Admin
Outdoor Mission Community, formerly known as Outdoor Mission Camp, is seeking volunteers to aid in trip planning, leadership, skills certifications and more, with a pair of training trips now on the calendar.
Western Carolina University Professor Emeritus Maurice Phipps has released a new book aimed at people who are working or training to work as outdoor instructors.
By Terri Henry • Guest Columnist | When President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sen. Mitch McConnell did an about-face on his past policy to deny consideration of Supreme Court nominees in an election year. As you may recall, Sen. McConnell refused to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland back in 2016 on the basis that the American people should be able to opine on the next Supreme Court justice through their vote. Sen. Thom Tillis agreed. At the time, Sen. Tillis said, “We are in the middle of a presidential election, and the Senate majority is giving the American people a voice to determine the direction of the Supreme Court. This is about the principle, not the person.” At that time, the election was still eight months away.
By Larry Bryson • Guest Columnist | Vice President Mike Pence has stated, “I am a Christian, conservative, and Republican, in that order.” He might want to add politician to his list. I’ll leave it to you to decide its place in the hierarchy.
Jesus, however, reminds us, “By their fruits you shall know them.” When Pence engages in misleading, partisan rhetoric, it is difficult to see Christian principles at work. Generalizations such as, “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” “President Trump is a truth-teller,” and “President Trump marshalled the full resources of the federal government from the outset of this pandemic,” lack the honesty Pence’s faith calls for.
To the Editor:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage throughout the U.S. as people continue to contract the illness, require hospitalization and die. Rates of infection are rampant in many states, predominately those with Republican governors and/or legislatures that are following Trump’s insistence on not taking appropriate steps to curb the spread of infections.
To the Editor:
I support the candidacy of Tausha Forney for a position on the Haywood County Board of Education. I retired recently after 15 years as a professor of social studies education. Prior to that I began as a Title One math teacher and then taught a self-contained sixth-grade classroom.
To the Editor:
As a Waynesville resident, I’m a bystander in the NC House District 118 race, and it’s a shame, because it’s a race I’d like to cast a ballot for. In some ways, the two candidates running share a similar pedigree. Alan Jones and Mark Pless were both raised in Haywood County and both currently reside in Canton. After that, I’d say the similarities end. I wouldn’t chalk this race up to an apocalyptic battle of good versus evil, but I would say that the choice couldn’t be more stark.
To the Editor:
As a conservative, it is encouraging to see the unprecedented vandalism of campaign signs in the county. Illegal spray painting, taping over, uprooting, and actual stealing of campaign signs for conservative, law and order candidates is occurring more than I have seen in decades of elections.
To the Editor:
Here’s a message to the “concerned Republicans of Haywood County” who have paid for the “Law and Order Trump 2020” billboards I’ve seen. I don’t know what your concerns are, but what you really need to be concerned about is the unlawful acts Trump supporters are committing.
To the Editor:
How do we decide whom to vote for? As a recent letter to the Smoky Mountain News says, we should examine actions, not just words. My criteria:
Western Carolina University will pop up the tents for prospective students and their families and friends as the university holds Open House on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a new outdoor format to meet safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early voting began across North Carolina on Oct. 15, and since then, large numbers of voters have descended on their polling places to cast their ballots early.
Despite the setbacks and challenges the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about in March, a surprising number of businesses in different industries have been able to weather the storm with quick-thinking, innovative changes to their operations. In some cases, businesses have made a full rebound and are reporting their best numbers ever.
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | When the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns hit Haywood County in March, business owners braced for the worst. Some closed their doors forever, while others scrambled for ways to reopen under the new normal. Months later, local entrepreneurs were able to give a retrospective on how they survived and changed with the times.
Wreath laying on the graves of veterans buried at Greenhill Cemetery in Waynesville will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. This is part of the National Wreaths Across America event.
At approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday search teams located the body of missing hiker Chad Seger. He was found in an off-trail area near the Art Loeb trail in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster of positive cases in an area church located in Franklin.
Town Manager Robert Hites announced that he has appointed Jesse D. Fowler as Waynesville’s Assistant Town Manager. Fowler is currently serving as a Planner for the Town.
Western Carolina University is among the institutions of higher education that will be participating in “North Carolina Countdown to College,” an annual campaign to support college access through the waiving of standard application fees.
Macon County Public Health has identified possible exposure to COVID-19 among those who attended a volleyball game at Franklin High School gym from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10.
Statement by Biden for President Campaign Manager Jen O'Malley Dillon:
For fun Halloween treats and more, visit ingles-markets.com/recipes.
To the Editor:
Recent letters have railed against a Democratic plan to make America into a “socialist country.” History shows that part of that plan has already succeeded. In the proceeding 75 years Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, clean water legislation, housing subsidies, disabilities protections, and welfare in various forms have all become part of American life. These programs and a hundred more like them have formed the basis of our modern American society.
