When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition
 

When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition

Little boys worship them. Bruce Springsteen memorialized them. The helpless count on them.  Volunteer firefighters are a symbol of American…
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Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement
 

Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement

Sylva’s town leaders spent a sunny Saturday indoors armed with pen, paper and heads full of ideas for bringing the…
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Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses
 

Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses

Even though the money isn’t yet in place, the town of Canton is considering several options for economic development incentives…
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Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements
 

Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements

When Canton town officials were notified that the North Carolina Department of Transportation would be repaving all of Main Street…
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Public input wanted on Savannah park plan
 

Public input wanted on Savannah park plan

A public meeting will gauge support for a plan to give Jackson County’s Savannah community its first public park at…
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Tribe looks to strengthen preference laws for tribal businesses
 

Tribe looks to strengthen preference laws for tribal businesses

Change is likely coming to the ordinance outlining preference rules for tribally owned businesses. The rules come into play when…
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‘Big Slow Movers’ plague Cowee Mountain route
 

‘Big Slow Movers’ plague Cowee Mountain route

It’s easy to spot the unstable embankments as you drive over Cowee Mountain between Macon and Jackson counties.
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R-5000 contractor under suit: DeVere being sued by bonding company
 

R-5000 contractor under suit: DeVere being sued by bonding company

There’s another kink in the knot surrounding the ill-fated R-5000 road project connecting N.C. 107 and N.C. 116 in Jackson…
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‘Seed money’ being raised for new Swain library
 

‘Seed money’ being raised for new Swain library

The community support behind getting a new public library in Swain County has been impressive, but the fundraising efforts have…
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Director of regional planning commission resigns
 

Director of regional planning commission resigns

After being at the helm of Region A’s Southwestern Commission, Executive Director Ryan Sherby tendered his resignation on March 1…
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New UNC president promises to fight for higher salaries, engage WCU faculty on policy
 

New UNC president promises to fight for higher salaries, engage WCU faculty on policy

The mood was jovial as Western Carolina University’s Faculty Senate waited over cookies and coffee for their hour with Margaret…
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Plan advances to convert old hospital to affordable lofts
 

Plan advances to convert old hospital to affordable lofts

Haywood County commissioners will hold a public hearing next Monday on whether to give away the “old hospital” to a…
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New district lines unveiled for Central Elementary students
 

New district lines unveiled for Central Elementary students

Students who attend Central Elementary School in Waynesville learned this week what their new school will be come fall. SEE…
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Haywood visitor center makes the move to Maggie
 

Haywood visitor center makes the move to Maggie

The primary visitor center for Haywood County will be moving this spring from downtown Waynesville to Maggie Valley.
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2016 Election Primary Results
 

2016 Election Primary Results

Preliminary results are current as of March 15. Look for more in-depth coverage of the local and state races online Wednesday,…
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WCU police need help identifying suspects
 

WCU police need help identifying suspects

CULLOWHEE – The Western Carolina University Police Department is asking for assistance in an ongoing investigation into recent property damage…
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Always questions about the fiddlehead fern
 

Always questions about the fiddlehead fern

In the early 1700s British astronomer and mathematician Edmund Hillary, of comet fame, called [the spiral formed by a fern’s…
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Get schooled on wildflowers
 

Get schooled on wildflowers

The forest floor surrounding Jackson County comes alive as wildflower season dawns — and a six-week course on spring wildflowers…
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Wildlife group resigns from red wolf recovery team
 

Wildlife group resigns from red wolf recovery team

Defenders of Wildlife has walked off the Red Wolf Recovery Team, claiming it’s headed for a “dead end,” meeting only…
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Feeling alive: Waynesville chiropractor reflects on decade as professional mountain climber
 

Feeling alive: Waynesville chiropractor reflects on decade as professional mountain climber

The little storefront that serves as home base for Todd McDougall’s chiropractic office looks just about how you’d expect such…
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Shelton House seeks volunteers, board members
 

Shelton House seeks volunteers, board members

The Shelton House, which houses the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts in Waynesville, is in need of people interested in…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

$25.06. The total at the gas pump. Full tank. Waynesville to Tybee Island, Georgia. Around 350 miles. As an impending snowstorm…
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Jack to Jesus: WNC country singer releases new album, sets sights on Nashville
 

Jack to Jesus: WNC country singer releases new album, sets sights on Nashville

It’s all about the song. That’s what the goal is for Joe Lasher Jr. At 19, the country singer has spent…
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Marquez autobiography rich in detail, just like his prose
 

Marquez autobiography rich in detail, just like his prose

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing…
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Sanders shows a true measure of leadership
 

Sanders shows a true measure of leadership

To the Editor; Many people do not have enough information about Bernie Sanders to decide, on a rational basis, whether…
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It’s completely logical that Trump is winning
 

