WCU removes name 'Hoey' from auditorium
 

WCU removes name 'Hoey' from auditorium

 The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution removing the name “Hoey” from a campus performance facility.
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DA searches for larger substitute courtrooms during COVID
 

DA searches for larger substitute courtrooms during COVID

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said across the 43rd Prosecutorial District, in the state’s seven most-westernmost counties, court officials are…
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Additional COVID-19 cases confirmed in Haywood
 

Additional COVID-19 cases confirmed in Haywood

Haywood County Public Health received notice on June 26 that three more Haywood County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. …
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Lake Junaluska opens new restaurant
 

Lake Junaluska opens new restaurant

The Terrace Bistro has opened at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, offering a rare lakeside dining option in…
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Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center
 

Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center

At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress…
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Grandfather Mountain mourns loss of Gerry the black bear
 

Grandfather Mountain mourns loss of Gerry the black bear

On Saturday, June 20, Grandfather Mountain bid farewell to Gerry the black bear. Gerry was humanely euthanized following a long history of…
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Jackson County budget passes without tax cut
 

Jackson County budget passes without tax cut

Following a June 23 public hearing, Jackson County Commissioners voted to pass the proposed 2020-21 budget without any of the…
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SRCA approves preliminary plans for $15 million facility
 

SRCA approves preliminary plans for $15 million facility

According to a press release, Shining Rock Classical Academy board of directors recently unanimous voted to accept the architectural designs…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Macon nursing home
 

COVID-19 outbreak at Macon nursing home

Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff at Macon Valley Nursing Home. Two staff members of…
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Gov. Roy Cooper discusses the status of COVID-19 reopening plans on June 24.
 

No Phase 3 for NC

North Carolina’s graduated three-phase COVID-19 reopening plan was set to cruise into Phase 3 on June 26, but due to…
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Box turtles can live 120 years
 

Box turtles can live 120 years

Five turtle species reside in Western North Carolina: snapping, musk, and painted turtles are primarily found in streams, lakes, and…
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Hiker fatality in the Smokies
 

Hiker fatality in the Smokies

A hiker on the Abrams Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park died following a cardiac event Monday,…
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Senate votes to fund conservation needs
 

Senate votes to fund conservation needs

Outdoors groups are hailing a recent vote by the U.S. Senate to pass legislation supporting funding for public lands as…
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Campgrounds, rec areas reopen in the Pisgah
 

Campgrounds, rec areas reopen in the Pisgah

New re-openings have been announced for the Pisgah National Forest. 
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Writer argues that common sense is not so common
 

Writer argues that common sense is not so common

“At the heart of this wonderful book by Robert Curry is the simple belief that you as a human being…
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The Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville.
 

Nurturing the creative flame: Haywood County Arts Council holds steady during pandemic

Back in January, the Haywood County Arts Council was setting itself up for another year of growth, creatively and financially.…
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Hayford Road. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: Acadian driftwood gypsy tailwind, they call my home the land of snow

It’s been a wild and wondrous thing to be able to wander around my native North Country right now: to…
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BearWaters Brewing in Canton.
 

BearWaters welcomes Grey Eagle Taqueria to Canton

BearWaters Brewing in Canton has announced a new partnership with longstanding Asheville taqueria and music hall The Grey Eagle this…
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Restorative justice helps all involved
 

Restorative justice helps all involved

To the Editor: Seeing people take to the streets to demand reform of the police system is gratifying. Yes, we…
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Considerations for racial justice policies
 

Considerations for racial justice policies

To the Editor: All candidates for office: please, please reimagine justice for everyone and provide us a clear and comprehensive…
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For news, look beyond ‘The Frame’
 

For news, look beyond ‘The Frame’

To the Editor: The “Frame” is the view of the world news you get from the Main-Stream Media (MSM). The…
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Bob Scott.
 

Looking for answers in a time of uncertainty

By Bob Scott • Guest Columnist | I am in the market for a good, slightly used, Ouija Board.  I…
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Walter moves on to a far greener cow pasture
 

Walter moves on to a far greener cow pasture

Maybe we should have named our beagle-mix Lazarus, so often did he seemingly come back from the dead over the…
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Gateway to recreation: Canton begins planning for 448-acre outdoor park
 

Gateway to recreation: Canton begins planning for 448-acre outdoor park

The 448-acre woodland property sitting right off U.S. 23/19 and Interstate 40 near Canton was almost a speedway. Then, it…
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State allocates $26 million for families
 

State allocates $26 million for families

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies have begun to…
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Rondell Lance, local president Fraternal Order of Police (from left); Rep. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin; District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch; Karen Carnes, mother of victim; Sen. Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock; Ellen Pitt, member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Western North Carolina DWI Task Force. Donated photo
 

