Angel close to merger with Mission if state bill stays at bay
 

Angel close to merger with Mission if state bill stays at bay

The pending merger of Angel Medical Center with Mission Health System could be sidelined, at least temporarily, by a state…
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Mission in the crosshairs: Hospital turf war in WNC heats up
 

Mission in the crosshairs: Hospital turf war in WNC heats up

A state bill aimed at ensuring a balance of power between Mission Health System and smaller hospitals has placed lawmakers…
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Sylva leaders support DSA with more funding
 

Sylva leaders support DSA with more funding

The future of the Downtown Sylva Association remains unclear despite a move by town leaders to increase public funding for…
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Politics, Cherokee style, are in high gear leading up to primary
 

Politics, Cherokee style, are in high gear leading up to primary

The July 7 primary is drawing closer in Cherokee, when the field for principal chief will narrow from five to…
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History comes alive at the Blackberry Jam
 

History comes alive at the Blackberry Jam

For a taste of fun and history, visit The Blackberry Jam from 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the…
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Ballroom contest dances into Haywood
 

Ballroom contest dances into Haywood

This year’s Dancing With the Mountain Stars event is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20,…
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Gospel group takes the stage for charity
 

Gospel group takes the stage for charity

Southern Gospel group Archie Watkins & Smoky Mountain Reunion will play two shows at 6 and 8 p.m. on May…
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Dillsboro seeks artists and entertainers
 

Dillsboro seeks artists and entertainers

The Town of Dillsboro is seeking vendor applications for the upcoming Arts and Music festival, which will take place the…
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Dance into fitness this summer
 

Dance into fitness this summer

Have fun while staying active this summer through a ballroom dance class, held from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday…
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Free music workshop for kids in Macon
 

Free music workshop for kids in Macon

Elementary school-aged children and their families are invited to a free ARTSaturday workshop from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on…
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Concert pianist performs in Waynesville
 

Concert pianist performs in Waynesville

Pianist Thomas Uchtmann will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 at the Performing Arts Center in…
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Writing program offers summer workshops
 

Writing program offers summer workshops

Local writers can hone their skills with summer workshops in poetry and prose at UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Programs.…
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Poet returns for reading
 

Poet returns for reading

Former Cullowhee resident Marly Youmans, novelist, short-story writer and poet, will return to Sylva at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May…
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Catch the Christmas spirit early this year
 

Catch the Christmas spirit early this year

Get started on Christmas gift-giving early by attending a Christmas napkin-making workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May…
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Late Bloomer: Local bassist in full flower
 

Late Bloomer: Local bassist in full flower

“This song was written before the USDA got their hands on organic standards,” announces the booming voice from the stage.…
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Murray selected as Jackson schools superintendent
 

Murray selected as Jackson schools superintendent

The Jackson County Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael L. Murray as the new…
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Native cougars no longer grace these mountains
 

Native cougars no longer grace these mountains

Have you ever seen a mountain lion here in the Smokies region? I haven’t. In fact, the only one I’ve…
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Landowners protect 13 acres in Haywood
 

Landowners protect 13 acres in Haywood

A conservation agreement with landowners has preserved 13 acres in the Bethel community of Haywood County. The property is largely…
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Lake Junaluska foot bridge under repair
 

Lake Junaluska foot bridge under repair

Until May 23, walkers and runners at Lake Junaluska won’t be able to make their usual circuit. The Turbeville Footbridge,…
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Ruby Ride and Run showcases best Macon County scenery
 

Ruby Ride and Run showcases best Macon County scenery

The  annual Ruby Ride & Run will be held Saturday, May 21, in Franklin. There will be a 5K and 10K…
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If you teach a child to fish …
 

If you teach a child to fish …

Two free fishing clinics for ages 6 to 15 will be offered at the 21st Annual Great Smoky Mountain Trout…
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Chunky Gal campout and hike this weekend
 

Chunky Gal campout and hike this weekend

A hike and campout at Tusquitee Bald, the highest point in Clay County, will be held Friday, May 6, by…
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Buzzin’ right along
 

Buzzin’ right along

I spoke with Blair Ogburn, senior naturalist at Balsam Mountain Trust, the other day and she related a perplexing incident.…
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Cradle of Forestry to hold songbird celebration
 

Cradle of Forestry to hold songbird celebration

A Songbird Celebration will be held at the Cradle of Forestry in America Saturday, May 7, to honor the annual…
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Naturalists host day of birding at Balsam Mountain Preserve
 

Naturalists host day of birding at Balsam Mountain Preserve

In a combination celebration of migratory birds and Balsam Mountain Trust’s 10 year anniversary, hikes and classes are scheduled at…
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The great Wasilik poplar’s time at the top may be numbered
 

