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Legislature did a lot for this state’s citizens
 

Legislature did a lot for this state’s citizens

To the Editor: It’s time to speak the truth about the gains for North Carolina citizens made by the state…
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Dr. Gates is fine addition to Sylva Orthopedics
 

Dr. Gates is fine addition to Sylva Orthopedics

To the Editor: I was pleased to see in my most recent issue of The Smoky Mountain News that Dr.…
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New voting law doesn’t pass the smell test
 

New voting law doesn’t pass the smell test

The photo ID requirements included in the new voting law passed by the General Assembly and recently signed by Gov.…
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Southwestern excels in performance report
 

Southwestern excels in performance report

Southwestern Community College exceeded the North Carolina Community College System’s mean in seven of the eight measures used to gauge…
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Drake Software to add 50 jobs, build call center
 

Drake Software to add 50 jobs, build call center

Drake Software, a national leader in professional tax preparation software headquartered in Franklin, is expanding their call center in Hayesville…
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HCC strengthens ties and employment training for industry
 

HCC strengthens ties and employment training for industry

Haywood Community College is strengthening ties to the community through industry training with the arrival of a new Industry Training…
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Volunteer puts passion for dolls toward fund-raising efforts
 

Volunteer puts passion for dolls toward fund-raising efforts

Ellen Walker has a passion for giving dolls new life and sending them on to their next home. For the…
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All lanes of I-40 reopened after slide
 

All lanes of I-40 reopened after slide

All lanes of Interstate 40 West in Haywood County have reopened following a rockslide that occurred Monday evening, Aug. 19.…
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Stand up for N.C. educators
 

Stand up for N.C. educators

A “Stand Up for Education” rally will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, on the front lawn of…
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Stay-at-home mom finds time to start her own business
 

Stay-at-home mom finds time to start her own business

Raising children is rewarding, but stay-at-home moms and dads need something for themselves.
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Swain leaders go to Washington, D.C.
 

Swain leaders go to Washington, D.C.

The recent three-day trip to Washington, D.C., marks the fourth time Swain County representatives have visited the capital during the…
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Discouraged but not defeated, Swain continues quest for overdue cash settlement
 

Discouraged but not defeated, Swain continues quest for overdue cash settlement

The outlook for Swain County doesn’t look any better this year than it did the last three years in its…
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Waynesville puts brakes on the slow creep of sandwich boards, for now
 

Waynesville puts brakes on the slow creep of sandwich boards, for now

Pending changes to Waynesville’s sign laws could pave the way for sidewalk sandwich boards downtown, but they aren’t legal yet.
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Sylva leaders give green light to more, bigger, brighter signs
 

Sylva leaders give green light to more, bigger, brighter signs

It’s not quite little Las Vegas, yet, but new sign laws in Sylva are clearing the way for a brighter,…
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Jackson Meals on Wheels leaves money on the table
 

Jackson Meals on Wheels leaves money on the table

Jackson County commissioners took the director of the Jackson County Department on Aging to task this week over why Meals…
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Survey says: Macon and Jackson call for state help to sort out muddled border
 

Survey says: Macon and Jackson call for state help to sort out muddled border

One of life’s great unsolved mysteries will soon be settled thanks to an official survey of the murky border between…
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New fire tax moves to the front burner in Jackson County
 

New fire tax moves to the front burner in Jackson County

Jackson County commissioners signaled support this week to change the way volunteer fire departments are funded, although the plan is…
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One door closed, but many more opened with rebirth of Cowee School
 

One door closed, but many more opened with rebirth of Cowee School

An old closed-down elementary school in the rural Cowee community in Macon County will soon reclaim its role as a…
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Cherokee sets sights on Nikwasi mound, but Franklin leaders reluctant to let go
 

Cherokee sets sights on Nikwasi mound, but Franklin leaders reluctant to let go

The chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians wants the town of Franklin to relinquish ownership of the historic…
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Rally to bring King’s dream to Sylva
 

Rally to bring King’s dream to Sylva

The Moral Monday protests that started  in Raleigh and made national headlines are now making the rounds in North Carolina…
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Buskers: coming soon to a street corner near you
 

Buskers: coming soon to a street corner near you

Waynesville officials will hold a public hearing next week on an ordinance that would pave the way for street performers,…
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Rabbit gums and cold, windy mornings
 

Rabbit gums and cold, windy mornings

While perusing the shelves in a used bookstore recently, I spotted a title that was irresistible: From the Banks of…
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Talk of the medicinal benefits of Southern Appalachian plants
 

Talk of the medicinal benefits of Southern Appalachian plants

Plants are most commonly harvested for their food or appreciated for their beauty, however many plants in the Southern Appalachians…
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Grant provides internships and science education
 

Grant provides internships and science education

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is expanding the park’s high school science internship program with the help of…
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Smokies association throws a big party
 

