Smoky Mountain News

09/10/2026

At the latest quarterly board meeting for the utility, held in Memphis, Tennessee, the board passed the rate change, while moving forward with its Integrated Resource Plan, a document that outlines its approach to energy through 2050.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which covers seven states in the Southeast including a portion of Western North Carolina, just passed a new rate for data centers. At the latest quarterly board meeting for the utility, held in Memphis, Tennessee, the board passed the rate change, while moving f...

09/10/2026

Asheville made international headlines last week when its Omni Grove Park Inn hosted the Group of 20 finance track summit.

Asheville made international headlines last week when its Omni Grove Park Inn hosted the Group of 20 finance track summit. The summit is an annual global forum aimed at securing financial stability and consensus. It consists of delegates from 20 nations representing roughly 85% of the world’s popu...

09/10/2026

Marquee bluegrass ensemble Authentic Unlimited will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Marquee bluegrass ensemble Authentic Unlimited will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Authentic Unlimited is a dynamic bluegrass band that blends rich harmonies with skillful instrumentation to create a sound that is both t...

09/09/2026

Swain County Manager Tommy Dills at a Sept. 1 commission meeting proposed the county purchase 67 Lakeview Drive, colloquially known as the airport property, for nearly $3 million. No tax increase would be necessary, he said, to finance the transaction. Commissioners appeared unanimously onboard with Dills’ recommendation.

Swain County Manager Tommy Dills at a Sept. 1 commission meeting proposed the county purchase 67 Lakeview Drive, colloquially known as the airport property, for nearly $3 million. No tax increase would be necessary, he said, to finance the transaction. Commissioners appeared unanimously onboard with...

09/09/2026

“This campaign has supported academic excellence. It has expanded opportunities for community and global engagement. It has helped position our student-athletes for success through transformational investments in athletics facilities. Most importantly, it has created opportunities that will change lives for generations of students.”

Western Carolina University (WCU) has concluded its ambitious “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign with more than $110 million in philanthropic support pouring in to benefit the institution’s academic, student engagement, and athletics programs. The record-breaking campaig...

09/08/2026

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

09/08/2026

Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center will host the final Conversations with Storytellers event of the season at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.

This event is particularly special because it highlights the voices of elders in the Pigeon Community, the people who have made it what it is today.

Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center will host the final Conversations with Storytellers event of the season at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. This event is particularly special because it highlights the voices of elders in the Pigeon Community, the people who have made it what it is today....

09/08/2026

"I used to joke with friends while I lived in Athens, Georgia, that I was something of a North Carolina supremacist. I was referring to the hiking, of course."

I used to joke with friends while I lived in Athens, Georgia, that I was something of a North Carolina supremacist. I was referring to the hiking, of course. The piedmont didn’t do much to excite me, and without higher elevations to escape to, I had little desire to be outside in the oppressive Ge...

09/08/2026

"If you know where to get Pawpaws, you’re lucky indeed. Inside of that lumpy green fruit are large brown seeds that you don’t eat. Surrounding those seeds is flesh that tastes something like banana custard combined with a mango. They are delicious!"

Have you ever eaten a Pawpaw? No, I’m not asking you if you have a history of elderly cannibalism. I’m talking about North America’s largest tree fruit, the Pawpaw Asimina triloba. Have you ever had one? If you haven’t, I’m not that surprised. Even though this species of tree and its fruit...

09/07/2026

Americana/folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

Americana/folk singer-songwriter Alan Edwards will perform at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity not built on outward style, but inner substance. He is joined by....