A history of U.S. wars is worth a read
 

A history of U.S. wars is worth a read

“Stand your ground! Don’t fire unless fired upon! But if they want to have a war, let it begin here.” …
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‘Oscar Wilde and the Art of Lying’
 

‘Oscar Wilde and the Art of Lying’

Dan Desjardins’ presentation of his book “Oscar Wilde and the Art of Lying” will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday,…
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Carolina Mountain Club builds trail at North Canton Elementary
 

Carolina Mountain Club builds trail at North Canton Elementary

The tangle of trees and vines beyond the playground fence at North Canton Elementary School used to be a no-go…
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Camping fee increase proposed for Parkway
 

Camping fee increase proposed for Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is proposing a significant increase to camping fees, with public comments accepted through Friday, March 15. 
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A group of volunteers stands ready to stock. Trout Unlimited photo
 

Help fill the West Fork with trout

Volunteers are wanted to help the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission stock trout into the West Fork Pigeon River in Haywood…
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Birders watch the lake for avian residents. MountainTrue photo
 

Meet the birds of Lake Chatuge

Join MountainTrue’s 18th annual caravan around the Lake Chatuge shoreline to view a variety of birds 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, March…
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Laurel Rematore. File photo
 

Smokies Life CEO to retire

Following CEO Laurel Rematore’s announcement that she intends to retire at the end of 2024, Smokies Life, formerly known as…
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Schoolhouse falls. File photo
 

Show girl power on the trail

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a hike and trail workday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Cold…
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A CSA box from Encompass Farm contains a variety of produce. ASAP photo
 

Sign up for food from the farm

Celebrate CSA Month by lining up your source for fresh fruits and vegetables this growing season, with a CSA Fair…
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Bears becoming accustomed to human trash creates danger for them and for their human neighbors. Beth Pape photo
 

Bear with bears

Dive into the natural history of black bears at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the Reuter Center at the…
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A section of the Appalachian Trail beckons hikers.
 

‘Glamp’ the Smokies

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, a fundraising event for Discover Life in America, will be held April 21-23 near Gatlinburg. 
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Go the extra mile for trail maintenance
 

Go the extra mile for trail maintenance

A new Carolina Mountain Club trail crew, dubbed the Extra Mile Crew, has been formed to work on trail sections…
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Explore the MST
 

Explore the MST

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will hold its annual gathering May 3-5 at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, with…
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Shoot sharp
 

Shoot sharp

Learn the fundamentals of archery during a youth program 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Cashiers/Glenville…
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Wastewater monitoring offers reliable health data
 

Wastewater monitoring offers reliable health data

If you want to know whether COVID-19 infections are rising or falling, look to the sewers. Wastewater monitoring (also known…
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Supporting college faculty is essential
 

Supporting college faculty is essential

To the Editor:  I read your article regarding Guaranteed College Scholarships with an enthusiastic interest. I fully support financial assistance to…
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An estimated 8,000 black bears live in the mountain region. Bill Lea photo
 

Wildlife Commission approves bear season expansion, deer season shift

During its Feb. 22 meeting, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted to adopt a slate of proposed rule changes for…
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After winnin the vote, Tessa Sellers is likely to move up from her district court seat to superior court. Kyle Perrotti photo
 

District Court judge one step closer to moving up to Superior Court

Attorneys in Western North Carolina now know who will likely hold the farthest west superior court seat. 
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Haywood County's jail expansion project has been under discussion since before the Coronavirus Pandemic. File photo
 

Considerable apprehension haunts Haywood jail expansion project

With several critical deadlines approaching and the cost of construction only going up, Haywood County commissioners spent more than two…
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Housing needs dire and growing in Jackson
 

Housing needs dire and growing in Jackson

The Development Finance Initiative has conducted a housing needs assessment for Jackson County, and while the findings won’t be surprising…
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This rendering shows the existing and proposed façades of the Balsam Falls Brewing building on Mill Street. MSSA photo
 

Mill Street revitalization plan moves forward

The Town of Sylva is embarking on a five-year plan to revitalize Mill Street with updated façades as part of…
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Coach Josh Brooks (second from right) returns to Franklin’s football program after less than a year away. Donated photo
 

Brooks returns to Franklin football

Josh Brooks will return as head coach for Franklin High School football after players implored the school board to reinstate…
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Abby Bentley, a teacher Pisgah High School, was given the award by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Donated photo
 

WCU alumna, Haywood educator is state's 'Beginning Teacher of the Year'

A local teacher has won a prestigious award given to new educators in the field. Abby Bentley, a science teacher…
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Youth groups from around the Southeast converged on the retreat. Donated photo
 

Lake Junaluska hosts regional youth groups

Lake Junaluska hosted youth groups from across the Southeast recently during its annual Winter Youth Retreats.
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The supercharging site is located at the Shell station at 200 East Main St. Donated photo
 

Sylva opens Tesla Supercharging site

The Sylva Tourism Development Board announced that, following its nomination online to be the next Tesla Supercharging site, the charging…
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Staff at Harris Regional and Swain Community hospitals were recognized for their years of service. Donated photo
 

Regional hospitals honor staff members for tenure milestones

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital recently held a special recognition luncheon to honor staff members who reached significant…
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Deadline for affordable housing financing in Haywood hits Friday
 

Deadline for affordable housing financing in Haywood hits Friday

The Letter of Interest deadline for the Affordable Housing Development Fund- Haywood County is 5 p.m. Friday, March 1. Until…
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Jackson County appoints new board of elections director
 

Jackson County appoints new board of elections director

The Jackson County Board of Elections announced the appointment of Amanda Allen as the new director of elections effective Feb.…
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The practice of “franking,” which dates back to 17th Century Britain, allows members of Congress to send certain types of mail at taxpayer expense.
 

