2011 In Review
 

2011 In Review

The Smoky Mountain News takes note this week of some of the newsmakers of 2011 by handing out our annual…
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Who will Haire’s heir be? State office holder’s retirement opens up race for House
 

Who will Haire’s heir be? State office holder’s retirement opens up race for House

N.C. Rep. Phil Haire’s decision not to run for re-election after 14 years in office opens the door for a…
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Long-time state legislator retires
 

Long-time state legislator retires

N.C. Rep. Phil Haire, D-Sylva, will retire from the state legislature this year after 14 years in office. Haire will…
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Building community protects against calamity
 

Building community protects against calamity

While reading the article “Getting ready: Growing number of preppers work to ensure survival in case of societal collapse” (Dec.…
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99 percenters better pay attention to GOP
 

99 percenters better pay attention to GOP

To the Editor: To all 99 percenters. You had better be paying attention to what Newt Gingrich and his cronies…
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Does the right practice what it preaches?
 

Does the right practice what it preaches?

To the Editor: We find ourselves during the holidays celebrating the birth of a man whose teaching greatly affected our…
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Cutting Russ Avenue trees was bad move
 

Cutting Russ Avenue trees was bad move

To the Editor: I think that clear-cutting the slope on Russ Avenue across the road from Kmart was ridiculous. I…
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Why spend money moving art during tough times?
 

Why spend money moving art during tough times?

To the Editor: As I bounce merrily along the potholes on the way into town, I often wonder if the…
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Staring down a blank computer on deadline
 

Staring down a blank computer on deadline

It happens to writers much better than me. I know this, because I need only to open a book and…
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Numbers tell the tale: New Jackson library a self-fulfilling prophecy
 

Numbers tell the tale: New Jackson library a self-fulfilling prophecy

The number of people applying for library cards in Jackson County has doubled since the new library opened this summer.…
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New Sylva library top in the state
 

New Sylva library top in the state

Everyone who has seen and toured Jackson County’s new public library knows that it’s beautiful, but now the state has…
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Waynesville begins fund drive to pay for historic arch replica
 

Waynesville begins fund drive to pay for historic arch replica

Donations are already rolling in for the Waynesville Art Commission’s latest public art piece, a replica of the historic Smokies’…
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Clyde’s top cop sidelined on suspension
 

Clyde’s top cop sidelined on suspension

Clyde’s police chief has been placed on suspension, but town leaders are not saying why. Police Chief Derek Dendy is…
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Motorcycle battle royale: Maggie parleys with Rally in the Valley, Thunder in the Smokies to negotiate truce
 

Motorcycle battle royale: Maggie parleys with Rally in the Valley, Thunder in the Smokies to negotiate truce

The coordinators of the annual Rally in the Valley motorcycle event have strapped Maggie Valley leaders a seemingly impossible ultimatum…
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Jack Stern demos his oil painting techniques
 

Jack Stern demos his oil painting techniques

Landscape painter Jack Stern will demonstrate oil painting techniques at 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Swain County Center…
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Sylva library offers monthly music performances
 

Sylva library offers monthly music performances

The Jackson County Public Library in downtown Sylva hosts a daytime music program on the first Friday of every month…
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‘Memories’ with Barbara Bates Smith
 

‘Memories’ with Barbara Bates Smith

Actress Barbara Bates Smith will perform her adaptation of the Lee Smith short story, “The Happy Memories Club,” at 2…
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Fiber artist to give rug hooking demo in Jackson
 

Fiber artist to give rug hooking demo in Jackson

The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host fiber artist Jerry Spears for a demonstration of traditional rug hooking…
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Bryson City library to show family classic
 

Bryson City library to show family classic

The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City will show another family classic at 3:30 p.m., Jan. 3. The 2011 movie…
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Mountain Heritage Center series to feature Ric Ledford and Reems Creek Incident
 

Mountain Heritage Center series to feature Ric Ledford and Reems Creek Incident

The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Series will continue at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center on Jan. 5…
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Gateway Club to host New Year party
 

Gateway Club to host New Year party

The Gateway Club in Waynesville will hold a New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31 in its dining room. The…
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N.C. Humanities Council invests in cultural projects statewide
 

N.C. Humanities Council invests in cultural projects statewide

The North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has awarded $57,486…
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Fireworks in the mountains on New Year’s Eve
 

Fireworks in the mountains on New Year’s Eve

Fontana Village Resort is planning its annual New Year’s Eve celebration in the Smokies. The 2011 New Year’s Eve Bash…
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HCC goes high-tech for the holidays
 

HCC goes high-tech for the holidays

At Haywood Community College’s Regional High Technology Center, students created a Christmas tree like no other — a high-tech tree. All…
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Learning the craft
 

Learning the craft

In a classic case of the student becoming the teacher, Brock Martin signed up for his first blacksmithing class at…
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Navigating the waterways of WNC
 

