HCC students take fifth at national competition
 

HCC students take fifth at national competition

The Haywood Community College student chapter of The Wildlife Society finished fifth place overall against 24 other schools at the…
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A red wolf walks along a roadside in eastern North Carolina. Donated photo
 

Red wolf status grim, review says

A five-year red wolf status review, released April 24, showed that only about 40 red wolves are left in the…
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Glenville no wake zone request denied
 

Glenville no wake zone request denied

Jackson County’s request for a no wake zone on Lake Glenville has been denied following an April 26 vote from…
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Smokies chief ranger retires
 

Smokies chief ranger retires

After 35 years of service — 30 of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Chief Ranger Steve…
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Blackpoll warbler at Beaver Lake. Tim Carstens photo
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Not quite a wrap

The starting date for my annual bird survey for the U.S. Forest Service is May 1. All of our nesting…
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A firm foundation: SCC graduates 100th class of future National Park Service officers
 

A firm foundation: SCC graduates 100th class of future National Park Service officers

It’s been a full morning on top of a full week, and I’m tired when I file into the fluorescent-lighted…
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Health and social services consolidation final in Jackson
 

Health and social services consolidation final in Jackson

A pair of party-line votes May 7 triggered the next step in consolidating Jackson County’s social services and health departments,…
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A recent vote of the Cherokee Tribal Council prohibited non-Cherokee media outlets from sitting in the Council chambers, but The Cherokee One Feather is hoping to reverse the ban. File photo
 

Resolution to reverse Cherokee media ban withdrawn

A resolution seeking to reverse a ban on non-Cherokee media outlets — enacted by the Cherokee Tribal Council Thursday, April…
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Iconic Maggie Valley restaurant Joey’s Pancake House will reopen later this month. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Rebirth of an icon: Joey’s Pancake House reopens this month

Over the past two summers, visitors to the western end of Haywood County have experienced something few others ever have…
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Empty desks in the M.C. Nix Horticulture Complex at the Haywood Community College haven’t been full for some time now. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Every rose has its thorns: Cuts coming for HCC horticulture program

There’s a bit of pruning taking place at Haywood Community College — specifically, the Horticulture Technology program. And just like…
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Scott Knibbs of Franklin died following an officer-involved shooting at his residence. Donated photo
 

Franklin man shot and killed by Macon deputy

The lawyer for a Franklin resident killed by a Macon County deputy claims the shooting was not justified and that…
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Weapons and ammunition seized from a 16-year-old’s home after he created a ‘hit list’ with names of fellow students, school administration and law enforcement officers. Donated photo
 

Student suicide pact, hit list rocks Macon

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Macon County as school administration and law enforcement try to get to…
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Robert Saunooke (left) talks with Patrick Lambert’s attorney Scott Jones during the May 2017 impeachment hearing. Holly Kays photo
 

Impeachment attorney banned from practicing law in Cherokee

Cherokee attorney Robert Saunooke will no longer be allowed to practice law on the Qualla Boundary following a recent ruling…
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Swain completes recreation master plan
 

Swain completes recreation master plan

Swain County commissioners recently approved a 10-year master plan for its parks and recreation programs and facilities, but it appears…
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Swain County Schools could see an increase in revenue for capital projects if a quarter-cent sales-tax increase is approved. File photo
 

Swain mulls putting sales tax back on ballot

As they prepare for the annual budgeting process, Swain County commissioners are considering placing a quarter-cent sales tax increase on…
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Town of Franklin releases preliminary budget
 

Town of Franklin releases preliminary budget

With the 2018-19 preliminary budget in hand, Franklin Town Council will have a week to review it before the board’s…
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No tax increase proposed in Haywood
 

No tax increase proposed in Haywood

It was a good day for Interim Haywood County Manager Joel Mashburn, and will probably go down as a good…
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After 16 years, Perry Hines (left) has served his last meal at the Open Door. The Open Door’s new Executive Director Tom Owens (right) will begin work in early July.
 

The Open Door’s ‘next season’

One memorable afternoon several years ago, Perry Hines was sitting in the dining room of the Open Door after it…
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Unofficial Primary Election results are in
 

Unofficial Primary Election results are in

The unofficial results of the May 8 Primary Election are now in with all precincts reporting.
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Mid-day voter totals in Haywood typical
 

Mid-day voter totals in Haywood typical

It’s Primary Election Day in North Carolina, and in Haywood County, there are a number of important races on both…
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Owen Gibby calls roll for the last time
 

Owen Gibby calls roll for the last time

The first time I met Owen Gibby, he immediately reminded me of my favorite television character of all time, Deputy…
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Downtown Sylva. Margaret Hester photo
 

Tourism now the top industry in the region

By Nick Breedlove • Guest Columnist On May 6-12 we celebrate National Tourism Week, and this year’s theme from the…
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Zen and the art of trash removal
 

Zen and the art of trash removal

By Evan Boyer • Guest Columnist A few months ago, some legal trouble loomed over me, and I was told…
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Rule of law is under attack
 

Rule of law is under attack

To the Editor: Are we a nation governed by the rule of law or by Trump’s fantasy lies? Rep. Mark…
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Meadows undermines rule of law
 

Meadows undermines rule of law

To the Editor: Last week, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, took center stage with several others to interfere with the work…
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A game of adult dodge-a-ball
 

A game of adult dodge-a-ball

At Dillsboro Elementary School (1950) we played dodge-a-ball during recess. The game was set up kind of like this: a…
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Elizabeth Ellison painting.
 

