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Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:42

Children’s advocate to speak at Lake Junaluska Peace Conference

Marian Wright Edelman will speak at the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, at Stuart Auditorium. The talk is part of the 2010 Lake Junaluska Peace Conference titled “Peace for the World’s Children” and is free.…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:41

Alzheimer’s Association opens Cherokee office

A grand opening celebration of the Alzheimer’s Association’s office and counseling center in Cherokee will take place  2:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20. The facility will be in the Health and Medical Division Building, 43 John Crowe Hill. Principal Chief…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:40

Mark the Scouts’ 100th anniversary Sept. 25

The Boy Scouts of America is celebrating 100 years of scouting with a council-wide camporee and celebration at Camp Daniel Boone in Haywood County the weekend of Sept. 25. All Scouts, leaders, families and guests are encouraged to come and…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:39

Court filing raises questions about Moody Funeral Home

An accountant tasked by a Superior Court judge with taking control of Moody Funeral Home in Sylva said she couldn’t fulfill the order because of a state-licensing issue, and questions about who is on the property lease. In a Sept.…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:38

Proliferation of ‘for sale’ signs sparks debate in Maggie

Ron Rosendahl took the time to count every single sign greeting the main road that dissects the town of Maggie Valley. He found 400 signs squeezed into less than five miles of Soco Road. According to Rosendahl, only 26 of…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:37

Internet could be key to economic development in WNC

Western Carolina might never be the next Silicon Valley, but experts say improving Internet access could help kick-start the region’s economy. David Hubbs, CEO of BalsamWest FiberNET, said with the manufacturing sector mostly on its way out in WNC, it’s…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:35

An uphill battle: Western North Carolina struggles to overcome digital divide

A few years ago, Michael Wade was ready to hang up tin cans and have tenants at his Rabbit Ridge Apartments in Cullowhee yell messages at each other — all to avoid the daily aggravation caused by two telecom corporations.…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:31

Flowering trees — and lots of them — could be Maggie’s aesthetic salvation

Retired horticulturist Clayton Davis envisions a new Maggie Valley. Instead of a tiring five-mile stretch of asphalt along Soco Road, it features a beautiful line of islands brimming with colorful flowers, trees, shrubs and decorative rocks. Like the tulips at…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:30

Haywood tries new approach in dealing with unhealthy garbage

After enduring months of dogged opposition over a county rule that would protect residents from nasty garbage piles on their neighbor’s property, Haywood County leaders are trying a different tack. The county has dropped the idea of a public health…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:29

Haywood Memory Walk to support Alzheimer’s care

Registration is now open for the 20th Annual Haywood County Memory Walk, which will be held at 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at Lake Junaluska. There are more than 1,630 cases of Alzheimer’s disease in Haywood County, and that number is…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:28

Support offered for families of chronically ill persons

“Taking Care of You: Powerful Tools for Care giving,” is a six-week series created to educate those who care for chronically ill family members. The classes will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. every Thursday from Sept. 30 to…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:27

Learn more about respite caregiving

Training sessions for those wishing to work as a respite caregiver will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, and those seeking a respite caregiver can attend training from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Haywood Community…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:25

Defining ‘family’ not so easy for zoning purposes

Tired of all-night parties, yards used as parking lots and  overflowing trash cans, a community near Western Carolina University is taking aim at student rental houses. The Village of Forest Hills plans to limit the number of people who can…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:24

Nothing comes easy when Highlands’ town limits jag into Jackson County

Call Highlands home and you live in Macon County, right? Not necessarily. Some town of Highlands residents have discovered they actually live in neighboring Jackson County — which can make matters confusing, all the way from the voting booth to…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:19

Pet first aid workshops offered

Dog and cat owners will have an opportunity to learn basic emergency first aid for their companion pets in a hands on two-hour workshop with Dr. Tami Shearer of Shearer Pet Health Hospital. Getting your sick or injured companion to…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:18

Learn about regional colleges at HCC

College Night at Haywood Community College will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the auditorium. Area high school students and residents will have a chance to talk with college representatives from more than 55 southeastern…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:18

