<< Back to Archives 2010 2010 Archives SMN January | February | March | April | May | June 1/10 1/6/10 The great divide: Christians cling to one of last vestiges of prayer in public life Latest prayer case rekindles controversy Undaunted, elected leaders vow to keep praying as they please Database breach raises concerns over Web security Macon residents still waiting on McCoy Bridge plan Bankrupt development conserved for future state park Foreclosure barrels down on Balsam Mountain Preserve Jackson airport to get repairs, new level of attention What to take from 2009? How about some positive signs for the year ahead My year-end list obsessions won’t go away New generation takes over at City Lights Books Characters mirror SMN readers Elk could be booted from state species of special concern list The Naturalist's Corner Aspects of life from a rural cove back to top 1/13/10 Soldiers face a second battle at home DOD-funded programs support local counseling initiatives Haywood County poised to buy abandoned Wal-Mart Commissioners commit to former Wal-Mart site Haywood Regional projects positive financial picture Training effort bolsters enforcement of elder abuse Plastic bottle ban tough to police, but getting results Video gambling industry undeterred by steep fees for “sweepstakes” machines Attorney admits forging judges’ signatures to help clients Lawyer’s actions aroused suspicion among clients, law enforcement community Three new developments move forward in Waynesville Canton Mill pursues new pollution permit Congregation backs leaders’ stand on prayer Jackson loses critical court case over Dillsboro dam Antenna users left in the lurch Finding a WNC solution for ‘aging in place’ Striking a balance between religion and religous freedom Cool art Suspenseful guest drives novel The Naturalist's Corner Golf club to restore Upper Cullasaja License plates take off during Smokies 75th anniversary Masters of the night sky back to top 1/20/10 Rule change will consolidate mental health in WNC If you reform a reform, is it still reform? Haywood to buy old Wal-Mart to replace aging DSS, Health Department buildings Wal-Mart no more Close-up of a crumbling facility Canton leaders hope to unlock potential for commercial development around interstate Kimmel bankruptcy threatens construction management donation to WCU Canton joins trend of imposing steep fees on video sweepstakes outlets Duke prevails over Jackson Swain plods toward fund balance recovery National Guard soldiers deserve better Bluegrass live A tale of both despair and hope Elk delisting draws ire of protectors Smokies not pleased with Wildlife Commission stance on elk The Naturalist's Corner New club nurtures growing interest in bees A look at John Preston Arthur back to top 1/27/10 Life on the rock Not for the faint of heart How to fix a mountainside Small-time theft by travel agent a big-time violation of trust Harrah’s Cherokee Casino building for big future Struggling cattle farmers await new auction house Balsam Mountain Preserve foreclosure now official Cross cultural exchange Macon comprehensive plan stutters as work begins Jackson finally folds in long feud with Duke It’s a bum deal ... I resent the hell out of it All about tea Historic Cherokee letterpress carries exciting potential for new art Public art to celebrate Great Smoky Mountains National Park A different take on a legend A carefully crafted cut of meat The Naturalist's Corner Ski, Worship and Grow with your friends and MYP at Lake Junaluska Davis was a poetic nature writer back to top 2/10 2/3/10 Back to the old homestead Where ideology meets environmental reality Sun power supplies a path to simplicity Childcare openings fall far short of demand in Macon Court ruling bars county endorsement of Christian prayer SCC’s Cecil Groves to retire at end of year Finances likely to dominate Haywood commissioner race Jackson County board race to meter voter confidence All three incumbents to run again in Macon Two wide-open seats will define Swain race Road to Nowhere crusade over at last Emotions run high at hearing on paper mill pollution Dillsboro, WCU move forward with marketing relationship CCC announces stewardship awards Fur clumps, scratches and other musings on store cat Kea A cold winter’s hike reminds me of the value of wild places Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival lands in Haywood Fitzgerald comes to life in Asheville The Naturalist's Corner Simple signs of the evergreen back to top 2/10/10 Rescue workers act fast in landslide disaster despite threat of more to fall After scare of slide wears off, residents want answers Safeguards in place, but cracks remain No road in or out Messy lawsuits likely left in landslide’s wake Corridor K sent back to drawing board Cash settlement here at last A time for healing