Nantahala foundation awards grants
The Nantahala Health Foundation has announced its initial grants awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and…
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WCU student working to translate Cherokee language from native newspaper
Constance Owl’s master’s degree thesis is more than a means to a graduate degree in American history. It’s a portal…
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Sylva police investigating impeachment protest incident
The Sylva Police Department is looking into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 17, during a protest downtown that…
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Jackson discusses solutions to slow internet
Sylva was named the nation’s slowest city for internet in a recent report from internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com, and…
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Animal shelter funding approved in Jackson
Funding for a new animal shelter in Jackson County has been approved following a Dec. 17 vote to OK $5.39…
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Jackson approves $700,000 for new voting machines
After more than three years of anticipating the expenditure, Jackson County has allocated funds to replace its recently decertified voting…
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WNC congressmen oppose Trump impeachment
For just the third time in American history members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve articles of…
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Candidate filing period ends with a bang
A flurry of last-minute sign-ups means that 2020 will likely be a lively election season in Western North Carolina and…
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Macon inmate captured after fleeing custody
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland told commissioners last week that he tries his best not to ask for more money…
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Price won’t run in NC-11, endorses fellow Democrat
UPDATED Dec. 19: Hours after this story was posted, Rep. Meadows announced he wouldn't seek reelection to the seat…
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Studies show correlation between PTSD and substance abuse
By Taylor Sexton • Special to SMN | Emma Jordan lives in Hatteras, North Carolina, where she spends her days working hard,…
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Running through life with PTSD
By Taylor Sexton • Contributing writer | I was 5 years old when I watched my father’s fist fly into the wall…
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Macon amends contract for jail medical services
Macon County commissioners approved two amended contracts that will hopefully keep costs down at the detention center.
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Airport authority chairman retires after 25 years
Macon County commissioners recently recognized Miles Gregory for his many years of service to the county, including his 25 years…
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Two plead guilty to trafficking
Samantha Casey Green, 27, of Franklin, entered a guilty plea to one count of trafficking opiates as a result of…
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Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Jackson County Public Schools announced that Dawn Gilchrist has been selected as the Western Region Teacher of the Year.
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SCC celebrates new class of grads
Dressed in a royal blue cap and gown, with a glowing Christmas tree behind her and a smile from ear…
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Candidate signups continue in WNC
There will be a primary election for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat following Susan Bogardus’ decision…
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WNC Entegra branches to close during merger
A merger between Macon County-based Entegra Bank and First-Citizens Bank is moving forward, but under the condition that Entegra will…
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Beer and wine sales approved for WCU athletics
Beer and wine could join hot dogs and sodas as common concessions at Western Carolina University athletic events following a…
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WCU trustees approve increases for fee, room and meal rates
The cost of attendance at Western Carolina University will rise 3.27 percent next year following the WCU Board of Trustees’…
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Tribal employees to see 7 percent raise
Christmas will be extra sweet this year for tribal employees following Tribal Council’s vote to enact a 7 percent cost-of-living…
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Town to form homelessness task force
Calling it a campaign promise kept, newly-minted Waynesville Mayor Gary Caldwell announced during the first few moments of his term…
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Waynesville board becomes more diverse
The town of Waynesville swore in Haywood County’s first openly gay elected official — Biltmore Farms Director of Information Systems…
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Realtor association merger will help with affordable housing
Local Realtors are about to experience a change most of them will barely notice, but the merger of the Haywood…
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Torture, indifference alleged in Haywood horse cruelty case
Accusations of animal cruelty have been swirling about Haywood County stable operator James Lunsford for much of the year but…
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Tribal Council kills resort proposal
A $30 million deal to bring a story-themed resort to Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians-owned land in Sevier County, Tennessee,…
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Tree planted in memory of Riley Howell
With funding from The Fund of Haywood County and RE/MAX Executive, an oak tree was planted and a plaque installed…
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Lunsford refutes cruelty allegations
Haywood County resident James Lunsford, 65, is currently the subject of an animal cruelty lawsuit filed against him Oct. 11…
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Family gets Habitat home
John and Landy Savage of Whittier will soon be able to move into their new home after losing their mobile…
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Jackson calls for stricter environmental enforcement
Concerned by ongoing erosion issues at the Western Carolina University Millennial Apartments construction site in Cullowhee, the Jackson County Board…
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Emergency shelter operating in Bryson City
Swain County now has an emergency homeless shelter in downtown Bryson City thanks to a generous donation and the hard…
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N.C. 107 utility plans leave relocation list unchanged
With updated plans hot off the presses, the N.C. Department of Transportation welcomed well over 100 people to an open…
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Cyber attack causes tribal computer network shutdown
Computer systems at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are down this week after a tribal employee allegedly attacked the…
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Candidate filing continues until Dec. 20
With the first week of election filing in the books, voters are starting to see what their Primary Election ballots…
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New maps and a new candidate in N.C.’s 11th Congressional District
After months and years of litigation, a Wake County court decided Dec. 2 that North Carolina could proceed with the…
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Free at a cost: Entrance fee prohibition creates challenges for the Smokies
Growing up in West Asheville, Daniel Pierce was a frequent visitor to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park…
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Not so super? Out-of-state money influences small-town elections
Super PACs are starting to make a big-time impact on small-town Western North Carolina politics, and not everyone thinks that’s…
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Mercy Urgent Care opens in Waynesville
Mercy Urgent Care will open its newest facility in Waynesville in early 2020.
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Haywood commissioners hear opioid update
It appears that some progress is being made in the fight against drug addiction in Haywood County, but a recent…
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State releases 2020 economic tier rankings
The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2020 this week. The designations, which are mandated…
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Sylva reaches temporary parking agreement with Baptist church
The quarter-acre parking lot on the corner of Main and Landis streets in Sylva is officially town parking following a…
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New hires to speed child custody cases in Cherokee
Tribal Council voted unanimously last month to expand the tribe’s roster of attorneys in hopes of moving child custody cases…
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Pretrial program nears end of pilot year
Haywood and Jackson counties have been participating in an important pilot program this year in hopes of creating a more…
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Sisters form Pretrial Justice Project of Macon County
Dawn Todd manages a humane society in Franklin. With a full plate at work, she isn’t someone who would usually…
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Presnell out, Pless steps up as filing period begins
If you think seems a bit early for candidates to be filing for the 2020 elections, you’re right — a…
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Rep. Presnell won’t seek reelection
After four terms in the N.C. House of Representatives, incumbent Rep. Michele Presnell (R-Burnsville) announced earlier today that she would…
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Opportunity knocks: Western takes on ‘Bama
For nearly all of its 128-year history, the University of Alabama’s football program has been synonymous with gridiron excellence. Thousands…
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Haywood NAACP hosts diversity training day for educators
A new kind of professional development training session hosted by the Haywood County Chapter of the NAACP left local educators…
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Rain quells Cold Mountain Fire at 200 acres
A fire in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area burned about 200 acres last week after a 911 call at 3…
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