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This must be the place: Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road
It was around midnight when I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. With Maryland now in the rearview mirror, I pushed into…
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In search of the sound: The best albums of 2019
Picking your favorite albums of any given year is a wholeheartedly subjective endeavor. You’re drawn to what immediately captures your…
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2019: What just happened?
As we ring in the New Year, The Smoky Mountain News likes to look back and reflect on the last…
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Fake News Freakout!!!!!! Four
By Cory Vaillancourt • Fake News Editor | It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s time…
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Cashiers rep fails to attend local meeting
The Jackson County Commissioners traveled to Cashiers for their Dec. 12 meeting, but Commissioner Mickey Luker — who was elected…
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Nocturnal Brewing offers fine ales in Hayesville
For a place that was dry just a decade ago, Clay County is now home to one of the finest…
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This must be the place: There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars
Give or take, it’s about 1,010 miles from Waynesville, North Carolina (my current home) to Plattsburgh, New York (my hometown).…
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SCC’s NPS law enforcement program graduates 17
Pledging their utmost dedication and respect to this nation’s natural resources, 17 graduates from Southwestern Community College’s National Park Service…
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National forests announce seasonal road closures
Seasonal closures in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests will begin on Jan. 2. Planned opening dates may change depending…
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National parks battle invasion
The National Park Service is embarking on a system-wide effort to crack down on invasive animal species following the conclusion…
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Conservation purchase will protect birds, A.T. views
A 51-acre conservation purchase in the Highlands of Roan will protect a prominent ridge near the Appalachian Trail.
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WCU recognized as ‘green college’
For the ninth year running, Western Carolina University has made The Princeton Review’s list of North America’s most environmentally responsible…
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Hello solstice my old friend
The official time of the 2019 winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is 11:19 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday,…
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The story of a Beat original
Once upon a time there was a poet named Bob Kaufman. He hadn’t spoken in anything resembling normal language in…
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Because one day they aren’t there
The hardest thing to get used to is the stillness. The quiet. The absolute absence of any movement at all.…
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National parks should not depend on fees
By Mark Jamison • Guest Columnist | In Democracy’s Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy, the political philosopher…
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How much longer can we tolerate Trump?
To the Editor: Only a few short years ago Americans criticized Russian leaders for their overt political philosophy: “The end…
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Car seat education will save lives
To the Editor: Five years ago, shortly after partnering with the Sheriff’s Office to begin a Safe Kids coalition in…
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Thanks for reporting on animal cruelty
To the Editor: Thank you for reporting on the recent animal cruelty case in Haywood County. The suffering of so…
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Generosity Feeds Haywood: Volunteers package 11,000 meals for homeless students
It was a sight to behold — more than 200 volunteers of all ages coming together on a cold Saturday morning…
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Little free pantry ‘fills in the cracks’
You may be familiar with the concept of the “little free library” — those small outdoor cabinets stuffed with donated…
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SCC’s new Health Sciences building on track
Southwestern Community College’s new $21 million Health Sciences Building is starting to take shape on the west side of the…
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Nantahala foundation awards grants
The Nantahala Health Foundation has announced its initial grants awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and…
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WCU student working to translate Cherokee language from native newspaper
Constance Owl’s master’s degree thesis is more than a means to a graduate degree in American history. It’s a portal…
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Sylva police investigating impeachment protest incident
The Sylva Police Department is looking into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 17, during a protest downtown that…
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Jackson discusses solutions to slow internet
Sylva was named the nation’s slowest city for internet in a recent report from internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com, and…
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Animal shelter funding approved in Jackson
Funding for a new animal shelter in Jackson County has been approved following a Dec. 17 vote to OK $5.39…
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Jackson approves $700,000 for new voting machines
After more than three years of anticipating the expenditure, Jackson County has allocated funds to replace its recently decertified voting…
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WNC congressmen oppose Trump impeachment
For just the third time in American history members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve articles of…
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Candidate filing period ends with a bang
A flurry of last-minute sign-ups means that 2020 will likely be a lively election season in Western North Carolina and…
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Rep. Mark Meadows announces retirement, 18 seek his seat
Santa Claus was especially good to Western North Carolina Democrats this year, delivering from his sack one big item on…
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Rep. Meadows retires from congress
As first reported by Politico earlier this morning, Western North Carolina’s four-term Republican congressman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, will not…
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Price won’t run in NC-11, endorses fellow Democrat
UPDATED Dec. 19: Hours after this story was posted, Rep. Meadows announced he wouldn't seek reelection to the seat…
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Time to face reality regarding the Smokies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park — for all its grandeur — is facing serious challenges, and it’s going to…
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Downsizing Christmas, meaningful memories
It seems a lot of folks are downsizing Christmas this year, me included. My reasoning is specific to my life…
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Make America great by dumping Trump
To the Editor: George Washington led Americans in the Revolutionary War defeating a tyrant, King George III, and giving birth…
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Children in poverty face many challenges
To the Editor: Did you know that 44.1 percent of children are living in poor or low-income homes in Jackson…
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FSA election winners announced in Haywood
William “Danny” Hyatt of Waynesville has been elected to represent his local administrative area during the Farm Service Agency’s recent…
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Panthertown chosen for Leave No Trace awareness program
Panthertown Valley’s popularity is increasing, and advocates for the backcountry area — located near Cashiers in the Nantahala National Forest…
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Smokies facility chief wins regional honor
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to the winner of this year’s Facility Manager of the Year for…
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Burnsville woman wins national park writing residency
Sue Wasserman of Burnsville has been chosen as the winner of the second annual Steve Kemp Writer’s Residency, funded by…
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Last-minute holiday ideas for the literary
You’re down to the wire. It’s only a few days until Christmas, and you have yet to get that book…
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Studies show correlation between PTSD and substance abuse
By Taylor Sexton • Special to SMN | Emma Jordan lives in Hatteras, North Carolina, where she spends her days working hard,…
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Running through life with PTSD
By Taylor Sexton • Contributing writer | I was 5 years old when I watched my father’s fist fly into the wall…
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Macon inmate captured after fleeing custody
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland told commissioners last week that he tries his best not to ask for more money…
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Macon amends contract for jail medical services
Macon County commissioners approved two amended contracts that will hopefully keep costs down at the detention center.
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Airport authority chairman retires after 25 years
Macon County commissioners recently recognized Miles Gregory for his many years of service to the county, including his 25 years…
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Two plead guilty to trafficking
Samantha Casey Green, 27, of Franklin, entered a guilty plea to one count of trafficking opiates as a result of…
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Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Jackson County Public Schools announced that Dawn Gilchrist has been selected as the Western Region Teacher of the Year.
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SCC celebrates new class of grads
Dressed in a royal blue cap and gown, with a glowing Christmas tree behind her and a smile from ear…
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