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Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:46

Bryson City federal court site could be on the chopping block

Although it has been spared for now, federal belt tightening could eventually lead the government to close its federal court site in Bryson City, which serves as the only one west of Asheville.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:44

Trifecta of taxes, spending and debt debated in Haywood commissioner race

Haywood voters must pick two county commissioners from a field of four candidates. Both the sitting commissioners are running to keep their seats. Whoever wins come Nov. 6 will serve four years on the county’s highest decision-making board. Commissioners Mark…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:43

Donate items for homeless veterans

Members of the Silas McDowell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution are collecting items for homeless veterans in the region through Oct. 31. The group is working with the Veterans Restoration Quarters in Asheville and will be collecting…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:42

Liars Bench will present southern Appalachian fright tales at WCU

The Liars Bench will present its third annual show of “Appalachian Spook Tales” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center auditorium. The Liars Bench is a southern Appalachian variety show started by writer and…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:41

State, Jackson commission candidates square off

A candidate forum will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at the Jackson County Public Library. Candidates attending are: Republican Jim Davis and Democrat John Snow, candidates for the N.C. Senate’s 50th District; Republican Mike Clampitt…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:38

Keeping up with the Joneses in Jackson’s commissioners race

A race for Jackson County commissioners this fall has come down to a contest of the Joneses. The similar names on the ballot — Mark Jones versus Marty Jones — will no doubt keep voters on their toes when they…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:36

MedWest hopes round of layoffs will shore up financial picture

The three MedWest hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties laid off 82 employees this week to cope with shrinking revenue and declining patient volume. The layoffs are part of a larger workforce reduction in recent months. Another 79 positions…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:34

The battle before the war

It was a tranquil Saturday afternoon when the stampede began. Lines of vehicles, like mechanical horses with flags waving high, hurtle down the highway, resembling some cavalry charging into battle, desperately in search of a cherished parking space near the…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Courthouse – again – slated as possible library site

The hilltop above Sylva that’s home to the iconic historic courthouse is back on as a potential site for a new Jackson County library. The location has been in the running on and off over the past several years during…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Commissioners weigh in: More flexibility proposed as Jackson board scrutinizes development regulations

Jackson County commissioners are poised to make numerous changes to a slate of proposed development regulations billed as the most stringent in Western North Carolina and possibly the state. Commissioners intend to pass the regulations by the end of July.…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Mill buyer amasses large share of juice carton market

Mill workers at Blue Ridge Paper Products are optimistic about their future under a new owner. The buyer, a billionaire from New Zealand named Graeme Hart, has been gobbling up market share in the milk and juice carton industry over…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Money vs. quality of life an easy choice for some

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Two newly licensed teachers with ties to Western North Carolina offered a very different perspective on the recruitment process, including why they chose to either stay in the region or relocate elsewhere.
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Swain sets hearing on North Shore Road

Just when the fate of the Road to Nowhere through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park seemed sealed, road supporters are rallying their troops for one final hurrah.
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Maggie studies potential growth, regulations

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The surprisingly large crowd at a presentation on Maggie Valley’s proposed land-use plan seemed impressed with the details but questioned how applicable it was. The land-use plan, created by Kannapolis-based firm Benchmark, would divide…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Seven western counties share land-use ideas

Slope and ridgetop development, protecting waterways, and farmland and open-space preservation emerged as the top land-management concerns of those responsible for implementing regional planning.
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Counties struggle to recruit teachers

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Paula Ledford is getting worried. With a little over a month to go before school starts in Macon County, the school human resources director still has to find 15 people to fill vacant positions.…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Preserve’s sediment woes pre-date dam break

Balsam Mountain Preserve, a 4,500-acre development in Jackson County, has been fined $300,000 for ongoing sediment and erosion control violations by the county. The fine comes on the heels of a dam break that sent hundreds of tons of mud…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:44

Finding freedom in the written word

Dawn Gilchrist-Young doesn’t just read and teach books, she defends them. As chair of the English department for Swain County High School, Gilchrist-Young is joining “Banned Books Weeks”, which is a nationwide celebration this week in honor of one of…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:28

Rash of house fires hits Macon County

During the month of September, Macon County experienced one of its most notable spates of structure fires. During a three-week period starting Sept. 7, four large structures succumbed to fire in the county — including the house of Franklin Fire…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:25

Neighbors hit snag in quest to rename road

Hate the name of your street? In Haywood County, changing it shouldn’t be that hard. Come up with a new name, make sure the name isn’t already taken by another street and get at least 65 percent of your neighbors…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:25

