Waynesville native to study lemurs
 

Waynesville native to study lemurs

Waynesville native Christopher Lile is on his way to Madagascar for three months following his graduation from Gardner-Webb University this…
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Stay calm and creep on
 

Stay calm and creep on

Two years in a row — for this Hendershot family that’s like a tradition. We pedaled the Virginia Creeper Trail…
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New book delves into ‘Death of Europe’
 

New book delves into ‘Death of Europe’

Recently I came across an online article on Powerline regarding French president Emmanuel Macron. I knew little of President Macron,…
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Mountain Heritage Day award winners
 

Mountain Heritage Day award winners

A popular component of Western Carolina University’s annual Mountain Heritage Day are the judged and juried contests, and other competitions.…
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This must be the place: ‘It’s times like these you learn to live again’
 

This must be the place: ‘It’s times like these you learn to live again’

It was right around the third song or so that the goosebumps kept appearing. Up and down my arms, the…
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Growing up in freedom: Gladys Knight performance to benefit proposed Canton community center
 

Growing up in freedom: Gladys Knight performance to benefit proposed Canton community center

Just outside of a small Western North Carolina community known as “Papertown USA” sits a dilapidated 84-year old brick schoolhouse…
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WNC Municipal Elections
 

WNC Municipal Elections

Municipal Election season is upon us in Western North Carolina, and six towns have candidates running for a chance to…
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Development a priority in Canton race
 

Development a priority in Canton race

Canton Alderman Zeb Smathers isn’t quite mayor yet, but that didn’t stop one local brewery from releasing a “Mayor Smathers…
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Maggie Valley candidates ask for votes
 

Maggie Valley candidates ask for votes

Unlike Haywood County’s other contested municipal election — in Maggie Valley — two incumbents are running for reelection and seek…
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Bryson City election: Five fight for future of their hometown
 

Bryson City election: Five fight for future of their hometown

The five candidates running for Bryson City Board of Aldermen all hold their hometown near and dear to their hearts,…
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Seven run for Dillsboro town board
 

Seven run for Dillsboro town board

The years ahead are likely to be lively ones for the tiny town of Dillsboro, with a new river park…
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Contested race on tap for Forest Hills
 

Contested race on tap for Forest Hills

The Village of Forest Hills could have a new member on the town council depending on the outcome of this…
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Franklin Election: Candidates excited about Franklin’s future
 

Franklin Election: Candidates excited about Franklin’s future

Every election year there are a few hot button issues that entice candidates to throw their hats into the ring…
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Franklin mayor runs unopposed
 

Franklin mayor runs unopposed

Bob Scott is seeking his third term as mayor of Franklin, and it’s his second time running unopposed for the…
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Electric rate increase coming for Waynesville
 

Electric rate increase coming for Waynesville

An electric rate study Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown called “sobering” was presented to the Waynesville Board of Aldermen Oct. 10…
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EBCI and Smokies work toward agreement for plant gathering in park boundaries
 

EBCI and Smokies work toward agreement for plant gathering in park boundaries

Cherokee tribal members could be gathering sochan plants from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as early as next spring…
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Boom or bust? New index charts Haywood’s economy
 

Boom or bust? New index charts Haywood’s economy

Earlier this year, a series of stories in The Smoky Mountain News focusing on Haywood County’s economy explored its various…
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Guilty pleas filed in marriage fraud case
 

Guilty pleas filed in marriage fraud case

Four people accused of entering into fraudulent marriages with non-U.S. citizens will plead guilty to the charge of marriage fraud,…
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Shining Rock school director resigns
 

Shining Rock school director resigns

The Shining Rock Classical Academy Board of Directors accepted the resignation of School Director Ben Butler during a Sunday night…
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Jack Ewing to retire as leader of Lake Junaluska
 

Jack Ewing to retire as leader of Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska Executive Director Jack Ewing announced today that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2017.
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Early voting underway across NC
 

Early voting underway across NC

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Until then, residents of North Carolina can vote on various days and at various…
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Details emerge surrounding Jacob Ray’s death
 

Details emerge surrounding Jacob Ray’s death

Charges against two Charlotte teens arrested following the shooting of 21-year-old Jacob Alexander Ray, of Hendersonville, have been upgraded from…
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Gun debate a microcosm of a deeper challenge
 

Gun debate a microcosm of a deeper challenge

By William Everett • Guest Columnist Garret Woodward’s Opinion piece “After tragedy in Vegas, where to from here?” (Oct. 4-10) leads…
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My son’s a ham, while I was Houdini
 

My son’s a ham, while I was Houdini

There are very few decent photographs of me as a child. When I die, I feel sorry for the poor…
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Planting garlic means it’s fall, y’all
 

Planting garlic means it’s fall, y’all

As if the changing colors, cooler temps and falling leaves weren’t reminders enough, there’s also those walnuts dropping like cluster…
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The NRA and waiting periods
 

