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Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:19

Program teaches raw food diet for pets

Learn about the benefits of raw food diets for cats and dogs at the Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association’s April meeting held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at Creature Comforts near Lake Junaluska. Founder of Earth Green Pet Foods,…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:19

Learn conversational Spanish in Haywood

A new class for people who want to learn conversational Spanish is being setup by the Latino Institute for Human Development in Waynesville. Conversational Spanish can be a resume builder, allowing people to communicate with Spanish-speaking employees or facilitate interaction…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:17

WCU faculty seeks role in university restructurings

It required barely 15 minutes and a minimum of discussion for Western Carolina University’s Faculty Senate to unanimously vote it be given a role in any future reorganization efforts. Whether they get what they ask for will depend on WCU’s…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:13

Money Mosh puts real life money lessons in play for Cherokee youth

David Cozzo is sitting behind a table at the Holiday Inn in Cherokee, trying to sell a ’76 Volkswagen to a teenager. “The maintenance on these is rough, but you’d look good in it,” Cozzo pitched to his potential buyer,…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:13

Help children dealing with split custody

Children In The Middle, a class for any parent who shares custody of children, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.April 26 and 27 in Canton. The program was developed to reduce children’s experiences with loyalty conflicts that often…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:13

Swain chamber to hold annual banquet

Swain County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City featuring an evening of food and entertainment. Business Citizen of the Year will be announced,…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:12

Tea Party rally in Waynesville on tax day

Fiscal responsibility and property revaluation in Haywood County will be among the main topics discussed at the annual tax day rally in Waynesville. “Are You Taxed Enough Already?” will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, on…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:11

Swain to host wedding expo

The annual Swain County Wedding Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Nantahala Village Resort and Spa. The expo will showcase local bakeries, caterers, florists and more while promoting the area as…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:10

Business owners rally to make Maggie blossom

Maggie Valley is gearing up for its next round of beauty treatments in an ongoing effort to spruce up the town and bring some color to its streets. The beautification program, led by master horticulturalist and Maggie Valley resident Clayton…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:09

Maggie loses another attraction with closure of Eaglenest Entertainment

After eight years of entertainment, Maggie Valley’s largest venue is closing its doors, falling prey to the poor economy. 800-seat Eaglenest Entertainment was one of the largest in Haywood County and has drawn big-name acts such as Percy Sledge and…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:08

Senior expo offers free health screenings

A senior expo and health fair in Franklin will provide free seminars, health screenings, entertainment and refreshments from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Macon County Community Facilities Building. The event is sponsored by MedWest Health…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:08

Tap personal potential with workshop

A workshop geared toward reaching emotional freedom and full-potential, “7 Keys to Self Empowerment,” will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Apple Hill Farms in Waynesville. The intent of the program is to transform…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:07

Counties push back against state threat to shift its budget burdens

Budget concerns that the state will dump responsibilities on local governments, and anecdotal assessments of the current economic climate, dominated a meeting last week of Macon County’s elected local leaders. The informal, relatively freewheeling discussion took place over plates of…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:00

WCU meets its new chancellor: First new leadership in 16 years

Western Carolina University’s next chancellor is David Belcher, a classically trained pianist who is currently a top administrator at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Belcher, 53, will start his appointment July 1. His base salary will be $275,000.…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 18:59

Belcher brings unique skills to new post as WCU chancellor

The last time David Belcher played publicly was about a year or so ago, when he paired with cellist Melita Hunsinger of the Arkansas Symphony orchestra in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op.…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 18:58

Repairs aim to get Lyn Lowry cross lit by Easter

The cross on Mount Lyn Lowry still lies dormant, but repairs are under way with hopes that the bulbs will be shining again by Easter. The 60-foot cross is a nighttime landmark in the Balsam mountains between Waynesville and Sylva.…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 18:57

The Bobcats are back at HCC

“Go Bobcats!” can now be the cry at Haywood Community College, where they’ve adopted the feline as their new mascot. The bobcat doesn’t, as yet, have a name but the school plans to hold a contest this autumn to christen…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 18:52

