Trans people just don’t exist
 

Trans people just don’t exist

To the Editor: Your entire article regarding the trans person at the Waynesville Recreation Center  starts with a lie.
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Maury Wahtera, of Franklin, snorkels with her son Henry, 8, during an event Aug. 2. Holly Kays photo
 

Face-to-face with fish

Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail celebrates kickoff 
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Jon Ogburn came across these eastern box turtles mating in his driveway. The male’s concave belly shell makes mating easier, but even so it’s a precarious position. Jon Ogburn photo
 

Up Moses Creek: ‘It’s a Wild World’

I hiked up the ridge behind our house early one July morning and saw an eastern box turtle with a millipede…
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The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway passes through 29 counties. File photo
 

Help Blue Ridge Parkway communities plan their strategy

A series of meetings this month in seven communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway will help formulate an action plan…
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In a 2022 photo, bears eat dog food a person intentionally placed on the ground to attract them, a behavior that causes danger to both humans and bears. NPS photo
 

Bear scratches Smokies visitor, causing road closure

 Rich Mountain Road in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed to all traffic…
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Eighth-graders check out aquatic creatures during the annual Kids in the Creek event. HWA photo
 

Wish Haywood Waterways a happy 25th birthday

Help Haywood Waterways Association celebrate its 25th birthday with trivia and reminiscing 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at BearWaters in…
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Children get an up-close look at some native creatures during Honoring Long Man Day in 2022. N.C. Arboretum photo
 

Kids science program expands to Cherokee

A Cherokee Preservation Foundation grant awarded in March is allowing the N.C. Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program to deliver monthly environmental programming…
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Sam Knob. File photo
 

Rehab Sam Knob

Help the Carolina Mountain Club rehabilitate the trail to the Sam Knob summit during a workday Saturday, Aug. 19.
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A loaded tomato vine comes ripe. File photo
 

Assessment referendum coming up for tomato growers

The N.C. Tomato Growers Association will conduct an August referendum on assessments per harvested commercial tomatoes.
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Bird Buck Springs
 

Bird Buck Springs

Go birding at Buck Spring along the Blue Ridge Parkway with an expedition meeting 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at…
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E. coli testing yields mixed results in Little Tennessee, Hiawassee watersheds
 

E. coli testing yields mixed results in Little Tennessee, Hiawassee watersheds

Halfway through the season for its weekly E. coli sampling program in Western North Carolina swimming holes, MountainTrue reported 11…
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July finishes hot for N.C.
 

July finishes hot for N.C.

Following two months of cooler-than-average temperatures, July came in hot in North Carolina. According to the N.C. State Climate Office,…
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Harrowing MST maintenance project complete
 

Harrowing MST maintenance project complete

Four years ago, the Carolina Mountain Club identified the “forgotten 14” as an unsafe section within its 155-mile maintenance responsibility…
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Be prepared outdoors
 

Be prepared outdoors

Learn how to stay safe in the woods with a course 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at…
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Get schooled in the Smokies
 

Get schooled in the Smokies

Catch a doubleheader in mountain education with a pair of programs offered through the University of Tennessee Smoky Mountain Field…
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An adult female Nesticus nasicus spider carries her egg sac. Marshal Hedin photo
 

Word from the Smokies: Dykeman namesake among three new Smokies spiders

By Frances Figart • Contributing writer | Although the word “spider” may elicit a “yuck” or an “ew” from many…
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The Nolichucky River flows through  WNC and East Tennessee.  Garret K. Woodward photo
 

This must be the place: ‘No, I’d rather go and journey where the diamond crescent’s glowing’

Parking the truck at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Nolichucky River on the outskirts of the small…
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Erin McCarson will appear onstage at HART. Donated photo
 

HART presents ‘Every Brilliant Thing’

A one-hour, one-person show, a production of “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan MacMillan will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug.…
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Cherokee chief candidates make their case: Tribal finance, business ventures key issues in 2023 race
 

Cherokee chief candidates make their case: Tribal finance, business ventures key issues in 2023 race

As voters ponder the ballot for executive offices within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians next month, they’ll be looking…
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Jon Hardister is currently in his sixth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Facebook photo
 

Working his way up

Hardister seeks important labor post 
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Sylva Pipes opened to the public in June. Hannah McLeod photo
 

What’s next for Sylva skate? Commissioners continue to work toward a skatepark

  Now that Sylva Pipes is up and running with a temporary half-pipe, commissioners are looking at next steps for…
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 The Higdon property is located across the street from Franklin High School. Zillow photo
 

County to lease Higdon property to school system

After Macon County declared its intent to purchase the Higdon property earlier this year, there was some confusion  as to…
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The Virginia big-eared bat has been listed as endangered since 1979. Larisa Bishop-Boros photo
 

Forest plan will harm endangered bats, conservation groups say

Groups file intent to sue Forest Service 
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Haywood community wellness program opens registration
 

Haywood community wellness program opens registration

The Haywood 4 Good community wellness program announced that registration is open for the fall 2023 program.
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Fund established to support transition following mill closure
 

Fund established to support transition following mill closure

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) has established a charitable fund to support nonprofit organizations and municipalities impacted…
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What would a library be without ‘outside influences’?
 

