Watery restoration: Waynesville and partners restore stream flows, aquatic habitat
 

Watery restoration: Waynesville and partners restore stream flows, aquatic habitat

Waynesville is in the midst of a makeover on three of its streams, and it’s a renovation that fish, crayfish…
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Weekday programs offered at Cataloochee
 

Weekday programs offered at Cataloochee

Tuesdays and Wednesdays offer special opportunities at Cataloochee Ski Area, with programs now available for homeschoolers and families.
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SCC instructor will guide outdoor leadership standards
 

SCC instructor will guide outdoor leadership standards

Paul Wolf, leader of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program, has been chosen as a member of the international Association…
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Land conserved along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Jackson
 

Land conserved along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Jackson

The Blue Ridge Parkway will soon acquire an additional 46 acres in Jackson County thanks to a pair of land…
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Insightful books to kick off the new year
 

Insightful books to kick off the new year

In early January, I sat with two friends in a café discussing the New Year. We were all coming off…
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Cartoon, Jan. 17, 2018
 

Cartoon, Jan. 17, 2018

By Will Studenc
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Let’s eliminate the power of the Electoral College
 

Let’s eliminate the power of the Electoral College

By Martin A. Dyckman • Guest Columnist Americans are asking why we now have a president whom they wouldn’t trust to…
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Lessons learned on the black diamond
 

Lessons learned on the black diamond

While standing atop a black diamond run at Beech Mountain last weekend, several thoughts crossed my mind. It’s been a…
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GOP supports childrens’ health care
 

GOP supports childrens’ health care

To the Editor: It is easy to understand Dr. Stephen Wall’s compassion for young children. Knowing Dr. Wall well, I…
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I’ll have a beer and hash browns
 

I’ll have a beer and hash browns

To the Editor: It’s been interesting to read the controversy about the Sunday “brunch bill” enactment in Bryson City, Jackson…
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Impact fees to change in Jackson
 

Impact fees to change in Jackson

A state law passed in July 2017 will lead to changes in water and sewer fees across North Carolina this…
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Cherokee sues opioid companies
 

Cherokee sues opioid companies

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has filed a federal lawsuit seeking damages from 23 companies that manufacture or distribute…
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Court dismisses majority of Mystic Lands claims
 

Court dismisses majority of Mystic Lands claims

This story was updated Jan. 22, 2020. Mystic Lands property owners may have prevailed in court over one issue —…
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Minor parties seek NC ballot access
 

Minor parties seek NC ballot access

Disillusionment with the two-party American political system has been around for a long time, but with a polarizing President in…
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NC Congressional districts struck down
 

NC Congressional districts struck down

Just one month before candidates start signing up to run for the 2018 elections, a three judge panel from the…
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Melrose to run for Superior Court judge
 

Melrose to run for Superior Court judge

Waynesville attorney Mark Melrose has announced his intentions to run for Superior Court Judge for the 30th Judicial District of…
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Welch to seek second term as DA
 

Welch to seek second term as DA

First-term District Attorney Ashley Welch recently announced her candidacy for re-election at the GEM Country Republican Women’s Club meeting in…
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Reroute planned for Blackrock Trail
 

Reroute planned for Blackrock Trail

The infamously steep trail leading up to Blackrock from Pinnacle Park will soon find itself with a gentler incline following…
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Brewery trademark dispute dismissed
 

Brewery trademark dispute dismissed

The ongoing and exhaustive trademark dispute between Sylva’s Innovation Brewing and Bell’s Brewery is now over.
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Life in Limbo: Franklin native fighting to have rights restored
 

Life in Limbo: Franklin native fighting to have rights restored

Hannah LeAnn Nix says she’s not the same person she was a few years ago when a judge deemed her…
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Canton wants to help you sign up for Haywood alerts
 

Canton wants to help you sign up for Haywood alerts

Haywood County’s new emergency alert system startled many Jan. 11 with a “shelter in place” notification just after 6 p.m.,…
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Canton water leaks irk public
 

Canton water leaks irk public

A series of water line breakages in Canton during a recent period of extreme cold provoked unusually lengthy complaints from…
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Brunch Bill finally passes in Maggie Valley
 

Brunch Bill finally passes in Maggie Valley

It was déjà vu all over again in Maggie Valley, where the Board of Aldermen once again passed the controversial…
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Eye of the beholder: Outdoor photographer shares love of the craft
 