Trees honor breast cancer patients

As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and MedWest Health System’s annual Fall Fight campaign against breast cancer, the women’s imaging centers of MedWest-Harris and MedWest-Haywood are hosting receptions on Oct. 5 to dedicate Trees of Hope to honor…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:24

Swain drive provides coats for needy

The fourth annual ‘Coats for Folks’ collection is currently underway. People can drop off gently used or new winter clothing articles for children and adults at any Swain County governmental facility such as the County Administration Building, Health Dept., Social…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:22

Parties tight-fisted when it comes to WNC race for Congress

The Republican National Congressional Committee won’t be putting any money behind Mark Meadows, the Republican candidate for the 11th U.S. Congressional District. RNCC leaders said this race is a shoo-in given the conservative-leaning district, so they will marshal their financial…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:21

Changes in store for rural post offices

Some small post offices in Western North Carolina may have their hours cut or be shut down as the U.S. Postal Service continues to hunt for ways to solve its ongoing financial deficit. Last year, a proposal to close hundreds…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:20

Philanthropic streak runs deep with patients of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

Smaller, independent hospitals across the nation have increasingly sought partnerships with larger hospitals in recent years, a trend largely driven by financial challenges. For Highlands-Cashiers Hospitals, the latest hospital in the region to jump on board with Mission Hospital in…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:18

Highlands-Cashiers hospital to jump on Mission affiliation train

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital will soon join the growing number of small hospitals in Western North Carolina to come under the management of Mission Hospital in Asheville.
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:17

Political roundup

The Macon County League of Women Voters will host a forum at noon Oct. 11 at Tartan Hall in Franklin for county commissioner candidates.  Incumbent Democrat Bobby Kuppers is facing Republican Paul Higdon in District 3. Incumbents Jim Tate and…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:13

A (temporary) pass for children of undocumented immigrants

At first glance, this 14-year-old girl with a soft smile and a round face may seem like the all-American kid. She’s been in Girl Scouts since the first grade. Her dad works in construction. Currently a high school sophomore, she…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:12

Scoring coveted brown highway signs can pay off

Nantahala-bound travelers will notice a suite of new, officially-sanctioned, brown roadside directional signs declaring they are on the right track to the renowned paddling Mecca — signs that rafting outfitters in the Nantahala Gorge hope will alleviate the problems caused…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:11

News briefs

Construction Career Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4 at the Haywood County Agriculture and Activities Center. The event aims to promote the construction field to high school juniors and seniors. Students in…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:10

Purse snatching takes tragic turn in Cherokee

The Cherokee Indian Police are investigating an apparent robbery and homicide that occurred in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cherokee last Saturday. Witnesses said a person with a black mask and dark clothing grabbed a…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:06

Sounding off for conservative candidates: Machine Gun Social puts Election Day in the crosshairs

As Carol Adams approached the table of automatic rifles, she looked giddily around and picked the fully-automatic Swedish K out of the lineup. “This is my first time ever firing a gun,” she said as she stepped up to the…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:01

Oh, what a tangled web endorsements weave: Candidates head toward election armed with backings of special interest groups

With hundreds of special interest groups and clubs issuing candidate endorsements each election cycle, it can be difficult to keep tabs on who is backing whom.
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 15:58

Military technology firm takes on national defense from Canton

More than a year after winning $5,000 in the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Start-up Competition, Aermor, an engineering and technical services business in Canton, is still growing. After sweeping the competition, owner Penny Morgan announced some lofty…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 15:41

In the news

MedWest Health System’s Urgent Care Centers in Sylva, Canton and Waynesville are now open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week to provide greater access to care for people experiencing non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries. The urgent care…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:03

Bear zoo charged with violation of Animal Welfare Act

Federal inspectors have upped the ante for a controversial bear zoo on the Cherokee Reservation, this time opening an official complaint against the operation that could face large fines or even be shut down.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:02

Sylva soon to have a taxi man again

A new taxi service will be coming soon to Sylva. The Sylva town board last week unanimously approved a taxicab business license for Brian Paquin, who plans to launch 24-hour, seven-day per week service under the name Freedom Taxi.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:47

Cost savings prompt Swain to outsource inmate health care

Swain County is outsourcing medical care for inmates at the county jail to an independent firm that specializes in the niche field of health care for prisoners, and move the county hopes could save several thousand dollars a year. The…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:46

News in brief

Haywood County Chamber of Commerce is launching its 2012 Business Academy from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 4 at The Gateway Club in Waynesville. The Business Academy is a free seven-session program from October through May that will address and assist business…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:43

