The deadly disease white-nose syndrome has killed more than 90% of tri-colored bats in affected bat colonies, and now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a proposal to list the species as endangered. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating a milestone in its Smokies Most Wanted citizen science project, with 100,000 observations now recorded by people using the iNaturalist app.

The Haywood County Arts Council’s annual Haywood County Studio Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.

To the Editor:

The article regarding the backlash over Biden’s forgiveness of student loans was another, “Well, Susie did it!” diatribe. The information about the PPP payments made to a particular Republican was more confusing than informative.

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Smoky Mountain Event Center Board. 

National Manufacturing Day is Oct. 7, and to celebrate NCWorks will be hosting its second annual Manufacturing Day event. The event will be held Friday, Oct. 7, at the NCWorks Career Center in Waynesville from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is helping those recovering from the catastrophic flooding that occurred in August 2021 through free disaster legal services and clinics.  

Bethel Middle School teacher Sally Hundley was named Haywood County Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year.

FUR’s seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast fundraiser will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. With music, raffles, games, a silent auction and, of course, a delicious BBQ lunch with all the fixins, this event will make any cat lover purr. The fun takes place at Barn Star Events in the Jonathan Creek area. 

As the world becomes more and more accessible in the palm of our hands, local governments must adapt to ensure the most up-to-date information is available for residents.

Nearly half of the 65 living Medal of Honor recipients and their families traveled to Knoxville last week for the Medal of Honor Celebration, with a delegation of 60 people embarking on a guided tour of Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday, Sept. 8. 

The publisher of Burt Kornegay’s “A Guide’s Guide to Panthertown” has marked the 25th anniversary of its first printing with a $10,000 donation to Friends of Panthertown.

To the Editor:

The current issue of The Smoky Mountain News (September 7) has a sticker affixed to the front page that states: “Mike Clampitt NC House District 119 Conservative Values.” I assume that this was caused to be affixed by Mr. Clampitt’s reelection campaign.

To the Editor:

Every American should be troubled, attentive and very concerned about the mishandling of classified documents by the former president discovered by the FBI during their lawful investigation at Trump’s resort in Florida. 

The Town of Franklin Town Hall payment hours are changing effective Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.   

The Cullowhee Fire Department is teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” This year’s campaign, Oct. 9-15, works to educate everyone about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. 

When Western Carolina University officials held a ribbon-cutting event to officially open “The Rocks” freshman residence halls on Sept. 2, it was more than just a ceremonial gathering. 

Tommy Cabe, Macon County resident and Board of Education vice chairman, died Thursday, Sept. 1, after undergoing heart surgery in Asheville. A celebration of life service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center. 

Western North Carolina will see $1.5 million of the more than $17 million in grants approved Aug. 26 through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

To the Editor:

I am not a semi-fascist. A ‘deplorable’, maybe. I am not a MAGA terrorist. 

To the Editor:

With the mewling and whining by Trumpian Republicans at having been accurately branded fascists by the president and other historically informed individuals, those Republicans need somehow to counter the walking like a duck, looking like a duck and quacking evidentiary conclusion.

To the Editor:

This election, remember our personal liberties and freedom to voice sentiments without fear. The risk to our liberties come from extreme right groups identifying as Christian Nationals. The positions of the Christian Nationalist Alliance include: 

To the Editor:

With the current Jackson County sheriff not running for re-election, we will have a new sheriff to lead our county law enforcement.

If you haven’t received your tax refund, it’s not too late. Families who make less than $58,000 per year can get free tax help at a series of tax clinics hosted by nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services.

There’s no such thing as a calm season when it comes to natural disasters.

A Jackson County man pleaded guilty Thursday in Haywood County Superior Court to killing one person and injuring two others on July 21, 2021, after he intentionally drove into oncoming traffic, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has named D.J. Gerken as its new president and executive director. This fall, he’ll take the role from Jeff Gleason, who is retiring after 30 years with the organization. 

Ron Moser, a founding member and former leader of Haywood Waterways Association, passed away Thursday, Aug. 18, at the age of 68. 

Two environmentally focused camps this summer offered students the chance to get outside while learning about how to care for creation. 

An outbreak of hemorrhagic disease has spurred reports of sick and dead deer in 39 North Carolina counties, with the highest frequency of reports coming from the mountain and piedmont regions. 

The Smoky Mountain News won 16 advertising awards and 20 editorial awards from the N.C. Press Association in a ceremony last week, including the prestigious Public Service Award for its coverage of the flooding from Tropical Storm Fred.

To the Editor:

Republicans like to talk about how Democrats are ruining the country without being specific on how that is taking place. Let’s look at recent events to see who is really concerned about the wellbeing of the American public, the country, and the planet.

A Cherokee County man who sold large quantities of illegal drugs out of a Canton hotel room will spend, at minimum, one month shy of 44 years in state prison.

Following two weeks of evidence and testimony, jury members needed only 29 minutes of deliberations to convict a Jackson County man on seven charges connected with sex abuse of a minor.

A strong blood supply is key to preparedness for disasters and medical emergencies, and donors can ensure blood is on the shelves the moment it’s needed.

More than two tons of paper were collected for shredding and recycling recently at the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC’s Community Shred Event. According to Shred-it, the Chamber’s partner in the project, more than 15 garbage cans were filled with 4,620 pounds of paper material. 

Home sales in the Western North Carolina region continued to slow in July, mirroring broader housing trends and declining affordability across the country.

Beginning in the 1870s, the U.S. government attempted to educate and assimilate American Indians into “civilized” society by placing children — of all ages, from thousands of homes and hundreds of diverse tribes — in distant, residential boarding schools.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville is currently offering a wide variety of classes in the theater arts for all ages, young and old. Whether you are just starting out or want to hone your skills, HART has opportunities for you. 

New air monitors measuring particulate matter, temperature and relative humidity are now up on the Western Carolina University campus. 

A second deer has tested positive for chronic wasting disease after North Carolina’s first CWD-positive deer was found in December 2021. 

A portion of Connelly’s Creek Road in the Nantahala National Forest will close starting Sept. 6 to upgrade an existing culvert to a bottomless arch culvert that improves fish habitat. 

New bog bridges and repaired steps are now in place on the Bradley Gap Section of the Appalachian Trail through the Cherokee National Forest following a joint project of the U.S. Forest Service and Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club. 

N.C. State Cooperative Extension, Eastern Band of Cherokee Commerce Department and EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems are hosting the Street Food Institute from New Mexico Nov. 7-10 to bring fresh ideas and tested solutions to help regional food businesses thrive. 

The Haywood Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees voted at its June meeting to award $497,500 in grants for fiscal year 2022-23 to fulfill its mission to the following agencies to help them meet the healthcare needs in Haywood County:

Like every other graduate at Southwestern Community College’s High School Equivalency commencement ceremony, Calbert Christian navigated a unique road on his way to receiving his diploma earlier this month.