Duke project threatens sacred character of Kituwah site What is Kituwah? Sylva teen club closes quietly Waynesville moves on skate park Rich Cove may be a portent of things to come ‘Accidental note’ starts teen’s healing process Settling road issue does not mean Swain was defeated ‘Wesley’ The Oak Tree and the Great Dumpling Debate | Recipes Power struggle Going, going, gone The Naturalist's Corner AT license plates fund mini trail grants Local fishermen sad to see the dam go A taste of Appalachian poetry back to top 2/17/10 Jackson sheriff sparks controversy, policy change with expenditures Macon fly-over shows what’s at stake Nuts and bolts of landslide mapping Geologists: Maggie landslide still unstable Ghost Town pays liability insurance bill after slide Creditors to vote on whether Ghost Town reorganizes or liquidates Void of state and federal aid prompts community to step up in landslide disaster Swain jail may finally see return of federal prisoners to help offset costs Haywood acquires fiberoptic line Haywood commissioners urged to stick by Christian prayers despite court ruling Duke Energy president agrees to meet with Cherokee chief Making sure Swain County gets its due Watching sleazy 80s movies late at night A book about beer, food, and Gnometown cooking Live Simply...Simply Live with MYP at Lake Junaluska An American original Downhill Racer The Naturalist's Corner Topography and language back to top 2/24/10 Rare confluence of events sets the stage for courtroom shake up Bench holds tradition of balanced temperament The nuts and bolts of the bench Sylva market changes local foodscape Macon slope committee hands off proposed building regulations Landslide damages financially-strapped Jackson development Landfills hustle to catch tainted rain water before it seeps away Free wireless in downtown Waynesville a hit or miss affair Duke, Cherokee meeting opens dialogue over Kituwah site Report shows Duke considered impact on Kituwah Maggie debates how steep is too steep for cyber sweepstakes fees Swain starts to budge on Deal’s Gap debate Gun ban in national parks lifted County and architect cross wires on library fee ‘Judge not,’ or so my mom always taught me Heartfelt sounds from the hills One fateful night Take a gander along the Smokies Scenic byway Federal bill aims to save Parkway views at risk from development The Naturalist's Corner Perfecting the art of shelving books back to top 3/10 3/3/10 Beating bugs the natural way Budget cuts put fairgrounds in a bind, forcing county back to the table Family hopes elder abuse case will help future victims Macon Airport runway extension faces more questions Tapping the power of the sun Swain County moratorium could stop Duke substation County reluctant to foot the bill for Maggie landslide clean up costs Delays in rock slide cleanup push back I-40 opening Landowner dismayed N.C. 107 bridge widening will claim archaeology site Sylva may be stuck with cell tower Evergreen’s fate is important to WNC HART brings edgy plays to WNC — and succeeds A guidebook for raising boys Cherokee outfitter store to offer premium guide service EPA takes aim at Canton paper mill The Naturalist's Corner The calm of a winter’s night back to top 3/10/10 Volunteers fight to save animals from euthanasia Dixie dog transport saves lives SBA spreads the wealth wide and far in I-40 rockslide loans Haywood health board gets more than it bargains for Maggie Valley to compel Ghost Town to stabilize lingering slide threat No relief for crowded schools Sylva woman shares experience of Chile earthquake Waynesville on target with sidewalk construction Fighting hunger, one bowl at a time Sylva pedestrian plan takes shape Ghost Town faces June deadline to stave off foreclosure Cherokee hospital uses art to build community Sylva board blesses Community Table move Elder abuse case shines light on larger issue Christians fighting for public prayer forgetting their own theology A requiem for Cataloochee Learning to treat injuries in the wild Cullowhee school grows beyond expectations The Naturalist's Corner Tract with road side views of Cowee Mound conserved ‘Robinson Kephart,’ editor of adventure books back to top 3/17/10 Recurring money problems pit HCC, county against each other Smoky Mountain Center to offload psychiatric services Plans underway for second Waynesville ABC store Maggie eases proposed design standards Maggie may get on board with county erosion control Swain passes moratorium on utility projects Sewer dispute could help redefine TWASA’s mission Restaurant ‘ghost’ plays tricks on owners Library friends reveal interior design plans The ‘loser’ case may not be all that it appears From searing to sautéing, the competition is hot at Mélange of the Mountains Iconoclast hiker conquers Mountains to Sea Trail The Naturalist's Corner