Constitution readings planned

In an effort to revitalize the nation’s civic culture, veterans and schoolchildren from throughout Jackson County will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 in Cashiers, Sylva and Cherokee for a public reading of the U.S. Constitution. The readings will…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:16

Environmental groups support Needmore Road improvements, but not DOT’s proposal

An environmental group dedicated to protecting the Little Tennessee River has come out against a state proposal to widen and pave Needmore Road from one to two lanes. The Little Tennessee Watershed Association did not dismiss out-of-hand the state Department…
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:11

Landslide repair below Ghost Town set to begin

Stabilization of the landslide below Ghost Town in Maggie Valley will begin in two weeks, finally bringing comfort to downslope residents who have lived below the looming threat of another slide for half a year. The slide last February scoured…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Allen joins Knotts on Sylva board

Danny Allen, a former Sylva town commissioner who has been off the board for two years, will reclaim his seat after being the top vote-getter in the town election. Commissioner Stacy Knotts followed closely on his heels, while Harold Hensley…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Tracing the roots of WNC’s signature style

Love it or hate it, mountain vernacular architecture has stubbornly planted its roots in Western North Carolina and shows no signs of abandoning the area. The style that favors steep pitched roofs, native stonework, timber frame gables and earth-tone colors…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

WNC juggles perceptions and realities of rockslide blockade

The main message that local and state authorities are frenetically broadcasting to the world is that Western North Carolina is still open for business even though a major rockslide will likely shut down a portion of Interstate 40 near the…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Price and Pauley ride easily into office in quiet Maggie race

After a feel-good race lacking much controversy, Maggie Valley voters have re-elected Saralyn Price to her second term on the town board, sending with her a fresh face, motel owner Scott Pauley. Both Price and Pauley ran on campaigns that…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Regional election results

Clyde Town boardSeats up for election:    2Total seats on board:    4Carroll Mease (I)    103Jim Trantham (I)    95Alan Trantham    42Registered voters:    780Voter turnout:    127 (16%) Village of Forest Hills MayorJames Wallace (I)    49(running as write-in)Mark Teague    22Town boardSeats up for election:  …
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Franklin voters stick with familiar faces

Not one face is changing in Franklin’s local government despite close contests for mayor and aldermen. In a neck-and-neck race, Franklin Mayor Joe Collins beat out Alderman Bob Scott by only 14 votes to reclaim the office for another two…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Fresh faces will lead Canton

As with the election two years ago, Canton will once again see three new faces on the board. Voters had a deep bench of candidates to chose from: 10 running for four seats on the board. The only two returning…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Third party steps in to run Balsam Mountain Preserve

Balsam Mountain Preserve has been stripped of control and custody of its development as lenders continue their march toward foreclosure. The 4,400-acre development in Jackson County owes nearly $21 million to its lender, a private equity investment firm called TriLyn.…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Residents value rural heritage and environment in highway debate

An overwhelming majority of citizens who showed up at a public hearing in Robbinsville spoke out against the Corridor K road project last Thursday (Oct. 29). The proposed four-lane highway would supplant the winding, two-lane roads that are currently the…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Fee charged to overseas visitors would fund tourism marketing abroad

A bill is moving through Congress that could help boost the local economy and create jobs by drawing international tourists to Western North Carolina. The legislation would charge overseas visitors a $10 fee. The revenue would be used to market…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

New leaders to forge future for Dillsboro with or without railroad

Faced with a collapsing tourism marketplace caused by a national recession and the pullout of its featured attraction — the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad –– Dillsboro’s voters elected a new leadership team to steer the town towards an uncertain future.…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Enamored with stacked stone and timber, planners push mountain look

Western North Carolina has so embraced mountain vernacular architecture that local planning boards across the area are prodding developers into adopting the style. While officials stop short of handing over a checklist to architects that includes stacked stone, steep pitched…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

21 write-ins get votes in Webster

In an unusual election storyline, voters in Webster cast ballots for a total of 21 write-in candidates because too few candidates signed up to run for the five available seats on the town council. When the new town council convenes,…
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 20:00