Navigating the waterways of WNC

When one thinks about navigation in regard to the rivers here in the Smokies region, it’s old-time ferries and modern-day…
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Gov. Purdue recognizes Save the Frogs Day
 

Gov. Purdue recognizes Save the Frogs Day

Gov. Beverly Purdue of North Carolina recently issued a proclamation officially declaring April 28 “Save the Frogs Day” in the…
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Group negotiates compromise to save old-growth stands
 

Group negotiates compromise to save old-growth stands

Conservation groups are hailing an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service that they say will protect an area of rare…
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Friends save tract bordering the park
 

Friends save tract bordering the park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park got an early Holiday gift on Dec. 14 when the Friends of the Smokies officially…
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National Park road updates hit Twitter
 

National Park road updates hit Twitter

If you want to know which roads are closed because of weather conditions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,…
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New NC bird habitat map online via Audubon
 

New NC bird habitat map online via Audubon

Audubon North Carolina has put out a new edition of Important Bird Areas of North Carolina, a full-color publication with…
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Start the New Year with a hike at Gorges Park
 

Start the New Year with a hike at Gorges Park

Gorges State Park is sponsoring a free, guided hike on New Year’s Day. This is a part of First Day…
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Frosty Foot trail races coming to Tsali
 

Frosty Foot trail races coming to Tsali

Feeling sprightly in the New Year? Then hit the trails in the Tsali National Forest Recreation Area Jan. 7 with…
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Walking trail at Lake Junaluska lengthened
 

Walking trail at Lake Junaluska lengthened

The walking trail at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center is getting longer thanks to a new one-half mile extension…
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Become a Master Gardener
 

Become a Master Gardener

If you are in Jackson and Swain counties, it’s time to sign up for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service’s Master…
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A wonderful Christmas gift
 

A wonderful Christmas gift

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Wild South, the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) and the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition…
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Surf’s up on the Nanty: Paddler feedback integral to honing the new ‘Wave’
 

Surf’s up on the Nanty: Paddler feedback integral to honing the new ‘Wave’

The common phrase heard among kayakers daring the Nantahala’s new wave: “It’s getting there.” The Wave in the Nantahala Gorge…
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Nicholson returns to City Lights with a trio of new horror novels
 

Nicholson returns to City Lights with a trio of new horror novels

Scott Nicholson will visit City Lights Bookstore to present and sign his three latest horror novels: Chronic Fear, Liquid Fear…
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A season to reconnect with familiar stories
 

A season to reconnect with familiar stories

That time of year has arrived when ritual and custom weave their magical threads into our lives. We sip Uncle…
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Art classes offered at Old Armory Recreation Center
 

Art classes offered at Old Armory Recreation Center

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer art classes at the Old Armory Recreation Center beginning in January. There…
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Casino to host New Year’s Eve gala
 

Casino to host New Year’s Eve gala

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel will celebrate the New Year with a burlesque show. The evening will feature live entertainment at…
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HCC names winners in first-ever photo contest
 

HCC names winners in first-ever photo contest

Haywood Community College recently announced the winners of the school’s first photo contest. HCC student Samantha Faust’s “Learning to Swim”…
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts New Year’s Eve bash
 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad hosts New Year’s Eve bash

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will ring in the New Year with a dinner and dance Dec. 31. As the…
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The Moody Blues to perform at Harrah’s in March
 

The Moody Blues to perform at Harrah’s in March

The Moody Blues will perform at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel on March 31 as part of their 32-city U.S.…
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Freight Hoppers to appear at Jack of the Wood
 

Freight Hoppers to appear at Jack of the Wood

The Freight Hoppers, a nationally known string band, will play at Jack of the Wood in Asheville at 11 p.m.,…
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Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir comes to Asheville
 

Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir comes to Asheville

The Soweto Gospel Choir will fill the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium with music at 4 p.m. on Jan. 29. Part of…
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Sylva resident to teach art of bookbinding
 

Sylva resident to teach art of bookbinding

Phyllis Jarvinen of Sylva will demonstrate and teach a mini-workshop on book arts and book binding at the Art League…
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WCU to offer stained glass course beginning Jan. 12
 

WCU to offer stained glass course beginning Jan. 12

Western Carolina University will hold a stained glass course every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. from Jan. 12 through…
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Over the top and proud of it: Hazelwood neighbors light up a neighborhood to celebrate the season
 

Over the top and proud of it: Hazelwood neighbors light up a neighborhood to celebrate the season

Want to see, for free, one of the best examples of folk art to be found in Western North Carolina?…
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Navel oranges bring back memories of Dad, Christmas
 

Navel oranges bring back memories of Dad, Christmas

On Christmas Eve, my dad would always bring home a huge box of navel oranges and bags of pecans, walnuts,…
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