Juanita Wilson (right) and Bob McCollum, co-chairs of the Nikwasi Initiative, plant a tree along the new Barbara McRae Cherokee Heritage Apple Trail March 7. Holly Kays photo
 

Volunteers work on Franklin’s Cherokee heritage trail

Local hands are nurturing the Barbara McRae Cherokee Heritage Apple Trail in Franklin. 
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Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday will be designated as Youth Days in the western season, and youth under 18 can use any lawful weapon, including all firearms, to harvest deer on those days. Stock photo
 

Wildlife Commission adopts new rules

Commissioners at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have adopted new rules for the 2024-25 seasons effective Aug 1. The…
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Competitors can vie for $10,000 in cash prizes. Visit Cherokee photo
 

Cherokee hosts fishing tournament: Registration deadline May 24

Cherokee is hosting a fishing tournament this weekend that offers competitors the chance to vie for $10,000 in tagged fish. 
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Part of greenway trail closed indefinitely
 

Part of greenway trail closed indefinitely

A portion of the Waynesville Greenway is closed to the public starting from the end of Industrial Park Drive on…
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ThrowDown skateboard competition rescheduled
 

ThrowDown skateboard competition rescheduled

Due to forecasted inclement weather conditions, the WayneTown ThrowDown Skate Park Competition was postponed. The makeup day is set for…
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Afterlife: Tentative mill deal provides a peek at what could be next
 

Afterlife: Tentative mill deal provides a peek at what could be next

On May 24, 2023, Canton Mayor Pro Tem Gail Mull sat on a bench in Sorrels Street Park, waiting to…
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Garden light show is May 25
 

Garden light show is May 25

Come out to Macon County May 25 for the Springtime Garden Light and Sounds show. 
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Science program offered for kids
 

Science program offered for kids

Kids ages 5-13 can become citizen scientists. 
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Jackson hosts camping event
 

Jackson hosts camping event

Come out to the Ralph J. Andrews Campground on Lake Glenville for a family camping event. 
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Pactiv Evergreen's now-shuttered paper mill in Canton has drawn the attention of a potential buyer, but there's still a long way to go.
 

Canton mayor confirms buyer has submitted letter of intent to purchase Canton mill

While there are still many uncertainties surrounding the ultimate fate of Pactiv Evergreen’s now-shuttered mill site in Canton, the situation…
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Saddle up: Cataloochee Ranch rides into next chapter
 

Saddle up: Cataloochee Ranch rides into next chapter

Meandering up Fie Top Road in Maggie Valley, just as your vehicle’s engine is pushed to the limit and it…
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Molon Labe: A review of ‘Gates of Fire’
 

Molon Labe: A review of ‘Gates of Fire’

A little over three years ago, a stranger in a coffee shop with whom I’d struck up a conversation excused himself…
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Zoe & Cloyd will play Franklin May 18. Sarah Johnston photo
 

Cowee welcomes Zoe & Cloyd

Popular Asheville-based Americana/folk act Zoe & Cloyd will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Cowee…
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City Lights poetry reading
 

City Lights poetry reading

Poets Jane Hicks and Thomas Alan Holmes will present their latest book of poems, “The Safety of Small Things” and…
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Mean Mary. File photo
 

Mean Mary returns to Classic Wineseller

Americana/indie singer-songwriter Mean Mary will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 
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When history really does repeat itself
 

When history really does repeat itself

Recently someone described me as a “longtime columnist for the Smoky Mountain News,” which made me realize I’ve been sharing…
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To be a moderate takes real courage
 

To be a moderate takes real courage

One good thing about being skeptical of your own opinions is that if the wrong candidate wins you can reassure…
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We should support individual freedom
 

We should support individual freedom

To the Editor: This writing is not the product of extensive research. It is an opinion. The opinion of an…
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Trump masterfully uses false fears
 

Trump masterfully uses false fears

To the Editor: I’m writing in response to the “Democrats try to scare voters” letter in the May 8 edition…
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Once heart beats, life begins
 

Once heart beats, life begins

To the Editor: I’ve never written a letter to an editor but I cannot sit silent after reading Mr. Hoffman’s…
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Mountain Projects Executive Director Patsy Davis speaks to the crowd at the NCCAA conference. Donated photo
 

Community Action conference comes to WNC: The annual conference paid special homage to several regional leaders

True freedom isn’t attainable without economic freedom. This was the central theme of the 2024 North Carolina Community Action Association’s…
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Democrats rallied for reproductive rights and healthcare at a May 11 event in Franklin. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Western Dems sense an opportunity on abortion

It’s been just over two years since a leaked draft opinion suggested the U.S. Supreme Court would vote to overturn…
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Tribal Council made it clear it still plans on voting for recreational adult use of marijuana next month. File photo
 

EBCI inches toward adult marijuana use

Adults may soon be able to purchase marijuana for recreational use from Cherokee’s new dispensary.  At a work session last…
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Trans person filmed in WCU bathroom
 

Trans person filmed in WCU bathroom

In its final week of classes, Western Carolina University became the subject of a video that went viral on social…
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Jackson, Swain refuse proposed FRL agreement changes
 

