Mountain Pediatrics re-opens Canton office
 

Mountain Pediatrics re-opens Canton office

Mountain Pediatric Group’s Canton location, temporarily closed during the pandemic, has now reopened and is accepting new patients. 
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Transparency efforts underway for cops, teachers, other gov’t employees

For the very first time, the North Carolina General Assembly will consider giving the public meaningful access to personnel records…
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New leadership for Jackson County Schools

Jackson County Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. Dana Ayers as its new superintendent beginning June 1. 
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COVID-19: Those We've Lost

By Sally Kestin | Asheville Watchdog They taught students in school, delivered the mail, advised Congress, and served the country in…
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Ghost Town developers reach major milestone

In another encouraging sign of progress, ownership of the land upon which Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town in the Sky amusement…
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Vaccine distribution update from Haywood

Key Updates: Haywood County has opened vaccination to all groups eligible under North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services…
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Macon reports two more COVID-related deaths

Macon County Public Health received notification that two Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away.
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Detour Allows Crews to Finish Dillsboro Bridge
 

Detour Allows Crews to Finish Dillsboro Bridge

SYLVA – Just one short phase remains before a major bridge project in Jackson County is functionally complete.
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Environmental Review Process Complete for Corridor K
 

Environmental Review Process Complete for Corridor K

A major milestone has been reached in the planning phase of a project to improve Corridor K in Graham County.
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Jackson opens vaccine registration to all groups, WCU to follow

Anyone 18 or older can now schedule a vaccine appointment with the Jackson County Department of Public Health, regardless of…
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Hospitals offer incentives to attract providers

In 2019, registered nurses were listed as the third most in-demand job in the U.S., and even though enrollment in…
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Growing the pipeline: Amid pandemic, educators train new generation of healthcare professionals

As a respiratory therapist, Bruce Moyle is trained to deliver breathing therapies to people who struggle to draw oxygen. As…
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Nursing students find purpose amid difficulties of pandemic

For students in the nursing program at Western Carolina University, the Coronavirus Pandemic sauntered into their world during spring break…
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As cases recede, health experts urge caution

Vaccination numbers have nearly doubled in the four-county area of Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties over past month and…
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Early start for 2022 Haywood sheriff’s race

It’s been an open secret for a while now, but two-term incumbent Democratic Sheriff of Haywood County Greg Christopher made…
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Two apartment projects proposed for Sylva

A pair of public hearings slated for April 1 will determine the fate of two proposed apartment developments in Sylva. 
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Waynesville greenway survey needs your input

The Town of Waynesville’s chances at being awarded a $500,000 grant for greenway infrastructure could drastically improve — with your…
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Sports betting opens at Harrah’s

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ new sports betting venue is now open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday, March…
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WNC schools to finish school year in person

North Carolina State legislators have voted to send more students back to in-person learning with the passage of Senate Bill…
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Blue Ridge Parkway seeks help in identifying armed robbery suspect

National Park Service officials are seeking help from the public in identifying a suspect believed to be connected to a…
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More COVID restrictions lifted in NC

As coronavirus case counts continue to decline and vaccination totals continue to rise, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued a…
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Sylva police arrest suspected drug trafficker

A Georgia resident suspected of supplying illegal drugs to the local community was arrested last week after a Sylva Police…
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Haywood County reports 94th COVID-19 death

Haywood County Health and Human Services have received notice of another COVID-19 death, bringing the total number now to 94.
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Jackson moves to new online vaccine scheduling portal

The Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH) has transitioned to a new online scheduling portal, https://myspot.nc.gov/. To make an…
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Haywood Sheriff Greg Christopher won’t seek reelection

It’s been an open secret for a while now, but two-term Democratic Sheriff of Haywood County Greg Christopher made it…
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More rabid raccoons found in Macon County

Macon County has identified an additional rabies positive raccoon, bring the total of rabies positive wildlife detected in Macon County…
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Come Hell or High Water, Asheville Is Climate 'Winner'

By Tom Fiedler | Asheville Watchdog — Back in 2006, when Scott Shuford was Asheville’s planning director, he reluctantly accepted a…
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Palmer pleads guilty to murder

Thomas “Tommy” Glenn Palmer, 38, recently admitted in a Jackson County courtroom he shot and killed his stepfather, Tim Norris,…
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Sports betting opens March 18 at Harrah's

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ new sports betting venue is set to open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow at…
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Living Through A Pandemic — Year One

Think back to 2019. Back when things were normal. Back when masks were only for Halloween, or for bank robbers.…
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One year later: COVID-19 killed 189 in the four-county area

When life as we knew it slammed to a sudden stop in mid-March of 2020, the novel coronavirus from Wuhan…
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When the job can’t stop: Trash collection picked up during the pandemic

When meetings moved to Zoom and schools shut down last March, Zach Sorrells kept on reporting to work. As a…
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‘My place in life’: Nursing student finds peace in COVID-19 response

For Malcom Skinner, the pandemic was not a pause, but rather a call to action.  “I’ve been trained up to…
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Using humor, finding purpose during a pandemic

Many people in the high-risk category for COVID-19 began isolating themselves at home last March to wait out the pandemic,…
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School through a screen: Cherokee immersion teacher navigates pandemic

Katlin Roberts was making coronavirus contingency plans before most people in the United States had even really heard of COVID-19.…
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Embracing solitude: Retiree finds peace in yearlong quarantine

In the pre-pandemic world, life was a constant swirl of activity for Lynn Jones and her husband. 
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Unusual COVID case wreaks havoc on Macon EMT

It’s not easy to slow Wendy Barker down. She’s been an EMT for 15 years. She’s used to working 24…
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Silver Bluff administrator looks back on 2020

Lisa Leatherwood, Administrator at Silver Bluff Village, has had a unique perspective of the mayhem that is the COVID-19 pandemic…
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Affordable housing coming to Howell Mill Road

After the results of a Town of Waynesville Planning Board meeting on March 16, Haywood County will now move into…
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Maggie Valley considers waterfall park proposal

Maggie Valley will soon decide whether or not to develop a waterfall park on a property it has had in…
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Gun control bills prove divisive

A pair of gun control bills passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week and are now heading for the Senate.…
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Biden’s American Rescue Plan means millions for NC local governments

While most Americans are looking forward to receiving the $1,400 payments included in President Joe Biden’s $1.88 trillion American Rescue…
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WCU to resume nearly normal operations this fall

Western Carolina University is planning for a fall semester that will be “close to normal,” given current COVID-19 trends and…
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Jackson names new school superintendent

Jackson County Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. Dana Ayers as its new superintendent. 
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WCU women create local branch of University Women

The American Association of University Women was founded by a group of female college graduates in 1881 to advocate for…
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Ground breaks on HCC Health Sciences Building

Haywood Community College recently held a Groundbreaking Ceremony on campus for the Health Sciences Education Building. During the ceremony, those…
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HCA/Mission monitor to hold webinar

Gibbins Advisors is scheduling an informational online meeting open to all communities in Western North Carolina served by Mission Health.…
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Vaccine availability increases

Macon County became the first county in The Smoky Mountain News’ four-county coverage area to break the 20 percent mark…
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HERE in Jackson plans considers homeless shelter project

For more than a decade, groups serving Jackson County’s homeless population have done so on a shoestring and a thin…
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Tough decisions in store for Waynesville budget

As the town of Waynesville digs into the budget process for the 2021-22 fiscal year, aldermen are again considering ways…
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