The institution on the corner
 

The institution on the corner

The Jarrett House has stood in Dillsboro since 1884. Since before Dillsboro was Dillsboro. 
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Celebrating the 125th
 

Celebrating the 125th

The town of Dillsboro, established in 1889, was named after William Allen Dills, a Confederate veteran who was born nearby.…
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WCU lends Dillsboro a hand
 

WCU lends Dillsboro a hand

Dillsboro’s relationship with Western Carolina University began in 2009, after the economic downturn and as the town struggled to regroup.
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Rooted in history, growing into the future: Dillsboro celebrates its past while working toward a better future
 

Rooted in history, growing into the future: Dillsboro celebrates its past while working toward a better future

Dillsboro sits at the crossroads of U.S. 441 and N.C. 23. Nestled between the past and future, it is a…
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Sylva businesses make their way after downtown fire
 

Sylva businesses make their way after downtown fire

It’s been a couple of weeks since the downtown Sylva fire. And while most of downtown is humming along nicely,…
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Dairy whistleblower describes experiences at Osborne Farms
 

Dairy whistleblower describes experiences at Osborne Farms

When Gna Wyatt called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about the manure piles covering Osborne Farms in Clyde,…
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French Kirkpatrick: The boy from Laurel Branch
 

French Kirkpatrick: The boy from Laurel Branch

French Kirkpatrick just wanted to play music. “I kind of wanted to be a singer, but I couldn’t sing…
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Digging deeper into the Kephart-Calhoun relationship
 

Digging deeper into the Kephart-Calhoun relationship

The meeting between Granville Calhoun and Horace Kephart (the quintessential highlander and outlander, respectively) is a noteworthy event in this…
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Liner notes from "Carroll Best and The White Oak String Band"
 

Liner notes from "Carroll Best and The White Oak String Band"

Liner notes for the new album released by the Great Smoky Mountains Association — “Carroll Best and The White Oak…
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Play me that mountain music: Carroll Best and The White Oak String Band
 

Play me that mountain music: Carroll Best and The White Oak String Band

French Kirkpatrick can sum up Carroll Best. “What he did with the banjo was above and beyond,” Kirkpatrick said. “He was…
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Jump on the gem mine caravan tour
 

Jump on the gem mine caravan tour

A tour of four historic gem mines will give a view into Franklin’s past, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug.…
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Key rule makers to speak at fracking forum
 

Key rule makers to speak at fracking forum

A forum organized by N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, will give the public a chance to learn more about shale…
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Costa to close out Zahner series with Darwin lecture
 

Costa to close out Zahner series with Darwin lecture

Jim Costa, executive director of the Highlands Biological Station, will close out the Highlands Biological Foundation’s summer Zahner Conservation Lecture…
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Freestyle paddlers to hit the Nantahala wave
 

Freestyle paddlers to hit the Nantahala wave

A major freestyle paddling competition will come to the Nantahala Gorge Sept. 4-6, with top freestylers from across the continent…
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Running for support
 

Running for support

More than 350 runners streamed down Main Street in downtown Waynesville last Friday evening for the annual Main Street Mile.…
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Eagle Scout restores watering hole used in the old days
 

Eagle Scout restores watering hole used in the old days

A monument built to commemorate a popular 1800s watering hole has long been hidden by ivy and vines, but an…
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Sunshine on Sam Knob: Ranger-led hikes help locals explore trails along Parkway
 

Sunshine on Sam Knob: Ranger-led hikes help locals explore trails along Parkway

Despite warnings of thunderstorms earlier in the week, Aug. 22 came with a blue sky and a light breeze, temperatures…
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Book challenges me to critique the critic
 

Book challenges me to critique the critic

In Why Read?, University of Virginia professor Mark Edmundson discusses the practice of student reviews of a teacher, then writes:…
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Presentation on Canton at Mountain Heritage Center Sept. 4
 

Presentation on Canton at Mountain Heritage Center Sept. 4

Author Michael Beadle will present an illustrated talk focusing on the history of the town of Canton and, specifically, the…
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Quilt Discovery Evening at Mountain Heritage Center
 

Quilt Discovery Evening at Mountain Heritage Center

Local residents will have an opportunity to learn interesting and historical details about their family quilts during the Quilt Discovery…
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SCC’s first craft beer program to kickoff
 

SCC’s first craft beer program to kickoff

With new equipment secured from onsite craft brewing, Southwestern Community College will host a brewing program from 10 a.m. to…
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McGraw to hit Harrah’s stage
 

McGraw to hit Harrah’s stage

Country megastar Tim McGraw will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, at Harrah’s Cherokee.
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Smoky Mountain Folk Festival returns to Lake J
 

Smoky Mountain Folk Festival returns to Lake J

The 44th annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival will be held Aug. 29-30 at the Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska.
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

What to do? That was the question I posed to myself when I found out my girlfriend was visiting from…
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Our leaders are noticeably absent
 

Our leaders are noticeably absent

To the Editor: Ah, August. Vacation time. Yeah!!   Never mind that ISIS is beheading its way through Syria and…
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Thank Sen. Davis for losing $51 billion
 

Thank Sen. Davis for losing $51 billion

To the Editor: Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and other Republican state legislators voted not to expand Medicaid. Early studies showed…
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Don’t believe what fracking supporters say
 

Don’t believe what fracking supporters say

To the Editor: Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The majestic mountains, the lush green…
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Sen. Davis’ comments come as no surprise
 

Sen. Davis’ comments come as no surprise

To the Editor: I’m really not surprised about the Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, quote, “I’m getting really frustrated with these…
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When should government help private industry?
 

