Archived (29061)
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Meadows’ action is unconscionable
To the Editor: Unbelievable that Rep. Mark Meadows (R-Brevard) chose to use a black female HUD employee as a token,…
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We must do better, for our children
To the Editor: Like Andrew Morgan (see Mountaineer, Feb. 25, Guest Columnist), I too am alarmed by the rhetoric from…
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A book for those who love books
Yes! Yes! YES! YES! Lest you think I am wallowing in some bed of literoticism or celebrating Molly Bloom from…
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The right path: Beloved Woman Ella Bird reflects on life marked by family, tradition
For the past 79 years, Ella Wachacha Bird has lived a life defined by seasons and relationships rather than months…
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Committee works to establish guidelines for Beloved titles
Traditionally, the title of Beloved Man or Beloved Woman was reserved for Cherokee people who had proven themselves valiant warriors…
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Funding available for Macon nonprofits
Macon County nonprofit organizations have until March 29 to apply for county funds allocated in the county’s current fiscal year…
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Overdose prevention training offered
The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to implementing harm reduction interventions, public health…
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Cashiers starts leadership program
The inaugural Leadership Cashiers class recently launched its seven-month program with an opening retreat at Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club.…
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Trying to get most out of North Shore funds
Now that Swain County has finally received the entire $52 million from the federal government for the North Shore Road…
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‘Opportunity zone’ could bring business to poor areas
When President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on Dec. 22, 2017, proponents hailed it…
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Pigeon Center vandalized by intruders
A broken window, classrooms in shambles, irreplaceable items destroyed, kitchen coolers left open and perishable food thrown all over the…
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‘Maggie on Ice’ falls flat
What was hoped to be a slick new attraction designed to bring more visitors to Maggie Valley during wintertime has…
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Nikwasi Initiative wants deed to Cherokee mound
In a historic decision, the town of Franklin voted Monday to move forward with the process of deeding the Nikwasi…
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Haywood County bond rating inches up
Thanks to the hard work and prudent fiscal decision making of both elected officials and administration, Haywood County’s been rewarded…
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Ten years gone: Waynesville board weighs progress, prospects
On Friday, Jan. 29 at the Lake Logan Conference Center, Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown convened a board retreat where he…
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Over the hills and far away: Music, heritage comes alive at Stecoah Valley Center
Way out in Graham County, high up in the rugged wilderness of the Nantahala National Forest, is a lonely stretch…
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This must be the place: Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there
It was 60 years ago this past weekend (March 2, 1959) when Miles Davis’ seminal “Kind of Blue” album was…
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Melrose claims fellow lawyer defamed him on Facebook
Waynesville defense lawyer Mark Melrose filed a civil lawsuit against fellow defense lawyer and Clyde Mayor Pro Tem Frank Lay…
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First female chief ranger hired in the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have its first female chief ranger following the hire of Lisa Hendy, who…
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Letts reverses retirement decision
Two days after announcing a midterm retirement from the bench, Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts reversed his decision in a…
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Shaeffer recognized for service to Sylva
The Sylva Board of Commissioners recognized longtime public works director Dan Shaeffer for his nearly 20 years of service to…
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Meningitis outbreak confirmed in Macon
Macon County Public Health has confirmed an outbreak of meningitis.
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Public records requests shed light on closed sessions
In its role as government watchdog, The Smoky Mountain News submitted public record requests to county and municipal governments in…
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Behind closed doors: Public records laws have exceptions
Woe to those public bodies that fail to comply with North Carolina’s sunshine laws; transparency underpins American democracy to the…
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Closed sessions easily accessible in Jackson
Of all the local governments in The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage area, Jackson County has some of the most complete…
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Detail varies in Sylva minutes
Of the nine closed-session discussions Sylva commissioners held last year, only three — all attorney-client privilege conversations related to an…
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Bryson City tackles personnel issues in closed meetings
Personnel issues have been the only reason why Bryson City Aldermen have held closed meetings in 2018.
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Swain uses closed meetings for contract talks
Swain County commissioners typically hold two meetings per month, and it’s not unusual for them to have a closed session…
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Franklin business rarely out of public view
Of all the town and county governments in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, the Franklin Town Council had the…
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Closed meetings the norm in Macon
A vast majority of Macon County Board of Commissioners meetings end with a closed session. In fact, commissioners spent more…
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Development, personnel drive Haywood closed sessions
As the largest local government unit in The Smoky Mountain News’ four-county coverage area, Haywood County sees more action —…
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Waynesville closed sessions boring, but by the book
The Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen meets every two weeks, or about 24 times a year, depending on the…
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Small-town closed sessions few, far between
Haywood County’s five local governments more or less fall into two tiers — there’s the county and there’s Waynesville, and…
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Hometown hate: Haywood Republicans welcome anti-Muslim speaker
Aided by the left and abetted by the media, violent jihadists are slowly but surely infiltrating our government, our schools…
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Judge Letts to retire: Superior Court will see vacancy four months after Election Day
Amid widespread speculation about plans to run for principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Superior Court Judge…
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Slide shifts traffic on U.S. 74
A slide on the westbound side of U.S. 74 on Sunday morning in Jackson County temporarily diverted traffic just west…
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I-40 slide cleanup causes closure
Cleaning a rockslide on Interstate 40 near the Tennessee State lane will require the N.C. Department of Transportation to keep…
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Animal shelter planning to start in Jackson County
Jackson County is facing a plethora of capital projects over the next several years, and a new animal shelter will…
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Citizens Police Academy still seeking applicants
Not long after retired U.S. Air Force officer and former teacher Mary Ford moved to Waynesville with her husband, she…
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Open government is part of who we are
Whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative, policy-making, quasi-judicial, administrative, and advisory functions of North Carolina and its political…
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Great schools, staff are community assets
Both my parents were teachers. My earliest memories are of my dad sitting at our dining room table grading papers…
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The socialists are coming!
To the Editor The socialists are coming, the socialists are coming! Hide your cows and pickup trucks! The green new…
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Thanks for exploration of homelessness issue
To the Editor Cory Vaillancourt created a powerful, informative and moving piece of journalism (“Face to face: local homeless remain…
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The American people are not stupid
To the Editor I am not stupid and neither are most people I know. However, numerous politicians, pundits and officials…
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Devil on my shoulder: With new live album, The Get Right Band to play Boojum
The hardest balance for a rock band is to straddle the line between honest emotions in your lyrics and also…
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This must be the place: Some people never go crazy, what truly horrible lives they must lead
In a recent New York Times article, “What Charles Bukowski’s Glamorous Displays of Alcoholism Left Out,” the piece analyzed and…
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In need of craft therapy?
The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will be starting craft therapy. This get-together will be the first Tuesday of…
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Collective plans artwork in Dillsboro, sets town hall meetings
In partnership with the Appalachian Women’s Museum and the Jackson County Public Library, Western Carolina University’s LIVLAB Artist Collective will…
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Yiddish noir novel hits the mark
So, how many Yiddish authors do you know? If you’re like me your answer would be none. That is until…
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