Swain fails to make headway in cash settlement talks

The National Park Service and Swain County appear locked in a stalemate over how much the federal government should pay up for breaking its long-standing contract to replace a road flooded by the creation of Lake Fontana in the 1940s.…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Fund for Haywood County announces $16,000 in grants for recession relief

The Fund for Haywood County recently handed out $16,000 in grants to county nonprofits providing services for recession relief. The Fund for Haywood County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, was established in 1994 by a…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

New festival director seeks a larger audience for Maggie Valley

The hunt for a festival director for Maggie Valley is officially over. Beating out 22 other applicants, Audrey Hager took over the position in mid-December. With Hager at the helm of the town’s struggling festival grounds, Maggie Valley is hoping…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

2009: Looking back at the newsmakers

The Smoky Mountain News is paying homage this week to some of the newsmakers of 2009 by dishing out our annual awards. Few would chalk up 2009 as a year they want to remember, given the generally gloomy pall cast…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Folkmoot, Evergreen Packaging form multiyear partnership

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Festival, has locked down its first presenting sponsor. Evergreen Packaging has partnered with the Festival as its presenting sponsor for 2010 through 2013, becoming the first international corporation to develop a multiyear relationship with…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Decision pending soon in Jackson’s last chance to save the Dillsboro dam

After years of battling Duke Energy in nearly every legal arena it could scout out, Jackson County was dealt a major blow last week when the U.S. Court of Appeals denied its plea for federal intervention. Jackson County is trying…
Wednesday, 30 December 2009 15:54

Nonprofits struggle in adverse fundraising climate

It has been a difficult year for environmental nonprofits. State budget cuts have meant fewer grants and philanthropic endowments have suffered with the stock market. Meanwhile, the focus of giving has shifted towards social issues, like providing food, housing and…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Slump in construction leads Maggie to can building inspector

The Town of Maggie Valley decided Monday to lay off its building inspector after already trimming 10 hours off his weekly schedule earlier this year. Town Manager Tim Barth said there was a strong economic case to discontinue the town’s…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Shuler scores millions for Swain in North Shore Road debate

Claude Douthit has spent half his life fighting the federal government over the North Shore Road. The decades-old debate dates back to the 1940s, when the federal government flooded a road outside Bryson City with the construction of Lake Fontana.…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Tourism turnaround set back by rockslide

After a slight increase in overnight visitors this fall following a dismal summer, Haywood County tourism officials are dreading November reports.“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said Lynn Collins, executive director of Haywood County Tourism Development Authority,…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Locals do what it takes for fresh tracks

For seasoned Smoky Mountain outdoor enthusiasts, snow in the forecast means the chance to indulge suppressed fantasies. Whether its getting fresh tracks on some obscure slope they see on the road to work or heading up to the blocked-off Blue…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Tuscola produces two division I quarterbacks in five years

In the space of five years Tuscola High School’s football program has produced two big-time college quarterback prospects. While Friday night lights are a huge draw in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the relatively small pool of athletes makes…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Snowstorm puts damper on critical shopping weekend

Business owners in Western North Carolina are wrapping up an absurdly challenging year. On top of dealing with a lingering recession and a rockslide that has shut down a major section of Interstate 40 for months, they faced a major…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Haywood tourism leaders critical of state’s response to rockslide

State officials have not turned a blind eye to the economic pain caused by the rockslide in Western North Carolina, but Haywood Tourism Development Authority officials say their strategy is off the mark. First off, the state’s tourism division is…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Sylva bypass makes the cut

Jackson County commissioners were split over whether to endorse the construction of a controversial new highway outside of Sylva when the issue came up for a vote at a county meeting Monday. The highway was included on a wishlist being…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

EDC audit out of reach due to spotty records

Jackson County commissioners closed the book on a painful chapter in the county’s history on Monday, announcing they would give up their quest for an audit of the economic development commission. The commissioners had hoped to present an audit of…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Safeguarding the settlement

A cash settlement with the federal government in lieu of the long-promised North Shore Road will reap annual dividends for Swain County for years to come. The county will put the money in a lockbox and only use the interest…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Striking while the iron’s hot

