Marty Stuart. (photo: Alysse Gafkjen)
 

Whole lotta highway (with a million miles to go): A conversation with Marty Stuart

When you find yourself in the presence of Marty Stuart, you find yourself in the presence of the entire living,…
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Southwestern Community College firing range.
 

Low bid participation delays shooting range improvements

Planned improvements to the Southwestern Community College firing range aimed at reducing noise pollution and lead buildup will have to…
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Clusters of campaign signs are a common sight along Qualla Boundary roadways. Holly Kays photo
 

Primary election nears in Cherokee

Early voting is now over in Cherokee, with polls to open for the Primary Election on Thursday, June 6, in…
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Macon schools pleads for more resources
 

Macon schools pleads for more resources

Angela Phillips painted a painfully realistic picture of what it’s been like inside her second-grade classroom at Cartoogechaye Elementary for…
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A look at Jackson’s proposed budget
 

A look at Jackson’s proposed budget

Jackson County’s proposed budget for 2019-2020 won’t require an increase from the current property tax rate of 0.38 cents per…
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Curriculum coordinator proposed for Jackson Schools
 

Curriculum coordinator proposed for Jackson Schools

In the last few years, Jackson County has poured significant investment into its public schools, including $9 million in much-needed…
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Carter Hollifield, (front row from left) Mason Rathbone, Trent Decker, Brooks Barbee, Henry Blackburn, August Menck, Tanner Justice, Dylan Douville, Levi Jackson, Aiden Harris, Jacob Davis, (second row from left) Katy Robinson (teacher), Lisa Ourada (running buddy), Connor Willis (running buddy), Cameron Nixon (teacher), Becca Brown (teacher), Alex Masciarelli (principal). Runners not pictured: Gavin Chouinard, Chase Perkins, Alexander Wenzel.
 

Junaluska Elementary works to empower male students

Female empowerment is all the rage right now. From school-age programs like Girls on the Run to the #MeToo movement,…
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Marquee Maggie mayoral matchup expected
 

Marquee Maggie mayoral matchup expected

With municipal candidate filing little more than a month away, the race to replace outgoing Maggie Valley Mayor Saralyn Price…
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Sheriff Curtis Cochran has been lobbying commissioners for years to increase pay for his detention officers. File photo
 

Swain on track to pass status-quo budget

In preparing the proposed budget for 2019-20, Swain County continues to hold the line on the county’s low property tax…
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Nathan Duncan (right) is pictured along with Bonnie Brown during a Q&A session with Shining Rock Classical Academy parents during the search process for a new school director. Duncan was given the job in January 2018. File photo
 

Former charter school director fired following sexual harassment complaint

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories on Haywood County’s public charter school, Shining Rock Classical…
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Swimmer drowns in Lake Glenville
 

Swimmer drowns in Lake Glenville

An Iredell County man is dead following a swim at Lake Glenville Sunday, May 26.
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Holding a casting of a Bigfoot track, Carpenter discusses his understanding of the as-of-yet scientifically unacknowledged native primate known as Bigfoot. Holly Kays photo
 

Believing Bigfoot: Locals log Sasquatch evidence in North Carolina’s mountains

Jeff Carpenter knows the woods.  A native of Otto who’s spent most of his adult life the next county over…
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Cost-share available for organic certification
 

Cost-share available for organic certification

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications from producers looking for help to cover the cost of organic…
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Hiking club achieves nonprofit status
 

Hiking club achieves nonprofit status

As of March 18, the Nantahala Hiking Club is officially a 501c3 nonprofit. 
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N.C. deer harvest declines in 2018-19
 

N.C. deer harvest declines in 2018-19

Deer harvest in North Carolina declined 9 percent from the previous three-year average in the 2018-19 season, despite the fact…
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Parkway paving planned for 2019
 

Parkway paving planned for 2019

More than 115 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be resurfaced this year as part of a pavement preservation…
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Smokies plates celebrate milestone
 

Smokies plates celebrate milestone

Twenty years after the program launched, drivers in Tennessee and North Carolina have passed the $15 million mark in support…
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Gracie Burgess’ design won this year’s Kids in the Creek Art Contest.
 

Bethel student wins art contest

Eighth grader Gracie Burgess, of Bethel Middle School, will see her artwork worn by eighth-graders across Haywood County during Kids…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Eastern box turtle, our state reptile
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Eastern box turtle, our state reptile

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in a June 2001 issue of The Smoky Mountain News Taksi was a legendary…
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We have been attacked by Russia
 

We have been attacked by Russia

To the Editor: What if you could attack a country without building a single plane, or ship, or even one…
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SRCA should keep searching
 

SRCA should keep searching

To the Editor: After reading a story you reported about Shining Rock Classical Academy, I felt the need to share…
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Placing trust in Shining Rock’s leadership
 

Placing trust in Shining Rock’s leadership

To the Editor: Pursuant to the article regarding Shining Rock Classical Academy that was published in last week’s edition, as…
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Trump’s personality issues deserve diagnosis
 

Trump’s personality issues deserve diagnosis

By Norman Hoffman • Guest Columnist Most psychiatric conditions require the clinician to interact directly with the individual to determine a…
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The magic of New York City
 

The magic of New York City

I was seven years old when my parents first took me to New York. We couldn’t afford to stay in…
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A story of people becoming real
 

A story of people becoming real

“Only connect.” Though that line from E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End refers to human love and passion, his words also seem…
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The Who at Bridgestone Arena. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals

Sitting high up in the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville last Thursday night, I couldn’t help but wonder what my…
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Grizzly Goat.
 

