Bryson land-use standards up for public review
 

Bryson land-use standards up for public review

Critics of Bryson City’s land use regulations will get another opportunity to sandblast the ordinance. The town of Bryson City…
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Stuck in a rut: Too few jobs coming on line
 

Stuck in a rut: Too few jobs coming on line

Similar to other parts of the U.S., counties in Western North Carolina have been plagued with high unemployment rates and…
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Desperate for work, WNC residents flock to regional jobs fair
 

Desperate for work, WNC residents flock to regional jobs fair

People once again lined up at the Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville last week, but this time they weren't waiting…
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Fontana Dam gets a temporary reprieve from post office closure
 

Fontana Dam gets a temporary reprieve from post office closure

The town of Fontana Dam can still send and receive mail via its own post office — at least for…
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Bear shooting leads to a bevy of charges, from poaching to littering
 

Bear shooting leads to a bevy of charges, from poaching to littering

Wildlife officers have charged a Cashiers man with killing a bear that he claimed was damaging his property, the second…
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Dogs’ anti-freeze deaths sadden families
 

Dogs’ anti-freeze deaths sadden families

Two dogs in the rural countryside of Upper Crabtree in Haywood County died from antifreeze poisoning last week, a tragic…
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The poetry in a weather’s sharp vision
 

The poetry in a weather’s sharp vision

Note: This essay was originally written for The Smoky Mountain News. It was subsequently revised and collected in Mountain Passages,…
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Farm and forest land eligible for tax breaks
 

Farm and forest land eligible for tax breaks

If you have 10 acres or more of agricultural land or five acres of horticultural land and make a gross…
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Help the environment farming, the feds might help you
 

Help the environment farming, the feds might help you

Farmers are eligible for grant money to help with projects to make their operations more environmentally-friendly through the USDA’s Natural…
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Group runs to inspire half-marathon hopefuls
 

Group runs to inspire half-marathon hopefuls

If the holidays resulted in a few extra inches to your waistline and you’re determined to get fit, a free…
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The ethics of conservation in your own backyard
 

The ethics of conservation in your own backyard

A program called “Land Ethics: Reconnecting with the Natural World” will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 at…
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HCC a national model of sustainable practices
 

HCC a national model of sustainable practices

Haywood Community College’s hard work to build a sustainable campus is featured on a campus sustainability case study database. The…
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Mount Mitchell gets new superintendent
 

Mount Mitchell gets new superintendent

Bryan Wilder, a veteran state park ranger, has been promoted to superintendent of Mount Mitchell State Park. Wilder takes over…
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A Wild Week in the Wilderness
 

A Wild Week in the Wilderness

The 22nd Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week is scheduled for Jan. 7-14 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. This year’s Wildlife Week boasts…
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Origin of WCU white squirrel a mystery
 

Origin of WCU white squirrel a mystery

A rare sighting of a white squirrel at Western Carolina University has workers there abuzz. The squirrel has been spotted…
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Separating the good guys from the bad
 

Separating the good guys from the bad

About 20 years ago, the book collector’s magazine “First” published an impressive article on George Pelecanos, a new writer that…
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Suzanne Raether at City Lights
 

Suzanne Raether at City Lights

Suzanne Raether will read from and sign her novel, Judaculla, Friday, at 7 p.m. on Jan.13 at City Lights Bookstore…
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“Coffee with the Poet” series kicks off new year
 

“Coffee with the Poet” series kicks off new year

Michael Revere will present his poetry for the January “Coffee with the Poet” series at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 19…
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Vigil planned for troops
 

Vigil planned for troops

Honor the troops who have fought in the war in Iraq by participating in a candlelight vigil on Friday, Dec.…
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Support available for prostate patients
 

Support available for prostate patients

MedWest Health System is sponsoring “Man to Man” support group meetings for prostate cancer patients and survivors. The meetings are…
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Judo classes to start
 

Judo classes to start

Beginner judo classes in Waynesville start Jan. 3 through the Waynesville Kodokan Judo Club. The club practices at the Waynesville…
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Going for the green: Tribe debates future course for Sequoyah Golf Club
 

Going for the green: Tribe debates future course for Sequoyah Golf Club

Despite a double-digit rise in revenue this year, the Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee is at least five more…
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School wants to help foundation
 

School wants to help foundation

Smokey Mountain Elementary seventh-grade students will help the Tye Blanton Foundation through their “Service to Others” project. Tye, who died…
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Mustang magic: Magazine marvels over restoration job by Franklin man
 

Mustang magic: Magazine marvels over restoration job by Franklin man

Jim Pennington’s rebuilt Mustang car is a thing of beauty. Candy-apple red, spotlessly clean, sleek lines and an immaculate, original…
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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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