Jackson commissioners at odds with task force on tourism overhaul

A tourism task force in Jackson County has spent several months formulating a major overhaul of the county’s tourism agency, but the recommendations seem to be dead-on-arrival now that they’ve landed at the county commissioners’ doorstep.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:43

Crafting a new day for Maggie Valley

Maggie Valley has hired an outside consultant to help the once-bustling and now-struggling tourist town overcome an ongoing identity crisis. The consultant is now ready to move from business to business talking to people about what they want for the…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:41

Maggie debates whether to put its eggs in Ghost Town’s basket

As Maggie Valley business owners and leaders look toward the town’s future, it is unclear how large a role town leaders realistically expect the amusement park Ghost Town in the Sky to play.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:40

Ghost Town pledges to reopen rides and attractions

Maggie cheered when Ghost Town in the Sky reopened this summer, but with only a small portion of the rides and attractions up and running, the real potential of the amusement park to lure hordes of tourists back to the…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:38

Community bank expands operations

When Old Town Bank opened in 2007, its founders already had plans for building a dream headquarters, but the grand plans had to be put on hold until the locally owned bank got on its feet and the recession ended.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:36

South Main renaissance may be in Waynesville’s cards yet

When Super Walmart opened in Waynesville in 2008, it was viewed as just the beginning of a business boom that would reverse a long, steady downward spiral of South Main Street. But, the economy had other plans. The hoped-for land…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:33

No way: Gaining legal access to landlocked tracts can get murky in Western North Carolina

Alice Parker Watty can’t get to her house. The only driveway to her front door crosses her neighbor’s land, and suddenly they don’t want her using it anymore. Watty said she has driven on and maintained the driveway for 19…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:30

Where state candidates stand: abortion and women’s health

During the past two years, several keystone issues regarding abortion and women’s reproductive health have been debated at the state level. The Republican-led General Assembly has attempted to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and passed the Women’s Right to Know…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:26

Reproductive health, abortion battles loom

State lawmakers during the past two years have passed several pieces of legislation centered around the abortion issue — including the attempt to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and a new set of protocols, dubbed the Women’s Right to Know…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:24

WestCare wants out of hospital partnership with Haywood

The hospitals in Jackson and Swain counties formally declared last week that they want out of the partnership forged nearly three years ago with Haywood’s hospital — however, it’s not at all clear whether the leaders of Haywood Regional Medical…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 00:00

Sarge’s plans Furry Friends Benefit Bash

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s 4th Annual Furry Friends Benefit Bash will be held on Oct. 4 at the Cork and Cleaver in the Waynesville Inn on Country Club Drive in Waynesville.   The event will be a sit-down dinner, with…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 15:35

WestCare votes to dissolve hospital partnership

The WestCare Hospital Board voted 13-1 Tuesday night to dissolve its affiliation with Haywood Regional Medical Center. WestCare, which includes both Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva and Swain County Hospital, partnered with Haywood Regional in early 2010 under theMedWest banner.…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:37

Waynesville art commission issues Call for Artists

The Waynesville Public Art Commission (WPAC) is currently seeking an artist for its fourth outdoor public art project.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:22

Students find balance in slacking

With a steady flow of noisy cars and chatty pedestrians zooming through the Western Carolina University campus, Kyle Coleman straddles a tiny rope, ignoring the commotion and focusing on the task at hand.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:19

Swain seals deal to bring steam engine to Great Smoky Mountain Railroad lines

Swain County leaders have pledged $700,000 to help the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad expand its already bustling operations in Bryson City.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:17

Maggie leaders in stalemate over board seat

The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen is at an impasse. Town leaders met Monday in hopes of appointing someone to fill an open seat on the board, which was vacated last month by an alderman who moved away. But, the…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:50

Waynesville and Lake Junaluska talk merger

As Lake Junaluska residents chart a future course for their community, two options now remain on the table: become its own town or merge with the town of Waynesville. For decades, Lake Junaluska has operated as a well-oiled homeowners association…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:49

What a difference a word makes

At first blush, an obscure change to state law stipulating how many days students have to go to school each year seems like semantics. But in fact, it could give local school districts flexibility to cut the number of school…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:46

N.C. lawmakers micromanage school calendars from afar

State legislators have once again tinkered with school calendars, reining in when early school districts — even those prone to excessive snow days — can start back in August. State law mandates that school can’t start back sooner than the…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:46

Speaker to discuss the history of cameras

Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the First Methodist Church on Haywood Street in Waynesville. There will be a short business meeting, followed by a program presented by Roland Osbourne. Osbourne will…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:45

