Sylva asks county to remove Confederate monument
 

Sylva asks county to remove Confederate monument

A final decision is likely on the fate of the Confederate statue looking out over downtown Sylva after the town…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Cashiers church
 

COVID-19 cluster identified at Cashiers church

The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster in a local church. Eight individuals who attended…
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Haywood County reports two COVID-19 related deaths
 

Haywood County reports two COVID-19 related deaths

Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting the first two COVID-19 associated deaths in Haywood County. Both individuals died…
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The road leading to Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has deferred maintenance needs of $3.4 million.
 

Congress passes legislation to fund parks, conservation

The environmental community has been celebrating since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act July 22,…
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Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed of Cullowhee (center) is congratulated by Robin Denny, president of the College News Association of the Carolinas, and Bill Studenc, senior director of news services at Western Carolina University, after being named recipient of CNAC’s Lifetime Membership Award.
 

Respected WNC journalist, advocate dies at 92

Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed, one of Western North Carolina’s most respected journalists and community advocates and a key leader through…
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Zoom bombers halt Sylva town meeting
 

Zoom bombers halt Sylva town meeting

A Town of Sylva meeting in which commissioners intended to discuss a resolution regarding the Confederate monument ended abruptly this…
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Dr. Bill Nolte addresses the Haywood County School Board shortly after his reinstatement.
 

Haywood superintendent reinstated after investigation into controversial post

After being temporarily relieved of his day-to-day duties on July 13 following a controversial July 10 Facebook post, Haywood County…
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Sen. Tillis disappointed his opponent turned down debate
 

Sen. Tillis disappointed his opponent turned down debate

Opinion from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC | The people of Western North Carolina are traditionally denied a front-row seat to…
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George Ellison.
 

Charlies Bunion one of best views in Smokies

Are you by chance looking for a high-elevation day-hike that embodies quite a bit of the region’s human history? If…
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Relay for Clean Air cyclists gather at Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway at midnight for the August 2005 race. Donated photo
 

‘Part of history’: Canary Coalition dissolves after 20 years

After 20 years at the forefront of clean air efforts in Western North Carolina, The Canary Coalition is no more. …
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New Kids in Parks Trails created in Robbinsville
 

New Kids in Parks Trails created in Robbinsville

The Cheoah Ranger District on the Nantahala National Forest has two new Kids in Parks TRACK Trails, designed to turn…
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Environmental organizations sue over NEPA changes
 

Environmental organizations sue over NEPA changes

The Southern Environmental Law Center is representing 16 environmental organizations in a lawsuit claiming that the Trump administration illegally cut…
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The Unicoi Mountains rise in the distance as seen from the Rim Trail on the newly acquired Fires Creek tract. Mainspring Conservation Trust photo
 

Fires Creek inholding conserved

Mainspring Conservation Trust has sold 49 acres of land at the headwaters of Laurel Creek to the U.S. Forest Service. 
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Franklin butterfly garden’s honors long-time volunteer
 

Franklin butterfly garden’s honors long-time volunteer

Kay Coriell, a longtime supporter of Franklin’s greenway along the Little Tennessee River, has been honored for her efforts by…
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Dustin Wilson (at right) hikes with his SCC Outdoor Leadership class in 2003. Donated photo
 

Outdoor Leadership alum honored at SCC

A graduate of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program who now holds the title of outdoor recreation planner with the…
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Audrey Pearson. Donated photo
 

Parkway Foundation welcomes new Trails & Views manager

Audrey Pearson is the new Trails & Views Forever Program manager at the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. 
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A feast for readers: A Poor Man’s Supper
 

A feast for readers: A Poor Man’s Supper

The years following the Civil War brought great changes to Western North Carolina. The railroads penetrated these coves and mountains,…
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Let’s try to avoid pitfalls when school reopens
 

Let’s try to avoid pitfalls when school reopens

By Dale Carpenter • Guest Columnist | North Carolina public schools will reopen while the COVID-19 Pandemic is still with…
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As consultants, beach week is a bit calmer these days
 

As consultants, beach week is a bit calmer these days

Edisto Beach, SC — As if this year weren’t already weird enough, my son is in the bathroom of our…
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Moe Davis qualified to serve in Congress
 

Moe Davis qualified to serve in Congress

To the Editor: As a long-time resident of Haywood County and former contributor to your paper now residing in an…
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Superintendent Nolte should resign
 

Superintendent Nolte should resign

To the Editor: Haywood County’s School Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte sent shock waves through a decent percentage of the community…
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Political opinion, not common sense
 

Political opinion, not common sense

To the Editor: The Oxford dictionary has a couple of different definitions of common sense; my favorite being “good judgment…
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COVID-19: County cases continue to increase
 

COVID-19: County cases continue to increase

Jackson County has seen a steady growth in active COVID-19 cases in the last week as an outbreak was reported…
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Haywood redirects economic development funding
 

Haywood redirects economic development funding

After more than two years of funding an economic development partnership between the Haywood and Asheville chambers of commerce that’s…
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Candidates file for Haywood school board race
 

