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American Health Care Act will negatively affect this community
By Rod Harkelroad and Maurice Phillips Our country’s healthcare system is in the midst of a massive upheaval. Never before have…
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A plea for fairness from D.C.
To the Editor: A wise good man once said, approximately, “politics is about making people’s lives better.” I don’t believe…
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Price campaign visits Haywood
To the Editor: We had the great pleasure of visiting Haywood County on Saturday, June 17, as we attended the…
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People need to take back the power
To the Editor: Editor Scott McLeod’s thoughtful analysis (May 24 edition, www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/20019) described the formidable marketplace corporate control that permeates…
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Health care needs reasoned, open debate
To the Editor: My organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AARP, the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association…
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Whitewater Falls to reopen
The Whitewater Falls viewing area is on track to reopen by July 4 after being closed since wildfire destroyed it…
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A magical thing: Retiring Parkway superintendent reflects on 37 years with the Park Service
Mark Woods will retire as superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway on July 3, but on July 4 he’ll don…
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Land purchase protects crown jewel of the A.T.
Views from the breathtaking Hump Mountain in the Roan Highlands are now protected thanks to a 324-acre purchase the Southern…
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Rec access to expand on the Chattooga
A plan to make recreational access to the Chattooga River ecologically sustainable calls for construction of three kayak launch sites,…
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In praise of the local library
Some people are devotees of whiskey, cigars, wine, and craft beer. Some are aficionados of the fine arts, experts on…
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The day lily is a beautiful, hardy outlander
How many naturalized plants do you recognize from your vehicle this time of year as you drive around taking care…
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STOP Act to combat opioid addiction
The North Carolina Senate unanimously passed comprehensive legislation to combat the opioid addiction crisis that is plaguing the state.
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Celebrate Independence Day
Many generations of families look forward to the Fourth of July festivities at Lake Junaluska every year, and this year’s…
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Summit Charter plans $8 million expansion
Summit Charter School in Cashiers is planning to expand its K-8 operation to include high school as well, recently announcing…
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Armachain pleads not guilty
A bail bondsman who faces federal charges for sexual abuse of a minor has been detained at the Buncombe County…
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State budget fight comes down to the wire
Leaders in both the North Carolina House and Senate have reached consensus on a $23 billion fiscal year 2017-18 budget…
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Bellying up to the trough
Any local, state and federal budget typically includes what is technically called discretionary spending but is commonly known as “pork.”
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N.C. residents in for big tax cuts if budget passes
Assuming a legislative override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget veto — which happened as The Smoky Mountain News went to…
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Win some, lose some: State’s education spending gets mixed reviews
A legislative majority of House and Senate members have reached a state budget agreement, one that is providing nearly $700…
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Meadows fights for ARC
In what’s becoming a bit of a pattern for Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, he and his House Freedom Caucus aren’t…
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Senate health care bill panned by Meadows
The day after the Senate’s own version of a new health care bill came out, influential leader of the House…
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Waynesville’s serial entrepreneur: Richard Miller honored by chamber
Richard Miller may have received the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce for 2017,…
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Cherokee considers needle exchange program
Cherokee hopes to combat the high Hepatitis C rates resulting from the heroin epidemic with a needle exchange program, aiming…
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Jackson awards $1.1 million contract for Skyland Services Center renovations
Work will soon begin on a remodel of Jackson County’s Skyland Services Center following commissioners’ unanimous approval of a $1.1…
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Meadows still pushing for North Shore funds
While Swain County pushes forward with a lawsuit against the federal government to collect $38.2 million it’s owed in settlement…
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What’s in the cards: Manufacturing starts small, thinks big
Inside a nondescript miniature warehouse off Carolina Boulevard, Drew Singleton hovers about an imposing, intimidating metalworking machine; adjusting a knob here, spinning a wheel there, tweaking an armature and then stopping to assess the situation, he pauses and looks up to re-check his settings.
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Sinkhole in Sylva causes road closure
A leaking pipe in downtown Sylva has resulted in a sinkhole that’s had the road connecting the town’s main streets…
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Swain looks to Clampitt for help with capital funding
Swain County didn’t include any funding for capital projects in the 2017-18 budget, but commissioners are hopeful their state representative…
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A Lake J Fourth family tradition
It’s not noteworthy to hear someone ‘round these parts say, “This will be the fourth generation of my family participating…
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This must be the place: Ode to Lloyd, ode to the faces
It’s the hardest part of this gig. As a journalist for just about a decade, I’ve been lucky enough to…
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FBI charges 12 with marriage fraud
Twelve people will face federal charges following an FBI investigation into an alleged marriage fraud ring based in Cherokee.
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Support clean energy and coal country
To the Editor: Coal has played an enormous role in the history of our country, and the infamous black rock…
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A grand vision for Central Elementary
To the Editor: Now that the Haywood County School Board is keeping Central Elementary, it’s a good time to consider…
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Voting issues not hard to solve
To the Editor: The mere length and involved reasoning of your editorial reveals a level of nuance that makes issues…
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Here come the tax cuts — again
To the Editor: Republicans are again touting the critical need for tax cuts for the upper economic classes. This is…
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Wrong vision for Haywood libraries
To the Editor: As an inveterate library user, a long-time volunteer at the Haywood Public Library, a former Board member…
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Raising a glass to Canton’s future
The opening of the new BearWaters Brewing in Canton is a great shot in the arm for one of most…
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Adjusting to WAHM summer life
As I write this column, my two little boys are rummaging through LEGO bricks bickering about who needs which piece,…
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Above it all: Fryingpan hike offers vast views, diverse plant life
It’s just a short walk from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Fryingpan Tower — 1.5 miles roundtrip — but in…
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NASA comes to WNC
A new nationwide outreach program will bring NASA resources to Western North Carolina, with the Fontana Regional Library selected as…
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Bear canisters required on Avery Creek
Bear-safe food storage is now mandatory within 1,000 feet of Avery Creek Road following an Emergency Food Storage Order issued…
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Study catalogues trout fishing’s economic impact
A recent study quantifying the economic impact of trout fishing showed that 149,000 trout anglers in North Carolina fished 1.6…
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Duke funds will help improve fisheries
Coldwater fisheries will get a boost thanks to a $95,000 grant that Duke Energy’s Water Resources Fund awarded to Trout…
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Help makeover Rainbow Falls
Volunteers are needed to help rehabilitate the 6-mile Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with workdays…
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Bat populations remain low due to white-nose syndrome
Results are back from this year’s winter bat surveys in Western North Carolina, and numbers have remained low following the…
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Ash borer found in Asheville
The emerald ash borer has made it to Asheville, with its arrival to Craftsman Circle providing the first evidence of…
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Waterrock Knob planning begins
Planning is underway for the management of 5,329 acres that the Blue Ridge Parkway acquired around Waterrock Knob last year.
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New fence will protect Smokies museum garden
Elk will stay out of the crops at the Mountain Farm Museum following construction of a historically accurate fence funded…
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The Naturalist's Corner: That’s a wrap
Another spring, another season of bird points in the can. Each spring brings its own unique set of adventures, dilemmas…
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Music from inside the Great Pyramid
Looking for something unique and different? Then I’ve got something for you.
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