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HWA director moves on
After 18 years at the helm of Haywood Waterways Association, Eric Romaniszyn is leaving his position as the organization’s executive…
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Chimney Rock Groundhog says early spring coming to WNC
According to untrained non-meteorologist Pumpkin the Groundhog, spring is on the way for Western North Carolina.
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Making boys into men the Jocko Willink way
Many readers of The Smoky Mountain News, particularly younger adults, are probably familiar with Jocko Willink, a former Navy SEAL…
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Careless book banning is seldom a good idea
Removing the book “Dear Martin” from a 10th-grade English class at Tuscola High School likely didn’t prevent students in that…
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The nostalgia of football and Snoop Dogg
My mom was a tiny Southern lady who graduated salutatorian of her senior class and never said a cuss word…
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A party adrift after Trump’s tenure
To the Editor: Almost from the moment World War II ended, we have watched in horror as one dictator after…
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Republicans off to the races in NC-14
The first Republican forum in the NC-14 congressional race may have been light on specific policy proposals, but the eight…
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Smoky Mountain Young Republicans seek members
Last week’s GOP congressional forum wasn’t hosted by the state party, some national media outlet or even a local county…
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Saving our lifesavers: Donaldson pleads for help
A comprehensive assessment of Haywood Emergency Management Services completed in 2019 suggested that aggressive shift schedules put employees at greater…
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Donations sought for Carden scholarship
Beloved Western North Carolina author, educator and storyteller Gary Carden has immortalized himself though his life’s work of preserving and…
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Sylva begins budget discussions
With budget season in full swing, Sylva commissioners have begun discussing their priorities for how to spend taxpayer dollars in…
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Clear trends emerge in partisan voter registration
Two years ago, The Smoky Mountain News took a look at statistical data on the party affiliation of registered voters…
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HCS adopts shortened quarantine policy
Haywood County Schools will follow new COVID protocol, referred to as “5+5 COVID Guidance,” after a presentation from the Haywood…
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N.C. Supreme Court throws out maps
As expected, the North Carolina Supreme Court overruled on party lines a unanimous Wake County Superior Court decision that upheld…
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Jackson, Macon schools address pre-K need
Families in Jackson and Macon counties are set to see a bump in pre-K capacity as both counties work to…
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Pouring a cup of community: Coffee shop becomes Canton staple
Like many recent businesses opening in downtown Canton, it’s usually a story of someone deciding to take a chance on…
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This must be the place: I got love that ain’t gonna change, I got love that won’t fade away
It was right around the third drink of the evening when I had the sneaking suspicion an existential crisis was…
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Echoes From Civil War Reverberate In Challenge to Cawthorn Re-election
Does Constitution disqualify him for office? BY TOM FIEDLER, Asheville Watchdog To former Army Gen. Joseph C. Abbott, a candidate…
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All hands on deck: New program trains hiking club members to assist SAR missions
When Chad Seger was reported missing on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, the Haywood County Rescue Squad’s Wilderness Search and Rescue…
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Haywood boarder takes fourth at X Games
Waynesville native Zeb Powell, 22, narrowly missed a medal at the X Games in Aspen Jan. 21, coming in fourth…
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Become a Devils Courthouse Rover
A new volunteer program aiming to educate visitors to Devils Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway and share information about…
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Time to apply for summer camp jobs
It’s hiring season for summer camp counselors, with applications now open to work at day camps in Cashiers and Waynesville.
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A book from after the apocalypse
Manon Steffan Ros is a Welsh author of more than 40 books, writes in the Welsh language and has only…
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What lesson does censorship teach our children?
When I learned of the removal of the book “Dear Martin” from an English II class at Tuscola High School,…
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Birthdays, cardinals and roller skating
My older son turned 13 on Jan. 19, and my younger son turned 10 on Jan. 20. They are both…
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Pulling book was a mistake
To the Editor: I, too, deplore young people’s use of “foul language,” but hearing or reading it would not have…
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Omicron brings fewer deaths, more hospitalizations than previous variants
After case counts soared to unprecedentedly high levels throughout the month of January, the Omicron wave of COVID-19 appears to…
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Sylva considers creating social districts
After a bill allowing cities and counties to create their own social districts passed through the general assembly last September,…
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WCU enrollment dips
Enrollment at Western Carolina University is the lowest it’s been for any spring semester since 2018, according to student census…
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Canton begins to explore rebuilding flood-damaged facilities
In addition to the devastating loss of life and tremendous damage to private property, Tropical Storm Fred caused millions in…
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In advance of midterms, Republicans fight for the soul of the party
With President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings through the roof and a recent spate of setbacks in the Senate, Republicans appear…
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Canton may try vehicle tax again
Four years after the Town of Canton made an unsuccessful push to impose a vehicle tax to fund much-needed road…
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Cherokee man sentenced in child sex abuse case
Cherokee resident Forrest Cole Stamper, 28, will spend four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to…
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Missing persons cases aren’t always what they seem
Every so often — about 20 times a year — Western North Carolina’s social media networks flare up with impassioned…
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Author responds to Tuscola pulling ‘Dear Martin’
After Haywood County Schools administration pulled “Dear Martin” from a 10th grade English II class , The Smoky Mountain News…
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Grant could bring new life to historic Waynesville springhouse
Today, almost nothing remains of Waynesville’s majestic old Victorian-era hotel — except for some faded photographs and sepia-toned memories that…
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All this everything: Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove
It is said that a cat has nine lives. If so, then singer-songwriter Brock Butler may just be half-feline.
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This must be the place: It’s a Monday, it’s so mundane, what exciting things will happen today?
Just east of Hot Springs, I pulled off U.S. 70 and turned into the small, muddy parking lot. Emerging from…
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Black History Month gets underway at WCU
CULLOWHEE – A series of activities, exhibits and events are planned at Western Carolina University in recognition of February as…
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Cawthorn sues N.C. Board of Elections over attempt to disqualify him
On Monday, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district, filed…
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Macon Animal Services offers adoption special for dogs
Due to overcrowding, Macon County Animal Services has implemented an Adoption Special. The adoption fee for dogs, 6 months and…
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WCU history project is helping inform a whale documentary
When Vicki Szabo, associate professor of history, finished her 2008 book on medieval whaling, she quipped in the acknowledgements she…
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WNC students benefit from strong partnerships
The Southwestern Commission is working with partners around the region to help alleviate some of the challenges associated with broadband…
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WCU historian, class watch developing Russia-Ukraine crisis
CULLOWHEE – David Dorondo, an associate professor of history at Western Carolina University, is watching the escalating tension between Ukraine…
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COVID-Infected Workers Force Mission to Redeploy Dwindling Staff, Postpone Surgeries
By PETER H. LEWIS, Asheville Watchdog Staggered by COVID-19 infections, both among incoming patients and its own healthcare staff, Mission…
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Wild ducks test positive for avian flu
After a wild duck shot in Hyde County Dec. 30 tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, agencies…
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Balance of bear country: Wildlife Commission takes input on future of WNC bear sanctuaries
Nearly 40 people weighed in on a controversial proposal to allow bear hunting in three mountain sanctuary areas during a…
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