River access restored at Beechertown Road
 

River access restored at Beechertown Road

Repairs have been completed to Beechertown Road and the Nantahala River access there in the Nantahala National Forest near Franklin. 
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Agriculture losses from Florence top $1 billion
 

Agriculture losses from Florence top $1 billion

Initial estimates for crop damage and livestock losses in North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence are expected to top $1.1…
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Black bear. Casey G. Duke photo
 

Poor acorn crop leads to increased bear encounters

A nighttime breath of fresh air turned traumatic for 75-year-old Swannanoa resident Toni Rhegness when she spotted three bear cubs…
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Susan Clements. Donated photo
 

Search underway for missing woman near Clingmans Dome

A full week after Ohio resident Mitzie Sue “Susan” Clements, 53, went missing in the Clingmans Dome area of the…
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New signs tell Cowee story
 

New signs tell Cowee story

The ancient Cowee mound in Macon County, once home to a thriving Cherokee town, now has interpretive signs to pay…
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Phil and Connie Haire (left) present an Old Town brand kayak to Paul Wolf, director of SCC’s Outdoor Leadership program, and Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation. SCC photo
 

Kayak donated to SCC

Phil and Connie Haire have donated a kayak to Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program.
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Book examines change in rural Appalachia
 

Book examines change in rural Appalachia

In the last 75 years, the landscape and the culture of the Appalachian South have undergone enormous change. Take the…
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Haywood County bluegrass act Balsam Range won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s biggest award, ‘Entertainer of the Year,’ at the IBMA award show last Thursday in Raleigh. The band previously received the honor in 2014. Photo courtesy of IBMA
 

Blue collar dreams: Balsam Range wins big at IBMAs

Sitting on a bench in the lobby of the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium last Thursday evening, Marc Pruett waits quietly for…
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This must be the place: You who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by
 

This must be the place: You who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by

I had to really think back and question it. Had I ever crossed that line into what could be considered…
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Todd Martin, a WCU fine arts student who produced the new ‘wi’ sculpture on campus, discusses that creation process with Richard Sneed, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
 

WCU unveils new Cherokee sculpture

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ historical and cultural connections with the land now home to Western Carolina University were…
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Carden’s ‘Birdell’ gets DVD Release
 

Carden’s ‘Birdell’ gets DVD Release

There will be a DVD release party for acclaimed writer Gary Carden’s play “Birdell” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5,…
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Building on something good: Educational remedies for workforce deficiencies
 

Building on something good: Educational remedies for workforce deficiencies

Heaters that won’t heat. Lights that won’t light. Pipes that won’t pipe. The modern conveniences most people have taken for…
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No more emissions testing in Haywood
 

No more emissions testing in Haywood

The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved a reduction in North Carolina counties required to perform yearly vehicle emissions tests. 
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Jarrett House re-opens in Dillsboro
 

Jarrett House re-opens in Dillsboro

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce held a STIR Business After Hours event at the newly re-opened Jarrett House in…
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Lynn Duffy (second from right), the UNC System’s senior associate vice president for leadership and talent, speaks about WCU’s chancellor search at the Sept. 21 meeting. WCU photo
 

WCU resumes chancellor search

After more than two months in limbo, the search for Western Carolina University’s next leader has re-launched with the goal…
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Dr. Cliff Faull (green shirt), a member of the former consolidated board, listens to public comment Oct. 1. Holly Kays photo
 

Health, social services changes upheld in Jackson

There was no discussion as the Jackson County Commissioners voted 3-2 Oct. 1 to uphold a vote they took in…
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Important voting deadlines approach
 

Important voting deadlines approach

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Make sure you’re ready to vote by following the simple flowchart below. 
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Leo Phillips (left) and Kristina Earwood.
 

Two Republicans vie for district judge seat

One of 43 spread across the state, North Carolina’s 30th Judicial District covers Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and is where many people have their first interaction with the court system. 
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Doug Cody (left) and Boyce Deitz.
 

It’s a rematch for Deitz and Cody in Jackson commissioner race

Jackson County Commissioner Boyce Deitz took office in 2014 after wresting the seat from incumbent Doug Cody, but this time around Cody is looking to reverse that result in a repeat face-off to represent District 2. 
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Mark Melrose (left) and Brad Letts.
 

Two Dems in high-profile superior court race

You’ve probably seen the billboards by now, if not for months. Or, you’ve seen the candidates out campaigning in person — incumbent Superior Court Judge Brad Letts and well-known Waynesville attorney Mark Melrose.
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Rocky Sampson (left) and Curtis Cochran.
 

Incumbent sheriff challenged in Swain

Incumbent Republican Curtis Cochran is running for a fourth term as Swain County sheriff. While he’s never had an easy race, he said, this election cycle has been particularly brutal with mudslinging coming from all directions.
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Joint opioid task force leads to 75 arrests in WNC
 

Joint opioid task force leads to 75 arrests in WNC

A major law enforcement operation targeting drug trafficking in and around the Qualla Boundary has resulted in the arrest of…
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Two sentenced for drug trafficking in Macon County
 

Two sentenced for drug trafficking in Macon County

Macon County Superior Court recently saw guilty pleas and lengthy prison sentences of two drug trafficking defendants. In unrelated cases,…
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Left to right: Eric Giles, Bryan Carpenter and Robert Holland.
 

