A rendering shows DreamCatcher’s vision for the finished 200-room hotel with 12,000-square-foot conference center planned for Pigeon Forge. Donated photo
 

Cherokee joins three-tribe hotel partnership

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will partner with two other Native American tribes and a developer to build a…
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‘As normal as possible’: WCU outlines plans for Fall 2021
 

‘As normal as possible’: WCU outlines plans for Fall 2021

As the pandemic continues to recede, Western Carolina University is planning for a fall semester that “will look more like…
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Comment

Revenue-neutral revolt: Local government budgets under scrutiny
 

Revenue-neutral revolt: Local government budgets under scrutiny

A countywide property reappraisal earlier this year generated substantial increases in property value for many homeowners, who will now have…
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Comment

Maggie Valley passes budget, lowers taxes
 

Maggie Valley passes budget, lowers taxes

Maggie Valley Town Board of Alderman passed the proposed 2021-22 budget on June 8. 
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Downtown Waynesville.
 

Aldermen put the brakes on DWA contract renewal

What should have been a simple contract renewal process has turned into an all-out fiasco for the Downtown Waynesville Association,…
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Comment

A social media post from April, 2018 shows another exaggerated claim of victory by           Down Home North Carolina. Facebook photo
 

Misleading claim by Down Home North Carolina isn’t their first

Perhaps the only true statement in a June 7 Down Home North Carolina email is that the fight against jail…
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Super PAC formed to oppose Cawthorn
 

Super PAC formed to oppose Cawthorn

Retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis may have lost to Madison Cawthorn in last year’s General Election, but that doesn’t…
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Comment

Henderson County educator Eric Gash is the latest candidate to announce an NC11 bid. Donated photo
 

Former linebacker Gash looks to sack Cawthorn

Right now, life seems to be about full-circle moments for Henderson County native Eric Gash, who describes himself as “a…
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Comment

Contractor offers to help Franklin build skatepark
 

Contractor offers to help Franklin build skatepark

JE Dunn Construction was hired by HCA Healthcare to build the new Angel Medical Center in Franklin, but Superintendent Steve…
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Macon commissioners narrowly approve budget
 

Macon commissioners narrowly approve budget

Macon County commissioners approved the 2021-22 fiscal budget, but two Republican commissioners opposed its passage because they disagreed with increasing…
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Comment

Jackson passes resolution to uphold the U.S. Constitution
 

Jackson passes resolution to uphold the U.S. Constitution

By unanimous vote during their Tuesday, June 1, meeting, Jackson County commissioners passed a resolution  that “calls upon the North…
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Comment

Bear activity causes A.T. camping closure
 

Bear activity causes A.T. camping closure

A portion of the Appalachian Trail in the Pisgah National Forest is closed to camping due to bear activity.
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Comment

Ask Eliza: What are some health benefits of herbs and spices?
 

Ask Eliza: What are some health benefits of herbs and spices?

One of the spices I love most is cayenne pepper which has capsaicin in it. Capsaicin is shown to help…
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5 Tips for Traveling with Kids & Teens
 

5 Tips for Traveling with Kids & Teens

Traveling with a gaggle of kids and teens can be exciting but only if you’re emotionally prepared and well equipped…
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Path to the Botanical Gardens by Cathyann Burgess
 

Soul of Place: Images Inspired by the Places We Love

The Asheville Gallery of Art welcomes June with the show “Soul of Place: Images Inspired by the Places We Love,”…
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Tubing in Deep Creek
 

Staycation Ideas For The Summer Season

While everyone with families takes advantage of the summer months off from school by getting out of town for a…
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Red Bird, Red Bird, What Do You See?
 

Red Bird, Red Bird, What Do You See?

By Sabrina Matheny 
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Social media is not the public square
 

Social media is not the public square

Think Facebook’s ban of Donald Trump is justified? It’s a fascinating issue, one that gets to the heart of the…
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Comment

Don’t trust 
the oligarchs
 

Don’t trust 
the oligarchs

To the Editor:
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Comment

Lara Trump (left) stands with her father-in-law on June 5, 2021 in Greenville, NC.
 

Trump makes early endorsement 
in 2022 NC Senate race

Voters excited about the possibility of a new chapter in the Trump family’s political legacy were in for a bit…
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Comment

Waynesville fires 
town attorney
 

Waynesville fires 
town attorney

Following public complaints, the Waynesville Board of Aldermen voted to terminate the contract of its town attorney, Bill Cannon. 
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Comment

In an undated photo, Benton MacKaye surveys a future section of the Appalachian Trail.
 

The 100-year trail: A century after Benton MacKaye proposed it, millions enjoy the A.T. each year

A wall of wind hurtles through the asphalt-covered mountain gap as I exit my car, popping open the trunk to…
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Comment

Bring Special Olympics to Cherokee
 

Bring Special Olympics to Cherokee

Volunteers are needed to help with the upcoming Special Olympics season on the Qualla Boundary. 
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Comment

Alex Jump (left) and Emmie Cornell are Mainspring Conservation Trust’s newest employees.
 

