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Taking readers down a deep spiral
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Penguin Books, 2005. 487 pagesLet’s begin with a marvelous story —…
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I-40 opens at last
Interstate 40, closed since October due to a massive rockslide, reopened with little fanfare on Sunday evening. For the people…
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Haywood schools, HCC struggle to meet needs as revenues plummet
With Haywood County’s revenues down by 4 percent, schools are looking at another year of disappointing budget allocations at the…
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Enrollment audit a slow, uneasy process for Cherokee
In a 2002 referendum, the members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voted to authorize an audit of the…
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Key candidates missing at Swain forum
Swain County citizens might have been more thrilled about a candidate forum that was held Thursday, April 22, than the…
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Admiration, maybe, but no love for the boar
Numerous non-native plants have been introduced into the southern mountains during the last century or so. Many are now classified…
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X marks the spot
I turned 35 years old on Tax Day. I’ve been stuck with that birth date from the beginning and have…
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WCU students teach business owners to use social media
When John Miele, co-owner of the Golden Carp, left a social media class recently taught by Western Carolina University students,…
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NOC’s Great Outpost
Nantahala Outdoor Center is positioned to become a major player in the outdoors scene on the Tennessee side of the…
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Ambitious development going nowhere
All visible signs of the grandiose megadevelopment known as Cataloochee Wilderness Resorts have vanished from public view in Haywood County.…
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The Naturalist's Corner
A little spring cleaning It was a busy weekend and there’s a busy weekend coming up, so I’m going to…
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A hub for all things outdoors
For the outdoors lover, stepping into NOC’s Great Outpost in Gatlinburg is like being a kid in a candy shop.…
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Rallying around a historic tree
Against all odds, a 250-year-old scarlet oak tree still stands on N.C. 110 south of Canton, despite being struck by…
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A huge pile of good intentions
Haywood County Solid Waste Director Stephen King did not spend his interview with The Smoky Mountain News sitting at an…
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A 21st Century Strategy for America’s Great Outdoors
By Mark Singleton • Guest Columnist Even in times of crisis, we’re called to take the long view to preserve…
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Alcohol banned at recreation sites
The US. Forest Service has banned alcohol use at 11 recreation sites in the Nantahala National Forest. The sites include:…
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Kephart’s persona was well crafted
Our consideration of “books and all things related” continues with a look at an instance when a well-known author (and…
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N.C. 47th Senate
North Carolina’s 47th District Senate seat represents Haywood, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery and McDowell counties. Republican voters will choose between…
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Jackson Sheriff’s race reveals rift in county
The Jackson County Sheriff’s race is hot and getting hotter. While a controversial pay raise and allegations of questionable financial…
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Candidates weigh in
Democrats Donnie Dixon: “I can’t rightfully say he’s done a bad job. It could reflect the commissioners’ doings...I have nothing…
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Evergreen Foundation needs to be reined in
It is past time someone looked closely at just what is going on with the Evergreen Foundation, because apparently those…
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Sylva board elects to pay music licensing
With Sylva’s annual street festival Greening Up the Mountains right around the corner, town commissioners had a somewhat unusual decision…
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Ghost Town charts course to walk away from debt
A primary owner of Ghost Town in the Sky wants to buy the amusement park out of bankruptcy. But there’s…
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Three open judge seats leads to crowded field of hopefuls
While a hotly contested judge’s race is dominating the water cooler gossip in lawyers’ offices, the average voter likely has…
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N.C. 50th Senate
The 50th Senate seat represents Jackson, Macon, Swain, Clay, Graham, and Cherokee counties, along with a portion of Haywood. Republican…
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Swain manager’s decision-making under fire as campaign heats up
In the lead-up to the primary elections on May 4, criticism of the current administration is stewing underground in Swain…
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Jackson EDC debate is over, again
Anyone who thought the discussion over the Jackson County Economic Development Commission’s missing audits was over when the board closed…
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Demand for referendums impractical, says county attorney
Haywood County Attorney Chip Killian had his response ready for the citizen activists who have incessantly demanded referendums on a…
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Early voting off to slow start
Early voting began last Thursday, April 15, and runs through noon on Saturday, May 1. As of press time Tuesday,…
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The Naturalist's Corner
Earth Day: hope vs. optimism Lordy, lordy look who’s 40 — Earth Day and the EPA. Officially created and established…
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Trout Festival comes to Maggie Valley
From buttered trout fillets to a trout race, all things trout will be celebrated during the 21st annual Great Smoky…
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Meet the candidates
Three District Court judge seats are up for election in the seven western counties. The race for judge isn’t partisan,…
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Bring poetry to the people
“April is the cruelest of months, breeding/ lilacs out of the dead land” — so wrote T.S. Eliot in the…
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Politicking illegal at county meetings
At the last Haywood commissioners meeting, a citizen asked Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick and Commissioner Bill Upton to answer a political…
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Veterans take to Cherokee waters for healing
I don't do people, Bart Crowe said matter-of-factly. But there he was getting his fishing tackle together to hit the…
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Rafe Hollister coins unique and authentic genre of mountain rock
Diehard fans of “The Andy Griffith Show” would know there’s more than meets the eye to Rafe Hollister. The coarse…
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Haywood Waterways’ new leader
After years of being the in-the-stream science guy behind Haywood Waterways Association, Eric Romaniszyn is taking the helm as the…
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Debate Web site new to WNC election scene
Shane Burrell’s idea was simple: create a Web site where political candidates can talk to directly to voters about issues.…
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Haywood commissioner candidates tackle the county’s hot-button issues
Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for three seats on the Haywood County board of commissioners. Only three from…
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Haywood commissioner candidates tackle the county’s hot-button issues
Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for three seats on the Haywood County board of commissioners. Only three from…
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Scant primary in Jackson commissioner race
While three of five seats are up for election on the Jackson County board of commissioners, there is primary competition…
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Swain commissioner candidates
Democratic candidates, pick four Steve Moon, 59, owner of a tire shop, incumbent Moon is finishing up his first term…
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Fiscal responsibility resounding theme in Macon election
This year in Macon County, three seats on the board are up for election. Each commissioner represents a geographic district…
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Catching air on the Nantahala
Big names in paddling will dish up their best stunts and tricks in the NOC Freestyle Shootout kayak rodeo on…
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Haywood commissioner candidates
Democrat candidates, pick three Raymond L. Brooks, 59, owner of trucking company Brooks has worked with citizens for more than…
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Cherokee casino renovation halfway home
Last week, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians celebrated the topping off of their new 21-story hotel tower, the centerpiece…
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Oversight of mental health foundation called into question
Western North Carolina’s mental health agency may be headed for a civil war with its partner foundation. Smoky Mountain Center,…
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Swain and Graham strike deal over ambulance service to motorcycle Mecca
Swain County is nearing the end of an ongoing saga with neighboring Graham County over who will provide emergency services…
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Will cell phones rule the World??
By John Beckman • Guest Columnist If Alexander Graham Bell were alive today he’d probably be carrying an iPhone. Based…
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Time to tackle immigration reform
Now that the health care debate is over, here’s what we have: a very middle-of-the-road health insurance reform package. Most…
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