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N.C. reverts to paper ballots at big cost to counties
 

N.C. reverts to paper ballots at big cost to counties

North Carolina is reverting back to paper ballots, forcing Haywood, Jackson and 29 other counties in the state to purchase…
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No bailout for Lake Junaluska
 

No bailout for Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska community leaders gave residents a first look at how its service fees will increase since its merger with…
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The tricky terrain of Native American labels
 

The tricky terrain of Native American labels

Diamond Brown has perfected the art of bait and switch. He hooks his unsuspecting subjects with an eye-catching spread of…
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Cell phone subsidies for low-income people: a luxury or necessity?
 

Cell phone subsidies for low-income people: a luxury or necessity?

In addition to food, shelter and medical care, access to a phone is one of life’s bare necessities — at…
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Going rogue to fight obesity: Undercover video project stalks overweight people in Macon
 

Going rogue to fight obesity: Undercover video project stalks overweight people in Macon

One man’s mission to bring to light an obesity epidemic in Macon County has offended many in the community, prompted…
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New law to allow concealed weapons in cars on campus
 

New law to allow concealed weapons in cars on campus

Back to school essentials have always been a familiar list of pens, pencils, fresh notebooks, new sneakers and a calculator,…
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WCU students return to new nightlife landscape this year
 

WCU students return to new nightlife landscape this year

Western Carolina University students will open their textbooks this year with a livelier Cullowhee awaiting them after the class bell…
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Gridiron Gals: WCU program teaches women football tactics
 

Gridiron Gals: WCU program teaches women football tactics

Female fans of Western Carolina University athletics know three things — which player the quarterback is, when a touchdown is scored…
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Public hearing on future of Haywood hospital is next week
 

Public hearing on future of Haywood hospital is next week

A public hearing on the future of Haywood Regional Medical Center will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22,…
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Regional DOT chief demoted to new position
 

Regional DOT chief demoted to new position

The regional head of the N.C. Depart-ment of Transportation has been demoted after nine years at the helm of road…
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The ultimate revenge: yellow jacket soup
 

The ultimate revenge: yellow jacket soup

The yellow jackets are back. They inundated my home office this morning. First they gnawed through the ceiling from a…
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Registration is open for Haywood County kickball co-ed league
 

Registration is open for Haywood County kickball co-ed league

Haywood County is kicking off its first-ever adult kickball league. The co-ed league games will be played at 2 and…
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Forest-goers get new recreation map
 

Forest-goers get new recreation map

An updated recreation map of the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests is now available online. The U.S. Forest Service map…
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Forest Service warns of deadly high waters
 

Forest Service warns of deadly high waters

The U.S. Forest Service is urging visitors to the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests to avoid swimming in the creeks,…
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Catamounts gather for Volunteer Day
 

Catamounts gather for Volunteer Day

Western Carolina University students, as part of a July 20 volunteer day, hauled loads of trash from the banks of…
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Swain Soccer teams looking for players; Haywood adult soccer league ramping up
 

Swain Soccer teams looking for players; Haywood adult soccer league ramping up

Fall soccer season is approaching and Swain Youth Soccer Association is offering soccer for all skill types.
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Researcher explores changing climate and salamanders
 

Researcher explores changing climate and salamanders

The potential effects of climate change on the animals — salamanders in particular — of the Appalachian Mountains will be…
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Wildlife commissioner seeks public reports of armadillos
 

Wildlife commissioner seeks public reports of armadillos

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is asking the public to help document observations of nine-banded armadillos, as the bony-plated mammals…
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No this ain’t Dallas
 

No this ain’t Dallas

Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Dallas. And I’m sure that if you like big, hot, crowded…
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NOC nears finish line in preparing for kayaking worlds
 

NOC nears finish line in preparing for kayaking worlds

Sitting at a picnic table alongside the Nantahala River, Charles Conner watches the fast moving water. It’s may be a…
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Prickly but also extremely insightful
 

Prickly but also extremely insightful

On June 24, 1993, David Gelernter, then an associate professor of computer science at Yale University, opened a package in…
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Rural Center cut may negatively affect WNC
 

Rural Center cut may negatively affect WNC

A recent government audit of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has divided much of the state. 
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WNC leaders worry that region will be left behind economically
 

WNC leaders worry that region will be left behind economically

Western North Carolina business and political leaders are wondering who will go to the mat for them to attract new…
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Canton reopens application process in town manager search
 

Canton reopens application process in town manager search

The Canton Board of Aldermen is still accepting applications for the open town manager position. “We’ve interviewed some that we…
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Fumes kill one, hospitalize a dozen in Macon
 

