Women rule the roost in Sylva

Sylva is a town that’s run by women, both on the board of commissioners and among staff positions in town…
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Female leadership key in Jackson government

While men hold the highest-paying and highest number of jobs in most Western North Carolina governments, Jackson County is a…
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Waynesville takes steps to address gender balance, pay

As the largest North Carolina town west of Asheville, Waynesville often sets the bar for how other municipal governments handle…
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Local governments show room for improvement in gender pay equality

From the very birth of this nation, the words “All men are created equal” never really meant all men, and…
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Governments work toward equal pay

In recognition of the 19th Amendment’s centennial anniversary this month, The Smoky Mountain News is doing a series of stories to…
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Cawthorn Takes a Hard-Right Turn

‘Pro-Trump,’ defends use of symbols tied to white nationalism By Tom Fiedler AVL Watchdog When then 24-year-old Madison Cawthorn easily…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Haywood Regional

The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has identified a COVID-19 cluster connected to Haywood Regional Hospital.  Currently, fewer…
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Waynesville comprehensive plan nears adoption

After more than two years of planning and public presentations the Town of Waynesville’s new comprehensive land use plan is…
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Jackson allows student athletes to resume practices

As of Tuesday, Aug. 4, Jackson County schools entered phase two for school athletics. The North Carolina High School Athletic…
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Haywood reports 6 more COVID-related deaths

Haywood County Health and Human Services are reporting six additional COVID-19 associated deaths. The individuals died within the last week,…
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Fifth COVID-19 death announced in Jackson

A fifth COVID-19 death has been confirmed in Jackson County.
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Cherokee will delay budget hearings, adopt baseline budget

In a resolution passed last month, Tribal Council decided that it will not hold budget hearings this year but will…
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Tribe engages firm to pursue expanded casino holdings

As states throughout the Southeast consider allowing or expanding commercial gaming in their jurisdictions, Tribal Council has voted to enter…
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Turning towards woodturning: Mike McKinney’s path to discovering his craft

By Andrew Dundas • Contributing Writer | Bowls in various stages of production scattered the workshop around Mike McKinney, piled onto tables…
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Haywood schools to adopt new complaint policy

Haywood County Schools Title IX Coordinator Jason Heinz recently discussed policy changes that must go into effect by Aug. 14…
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Harris urges community to wear masks

Harris Regional Hospital is urging community members to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in public areas where social…
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More COVID-19 outbreaks reported in WNC

According to the Haywood County Health Department, a significant number of the close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases recently identified…
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School board, community work to garner internet access

At a July 30 special called meeting, Dr. Trevor Putnam presented the Haywood County School Board with a contract in…
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New COVID-19 outbreak identified in Macon

Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff and residents at Drake Cottage, a congregate living facility.…
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COVID-19 death reported in Jackson

A new COVID-19 death has been confirmed in Jackson County, bringing the county’s total death toll to four.
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Complete United Way COVID-19 impact survey

United Way of North Carolina launches a statewide survey today to assess how COVID-19 has impacted community members across the…
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Haywood reports two more COVID-19 related deaths

Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting two additional COVID-19 associated deaths. Both individuals died on July 28 at…
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Slide closes U.S. 19/74 in Nantahala Gorge

BRYSON CITY – A band of heavy rains late Friday night started a mudslide that closed U.S. 19/74 in the Nantahala…
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Jackson to discuss Confederate monument

An agenda for the Jackson County Commission meeting slated for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, shows that the board will…
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Morgan serving second round as Sylva’s interim manager

Sylva Town Manager Paige Dowling is currently out on maternity leave, but Sylva will be in experienced hands until her…
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Haywood has 74 new COVID-19 cases

Haywood County Public Health received notice of 74 new cases of COVID-19 since the last press release on July 24.…
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With an eye on safety, Maggie Valley passes protest ordinance

Some new rules will be in place for all future protest activity in Maggie Valley after the town’s board unanimously…
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Third COVID-19 related death in Macon County

A Macon County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 has died. The person was over the age of 65 and had underlying…
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Sylva asks county to remove Confederate monument

A final decision is likely on the fate of the Confederate statue looking out over downtown Sylva after the town…
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Back to school plans for Swain County

Swain County will be operating this fall under a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. Parents can choose Plan B,…
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Macon schools offer virtual option

Parents of Macon County students will have to choose their child’s learning plan for fall semester by July 31. 
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Haywood chooses hybrid plan for school reopenings

As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to grow in both size and scope, educators across the country and the state have…
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Teachers concerned for school safety

The start of this school year has been a topic fraught with debate about student needs, logistical hurdles and funding…
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Colleges, universities announce plans for fall 2020

In less than three weeks, classes will resume at Western North Carolina’s institutions of higher learning, and while instruction won’t…
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‘We’ve got your back’: Large Franklin gathering shows support for law enforcement

A rally hosted by Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland in downtown Franklin July 25 drew hundreds of law enforcement officers…
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Public records laws complicate law enforcement transparency

Despite the complexity of discussions surrounding reform and accountability in American law enforcement, it’s likely that many issues would disappear…
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‘Zoom bomb’ shows shortcomings of virtual meetings

Since the Coronavirus Pandemic began, Zoom meetings have become a commonplace replacement for government meetings that would otherwise take place…
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Nursing home outbreak: ‘What we really feared’

Despite seemingly doing everything right, a long-term care facility in Haywood County is now reporting 36 cases of COVID-19, spread…
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Haywood superintendent reinstated after investigation into controversial post

After being temporarily relieved of his day-to-day duties on July 13 following a controversial July 10 Facebook post, Haywood County…
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Cawthorn: Davis, Democrats are ‘racist’

Two congressional candidates vying to represent a district where one municipality has already passed a resolution exploring reparations for its…
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Special meeting called in Maggie Valley for protest ordinance

In response to an adversarial demonstration that took place on July 18 and in anticipation of a repeat on Aug.…
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COVID-19 cluster found in Waynesville

A COVID-19 cluster at Waynesville Pharmacy has been identified after five current or former employees there tested positive for the…
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Officer-involved shooting occurs in Canton

A Haywood County deputy is recovering from surgery and a suspect is dead following an incident July 28 in which…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Cashiers church

The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster in a local church. Eight individuals who attended…
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Haywood County reports two COVID-19 related deaths

Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting the first two COVID-19 associated deaths in Haywood County. Both individuals died…
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Congress passes legislation to fund parks, conservation

The environmental community has been celebrating since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act July 22,…
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Zoom bombers halt Sylva town meeting

A Town of Sylva meeting in which commissioners intended to discuss a resolution regarding the Confederate monument ended abruptly this…
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Respected WNC journalist, advocate dies at 92

Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed, one of Western North Carolina’s most respected journalists and community advocates and a key leader through…
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A tale of two rallies: Americans on all sides want change, but don’t want to change

Black lives matter. All lives matter. Defund the police. Back the badge. Take it down. Leave it up. Heritage. Hate.…
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Backing the badge

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers less than two months ago has added new…
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