A rising tide floats all boats
 

A rising tide floats all boats

To the Editor: The column written by Martin Dyckman in the Jan. 3 issue of The Smoky Mountain News attacking…
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A $4 million thank you
 

A $4 million thank you

To the Editor: As a member of the Swain County community, I believe there is a long overdue amount of…
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Implore leaders to protect environment
 

Implore leaders to protect environment

To the Editor: I recently read Boyd Holliday’s letter to the editor about the environmental damage our senators are doing…
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The future for this region is bright
 

The future for this region is bright

In last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News we published articles about positive political and economic signs in two…
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I’m just that kind of fan
 

I’m just that kind of fan

From the time I was about 10 years old, I have been a rabid sports fan. In the beginning, I…
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CMC recognized for Parkway service
 

CMC recognized for Parkway service

The Carolina Mountain Club was awarded the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 2017 Enduring Service Award, recognizing the efforts of the club’s…
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2017 ends with slim wildfire count
 

2017 ends with slim wildfire count

In sharp contrast to the blazing wildfire season of fall 2016, December 2017 drew to a close with only one…
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Waynesville Rec sets attendance record
 

Waynesville Rec sets attendance record

The Waynesville Recreation Center logged a record attendance for the second year running, with 180,611 visits in 2017.
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The devil is all over this dark tale
 

The devil is all over this dark tale

Since Luke Bauserman is a folklorist, it is safe to say that many of his characters already exist; some have…
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Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle
 

Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle

It was cold, but I was prepared. Leggings and Underarmour, sweatpants and sweatshirt, parka and hiking pants, an array of…
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Cat museum needs donations to stay open
 

Cat museum needs donations to stay open

The American Museum of the House Cat needs donations to continue operating.
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Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales
 

Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales

After voting down the measure just a couple of months ago, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen is now on…
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Bryson City manager moving to Murphy
 

Bryson City manager moving to Murphy

After serving as Bryson City’s town manager for more than a year, Chad Simons will be moving on to Murphy…
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Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery
 

Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery

A North Carolina State Bar complaint filed against Waynesville attorney and Mayor Gavin Brown Oct. 11, 2017, that had accused…
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Charter school narrows down school director choices
 

Charter school narrows down school director choices

After receiving 20 applications from candidates hoping to succeed founding School Director Ben Butler at Shining Rock Classical Academy, the…
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SRCA hiring process not kept private
 

SRCA hiring process not kept private

Last week, Shining Rock Classical Academy held an event for “parents and community supporters” to meet the top four candidates…
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Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17
 

Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17

No matter who takes the helm at SRCA, the new director will no doubt have his or her hands full…
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Cherokee chief under investigation
 

Cherokee chief under investigation

Principal Chief Richard Sneed is now under investigation following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s unanimous vote Jan. 4 to look into…
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Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent
 

Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent

By coincidence, Haywood County Schools has, since about the same time as Shining Rock Classical Academy been readying itself to…
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Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro
 

Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro

An ordinance that would have allowed Sunday morning alcohol sales to begin in Dillsboro died for lack of a motion…
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School superintendent search progresses in Jackson
 

School superintendent search progresses in Jackson

Jackson County is getting closer to choosing a replacement for former school superintendent Mike Murray after school board members held…
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Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board
 

Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board

When longtime councilmember Billy Mashburn passed away just days before the 2017 municipal election, the Franklin Town Council was prepared…
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Franklin passes noise ordinance
 

Franklin passes noise ordinance

After months of trying to figure out the best way to address late-night partying that was disturbing residents, the Franklin…
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Former chief Youngdeer named Beloved Man
 

Former chief Youngdeer named Beloved Man

War hero and former Principal Chief Robert Youngdeer received the highest honor available in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians…
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Commissioners hopeful about future of historic hospital
 

Commissioners hopeful about future of historic hospital

A years-long effort to find some use for the Historic Haywood County Hospital on Waynesville’s North Main Street appears to…
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Hearing granted for former alcohol commissioner
 

Hearing granted for former alcohol commissioner

An alcohol commissioner who was removed from his post last month will get a hearing following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s…
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Between the lines tells the story: Waynesville woodworker carves into passion
 

Between the lines tells the story: Waynesville woodworker carves into passion

When you are in the presence of the woodwork by Ben Grant, you find yourself captivated by the contours of…
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Camper rescued from Linville Gorge
 