Eye of the beholder: Outdoor photographer shares love of the craft

Catch him if you can. For the last few years, Steve Yocom has made quite a name for himself as…
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This must be the place: ‘You know I’m such a fool for you’
 

This must be the place: ‘You know I’m such a fool for you’

They said it happens. When I was younger, and very much so in conversation nowadays, it was always said that…
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Grant awarded to Women’s History Trail
 

Grant awarded to Women’s History Trail

The Women’s History Trail (WHT), a project of Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, has received a $740 grant from…
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Duke Energy rate hike request to hurt working families
 

Duke Energy rate hike request to hurt working families

Working families in Western North Carolina know that when you earn less money, you tend to use less electricity to…
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I support our state’s treasures
 

I support our state’s treasures

To the Editor: In light of Mr. Holliday’s letter to the editor on Jan. 3, I’d like to take this…
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A rising tide floats all boats
 

A rising tide floats all boats

To the Editor: The column written by Martin Dyckman in the Jan. 3 issue of The Smoky Mountain News attacking…
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A $4 million thank you
 

A $4 million thank you

To the Editor: As a member of the Swain County community, I believe there is a long overdue amount of…
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Implore leaders to protect environment
 

Implore leaders to protect environment

To the Editor: I recently read Boyd Holliday’s letter to the editor about the environmental damage our senators are doing…
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The future for this region is bright
 

The future for this region is bright

In last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News we published articles about positive political and economic signs in two…
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I’m just that kind of fan
 

I’m just that kind of fan

From the time I was about 10 years old, I have been a rabid sports fan. In the beginning, I…
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CMC recognized for Parkway service
 

CMC recognized for Parkway service

The Carolina Mountain Club was awarded the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 2017 Enduring Service Award, recognizing the efforts of the club’s…
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2017 ends with slim wildfire count
 

2017 ends with slim wildfire count

In sharp contrast to the blazing wildfire season of fall 2016, December 2017 drew to a close with only one…
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Waynesville Rec sets attendance record
 

Waynesville Rec sets attendance record

The Waynesville Recreation Center logged a record attendance for the second year running, with 180,611 visits in 2017.
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The devil is all over this dark tale
 

The devil is all over this dark tale

Since Luke Bauserman is a folklorist, it is safe to say that many of his characters already exist; some have…
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Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle
 

Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle

It was cold, but I was prepared. Leggings and Underarmour, sweatpants and sweatshirt, parka and hiking pants, an array of…
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Cat museum needs donations to stay open
 

Cat museum needs donations to stay open

The American Museum of the House Cat needs donations to continue operating.
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Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales
 

Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales

After voting down the measure just a couple of months ago, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen is now on…
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Bryson City manager moving to Murphy
 

Bryson City manager moving to Murphy

After serving as Bryson City’s town manager for more than a year, Chad Simons will be moving on to Murphy…
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Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery
 

Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery

A North Carolina State Bar complaint filed against Waynesville attorney and Mayor Gavin Brown Oct. 11, 2017, that had accused…
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Charter school narrows down school director choices
 

Charter school narrows down school director choices

After receiving 20 applications from candidates hoping to succeed founding School Director Ben Butler at Shining Rock Classical Academy, the…
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SRCA hiring process not kept private
 

SRCA hiring process not kept private

Last week, Shining Rock Classical Academy held an event for “parents and community supporters” to meet the top four candidates…
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Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17
 

Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17

No matter who takes the helm at SRCA, the new director will no doubt have his or her hands full…
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Cherokee chief under investigation
 

Cherokee chief under investigation

Principal Chief Richard Sneed is now under investigation following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s unanimous vote Jan. 4 to look into…
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Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent
 

Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent

By coincidence, Haywood County Schools has, since about the same time as Shining Rock Classical Academy been readying itself to…
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Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro
 

Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro

An ordinance that would have allowed Sunday morning alcohol sales to begin in Dillsboro died for lack of a motion…
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School superintendent search progresses in Jackson
 

School superintendent search progresses in Jackson

Jackson County is getting closer to choosing a replacement for former school superintendent Mike Murray after school board members held…
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Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board
 

Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board

When longtime councilmember Billy Mashburn passed away just days before the 2017 municipal election, the Franklin Town Council was prepared…
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