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In search of the perfect word
The beauty of literature is its solely unique power of transportation. That beauty lies in the meticulous arrangement of words, phrases…
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Davis vs. Hipps debate video
On Oct. 30, Sen. Jim Davis and challenger Jane Hipps squared off in a debate at Southwestern Community College. It…
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Winter weather causes Parkway closures
The first winter weather closures of the season will be in effect on the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend.
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YMCA camp coming to Swain County
Swain County will soon be home to a YMCA camp. The camp — called YMCA Camp Watia — will be…
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Blue Ridge Parkway closes section for Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel repairs
A small section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, between Milepost 420 (near Black Balsam Road) and Milepost 423 (at Hwy.…
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Celebrating the ever-popular essay
This week it’s time to break out the champagne, pop that cork, and raise a flute of bubbly to the…
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Culinary weekend returns to Highlands
The 8th annual Highlands Culinary Weekend will be Nov. 6-9 at participating restaurants and businesses. The four-day destination event, created…
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Daughtry to rock Harrah’s
Acclaimed rock act Daughtry will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Harrah’s Cherokee.
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WNC Halloween: where to go, what to do
Bethel • The Cold Mountain Corn Maze. Open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 to 9 p.m.…
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Davis to spin yarns at HART
Renowned storyteller Donald Davis will be performing “Our Stories Take Us Home” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the…
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Opera, ballet on the Highlands big screen
The Live in HD Series will continue with “Carmen and The Legend of Love” at the ML Performing Arts Center…
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Professor, actor to receive state award
The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association will present Broadway star Terrence Mann, Western Carolina University’s Phillips Distinguished Professor of…
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Contemporary Christian music celebration hits Franklin
The Beautiful Offerings Tour featuring Big Daddy Weave, with special guests Chris August, Dara Maclean and Group 1 Crew will…
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This must be the place
It never ceases to amaze me the incredible people, places and things I cross paths with here in Western North…
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Reach for the Skyway
They say the easiest way to hide something is to place it right in front of someone. Well, what would…
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You have permission to vote Democrat
To the Editor: Recently I have heard folks say things like, “My daddy” or “Momma” would “roll over in their…
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Best choice for school board is Goode
To the Editor: Don’t we all desire what’s best for our kids? The best schools. The best teachers. The best…
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Thanks for coverage of candidates
To the Editor: I would like to applaud The Smoky Mountain News for the articles on the Haywood County Commission…
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We should fear the puppet politicians
To the Editor: In the campaign financial reports from 2012, Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Yancey, spent $107,039 with $3,611 from individuals…
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Goode is fresh choice for school board
To the Editor: Eleven years ago, I came home from work to find my wife — Wende Goode — holding…
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Keep all school staff in mind when voting
To the Editor: Most of the talk regarding education has been about teacher pay, which is critical such that we…
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Tillis clear over incumbent Sen. Hagan
To the Editor: The Senate race in North Carolina is the most important election in our state this year. Sen.…
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Choose science over a salesman’s snake oil
To the Editor: I’m really impressed with Tom Hill, candidate for District 11 of the U.S. Congress, hoping to unseat…
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This is what GOP legislature did for us
To the Editor: Are you better off now than you were, say, a year ago? For most of us that…
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Hunter Murphy best option for Appeals Court
To the Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Mr. Hunter Murphy for election to the North…
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A letter to Gov. McCrory and the Legislature
To the Editor: The actions taken in the last few years under Republican leadership have awakened a sleeping giant of…
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Vote for Hill, send Meadows home
To the Editor: I truly believe Tom Hill will stand up for us, the common person. If you haven’t seen many…
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Time for new county commissioners
To the Editor: What have the incumbent county commissioners brought to Haywood County? I am a 55-year resident of Haywood…
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Students will rise – or fall – to our level of expectations
My weekdays begin at 5 a.m. I have time to drink coffee with my husband, thank him for making my…
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‘Remember, the flying itself is the thing’
It is a fine day for a cookout, this Father’s Day. It is hot enough that most of the younger…
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Monarchs to Mexico
Monarch butterflies, like orange autumn leaves filling the skies, have been winging it to Mexico for the last month or…
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Duke Energy Progress to replace mercury vapor lights in N.C.
Duke Energy Progress customers may see some changes in their communities as the utility embarks on a new initiative to…
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Project aims to increase sales, food stamp use at farmers markets
A partnership between the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and the Rural Advancement Foundation International is aimed at increasing farmer direct…
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WCU gets $436K to protect coastal parks
The National Park Service has awarded a $436,000 grant to the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western…
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Trout Unlimited looking for photogenic fish
Trout Unlimited is looking for fishy photos to contend for gear prizes in its 2014 photo contest. The contest is…
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Arboretum plans geocaching adventure
Geocaching will be the main topic on the agenda Saturday, Nov. 1, at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. This…
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Park offers reward for information on theft
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are offering a reward for information after artifacts were stolen from a locked display…
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Learn how to keep gardening as temps dip
A workshop on winter gardening and spring garden prep to teach gardeners how to avoid putting growing season to bed…
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The bugle of triumph: Elk herd success spurs tourism, scientific innovation
At 7:30 a.m., darkness is just barely beginning to lift from the pre-dawn fields and forest of Cataloochee Valley. Joe…
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Economic development summit set for Nov. 12
Leaders from government, business and nonprofits across Western North Carolina will gather with economic development experts and others to discuss…
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Ebola panel discussion offered at WCU
A panel discussion and question-and-answer session on the Ebola crises and the risk it poses will take place 4-5:30 p.m.…
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Cherokee fly fishing museum sets opening day, fundraising dinner
It’s been two years since Alen Baker, the self-described “instigator” of the effort to create the Fly Fishing Museum of…
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Jackson TDA laying groundwork for hiring director
The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority is pursuing a leader, someone to act as the organization’s executive director. The workload…
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Haywood looks to start Friends of the Parkway chapter, clear overlooks
With park funding falling and visitation increasing, keeping those iconic views open along the 46 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway…
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Macon approves $1.5 million for landfill expansion
With its landfill nearing capacity, Macon County is taking steps to add a new cell before the existing area fills…
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Swain’s museum offers new attraction, old relics
Inside and out, the Swain County Heritage Museum is an ode to history. The very building that houses the museum…
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Forest Hills hosts workshop, explores planning issues
The Village of Forest Hills is about to go on a vision quest. The quest begins Nov. 3 with a…
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Waynesville Soda Jerks win national award
The Waynesville Soda Jerks, an independent artisan beverage company, recently won first place at the National Association of Community Colleges…
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All OK after bomb threat clears Tuscola
Things are back on track at Tuscola High School after some threatening graffiti found in a boys bathroom last week…
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Election Day countdown
Early voting turnout is outpacing the last statewide, non-presidential election year of 2010. And in the seven western counties, early…
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