Merchants fear higher rent in fallout from rising commercial property values

Despite its vibrant façade, downtown Waynesville hasn’t been immune to the economic recession. So Richard Miller was surprised, to put it mildly, when he learned his downtown building doubled in value over the past five years — at least according…
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 18:49

HART presents ‘The Cemetery Club’

The comedy “The Cemetery Club” opens April 15 at Haywood Arts Regional Theater’s Studio Theater in Waynesville,with performances at 7:30 p.m. on April 15, 16, 22 and 23 and 3 p.m. on April 17 and 24. The show tells the…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 15:24

Tutorial: How much is your neighbor’s home worth?

It’s what everyone wants to know: is their neighbor’s house worth more or less than their own? It’s not hard to find out at the county’s mapping site, where there’s a plethora of property revaluation data to keep even the…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:10

Waynesville considers compromise on parking in front of building

Waynesville leaders will vote this month on whether to loosen town guidelines governing growth. A special task force spent the past 18 months reviewing the town’s development standards and recommending changes. The town’s land-use plan was heralded for its smart…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:10

Take a walk in her shoes

Men and their families are invited to Take A Walk In Her Shoes, a sexual assault awareness event, will run from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 from in front of the Historic Haywood County Court House.…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:09

Enroll in Red Cross babysitter’s training

The Haywood County Red Cross is encouraging boys and girls ages 11 to 15 who would like to start their own babysitting business to enroll in the Babysitters Training Program.   This course is also aimed toward older siblings who…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:08

Dropouts stay-in more in Jackson County

Jackson County Schools’ dropout rate has decreased by 56.2 percent – from 4.43 in 2008-09 to 1.99 in 2009-10.    Jackson County has been highlighted as one of four counties across the state for achieving the greatest decrease in dropout…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:08

Bridge near Highlands slated for replacement

A bridge will be replaced over the Cullasaja River on Mirror Lake Road near Highlands in Macon County. A $577,544 contract was awarded to Dane Construction Inc. of Mooresville. Work can begin as early as April 25 and is scheduled…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:07

League to discuss health care

The League of Women Voters of Macon County will present a program on affordable health care in North Carolina at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at Tartan Hall in Franklin. George Six, a volunteer with Healthcare for All North…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:07

Program encourages families of the disabled

The author of “Grown Man Now,” and Western Carolina University professor Jane B. Schulz, will speak at a program geared toward encouraging families with members who have disabilities. The free program is hosted by Pure in Heart and will be…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:06

Paint pottery for a cause

Paint a bowl to fill a bowl – proceeds from pottery painting at Claymates from April 1 to April 17 will support The Community Table’s annual empty bowl fundraiser. The Community Table is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving nutritious…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:05

Railroad will return to Dillsboro for less than originally requested

Bringing regular train service back to Dillsboro greatly depends on whether Jackson County commissioners come up with dollars to help restore a steam engine and bring it here from Maine, Kim Albritton, vice president and general manager of Great Smoky…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:03

Train contemplates engine turn-around, but search for the right site continues

Private land in Dillsboro might spare the historic Monteith House site from becoming home to a turntable for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, part of a plan to return regular train service to this tourism-dependent town. Kim Albritton, the railway’s…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:03

Learn about butterflies this Easter

Easter Butterflies: Magical, Mystical, Majestical is the topic of an April program through the Lake Junaluska Live and Learn Committee.   Butterflies are often included as natural and spiritual symbols of the Easter Resurrection story. A program relating to this…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:02

Tips, help on coping with depression

Ladies Night Out is holding a special follow-up program in Macon County to a March event on overcoming depression and reducing stress.   This program will provide participants with tips and exercises to deal with depression and stress. This special…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:01

Maintenance work to boost economy

Canton’s Evergreen Packaging mill’s is due for major maintenance this spring, bringing more than 1,000 contractors to the area to upgrade the mill. The work is scheduled for the week of May 2, bringing people, and spending, to the Canton…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 19:01

