LATEST NEWS
Seven vie for three Haywood commission seats
Three of five Haywood County commission seats are up for election this year, and at least two will be filled by newcomers.
The county has seen its fair share of hardship over the last several years, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic that gripped the country beginning in 2020. In August 2021, Tropical Storm Fred caused widespread property damage and littered debris in waterways. The largest employer, Pactiv Evergreen, shut down its Canton paper mill, almost instantly eliminating over a thousand jobs.
Most recently, in September 2024, Haywood was one of a dozen or so counties to bear the brunt of…
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Swain commission candidates discuss priorities, visions, values
Five Swain County commissioner candidates — Democrats Chris Reed and Erika Smith, independent Cynthia Womble, and Republicans Lisa Barker and interim chair Jay Kirkland — will compete for…
Gillespie, Brown offer contrasting visions for House District 120
As North Carolina House District 120 voters prepare to head to the polls, incumbent Republican Karl Gillespie is asking voters to give him another term to build on…
Davis, Rogers square off for House seat
Haywood and Madison counties will have a new state House representative at the beginning of 2027 in either Republican Jimmy Rogers or Democrat Danny Davis.
Amid an increasingly…
Cashiers park project stalls after bids exceed budget: Jackson County weighs scaling back improvements to the abandoned pool site
A thick layer of sludge lines the bottom of Cashiers Community Pool. Weeds and wildflowers sprout from cracks in the neighboring tennis and pickleball courts, where nature has begun…
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Outdoors
WCU researcher gets old hemlock to ‘sing’
For 467 years, an eastern hemlock in the mountains of Western North Carolina has counted the seasons ring by ring. Now, Highlands Biological Station (HBS) scientist Liam Stiefel…
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Any old road (will take you there): Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival returns to Maggie Valley
Since its inception in 2021, the annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival has become a much-anticipated gathering during this splendid time of year. Cradled by the mountains of Western North Carolina and showcasing the stunning fall foliage, the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds will once again come alive when the SMBF hits the stage from 10 a.m.…
This must be the place
This must be the place: ‘Crossed the deserts bare, I’ve breathed the mountain air, of travel I’ve had my share’
Hello from Room 218 at the Holiday Express Inn & Suites in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. With a bustling Interstate 81 in the background, I awoke this morning and didn’t know where I was. The room was completely dark except for the small alarm clock on the nightstand. After a few seconds, I remembered I was in…
This must be the place: ‘I don’t know what to believe, sometimes I even forget’
Hello from American Legion Post 912 in Rouses Point, New York. As I’m currently sipping a cold draft beer, I’ve been in continual conversation with the familiar faces of my youth, those elderly folks and people I graduated high school with, many of which I haven’t seen in years, all of which I cross paths with when I arrive back in my hometown for another…
Partner content: Taste of Local
Thursday, October 29 • 3pm-6pm Ingles Markets • 630 Champion Drive • Canton Complimentary Samples (Limited Availability)
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Partner content: Old Food Rules to Put to Rest
Old rule: “Kids should eat everything on their plate, even if they aren’t hungry.”
Reality: This was definitely a rule I grew up with, perhaps due to parents who were born at the end of the Depression and experienced food restrictions during World War II. When we force children to “clean their plates,” even after…
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Partner content: Howell for Haywood
As Haywood County continues to navigate regional growth, rural public safety needs, and changing community expectations, local law enforcement strategy has taken center stage. Experienced law enforcement professional Tyler Howell brings a grounded, policy-focused perspective to the conversation surrounding the future of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. With nearly two decades in active service—spanning patrol,…
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Partner content: Old Rules vs New Reality
Recently I asked a question on my social media channels:
“What is a nutrition “rule” you grew up with, but now question – or maybe even realize was flawed and now you know better?”
Old rule – ‘Low fat and fat-free ice cream, cookies and cakes are good for you!’
Reality – We’ve realized when…
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Lived experiences make me unafraid of AI
The musicians were so close I could see beads of sweat on their foreheads. The intricate pattern on the cowboy boots of the steel guitarist caught my eye.…
letters to the editor
Framers never imagined Trump
Individual rights are at the heart of the Constitution, as expressed…
Fake claims of fake news
The only fake thing regarding fake news is the number…
Voting is your superpower
North Carolina’s regular voter registration deadline is Friday, October 9,…
Ye shall know the truth
In John 8:32, Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth,…