Out of sight ain’t out of mind: Grizzly Goat to kick off CMMF

Up-and-coming on the Americana/indie scene, Grizzly Goat was formed in Provo, Utah, and is now based in Knoxville, Tennessee. 
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Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids.
 

Just look at us now: Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids

It’s part Simon & Garfunkel, part Abbott & Costello.  When you listen to The Milk Carton Kids, you’re hearing some…
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Cold Mountain Music Festival returns to Lake Logan
 

Cold Mountain Music Festival returns to Lake Logan

The third annual Cold Mountain Music Festival will take place May 31 and June 1 at the Lake Logan Conference…
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Harrah’s sponsors Habitat home
 

Harrah’s sponsors Habitat home

Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos have been a long time partner with Habitat for Humanity, but this year the company is taking…
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Town of Highlands making broadband progress
 

Town of Highlands making broadband progress

The town of Highlands is making major headway when it comes to providing broadband internet services to its rural residents,…
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Franklin proposes to hold tax rate
 

Franklin proposes to hold tax rate

Town of Franklin Manager Summer Woodard recently presented the town council with a proposed budget for 2019-20 that would maintain…
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Macon manager proposes tax increase
 

Macon manager proposes tax increase

For the first time in several years, Macon County Manager Derek Roland is proposing a small property tax increase moving…
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Michelle Haynes
 

New Shining Rock board chair Haynes speaks out

It’s been a tumultuous couple of years for Shining Rock Classical Academy, which has dealt with a variety of administrative…
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Shining Rock board members Mike Mehaffey (from left), Michelle Haynes and Melanie Norman toast to outgoing Board Chair Anna Eason (far right). Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Shining Rock defends interim head

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories on Haywood County’s public charter school, Shining Rock Classical…
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Beekeeper Cynthia Schwartz tends to the Maggie Valley Community Garden’s colony of pollinators. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Feeding the fight against food insecurity

On one of the first warm sunny Saturdays early in Western North Carolina’s tourist season, the traditional signs of a…
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Tammy Hooper
 

Sylva police chief to retire

After 22 years with the Sylva Police Department and two years as its head, Sylva Police Chief Tammy Hooper will…
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Plaintiffs have dropped their legal action against the town of Franklin for giving over its deed for the Nikwasi Mound.
 

Legal action dropped against Franklin

Five Macon County residents are dropping their legal action against the town of Franklin for deeding over the sacred Nikwasi…
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Homeless shelter management decision coming up for Jackson
 

Homeless shelter management decision coming up for Jackson

The return of warmer weather means that Jackson County’s cold weather homeless shelter has been closed for two months, but…
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Haywood budget presented to commissioners
 

Haywood budget presented to commissioners

For the second year in a row, Haywood County taxpayers can expect no increase in property taxes, thanks to increasing…
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Canton’s board of aldermen/women James Markey (from left), Kristina Smith, Dr. Ralph Hamlett and Gail Mull sit onstage with Mayor Zeb Smathers (far right) at the Colonial Theater in November 2017. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Canton joins opioid lawsuit

Of all the victims of the nation’s opioid epidemic, probably the most overlooked are the municipalities that have to expend…
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N.C. Senate opposes Catawba casino
 

N.C. Senate opposes Catawba casino

A bipartisan majority of senators in the N.C. General Assembly have signed a letter opposing a Congressional bill that would…
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Efforts to keep McCoy off Cherokee ballot continue
 

Efforts to keep McCoy off Cherokee ballot continue

Tribal member Robert Osley Saunooke is not giving up on his efforts to see Teresa McCoy barred from candidacy in…
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Teresa McCoy
 

Court bars decertification hearing for McCoy

In a divided opinion, the Cherokee Supreme Court decided that Teresa McCoy will not have to participate in a second…
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A group of teachers speaks on behalf of Interim head of School Joshua Morgan.
 

Shining Rock hiring decision will have to wait

The search for Shining Rock Classical Academy’s next head of school will continue, after the board took no action following…
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John “Trigger” Dupras takes in the view from Max Patch. Holly Kays photo
 

Life at two miles an hour: A.T. hikers share their stories

From flip-flops to overnights to the quintessential northbound thru-hike, there are many different ways to experience the Appalachian Trail on…
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John “Trigger” Dupras takes in the view from Max Patch. Holly Kays photo
 

A.T. hikers share their stories

From flip-flops to overnights to the quintessential northbound thru-hike, there are many different ways to experience the Appalachian Trail on…
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Trails Forever crews work on Rainbow Falls Trail, a project that wrapped up last year. NPS photo
 

Trillium Gap Trail rehab has begun

A two-year trail rehabilitation project is now underway at the Trillium Gap Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,…
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Find local food
 

Find local food

The 2019 edition of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Local Food Guide is now available, an essential source for finding…
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Jim Costa. WCU photo
 

Professor receives honor from New York Botanical Garden

Jim Costa, executive director of the Western Carolina University Highlands Biological Station and a professor of biology at WCU, has…
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