Support elected leaders who support teachers
 

Support elected leaders who support teachers

To the Editor: Why are teachers leaving?
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Reaction to accident is disheartening
 

Reaction to accident is disheartening

To the Editor: It makes me sick to think people would applaud Helping Hands not getting funding from Waynesville after…
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Comment

Swain ‘Rally’ was a huge success
 

Swain ‘Rally’ was a huge success

To the Editor: The Swain County “Rally for Health, Hope and Recovery” was a huge success. The event included about…
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Comment

Loose canines are a cyclist’s nightmare
 

Loose canines are a cyclist’s nightmare

To the Editor: I became a cyclist in June 2020, and it has changed my life for the better. I…
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Building Outdoor Communities Program launches
 

Building Outdoor Communities Program launches

The WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership officially launched the Building Outdoor Communities Program (BOC) last week, welcoming over 100 attendees for an…
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Dr. Don Tomas is starting his 11th year as Southwestern Community College’s President. He’s shown here in front of the Don Tomas Health Sciences Center.
 

SCC names building in honor of school president

During a recent meeting, Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to name the new Health Sciences Center in…
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Comment

Sylva has updated its policy that allows for take-home police vehicles.
 

Sylva extends take-home vehicle policy for police

In the face of a housing shortage and increased competition for employees, the Town of Sylva has updated its policy…
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Swain County women’s track and field team wins 1A State Championship. Marsha Hicks photo
 

Swain runner advocates for sports equality

Amaya Hicks, Swain County High School senior and captain of the women’s cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track teams,…
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Comment

Mission Hospital and HCA are accused of gross negligence and reckless misconduct.
 

Canton woman’s lawsuit will test COVID immunity law for health care providers

A Canton woman has filed a lawsuit against the Hospital Corporation of America in which she claims “egregious acts of…
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Comment

Voter registration challenges were filed against eight people in Lake Santeetlah earlier this year.
 

Public notice requirements for voter challenge hearing may not have been met

A meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept 28 by the Graham County Board of Elections to hear voter registration challenges against…
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Smathers sues HCA for 'egregious' medical negligence during son's birth
 

Smathers sues HCA for 'egregious' medical negligence during son's birth

A Canton woman has filed a lawsuit against Hospital Corporation of America in which she claims “egregious acts of medical…
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Comment

Federal guidance to strengthen tribal land management role
 

Federal guidance to strengthen tribal land management role

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior released new guidance aiming to strengthen the role of tribal governments in…
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Mystique of the monarch: Butterfly’s migratory life inspires wonder, scientific inquiry
 

Mystique of the monarch: Butterfly’s migratory life inspires wonder, scientific inquiry

It was a chilly February morning in 2020 when Clemson, South Carolina, resident Heyward Douglass laid eyes on the legendary…
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White-nose syndrome is killing 90% of tri-colored bats in the colonies it affects. Pete Pattavina/USFWS photo
 

Endangered status proposed for tri-colored bat

The deadly disease white-nose syndrome has killed more than 90% of tri-colored bats in affected bat colonies, and now the…
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An iNaturalist user snaps a butterfly observation. Lucas Pfeiffer photo
 

Smokies species project marks milestone

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating a milestone in its Smokies Most Wanted citizen science project, with 100,000…
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Comment

An aster flower displays the species’ classic gold-and-purple color combination. Adam Bigelow photo
 

Notes from a plant nerd: Ad astera! To the stars! (Asters Part 2)

Very soon, my guided wildflower walks will mostly consist of me walking along a trail and saying, “That’s an aster,…
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Comment

Annus horribilis: A review of Taylor Downing’s ‘1942’
 

Annus horribilis: A review of Taylor Downing’s ‘1942’

Annus horribilis is Latin for a horrible year, a time of disaster, and aptly applies to the first months of…
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Comment

The Cold Mountain Art Collective in Canton.
 

Opening the doors of creativity: Haywood Arts Studio Tour to be held Sept. 24-25

The Haywood County Arts Council’s annual Haywood County Studio Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday,…
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The Hayford Road in Rouses Point. (Garret K. Woodward photo)
 

This must be the place: Could have been the Willie Nelson, could have been the wine

Waking up in the hotel room at the Chateau Laurier in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, last Saturday morning, I rubbed my…
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Comment

Haywood School Board misses an opportunity
 

Haywood School Board misses an opportunity

When the Haywood County School Board announced that it had chosen Trevor Putnam as the system’s new superintendent, I can’t…
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A cautionary tale of Covid’s resilience
 

A cautionary tale of Covid’s resilience

Last week I was among five friends on an outdoor excursion. It was a lovely early fall day, the river…
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Comment

We need to stop the overspending
 

We need to stop the overspending

To the Editor: The article regarding the backlash over Biden’s forgiveness of student loans was another, “Well, Susie did it!”…
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Comment

Haywood seeks event center board members
 

Haywood seeks event center board members

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Smoky Mountain Event Center…
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NCWorks hosts Manufacturing Day event
 

NCWorks hosts Manufacturing Day event

National Manufacturing Day is Oct. 7, and to celebrate NCWorks will be hosting its second annual Manufacturing Day event. The…
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Legal Aid to host clinics for those affected by Tropical Storm Fred
 

Legal Aid to host clinics for those affected by Tropical Storm Fred

Legal Aid of North Carolina is helping those recovering from the catastrophic flooding that occurred in August 2021 through free…
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Comment

Big changes coming in WNC law enforcement leadership
 

Big changes coming in WNC law enforcement leadership

Earlier this year candidates for sheriff began campaigning across the region, hoping to earn the trust of voters who, in…
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Comment

Larry Bryson (left) and Bill Wilke.
 