Camper rescued from Linville Gorge

Mountain rescue teams, local rescuers and an aircrew from the NC Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NC HART) worked together early this…
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Suspect still sought in Bethel shooting incident
 

Suspect still sought in Bethel shooting incident

Haywood County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two individuals who were believed to be involved in a shooting incident Tuesday night…
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‘Everything ahead of me’ for 2018
 

‘Everything ahead of me’ for 2018

I have a tattoo on the inside of my right wrist that says, “Everything ahead of me.” I got it…
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My resolve is strengthened by Trump
 

My resolve is strengthened by Trump

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist This is a letter my wife and I sent to President Donald Trump: I…
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Cartoon, Jan. 3, 2018
 

Cartoon, Jan. 3, 2018

By Will Studenc
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Our representatives doing WNC harm
 

Our representatives doing WNC harm

To the Editor: The League of Conservation Voters keeps a “scoreboard” that rates our congressional representatives and senators on their…
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SMN should rethink use of cuss words
 

SMN should rethink use of cuss words

To the Editor: I always enjoy reading your fine publication with its in-depth articles about local news. Today, Dec. 30,…
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SMN’s Scott Mcleod and his hypocrisy
 

SMN’s Scott Mcleod and his hypocrisy

To the Editor: “You can’t debate with someone who repeatedly traffics in blatant lies and counterfeit bluster,” wrote Smoky Mountain…
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Adventure through 2018: WNC offers excursions for every month of the year
 

Adventure through 2018: WNC offers excursions for every month of the year

When people praise the Smokies, it’s often the area’s status as a four-season bonanza of beauty that spurs the discussion.…
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Bank supports education at Tremont
 

Bank supports education at Tremont

A $7,500 donation from SmartBank will help underserved kids experience the beauty of the Smokies through the Great Smoky Mountains…
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Preschool sports program open for registration
 

Preschool sports program open for registration

A program designed to help preschoolers have fun while developing sports skills is now open for registration at the Waynesville…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Swimming with mermaids
 

The Naturalist's Corner: Swimming with mermaids

Christopher Columbus had a lot of misconceptions about where he wound up in 1492 and what he saw. Mermaids were…
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Mountain in the clouds: a new year’s resolution
 

Mountain in the clouds: a new year’s resolution

There it stood on a sale table, all 11 volumes lined up tight and orderly as cadets on parade, Will…
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The end of silence: A conversation with Henry Rollins
 

The end of silence: A conversation with Henry Rollins

He is a welcomed voice of reason in a planet seemingly gone mad. For the last four decades, Henry Rollins…
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This must be the place: ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot…’
 

This must be the place: ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot…’

Nobody ever seems to know. New Year’s Eve is the same day every go around, and yet, why is it…
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HGTV features Cataloochee Ranch
 

HGTV features Cataloochee Ranch

Cataloochee Ranch, the well-known Haywood County vacation destination on top of Fie Mountain, will make its national debut on HGTV…
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Following in the footfalls: Canton’s new mayor takes the reins
 

Following in the footfalls: Canton’s new mayor takes the reins

One of Zeb Smathers’ earliest memories is sitting in the cereal aisle of his grandfather’s downtown Canton grocery store, which…
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Losing everything to find yourself: Waynesville native shares her story of addiction
 

Losing everything to find yourself: Waynesville native shares her story of addiction

Every recovering addict can recall a moment in their life when they hit their lowest point. For Jenny Green of…
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Breaking the cycle: Restricting opioid access won’t solve the epidemic
 

Breaking the cycle: Restricting opioid access won’t solve the epidemic

Limiting the number of prescriptions written for addictive painkillers like Percocet and Oxycontin is definitely a good start, but addiction…
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Vaya Health honored for efforts to reduce overdoses
 

Vaya Health honored for efforts to reduce overdoses

Vaya Health has received statewide honors for its work to prevent fatal opioid drug overdoses throughout western North Carolina.
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Buncombe County joins lawsuit against drug manufacturers
 

Buncombe County joins lawsuit against drug manufacturers

Buncombe County is taking a crucial step toward holding accountable the companies responsible for dumping millions of dollars’ worth of…
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Jackson seeks no wake zone on Lake Glenville
 

Jackson seeks no wake zone on Lake Glenville

Increased recreation on Lake Glenville has caused concerns about safety for swimmers sharing the lake with boaters, and despite an…
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