Golf tournament to feed the hungry

The Pasquale’s Charity Golf Tournament is coming to the Waynesville Golf Resort on Sunday, April 17, to benefit Friends of Meals on Wheels in Haywood County. Registration is at 11 a.m. at Pasquale’s, and tee times start at 12:08 p.m.…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:58

Real estate roller coaster throws Jackson, Macon property revals off track

This isn’t the easiest time to be a real estate agent in Jackson and Macon counties, not with the crippled housing market and a customer base that is, in most cases, hard pressed to find the dollars to buy new…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:54

New values based on hyperlocal formula

Haywood County’s property revaluation was a massive undertaking: appraisers had to lay eyes on 50,000 properties, from condos to fast-food joints to farms, and judge whether they had gone up or down in value over the past five year. Hundreds…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:52

What new property values mean for your taxes

Property owners in Haywood County faced a Catch 22 when their new property values arrived in the mail last week. If your value went up, it’s nice to know the lackluster real estate market didn’t undermine your home’s worth. The…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:48

Despite fears, Haywood property values hold their own: Land and lots fall, while median-priced homes rise

When Mollie Weaver put her house on the market two weeks ago, she was bracing for the worst. She’d been here before, for two years in fact, when her house languished on the market from 2007 to 2009. “Of course…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:47

Jail escapee found in Myrtle Beach

After sprinting out the front door a few weeks ago, an escaped Haywood County inmate is back behind bars. Frank Evans, who gave sheriff’s deputies the slip last month, was captured Myrtle Beach, S.C. and is now in state prison…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:46

Take part in Macon County’s Special Olympics

The Macon County Special Olympics Games will be held Friday, April 8, at the Macon Middle School track.   Opening ceremonies start at 10 a.m., with words from state and local dignitaries. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office, along with officers…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:45

Waynesville wins concessions in Junaluska water negotiations

Waynesville officials have finally signed an agreement with the Junaluska Sanitary District that marries the two entities for 10 more years of water service. The contract had been in talks for several months and formalizes the relationship between the town…
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 18:32

WCU Faculty Senate debates whether to intervene in dispute between professors and administration

At least three internal reorganizations in just five years have spurred a growing number of faculty members at Western Carolina University to call for changes to what they describe as top-down, heavy-handed decision making. Anger and frustration with the university’s…
Monday, 04 April 2011 16:40

WCU chancellor pick expected Friday

A new chancellor for Western Carolina University will be announced this Friday during the N.C. Board of Governor’s meeting in Chapel Hill, with live streaming of the event to be viewed on campus in Cullowhee. The announcement by UNC system…
Friday, 01 April 2011 15:13

Reorganization efforts at WCU focus of faculty meetings

At least three internal reorganizations in just five years have spurred a growing number of faculty members at Western Carolina University to call for changes to what they describe as top-down, heavy-handed decision making. Anger and frustration with the university’s…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:22

Restaurants raise money for AIDS Project

More than 100 restaurants will participate in the Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s annual Dining Out for Life benefit Thursday, April 28. Restaurants in Arden, Black Mountain, Brevard, Flat Rock Hendersonville, Maggie Valley, Saluda, Waynesville, Weaverville and Woodfin will donate…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:22

Judo club moves to rec center

The Waynesville Kodokan Judo Club has moved its classes to the Waynesville Recreation Center. Classes are from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are offered for adults and children as young as four. Judo club members…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:21

Women’s group to host luncheon

The first 2011 luncheon and business meeting of the Mountain High Republican Women’s Club will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, at The Oak Street Cafe, (formerly Cafe of the Arts) on Main Street in Highlands. The…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:21

WCU residence to see improvements

Renovations are set to begin on Harrill Hall, a residence at Western Carolina University, including energy efficiency improvements that would qualify the building for nationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. WCU’s board of trustees approved funding…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:20

Bridal show planned in Franklin April 9

A free bridal show is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 9, at the Whistle Stop Mall in Franklin. The event will feature more than 40 vendors from across the region, covering all aspects of the wedding…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:19