DA wants to close DWI loophole

Speaking in Raleigh, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch this week urged members of the N.C. Senate Judiciary Committee to close…
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The Haywood County Justice Center has emerged as the preferred location for a              controversial monument. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Future of Haywood lynching monument becoming clear

While much of the nation is talking about removing monuments, the discussion in one Western North Carolina county is also…
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Kaitlynne’s House plans to open on July 1 in Waynesville. Donated photo
 

Of meth and motherhood: Two stories of addiction, family and recovery

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | Few issues raise as much political ire in Western North Carolina as that…
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School surveys reveal lack of internet connectivity
 

School surveys reveal lack of internet connectivity

As schools shut down during the pandemic, students were sent home and instructed to tune in online. Chromebooks were loaned…
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Consortium formed to address affordable housing in WNC
 

Consortium formed to address affordable housing in WNC

Seven counties in Western North Carolina have the opportunity to band together and receive money for affordable housing through the…
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COVID-19 cases continues to climb in N.C.
 

COVID-19 cases continues to climb in N.C.

As of June 22, North Carolina had 53,605 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,200 and…
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Fontana Village Resort & Marina will no longer be in operation after surrendering its lease back to the TVA. Donated photo
 

Fontana Village surrenders lease to Tennessee Valley Authority

Fontana Village Resort & Marina located in Graham County surrendered its lease back to the Tennessee Valley Authority on June…
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Downtown Franklin.
 

Macon approves loan fund for small businesses

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macon County Economic Development Commission has established the Reopening Macon Fund. The program,…
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Franklin Hospice House under construction
 

Franklin Hospice House under construction

Construction of SECU Hospice House in Franklin has crossed the 50 percent completion mark.  It is anticipated that the region’s…
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Madison Cawthorn will take on Democrat Moe Davis in the November General Election.
 

Republicans reject Trump-endorsed candidate in NC11 runoff

Republicans finally know who will face Democrat Moe Davis in the November General Election, and the results indicate a major…
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WCU's Mountain Heritage Day canceled
 

WCU's Mountain Heritage Day canceled

Mountain Heritage Day, the annual community and campus celebration of Southern Appalachian culture presented by Western Carolina University since 1974,…
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Some WNC Republicans won’t back Trump-endorsed candidate
 

Some WNC Republicans won’t back Trump-endorsed candidate

As Republicans across North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District head to the polls, some of them are bucking their party and…
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Bear activity high in some areas
 

Bear activity high in some areas

The Pisgah National Forest warns visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Black Balsam and surrounding areas…
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SCC reports first COVID-19 case
 

SCC reports first COVID-19 case

Southwestern Community College officials confirmed on June 20 that a student has reported testing positive for COVID-19.
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Lynda Bennett or Madison Cawthorn will face Democrat Moe Davis in the November General Election.
 

State elections director tours NC11 polling places

After widespread complaints about the way Georgia’s pandemic-influenced Primary Election was conducted last week, North Carolina’s top elections official isn’t…
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Tom Fiedler reflects on policing through unrest from another era
 

Tom Fiedler reflects on policing through unrest from another era

By Tom Fiedler AVL Watchdog The legendary Miami Beach police chief Rocky Pomerance was asked in an interview with People…
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Large events curtailed for fall 2020 at WCU
 

Large events curtailed for fall 2020 at WCU

Several events typically on the fall semester calendar at Western Carolina University are canceled for 2020 as part of significant…
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TekTone becomes majority owner of Stay Smart Care
 

TekTone becomes majority owner of Stay Smart Care

As part of its mission to continuously provide communication solutions that evolve with the needs of our world, TekTone (based…
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'Little' Logan finds a big brother
 

'Little' Logan finds a big brother

Entering the eighth grade, it didn’t look likely that Logan would get a Big Brother. Big Brothers Big Sisters has…
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NC11 candidate Lynda Bennett, WLOS-TV violate state election law
 

NC11 candidate Lynda Bennett, WLOS-TV violate state election law

A short video segment featuring NC11 congressional candidate Lynda Bennett that was produced by Asheville-based WLOS-TV at Haywood County’s early…
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Raising boys against the grain
 

Raising boys against the grain

Good girls are raised to be quiet, dainty and accommodating. Real boys are raised to be competitive, successful and tough.…
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Commissioner Pless acting like a third-rate politician
 

Commissioner Pless acting like a third-rate politician

To the Editor: When it comes to the internet, I am the first to proclaim myself as a troll. Although…
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Comment

Inequality comes in many flavors
 

Inequality comes in many flavors

To the Editor: Inequality plays out in all aspects of American life. For the past few weeks we have been…
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Moe Davis best option for 11th District
 

Moe Davis best option for 11th District

To the Editor: Don’t know who to vote for yet on Nov. 3 for Rep. Mark Meadows’ vacant U.S. House…
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