A whole lot of heart: WCU softball bat boy defies odds, cheers on Catamounts

Written by
Tuesday, 06/05/2025

Drake Barlow walks up to home plate with the most swagger out of anyone on game days. He sports a sick pair of shades, some Catamount gear and a toothy grin that coaches across the Southern Conference have come to know. 

Read more...

This must be the place: ‘Deep fry your feelings so they can’t escape, disappear into nothing’

Written by
Wednesday, 26/02/2025

Hello from Room 222 at the Comfort Inn, located just off Interstate 81 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After a couple weeks immersed in a sort of vision quest back up to my native North Country that is Upstate New York, I’ll soon be below the Mason-Dixon Line. 

Read more...
Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Contribute >
Partner content: Treats to Satisfy the Craving for Sweets
Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian
Partner content: Treats to Satisfy the Craving for Sweets

You need a sweet treat but don't want to add too many calories or carbohydrates/sugar to your meals ...what can you do?

Here are 10 ideas to satisfy that craving without going overboard and that contain nutrients that will contribute to health more so than just having candy or a pastry: 

 Read More
Partner content: Gluten-Free Resources
Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian
Partner content: Gluten-Free Resources

Do you have celiac disease or do you follow a gluten-free diet for another health condition?

Did you know there is a Facebook group for that? I set up this group over 10 years ago and it now has over 1000 members. Look for “Gluten-Free Asheville and WNC” on Facebook. 

 Read More
Partner Content: Diabetes-friendly Snacks
Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian
Partner Content: Diabetes-friendly Snacks

Question: My father-in-law is now living with us, and he has Type 2 diabetes, but he also has a sweet tooth. Should I be buying sugar-free candy and cookies for him or is there a better option? 

 Read More
Partner content: Taste of Local
Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian
Partner content: Taste of Local

Thursday, April 17th • 3pm-6pm

Complimentary Samples
(Limited Availability) 

 Read More
Go to top
Payment Information
/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.