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has found a silver lining in the Interstate 40 closure following a massive rockslide in late October near the Tennessee line. It is taking advantage of the months-long shut down by fast-tracking maintenance work…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Jackson commissioners take over airport authority

Facing a moribund governing body and a facility once again in need of expensive repairs, the Jackson County board of commissioners did what it’s been unwilling to do in the past –– assume management of the airport. The commissioners totally…
Wednesday, 23 December 2009 13:45

Outrage erupts over Sylva teen club

A little-known teen club shook the Town of Sylva out of a slumber last week and shone a bright light on the private lives of young adults. Concerned parents brought 500 signatures to a town board meeting demanding that it…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Swain settles lawsuit over sewer line cost overruns

Swain County commissioners have settled a ten-month long lawsuit with Buckeye Construction for $30,000, far less than the $127,000 originally demanded. “I think the county came out a winner on this, even though it cost us,” said Commissioner Glenn Jones.…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Waynesville panel may recommend rolling back rear parking mandate

A movement is afoot to roll back some of the smart growth principles of Waynesville’s land-use plan by loosening commercial development guidelines. A blue-ribbon committee appointed by the town has spent the past few months combing through the town’s land-use…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

One dollar reaps rewards seven times over

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Directory. With the final throes of Christmas shopping underway this week, the message seemed particularly relevant and is reprinted here with permission. It’s all about…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Sylva borrows mantra of national buy local movement

As the holiday shopping season nears its final frenzy, Sylva’s business community is stressing the importance of buying local. The Downtown Sylva Association has seized on a national campaign called the 3/50 Project to encourage local people to patronize their…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Franklin could reap windfall from sale of property

Franklin’s leaders are trying to decide what to do about a valuable piece of property on the outskirts of downtown, and they’re hiring outside consultants to help them. The town purchased the Whitmire property in January 2005 for $1,585,373 with…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Campaign reminds shoppers to spend where they live

When store owners pack up their holiday decorations next month, there’s one thing Karen Wilmot hopes they will leave up — a sign that reminds residents to shop local. As director of Swain County’s Chamber of Commerce, Wilmot handed out…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Towns use fees, restrictions to push back against video gambling look alike

Local governments have begun the process of regulating cyber sweepstakes machines, which are multiplying rapidly across Western North Carolina. The responsibility for regulating cyber sweepstakes has largely been left in local governments’ hands until a consensus is reached at a…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

State snuffs out smoking in bars and restaurants

Promptly after ringing in the new year, North Carolina will usher in a smoking ban in restaurant and bars on Jan. 2. While most restaurants are moseying on with the status quo for now, Pasquale’s Italian Restaurant in Waynesville is…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Waynesville gets on board rail movement for passengers and freight

Last week, Waynesville’s town board linked up with a growing grassroots movement that is calling for increased rail capacity. The town board unanimously passed a resolution to support a move to rail service in North Carolina. “To me, it’s just…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Health care facilities to create new jobs

After successfully enlisting the help of local government, Haywood Regional Medical Center and Maggie Valley Health Investors are chasing state grants to fund two new medical facilities in Haywood County. Haywood County commissioners agreed to apply on HRMC’s behalf to…
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:59

Road failures cast uncertainty on Wildflower’s future

In 2005, two investment partners from Atlanta broke ground on a massive project on the slopes of Cowee Mountain in north Macon County with hopes of creating a new paradigm for mountainside development in Western North Carolina. However, four years…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Jonathan Creek park moves closer to reality

Haywood County commissioners decided Monday to move forward with the design phase for a proposed public park and sports field in Jonathan Creek. The county’s Recreation and Parks Department is accepting conceptual proposals from local consultants until Dec. 30. Though…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Poore chosen as CEO for MedWest Health System

Haywood Regional Medical Center CEO Mike Poore has been named as the new chief executive officer of MedWest Health System following a unanimous vote of the MedWest System Board and the recommendation of Carolinas Heathcare System. MedWest is the name…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

New Sylva board member could help bridge rift

Sylva’s incoming Mayor Maurice Moody said he wanted to start his career with a consensus vote and that’s exactly what he did. In its first act, the newly seated Sylva town board unanimously voted to appoint Christine Matheson to the…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Undocumented students receive helping hand from Franklin principal

