City Lights alters business model to weather dine-in closure

City Lights Café has been a fixture in Sylva since first opening its doors in 2011. Those doors are now…
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Body recovered from Whitewater Falls

Two people are dead following an emergency situation at Whitewater Falls in Jackson County this week — a 24-year-old man…
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Haywood County Cares — Gene Williamson

After a 30-year career with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Sgt. Gene Williamson retired in 2014, but he didn’t stay…
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Jackson's coronavirus count holds steady

For the second day in a row, there has been no increase in the tally of COVID-19 cases in Jackson…
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Rescue crew member dies during Whitewater Falls search

Eldon Jamison, longtime member of the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad died in the line of duty on Tuesday, May 5, while…
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Hard-hit small businesses grapple with ‘new normal’

The nation’s annual Small Business Appreciation Week is held around this time each year and, coincidentally, couldn’t have come at…
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Cosmetologists ready to get back to work

Melissa Walker opened her salon in Sylva in 2006, which means she’s been able to build a thriving business in…
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Hope remains at Lake Junaluska amid pandemic challenges

The cross situated over Lake Junaluska has been lit at night for years to give railroad workers some guiding light…
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Rebuilding, brick by brick: MGC of WNC

Though most of us have acclimated to the idea and implementation of silence in this era of the Coronavirus Pandemic,…
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Galleries adapt to the struggle of pandemic shutdown

Like much of the economy in Western North Carolina, art galleries in the region depend on tourism for survival. Just…
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Keeping the wheels in motion: Waynesville Tire

Though the front door is locked, the large garage and repair bays of Waynesville Tire are wide open and ready…
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Haywood commissioners push to reopen after terminating ‘stay home’ order

Less than five weeks after issuing a “stay home” order and barely three weeks after extending it, Haywood County commissioners…
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Haywood TDA will be ready to call tourists back

Over the past year Haywood County’s tourism industry had been cruising along well above historical averages — until the Coronavirus…
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Haywood County Schools administration finds new home

A decision has finally been made on where to put Haywood County Schools’ central administration office before their lease at…
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NC legislators pass $1.6 billion in COVID-19 relief measures

Workers, businesses, schools and local governments impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic will benefit from a comprehensive, bi-partisan relief plan that…
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Jackson reports first coronavirus death

Jackson County reported its first coronavirus death on Monday, May 4. 
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Play trivia with The Smoky Mountain News

Bar trivia is a cherished tradition for many in Western North Carolina, but such quiz nights are one of the…
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Cherokee plans for budget shortfall; no casino reopening date yet announced

As Harrah’s Cherokee Casino marks its seventh week of closure due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, leadership for the Eastern Band…
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Swain County’s COVID-19 restrictions terminated

Following a two-and-a-half hour meeting on Monday, Swain County commissioners voted to lift their countywide COVID-19 restrictions with the understanding…
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Grocery workers step up to meet high demand

People stocking shelves and working behind a register never thought they’d find themselves on the frontlines of a global pandemic…
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Forest plan comment period extended, virtual open houses scheduled

Originally slated to end May 14, the public comment period for the Nantahala and Pisgah forest plan will now extend…
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Haywood ‘stay home’ order terminated, phased reopening urged

Less than five weeks after issuing a “stay home” order and barely three weeks after extending it, Haywood County commissioners…
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Man fatally shot overnight in Waynesville
 

Man fatally shot overnight in Waynesville

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 12:06 a.m. Monday, May 4, regarding suspicious activity at the…
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Haywood COVID-19 cases up to 17

Haywood County Public Health received notice May 1 that a 17th Haywood County resident has tested positive for the novel…
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Haywood County confirms 16th case of COVID-19

Despite being mostly spared from large numbers of COVID-19 diagnoses, Haywood County's totals have continued to grow slowly in recent…
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Haywood County Cares — Erica Bass

Trooper Erica Bass has been with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol since 2008; 10 of those years have been…
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Haywood’s COVID-19 test results released

Results from large-scale testing designed to gauge the level of asymptomatic coronavirus carriers among front-line workers at essential businesses conducted…
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May 1: COVID-19 counts increase in Jackson County

Additional COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Jackson County today.
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Haywood County Cares — Sherry Green & Jamie Hawkins

Sherry Green and Jamie Hawkins have worked for A Better Clean as contractors cleaning the campuses of Haywood Community College…
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Jackson's COVID-19 count now includes 19 residents, 13 non-residents

Two more COVID-19 cases were announced in Jackson County today, bringing the total to 19.
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Nantahala Health Foundation launches COVID-19 fund
 

Nantahala Health Foundation launches COVID-19 fund

Nantahala Health Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Impact Recovery Fund to match charitable donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000…
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Blue Ridge Health offers access, virtual care
 

Blue Ridge Health offers access, virtual care

With hundreds of thousands of newly unemployed residents in the state, people are facing the loss of benefits usually provided…
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CVS MinuteClinic offering e-visits
 

CVS MinuteClinic offering e-visits

As the nation continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Health announced that MinuteClinic, the company's retail medical clinic, is…
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Macon to end county COVID-19 regulations May 8

Regulations imposed in Macon County in connection with the COVID-19 Pandemic will be repealed, canceled and ended effective 5 p.m.…
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HRMC to resume elective, non-urgent procedures

Haywood Regional Medical Center announced that it is taking the appropriate steps to safely resume some elective and non-urgent surgeries…
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Third Macon resident tests positive for COVID-19

Macon County Public Health received notice on Wednesday, April 29, that a third Macon County resident has tested positive for…
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Three more COVID-19 cases hit Haywood

Haywood County Health Department has reported three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning. 
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BearWaters joins Elevated Mountain in sanitizer production

Last weekend may have been a little bitter for BearWaters Brewing’s owners Art O’Neil and Kevin Sandefur, but it was…
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New coronavirus cases diagnosed in Jackson

Two more COVID-19 cases were announced in Jackson County today, bringing the total to 17.
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WNCW and BPR make the connection during isolation

Walking down the empty hallways of the WNCW studios on the campus of Isothermal Community College in Spindale, Martin Anderson…
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Childcare facilities continue to serve front-line families

As executive orders began piling up throughout March to close schools, restaurants, hotels and all other non-essential businesses, childcare facilities…
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Pandemic changes little for local law enforcement

While the Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the way many people perform their jobs, for the nation’s consummate front-line workers —…
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Guardian ad Litem program continues child advocacy

One thing that most front-line workers have in common right now is that they’re serving some of the community’s most…
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Health care workers hold the front lines against COVID-19

Like nearly everyone else in the country, Dr. Ben Guiney experienced a rush of dread as news of the novel…
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Homeless pose risks to general public, each other

A coalition of local nonprofits will pay to house some of Haywood County’s unsheltered population amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic after…
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Jackson COVID-19 count reaches double digits

The number of coronavirus cases among Jackson County residents has jumped to 15, up from five April 24. 
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EBCI confirms COVID-19 cases in Swain, Graham

Continued testing by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has resulted in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Swain and Graham…
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Front-line workers in Haywood get tested for coronavirus

Several hundred workers lined up by car at Haywood Community College April 28 to receive drive-through testing designed to gauge…
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Maggie Valley looks forward to reopening

With the current stay at home order in place at least through May 8, the Maggie Valley Town Board of…
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Dillsboro, Sylva at odds over bridge replacement plan

A proposed change of plans in the Dillsboro bridge project has drawn divided opinion from the towns of Dillsboro and…
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