Smoky Mountain News

11/30/2025

Young people of the counterculture movement would gather weekly to discuss spiritual values and the vision of a new society. The focal point and facilitator for these meetings was Stephen Gaskin, a creative writing teacher from San Francisco State University who left his position to play an active role in the changing times. Gaskin was invited by a group of ministers to hold a series of talks in churches throughout the United States.

Georgia poet and author Rupert Fike and I lived in the San Francisco Bay area during the 1970s in a time of social renaissance and spiritual awakening. He was with a core group community of some 300 young activists and idealists. The earliest beginnings of this community go back to San Francisco and...

11/30/2025

"Our need for connection is rooted deep within our biology — as important as food, water and shelter. In fact, a 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General stated that the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to smoking 15 ci******es a day and supersedes the negative impacts of obesity and physical inactivity."

What’s the point of human existence if we’re not part of something bigger than ourselves?  Our need for connection is rooted deep within our biology — as important as food, water and shelter. In fact, a 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General stated that the mortality impact of being soci...

11/29/2025

"While I’m sitting and looking out the window of the local laundromat here in West Waynesville, I notice how dirty my rusty, musty, trusty pickup truck has become since I last washed it, which, I think, may have been last winter or so. One year’s worth of dirt along endless miles of unforgiving roads, both geographically and spiritually."

While I’m sitting and looking out the window of the local laundromat here in West Waynesville, I notice how dirty my rusty, musty, trusty pickup truck has become since I last washed it, which, I think, may have been last winter or so. One year’s worth of dirt along endless miles of unforgiving r...

11/29/2025

"These are my people, my tribe, those I’d do anything for, literally cut off my arm or yank out my eyeballs if that’s what they needed, but shopping on a fall afternoon is not my idea of fun, not with a light breeze gently twisting the leaves back and forth as they try to hang on to the tree limb, the glinting sun making orange sparklers of those leaves right in front of me."

It was a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, and I was chafing. Perhaps you saw me. I was that 65-ish guy with sunglasses and a ball cap standing outside the REACH second-hand store in downtown Hazelwood. My lovely wife, my beautiful daughter and my spectacular three-month-old grandson are inside, bro...

11/28/2025

Haywood County singer-songwriter Ginny McAfee will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill in Maggie Valley.

For McAfee, the stage is not just a place to showcase her talent, it’s a platform to share her own unique musical expression with attentive audiences who appreciate originality.

Haywood County singer-songwriter Ginny McAfee will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill in Maggie Valley. For McAfee, the stage is not just a place to showcase her talent, it’s a platform to share her own unique musical expression with attentive audiences ...

11/28/2025

Regional Americana act Somebody’s Child will perform at 6 p.m. tonight at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

For more than a decade, Ashley Claxton and Cola Williamson have been filling the venues of Western North Carolina with their intrepid sounds.

Regional Americana act Somebody’s Child will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City. For more than a decade, Ashley Claxton and Cola Williamson have been filling the venues of Western North Carolina with their intrepid sounds. While minimalistic, these...

11/27/2025

The Summit Charter School Foundation announced that the 2025 Cashiers Festival of Trees will open on Friday, Nov. 28, at 370 Mitten Lane in Cashiers. The festive fundraiser — accessible both in person and online — will run through Saturday, Nov. 29, with doors open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Summit Charter School Foundation announced that the 2025 Cashiers Festival of Trees will open on Friday, Nov. 28, at 370 Mitten Lane in Cashiers. The festive fundraiser — accessible both in person and online — will run through Saturday, Nov. 29, with doors open to the public from 10 a.m. to ...

11/26/2025

After lingering in limbo following initial construction, the state came through with funding to complete the project after Sen. Kevin Corbin and Rep. Karl Gillespie, both Macon County natives, were able to procure what was needed.

A new fire substation in Franklin years in the making is now operational.  After lingering in limbo following initial construction, the state came through with funding to complete the project after Sen. Kevin Corbin and Rep. Karl Gillespie, both Macon County natives, were able to procure w...

11/26/2025

There were two relatively small issues where board members struggled to agree and fell into circular discussions.

The Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees is again struggling to implement changes as it trudges forward without legal representation.  At the Nov. 12 meeting, held in Jackson County, Cynthia Womble, who in September resigned her position as board chair but remains on the board, again expr...

11/26/2025

Families can partake in wagon rides, ice skating, craft sales and art demonstrations, all the while enjoying authentic mountain music, clogging and parades through several downtowns. These are just some of the innumerable activities to be had.

As the temperature drops in Western North Carolina, the fun only heats up. The holiday season here is filled with events and activities aimed to celebrate the best way we know how — with friends, family and visitors alike.  Families can partake in wagon rides, ice skating, craft sales and art...

11/26/2025

Starting Dec. 1, 2025, contractors will be on-site at the Haywood County parking deck located at 143 Branner Ave. in Waynesville to begin replacing both elevators.

The elevators currently in use are more than 20 years old and upgrading them is necessary to keep things running safely and smoothly. The project will take about six months to complete.

Starting Dec. 1, 2025, contractors will be on-site at the Haywood County parking deck located at 143 Branner Ave. in Waynesville to begin replacing both elevators. The elevators currently in use are more than 20 years old and upgrading them is necessary to keep things running safely and smoothly. Th...

11/25/2025

Here's a look at this week's cover. Check it out online and on newsstands tomorrow!