Three candidates run for Macon sheriff

Talk briefly about your past experience and why you are the most qualified candidate.
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Mary Ann and her husband Gary Morgan pose after Mary Ann was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Donated photo
 

Economic development agency defunded; longtime director retires, earns state’s highest honor

Mary Ann Morgan was a one-woman show with a shoestring budget for more than 40 years but still, she managed…
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Greensky Bluegrass will play the Salvage Station in Asheville on Oct. 4.
 

Lost out here on the wind: Greensky Bluegrass returns to Asheville

For over 15 years, Michigan-based string act Greensky Bluegrass has been blurring the lines between bluegrass, rock-n-roll and jazz music. Whether…
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University of the streets: With new book, WNC writer chronicles the Baby Beat movement
 

University of the streets: With new book, WNC writer chronicles the Baby Beat movement

At 69, Thomas Rain Crowe feels pretty good, considering. “I’m not looking forward to 70, it’s kind of a psychological…
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Thomas Rain Crowe in his writer’s den on the second floor of his Tuckasegee home in Jackson County.
 

University of the streets

At 69, Thomas Rain Crowe feels pretty good, considering. “I’m not looking forward to 70, it’s kind of a psychological…
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A slow, beautiful tale told through letters
 

A slow, beautiful tale told through letters

English farmwife and mother Tina Hopgood writes to Professor P.V. Glob. The professor had long ago dedicated his book, The…
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From our readers
 

From our readers

Health insurance may disappear under GOP To the Editor: It makes no difference if you support the current administration or…
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 Benton MacKaye Trail Association kiosk. Don Hendershot photo
 

Celebration crashers

My bride and I celebrated our anniversary by ditching the kids and renting a cabin near Blue Ridge, Ga., for…
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WOW releases 2019 charity calendar
 

WOW releases 2019 charity calendar

WOW has produced a semi-nude calendar featuring its own members for seven years and all proceeds go toward the nonprofit’s…
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Nevertheless, she persisted
 

Nevertheless, she persisted

Almost two years ago, I traveled to Iowa with a close friend of mine. We visited her hometown to see…
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The real problem in Haywood’s tax office
 

The real problem in Haywood’s tax office

Haywood County GOP leaders last week took the podium at a public meeting and proceeded to act as shills for…
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Andrew Shepherd runs the Art Loeb Trail at Tennant Mountain.  Steve Reinhold photo
 

Mountains at a running pace

Andrew Shepherd has only been a runner for about two years. But when he took up the hobby, he was…
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MST birthday weekend logs 2,700 miles
 

MST birthday weekend logs 2,700 miles

An initial tally shows that 434 hikers cumulatively covered 2,756 miles of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail during its birthday weekend Sept.…
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Fiscal year 2017-18 performance of the 3 percent fund, provided by the Haywood TDA, shows robust growth.
 

Haywood tourism continues to grow

The fiscal year for Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority ended June 30, and now that all the data are in,…
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Attorney General Mike McConnell discusses the election ordinance with Tribal Council during an Aug. 27 work session. EBCI image
 

Cherokee widens window 
for election law changes

Tribal Council extended its deadline to complete a slew of amendments to its election ordinance with a unanimous vote during…
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Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts (center) has worked closely with law enforcement, including Haywood Sheriff Greg Christopher and Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes, to implement a pretrial release program.
 

Pretrial release program comes to Western NC

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, Haywood and Jackson counties will be the first judicial district in the state to pilot a…
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Amid criticism from some constituents, District Attorney Ashley Welch was presented with recognition from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office for her integrity and cooperation with law enforcement.
 

District Attorney under fire for ‘mishandling’ cases

District Attorney Ashley Welch doesn’t have an opponent in the 2018 election, but an online petition to remove her from…
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Jackson County Schools Superintendent Kim Elliott presents her 2018-19 budget needs to Jackson County commissioners in May. Holly Kays photo
 

Jackson schools see gains and losses in school performance

Jackson County Schools showed mostly level performance over last year with the release of statewide school performance data for 2017-18…
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Bridge over Lake Junaluska now open
 

Bridge over Lake Junaluska now open

The bridge over the Lake Junaluska dam is now open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. All are invited to attend…
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Gavin Brown will serve 24 months of  supervised probation.
 

Waynesville mayor takes plea deal in forgery case

Waynesville attorney Gavin Brown pled guilty Sept. 18 to two felony counts stemming from an incident in which he forged…
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Obamacare navigator  funding eliminated
 

Obamacare navigator funding eliminated

Jan Plummer is the Obamacare Navigator program coordinator at Mountain Projects, but probably not for much longer. Unsurprisingly, after a…
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The planned workforce housing complex would have 60 apartments housed 
in three buildings, in addition to a community clubhouse. Donated graphic
 

Workforce housing coming to Sylva

Work will begin next year on a new apartment complex in Sylva aimed at providing housing rates affordable to working-class…
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Community comes together to offer veterans services
 

Community comes together to offer veterans services

It’s no secret homelessness across the region is a problem, but as in most parts of the country, it’s a…
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The upper parking lot collapsed following heavy rains in May but has now been stabilized. Donated photo
 

Chimney Rock reopens

Chimney Rock State Park is now reopen, complete with a working elevator, after a tough year that included extensive damage…
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National park volunteers receive regional recognition
 

National park volunteers receive regional recognition

Great Smoky Mountains National Park volunteers received regional recognition through the George and Helen Hartzog Awards Program for Outstanding Volunteers…
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Live animal programs offered for schools
 

Live animal programs offered for schools

Schools and other educational organizations in Western North Carolina have the opportunity to bring wildlife education programs to their home…
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