Helicopter used to move equipment into Harrah’s casino

A heavy load sky air crane helicopter, one of the world’s largest commercially available helicopters, lifted 15,000 pounds of air conditioning equipment into place at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel this week. The RTU-6 Semco rooftop air handler was installed…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:15

Big money on the line as Swain and Graham square off in court

The fight between Swain and Graham counties is growing ever deeper in a dispute marked by lawsuits, counter suits and pleas to the General Assembly over who is entitled to a greater share of payments off the Fontana Dam. The…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:14

State turns down Macon hospice house as conflict with hospital continues

A group wanting to build a Hospice house in Macon County to serve the terminally ill in the westernmost counties says it will continue those efforts despite a recent thumb’s down from the state. The N.C. Department of Health and…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:13

A light in the night: Mt. Lyn Lowry cross lights slated for repair

For the first time in five decades, the giant cross on Mount Lyn Lowry has fallen dark. The cross has been a nighttime landmark shining over the Balsam Mountains between Waynesville and Sylva since 1965. The cross went dark early…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:13

Landing a hydrogen fuel cell a coup for SCC

Faculty and staff at the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University in northern California have built a hydrogen fuel cell power box for Southwestern Community Center. Ron Poor received grant funds through the Appalachian Regional Commission to purchase…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:11

Cullowhee could be home to new river park

A group working to beautify and solidify the concept of community in Cullowhee wants to build a riverfront park, tying in to state Department of Transportation plans to replace a bridge over the Tuckasegee River on Old Cullowhee Road in…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:08

New TDA visitor center will leave Haywood Chamber with funding woes

Less than a year after opening a new visitor center in downtown Waynesville, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce learned last week that its funding for the site is on the chopping block by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:08

Sylva town board faces vacancy, again

Sylva Commissioner Danny Allen announced he will resign from the town board, but has yet to say when, leaving the rest of the town board in limbo on how — and even whether — it will fill his position. Allen…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:07

Maggie appoints former judge to town board vacancy

In the quagmire that is politics in Maggie Valley, the most recent appointee to the town’s board of aldermen says it’s her lack of agenda that makes her the ideal candidate — and possibly a rarity in a town defined…
Wednesday, 30 March 2011 19:00

Far-left liberal could be a spoiler in Shuler’s next election

A liberal Asheville city council member announced this week he’d run as an Independent in 2012 against U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, potentially eroding Shuler’s Democratic base and making for a tough re-election bid for the three-term congressman. A former…
Monday, 28 March 2011 15:53

Haywood County property revaluations go out

It’s finally here: the week Haywood County property owners find out just how well their home and land values held up through the recession. It’s not secret the real estate market tanked in the mountains compared to the hey day…
Friday, 25 March 2011 15:52

Can you hear me now? Broadband “critical” for Nantahala Gorge before kayaking championships

Organizers said this week that getting the Nantahala Gorge into this century when it comes to telecommunication capabilities is absolutely critical to successfully hosting the kayaking world championship in 2013. The problem? There’s seems no easy answer to what’s for…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 12:37

All the way from Ground Zero, salvaged metal to be erected as memorial in Clyde

When the World Trade Center fell nearly 10 years ago, there was little left of its once-majestic towers but scattered bits of steel and a sorrow that blanketed the nation. Now as the site is rebuilt, that steel is being…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 12:36

Haywood jail hopes to trim inmate health care costs

The health care bills rolling into the Haywood County jail for inmate care might now be slashed by up to 25 percent after the sheriff’s office contracted with a company who will ferret out discounts on the county’s behalf. Currently,…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:34

Nursing scholarships available

Scholarships for nursing students are available through the Judy Moore Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which was created as a memorial to Judy Moore, a registered nurse who was killed in a tragic accident in 1996. A resident of Macon County, Moore…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:33

Waynesville offers summer day camp

A summer day camp for rising first graders through rising fifth graders from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 17 to August 5, will be held at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Campers will experience activities such as field trips, special…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:33

SCC fair to connect job seekers with employers

Southwestern Community College will hold a free job fair Thursday, March 31. The event will be from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Balsam Building and is open to the community. Local employers will be on…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:32