Fumes kill one, hospitalize a dozen in Macon

An incident at a farm facility in Macon County last week left one worker dead and caused the hospitalization of…
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Sylva sticks to zoning guns, keeps church out of downtown
 

Sylva sticks to zoning guns, keeps church out of downtown

Town board members said no to expanding Sylva’s zoning laws to be more inclusive for churches downtown, citing a desire…
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State budget includes funding for WCU engineering program
 

State budget includes funding for WCU engineering program

The $20.6 billion biennial budget recently approved by the N.C. General Assembly includes more than $1.4 million for expansion of…
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WCU campus master planners to seek community input
 

WCU campus master planners to seek community input

Representatives from the firms assisting Western Carolina University in drafting a comprehensive master plan that will guide campus development and…
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Bryson City readies itself for kayaking worlds
 

Bryson City readies itself for kayaking worlds

Batten down the hatches, the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships are coming. “This event shows how this tiny town…
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Duke ready to officially turn Dillsboro Dam site over to local officials
 

Duke ready to officially turn Dillsboro Dam site over to local officials

A decade-long saga in deciding the fate of Duke Energy’s former dam near Dillsboro is drawing to a close as…
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Patrol car laptops should aid Jackson deputies
 

Patrol car laptops should aid Jackson deputies

It’s not quite Robocop, but the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is getting a law enforcement boost thanks to technology.
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Donated clothes help kids fit in
 

Donated clothes help kids fit in

Sylvia Russell remembers how crucial it was to wear the “right” clothes to school, how the “right” outfit could win…
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Waynesville VFW post reopens following alcohol, gambling charges
 

Waynesville VFW post reopens following alcohol, gambling charges

Following a nine-month undercover investigation, six people were charged with conducting illegal activities, including selling moonshine and gambling, at the…
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Jackson wants to do background checks on volunteers
 

Jackson wants to do background checks on volunteers

To lend a helping hand in Jackson County, a willingness to volunteer may not be enough.
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Eagle Scout project leads to better future for forgotten cemeteries
 

Eagle Scout project leads to better future for forgotten cemeteries

Abandoned, dilapidated and sometimes forgotten burial places are likely to get better care now that Macon County commissioners have decided…
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Haywood residents can take part in research
 

Haywood residents can take part in research

To the Editor: When I was told I had cancer, I wondered what caused it. I had always been very…
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Waynesville Jake break laws good for in town
 

Waynesville Jake break laws good for in town

To the Editor: Referencing the article of two weeks ago about the Jake brakes in Waynesville and in reply to…
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Some things Macon citizens may not know
 

Some things Macon citizens may not know

To the Editor: I’ve had several citiznes ask me why I voted against this or that. It’s time to clear the…
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It’s painful, but state is on the right path
 

It’s painful, but state is on the right path

To the Editor: On Monday this first week of August, a group of people showed up in Raleigh complaining about…
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Saving specialty license plates great for WNC
 

Saving specialty license plates great for WNC

The General Assembly’s renewal of the specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers surprised many only because it seemed such…
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Porsche club to raise money for Sarge’s
 

Porsche club to raise money for Sarge’s

The Carolinas Region, Mountain Area of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) is hosting the 5th annual People’s Choice Concours,…
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Mountain momma
 

Mountain momma

Living within walking distance of the farmers market has lots of perks. For starters, it’s a great excuse when asked,…
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Tickets on sale for WCU performances
 

Tickets on sale for WCU performances

Tickets for the Western Carolina University Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series will go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 6.
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Celebrate wood crafts at the Folk Art Center
 

Celebrate wood crafts at the Folk Art Center

“Wood Day,” an annual celebration of wood crafts, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, in…
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Black brings country hits to Franklin
 

Black brings country hits to Franklin

Country singer Clint Black will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing…
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Barbecue, classic cars roll into Franklin
 

Barbecue, classic cars roll into Franklin

The 5th annual Mountain High BBQ Festival and Car Show will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 and…
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Trace Adkins hits the stage at Harrah’s
 

Trace Adkins hits the stage at Harrah’s

Country singer Trace Adkins performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Harrah’s Cherokee.
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This must be the place
 

This must be the place

I was afraid of getting caught. As a teenager, I found myself sneaking into the back door of my grandfather’s…
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Cherokee musical focuses on life of Will Holland Thomas
 

Cherokee musical focuses on life of Will Holland Thomas

About 30 people sat scattered around the 2,800-seat Mountainside Theater in Cherokee, watching the makings of something that has never…
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Cherokee goes green with new biodiesel pump
 

Cherokee goes green with new biodiesel pump

By Michael Beadle Cherokee now has a biodiesel gas pump at its filling station to fuel up Tribal transit and…
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