Red Cross announces summer blood drive
The American Red Cross will host its 36th annual Operation Blood Drive on Thursday, June 29, in Asheville, Hendersonville and Waynesville.
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Jackson reworks plans for domestic violence shelter
Jackson County has had to rework the design for its domestic violence shelter after cost estimates came in well over…
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Harris and Swain Hospital names 2023 Mercy Award winner
Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospital recently announced that Missi Bowman has been recognized as the facility’s 2023 Mercy Award…
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Haywood County Ambulance wrecked in rollover accident
Around 6:30 a.m. June 22, a Haywood County ambulance based out of Bethel lost control on a curve in a…
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EXCLUSIVE: Potential property shuffle puts Haywood County Schools in a pickle
A relatively routine rezoning request for a parcel off Ratcliff Cove Road has inadvertently revealed multi-million dollar plans by Haywood…
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Public hearing set for school board rezoning request
As first reported in The Smoky Mountain News, Haywood County Schools has proposed a multi-million dollar consolidation of several auxiliary…
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Macon GOP precinct chair threatens to censure four Republican commissioners
The Macon County GOP is poised to take action against one of its precinct chairs, Rob Tolp, after he sent…
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Macon imposes penalty for camping on greenway
There will be legal penalties for camping on the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Macon County after the County Commission…
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Macon passes budget, maintains lowest tax rate in state
After weeks of heated discussion and back and forth over both revenue and expenditures, the Macon County Commission approved the…
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Supreme Court's Indian Child Welfare Act ruling preserves tribal sovereignty
Native American tribes across the country are celebrating after a June 15 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court struck down…
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Cherokee Schools water damage repair to total ‘many millions’
T The Cherokee Tribal Council has approved $7.6 million for water damage repairs at Cherokee Central Schools, but that’s expected…
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Canton logs eighth recent earthquake
Another earthquake shook the Canton area last week, bringing the count to eight quakes since May 23.
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Police shooting victim alleges attempted murder, seeks millions in damages
In an explosive federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina, the victim of a…
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Sneed calls for forensic audit on cannabis LLC; Qualla Enterprises defends its record
Principal Chief Richard Sneed renewed his concerns about the tribe’s medical cannabis company Qualla Enterprises LLC before Tribal Council this…
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Town opens Sylva Pipes
Skaters in Sylva finally have a place to ride in their own backyard after the opening of Sylva Pipes —…
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A tough Roe to hoe: State and local Democrats are searching for a way back forward
In recent years, North Carolina Democrats have helplessly watched their numbers plummet amid a string of crushing defeats that have…
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Building a better Canton
Uncertainty haunts Haywood County, and the future of small-town Western North Carolina’s economy, now that the closing of Pactiv Evergreen’s…
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Contentious vote coming on Waynesville social district
Open container alcohol consumption in cities and towns across North Carolina has met with positive results, according to local administrators…
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Former congressional candidate sentenced for campaign finance violation
Former congressional candidate Lynda Bennett has been sentenced to 12 months of probation after pleading guilty in March to violating…
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Crowe to plead guilty to federal charges; tribal court process expected to continue
With more than six months gone since tribal charges were brought against former Wolfetown Rep. Bo Crowe following an alleged…
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Motion Makers donates $500 to children’s program
Swain County Exceptional Children’s Teacher Kim Holt was thrilled to learn Motion Makers Bicycle Shop donated $500 to her program…
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WCU projects larger freshman class for 2023
A After years of enrollment and retention numbers impacted by the pandemic and its associated restrictions, Western Carolina University expects…
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Younce to replace Taylor on tribal alcohol board
The Cherokee Tribal Council voted unanimously June 1 to confirm Heather Younce as the newest member of the Tribal Alcoholic…
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Waynesville detective honored by Red Cross for saving man’s life
Waynesville Police Department Det. Paige Shell received an award for saving a man’s life at this year’s Salute to Western…
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Millworkers pay emotional farewell in Canton
It was a day few thought would ever come to pass. Even after Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its…