Etiquette dinner to impart manners, decorum for kids

An etiquette dinner for children will be held at the Lambeth Inn at Lake Junaluska at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. The event is sponsored by the local 4-H club. Youth participants will learn to use proper table manners and utensils…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:45

Sylva woman goes on Jeopardy

Deb Teitelbaum of Sylva, a former public school teacher and longtime show fan, will appear as a contestant on “Jeopardy!” during the program’s upcoming broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 on WLOS-TV. Her advice for other constestants: “It’s all about…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:44

Catch 22 for Macon Middle intersection

Macon County leaders are at odds with the N.C. Department of Transportation over the placement, or lack thereof, of a stoplight at an intersection near Macon Middle School. For two years, Macon County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been stationed at…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:42

Sheriffs grapple with best way to serve growing populations in remote areas

It’s a long wait for residents of Nantahala in Macon County when they dial the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy response time to the small community of Nantahala from the sheriff’s office in Franklin can take up to 30 minutes, which is…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:42

Walk to remember Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears Memorial Walk will take place 9:30 a.m. Oct. 6 beginning at the Cherokee Historical Association building and ending at the Oconaluftee Indian Village. Registration forms are available at the main office of the Cherokee Historical Association.…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:41

MemoryCare satellite clinic opening

Dr. Lisa Verges, a geriatric psychiatrist and head of the new MemoryCare satellite clinic, will host a grand opening reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center on Elmwood Way in Waynesville. MemoryCare is a…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:41

WCU to host ‘Take Back the Night’ march

A sexual assault survivor who founded a national organization centered on shattering the silence of sexual violence will be the featured speaker at Western Carolina University’s annual “Take Back the Night” event on Sept. 26. Angela Rose, executive director of…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:40

Donate warm clothes for kids

“Coats for Kids” is hosting a coat drive in Jackson County through the end of September. Cullowhee United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Sylva, Walmart in Sylva and Pathways Thrift Store are accepting good-condition used, as well as new,…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:38

Congressional candidates up the ante on campaign forum circuit

Although the candidates running for U.S. Congress remained cordial on the surface, neither passed up the opportunity to get in jabs here and there during a Macon County League of Women Voters forum last week.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:37

Grant funds citizenship classes at SCC

North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges awarded Southwestern Community College a grant of $29,000 for an English Literacy and Civics Education project. To become American and work successfully, adults must be able to read, write, speak and listen to…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:37

Old Town Bank building on South Main

Old Town Bank will mark its new headquarters with a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Sept. 24 in Waynesville across from Super Walmart on South Main St. The event is free and open to the public. It will mark the…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:36

Task force to study liquor store options in Jackson

Jackson County commissioners will appoint a task force soon to study whether — and if so where — the county should open its own liquor stores. When voters overwhelmingly approved a countywide alcohol measure in May, it opened the door for…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:35

New building crowns SCC campus in Sylva

Southwestern Community College officially dedicated a new $8.8 million building on its main campus in Sylva last week. The building was built with a majority of state money but also a large contribution by Jackson County.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:34

Redrawn flood maps render Jackson’s industrial park suddenly worthless

The redrawing of flood maps for North Carolina has made one of Jackson County’s million-dollar properties a tough sell. The Jackson County Industrial Park, which was formerly the Drexel furniture factory in Whittier, sits along the Tuckasegee River. But starting…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:32

How about a misdemeanor with that code violation?

Jackson County officials are mulling over several ways to improve compliance with the county’s ordinances, especially those which are enforced by the Planning Department. County Attorney Jay Coward said currently the county’s legal language is inconsistent in its book of…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:30

Where state candidates stand on preschool for low-income children

The fate of state-subsidized preschool for at-risk, low-income 4-year-olds rests in the hands of the next General Assembly. The state currently does not provide enough funding to serve the estimated 67,000 children who meet the definition of at-risk. This year,…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:25

Fate of early childhood programs could rest with next legislature

Armed with a stack of folded construction paper, Charlotte Rogers ushered a four-year-old child to sit down at a pint-sized writing desk, take up a pencil and scratch out the words “I love you” in crooked letters on the inside.
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 12:18

Sit-in at sheriff’s office prompts Jackson to consider protest policy

If you want to protest, you have to protest by the rules — that’s the message the Jackson County commissioners are poised to send to unruly social dissidents. For the first time in Jackson County, the commissioners may pass an…
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Haywood wades into bidding wars for two properties

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Haywood County commissioners are currently ensnarled in bidding wars for two separate properties that will cost them more than $1.2 million. Commissioners have been trying to obtain a 22-acre tract of land near Jonathan…
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Jackson adds finishing touches to regulations