Mainspring adds staff

Mainspring Conservation Trust has hired two new positions, expanding the regional nonprofit’s staff to 12 people. 
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Comment

A pair of cyclists cruise WNC trails riding bikes outfitted with parts made by Asheville-based company Industry Nine.
 

Regional outdoors brand celebrates debut

Learn more about Made X Mtns, a new regional brand for Western North Carolina, at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 15,…
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Comment

N.C. poised to set litter collection record
 

N.C. poised to set litter collection record

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s crews, contractors and volunteers have collected more than 6 million pounds of litter from roadsides,…
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Comment

Vaya, Cardinal merge to take on Medicaid transformation
 

Vaya, Cardinal merge to take on Medicaid transformation

Two of North Carolina’s largest managed care organizations recently announced they will consolidate in preparation for the state’s transformation to…
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Comment

Forestry student awarded for academic excellence
 

Forestry student awarded for academic excellence

Brandon Light, a student in Haywood Community College’s Forest Management Technology Program, has been named the college’s Academic Excellence Award…
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Comment

Tribal Council silent on proposed same-sex marriage law
 

Tribal Council silent on proposed same-sex marriage law

Every month, the Tribal Council agenda starts the same way. The chairman calls the meeting to order, and then there’s…
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Comment

Dive into folklore this Friday
 

Dive into folklore this Friday

Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will host a new outdoor interpretive series dubbed “Fridays at the Folk Art Center” at 7:30…
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Comment

Partial solar eclipse coming
 

Partial solar eclipse coming

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the northern hemisphere on Thursday, June 10, hitting Western North Carolina around…
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Comment

Public educators’ association tours 100 counties
 

Public educators’ association tours 100 counties

The North Carolina Association of Educators’ “We Heart Public Schools Tour’’ stopped in Haywood County Friday. The tour visited every…
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Comment

Severe drought hits southeastern N.C.
 

Severe drought hits southeastern N.C.

Of North Carolina’s 100 counties, 84 are currently abnormally dry or experiencing drought — but the far western region is…
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Comment

Macon raises tax rate to address capital needs
 

Macon raises tax rate to address capital needs

County Manager Derek Roland was tasked with delivering a flat budget for the 2021-22 budget year, but after countless hours…
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Comment

Jackson considers more salary for first responders
 

Jackson considers more salary for first responders

After multiple work sessions and a public hearing, Jackson County commissioners may designate an additional $444,000 in the 2021-22 budget…
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Comment

Cherokee voters choose Primary Election winners
 

Cherokee voters choose Primary Election winners

Tribal Council incumbents fared well in Thursday’s Primary Election, with all six representatives who faced primary contests sailing easily toward…
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Comment

Bear activity reported in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock
 

Bear activity reported in Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock

Visitors to the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness on the Nantahala National Forest should take extra precautions after recent reports of bear…
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Comment

The Return of the Don
 

The Return of the Don

Former President Donald Trump made one of his first major public appearances since losing the 2020 election, returning to the…
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Comment

A few lessons in virtue from a veteran
 

A few lessons in virtue from a veteran

On the shelves around the room where I write and work a visitor would find all sorts of books, including…
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Comment

Dominique (from left) and Brian Barwatt present a donation from the Assault on Blackrock trail race to SCC President Dr. Don Tomas and SCC Foundation Director Brett Woods. Donated photo
 

Trail race proceeds help SCC students

The 2021 Assault on Blackrock trail race raised $4,100 for the Southwestern Community College Student Emergency Fund. 
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Comment

Graham Sharp
 

Truer picture of me: Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers

It’s late morning at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville. Formerly the Citizen-Times Building, the historic structure is now home to…
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Comment

This must be the place: Ode to 22 years, ode 
to being together again
 

This must be the place: Ode to 22 years, ode 
to being together again

It was exactly a week ago when it was decided as a newsroom to cleanup up our offices for The…
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Comment

Park visitors cited for feeding bear peanut butter
 

Park visitors cited for feeding bear peanut butter

Visitors who fed a bear peanut butter in Cades Cove received a citation from Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers…
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Comment

A man naps outside a building in Waynesville's Frog Level district in late 2019.
 

Waynesville funds emergency overnight stays for unsheltered individuals

Just days after a local nonprofit asked the Town of Waynesville to help fund emergency overnight stays for the unsheltered,…
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Comment

Cherokee voters choose Primary Election candidates
 

Cherokee voters choose Primary Election candidates

Tribal Council incumbents fared well in Thursday’s Primary Election, with all six representatives who faced primary contests sailing easily toward…
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Comment

Cris Weatherford. Donated photo
 

Jackson County names new DSS director

After five years heading the agency, Jennifer Abshire will retire as director of the Jackson County Department of Social Services…
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Comment

The Sober-Curious Movement
 

The Sober-Curious Movement

Sober-curious is the new buzzword. It means being more intentional about how, when and why you drink. Unlike previous movements or…
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Shades of Green
 

Shades of Green

Dusk was just starting to creep down the mountain when Megan rolled into the driveway, up from Charlotte for the…
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