The great Wasilik poplar’s time at the top may be numbered

The U.S. Forest Service is warning hikers to stay back a good 50 feet or so from a towering poplar…
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Romance novelist to speak in Waynesville
 

Romance novelist to speak in Waynesville

Jacquelyn Frank, a the New York Times best selling author, will speak at the Mountain Writers meeting at 1 p.m.…
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Never fear, summer reading program a go
 

Never fear, summer reading program a go

Even with the old library closing, Jackson County kids can’t get out of their parents enrolling them in Jackson County’s…
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Davis at the top of his game as a storyteller
 

Davis at the top of his game as a storyteller

Storytellers draw inspiration from sources as varied as Shakespeare, the Brothers Grimm and the Bible; however, the tales that immediately…
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Weedeaters teach lesson in overkill
 

Weedeaters teach lesson in overkill

Just a few minutes into weedeating and I feel lobotomized. Perhaps the heady roar of the little engine that can…
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Revaluation now was just a bad idea
 

Revaluation now was just a bad idea

To the Editor: Now that you have received the re-evaluations of your Haywood County property, are you pleased county commissioners…
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Where are the GOP-promised jobs?
 

Where are the GOP-promised jobs?

To the Editor: Where are the real jobs? During the 2010 election season, an organization named Real Jobs NC targeted…
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Make Haywood whole in redistricting
 

Make Haywood whole in redistricting

To the Editor: On Saturday, April 30, the Republican Party of Haywood County submitted a resolution to the Redistricting Committee…
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Is Great Smoky Mountain Railroad serious?
 

Is Great Smoky Mountain Railroad serious?

To the Editor: At first the shakedown to the county was over $817,000 in grants and loans. Then, seeing that…
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Downtown Sylva deserves the support of the town board
 

Downtown Sylva deserves the support of the town board

We’ve written before about how important the downtown business districts in our mountain towns are to their communities, but it…
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New visitor center opens in Waynesville
 

New visitor center opens in Waynesville

The public is invited to a celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week on Friday, May 6, at Haywood County…
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HART to hold auditions for ‘GYPSY’
 

HART to hold auditions for ‘GYPSY’

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for its July production of the Broadway Musical “Smash Gypsy” at 6:30…
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Grammy winner comes to Cataloochee
 

Grammy winner comes to Cataloochee

Grammy winner Peter Rowan will give an after-dinner solo performance on Saturday evening, May 7, in the main ranch house…
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Shakespeare steps out in Swain
 

Shakespeare steps out in Swain

The Shakespearean classic “Much Ado About Nothing” is coming to Bryson City at 7:30 p.m., May 12 through 15, at…
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Spring blooms in Frog Level
 

Spring blooms in Frog Level

The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival is coming to Waynesville’s Frog Level district from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday,…
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Win big in Voices giveaway
 

Win big in Voices giveaway

Voices in the Laurel, Western North Carolina’s regional children’s choir, is holding its inaugural car and truck giveaway to raise…
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Swing into summer with Bryson contra dance
 

Swing into summer with Bryson contra dance

A contra dance will be held from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at the Bridge Park Pavilion…
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Local artist demonstrates talents
 

Local artist demonstrates talents

The Blue Ridge Watermedia Society will meet at 6:45 p.m. on May 10 at Haywood Community College. The meeting will…
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Community band kicks off its season
 

Community band kicks off its season

The Haywood Community Band will start its ninth concert season with a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on May 15…
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Guadalupe Café event features local music
 

Guadalupe Café event features local music

Sylva’s Guadalupe Café will host “Bigaroo” beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 7, a tribute to the musicianship and spirit…
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Chinese acrobats leap into Franklin
 

Chinese acrobats leap into Franklin

The Golden Dragon Acrobats will grace the stage of the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m.…
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Big Stakes at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
 

Big Stakes at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

Of the many games that grace the floors at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, poker might be the most universal. From casino…
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Lack of childcare hindering WCU recruitment, retention
 

Lack of childcare hindering WCU recruitment, retention

Finding childcare, particularly for infants, has surfaced as a growing problem for the young professionals who make up much of…
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Legislation would give Tribal ABC Board more authority
 

Legislation would give Tribal ABC Board more authority

Legislation that would bring alcohol regulation in Cherokee completely under tribal control is now working its way through the General…
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Sylva makes bid to Jackson leaders for old library
 

Sylva makes bid to Jackson leaders for old library

Sylva leaders want their Jackson County counterparts to lease, for $1 a year, the old library building to them, citing…
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