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Turn up the radio: Canton station remains a cherished community gem
Not far from Main Street in Canton and the bright lights of the nearby football stadium is an unassuming one-story…
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This must be the place: Winter’s cold, spring erases, and the calm away by the storm is chasing
Awakening in the hotel room in downtown Pineville, Kentucky, it took me a moment to realize where I was this…
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WNC tourism numbers show quick recovery
When North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper gave the order to close bars and restaurants back on March 17, that was…
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Rural allure, strong hospitality sector set Jackson County up for success amid pandemic
Things were looking bleak for the tourism industry — for all industries, really — as coronavirus shutdowns and stay-at-home orders…
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Swain summer tourism dollars up 37 percent
The Coronavirus Pandemic hasn’t stopped the Swain County Tourism Development Authority from having another record-setting year in occupancy tax revenue.
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Haywood tourism emerges from pandemic nearly unscathed
During the summer and fall of 2019, room occupancy tax data collected by Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority suggested that…
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Pandemic impacts Franklin’s tourism revenue
The Town of Franklin is one of the many local governments that saw a decrease in its occupancy tax revenue…
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Election could remake Haywood County Board of Commissioners
Longtime commissioner and current Chairman of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Kevin Ensley is seeking re-election to his seat,…
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Reconnecting on the Road
A 10-day road trip covering thousands of miles was either going to save us or kill us.
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Full slate of candidates in Beaverdam school board race
This year’s race for the Haywood County School Board has had a lot of interest with 12 candidates running for…
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Early voting starts Oct. 15
Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. Early voting sites in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area…
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Tribal government modifies operations amid COVID-19 surge
Many tribal offices are closed or operating at reduced levels this week following what Principal Chief Richard Sneed called an…
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Jackson to vote on animal shelter contract
Jackson County commissioners plan to vote next week on a construction contract to build a new animal rescue center as…
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Kamala Harris to appear in Asheville, Charlotte
Less than three weeks from Election Day, California senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will visit the North…
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Haywood reports four COVID-19 deaths
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting four COVID-19 deaths. The individuals died within the last few weeks either…
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Two cases of La Crosse Encephalitis confirmed in Haywood
Haywood County Health Director, Patrick Johnson, recently confirmed that two residents of Haywood County has been diagnosed with La Crosse…
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New detour opens for Scotts Creek bridge project
A new detour for local traffic and passenger vehicles is now available to bypass the road closure caused by the…
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Sylva cancels Christmas parade
The Sylva Town Board has voted unanimously this evening to cancel this year’s Christmas Parade, citing coronavirus concerns.
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Whittier man faces charges in wife’s death
Whittier resident Billy Hicks, 48, is being held without bond in the Jackson County Detention Center after his wife Danielle…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Macon Sheriff's Office
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of employees at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office who have tested positive for…
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Free medications offered to Swain residents in need
NC MedAssist is partnering with Swain County Health Department to host a Mobile Free Pharmacy event, providing residents in need with…
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Program to use therapy dogs to aid domestic violence victims
An initiative by Cyndy Caravelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Western Carolina University, will include a pilot…
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Pumpkin spice simple syrup
Last Tuesday was a cold and rainy early autumn day in the mountains. The kind that made you want to…
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Releasing through writing
Life in quarantine is hard. 2020 is hard. And if you’re feeling the stress and pain and heartache of this…
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Remove the stigma, own your story
None of us like to talk about mental health. Even as a reporter who has been covering the issue for…
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Pless’ behavior should worry voters
By Heather Hyatt Packer • Guest Columnist | When our government leaders deliberately mislead or lie to us, there is…
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Trump’s re-election important for U.S.
To the Editor: “I hope they both die” are words expressed by some lefty Trump haters when they heard that…
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Trump just doesn’t care
To the Editor: I recently received a mailer from the Trump campaign purportedly to tell the truth about what Trump…
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Democrats want to take away rights
To the Editor: I noticed in your Sept. 30 edition that all your letters to the editor are nothing but…
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Sign stealers should be denounced
To the Editor: Trump tends to project onto others what he is planning to do or has done. When he…
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Sign drove me away from Waynesville
To the Editor: Simply put, I’m a Texas tourist (airline pilot on leave of absence) who was on my first…
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Woman dies in Cades Cove due to cardiac distress
A visitor to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park died Tuesday, Sept. 29, following a cardiac event in Cades Cove.
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Retired Wildlife Resources director wins lifetime achievement award
Gordon Meyers, retired executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, has received the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’…
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Jackson County Farmers Market celebrates 20 years
Back in the 1990s, Karen and Johnny White were in a nomadic phase of life, spending several months traveling the…
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GSMA releases butterfly-centric 2021 calendar
The official 2021 Great Smoky Mountains Association wall calendar, featuring stunning macro photography of butterflies and moths found in the…
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Sign up for nature-based learning
A new subscription-based program from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont aims to connect families through nature-based activities and…
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Digging into history: a visit to Jamestown
Right after Labor Day, my friend John and I traveled to Virginia’s Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. A paper…
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The dark side of Mill Street
Crossing the threshold of the White Moon café in downtown Sylva, one is immediately drawn in by the scent of…
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This must be the place: You’ve got to get up to get down
Approaching the backside parking lot of Upslope Brewing Company in Boulder, Colorado one recent evening, I was immediately greeted by…
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Ongoing 2020 election coverage
As the 2020 election draws near, The Smoky Mountain News will continue to interview all willing candidates at the local,…
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Macon community center reopens
Macon County’s Robert C. Carpenter Community Building will begin to open under limited capacity.
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Charlotte man arrested for soliciting minor
William Ray Hartsell, 27, of Charlotte, was arrested in Haywood County on Sept. 23 by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office…
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SCC to host state debate
In September, students in Dr. Bucky Dann’s Social Problems class hosted debates featuring candidates for national and local office.
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Moratorium on Waynesville utility disconnections to end
A policy adopted by the Town of Waynesville that was designed to alleviate financial hardship during the early stages of…
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Foundation provides COVID-19 testing for schools
On Aug. 21 the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation announced it would fund a weekly COVID-19 testing program for Highlands School,…
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Holley, Robinson vie for Lt. Gov. post
Even though it’s largely a ceremonial post, North Carolina’s lieutenant governor has an important role in state government — especially…
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Sen. Tillis fights to retain seat
There are few races in North Carolina this cycle that hold more consequence than that for the United States Senate…
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Jackson voters to speak on indoor pool issue
Like voters across the country, Jackson County residents are electing representatives for offices ranging from congressman to commissioner, but this…
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Political newcomers run for Jackson’s District 3 seat
As in the District 4 race, the ballot for the District 3 county commission seat in Jackson County is devoid…
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Haywood school board race draws 12 candidates
A dozen candidates are running to fill five open seats on the Haywood County School Board. Among them, four are…
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