Students fold paper cranes to support Japan earthquake relief

Western Carolina University students are folding and selling paper cranes for $1 to support an earthquake relief fund at a table in the first-floor lobby of McKee Building. Visitors to the table can give $1 to write a message that…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:32

WCU police receive military surplus

Two portable light towers each bright enough to illuminate an area the size of a football field are the latest pieces of equipment Western Carolina University police received through the N.C. Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Support Services program. The program…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:31

Construction program offered for students

High school students interested in construction can participate in the Kimmel School Construction Training Program at Western Carolina University in July. Students will complete and earn certification in a 10 hour occupational safety and health administration course. Students will live…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:30

Sarge’s opens center, calls for photography

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new adoption center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11:30 a.m. followed by snacks donated by The Patio Bistro.…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:29

Campus ministry hosts golf classic

The Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University will host its inaugural Golf Classic at Lake Junaluska Golf Course April 16 at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $200 per team of four or $50 for individuals who will be assigned…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:26

Work on hospice center progresses

Construction on a new Homestead Inpatient Hospice Center adjacent to MedWest-Haywood hospital is progressing, with a new retaining wall, framework and roof trusses now in place. The inpatient center will serve hospice patients whose families need a break from caregiving…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:26

Senior spokeswoman hosts community forum

On March 31, Swain County citizens will have two opportunities to comment on the future of Swain County. The dialog, led by N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislature delegate Janice Inabinett, will center on making Swain County a livable community. There…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:24

HandMade engages Bryson to create road map for a better town

In the sunny, windowed front room of the Swain County Chamber of Commerce, a group of people are gathered around a table littered with maps, the light from the windows filtering through more maps and photos and wishlists that have…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:24

Enjoy the lake? Help cleanup, please

A Lake Junaluska Beautification Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, and volunteers are needed to help with the cleanup. Projects planned include clearing brush, power washing signs and buildings, and more. Lake Junaluska Beautification Day will kick-off with breakfast…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:24

Sylvan Hearth seeks like-minded worshipers

The Sylvan Hearth Pagan Temple offers its facilities to positive Pagan traditions including Hindu, Buddhist and Asatrue. The facility includes a stone circle, wood henge, gardens, and meetings and worship spaces. It offers use of their Web site for advertising…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:23

Rural Center grants to create 22 jobs in Haywood

Haywood County has received two grants totaling $133,650 from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center that will help create 22 jobs over the next couple of years. A grant of $88,000 will help renovate a psychiatric wing at MedWest-Haywood…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:22

Ancient burial site halts Jackson bridge construction

Not to say they told you so, but the truth is … they did. Construction of a wider bridge to span the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County was abruptly postponed this month after Indian burials were discovered. This frankly seemed…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:08

WCU budget cuts, reorganization trigger controversy

At the outset of the state budget crisis, Chancellor John Bardo and Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees maintained the process of cutting $8.6 million would be transparent. Faculty and staff, they said, would see their opinions truly matter as…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 19:01

Farmers turn out in droves for cattle auction opening day

The first cow ushered into the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton weighed 850 well-proportioned pounds. Despite being two-months pregnant, she danced lithely about the livestock arena, easily sidestepping the green, long plastic paddle a handler occasionally dabbed in her…
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 18:57

A modern man with an old-time passion for farming

It’s a sunny, mid-March Friday, the air is barely warm enough to warrant open windows and loosened collars, and on this particular spring morning, John Queen is a pretty popular guy. His hip-holstered Blackberry stays quiet just for a few…
Friday, 18 March 2011 15:57

Hunt for new WCU chancellor in the homestretch

It’s not a bad job, really. There’s a nice house, more than 7,000-square-feet, that’s currently undergoing a nearly $300,000 facelift. You don’t have to pay for utilities, grounds keeping or for a housekeeper. Then there’s the salary, ranging from $236,979…
Friday, 18 March 2011 12:56

