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Feudin’ banjos and writin’ laws
By John Armour At the end of every week I take stock of what’s happened. Rare are the weeks which…
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Research farms will benefit from more efficient system
We want the state Agricultural Research Station in Waynesville to remain open, but the Senate budget proposal that attempts to…
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How do we really support the troops?
This is about war, but only from a distance. When I read about deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan, it mostly…
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Bartram’s legacy: Scholars gather to discuss significance of 18th century botanist, writer, illustrator and philosopher
By Michael Beadle William Bartram only came through Western North Carolina for a handful of days in the spring of…
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The drive to alternative fuels
Greenies, tree-huggers, granolas and old hippies are mothers, dads and grandmoms too. And there is a sincere desire to live…
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A voyage beyond new age
By Chris Cooper Sometimes your ears want something different. Maybe they need to hear that which steps beyond traditional form…
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Recommended diversions
“John From Cincinnati” Call this a leap of faith, but with “The Sopranos” now gone for good, HBO’s new series,…
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Dad’s take on father’s day
Father’s Day, surely a boon to the greeting card industry and certain segments of the male apparel industry, has taken…
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Activists demand a cleaner Pigeon from Blue Ridge
By Julia Mrchant • Staff Writer A decades-long battle between advocates for a clean Pigeon River and the Canton-based company…
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Desire for regulation may boil down to personal philosophy
Ray Trine eased past the gatehouse guarding the entrance of a Cashiers development and turned up a gentle road landscaped…
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Library a go, probably at Jackson Plaza site
After years of the public waiting for a new library in Jackson County, county commissioners last week pledged to set…
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Library, senior complex win budget approval
Jackson County commissioners whittled down three construction projects on their wish list to two last week.
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Maggie Valley unveils new land-use plan
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer After months of rigorous planning sessions, Maggie Valley town officials are finally ready to…
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The public weighs in Jackson residents speak out on proposed development regulations
A procession of impassioned speakers pleaded with Jackson County commissioners to slow the rapid pace of development on mountainsides during…
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REACH funding called into question by commissioners
A non-profit that helps abused women escape domestic violence could be facing a budget cut by Jackson County commissioners this…
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Study puts values on working easements
A recent study in the Bethel Community revealed that “working land conservation easements” would be valued as high as $7,900…
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Blue Ridge workers hopeful after buyout
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer In the end, the acquisition of Blue Ridge Paper Products by the New Zealand-based…
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Chief’s race pits incumbent against gaming official
A tight race could be in store for the two candidates vying for principal chief of the Eastern Band of…
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Dam Break: Scale of disaster leaves community reeling
A dam broke on an irrigation pond at Balsam Mountain Preserve in Jackson County two weeks ago unleashing hundreds of…
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Franklin studies upgrades to 1950s zoning laws
Unlike most town and county governments in Western North Carolina, Franklin’s elected leaders had the foresight more than five decades…
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Gauging the fallout: Opinions vary on effect of Jackson’s proposed development rules
As Chuck Bennett rang up a sale at his electrical supply store in Cashiers, he showed no fear of the…
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Ghost Town’s economic ripple has hopes high
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer It appears that the re-opening of Ghost Town in the Sky on Memorial Day…
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A great look, but too expensive
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Architects last week unveiled plans for a new three-level building that will house the…
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Parking downtown: Tickets cause controversy in Waynesville
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Parking for free Public parking for as long as you want in downtown Waynesville:
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Rash of private dams altering WNC landscape
The damming of creeks and streams by private developments is on the rise in Western North Carolina — so much…
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Beware the leaves of three
If you like native Appalachian plants that are variable and adaptive, have interesting natural histories with abundant associations in both…
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Some gifts are always keepers
Kayden is doing her very best not to tell me about the preparations she and mom and Jack have made…
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Shuler shows that he will vote his conscience
Those who supported Heath Shuler’s bid to represent this region in Congress probably did not believe the detractors who spent…
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Donors honored for conservation easements
The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust honored those that donated land and conservation agreements in 2006 at a recent celebration.
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Electric vehicles
Most people tend to think of electric (EVs) and hybrid (HEVs) vehicles in the same sphere, but the two are…
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How ‘bout the trout?
By Michael Beadle Fishing for something fun to do this weekend? Head downstream to the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds for the…
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The rhythm method weekend
By Chris Cooper It’s been a year at least since I did a live show review, and it’s likely that…
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Recommended diversions
Traveling Wilburys Re-release On June 12 the Traveling Wilburys re-released the supergroup’s two albums along with (depending on whether you…
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Literature deprived
Certain genres of literature fare better when critically judged by the standards of that particular genre rather than by any…
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Women to watch
By Chris Cooper In the mid 90’s it would’ve been nearly impossible to write about “new to the scene” female…
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Recommended diversions
A Man, A Can, A Plan My youngest son and I have gotten a kick out of using this cookbook…
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A clean miss
Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy by Joan Burbick. New Press, 2007. 288 pages. While teaching Latin at…
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Bryson City touted as third best ‘Outdoor Town’ in America
Bryson City’s tourism leaders have long touted this Swain County town as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Great Smoky…
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Unrealized dreams: Much heralded 1999 agreement fails to deliver for workers
When Howard Taylor heard what workers at Blue Ridge Paper Products were being offered as part of a pending buyout…
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Rise in dog bites sparks concerns
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Walking his dog in a Waynesville neighborhood one summer evening several weeks ago, fear…
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The mysterious art of dowsing
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Searching for the term “dowsing” on the Internet will bring up all kinds of…
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New life for an old Sylva graveyard
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer After decades of neglect, an overgrown hill in Jackson County holding the remains of…
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Whittier golf course to re-open
Following months of course reconstruction, Smoky Mountain Country Club in Whittier will re-open 9 holes of golf this weekend.
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The elusive hellbender
Have you ever noticed that once you start thinking about something or someone you haven’t seen in awhile, it’s not…
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Bar fight in the Blue Ridge – the battle for the 11th District
By John Armour You’d think that what happens in Western North Carolina, in the 11th Congressional District, isn’t very important…
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Waynesville building fits well with downtown
A government building for a mountain town that looks like it belongs in the mountains? Funny how that is going…
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Bush goes south of the border for popularity
By Kirkwood Callahan • Guest Columnist Concerned Americans await the concluding acts of the political drama the president and his…
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We can’t stop the changes
Some have charged that the true, underlying sentiment among those who support stringent development regulations in Jackson County — and…
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Life too often revolves around the minutiae
By Stephanie Wampler Stuff. Life is all about the stuff, isn’t it? We have stuff to amuse us, educate us,…
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Working triple time in Jackson County
By Nancy Geiger • Guest Columnist My daughter, Brittany, is staying at Western Caroina Univesity this summer. The hotel she…
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