To the Editor:
On a full-page ad in the October 7 edition of The Smoky Mountain News, Joe Biden supporters cited their reasons for being Biden supporters. Mistakenly, their reasons have nothing to do with Joe Biden’s agenda.
To the Editor:
I received several campaign ads for Thom Tillis over the past several weeks. The ads say “I’ve cut your taxes before — and I’ll cut your taxes again, and again, because you deserve to keep more of your hard-earned money.”
To the Editor:
Recently we have read about the discovery of the universe black hole by astronomers. The United States is about to enter a black hole of our own if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win the presidential election.
To the Editor:
If you’re a Republican planning to steal the election, here’s how you do it.
To the Editor:
As a Jackson County resident, I am excited to vote for the indoor pool at the Jackson County Recreation Center. This pool could be used for so many activities such as swimming, pool parties, exercise classes, water aerobics, SUP yoga, and serve the needs of many people who suffer from medical conditions and injuries.
Several years of research, compilation and collaboration by two writers from Western Carolina University have resulted in a scholarly book about Horace Kephart, a pivotal and sometimes controversial figure in the region from the early 20th century.
Haywood County water treatment plants received top honors among the 55 plants honored statewide with the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award for surpassing state and federal drinking water standards in 2019.
Two lifeguards at the Waynesville Recreation Center have been officially certified as American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors.
Friends of the Smokies raised $53,000 to support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the second annual Smokies Cup, held Sept. 17-19 at the Biltmore Sporting Clays Club.
By Carrie Griffin
We opened 828 Market 15 months ago. We’ve really enjoyed making soups for the market. We’ve just eased back in to making them since shutting down the kitchen due to Covid and it’s bringing back memories of which soups guests liked and the stories they’d tell me about soup recipes they grew up with. Seems like soup and memories go hand in hand.
Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. Early voting sites in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area will include:
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting four COVID-19 deaths. The individuals died within the last few weeks either at Mission Health or at Haywood Regional Medical Center.
Haywood County Health Director, Patrick Johnson, recently confirmed that two residents of Haywood County has been diagnosed with La Crosse Encephalitis Virus (LACV).
Whittier resident Billy Hicks, 48, is being held without bond in the Jackson County Detention Center after his wife Danielle Hicks, 34, died as the result of a gunshot wound.
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of employees at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office who have tested positive for COVID-19.
NC MedAssist is partnering with Swain County Health Department to host a Mobile Free Pharmacy event, providing residents in need with free over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Such items include cough and cold medicine, vitamins, allergy medication, first aid supplies, etc. This partnership comes at a crucial time, when remaining healthy and stopping the spread of germs is more essential than ever.
An initiative by Cyndy Caravelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Western Carolina University, will include a pilot program to use a therapy dog to aid domestic violence victims and their families in Jackson County.
Life in quarantine is hard. 2020 is hard. And if you’re feeling the stress and pain and heartache of this year, I suggest you write it out.
By Heather Hyatt Packer • Guest Columnist | When our government leaders deliberately mislead or lie to us, there is no immediate consequence. We would never hire or retain an employee who lacks personal integrity or responsibility, yet we seem to accept that the lack of integrity in political leadership is the norm — even at the local level.
To the Editor:
“I hope they both die” are words expressed by some lefty Trump haters when they heard that President Trump and the first lady tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This attitude is no surprise because the name calling, scandal tattling, mocking, dredging up of prior comments and false accusations are what we are subjected to from some supporters on both sides.
To the Editor:
I recently received a mailer from the Trump campaign purportedly to tell the truth about what Trump has accomplished. However, several of Trump’s accomplishments were omitted in the brochure.
To the Editor:
I noticed in your Sept. 30 edition that all your letters to the editor are nothing but political ads catering to the socialist left. Also they contain many lies.
To the Editor:
Trump tends to project onto others what he is planning to do or has done. When he says that Democrats can’t win the election without cheating, what he really means is that he needs to cheat to win. We have seen this being before our eyes with Trump and Republicans dismantling of the Postal Service to hinder delivery of mail in ballots, removal of voting locations in a number of states controlled by Republicans, and various forms of voter suppression.
To the Editor:
Simply put, I’m a Texas tourist (airline pilot on leave of absence) who was on my first trip to the Hendersonville area in our motorhome. This morning, my wife of four decades mentioned Waynesville for about the fifth time, and I decided a convertible cruise down the parkway with lunch and shopping in Waynesville was in order.
A visitor to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park died Tuesday, Sept. 29, following a cardiac event in Cades Cove.
Gordon Meyers, retired executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, has received the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ top honor in recognition of his 30-year career with the Commission.
The official 2021 Great Smoky Mountains Association wall calendar, featuring stunning macro photography of butterflies and moths found in the Smokies, is now available for purchase.