What would a library be without ‘outside influences’?

At the June 27 meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners, Chairman Bill Dyar was asked by Leah Gaston…
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Life lessons learned this summer
 

Life lessons learned this summer

This summer I’ve been learning several important life lessons. 
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Community makes things less scary
 

Community makes things less scary

To the Editor: After attending the meeting on Tuesday evening at the Waynesville Town Hall, one of the speeches that…
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Thanks for showing Pless’ spiteful actions
 

Thanks for showing Pless’ spiteful actions

To the Editor: Thanks to Scott McLeod for pointing out the inappropriate control Mark Pless wants to have in local…
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A whitetail shiner caught during sampling is held up with the mill in the background. NCWRC photo
 

‘Hard to believe’: Downstream fish populations explode following mill closure

When the impending closure of Canton’s paper mill was announced in March, conservation professionals predicted a swift improvement  in downstream…
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Sometimes standing as high as 8 feet, the native Turk’s-cap lily is often taller than most people. Adam Bigelow photo
 

Notes from a plant nerd: A lily so superb

Right now, throughout Southern Appalachia, and especially along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Balsam Gap in either direction, one of…
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The green floater is a candidate for threatened species status. Ryan Hagerty/USFWS photo
 

Threatened status proposed for N.C. mussel species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to list the green floater, a freshwater mussel found in North Carolina, as…
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A Venus flytrap plant displays deep red traps. Dale Suiter photo
 

Venus flytrap will not be listed as threatened or endangered

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided not to pursue listing the Venus flytrap as a threatened or endangered…
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The sun sets over Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Donated photo
 

Meet Mountain Bridge

The last Zahner Conservation Lecture of the year will focus on the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area of neighboring South Carolina…
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Kids try out freshwater snorkeling. File photo
 

Go snorkeling

Break in the new snorkeling site at East LaPorte Park in Cullowhee during an event 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.
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Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is home to old-growth trees. File photo
 

Experience spirituality among old-growth trees

Take a hike through the old-growth forest at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Robbinsville at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5,…
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Perfect your cast
 

Perfect your cast

Learn to fly fish this month with lessons offered by Haywood County Recreation.
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Hike Haywood
 

Hike Haywood

Explore the trails of Haywood County with a series of hikes offered this month from Haywood County Recreation and Parks.
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Mountain State Fair entry deadlines coming up
 

Mountain State Fair entry deadlines coming up

It’s time to start entering exhibits in the 2023 N.C. Mountain State Fair, coming Sept. 8-17 at the Western North…
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NPS issues decision on Gatlinburg Spur improvements
 

NPS issues decision on Gatlinburg Spur improvements

The National Park Service issued a decision and a “Finding of No Significant Impact” for the Gatlinburg Spur Improvements Environmental…
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Waynesville forms Environmental Sustainability Board
 

Waynesville forms Environmental Sustainability Board

The Town of Waynesville is looking for members to serve on its new Environmental Sustainability Board.
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Pick up tips for living with bears
 

Pick up tips for living with bears

Learn how to live safely with black bears during a program at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Macon…
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In addition to men's and women's locker rooms, Waynesville's Recreation Center has a gender-neutral family locker room as well.
 

Waynesville unites against hate and bigotry after false trans allegations

Claims of indecent behavior involving a transgender person at the Waynesville Recreation Center roiled this tight-knight rural community last week,…
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Pactiv Evergreen contests chemical dumping allegations
 

Pactiv Evergreen contests chemical dumping allegations

In response to a July 10 notice of violation accusing Pactiv Evergreen of illegally dumping unused chemicals  into the wastewater…
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Artimus Pyle is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. File photo
 

Believe in me for who I am: Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer to play AVLfest

On Oct. 20, 1977, a plane carrying southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed into the woods near Gillsburg, Mississippi.
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Wyoming is the least-populated state in America. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

This must be the place: ‘I’m wondering where you are tonight and I’m wondering if you are all right’

Hello from Room 209 at the Super 8 on the outskirts of Rawlins, Wyoming. Late morning and taking my time…
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An indigenous road map for all mankind
 

An indigenous road map for all mankind

Sometimes a great book just falls into my lap, which is what happened recently with Sherri Mitchell’s “Sacred Instructions” (North…
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A member of Dogwood Crafters, Bill Douglas specializes in woodworking and weaving.
 

Bill Douglas: Passing down a bit of history

Heritage crafter Bill Douglas is continually gathering knowledge about the processes he uses to produce his work and takes great…
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Dangerous vigilante fantasies must end
 

Dangerous vigilante fantasies must end

What does Jason Aldean have to do with the recent uproar over a transgender person using the swimming pool at…
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Pless continues to support some ‘bad stuff’
 

Pless continues to support some ‘bad stuff’

Rep. Mark Pless, to put it bluntly, is a piece of work.
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