Jackson County is in the final countdown to approving what appear to be the toughest development regulations in the state of North Carolina.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Foy, Brown vying for mayor of Waynesville

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The big race to watch in this year’s Waynesville town elections is between Alderman Gavin A. Brown and incumbent Mayor Henry Foy, with Foy vying to keep his office while Brown attempts to unseat…
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Homeowner hassles: As developments evolve, many homeowner associations find themselves woefully unprepared for the future

Last week was more than the season for fireworks and cookouts. As second-home owners descended on the mountains to kick back in their vacation abodes, it also marked the high point for homeowners association annual meetings, timed to coincide with…
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Macon considers floodplain moratorium

A countywide moratorium on floodplain and watershed development in Macon gained some momentum following the town of Franklin’s decision to formally express concern over a proposed RV community.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 00:00

Parking problems plague downtown Bryson City

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Entire half hours dedicated to finding a parking space. Cars backing into each other. Employees and customers with nowhere to park. The parking situation in Bryson City is reaching crisis levels, and local business…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Macon wants to use incentives to foster responsible development

Instead of the stick, Macon County might try carrots as this fast-growing area tries to control its booming construction industry.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Road supporters not giving up

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Canceling the public hearing on the North Shore Road couldn’t shake the unwavering determination of almost 125 people who packed a Swain County courtroom Monday night to share their thoughts and opinions on the…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Sediment build-up causes environmental concern

One of the top concerns over the removal of the Dillsboro dam is the unleashing of sediment backed up behind the dam. Estimates peg accumulated sediment behind the dam at more than 100,000 cubic yards. Duke Power initially was not…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

The defense rests: Prominent attorney Reid Brown becomes prosecutor

One of the most prominent defense lawyers in the region is trading in a long and lucrative career defending the accused to become a prosecutor with the district attorney’s office. Reid Brown, a defense lawyer based in Waynesville, has built…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Regulations may prompt lawsuits: John Locke Institute has taken strong interest in Jackson proposals

Jackson County is on the verge of passing the toughest development regulations in the state this week, potentially making it a target for lawsuits. There is an organized coalition of developers and Realtors in Jackson County, namely in the Cashiers…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Police: Cherokee voting results not affected by break-in

A break-in at the Cherokee election office a few days after the primary last month did not compromise the results of the election, according to officials.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Dam removal process faces stiff opposition

The proposed removal of the Dillsboro dam on the Tuckasegee River is up for review by state water quality officers, who could make or break Duke Power’s controversial plans to tear down the dam. The state must grant Duke Power…
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Ingles announces expansion, gas station for Waynesville store

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A proposed project by Ingles to expand its Waynesville store and add a gas station suffered a setback after parts of it were soundly rejected by members of the Community Appearance Commission.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007 00:00

Meeting, no meeting: Swain leaders cancel North Shore hearing on 3-2 vote

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Supporters of a 30-mile road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that would fulfill a decades-old promise were thrilled last month when the Swain County commissioners agreed to hold the first-ever public hearing…
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Haywood pulls out after bid for recreation land tops $1 million

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Haywood County commissioners last week put a halt to their bidding for a 22-acre tract of land in Jonathan Creek after opposing parties skyrocketed the price to more than $1 million.
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Moratorium gives Macon time to develop floodplain rules

The developer of a proposed upscale RV community alongside Cartoogechaye Creek in Macon County says a moratorium on floodplain and watershed development hasn’t nixed or changed his plans.
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Crowded field likely to ramp up election interest in Waynesville

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Waynesville voters will have plenty of choices on their ballot for mayor and town board this fall in what is shaping up to be both an interesting and crowded race. Competition for the Waynesville…
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Reaching out: Hispanic market looms large for WNC businesses

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Hispanic culture has infused nearly every aspect of American life — from restaurants to bilingual education, its influence is impossible to ignore. Yet, much to their detriment, many businesses in Western North Carolina are…
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

What other towns have done

• Bryson City recently conserved the old Lands Creek watershed, getting $1.5 million from the Clean Water trust fund to protect the 800-acre tract and $500,000 from a private donor. Bryson City’s conservation agreement allows hiking, hunting, fishing, picnicking, horseback…
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Forest Hills coin toss election returned to voters this fall

The voters of Forest Hills will get the chance to weigh in on their preference for mayor this fall after being trumped by a coin toss in the last election.
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 00:00

Jackson should lift subdivision moratorium Aug. 6

Jackson County commissioners heard yet another round of public comment last week in the final countdown to passing the most restrictive slate of development regulations in the state. The public hearing was billed as the final one on the issue,…
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