When should government help private industry?

“Government’s job is NOT to fund private industry!” “Shouldn’t the mill pay to keep themselves up to par as far…
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Gala to help Hazelwood prison project
 

Gala to help Hazelwood prison project

The Haywood Helps 2014 Gala Event will be from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 28. The event is a fundraiser…
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Swain polling place moves to Cherokee
 

Swain polling place moves to Cherokee

Swain County voters living in Cherokee and Whittier will begin a new routine on Election Day this November. The precinct’s…
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Malcolm’s swan song
 

Malcolm’s swan song

Malcolm graced the waters of Lake Junaluska for only a little while. He will be on its shore for much…
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Webster embarks on planning study
 

Webster embarks on planning study

How can Webster be improved? What would make it more walkable? What would encourage community socialization?  Town leaders aim to…
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Are visitor centers passé? Haywood tourism authority mulls bang for the buck at visitor center sites
 

Are visitor centers passé? Haywood tourism authority mulls bang for the buck at visitor center sites

The Haywood County Tourism Authority is exploring whether to close its two visitor centers in Waynesville and Maggie Valley, questioning…
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Beyond the wrench: Changing credentials for manufacturing fix-it men lead to new workforce training initative at HCC
 

Beyond the wrench: Changing credentials for manufacturing fix-it men lead to new workforce training initative at HCC

It’s an industrial mechanic’s worst nightmare. A machine on the assembly line goes down, and production screeches to a halt.…
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Highlands pursues new Verizon tower
 

Highlands pursues new Verizon tower

Highlands residents will soon be seeing better cell phone coverage in town following the town board’s unanimous vote to move…
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Swain bridge to be named in honor of Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient
 

Swain bridge to be named in honor of Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient

A group of Vietnam veterans in Swain County have accomplished their goal. Soon, an Alarka-area bridge will bear the name…
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Broken, breaking or blossoming? Macon educators discuss state of public schools
 

Broken, breaking or blossoming? Macon educators discuss state of public schools

North Carolina education has seen its share of high-profile issues over the last couple of years. Teacher raises, tenure, vouchers,…
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Round’n’round with Rep. Meadows
 

Round’n’round with Rep. Meadows

Recently, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows made the rounds in his district visiting with constituents. While in Haywood County, he…
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Franklin’s fracking forum
 

Franklin’s fracking forum

A fracking forum has been scheduled for Sept. 2 in Franklin. The forum, moderated by Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, will…
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Metal-siding moratorium rejected in Sylva
 

Metal-siding moratorium rejected in Sylva

The town of Sylva will not be enacting a moratorium on metal-sided buildings in its downtown area in an effort…
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Evergreen gets its green: Lawmakers approve $12 million for natural gas upgrades in Canton
 

Evergreen gets its green: Lawmakers approve $12 million for natural gas upgrades in Canton

In a last-minute turnaround, North Carolina lawmakers wrapped up their short session last week with passage of a bill granting…
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WCU: A timeline
 

WCU: A timeline

1889 — Cullowhee Academy opens with 18 students and 1 teacher
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Graduation and beyond: Local WCU alums reflect on university’s place in region
 

Graduation and beyond: Local WCU alums reflect on university’s place in region

Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten arrived at Western Carolina University as a freshman in 1969. He remembers his college days…
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Journey to the 21st century: Two-room school transforms to major regional university
 

Journey to the 21st century: Two-room school transforms to major regional university

By Randall Holcombe • WCU  The little school that was the forerunner of Western Carolina University was called Cullowhee Academy. Its…
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The ‘Cullowhee idea’: Cullowhee institution traces evolution from a rural schoolhouse to regional powerhouse
 

The ‘Cullowhee idea’: Cullowhee institution traces evolution from a rural schoolhouse to regional powerhouse

It’s August, freshman move-in day, and Western Carolina University is welcoming a new class of freshmen to campus. It’s what…
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House fails to pass $12 million in grants for Canton paper mill
 

House fails to pass $12 million in grants for Canton paper mill

A bill that would provide a $12 million incentive package to the Evergreen Packaging paper mill in Canton failed to…
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Rules of the game: Haywood firms up its facilities-use policy
 

Rules of the game: Haywood firms up its facilities-use policy

Youth sports teams will no longer be able to trade bags of fertilizer, free coffee for teachers or a fresh…
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Main Street managers meet in Waynesville
 

Main Street managers meet in Waynesville

The streets of downtown Waynesville will soon receive a look-see from a group of folks who really care about the…
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Jackson TDA explores executive director option
 

Jackson TDA explores executive director option

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority is pretty sure it needs to start searching for an executive director to help…
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