Bryson, Wilke square off in highly anticipated Haywood sheriff race

After nearly 10 years in office, Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher announced his retirement in Mach 2021, giving prospective candidates more…
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Comment

Rick Buchanan (left) and Doug Farmer.
 

Jackson sheriff race down to Buchanan, Farmer

With the impending retirement of Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall, two candidates will compete for the seat this fall in…
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Comment

Curtis Cochran
 

Cochran seeks fifth term as Swain Sheriff

To be a sheriff in North Carolina is to be the most powerful elected official in a county.
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Bellows receives recognition (from left) from Rep. Mark Pless, Bellows, Sen. Kevin Corbin and Rep. Mike Clampitt. Kyle Perrotti photo
 

Maggie Valley officer recognized for life-saving courage

An officer who risked her own safety to save the lives of others was hailed as a hero last week…
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Comment

Clockwise from top left: Boyce Deitz, Todd Bryson, John Smith and Gayle Woody.
 

Race for Jackson County Commission: 
Incumbent Democrats vs. Republican newcomers

The Jackson County Commission has three seats on the ballot this fall. In addition to commission chairman, districts one and…
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Comment

Brian McMahan (left) and Mark Letson.
 

McMahan and Letson compete for commission chair 


This election season, there are three seats up for grabs on the Jackson County Commission, all held by Democrats, all…
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Comment

Audience chastised for applauding nonprofit leader’s mishap
 

Audience chastised for applauding nonprofit leader’s mishap

Members of Waynesville’s Board of Aldermen responded harshly to applause from the audience after payments to a nonprofit contractor were…
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Bethel Middle School STEM teacher Sally Hundley was named the 2023 Teacher of the Year.
 

Haywood County Schools names teacher of the year

Bethel Middle School teacher Sally Hundley was named Haywood County Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year.
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Comment

The fiscal year that ended July 30 saw unprecedented numbers of employees leaving for other jobs. WCU graphic
 

Legislative raises hit WCU paychecks

Faculty and staff at Western Carolina University have been seeing higher paychecks since July following the N.C. General Assembly’s passage…
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Comment

Tribal Council is likely to meet Thursday, Sept. 29, to finalize election law changes. File photo
 

Tribal Council debates election law changes

Term limits could be on the chopping block in Cherokee’s updated election ordinance due to legal advice arguing that the…
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Comment

FUR will host its seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast Fundraiser on Oct. 9. Donated photo
 

FUR hosts seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast

FUR’s seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast fundraiser will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. With…
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Comment

Waynesville Police to launch new app
 

Waynesville Police to launch new app

As the world becomes more and more accessible in the palm of our hands, local governments must adapt to ensure…
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Comment

Ambitious proposal could be game-changer for affordable housing in Haywood
 

Ambitious proposal could be game-changer for affordable housing in Haywood

Haywood County was recently awarded another substantial grant to help address the affordable housing crisis, but the way the county…
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Comment

Handheld wands offer more flexibility and lower cost than large, walk-through detectors. File photo
 

Threats force Waynesville to consider meeting security measures

The Town of Waynesville may soon start subjecting public meeting attendees to metal detectors in some form or fashion, Town…
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Comment

County funding will allow AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center to finish vital repairs to its current building. AWAKE photo
 

With county funding, AWAKE will complete building repairs

The Jackson County Commission allocated just over $60,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center for the…
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Comment

Cades Cove hosts Medal of Honor recipients
 

Cades Cove hosts Medal of Honor recipients

Nearly half of the 65 living Medal of Honor recipients and their families traveled to Knoxville last week for the…
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Comment

Kathy “KT” Taylor stands with her bees, which provide critical pollination during apple blossom season. Holly Kays photo
 

Among the apples: For Canton couple, farming is a retirement dream come true

A car rolls up the gravel driveway to the barn that serves as the main headquarters for KT’s Orchard and…
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Comment

Burt Kornegay (center) hands the donation check to Friends of Panthertown Executive Director Jason Kimenker, joined by (from left) Friends of Panthertown Stewardship Manager Kara McMullen, Friends of Panthertown Vice President Mike Purdy and Friends of Panthertown Trails and Stewardship Director Krista Robb. Donated photo
 

Panthertown Map Association marks 25th anniversary with $10,000 donation

The publisher of Burt Kornegay’s “A Guide’s Guide to Panthertown” has marked the 25th anniversary of its first printing with…
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Comment

While all skunks have black and white coloring, the specific pattern can vary significantly between individuals. Fred Coyle photo
 

Up Moses Creek: Mr. Plume

I’d been sprayed once years earlier, so yesterday morning I knew what might happen when, standing on the ridge above…
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Comment

Stepping backwards through time via literature
 

Stepping backwards through time via literature

In the past 10 days, whim, a desire for a breather from our breathless age, and heaven knows what else…
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Comment

Thoughts on hunting and being vegan
 

Thoughts on hunting and being vegan

I know next to nothing about hunting, but a random man in the gas station got me thinking about the…
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Preserving WNC’s culture and natural beauty
 

Preserving WNC’s culture and natural beauty

Bluegrass and mountain music. American Indian culture. Unparalleled natural beauty. The most-visited national park in the United States. The tallest…
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Comment

Rep. Clampitt’s values aren’t mine
 

Rep. Clampitt’s values aren’t mine

To the Editor: The current issue of The Smoky Mountain News (September 7) has a sticker affixed to the front…
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