Smokies association throws a big party

Moonshine tasting, auctions, hikes, talks, hunts, barbecue, dancing and star gazing are just a few of the activities planned for…
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Panthertown party thanks volunteers
 

Panthertown party thanks volunteers

Friends of Panthertown is hosting their annual picnic and concert this year Tuesday, Aug. 20, on Lake Fairfield at Camp…
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Friends of the Smokies telethon seeks donations
 

Friends of the Smokies telethon seeks donations

Friends of the Smokies will host a telethon to benefit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 
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Support the Highlands Botanical Garden
 

Support the Highlands Botanical Garden

Residents of Highlands established the Highlands Botanical Garden in 1962, to display the diverse array of Southern Appalachian plants. But…
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Dillsboro to host ‘River Rescue Rodeo’
 

Dillsboro to host ‘River Rescue Rodeo’

In September, Dillsboro will host the Western North Carolina River Rescue Rodeo, a whitewater rescue competition.
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A pistol of a shrimp
 

A pistol of a shrimp

Once again, through the gracious hospitality of a dear friend the Hendershot family found itself on the Isle of Palms…
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Olympian to lead riders in fourth Blue Ridge Breakaway
 

Olympian to lead riders in fourth Blue Ridge Breakaway

This year’s Aug. 17 Blue Ridge Breakaway is hoping to attract nearly 600 cyclists to Haywood County, and leading those…
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Tragic realism makes for a riveting read
 

Tragic realism makes for a riveting read

Let me begin by saying that this is a remarkable novel, and I suspect that it will be around for…
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Mountain momma
 

Mountain momma

The scramble is on across WNC to pack in a few last drops of quality family time before school starts…
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Donate to Cullowhee Mountain ARTS
 

Donate to Cullowhee Mountain ARTS

“Drawings for Art” fundraiser is currently going on to benefit the Cullowhee Mountain ARTS. The drawings will take place during…
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Off-beat romantic comedy hits the stage
 

Off-beat romantic comedy hits the stage

The Highlands-Cashiers Players present the off-beat romantic comedy “Almost, Maine” Aug. 22-25 and Aug. 29-Sept. 1, at the Highlands Performing…
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Summer bike rally in Maggie Valley
 

Summer bike rally in Maggie Valley

The Maggie Valley Summer Rally will be Aug. 16-18 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
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Balsam Range to play Franklin 
 

Balsam Range to play Franklin 

Acclaimed bluegrass/gospel group Balsam Range will play a free concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Cowee School…
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Haywood County Fair returns, Balsam Range headlines
 

Haywood County Fair returns, Balsam Range headlines

The Haywood County Fair will run Aug. 20-26, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. With an array of food and craft…
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Jeff Little Trio brings Americana to Stecoah
 

Jeff Little Trio brings Americana to Stecoah

The Jeff Little Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in…
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American Idol singer at Harrah’s
 

American Idol singer at Harrah’s

American Idol singer Lauren Alaina will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug 22, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event…
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

This might get loud. I tend to say that to anyone who finds themselves in the passenger’s seat of my…
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Skating the Smokies for a good cause
 

Skating the Smokies for a good cause

Don’t mess with a mountain girl, especially one on roller skates. “We’re a tough bunch, and we stick together,” said…
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Specialty plate renewal a victory for everyone
 

Specialty plate renewal a victory for everyone

To the Editor: We won! The vibrant green bear Friends of the Smokies specialty license plate has been rescued from…
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Poor leadership will drag down the state
 

Poor leadership will drag down the state

To the Editor: Once again Jim Mueller, vice chair of the Jackson County Republican Party enlightens us with his Tea…
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Judicial hearings should remain open to public
 

Judicial hearings should remain open to public

To the Editor: When sponsors can’t give a good reason for proposed legislation, it usually means there are bad ones. It’s…
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You can’t take a ‘pig in a poke’ to the bank
 

You can’t take a ‘pig in a poke’ to the bank

It’s difficult for me to believe that the new leadership in Raleigh would purposely sacrifice development in the state’s rural…
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Second Vatican Council anniversary commemorated with seminar
 

Second Vatican Council anniversary commemorated with seminar

St. John the Evanglist Church in Waynesville will host a special seminar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug.…
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Blurred boundary leads to permit, tax problems
 

Blurred boundary leads to permit, tax problems

Whether you live in Macon County or Jackson County may depend on which one you ask.
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Rally cry to save Camp Hope persists in wake of lawsuit
 

Rally cry to save Camp Hope persists in wake of lawsuit

The town of Canton is not out of the woods yet in its fight to keep Camp Hope, a public…
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Home building, commercial development climbing in Jackson
 

Home building, commercial development climbing in Jackson

The building sector in Jackson County has continued its upward swing in 2013.
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