Despite the daunting road ahead, Franklin High School principal Gary Shields is steering his undocumented students toward the naturalization process. Gaining citizenship would give his students a shot at higher education and better job opportunities. “They’re not going home, and…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Big Ridge mortgage holders say their loans being investigated

Editor’s note: These articles first appeared in the St. Petersburg Times and are reprinted with permission of the writer. Lawyers for 13 people who bought land in a controversial Big Ridge subdivision in Cashiers say federal prosecutors in Miami and…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Rockslide cleanup could last through spring

The Interstate 40 rockslide cleanup could now take until May, according to Joel Setzer, head of the N.C. Department of Transportation for the region. At a Haywood County commissioners meeting on Monday, Setzer stated the cleanup could take between three…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Expense keeps most undocumented immigrants out of community college

North Carolina’s community colleges may have flung open their doors to illegal immigrants once again, but only a handful of undocumented students are likely to trickle into area colleges next fall. Most undocumented students face a practical dead-end after graduating…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

WCU trustees adopt tuition increase

Western Carolina University’s board of trustees voted to increase the school’s tuition by 6.5 percent next year. The vote to adopt a voluntary tuition hike will only take effect if the North Carolina General Assembly backs off on its proposed…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Malicious prosecution lawsuit unfounded, magistrate rules

A malicious prosecution lawsuit by a woman accused of misappropriating flood relief donations should be dropped, according to the recommendation of a federal magistrate reviewing the case. Denise Mathis, former director of the Haywood County Council on Aging, claims she…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Tribal casino gets OK for gaming floor alcohol

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino may soon serve alcohol on the gaming floor, after receiving an unofficial go-ahead from a state attorney. The casino has already been offering customers beer, wine and mixed drinks at restaurants and lounges in its adjacent hotel.…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Unpaid Ghost Town workers were warned pay might not come

Ghost Town in the Sky, an amusement park in Maggie Valley, failed to pay employees for their final two weeks of work before shutting down for the winter. While most employees were told upfront that they might not be paid…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Bell ringers cope with corporate regulations, recession

Around Thanksgiving, they begin showing up outside stores with a red kettle, a jingling bell and a smile. In many people’s eyes, Salvation Army bell ringers are as integral to the holiday season as Christmas trees, carols and Santa Claus.…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Haywood’s lower classification pleases economic official

Haywood County was more economically distressed this year, according to state rankings that essentially classify the counties from wealthiest to poorest. But Mark Clasby, executive director for the economic development commission, is far from disappointed about the news. “I’m very…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

The kindest army

Though the bell ringers have seen how hard the recession has hit the local community, they are surprised at the amount of giving they witness. “It always amazes me,” said Fred Galloway, a Waynesville bell ringer. “The harder the times…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Steady stream of businesses look for federal help after rockslide

Small businesses struggling to pay bills after a rockslide shut down Interstate 40 now have the option of applying for federal low-interest loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering up to $2 million in assistance to each company that…
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 15:13

Defective slot machine zaps gambler

A slot machine at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino malfunctioned, delivering a shock that floored a gambler, according to a lawsuit brought by the victim. While the incident occurred over three years ago, Willie Jean Robinson is still waiting to hear whether…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Compromise ends tug-of-war over who will be Harrah’s liquor distributor

While the addition of alcohol sales at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel will undoubtedly be lucrative for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, they won’t be alone in reaping a windfall. Harrah’s will order all its liquor from the ABC…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Legal wrangling heats up in Jackson’s bid to wrest Dillsboro dam away from Duke

Jackson County and Duke Energy squared off this week over the Dillsboro dam, marking the first major head-to-head courtroom battle in the nearly eight-year saga. Duke Energy wants to tear down the Dillsboro Dam, while Jackson County hopes to save…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Macon wrestles with impact of subdivision ordinance

Although Macon County passed its first subdivision ordinance more than a year ago, Commissioner Chairman Ronnie Beale wonders whether enough was done to protect developers with projects already underway. Developments that pre-dated the new rules may be hamstrung when attempting…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Cataloochee reaches out to women