It’s completely logical that Trump is winning

To the Editor: Presidential candidates for both parties have been on the political or public dole for years even decades.…
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Elect a real rebel for president
 

Elect a real rebel for president

To the Editor: I consider myself to be a natural-born, modern rebel!  I grew up in a family very proud…
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Market economics not relevant to all our human endeavors
 

Market economics not relevant to all our human endeavors

By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist I had planned to call this commentary “Dirty Money.” I would begin by quoting Teddy…
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It is past time for a new animal shelter
 

It is past time for a new animal shelter

By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist Our current Haywood County Animal Shelter is overcrowded, outdated, and unsafe for staff and the…
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Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits ... right
 

Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits ... right

When I was growing up, it seemed that I spent most of my time at Mark Dozier’s place. Mark was…
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Trump is leading somewhere I just won’t go
 

Trump is leading somewhere I just won’t go

With the North Carolina primary election just days away on March 15, Donald Trump continues his march toward the Republican…
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Little help from lottery: N.C.’s education games falling short of promises
 

Little help from lottery: N.C.’s education games falling short of promises

As people across North Carolina daydream about what they would do if they won millions from playing the lottery, they…
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Leap Day baby born at Haywood Regional
 

Leap Day baby born at Haywood Regional

Only 200,000 people in the United States have their birthdays fall on Feb. 29, and one of those lucky babies…
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REACH celebrates opening of new shelter in Macon
 

REACH celebrates opening of new shelter in Macon

The staff of REACH of Macon County understands how difficult it is to leave your home, even under the most…
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Franklin banner issue causes tempers to flare
 

Franklin banner issue causes tempers to flare

Franklin officials thought the controversy over banners would end when the board of aldermen passed an ordinance last year allowing…
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$7 million price tag on Maggie’s downtown dream
 

$7 million price tag on Maggie’s downtown dream

Maggie Valley’s dream of having a viable downtown inched closer last week when a $7 million town center plan was…
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Sound off: Haywood candidates talk animal shelter
 

Sound off: Haywood candidates talk animal shelter

Haywood County commissioner candidates were asked whether they think the county should spend $3.5 million on a new animal shelter.
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Numbers down at animal shelter, but space still doesn’t add up
 

Numbers down at animal shelter, but space still doesn’t add up

On paper, the case for a new, bigger Haywood County Animal Shelter is hard to justify.
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Tenants announced for Western’s mixed-used facility
 

Tenants announced for Western’s mixed-used facility

A full-service restaurant, an outdoor equipment outfitter, a combination bookstore and coffee cafe, a popular convenience store and a nationally…
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Capital priorities get sorted in Jackson
 

Capital priorities get sorted in Jackson

The animal shelter and health department are in, and the swimming pool and Green Energy Park expansion are out, Jackson…
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Sylva writer’s historic cabin purchased by county
 

Sylva writer’s historic cabin purchased by county

In a tiny cabin on a sliver of property adjacent to the Jackson County Historic Courthouse, Sylva author John Parris…
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Community collaborates to help Jackson’s uninsured, groom future medical professionals
 

Community collaborates to help Jackson’s uninsured, groom future medical professionals

When someone shows up to a medical clinic, sick and suffering, the hardest words to say can be, “Sorry, but…
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N.C. House 118: Meet the candidates
 

N.C. House 118: Meet the candidates

Rhonda Schandevel and Reese Steen
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In state House race, Dems think viability
 

In state House race, Dems think viability

Two Democrats squaring off in the primary for the state House seat spanning Haywood, Madison and Yancey counties claim they’re…
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Sales tax on Jackson’s June ballot
 

Sales tax on Jackson’s June ballot

Sales tax in Jackson County could rise to 7 percent if voters approve a referendum vote that would add a…
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Jackson County begins county manager search
 

Jackson County begins county manager search

It’s been two months since Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten announced his impending retirement, and county commissioners are beginning the…
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Election coverage 2016
 

Election coverage 2016

Statewide:   Haywood: Democrats scramble to recruit candidates for Haywood commissioner contest Seven seek two commissioner seats in Haywood Haywood…
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Residents promote Franklin as outdoor destination
 

Residents promote Franklin as outdoor destination

Franklin residents have taken it upon themselves to get the word out about the town’s recognition as the “Top Small…
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Getting around town: Franklin focuses on making town more walkable
 

Getting around town: Franklin focuses on making town more walkable

Franklin has sidewalks, bike trails and a beautiful greenway to encourage residents and visitors to walk or bike around town,…
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Butterfly highway coming to N.C.
 

Butterfly highway coming to N.C.

A network of pollinator pit stops will begin spreading across the state with the launch of the Butterfly Highway Campaign,…
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