Black Friday has reached the Smokies
 

Black Friday has reached the Smokies

The Great Smoky Mountains Association will hold a “blow-out sale” on select merchandise starting Thanksgiving Day at its Clingmans Dome…
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Conservation group buys more property along Parkway
 

Conservation group buys more property along Parkway

More property along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waterrock Knob is now protected, thanks to The Conservation Trust for North…
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Town has begun thinning white pine
 

Town has begun thinning white pine

I believe it was in 2010 when the Town of Waynesville signed off on a plan to thin the stands…
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Fire at WCU damages three businesses; no injuries reported
 

Fire at WCU damages three businesses; no injuries reported

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a fire that broke out Nov. 21 in the commercial strip…
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Elementary school’s old cafeteria helps new breed of entrepreneurs
 

Elementary school’s old cafeteria helps new breed of entrepreneurs

By Colby Dunn • Correspondent On a recent sunny afternoon, Deb Shalosky is standing in the kitchen pantry at the Fines…
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Franklin pub crossroads for people, history
 

Franklin pub crossroads for people, history

By Jake Flannick • SMN Correspondent The legendary Rathskeller Coffee Haus and Pub, an institution and social mainstay in downtown Franklin,…
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Dig Sylva, buy local
 

Dig Sylva, buy local

By Jake Flannick • SMN Correspondent A group of merchants in Sylva rallying their fellow shopkeepers and restaurateurs in the downtown…
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Job of naming new town manager up to new Maggie Valley leaders
 

Job of naming new town manager up to new Maggie Valley leaders

Maggie Valley’s interim town manager has only been on the job for a few weeks, but already has been offered…
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In push for Franklin hospice house, perseverance pays
 

In push for Franklin hospice house, perseverance pays

Jake Flannick • SMN Correspondent A nearly decade-long dream to build an inpatient hospice house for the terminally ill and their…
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The how-to of a jail break
 

The how-to of a jail break

It was a fairly simple inside job in the end, one easily borrowed from the playbook of any Hollywood jailbreak.…
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Awaiting her fate: Jailer helped murder suspect escape jail, fled with him to California
 

Awaiting her fate: Jailer helped murder suspect escape jail, fled with him to California

The jury trial of a Swain County jailer accused of springing a murderer from jail more than four years ago…
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Sid’s on Main makes a little history, from scratch
 

Sid’s on Main makes a little history, from scratch

By Paul Clark • Correspondent In the old Imperial Hotel in Canton, Sid’s on Main is creating a little history of…
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GroWNC presents to EDC
 

GroWNC presents to EDC

In an effort to promote growth and a positive impact on Western North Carolina communities, GroWNC came in front of…
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EDC board raises no objections to possible chamber partnership
 

EDC board raises no objections to possible chamber partnership

The Haywood County Economic Development Commission last week listened to a summary of task force reports on how it and…
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The perversity of inanimate objects: logging then and now
 

The perversity of inanimate objects: logging then and now

Some steam and water-powered sawmills were established in the Smokies region during the 1870s and 1880s. But full-fledged industrialized logging…
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Winds prevent containment of Linville Gorge fire
 

Winds prevent containment of Linville Gorge fire

Light rainfall over the weekend wasn’t enough to slow the Table Rock fire in Linville Gorge nor will this week’s…
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Upgrades coming to Graveyard Fields
 

Upgrades coming to Graveyard Fields

Portions of the popular Graveyard Fields Loop Trail are closed for upgrades, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The agency…
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Illustrated guide to Purchase Knob available
 

Illustrated guide to Purchase Knob available

Talk about mission creep. What was supposed to be a simple, final project for his Blue Ridge Naturalist certificate of…
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Grants available to help Appalachian Trail
 

Grants available to help Appalachian Trail

Have an idea for a project that will benefit the Appalachian Trail but have limited funds to make it happen?…
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Fire in the landscape – still a burning question
 

Fire in the landscape – still a burning question

It will likely take awhile for the smoke to clear after the Table Rock Fire near Linville Gorge in the…
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Cataloochee Ski Area opens with new shop, upgrades
 

Cataloochee Ski Area opens with new shop, upgrades

Jake Flannick • SMN Correspondent Michael Wagenseil is settling into his element, arranging displays of ski equipment and clothing as he…
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Tarrt delivers once again — a decade later
 

Tarrt delivers once again — a decade later

I first encountered a Donna Tartt novel some 20 years ago when a friend reverently placed a copy of The…
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Civility begins with us
 

Civility begins with us

By Doug Wingeier • Columnist  The cover story in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue of The Smoky Mountain News described divisions in…
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Once we did it, dancing with the Mouse was well worth it all
 

Once we did it, dancing with the Mouse was well worth it all

We had talked about going to Disney World for so long that it had become an abstraction, so distant and…
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Library branches collecting food for holidays
 

