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Highlands Greenway celebrates productive 2023
During 2023, volunteers with the Highlands Plateau Greenway contributed 640 hours to create new trails and maintain the existing ones…
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EcoForesters recognizes stewards of the land
The nonprofit EcoForesters has crowned its winners for the people who made a difference in forest stewardship and education during…
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Workday planned at Jackson greenway
Help remove invasive plants on the Jackson County Greenway 1-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 in Cullowhee.
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Tie flies like a pro
A three-week fly-tying course will teach participants to tie flies from the Southern Appalachians, 6-8 p.m. Mondays Jan. 15-29 at…
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Learn how to prepare for backcountry emergencies
Cullowhee-based Landmark Learning is now enrolling for a variety of wilderness medicine certification courses planned for the winter months.
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We’re the lucky ones; we live here
As I think ahead to 2024, I can’t help but feel so lucky to live here, in these mountains.
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Leaning into the momentum of a new year
I love the energy surrounding a new year. Why are beginnings so enchanting? Perhaps it’s the hope and anticipation of the…
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Editors help us with perspective
To the Editor: Newspaper editors and owners have an important role in our local communities and for us readers.
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What libraries do is so important
To the Editor: Libraries are an important part of any community. In addition to books, they provide numerous other resources…
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Registration trends show deepening dissatisfaction with major parties
As North Carolina prepares for federal, state and local elections in 2024, emerging trends in partisan registration that began in…
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Some minority voters gain ground, others don’t
It’s no secret that North Carolina is growing, but as its population grows, the composition of its electorate is changing…
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Leading N.C. attorney general candidates speak out on Canton mill issues
Two congressmen, both hoping to become North Carolina’s next attorney general, with be faced with a host of official duties…
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Engineering and athletics team up with Penn State on head impact research at WCU
Clayton Bardall, a graduate student in Western Carolina University’s Engineering Technology program and tight end for WCU’s football team, recently…
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Conviction overturned in cyberattack case
The Cherokee Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of a man who was prosecuted for his alleged role in a…
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Athletics upgrades on the way at WCU: University to ask legislature for help with $130 million to-do list
Western Carolina University is gearing up to take its first bite out of an estimated $130 million in needed upgrades…
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Consider becoming a Big Brother
January is National Mentoring Month, a great start to 2024 and an opportunity to give a young person a great…
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Swain Genealogical and Historical Society to explore Chambers family history
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, in Bryson City, Frank March and Henry Chambers will present “The Lamon Chambers Map”…
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Deitz leaves behind a legacy in WNC
Boyce Deitz’s influence on Swain County athletics was rich and storied, but the program to which he dedicated two decades…
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Mountain Projects helps local family during increasingly common struggle
Donna Milsaps, of Jackson County, has encountered struggles that are hard to comprehend for some, but all too familiar for…
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Jackson to move school board race to November
The race for Board of Education in Jackson County is one step closer to being moved to November elections after…
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New Parks and Rec Director for Jackson
There is a new director at the head of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, after commissioners made their…
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Motley named CFO of Haywood Regional Medical Center
Haywood Regional Medical Center has named Amanda Pruitt Motley as its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 8, 2024. With…
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A courageous tale comes to an end: Baby with rare genetic disorder passes away close to Christmas
Most people don’t contribute to the world over a lifetime what Charlotte Joy Norris did in just two short years.…
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A year in review: the best albums of 2023
Editor’s Note: Since August 2012, Garret K. Woodward has held the position of arts and entertainment editor for The Smoky…
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Come what may: poetry for the new year
In a recent online search, I came across “Good Riddance, But Now What?” by that master of light verse, Ogden…
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A lot to look forward to in 2024
If 2024 were a table laid out before you, how would you imagine it: a beautiful, feast-laden smorgasbord of rich…
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All different, all the same, all over again
Once upon a Christmas, our children came creeping down the stairs before dawn like little burglars.
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Nostalgia’s great, but ditch the rose-colored glasses
Like a lot of middle-aged-to-older Americans during the holiday season, I’m a person with a healthy nostalgic streak.
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2023 A Look Back: Grinch Award
The Grinch who Stole Christmas and Pactiv Evergreen have a lot more in common than just a shared color scheme…
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2023 A Look Back: Hometown heroes award
When Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its 115-year-old paper mill in Canton earlier this year, local leaders had to…
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2023 A Look Back: ‘That’s so Metal’ Award
This one goes to the Pigeon River, due both to the actual metals found in a sampling site along its…
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2023 A Look Back: Micromanager(s) of the Year Award
Sometimes there are awards that call for two winners, like back in the day before the College Football Playoffs system…
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2023 A Look Back: Meter Maid Award
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has earned this one for its decision to begin charging for parking, effective March…
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2023 A Look Back: Not on my Watch Award
Newly elected Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke stepped into some big shoes following the retirement of longtime Sheriff Greg Christopher,…
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2023 A Look Back: Nobody puts baby in a corner award
The classic 1980s dance film Dirty Dancing taught all of us that “nobody puts Baby in a corner.” And if…
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2023 A Look Back: You Wanted It, You Got It Award
Congrats to Macon County GOP’s newest slate of officers. A dedicated bunch who fought hard, and allegedly dirty, to secure…
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2023 A Look Back: Keeper of the Flame award
This little award may not mean all that much to him — after all, he’s one of Southern Appalachia’s most…
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2023 A Look Back: Marty McFly Award
This one goes to Cherokee voters, who decided in this year’s election to look back to build their future.
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2023 A Look Back: Hard Joint to Pass Award
Sharing smokes has proven more difficult than anticipated for the winners of this award, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’…
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2023 A Look Back: Homer Simpson Award
We can’t say for certain whether Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith backed into a literal bush as the events of…
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2023 A Look Back: Chumbawamba Award
This award goes to Cherokee’s Sgadugi Constitution Committee, which, as the namesake band sang in its 1997 classic “Tubthumping,” keeps…
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2023 A Look Back: Odd Man in award
Maggie Valley is gonna Maggie Valley. It comes with the territory. To win a seat on that town’s board of…
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2023 A Look Back: Community Care Award
This year, the Sylva Police Department received a grant from the Dogwood Health Foundation to continue the Community Care Program with…
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2023 A Look Back: Honey, the Internet’s Out Again Award
O Zito, O Zito, wherefore art thou, Zito? In case you didn’t know, the phrase “wherefore art thou” is fancy Shakespeare…
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2023 A Look Back: Persistence as Resistance Award
This year was filled with slights and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by local elected officials. But despite the environment,…
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2023 A Look Back: Survivor Award
This award goes out to the Fontana Regional Library, which, despite consistent attacks throughout 2023, is still standing, and continues…
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2023 A Look Back: Didn’t Read the Fine Print Award
Congressman Chuck Edwards apparently doesn’t read The Smoky Mountain News, but if he did, it may have saved him some…
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2023 A Look Back: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Award
The Macon County Board of Education has put in countless hours this year working to provide the best education possible…
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2023 A Look Back: The Hero You Never Knew You Needed Award
Not all heroes wear capes. At least not Amanda Seay. She seems more the utility pants and boots type.
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2023 A Look Back: Comeback Player(s) of the Year Award
Raise your hand if you’ve been paying attention to Western Carolina University athletics this academic year.
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