Frankly speaking: complaint alleges Edwards abused free postage rules

A complaint filed by the chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party alleges Western North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) violated…
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Officers in Kloepfer shooting won’t face charges
 

Officers in Kloepfer shooting won’t face charges

A special prosecutor tasked with examining the investigation into a 2022 police shooting that severely injured Jason Harley Kloepfer at his home in…
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A renowned tattoo artist and muralist, works by Dustin Spagnola can be found around the city of Asheville (mural pictured is in Kansas City) and other metropolitan areas across the country. Breanna Delannoy photos
 

Taking it to the streets: Asheville mural artist Dustin Spagnola

“After pop art, graffiti is probably the biggest art movement in recent history to have such an impact on culture.”…
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Parallel lives of two men makes great history
 

Parallel lives of two men makes great history

That many Americans today suffer a disconnect from their past is beyond argument. Some of us have seen those man-in-the-street…
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'Stress Response' is a porcelain work by Joshua Masters. Donated photo
 

WCU undergraduate exhibition, reception

The 56th annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition will run through March 22 at the Fine Art Museum in the Bardo Arts…
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When flows are high, the Upper Chattooga River offers a fun ride to advanced paddlers. Kevin Colburn photo
 

The last stroke: Forest Service ruling ends Chattooga paddling debate

A decades-long debate over paddling rules on the Upper Chattooga River has come to a close after the appearance of a final…
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Volunteers use the Zebmobile to haul a bear box through fresh show. David Huff photo
 

Bear boxes replacing cables at some A.T. shelters

Trekking through fresh snowfall on the Appalachian Trail, Carolina Mountain Club volunteers and U.S. Forest Service staff installed a new…
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Writers at the 2023 conference spent mornings workshopping and receiving constructive feedback on their submitted manuscripts. Michele Sons photo.
 

Tremont Writers Conference accepting applications

Applications are open to the second annual Tremont Writers Conference, slated for Oct. 23-27 at Tremont’s campus in the Great…
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Ela Dam has been in operation since 1925.  File photo
 

Public comment open on Ela Dam license surrender

Last week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted an application that Northbrook Carolina Hydro II LLC submitted in November seeking…
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The gap is getting close to closing on the new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over Interstate 26. NCDOT photo
 

Blue Ridge Parkway bridge nears completion

The new Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over Interstate 26 in Asheville is now just 3 feet from connecting, but several…
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The 288-mile Benton MacKaye Trail runs through three states. File photo
 

Adopt a trail section

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association is looking for volunteers to adopt six trail sections in North Carolina, taking ownership of…
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Laurel Knob. File photo
 

Hike Laurel Knob

Take a Leap Day hike to Laurel Knob at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, in Panthertown Valley. 
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Long-term water quality nformation helps leverage grants for water quality improvement projects. HWA photo
 

Become a water quality watcher

Help keep tabs on water quality in Western North Carolina by joining the Volunteer Water Information Network. 
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Elizabeth "Elli" Flagg. File photo
 

Haywood hires new rec director

Haywood County has a new recreation director with the appointment of Elizabeth “Elli” Flagg, who started her new job Feb.…
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Fly tying retreat coming to Maggie
 

Fly tying retreat coming to Maggie

Learn to tie flies with the best during the Fly Tyers Retreat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2,…
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Prescribed fires planned for Cherokee National Forest
 

Prescribed fires planned for Cherokee National Forest

A slate of prescribed fires is planned through the end of May on the Cherokee National Forest in southeastern Tennessee,…
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Help wildlife on Tax Day
 

Help wildlife on Tax Day

When filing a state tax return this year, North Carolina workers can support research and conservation management projects by donating…
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Tobacco Trust money flows to WNC
 

Tobacco Trust money flows to WNC

The N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has awarded more than $6.1 million in 30 grants, including more than $400,000 targeted…
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Avian flu found in Lenoir County
 

Avian flu found in Lenoir County

For the first time since 2022, High Path Avian Influenza has been found in North Carolina. 
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Bill (far right) and Sharon (second from left) Van Horn stand with Santa Claus and NHC President Victor Treutel to receive their award. NHC photo
 

Van Horns honored for hiking club legacy

In recognition of the outsize impact that longtime members Bill and Sharon Van Horn have had on the organization, the…
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Celebrate water quality in style
 

Celebrate water quality in style

The 16th annual Hiwassee Watershed Gala will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Charles Suber Banquet…
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Grants available for high school outdoor clubs
 

Grants available for high school outdoor clubs

A limited number of high schools will be awarded a $10,000 grant to develop a Trailblazers Outdoor Club for the…
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