Frequently asked questions about the new Jackson County public library complex

Where is the new library located? The new Jackson County Public Library Complex is located at 310 Keener Street in the renovated and expanded historic courthouse at the west end of Main Street in downtown Sylva. When will the new…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:46

Haywood sheriff candidates

Q: Haywood County has a growing Hispanic population. How will you address language barriers in serving that population? Hollifield: Would sign deputies up for Spanish classes at the community colleges and would employ an interpreter. Suttles: Agrees that deputies should…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:45

New job yanked from resigned mental health director

Tom McDevitt, the former director of the Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health who resigned amid scrutiny last fall, was barely out the door when he was tapped by the state to head up a mental health agency down east…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:43

Expensive parking holds new Sylva fire department in limbo

A proposed expansion to the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department building could be up in the air now that the project has come in almost $500,000 more than expected. The overruns are due to parking and drainage issues that weren’t originally…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:41

Despite landslide worries, state slope rules face uphill battle

A controversial bill to regulate development on steep slopes to prevent landslides will be reintroduced in the state legislature this year after dying in committee last time. The bill was crafted by Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, who said it…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:40

Jackson leaders grapple over ending fight with Duke

An effort to end a six-year-long dispute between Jackson County and Duke Energy failed in a 3-2 vote last week, as the county commissioners decided to move forward with the case to save the Dillsboro dam. County Commissioner Tom Massie…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:38

Cherokee covers lunch for its own

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has recently begun funding the school lunches for enrolled members of the tribe who attend school off the Qualla Boundary. The tribe has funded the lunches of those who attend school on the reservation…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:37

Haywood Sheriff candidates line up for questions from public

Five candidates vying to be the next Haywood County Sheriff appeared at a question and answer forum Saturday, Jan. 24 before a crowd of almost 100, the majority of which were members of the Haywood County Democratic Party executive committee.…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:33

Haywood County eyes old Wal-Mart shell for offices

A hulking space in the strip mall along U.S. 74 in Clyde that has sat vacant since the departure of Wal-Mart could get a new tenant — the Haywood County departments of Health and Social Services. A new building to…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:26

Tough budget facing legislature as session begins

The state legislative session began in Raleigh this week with the big issue being the budget during tough economic times. The current fiscal year budget of $21.35 billion is expected to have a shortfall of $2 billion, and Gov. Beverly…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:24

Landmark victory: NC forces TVA to clean up its act

It was the ultimate David and Goliath battle. North Carolina officials, fed up with coal-fired power plants pumping pollution into their state, took on the nation’s largest public power company — the Tennessee Valley Authority — and won. The landmark…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:21

Canton mayor looks to state for help with business venture

Canton Mayor Pat Smathers is determined to realize his dream of turning a historic house in downtown Canton into a hotel, restaurant and retail space— and he wants taxpayers to help fund it. Smathers has sat on the 129-year-old building…
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:19

Dillsboro dam fight heads into state hearing

In the latest in Jackson County’s quest to save the Dillsboro dam from demolition, the county will get its day in court to argue the merits of a state water quality permit that makes or breaks whether the dam comes…
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:09

Massie questions permit hold-up

Jackson County Commissioner Tom Massie is skeptical of whether it is legal for the county to withhold permits that Duke Energy may need to tear down the Dillsboro dam. Massie also questions whether Duke actually needs the county permits to…
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:05

Waynesville land use plan review moves forward

A comprehensive review of the town of Waynesville’s award-winning land use plan is set to begin following the town’s selection last week of a consulting company to lead the process. The board of aldermen unanimously approved a $54,000 contract with…
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:04

County may meet with attorney on Duke permit dispute

The attorney representing Jackson County in its legal fight against Duke Energy was expected to meet with county commiseting Tuesday (Jan. 20). The meeting will fall after The Smoky Mountain News’ deadline, but be sure to check smokymountainnews.com for a…
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:59

Effort to end Duke fight fails in Jackson County

An effort to end a six-year-long dispute between Jackson County and Duke Energy failed in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night (Jan. 20), as the county commissioners decided to move forward with the case to save the Dillsboro dam. County Commissioner…
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