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2A or not 2A? Counties mull gun sanctuary resolutions
The vigorous debate over the necessity of “Second Amendment sanctuary” resolutions has finally begun to trickle into North Carolina, and…
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Court: No ID at NC polls in 2020
Although voters approved a 2018 ballot measure requiring photo identification at North Carolina polls, voters won’t have to produce IDs…
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Cherokee chief testifies against Lumbee recognition
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina, but that could…
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‘Mountain Murders’ podcast celebrates one year
There’s just something so mysterious about Southern crime stories. Small towns with big characters and dark family secrets. People taking…
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Deaths, possibly from flu, shock Haywood County
A pair of deaths from what’s being called a “flu-like illness” rocked Haywood County last week, underscoring the importance both…
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No cop impersonator located in Haywood
The search for the driver of a silver/grey Dodge Charger with white strobe lights who allegedly held a woman at…
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Sylva festival gets regional recognition
Southeast Tourism Society has named the Hook, Line and Drinker Festival in Sylva one of the STS Top 20 Events…
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Soul Infusion’s ‘Last Stand’
After some 18 years in business, there will be a special closing celebration for Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro…
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This must be the place: Life being what it is
Stepping out of my truck, I stretched my legs and proceeded to throw on my running clothes. It was nearing…
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Sixty snuck up and smacked me
I just turned the big 6-0. Sixty. What the hell? I’ve been reading essays on reaching this point in life,…
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Twelve commandments for the New Year
When I was a little girl, my dad would make huge snack trays on New Year’s Eve and pour sparkling…
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Trump’s mental health issues a problem
To the Editor: Mr. Waldrop, as always, nails the truth to the sticking-place in his last letter to The Smoky…
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The year in quotes
It’s often been said that there’s wisdom to be found in the rhythms of nature, and that’s certainly true. But…
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Land added to Haywood’s Parkway section
The Blue Ridge Parkway is now 53.3 acres bigger thanks to the Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s recent donation of…
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Kudzu co-op opens online store
The Asheville-based cooperative Kudzu Culture has launched an online store offering locally harvested kudzu products.
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Start planning the gardens now
Editor’s note: This column first appeared in a January 2006 edition of The Smoky Mountain News. | Have you started making…
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Memoir of illness full of gallantry and wit
“It was crazy. The surgeon told me the tumor was the size of a pear, which is scary but also…
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This must be the place: Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road
It was around midnight when I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. With Maryland now in the rearview mirror, I pushed into…
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In search of the sound: The best albums of 2019
Picking your favorite albums of any given year is a wholeheartedly subjective endeavor. You’re drawn to what immediately captures your…
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2019: What just happened?
As we ring in the New Year, The Smoky Mountain News likes to look back and reflect on the last…
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Fake News Freakout!!!!!! Four
By Cory Vaillancourt • Fake News Editor | It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s time…
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Cashiers rep fails to attend local meeting
The Jackson County Commissioners traveled to Cashiers for their Dec. 12 meeting, but Commissioner Mickey Luker — who was elected…
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Nocturnal Brewing offers fine ales in Hayesville
For a place that was dry just a decade ago, Clay County is now home to one of the finest…
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This must be the place: There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars
Give or take, it’s about 1,010 miles from Waynesville, North Carolina (my current home) to Plattsburgh, New York (my hometown).…
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SCC’s NPS law enforcement program graduates 17
Pledging their utmost dedication and respect to this nation’s natural resources, 17 graduates from Southwestern Community College’s National Park Service…
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National forests announce seasonal road closures
Seasonal closures in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests will begin on Jan. 2. Planned opening dates may change depending…
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National parks battle invasion
The National Park Service is embarking on a system-wide effort to crack down on invasive animal species following the conclusion…
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Conservation purchase will protect birds, A.T. views
A 51-acre conservation purchase in the Highlands of Roan will protect a prominent ridge near the Appalachian Trail.
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WCU recognized as ‘green college’
For the ninth year running, Western Carolina University has made The Princeton Review’s list of North America’s most environmentally responsible…
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Hello solstice my old friend
The official time of the 2019 winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is 11:19 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday,…
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The story of a Beat original
Once upon a time there was a poet named Bob Kaufman. He hadn’t spoken in anything resembling normal language in…
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Because one day they aren’t there
The hardest thing to get used to is the stillness. The quiet. The absolute absence of any movement at all.…
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National parks should not depend on fees
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist | In Democracy’s Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy, the political philosopher…
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How much longer can we tolerate Trump?
To the Editor: Only a few short years ago Americans criticized Russian leaders for their overt political philosophy: “The end…
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Car seat education will save lives
To the Editor: Five years ago, shortly after partnering with the Sheriff’s Office to begin a Safe Kids coalition in…
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Thanks for reporting on animal cruelty
To the Editor: Thank you for reporting on the recent animal cruelty case in Haywood County. The suffering of so…
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Generosity Feeds Haywood: Volunteers package 11,000 meals for homeless students
It was a sight to behold — more than 200 volunteers of all ages coming together on a cold Saturday morning…
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Little free pantry ‘fills in the cracks’
You may be familiar with the concept of the “little free library” — those small outdoor cabinets stuffed with donated…
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SCC’s new Health Sciences building on track
Southwestern Community College’s new $21 million Health Sciences Building is starting to take shape on the west side of the…
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Nantahala foundation awards grants
The Nantahala Health Foundation has announced its initial grants awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and…
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WCU student working to translate Cherokee language from native newspaper
Constance Owl’s master’s degree thesis is more than a means to a graduate degree in American history. It’s a portal…
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Sylva police investigating impeachment protest incident
The Sylva Police Department is looking into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 17, during a protest downtown that…
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Jackson discusses solutions to slow internet
Sylva was named the nation’s slowest city for internet in a recent report from internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com, and…
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Animal shelter funding approved in Jackson
Funding for a new animal shelter in Jackson County has been approved following a Dec. 17 vote to OK $5.39…
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Jackson approves $700,000 for new voting machines
After more than three years of anticipating the expenditure, Jackson County has allocated funds to replace its recently decertified voting…
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WNC congressmen oppose Trump impeachment
For just the third time in American history members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve articles of…
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Candidate filing period ends with a bang
A flurry of last-minute sign-ups means that 2020 will likely be a lively election season in Western North Carolina and…
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Rep. Mark Meadows announces retirement, 18 seek his seat
Santa Claus was especially good to Western North Carolina Democrats this year, delivering from his sack one big item on…
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Rep. Meadows retires from congress
As first reported by Politico earlier this morning, Western North Carolina’s four-term Republican congressman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, will not…
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