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Trump just plain wrong on DACA decision
Few presidential decisions have been as unjust, unwise and cruel as Donald Trump's threat to deport nearly 700,000 young Americans…
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Questioning the relevance of Confederate statues
By the faculty of Western Carolina University’s Department of Anthropology and Sociology Recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, demonstrate the inability…
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Teenage DACA recipients call America home
Now in their senior and sophomore years of high school, Karen and José Ramos — ages 18 and 16, respectively —…
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A dream deferred: The clock is ticking on DACA
In a nation of more than 320 million people, a small group of just 800,000 sit squarely in the crosshairs…
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Political climate makes future uncertain for aspiring dentist, DACA recipient
At 21, Teresa Luna holds two associate’s degrees, a freshly minted diploma in dental assisting from AB Tech and dreams…
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Balsam Preserve Endowment raises $15,000
The Balsam Mountain Preserve Endowment for Jackson County, a local committee created by the residents of Balsam Mountain Preserve, raised…
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Food pod will help the hungry
MANNA FoodBank and Haywood Christian Ministry will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 23 for its refrigerated…
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Confederate flag overshadows Clampitt town hall
A sparsely attended town hall meeting hosted by Bryson City Republican Rep. Mike Clampitt took an unexpected turn Sept. 5…
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Incumbents ousted in Tribal Council elections
Cherokee voters delivered a clear message to the sitting Tribal Council when they cast their votes in the General Election…
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‘Maybe we can start over’: Desire for change drives Cherokee voters
If Election Day interviews conducted with Cherokee voters swinging by Food Lion the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 7, are any…
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Swain leaders travel to D.C. for $4 million payment
The U.S. Department of Interior, under the new leadership of Secretary Ryan Zinke, finally coughed up a payment to Swain…
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Not guilty verdict delivered in statutory rape case
After two weeks of testimony, a jury delivered a verdict of not guilty on all counts in the case of…
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Bryson board says no to earlier alcohol sales
As a room full of disappointed local business owners stood by, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen voted down a…
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Franklin wants public input on ‘brunch bill’
Before deciding whether to adopt a new statewide law allowing for earlier Sunday alcohol sales, the Franklin Town Council wants…
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Stagnant excellence: Haywood schools steady in top 10 percent
The bad news is that Haywood County Schools failed to improve upon last year’s school district performance ranking.
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School improvement costs rise in Jackson
Rising construction costs are causing problems for Jackson County Schools as it attempts to complete $9 million of much-needed capital…
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Main Street shuffle: Businesses move in, out of Waynesville core
Waynesville’s popular Main Street shopping district has seen some changes over the years, and as time goes by, everyone from…
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Carden in the rye: WNC storyteller bridges past, present
There is no middle ground. With Jackson County storyteller/playwright Gary Carden, you either love the guy or you tolerate him,…
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Disconnected from a connected world
Ugh. The moment my girlfriend handed over my soaking wet smart phone, a shiver of isolation ran up my spine.…
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Increase in state arts funding
With a boost in state appropriations, the North Carolina Arts Council will launch two new programs this year and provide…
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After elections, new Tribal Council will include only five incumbents
Yesterday’s Tribal Council elections delivered a blow to incumbents, with only three of the seven councilmembers who both supported the…
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Logging has always been dangerous work
Steam and water-powered sawmills were established here in the Smokies region during the 1870s and 1880s. But full-fledged industrialized logging…
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Team Ruebel hits the trail: Hiking is a bonding force for father-daughter duo
Once Jay Ruebel started seeing the billboard, which advertised the 28.3-mile Trailblaze Challenge hike, it seemed like he couldn’t stop…
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Forest Service offers free camping for flood victims
People displaced by flooding in Texas and neighboring states will be able to stay in U.S. Forest Service campgrounds for…
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Telethon raises $200K for the Smokies
Friends of the Smokies’ 23rd annual telethon Aug. 23 raised $208,321 in donations to support the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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Help rebuild a Smokies trail
Volunteers are needed to help with efforts to overhaul the Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,…
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Book celebrates ‘all things Appalachian’
Some four years ago, I reviewed Matthew Baker’s first book, My Appalachian Granny, a delightful collection of anecdotes, photographs and…
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Reflections on a divided America
As President Trump’s administration continues to descend further into chaos with each passing week, there are a few truths that…
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Illegal signs are a continuing problem
By JoAnna Swanson • Guest Columnist There are all kinds of signs — signs of the times; signs of the…
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Reasonable benchmarks make for better debate
To the Editor: I’m writing in response to a letter by Tom Enterline in the Aug. 30-Sept. 5 issue. He…
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Fear of immigrants will hurt this country
To the Editor: I was glad to read intelligent responses with a different opinion than that of a recent letter…
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‘Trickle-up’: The grassroots greening of government
The proposition is simple — establish a transition from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 or face…
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Green government efforts continue in WNC
Although the clean energy resolution circulating through many local governments of late has been alternately called “aspirational” and “empty” by…
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Swain to receive $4 million settlement payment
When U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visited Pisgah Inn last week, he unexpectedly delivered some good news for…
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Swain County adamantly opposes wilderness designations
U.S. Forest Service rangers got an earful from Swain County residents last week during a public hearing regarding the proposed…
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SRCA discusses pros and cons of adding high school
Shining Rock Classical Academy leaders want to add high school grades to their growing charter school, but they’re just not…
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Chief vetoes special election
A Tribal Council resolution calling for a special election to choose the next Vice Chief sat, unsigned, in the office…
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Ground breaks on entertainment facility at Murphy casino
The bowling alley construction at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort wasn’t even finished when ground broke on a similar addition at…
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Bowling alley opens in Cherokee
A years-long effort to bring a bowling alley to Cherokee has come to an end with the opening of the…
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Community talks under way in Bryson City
Don’t let the quaintness fool you — the small town of Bryson City has plenty of challenges and opportunities facing…
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The Chimney Tops 2 timeline
The fire review process included a thorough analysis of all communications and decisions made from the time the fire began…
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Review released of Smokies’ wildfire response
Nine months after a small wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park metastasized into a deadly blaze that wreaked…
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How to help Hurricane Harvey victims
With so many charities working to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many Western North Carolina residents are curious…
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Schandevel to challenge Rep. Michele Presnell again
After a disappointing loss to an entrenched incumbent in 2016, Beaverdam’s Rhonda Cole Schandevel announced Aug. 26 that she’ll again…
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Sylva statue draws debate
Ever since an August protest over removal of a Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent, a nationwide…
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New director of WCU’s School of Music
An acclaimed pianist who has performed around the world and who teaches that musical artists must be entrepreneurs and good…
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This must be the place: Feeling lucky? Cast the first stone
I ain’t perfect. And the older I get, the more I realize just how true that statement is. Along with…
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Take it or leave it: Foghat to headline Cherokee Blue Ridge Run
It’s the intersection of American blues and British rock. When you throw some Foghat onto the stereo, you’re entering a…
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WCU fishing club rescuing Harvey victims
As members of Western Carolina University’s bass fishing club team — the Bass Cats — were in route to assist…
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When my last song is sung: A conversation with Rob Ickes
In the bluegrass world, it doesn’t get much bigger than Rob Ickes. Fifteen-time “Dobro Player of the Year” by the…
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