Jackson, Swain refuse proposed FRL agreement changes

Neither Jackson County nor Swain County commissions have agreed to approve the changes Macon County proposed to the Fontana Regional…
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Andrue Smith was among the first group of graduates from the Call Me MiSTER program. Donated photo
 

WCU Call Me MiSTER program graduates its first cohort

When Andrue Smith walks across the stage this spring after earning his bachelor’s degree in middle grades education and history,…
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Sylva budgets for future uncertainty
 

Sylva budgets for future uncertainty

The Town of Sylva will not see a tax increase for the coming budget cycle, but with work looming on…
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WOW members (left to right) Jessi Stone, Katie Vanderpool and Celeste Ybanez don their Dolly Parton wigs during the 2024 Mardi Gras Ball fundraiser for Haywood County Schools Foundation. Donated photo
 

WOW to host country karaoke fundraiser

Women of Waynesville will host a “Queens of Country” themed karaoke party starting at 8 p.m. Friday, May 24, at…
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U.S. Attorney’s office announces action against Money Mules
 

U.S. Attorney’s office announces action against Money Mules

The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of North Carolina announced the completion of the Money Mule Initiative, an…
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Gary Carden. File photo
 

Discounted preorder for Gary Carden’s memoir now available

Legendary Western North Carolina storyteller Gary Carden is at it again, this time, with a new memoir due out from…
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Shannon Swimmer named director of WCU Cherokee Center
 

Shannon Swimmer named director of WCU Cherokee Center

Shannon Swimmer received a master’s degree in human resource management from Western Carolina University in 2007. After several years working…
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Smoky Mountain Host celebrates 36 years
 

Smoky Mountain Host celebrates 36 years

The Smoky Mountain Host held its annual meeting on May 1 at Harrah’s Conference Ballroom, bringing together businesses from across the seven…
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Donovan, a spirited third-grade student from Junaluska Elementary School, has been crowned the champion for his imaginative suggestion, ‘Rowdy’ the Raccoon. Donated photo
 

Third-grader names new bike park mascot

Donovan, a spirited third-grade student from Junaluska Elementary School, is the winner of the mascot naming contest for the upcoming…
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Compost can help reduce waste while improving soil. Donated photo
 

Haywood Extension composting class

Bonnie Refinski-Knight, an N.C. State Extension Master Gardner volunteer, will host a presentation on composting. The class will include an…
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Hazardous waste collection event
 

Hazardous waste collection event

The Haywood County Solid Waste Department will be holding a spring household hazardous waste collection event from 9 a.m. to…
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SAHC marks 50 years
 

SAHC marks 50 years

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) is celebrating 50 years of conserving clean water, plant and wildlife habitat, farmland and scenic…
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The sale will feature a broad selection of plants. Donated photo
 

Macon Master Gardeners to host plant sale

Come out to the Macon County Master Gardener Association’s plant sale. 
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The daily bag limit for Canada geese will decrease this year. Stock photo
 

North Carolina migratory bird seasons released

Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have announced the approved season dates, bag limits and applicable regulations for the…
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EBCI wins award for outstanding water protection
 

EBCI wins award for outstanding water protection

The N.C. Source Water Collaborative — a statewide drinking water protection group — has announced the winners of the Source…
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Managing invasive species: Plant removal begins in Pinnacle Park
 

Managing invasive species: Plant removal begins in Pinnacle Park

After a botanical survey identified the location of several invasive species in Jackson County’s Pinnacle Park, work has begun to…
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Potential problems with Pactiv’s wastewater treatment plant in Canton are being reported by area residents.
 

Canton leaders make ‘big stink’ over big stink

Festering frustration with nearly every aspect of Pactiv Evergreen’s actions taken in closing its Canton paper mill a year ago…
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Amy Ray will play Asheville May 18. Sandlin Gaither photo
 

Sure feels good anyway: A conversation with Amy Ray

A true mark of an artist is how well they age.  Not simply by the passing years on the calendar,…
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The Lonesome River Band will play Black Mountain May 19. File photo
 

Steve Sutton Memorial Festival

There will be a special concert in memory of late Haywood County banjo great Steve Sutton kicking off at 2…
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Good medicine and Mother’s Day — a book, a poem
 

Good medicine and Mother’s Day — a book, a poem

All of us, to one extent or another, make our way through a world of unexamined phenomena.  It’s a complex…
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Whole Bloomin' Thing returns to Waynesville May 11. File photo
 

Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival

The 21st annual Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in…
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Do you like strawberries?
 

Do you like strawberries?

The 22nd annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 18-19 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. 
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Leonidas Lagrimas will play Franklin May 12. Donated photo
 

Mother’s Day piano concert

Leonidas Lagrimas will present “Musical Storytellers: A Piano Recital” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12, at the First Presbyterian Church…
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'The Secret Garden' will play at HART this spring. Donated photo
 

HART presents ‘The Secret Garden’

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will open its 40th season with the enchanting Tony Award-winning musical “The Secret Garden,” which…
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Andrew Wakefield. File photo
 

Indie, folk at Innovation

Singer-songwriter Andrew Wakefield will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Innovation Brewing in Sylva.
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A special gem show will be in Franklin May 17-19. File photo
 

Ready for the ‘May Gemboree’?

The “May Gemboree” will be held May 17-19 at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. 
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