The forlorn calls of the yellow-billed cuckoo

Editor’s note: This column first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in May 2008.  O Cuckoo! Shall I call thee…
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Though they’re hidden from plain view, the trails at WCU are well used by hikers and bikers alike. WCU photo
 

Backyard trails: Local mountain bike trails surge in popularity

In 2013, Western Carolina University cut the ribbon on 7-mile trail system zig-zagging an otherwise unbuildable piece of university property.…
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Bethel student wins state poster contest
 

Bethel student wins state poster contest

Bethel Elementary School third-grader Jade Cody has been named the state winner in a poster contest sponsored by the N.C.…
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New videos explore local food scene
 

New videos explore local food scene

A new video series celebrating Western North Carolina’s local foods economy — and the small businesses and communities that drive…
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A paving truck gets to work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. NPS photo
 

Road work begins in the Smokies

A handful of road projects will impact travel in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the coming weeks. 
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A few books aimed at new graduates
 

A few books aimed at new graduates

Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! has become as much a fixture of graduations as a bride’s white dress…
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The Travelin’ McCourys.
 

Got to keep on travelin’, movin’ on down the line: A conversation with Ronnie McCoury

The charm and allure of bluegrass music resides in its seamless ability to have one foot in the sacred, traditional…
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Larry Harvey (1948-2018).
 

This must be the place: Head for the whirling sands of your soul

Standing atop an Outer Banks fishing trawler, I gazed across the high desert of northwestern Nevada.
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Macon bus catches on fire
 

Macon bus catches on fire

On April 28, a Macon County Schools activity bus was traveling back to Franklin from an Upward Bound trip with…
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After years of planning and debate, a ribbon-cutting was held at Haywood County’s new animal shelter April 25. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

New Haywood animal shelter opens

When local veterinarian Dr. Kristen Hammett appeared before the Haywood County Board of Commissioners on the morning of Sept. 7,…
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A proposed multi-family housing development off Plott Creek Road doesn’t quite meet zoning requirements. Haywood GIS photo
 

Apartment complex hinges on text amendment

For a great example of just how important the Town of Waynesville’s comprehensive plan is, one needn’t look any further…
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Competing community values and differing long-term goals will end up being incorporated into Waynesville’s new comprehensive plan. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Progress with vision: Waynesville comprehensive plan overhaul underway

Failing to plan, as it is often said, is planning to fail. 
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Town commissioners agree that the pool is a valuable amenity to town residents, but it’s also expensive to maintain, even with Jackson County splitting the cost. Holly Kays photo
 

Tax rate to stay flat in Sylva

Sylva residents won’t see a tax increase this year, but despite the proposed budget’s 15 percent spending increase over 2018-2019,…
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Mountain Projects is now open at its new location on 2177 Asheville Road in Waynesville. Donated photo
 

Jackson County gives $150K for Mountain Projects building

Mountain Projects is now moving into a newly renovated building on Asheville Road in Waynesville, thanks in part to matching…
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Swain sheriff candidate challenge appealed to state
 

Swain sheriff candidate challenge appealed to state

A candidate challenge against Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran has been appealed to the State Board of Elections & Ethics…
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Macon deputy shoots suspect
 

Macon deputy shoots suspect

According to a press release from Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland, Macon deputies were dispatched to 164 Pheasant Dr., around 11:41…
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‘Not guilty’ in trial of former Tribal Council candidate
 

‘Not guilty’ in trial of former Tribal Council candidate

Following the May 2017 impeachment of then-Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, tribal member Lori Taylor lost her job with the Tribal…
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Students from Swain County High and Fieldston School in New York City go on a rafting trip together. Donated photo
 

Walking in someone else’s story: Swain students find common ground with NYC students

On the surface, students in Swain County grow up worlds apart from students in New York City. 
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A sweeping mountain view stretches along property owned by America’s Home Place. Donated photo
 

Local governments mull 400-acre land purchase

An effort to conserve a 441.5-acre block of land adjacent to Pinnacle Park in the Plott Balsams is now looking…
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Haywood County Domestic Violence Task Force Member Buffy Queen addresses a rally April 25 outside the Haywood County Historic Courthouse. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

#MeToo: Shedding the stigma around sexual assault

Five years ago, Haywood County resident Janelle Smith was working late when a much older male colleague she’d thought of…
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Women in municipal government meet to discuss current issues at Maggie Valley Town Hall last Saturday. Jessi Stone photo
 

Women’s municipal government group reorganizes

Representatives from the revamped North Carolina Women in Municipal Government visited Maggie Valley last weekend to recruit women from the…
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HCC to hold graduation ceremony
 

HCC to hold graduation ceremony

The Haywood Community College 2018 graduation ceremonies will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the…
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Commissioner Jim Tate (left) and challenger John Shearl.
 

Republicans vie for Macon commissioner seat

Macon County Commission Chairman Jim Tate will face fellow Republican challenger John Shearl in the May 8 Primary to claim…
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Comment

Student suicide pact reported in Macon County
 

Student suicide pact reported in Macon County

Macon County Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin has alerted parents about a group of students who may be involved in…
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