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Notes from a plant nerd: Leftover Cranberries
Many of us may be tired of cranberries by now, having eaten our fill, and then some, at our recent…
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Hurricane Ridge Fire response concludes
Progress continues on the Hurricane Ridge Fire, which in a final update from the U.S. Forest Service Friday, Dec. 2,…
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C.S. Lewis bio is worth a read
Mention the name C.S. Lewis to other readers, and they might recollect him in any number of roles. The younger…
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The truth about climate change is staring us down
The truth, even when it’s staring you down Clint Eastwood style, is easier to ignore than to act on. Just…
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Your one and only Christmas 2022
As they say, “What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of how it’s…
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Through National Geographic Photo Ark, people can look endangered wildlife in the eye
Joel Sartore lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, but he — and his camera — are constantly on the move.
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WCU Trustees approve tuition, fee increases
“Extraordinary” inflation and the need to match state salary increases will prompt increases to the cost of attendance at Western…
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Clubs announce new approach annual blanket drive
Mountain Projects and Waynesville Rotary Club paired for many years to coordinate a popular Christmas holiday blanket drive.
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WNC Historical Association selects Brent Martin as winner of literary award
The Western North Carolina Historical has selected author Brent Martin’s “George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North…
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Construction students compete in Atlanta
Students from Western Carolina University’s Kimmel School of Construction recently had the opportunity to participate in real-world construction scenarios at…
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Jackson County Commission welcomes new members
On Monday evening, Dec. 5, before a room full of family and community members alike, three men took the oath…
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Congressional committee discusses seating Cherokee Nation delegate
Shortly after the 1835 Christmas holiday celebrating peace and good will toward men, U.S. government officials met with a group…
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JCPS will once again expand pre-K capacity
Jackson County schools will once again expand its pre-K capacity at the start of the 2023-24 school year, this time…
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New sheriffs shuffle staffs
Across North Carolina’s seven westernmost counties, a whole slew of new sheriffs was sworn in on Monday, Dec. 5.
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HCC opens new health sciences building amid statewide nursing shortage
At a time when North Carolina faces a serious nursing shortage, Haywood Community College has invested in its nursing program…
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‘Not our jurisdiction’: Office of Charter Schools will not get involved in SRCA dispute
The Office of Charter Schools decided a recent dispute between Shining Rock Classical Academy and a parent is outside its…
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The sound of community: With Christmas Jam back from hiatus, ‘Jam By Day’ returns
After four years of radio silence, the nationally revered Warren Haynes Christmas Jam will return for its 31st installment on…
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This must be the place: Morning comes wearing diamonds, where she is, the sun is shining
Hello from Room 128 at the Red Roof Inn in Hardeeville, South Carolina, just north of the Georgia state line…
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Mission offers ‘COVID immunity’ defense in response to malpractice suit
Hospital Corporation of America and Asheville’s Mission Hospital have responded to a lawsuit filed by a Canton woman that claims…
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PARTF funds grow Pisgah View State Park
The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, recently approved $17.4 million to…
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Cashing in on adventure: Outdoor recreation economy launches strong pandemic rebound
New data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis show that 2021 was a year of growth…
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Forest conservation advocates honored
Winners of EcoForesters’ Annual Awards were announced this month, celebrating achievement in ecological forestry and highlighting important issues that the…
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Joyce Kilmer trail reopens
The Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail in Graham County is reopen after more than two years of closure.
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Cherokee women honored for name restoration efforts
Tribal members Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe have received an Attorney General’s Dogwood Award from N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein…
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A perfect gift for local lore buffs
If you’re looking for a gift for the holidays for that person in your life who enjoys reading about local…
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Here’s to inflation-fighting holiday gifts
According to a recent U.S. News & World Report article, “The 15 Richest Counties in the U.S.,” five of these…
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This must be the place: Lace up the running shoes, head out the door and get after it
As of yesterday, Monday, Nov. 28, I’ve run 2,525 days in a row. I hadn’t checked in on “the streak”…
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For the love of those gathered at the feast
My wife and I were truly blessed to have our children, some relatives and close friends gathered for Thanksgiving, which…
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Free speech trumps party politics any day
To the Editor: Here I am, a constitutional conservative who for 40-plus years has voted, held office, and worked as a…
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It may be time to amend Constitution
To the Editor: Rob Schofield in last week’s Smoky Mountain News decried the current Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)…
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Will Trump answer to the American people?
To the Editor: A college football coach will tell you there are three basic units that comprise a football team: offense,…
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Brotherhood and backwoods tradition: A retrospective on Balsam Range
Writers’ Note: Since I started in the position of arts and entertainment editor at The Smoky Mountain News in 2012,…
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The next chapter: Balsam Range celebrates 15 years, looks ahead
In a year that’ll surely end on a bittersweet note, beloved Haywood County bluegrass sensation Balsam Range is not only…
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Cherokee prepares for special election
On Thursday, Dec. 15, Cherokee voters will head to the polls for a special election that will seat two new…
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Schools struggle with state-mandated pay increases
As Swain County Schools digs into the 2022-23 budget, staff are planning for the largest fund balance allocation needed in…
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Free lunch for Swain Elementary students
All students in Swain County elementary schools will receive free lunch this year with the help of a grant from…
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WCU human remains detection K9 training program wins award
Western Carolina University’s human remains detection cadaver dog training program was recently awarded the 2022 University Professional and Continuing Education…
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Searching for Boomer Inn
Readers are now likely to be searching their own minds for the meaning of the term “boomer inn.” Could it…
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WCU students network at research forum
Students from Western Carolina University were given the opportunity to network with students from other Southern Conference schools and expand…
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Wildfire grows at Harmons Den
A wildfire reported Wednesday, Nov. 23, in the Harmon Den area of Haywood County was still burning with no containment…
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Forest Service gives Trout Unlimited $40 million for projects
In a five-year agreement to improve watersheds on national forests and grasslands, the U.S. Forest Service will give Trout Unlimited…
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Water quality groups land grants
Environmental groups in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison Counties were recently awarded grants totaling $197,500 from the Pigeon River Fund of…
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Trail turkey: Thanksgiving feast brings Appalachian Trail family together
Twenty-two years ago, Janet Hensley, now 59, was working in guest services at a new hotel in her hometown of…
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Drought improves, but holds on in far west
Drought conditions have improved across much of the state following rains from Tropical Depression Nicole, but the westernmost counties remain…
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Smokies to repair 19 bridge locations
Work has started on a $1.3 million effort to repair bridges at 19 locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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East Street Park stream project complete
A project to improve a tributary to Shelton Branch that runs through East Street Park in Waynesville is now complete.…
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Word from the Smokies: Smokies Life celebrates trees and their stories
Have you ever tried to count the number of branches on a tree? One limb leads to many appendages from…
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Language is illuminated in new memoir
Once in a great while, something unexpected and exceptional crosses my desk. In this case it was a gift from…
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Resurrecting the joy of the holidays
I have felt disconnected from the holidays ever since my mom passed away six years ago. Throw a divorce, two…
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