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Franklin welcomes new ‘softwash’ business
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting celebration to welcome H & H Softwash to the Franklin…
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Retired vice chancellor receives lifetime achievement award
A former Western Carolina University vice chancellor for advancement and external affairs who enjoyed successful careers as a community journalist…
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New disaster declaration offers help for Haywood, Swain
Businesses and residents affected by severe weather, wildfires and winds from March 30 through April 6 of this year are…
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Clayton wins school board runoff
Abigail Clayton won the runoff for Jackson County School Boards of Education and will remain in her seat representing district…
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Additional flooding causes full Greenbrier closure
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed the Greenbrier area to all use due to additional road damage caused…
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Christianity is not partisan
To the Editor: During the past several weeks, a seemingly coordinated series of increasingly vitriolic letters to the editor have…
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Muddying the waters school board election
To the Editor: Over the past few weeks, a series of letters has appeared in local papers which seems to…
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The birders… they are a’changing: A new generation of birders rises up
I’ve been birding in Western North Carolina since I got here in the late 1980s, in my mid-thirties (yes, I’m…
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Duke carbon plan headed for public hearing
The North Carolina Utilities Commission is hosting a series of hearings this summer to take public input on the draft…
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Updated Greenbrier temporary closures
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed the Greenbrier area to all use due to additional road damage caused…
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Occupational therapy students visit Full Spectrum Farms
In June, Southwestern Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program teamed up with Full Spectrum Farms to allow SCC students…
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Pride, ignorance and high tech equal disaster
About halfway through “Blue Fire” (Kensington Publishing Corp., 2022, 326 pages,) John Gilstrap’s apocalyptic novel about a worldwide nuclear war,…
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Breaking down walls and sharing some magic
“… I hear Mariachi static on my radio / And the tubes they glow in the dark / And I’m there with her…
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Lessons learned from superheroes
In a previous column, I talked of my personal challenge to undergo “The Great Susanna Reset” this summer. One of my…
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School board race has important choices
To the Editor: On Tuesday, July 26, there will be a runoff election for school board in Jackson County. Early…
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School of Nursing combines experiential learning with community service
A makeshift clinic of folding chairs and tables, separated in clusters by curtains and canvas tents, has been set up…
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Haywood Pathways Center receives donation from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
Haywood Pathways Center has received $2,500 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help feed neighbors in their time…
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Police reform inches forward in WNC
The conversation around police reform has cooled down slightly over the last year, but that doesn’t mean law enforcement agencies…
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‘Self-sufficiency is resistance’
Julie Fox Jones’ family has been in Cullowhee for at least 100 years, probably even longer. Naturally, as a kid…
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Blue Ridge Books celebrates 15 years
In this day and age of Amazon, Kindles, big box bookstores, streaming services and social media that fight for more…
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Waynesville Housing Authority’s new director searches for solutions
She’s only been here for three months, but Missouri native Tina Okenfuss is already looking to make a big impact…
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Waynesville Inn construction muddies waters
Workers performing construction activities at the Waynesville Inn and Golf Club are in hot water this week after a complaint…
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Grant helps businesses relocating for NC 107 expansion
Jackson County Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce have created the N.C. 107 Business Relocation Grant program for businesses that…
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Maggie Valley purchases land for Festival Grounds
The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds are continuing to grow after the town purchased a tract of land connected to the…
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Maggie receives grant for wastewater treatment repair
On Tuesday night, the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen accepted a grant from North Carolina Emergency Management to repair the…
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Nearly one year on, Haywood strengthens flood response capabilities
Eleven months to the day after Haywood County awoke to unprecedented flood damage along the Pigeon River resulting from torrential…
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School board races set
Candidates have filed and the races are set for school board elections this November.
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Trends are becoming more apparent in the greater Asheville regional housing market
Starved for supply, realtors in the Asheville region are listing fewer homes than at this time last year as pricing…
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Obstacles are opportunities: Franklin community market bridges food, music
With a hot mid-July sun falling behind the mountains last Thursday evening, rock legend Tommy Stinson strapped on his Gibson…
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This must be the place: It's all I got to get, it's really all there is
It’s 9:58 a.m. Tuesday. Downtown Waynesville. Back at the office, this week’s newspaper is being edited and proofed before it…
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Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling
The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct.…
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Former Sylva Police officer charged with misdemeanor assault
On Feb. 15, 2021, the Sylva Police Department became aware of an allegation of excessive force by then SPD Officer…
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Greenbrier roads, trails and picnic area temporarily closed due to flooding
Great Smoky Mountains National Park temporarily closed roads, trails and facilities in the Greenbrier area of the park to all…
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Up the creek: Where the heck is Moses Creek? Up Caney Fork!
On Friday, May 27, the day after a big storm dumped inches of rain on Western North Carolina, the air…
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Big Creek Trail reopens
Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened Big Creek Trail following an eight-week closure for a trail rehabilitation project. The park…
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Learn about hellbenders
The series “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture” will present a program on the Hellbender, a giant salamander found…
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Notes from a plant nerd: A little beauty on an early spring day
One of my favorite things in the world to do is walk people into a field of wildflowers that they…
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Shipwreck, survival and faith all in one novel
Novels that touch on faith and God have long intrigued me.
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This must be the place: Don’t ever change your ways, fall with me for a million days
It was during the third sip of my fourth beer on Monday evening at The Scotsman in downtown Waynesville when…
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‘You’re OK,’ and more notes from the road
She was 70, or so she said, but looked 15 years younger. She was alone and sipping wine and eating…
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Three education facts you should know
I have strong opinions about education policy in North Carolina and beyond. Maybe you’ve noticed!
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Let’s strive to become great
To the Editor: Been thinkin’ lately ‘bout M.A.G.A. What an acronym! It sounds strong.
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Religion doesn’t belong in schools
To the Editor: As Sylva prepares for its school board runoff election July 26, many signs sporting crosses by one…
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The wheels through time roll on: WNC motorcycle museum celebrates 20 years, looks ahead
With a quick roll start to crank over the engine of the 1916 Traub motorcycle, Matt Walksler hops off the…
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Applicants sought for Maggie Valley Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments
The Haywood County Board of County Commissioners continues to seek applicants for the Maggie Valley Planning Board and the Maggie…
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After landmark SCOTUS decisions, midterm elections carry heavy consequences
The United States Supreme Court shocked the world during its last term, issuing several rulings that had most conservatives cheering…
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Maggie codifies park rules
Disparate parks and recreation regulations in Maggie Valley will be codified under one ordinance if the board of aldermen accepts…
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Clampitt calls for unification of Bryson City, Swain County emergency services
As towns and counties across Western North Carolina grow and attract more visitors, the services provided by those places must…
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Legislation provides some assistance to school nutrition departments
After passing in Congress, President Biden signed the Keep the Kids Fed Act on June 23, partially extending school meal…
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