Archived (29806)
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No guns, no bikes, and no dogs
By Danny Bernstein • Guest Columnist Our national parks have been assaulted by new rulings in the closing days of…
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Macon may be out of money for K-4 school
There may not be enough money to build a new K-4 school in Macon County because of the economic downturn,…
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Taking a likin’ to the lichen
On a winter walk you will encounter numerous evergreen plants. None is more mysterious or delightful to behold than the…
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Lending a hand
Recently, more than 50 members of the Haywood County community gathered in a church fellowship hall to brainstorm ways to…
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A word with the musicians
Mark W. Winchester (MW) and Milan Miller (MM) answer questions about the collaboration of “Songs From Haywood County.” SMN: How…
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Cherokee petition closes in on alcohol vote
Organizers of a petition drive in Cherokee believe they have enough signatures to force a referendum by voters on whether…
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The economic downturn hits home — hard
The trickle down effect from the national economic downturn is starting to feel more like a flood to agencies in…
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Officials stay away from private DOT meeting, stay within bounds of law
It appears local government officials obeyed the Open Meetings Law when they attended a private N.C. Department of Transportation meeting…
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About Nance Dude
A brief synopsis of “Nance Dude,” which is one of three dramatic monologues in “Land’s End” written by Gary Carden:…
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National parks to lift ban on gun-packing visitors
Visitors could soon be toting loaded, concealed guns in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A long-standing ban on loaded…
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Schools give money back, Big Three ready to take it
As the economic picture gets more and more bleak, the ironies loom larger and larger. Public school systems, community colleges…
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DOT gets earful from public on Southern Loop
Jackson County resident Susan Leveille opposes the construction of a N.C. 107 bypass. “I am very hopeful DOT and all…
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Smokies plate helps Friends help the park
The new specialty license plate for Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sporting a black bear against a mountain…
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Traffic simulations for 2035 takes leap of faith
As the debate over the Southern Loop rages on, a faceless cadre of number crunchers have been assigned a seemingly…
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Don’t jump up and do anything
With Clayton Cathey On a weekday afternoon the Walker Service Station in Waynesville is busy with a steady stream of…
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Tough times strike dealerships
Scott Rodes’ first job in the automobile industry was 30 years ago washing and selling cars for his grandfather in…
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Swain hunts for inmates to fill overbuilt jail
When 400 people poured in to Swain County’s jail one day in late September, Sheriff Curtis Cochran was thrilled. And…
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Commissioners make extra meetings official
The Macon County commissioners on Monday voted to start having two regularly scheduled meetings a month, rather than just one…
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Slow to start, Waynesville moves on land use plan review
The town of Waynesville has done little to jumpstart a promised review of its land use plan, and critics say…
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Task force seeks answers to water shortages
The newly formed Jackson County Water Study Task Force met for the first time Thursday (Dec. 4) to begin discussing…
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Not a fan of bailouts, Shuler drives a hard bargain
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, said he is unsure if he will support a bailout of the auto industry. The…
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Nance Dude: Legend, murderer, victim
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Stoned by children, considered a witch by some and a complete outcast by others,…
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Open yourself to the simple pleasures of the season
By Linda McFarland • Guest Columnist Here we are in the holidays, the most sacred and profane time of year.…
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Town settles disagreement over pilfered stone
The town of Franklin has settled a disagreement with a man who took slate and doors that belonged to the…
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Come rain, snow or cold, holiday lights go up
By David Curtis If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it…
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Gear crazy: Outfitters brainstorm on holiday gift solutions
With only a couple weeks left for holiday shopping, local outfitters are stocked with solutions for the outdoor aficionados on…
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A night of music with a purpose
By Chris Cooper My participation in the Play For Peace project has been, honestly, primarily for purely selfish reasons. The…
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There are ways to reduce chance of getting the flu
By Dr. Allan Zacher, M.D. Flu season is here. You and your family and friends have not gotten it yet,…
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Vintage King
Just After Sunset by Stephen King. Scribner and Sons, 2008. 367 pages. Unlike the majority of his peers, Stephen King…
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The Naturalist's Corner
Bees do it and die Honeybees are not native to the States. But these prolific pollinators arrived with the earliest…
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Sales down, service up: Mechanics in demand to keep old cars running
While sales of new vehicles have plummeted, the service side of the automotive industry is holding steady as people opt…
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Here come the seed catalogs
By Jim Janke Editor’s note: This is a regular feature on gardening by the Haywood County master gardeners. Look for…
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Prime time pushes trend in crime forensics
Waynesville defense attorney Don Patten has noticed an interesting trend among jurors in recent years. They are hungry for hard…
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Unsung guitar hero’s latest keeps it lively
By Chris Cooper It’s in the phrasing; the careful sculpting of each and every note. It’s something about the intent,…
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Twin path productions: Two friends, one dream
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Wearing white sneakers with a buzz haircut, Tighe Wachacha enters the Burger King in…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Bad moon ‘risin
When we headed for the car after a glorious Thanksgiving dinner, the skies above Jonathan Creek were dark and clear,…
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Biodiverse: WNC’s unique environment a major topic at multi-state economic development conference
The idea of using the region’s readily accessible natural resources in daily life is nothing new in the mountains, a…
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Commissioners select Haywood’s top leader
Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick took the helm as the new chairman of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners this week. Every…
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Haywood proud winner of 22 acres, but what now?
After a 15-month legal battle, Haywood County can finally claim ownership free and clear over a 22-acre tract in the…
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Senior center left in lurch as grant pipeline runs dry
Construction of a new center for seniors in Swain County has ground to a halt because the project has run…
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Duke accuses Jackson of illegally withholding dam permits
A lawyer for Duke Energy told the Jackson County commissioners on Monday that if the county continues to hold up…
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New Folkmoot director takes helm
The new executive director of Folkmoot USA, Haywood County’s famed international dance festival, is perfectly poised to help the event’s…
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My birding through the warbler
It wasn’t until the late 1970s that my wife, Elizabeth, and I first started birding in a systematic fashion. That…
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A reminder to keep the public in mind
“’Official meeting’ means a meeting, assembly, or gathering together at any time or place ... of a majority of the…
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Bragg explores fatherhood by looking at his dad’s past
The Prince of Frogtown by Rick Bragg. Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. 272 pages. Biography affords the reader a rare chance…
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Schools struggle with state budget recall
By Josh Mitchell & Julia Merchant • Staff Writers The downturn in the economy is forcing schools to send back…
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Choices in home energy systems
By Avram Friedman • Executive Director, Canary Coalition Getting “off the grid” is more and more appealing to many of…
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Snow days are like heaven for 12-year-olds
You are 12 years old and it’s December and a school day. The days are shorter now, meaning it is…
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Unearthing clues: Future crime solvers get hands-on training at Western
When a hunter discovered human skeletal remains in the woods in Macon County last winter, investigators didn’t know who the…
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In high school, more than you might imagine do care about politics
By Zack Dean • Smoky Mtn. High School I had to work late on Nov. 4, so upon coming home…
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