The NRA and waiting periods

To the Editor: I agree 100 percent with Andy Borowitz that there should be a mandatory three-day waiting period whenever…
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Growing community: Church garden project brings neighbors together to grow healthy food
 

Growing community: Church garden project brings neighbors together to grow healthy food

Two short years ago, the backyard of Waynesville’s Grace Church in the Mountains was basically just grass, save for a…
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Western Carolina gets green cred
 

Western Carolina gets green cred

Western Carolina University has been listed as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges on the continent — for the…
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Haywood grant to help fund elk volunteers
 

Haywood grant to help fund elk volunteers

A $2,650 grant from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will help improve the experience of visitors journeying to Cataloochee…
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High-elevation overlooks are awe-inspiring
 

High-elevation overlooks are awe-inspiring

High-elevation overlooks are one of our finest natural resources. These vantage points allow us to rise above our everyday humdrum…
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A keen eye for France, and great recipes
 

A keen eye for France, and great recipes

Elizabeth Bard’s Lunch In Paris: A Love Story, With Recipes (Little, Brown and Company, 2010, 324 pages) offers readers both…
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Shining Rock’s scores below most others
 

Shining Rock’s scores below most others

When Shining Rock Classical Academy opened in 2015, the public charter school was hailed as a victory for local proponents…
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Sylva’s mayoral race nears the finish line: Sossamon and Allen to rematch for mayor’s seat
 

Sylva’s mayoral race nears the finish line: Sossamon and Allen to rematch for mayor’s seat

Sylva voters might feel a bit of déjà vu when they enter the polling place this year, with both names…
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Swain County schools apply for $7 million grant
 

Swain County schools apply for $7 million grant

Swain County Schools will apply for a multi-million dollar grant through the new Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund that can…
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Showdown looming over Canton brunch ordinance
 

Showdown looming over Canton brunch ordinance

A highly anticipated public hearing that drew double the usual crowd to a Canton Town Board meeting wasn’t as contentious…
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Brunch Bill stalls in Jackson
 

Brunch Bill stalls in Jackson

A planned vote on whether to approve Sunday morning alcohol sales was delayed Oct. 16 when the Jackson County Commissioners…
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Comprehensive plan update coming for Waynesville
 

Comprehensive plan update coming for Waynesville

Inasmuch as any document can be truly hallowed on a local government level, that document is the comprehensive plan.
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Haywood hires interim county manager
 

Haywood hires interim county manager

Haywood County native Joel R. Mashburn has been selected to serve as interim county manager following the recent and unexpected…
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Women in Business 2017
 

Women in Business 2017

Women owning their own businesses is nothing new, and in fact North Carolina is among the nation’s leaders in this…
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One house at a time: Bug lady keeps WNC homes pest-free
 

One house at a time: Bug lady keeps WNC homes pest-free

Before Karen Walston began running her first extermination route 16 years ago, she had no plans to become The Bug…
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Serio serious about self-defense
 

Serio serious about self-defense

The story of every small business is different and unique, but some follow an economic development narrative being heard more…
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Creating a community at the Blue Moon Salon
 

Creating a community at the Blue Moon Salon

When you’ve done something for as long as Mitzi Cope has, you tend to learn a thing or two —…
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Recipe for success: Mixing women and wine always a good idea
 

Recipe for success: Mixing women and wine always a good idea

Heather and Robert Acton have it all figured out. Living on the outskirts of Swain County near the national park…
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In the book business: Books Unlimited owner shares love of reading
 

In the book business: Books Unlimited owner shares love of reading

The book business is rebounding thanks to people like Suzanne Harouff who’ve never given up on it.
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Power of self-healing: Dr. Sparks takes long-range approach to personal health
 

Power of self-healing: Dr. Sparks takes long-range approach to personal health

Too often patients visit Dr. Linda Sparks as a last resort. Only after years of not being able to find…
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Building business in Haywood County
 

Building business in Haywood County

Its no surprise that The Smoky Mountain News’ annual Women in Business issue highlights women who are in business, but…
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The family that works together: Home cooking and community still draws crowds at Granny’s Kitchen
 

The family that works together: Home cooking and community still draws crowds at Granny’s Kitchen

It’s 3 p.m. on a weekday, a time when any restaurant would be well within its rights to be all…
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This must be the place: ‘They won’t know what route I’m going…’
 

This must be the place: ‘They won’t know what route I’m going…’

For a moment, I thought the dog was going to charge me. Running along the quiet back country of Southwest…
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Runoff election overturns recount results in Cherokee
 

Runoff election overturns recount results in Cherokee

An Oct. 10 runoff election to determine the winner of a disputed Tribal Council seat ended with a reversal of…
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Stocking the Pigeon: Trout stocking a team effort in Haywood
 

Stocking the Pigeon: Trout stocking a team effort in Haywood

It’s a sunny Friday morning on the Pigeon River when the bucket brigade assembles, five-gallon containers in hand. The stock…
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