Library branches collecting food for holidays

All branches of the Haywood County Public Library are currently collecting food to help meet the needs of local residents…
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State reverses itself, gives Swain North Shore interest
 

State reverses itself, gives Swain North Shore interest

Swain County leaders were relieved this month when the state gave them the go ahead to tap $382,000 in interest…
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Applicants sought for Haywood boards
 

Applicants sought for Haywood boards

The Board of County Commissioners is seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on the Haywood County Agriculture Advisory Board (Farmland…
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Macon assistant prosecutor to challenge Moore for DA job
 

Macon assistant prosecutor to challenge Moore for DA job

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Welch, a Republican from Macon County, announced this week she will be running for district attorney…
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Haywood to embrace dual chamber-economic development model
 

Haywood to embrace dual chamber-economic development model

A plan to move the Haywood County Economic Development Commission under the umbrella of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce…
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Human interaction can be fatal to elk
 

Human interaction can be fatal to elk

A young male elk in Cataloochee Valley was put down by park rangers last week for repeatedly rushing and taunting…
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Haywood hospital leaders vote ‘yes’ to Duke LifePoint sale  amid outpouring of public support
 

Haywood hospital leaders vote ‘yes’ to Duke LifePoint sale amid outpouring of public support

A parade of community leaders, doctors, nurses and hospital supporters voiced overwhelming support for the sale of Haywood Regional Medical…
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Waynesville listens to plan for reconfiguring N. Main, Walnut
 

Waynesville listens to plan for reconfiguring N. Main, Walnut

Waynesville leaders haven’t decided whether they will back a plan to reconfigure the intersection of North Main and Walnut streets,…
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Education changes, woes discussed at forum
 

Education changes, woes discussed at forum

What was billed to be a town hall style education forum for the Macon County School System, filled with parents…
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Jackson leaders search for equity in fire tax debate
 

Jackson leaders search for equity in fire tax debate

Some Jackson County commissioners expressed trepidation this week over changing the way the county’s seven volunteer fire departments are funded.
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Business briefs
 

Business briefs

Canton biscuit maker finishes strong Canton resident Chris Sellers competed recently in the final round of Bojangles’ 18th annual Master…
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SCC schedules pair of table gaming information sessions
 

SCC schedules pair of table gaming information sessions

Over the next few weeks, Southwestern Community College will host a pair of information sessions for anyone interested in pursuing…
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‘Hard Candy Christmas’ returns to WCU
 

‘Hard Candy Christmas’ returns to WCU

The 26th annual “Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Craft Show” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29-30 at…
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Mountain Momma
 

Mountain Momma

Dear Pottery Barn photographers, Please consider hiring a consultant who actually has kids before you shoot your next product magazine. Otherwise,…
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Salute to Johnny Cash at WCU
 

Salute to Johnny Cash at WCU

“Ring of Fire — The Music of Johnny Cash” comes to life at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, in the…
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Santa Claus, author bring cheer to Franklin
 

Santa Claus, author bring cheer to Franklin

Joe Moore, author of the Santa Claus Trilogy, will make a special appearance from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov.…
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Holt brings holiday bluegrass cheer to Highlands
 

Holt brings holiday bluegrass cheer to Highlands

Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts…
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Music, art converge in Bryson
 

Music, art converge in Bryson

Asheville blues/rock group Mojomatic will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Swain County Center for the Arts Bryson…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

Editor’s Note: After receiving a heartfelt letter in the mail recently from an inmate at a North Carolina correctional facility,…
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Stepping to old-time rhythms in a Swain County gym
 

Stepping to old-time rhythms in a Swain County gym

By Jacob Flannick • SMN Correspondent After ending a series of lessons in which she learned the basic steps of clogging,…
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Macon Commissioners honored for their vision
 

Macon Commissioners honored for their vision

The Macon County Commissioners received the 2013 Robert and Virginia Ramsey Brunner Land Conservationist of the Year Award during LTLT’s…
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Improved Green Growth Toolbox available
 

Improved Green Growth Toolbox available

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has upgraded its Green Growth Toolbox to better equip communities to deal with wildlife…
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Landowners protect 29 acres on Pigeon River
 

Landowners protect 29 acres on Pigeon River

Rural preservation leaders in the Bethel community of Haywood County have announced the permanent protection of 29 acres through two…
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Park moves toward winter schedule
 

Park moves toward winter schedule

You know winter is just around the corner when Great Smoky Mountains National Park starts shutting down. Here is a…
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Internal medicine doctor sets example for patients, students
 

Internal medicine doctor sets example for patients, students

Dr. Randall Provost walked the walk—or more accurately ran the run—when he competed in the Mountain Jug Run for Research,…
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Book shares funny anecdotes about life as a park ranger
 

Book shares funny anecdotes about life as a park ranger

So, what does one do when a sedated bear wakes up in the back seat of a helicopter mid-flight or…
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