Mountain Animal Rescue for the second-annual Pigs & a Blanket Festival & Campout this weekend. The…
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Ski Lake Junaluska Winter Youth Retreat
 

Ski Lake Junaluska Winter Youth Retreat

Experience the wonder of winter this season during a Ski Lake Junaluska Winter Youth Retreat in the mountains of Western…
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Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day
 

Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will host two family-friendly events to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day, an annual celebration promoting outdoor…
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WNC Mountain State Fair winners bring home hardware
 

WNC Mountain State Fair winners bring home hardware

The following are winners in the N.C. Mountain State Fair’s opening weekend poultry, rabbit, sheep, goat and beef cattle categories…
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Voting MAGA is voting hate
 

Voting MAGA is voting hate

To the Editor: As my grandmother used to say, the MAGA party “doesn’t have the sense it was born with.”…
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Policy positions are now clear
 

Policy positions are now clear

To the Editor: Harris is focused on financial policies to benefit the middle classes. She proposes to reinstate child tax…
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There are many reasons to vote
 

There are many reasons to vote

To the Editor: Why Vote? First, before you vote you need to register to vote and if you think you’re…
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Beware speeding in Tallulah Falls
 

Beware speeding in Tallulah Falls

To the Editor: I am sending this in hopes that it might save some of my neighbors in Franklin and…
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With campaign season in full swing and the start of early voting just weeks away, political signs have started popping up around the county. Bob Scott photo
 

‘Biggest election we’ve ever had’: Macon gets ahead of illegal signs, voter intimidation, misinformation

Macon County officials held a press conference last week to address illegal political signs and get ahead of some misinformation…
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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Greg Skidmore photo
 

RFK ballot fight leaves voters in limbo

He fought to get on the ballot, and then fought to get off the ballot.  Now, after a favorable ruling…
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The chapel on the top floor of the Shook-Smathers House was used for years as a place where the community would come worship. Sabrina L. Greene photo
 

Pioneer Heritage Festival offers tour of historic Shook-Smathers House

The historic Shook-Smathers House in Clyde has seen significant improvements in recent years, and this weekend folks will have a…
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The General Assembly approved millions in additional funding for private schools vouchers. File photo
 

General Assembly approve private school vouchers

Last week the North Carolina General Assembly passed a conference report, also referred to as a mini budget that includes…
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Downtown Sylva. File photo
 

Changes to Sylva panhandling ordinance fail

After multiple rounds of public opposition to proposed changes to Sylva’s panhandling ordinance, the board decided to dismiss the changes…
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Brad Letts. File photo
 

Superior Court judge nearing EBCI Supreme Court confirmation

Superior Court Judge Bradley B. Letts has confirmed he has the intention of vacating his seat on the bench to…
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Macon County manager announces resignation
 

Macon County manager announces resignation

After more than a decade of leadership in Macon County, Derek Roland announced last week that he intends to resign…
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Judy and Ed LaFountaine have a deep connection to Lake Junaluska. Donated photo
 

Lake Junaluska names leadership award winners

Judy and Ed LaFountaine, wife and husband, are the 2024 recipients of the Junaluska Leadership Award, an honor bestowed annually…
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Wreaths Across America returns to Waynesville
 

Wreaths Across America returns to Waynesville

Started in 1992 by Morrill Worcester with the donation and placement of 5,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery during the…
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Pactiv Evergreen’s paper mill, which sits on a 185-acre parcel straddling the Pigeon River in Canton, has been closed for more than a year.
 

Documents indicate shuttered Canton paper mill will soon be sold

The old paper mill in the heart of Canton will have a new owner by the end of the month…
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Folk/blues artist Scott Low will play Highlands Sept. 15. File photo
 

Ready for Highlands Porchfest?

The Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment (CLE) will host its annual Highlands Porchfest music festival from 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept.…
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‘Social District of Sylva Celebration’
 

‘Social District of Sylva Celebration’

The Main Street Sylva Association will host its “Social District of Sylva Celebration” from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at…
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Appalachian Smoke will play Bryson City Sept. 14. File photo
 

Appalachian Smoke rolls into Bryson City

Americana/bluegrass act Appalachian Smoke will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City. 
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Darnell Farms is a popular destination in WNC. File photo
 

Fall into Darnell Farms

The annual corn maze and pumpkin patch will continue through Oct. 31 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. 
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Barbara Brook will be part of the studio tour. File photo
 

Haywood County Studio Tour

Presented by the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), the annual Haywood County Studio Tour will be held from 10 a.m.…
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Natti Love Joys will play Sylva Sept. 13. File photo
 

Reggae, soul at Lazy Hiker

The Natti Love Joys will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. A roots-rock-reggae…
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Artisan demonstrations will be held in Dillsboro Sept. 21. File photo
 

‘Youth Arts Festival’

The annual “Youth Arts Festival” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Jackson…
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They’re more than an itchy irritation — mosquitos kill hundreds of thousands of people across the world, every year. File photo
 

Doing battle with the world's deadliest animal: WCU researchers join the fight against mosquito-borne diseases

Sure, mosquitos are an important link in the food chain for amphibians, birds and other insects, but they’re annoying, they’re…
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The festival will offer visitors the opportunity to see sorghum being processed. Donated photo
 

Sorghum festival comes to East Tennessee

The 25th Annual Sorghum Festival will allow visitors to have the opportunity to observe sorghum cane being processed into molasses…
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Volunteers should be prepared to work in the sun, get a little dirty and possibly wet. Donated photo
 

Volunteers needed for the ‘Big Sweep’ stream cleanup

Haywood Waterways is calling for volunteers to take part in a county-wide cleanup event that removes tons of trash from…
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Award winners including Malia Crowe Skulski, Natrieifia Miller, Kaylyn Barnes, Callia Johnson, Susan Sachs, Beth Wright and Kahawis. Smokies Life photo
 

GSMNP employees receive education award

A team of Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees was recently awarded the 2023 Excellence in Education Award at a National Park Service…
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Smokies spenders pump billions into local economies
 

Smokies spenders pump billions into local economies

A new National Park Service report shows that 13,297,647 visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2023 spent $2.2…
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‘Who can deny what we saw?’
 

‘Who can deny what we saw?’

To the Editor: I agree with the writer of “ Democrats need to learn a lesson” in the July 17 issue, when…
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Harris will be bad for the country
 

Harris will be bad for the country

To the Editor: This is in response to Cory Vaillancourt’s two articles in The Smoky Mountain News’ August 21 edition.…
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GOP becoming a fascist party
 

GOP becoming a fascist party

To the Editor: I have seen banners and bumper stickers that read, “Socialism or Freedom.” I would hardly call the…
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Trump appointed only the best
 

Trump appointed only the best

To the Editor: It is exceedingly rare for members of a former president’s cabinet or inner circle of advisers not…
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Food prices are too high
 

Food prices are too high

To the Editor: To establish a baseline, acknowledge that there are various factors that influence prices at the grocery store.…
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The aroma from the plants could be smelled just about anywhere in the building. Kyle Perrotti photo
 

Cherokee celebrates first day of adult recreational cannabis use

It’s been almost a decade in the making, but anyone over 21 with a valid ID can purchase THC products…
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