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Swain County finalizes budget
Swain County passed its fiscal year 2023-24 budget with no tax increase, but it’s likely there will be a tax…
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Center for Domestic Peace, Mountain Projects open offices
Two organizations committed to helping individuals and families in the community officially opened new offices in Sylva on Thursday, June…
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Juneteenth: a community affair
For the third year in a row, First United Methodist Church in Waynesville is teaming up with community partners to…
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Edwards rejects mill help
As questions continue to swirl over what Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) did to prevent the loss of around 1,000 jobs…
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Coalition nears fundraising goal for Ela Dam removal
A coalition working to remove the aged Ela Dam in Swain County has raised $8 million of an estimated $10…
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Former Chief Hicks to face Sneed in Cherokee’s September election
Former Principal Chief Michell Hicks will seek a fourth term as top executive for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians…
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Council passes mixed drink referendum, tables cannabis legalization
Cherokee voters may have the chance to approve legalized marijuana use for adults and by-the-glass mixed drinks at establishments off…
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Council delays decision on alternate constitution referendum
In a narrowly divided vote Thursday, June 1, the Cherokee Tribal Council delayed deciding on a resolution seeking to upend…
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HRMC receives catheterization lab accreditation
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) with its Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with…
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Overthrown: A developing feud within the Macon GOP threatens one of the region’s strongest political institutions
“Thou shalt not speak ill of other Republicans.”
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Pactiv’s request for a tax break is soundly rejected
It took all of about 25 minutes for the Haywood County Board of Equalization and Review to reject Pactiv Evergreen’s…
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Haywood Republicans to host election denier
On Thursday, June 8, the Haywood County Republican Party will host an elections “integrity” event featuring a discredited activist with…
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Smathers: ‘We will fight’ Pactiv’s tax break request
Officials on both the local and the state level have been adamant in demanding Pactiv Evergreen be held accountable for…
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'It didn't have to be this way': Former paper mill employees observe last whistle blow
It’s 11:57 a.m. Wednesday in downtown Canton. Daniel Gregg is standing on the Park Street bridge overlooking the Pigeon River.…
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Referenda on cannabis, mixed drinks considered for Cherokee
During Tribal Council Thursday, June 1, the body will consider resolutions seeking to legalize cannabis use for adults 21 and…
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‘Lowest tax rate in North Carolina’: Macon County budgets for revenue neutral tax rate
Macon County has experienced incredible growth over the past several years, both in population and property values. Despite this increase…
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Haywood Animal Shelter receives Petco grant
Haywood County Animal Shelter is set to receive a $12,500 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of…
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Pless makes progress with collaborative rehab proposal
Elected leaders from nearly all of Western North Carolina’s local governments continue to express strong support for Rep. Mark Pless’…
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For whom the bell tolls: As local leaders look to heal, Canton mourns its mill
Nearly three months ago, Pactiv Evergreen unceremoniously announced that after more than a century in operation, the paper mill at…
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Senate budget includes large changes for WNC courts
Western North Carolina’s judicial system might get the help it’s needed for several years now.
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Senior prank leads to legal ramifications
A group of Smoky Mountain High School seniors could be facing criminal charges for what administrators see as taking a…
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Macon will address cryptocurrency mining
Macon County is the latest in Western North Carolina to address the rise in cryptocurrency and its disruptive mining practices…
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No tax increase likely for Jackson
The proposed 2023-24 Fiscal Year general fund budget for Jackson County totals just over $88.1 million, an increase of about…
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Proposal aims to replace Cherokee constitution adoption with Charter amendments
During its next meeting Thursday, June 1, the Cherokee Tribal Council is set to debate the future of a referendum…
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Following mistrial, settlement reached in Knibbs case
After five years of litigation the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and former Macon Deputy Anthony Momphard have agreed to settle…
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