Ski instructor Kathy New can truly empathize with the nervous beginners she teaches at the Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley each winter. More than 30 years ago, New took her first turns on the very same slopes as her…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Consensus unlikely in Sylva board appointment

The moment of truth arrives for Sylva’s new town board on the day it starts work. When board members convene this week, the first item on their agenda will be pivotal in defining the town’s ideological direction for the next…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Foundering developers create vested rights dilemma

As developers grapple with financial woes forcing them to sell off holdings or succumb to foreclosure, environmental groups in Jackson County want to rein in vested rights previously doled out for those tracts. A whopping 238 subdivisions were exempt from…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Effort to revive language calls Cherokee old and young

Outside the annual Thanksgiving potluck dinner in the isolated Snowbird community, a remote corner of Graham County where the Cherokee language has deep roots, the parking lot is jammed full. It’s a dark night. The children play tag and the…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Canton leaders to compare and contrast lists

As everyone else compiles wish lists for the holiday season, Canton’s four aldermen will put together a list of their own on behalf of the town. Soon after they were sworn into office last Tuesday (Nov. 24), Mayor Pat Smathers…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Between language and culture

Native American languages are unique. They came into being and evolved without the influence of writing. For scholars like Heidi Altman, a professor of linguistic sociology, that makes them fascinating. “The thing I’m interested in is how people organize knowledge…
Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:31

Maggie ABC store captures share of Waynesville business

The recession has taken a toll on liquor sales at the ABC stores in Maggie Valley and Waynesville, in turn reducing the profits paid out to the towns. Rather than curtailing their intake, customers are buying cheaper brands, according to…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Not for the faint of heart

The highly technical and extremely dangerous work to stabilize the rockslide is being carried out by Janod, a Canadian company. A leading expert in rock stabilization, they get called in by mines, quarries, railroads and highway departments to shore up…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

All about tea

Editor’s Note: Since January is National Tea Month, The Smoky Mountain News talked to some of the tea connoisseurs in Western North Carolina about their love of tea and disdain for the traditional iced tea so popular in the South.…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Struggling cattle farmers await new auction house

If all goes according to plan, a new regional livestock market will open in Canton by late May to more than 3,000 happy cattle farmers from Western North Carolina. The venue will again provide a stable market to help livestock…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Balsam Mountain Preserve foreclosure now official

Balsam Mountain Preserve, a mega-development in Jackson County, was sold to the highest bidder on the courthouse steps Monday (Jan. 25) in a closely followed foreclosure proceeding. TriLyn, a private equity investment firm which initiated the foreclosure, was the highest…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

How to fix a mountainside

In the first days following the rockslide on Interstate 40 last October, Jody Kuhne had the unenviable job of rappelling down the freshly scoured rock face and into a gaping chasm left in the mountainside. As the DOT’s resident expert…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino building for big future

With the rest of the region’s construction economy at a standstill, Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino is in the midst of a massive expansion project employing nearly 1,000 workers. “We’re kind of creating our own gravity in terms of labor…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Chinese teacher adapts and thrives in Swain County

After making the journey to Western North Carolina from China, Niu Jun discovered Bryson City was nothing like she imagined. Driving through the town of about 1,300, a confused Niu Jun asked, “Bryson City? Where’s the city?” Niu Jun, 33,…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Jackson finally folds in long feud with Duke

The seven-year battle between Jackson County commissioners and Duke Energy has come to a close. After losing a critical court battle this month, Jackson County commissioners voted 4 to 1 to give up their legal fight against Duke Energy last…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

Historic Cherokee letterpress carries exciting potential for new art

The newest addition to Southwestern Community College’s Oconaluftee Institute of Cultural Arts holds a piece of Cherokee history. OICA will soon obtain a letterpress that will be used to print books in the Cherokee syllabary. “We are bringing back the…
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:37

A new rockslide on I-40 over the weekend may take up to three weeks to clear

Another rockslide struck along the already closed section of Interstate 40 over the weekend. The new slide is nothing like the earlier one, but big enough in its own right. It covered both westbound lanes just past exit 7 at…
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