Candidates file for Haywood school board race

Up until last week, the nonpartisan races for four school board seats — plus the chairman’s position — looked to…
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WNC real estate rebounding quickly
 

WNC real estate rebounding quickly

According to the Beverly-Hanks Q2 2020 Real Estate Market Report, Western North Carolina’s real estate markets have undergone rapid and…
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Law enforcement training — a constant job interview
 

Law enforcement training — a constant job interview

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | In light of the recent national uproar over police brutality, law enforcement training…
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Members of the N.C. National Guard help conduct a training exercise in Canton in 2017. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

The conversation to defund the police

Innocent people murdered in their own homes, police departments equipped with military-grade weapons, students with school resource officers but not…
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Defund the police or back the badge — either way, prepare to pay
 

Defund the police or back the badge — either way, prepare to pay

Competing theories as to the nature of proposed police reform have emerged, with one being that law enforcement budgets should…
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Backing the badge
 

Backing the badge

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers less than two months ago has added new…
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BLM demonstrators dialogue with counterdemonstrators in Maggie Valley on July 18. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

A tale of two rallies: Americans on all sides want change, but don’t want to change

Black lives matter. All lives matter. Defund the police. Back the badge. Take it down. Leave it up. Heritage. Hate.…
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Catawba Chief Bill Harris speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, July 22.
 

Ground breaks on Catawba casino

Four months after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians filed suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to…
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The concept would place a new aquatics facility to the north of the existing Cullowhee Recreation Center. Clark Nexser rendering
 

Indoor pool question will appear on Jackson ballot

In November, Jackson County voters will weigh in on a proposal to borrow $20 million for an indoor pool complex…
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Service dog Denali pictured with firefighters at Station 7 in Asheville. Donated photo
 

Nonprofit to offer support dogs to first responders

When Asheville Fireman Mark Jameson returned to the fire station after responding to a particularly difficult call, the only thing…
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Eleanor Underhill.
 

Bringing down the ghosts: A conversation with Eleanor Underhill

One of the most versatile and intriguing musicians in Asheville and greater Western North Carolina, singer-songwriter Eleanor Underhill chases the…
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Armond’s Place in Rouses Point, New York. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)
 

This must be the place: Not where but what you think that really matters

Stepping out of the pickup truck in my little sister’s driveway last Saturday, I was immediately greeted with the sounds…
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Coronavirus cluster found at Cherokee casino
 

Coronavirus cluster found at Cherokee casino

Five employees at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee have tested positive for COVID-19, and the investigation is ongoing, according…
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Funds from the Buncombe County room tax have been used for renovations of Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville.
 

Travel industry controls state’s room tax laws

Buncombe’s share less than other NC counties, neighboring states By Mark Barrett AVL Watchdog A bill that would have changed…
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State hires more vendors to expedite COVID-19 testing
 

State hires more vendors to expedite COVID-19 testing

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) selected 13 businesses to join its pool of…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Jackson nursing facility
 

COVID-19 outbreak at Jackson nursing facility

Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at a local skilled nursing facility. Five employees at the…
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Comment

Haywood reports 14 new COVID-19 cases
 

Haywood reports 14 new COVID-19 cases

Haywood County Public Health received notice of 14 new cases of COVID-19 since July 14, which brings the number of…
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Comment

Macon sheriff pleads for law enforcement pay increases
 

Macon sheriff pleads for law enforcement pay increases

Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland stood before county commissioners Tuesday night with a heartfelt plea for better pay for his…
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Asheville Police calls: Roadmap for defunding?
 

Asheville Police calls: Roadmap for defunding?

By Sally Kestin and John Maines AVL Watchdog Of 911 calls and requests for assistance to Asheville Police, less than…
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Jackson commissioners shelve task force, discuss statue’s fate
 

Jackson commissioners shelve task force, discuss statue’s fate

After a week of impassioned public discussion and protest over the fate of the Confederate solider standing on the courthouse…
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Tsali trails undergoing maintenance
 

Tsali trails undergoing maintenance

The Left Loop Trail of the Tsali Trail Complex in the Nantahala National Forest is closed for maintenance work. 
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Work for the Smokies
 

Work for the Smokies

Local applicants are wanted for facilities management jobs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 
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Plans ready for 150-mile Hellbender Trail
 

Plans ready for 150-mile Hellbender Trail

Local governments and residents of Western North Carolina have been working for years to improve and construct greenways. Now, there…
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Haywood County response teams set up a station at the Ivestor Gap Trailhead. Haywood County Emergency Management photo
 

Missing hikers found safe

A search and rescue effort in the Shining Rock Wilderness area of the Pisgah National Forest had a happy ending…
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Snorkel the Pigeon
 

Snorkel the Pigeon

Discover the amazing diversity of life in the Pigeon River with an event on Saturday, July 25, at Jukebox Junction…
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10-Acre Garden.
 

Tour a working farm

Tour 10-Acre Garden and enjoy a wood-fired pizza Saturday, July 25, at the Ten Acre Garden in Bethel. 
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