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Pour me a glass of great words, and let’s party
Having given up listening to the dreadful music and talk shows available in my car radio, last week I popped…
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New Jackson Arts president
Gayle Woody has been named the new president of the Jackson County Arts Council.
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This must be the place: I was never cool. Then again, who is?
She is still a fox. Midnight. Last Tuesday morning. Wide-awake and in front of a large HD television at my…
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Tapping Western North Carolina: Local craft breweries spill onto economy, culture
By all accounts, the craft beer business continues to boom in Western North Carolina. And that’s not just in Asheville…
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WCU’s physical therapy clinic expands
Western Carolina University’s student-run Mountain Area Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic has set a goal to expand the availability of…
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The tales the tombstones tell
High atop a knobby bald in central Haywood County sits lonely Dix Hill Cemetery, just yards from Jones Temple AME…
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Digitizing the deceased
From frost-churned fields on steep hills above shadow-soaked coves spring mossy fieldstones, hopelessly eroded and only becoming more so, season…
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Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations: One big circle
Arriving in Waynesville shortly before last year’s Folkmoot Friendship Festival, I like many who’d come before me had no idea…
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Jackson considers giving toward land conservation effort
The fundraising deadline is drawing nearer for an effort to conserve 15.9 acres adjacent to Panthertown Valley, and the Jackson…
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Three Cherokee councilmembers decide not to run for re-election
Three seats will be up for grabs in Cherokee’s 2017 Tribal Council elections, with incumbent councilmembers from Big Cove, Snowbird…
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ADA compliant park coming to Waynesville
The Town of Waynesville will soon build a very special playground, thanks to a successful Connect N.C. bond application made…
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Girls on the Run: Training girls for a 5K, preparing them for life
Much can be learned through the process of training for a 5K race — physical strength, mental health, focus, determination,…
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Empowering a new generation of strong women
Girls at Junaluska Elementary School seem to have a renewed sense of pride in themselves and their peers after sharing…
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Dillsboro river park proposal draws a crowd
A proposed river park development in Dillsboro drew a crowd of roughly 75 people to a public hearing March 20,…
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Monteith remembered as man of the people
When speaking to the many people in Swain County and beyond who knew David Monteith either personally or professionally, they…
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Proposal would give Qualla area 24-hour ambulance
Harris Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services is asking the Jackson County Commissioners to make changes to its service that would…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Today’s pterodactyl
A low guttural croak comes out of the fog hanging over the French Broad River. I turn and look towards…
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‘It was a very good ride’: Blue Ridge Breakaway cancelled for 2017 due to declining ridership, funding challenges
Every August since 2010, the Blue Ridge Breakaway has pulled in tens of thousands of dollars for Haywood County businesses,…
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Finding your ‘shero’: Bryson City woman explores state of women
Which female pioneers have paved the way for you to be where you are today? “Sojourner Truth,” Janice Inabinett answered…
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Oswalt becomes Cherokee’s third living Beloved Woman
Shirley Oswalt (pictured above, left, with sister Geraldine Thompson) was named a Beloved Woman of the Eastern Band of Cherokee…
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Cherokee laughter: Tribe’s newest Beloved Woman reflects on life full of love for language and community
Shirley Jackson Oswalt can still remember the first words she said in English. Her older siblings had prepped her before…
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Businesswoman offers leadership advice
For all the women out there wondering if they can have it all in life — the career, family and…
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Women’s contributions to workforce celebrated
Sometimes it can feel like one step forward, two steps back for women in the workforce, but this year’s theme…
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Honoring Women’s History Month
The Smoky Mountain News will be publishing a series of articles to showcase a number of women in Western North…
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Russ Avenue: growing pains in Waynesville
While most people agree that the $18 million Russ Avenue widening project in Waynesville is much-needed and long overdue, the…
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DOT to ditch ‘suicide lane’ on 441 in Franklin
With safety concerns at the forefront, a project to significantly alter U.S. 441 through Franklin has been ranked as the…
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Franklin considers changing ‘alderman’ title
The term alderman is defined as a member of a city legislative body, but it literally translates as “old man”…
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Kirkpatrick: ‘It feels like we have no representation’
Tensions between Haywood County and a state legislator are on the rise as commissioners called her out at a recent…
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Haywood considers investigation into leaked docs
The strange saga of Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews isn’t over, but for the moment the spotlight is back…
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Lawmakers want to make town elections partisan
Republican lawmakers in Raleigh have introduced several bills to make more local elections a partisan affair, and local leaders aren’t…
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Majority opposed to making school board partisan
A bill set to make school board elections partisan in Haywood County took current school board members — including the…
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Clampitt files legislation to recoup money for Swain
Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, has introduced House Bill 260 in an effort to help Swain County recoup millions of…
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Grants could offset cost of river park project
Jackson County is hoping that grants will offset the $847,000 cost of extending water and sewer connections to a piece…
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Haywood County schools budget reinstates cuts
After scrambling to cut $2.4 million from last year’s budget, the Haywood County School Board has weathered the storm and…
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Petition effort seeks Tribal Council term limits
A petition drive is underway in Cherokee aiming to place term limits on Tribal Council members and give tribal members…
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Books always make a thoughtful gift
You’re stuck. It’s your boss’ birthday, your nephew’s graduation from high school, your cousin’s promotion at work, and you need…
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Monteith leaves a lasting legacy in Swain
It was July or August of 1999, best I remember, and the Swain County Commissioners at that time were meeting…
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From beauty pageants to soccer fields
It’s not my proudest accolade, but I spent a significant portion of my childhood in a pageant dress. The doctors…
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Enjoy the articles by Chris Cox
To the Editor: I sure enjoy the opinion columns by Chris Cox in The Smoky Mountain News. I enjoy reading…
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You just can’t fix stupid
To the Editor: First off, no anonymous person here. My name is Sandy Sanders. I read Chris Cox column a…
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We all need to speak up
To the Editor: Does opening your email or Facebook feed or nightly news programs make your blood pressure go up?…
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Departing Trump’s alternate universe
To the Editor: As a journalist and former member of the working press, I continue to be appalled and frankly…
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Dawg days of bluegrass: David Grisman picks on WNC
He’s the common denominator. When you look back at the career of iconic bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman, you’re diving deep…
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This must be the place: We won, but what’s the real prize?
Once they announce your name, you stand up and move towards the bright lights. Meandering around a sardine can ballroom…
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Increased need prompts change in shelter management
Correction: In the March 1 issue, The Smoky Mountain News incorrectly reported that Jackson Neighbors in Need requested funding from…
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Increased need prompts change in shelter management
Correction: In the March 1 issue, The Smoky Mountain News incorrectly reported that Jackson Neighbors in Need requested funding from…
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New apartment complex received in Sylva
A 48-unit apartment complex could be built along Savannah Road in Sylva if town commissioners give the green light at…
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Perhaps school board has learned a lesson
Since it is, after all, the Haywood County School Board, I can only hope they’ve learned a lesson. Last week…
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Trump’s rise has some similarities to Hitler
To the Editor: Among the many sources available to explain current events in Washington is an excellent recent book that…
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Trump tweets himself back into the muck
As near as I can tell, the readers of this newspaper are pretty evenly divided on whether I should continue…
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