Book lovers and our new bookplates back to top 3/24/10 Baseball and soccer battle for space at new Haywood rec park For the pregnant and poor, prenatal care can remain out of reach Pregnancy support workers find their calling helping women Community college building costs come under fire Buffer buyout launched along Pigeon River Jackson candidates chose unconventional path to the November ballot Engineers stumped on best way to shore up Maggie slide Federal, state taxpayers to fund Maggie slide cleanup Cherokee leaders take stock of sustainability goals Slide sends powerful message to Macon planners How we found the Wondermutt Carden wrestles with storyteller legacy Exploring the legacy of Ayn Rand U.S. Open brings paddlers to Nantahala gorge The Naturalist's Corner Imagining a one-book library back to top 3/31/10 Swain sheriff under fire from deep bench of challengers Haywood sheriff faces lone but experienced challenger in primary Ashe squares off against three opponents Arson case thickens plot in sheriff’s race The elected sheriff: Medieval tradition shows flaws in modern times Ridge law questions renew development debate in Jackson Auto dealer reinvents to stay alive New Jackson library built as regional showpiece Politicians would be wise to read the Tea leaves ‘Slow and low’ Blackrock brings Sylva its own distinctive BBQ Literary journal honors contemporary literature from the Cherokee community Ricky Skaggs to perform at Lake Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas Like father, like son Franklin enjoys symbiotic relationship with AT hikers The Naturalist's Corner Disobedience charges dismissed in protests of new coal plant The art of choosing the next book 4/10 4/7/10 A tale of two sports at new Jonathan Creek Park The case for ball and bat | The case for soccer Residents challenge price tag of new DSS building in Haywood Smoky Mountain Center privatizes services Live dealer conversation stalled in courts GOP hopes voter anger will help beat Shuler Haire seeks re-election in N.C. 119 race GOP contenders Malicious prosecution lawsuit dismissed Friedman aims to take ‘green’ thinking to Raleigh Duke faces yet another hurdle on substation Design under way for old Wal-Mart renovations A knack for helping others TWASA looks for long-term solution on orphan sewer lines Marking Easter with a community of three Life and death aboard a tin can President Obama’s change brings debt and doubts Quintessential quilts Macon showcases three treasured quilts Obsessing over grammar New standards to shine light on WNC air quality The Naturalist's Corner Peregrine falcons take up new nesting spot on Whiteside Mountain WNC Fly-Fishing trail adds trophy trout water in Cherokee Iconic drugstore to interesting bookstore back to top 4/14/10 Oversight of mental health foundation called into question Fiscal responsibility resounding theme in Macon election Haywood commissioner candidates tackle the county’s hot-button issues Swain candidates address task of pulling county out of the red Scant primary in Jackson commissioner race Haywood commissioner candidates Swain commissioner candidates Debate Web site new to WNC election scene Haywood Waterways’ new leader Cherokee casino renovation halfway home Swain and Graham strike deal over ambulance service to motorcycle Mecca Will cell phones rule the World?? Time to tackle immigration reform A modern take on Chaucer’s classic Dillsboro bats looking for new homes The Naturalist's Corner Remembering when books were magic back to top 4/21/10 Ghost Town charts course to walk away from debt Jackson Sheriff’s race reveals rift in county Demand for referendums impractical, says county attorney Swain manager’s decision-making under fire as campaign heats up Three open judge seats leads to crowded field of hopefuls Sylva board elects to pay music licensing Jackson EDC debate is over, again Evergreen Foundation needs to be reined in Rafe Hollister coins unique and authentic genre of mountain rock Bring poetry to the people Veterans take to Cherokee waters for healing The Naturalist's Corner Kephart’s persona was well crafted back to top 4/28/10 I-40 opens at last Jackson County schools hope for no more job cuts Rallying around a historic tree Grassroots effort aims to make Jackson County greenest Key candidates missing at Swain forum A huge pile of good intentions Haywood schools, HCC struggle to meet needs as revenues plummet HCC comes out on top in Recycle Mania Ambitious development going nowhere Enrollment audit a slow, uneasy process for Cherokee A 21st Century Strategy for America’s Great Outdoors X marks the spot Bringing home the brew Taking readers down a deep spiral NOC’s Great Outpost UNC Asheville holds 38th Spring Wildflower and Bird Pilgrimage A little spring cleaning Admiration, maybe, but no love for the boar