Crews search for three missing hikers at Black Balsam

UPDATE: Searchers made contact with the hikers around noon Tuesday, July 7. They were able to walk out with search…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Jackson dermatologist

Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster in a local medical provider’s office.
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Cashiers chamber supplying free masks for businesses
 

Cashiers chamber supplying free masks for businesses

The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation to provide valuable Personal Protection Equipment…
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New Haywood COVID cases traveled to Florida

Haywood County Public Health received notice July 2 that another Haywood County resident has tested positive for COVID-19.  This brings…
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‘The arts will always be open’: Bardo Arts Center adapts to remote audience

By Andrew Dundas • Contributing writer | This fall, Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center…
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Second Blessing needs donations, volunteers
 

Second Blessing needs donations, volunteers

The Second Blessing Thrift Store, located in Waynesville, is open, expanding operations and in need of donations and volunteers. 
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Pandemic changes WNC’s Independence Day tourism

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | In the past, the Fourth of July holiday has been counted on to…
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Republicans reject Trump-endorsed candidate in NC11 runoff

Republicans finally know who will face Democrat Moe Davis in the November General Election, and the results indicate a major…
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Outdoor adventures reopen in WNC

The Coronavirus Pandemic and ensuing shutdown means folks have been spending most of their time at home for the last…
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Customer service should be a powerful connection

By Gerri Wolfe Grady • Special to SMN | Customer service is an important commodity for any business and particularly…
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It’s Cawthorn in NC11 after runoff blowout

How, exactly, does someone lose a Primary Election in which they have almost a year’s exclusive advance knowledge of the…
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‘Back the Badge’ rally comes to Waynesville

Last week, as demonstrations were taking place across the nation to call attention to police brutality and racial injustice, Canton…
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Maggie Valley starts planning process for waterfall park

When tourists visit this region, many of them come seeking the beauty and awe of the waterfalls that decorate the…
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No Phase 3 for NC

North Carolina’s graduated three-phase COVID-19 reopening plan was set to cruise into Phase 3 on June 26, but due to…
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Cherokee has second COVID-related death; Macon experiences nursing home ‘outbreak’

As of June 30, North Carolina had 64,670 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,300 and…
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DOT revises plan for Dillsboro bridge project

Plans for a $14 million bridge project in Dillsboro have changed, with the project now expected to take nine months…
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WCU removes name 'Hoey' from auditorium

 The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution removing the name “Hoey” from a campus performance facility.
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Less pomp, more circumstance: Western North Carolina’s future leaders graduate amidst pandemic

The Class of 2020 will forever be remembered as the “asterisk” class. Whether it be high school, community college or…
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DA searches for larger substitute courtrooms during COVID

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said across the 43rd Prosecutorial District, in the state’s seven most-westernmost counties, court officials are…
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Additional COVID-19 cases confirmed in Haywood

Haywood County Public Health received notice on June 26 that three more Haywood County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. …
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Lake Junaluska opens new restaurant

The Terrace Bistro has opened at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, offering a rare lakeside dining option in…
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Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center
 

Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center

At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress…
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SRCA approves preliminary plans for $15 million facility

According to a press release, Shining Rock Classical Academy board of directors recently unanimous voted to accept the architectural designs…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Macon nursing home

Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff at Macon Valley Nursing Home. Two staff members of…
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Jackson County budget passes without tax cut

Following a June 23 public hearing, Jackson County Commissioners voted to pass the proposed 2020-21 budget without any of the…
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Gateway to recreation: Canton begins planning for 448-acre outdoor park

The 448-acre woodland property sitting right off U.S. 23/19 and Interstate 40 near Canton was almost a speedway. Then, it…
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State allocates $26 million for families

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies have begun to…
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DA wants to close DWI loophole

Speaking in Raleigh, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch this week urged members of the N.C. Senate Judiciary Committee to close…
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Future of Haywood lynching monument becoming clear

While much of the nation is talking about removing monuments, the discussion in one Western North Carolina county is also…
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Of meth and motherhood: Two stories of addiction, family and recovery

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | Few issues raise as much political ire in Western North Carolina as that…
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School surveys reveal lack of internet connectivity

As schools shut down during the pandemic, students were sent home and instructed to tune in online. Chromebooks were loaned…
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Consortium formed to address affordable housing in WNC

Seven counties in Western North Carolina have the opportunity to band together and receive money for affordable housing through the…
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COVID-19 cases continues to climb in N.C.

As of June 22, North Carolina had 53,605 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,200 and…
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Fontana Village surrenders lease to Tennessee Valley Authority

Fontana Village Resort & Marina located in Graham County surrendered its lease back to the Tennessee Valley Authority on June…
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Macon approves loan fund for small businesses

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macon County Economic Development Commission has established the Reopening Macon Fund. The program,…
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Franklin Hospice House under construction

Construction of SECU Hospice House in Franklin has crossed the 50 percent completion mark.  It is anticipated that the region’s…
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WCU's Mountain Heritage Day canceled

Mountain Heritage Day, the annual community and campus celebration of Southern Appalachian culture presented by Western Carolina University since 1974,…
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Some WNC Republicans won’t back Trump-endorsed candidate

As Republicans across North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District head to the polls, some of them are bucking their party and…
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SCC reports first COVID-19 case

Southwestern Community College officials confirmed on June 20 that a student has reported testing positive for COVID-19.
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State elections director tours NC11 polling places

After widespread complaints about the way Georgia’s pandemic-influenced Primary Election was conducted last week, North Carolina’s top elections official isn’t…
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TekTone becomes majority owner of Stay Smart Care

As part of its mission to continuously provide communication solutions that evolve with the needs of our world, TekTone (based…
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Tom Fiedler reflects on policing through unrest from another era

By Tom Fiedler AVL Watchdog The legendary Miami Beach police chief Rocky Pomerance was asked in an interview with People…
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Large events curtailed for fall 2020 at WCU

Several events typically on the fall semester calendar at Western Carolina University are canceled for 2020 as part of significant…
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'Little' Logan finds a big brother

Entering the eighth grade, it didn’t look likely that Logan would get a Big Brother. Big Brothers Big Sisters has…
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NC11 candidate Lynda Bennett, WLOS-TV violate state election law

A short video segment featuring NC11 congressional candidate Lynda Bennett that was produced by Asheville-based WLOS-TV at Haywood County’s early…
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Confederate memorials still a monumental issue

For the second week in a row, many small Western North Carolina communities have seen demonstrations in response to the…
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WNC elected officials reluctant to speak on monuments

WNC elected officials reluctant to speak on monuments By Cory Vaillancourt Staff Writer On Wednesday, June 10, The Smoky Mountain…
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One-way Main Street proposal on hold

The proposal to temporarily turn Main Street in downtown Waynesville into a one-way street has been shelved for now. 
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Against the narrative: WNC protests avoid polarization, violence

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | Type “George Floyd Protests, Police” into your Google images search bar. What comes…
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Swain chamber, TDA finances called into question

Swain County commissioners are going to be giving more consideration to who they appoint to county boards after hearing a…
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