Swain budget hearing set for June 22

Swain County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 22, to hear feedback from the community…
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Maggie restaurant bestowed with awards upon closing
 

Maggie restaurant bestowed with awards upon closing

Since announcing its closure after 51 years in business, Joey’s Pancake House owner Brenda O’Keefe and her staff have been…
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A piece of plastic is all you got: Books still a revered treasure for Mary Judith Messer

A squat little cinder block shop tucked away in a quiet mountain cove on the outskirts of Waynesville caught fire…
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Council expresses support for vice chief special election

The September ballot could include a special election for vice chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, pending a…
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Exercise tests federal, local catastrophe response

By the dawn’s early light, about 300 members of the North Carolina National Guard along with a host of local…
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Permit denied for Cullowhee development

A controversial request to build a 388-bed student housing complex on South Painter Road in Cullowhee was denied this week…
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Public input will guide library’s renovation

An ambitious dream of expanding and remodeling the main Haywood County library in Waynesville has been abandoned, with sights now…
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Haywood Dems hold spring rally
 

Haywood Dems hold spring rally

Several candidates announced their intent to run for office as Haywood County Democrats held their Spring Rally at the Maggie…
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Pool renovations finishing in Sylva and Cashiers

If all goes according to plan, within the week folks in Jackson County will have their choice of pools to…
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Maggie Valley adopts tight budget with small tax increase

Haywood County’s 2017 property revaluation was like a bucket of cold water in the face of every local government official…
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Mom delivers baby on way to hospital

Expectant mother Caitlin Austin of Balsam never imagined giving birth to her second child in a car. 
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Public not invited to meeting with Mission

Mission Health leaders finally agreed to hold a meeting in Franklin to discuss their controversial decision to close the labor…
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Waynesville falls short in playground contest

Despite finishing first in an online contest with more than double the votes of its nearest competitor, Waynesville’s adaptive playground…
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Haywood housing task force sets goal, issues recommendations

A strategic plan developed by a subcommittee of the Haywood County Affordable Housing Task Force that proposes 400 affordable housing…
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Pisgah, Haywood Early College to get new principals

Three Haywood County Schools will see new administrators this fall after the Haywood County Board of Education approved the personnel…
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Broadband group begins mapping plans for service

By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer Broadband internet service is vital for future economic growth in Macon County, but it…
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Franklin discusses climate change resolution

The town of Franklin is considering how to become more environmentally friendly after being presented with a climate solutions resolution…
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Calling all vets: Macon County wants you

By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer A program designed to offer free I.D. cards to Macon County veterans for discounted…
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Franklin wants to address noise complaints

Franklin Mayor Bob Scott was recently awoken at midnight on a Friday by a phone call from Franklin resident Janet…
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New Cherokee chief addresses employees: Richie Sneed calls for collaborative, equitable government

Principal Chief Richard Sneed laid out communication, collaboration and community as the guiding principles of his new administration in an…
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Joey's Pancake House - a Maggie Valley institution
 

Joey's Pancake House - a Maggie Valley institution

Joey’s Pancake House owner Brenda O' Keefe announced June 6 that the revered Maggie Valley landmark that served visitors and locals…
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Naloxone saves people from overdose
 

Naloxone saves people from overdose

Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office administered Naloxone twice over the weekend on individuals who were overdosing on opiates…
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GSMP investigates two fatalities
 

GSMP investigates two fatalities

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials released the names of two men who recently died in the park.
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All good things must end: Joey’s Pancake House to close next week

Some institutions are meant to last forever, while others have their place in time and then they’re gone.  After Tuesday,…
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Public ignores county budget process

Revenues are down, costs are up and local conservative factions haven’t been silent in their criticism of the Democratic-majority Haywood…
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Francis Farm landfill needs cover

A problematic landfill in Waynesville’s Francis Farm community will be seeing a lot of activity between now and 2019 —…
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Macon cancels jail food contract with Mission

To combat the rising cost of feeding inmates, Macon County commissioners chose to ditch a $360,000 food contract with Mission…
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Macon County revenues up across the board

The Macon County commissioners have some challenges in balancing the proposed 2017-18 budget, but County Manager Derek Roland said those…
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Important dates for Waynesville budget

The first draft of the Town of Waynesville’s proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget was presented to the public on May…
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Public hearing slated for Publix site

A 56,000-square-foot, $20 million retail project that will bring a long-awaited Publix grocery store to Waynesville was unanimously approved by…
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Emergency simulation begins in Canton Saturday

A multi-agency training exercise led by the N.C. National Guard meant to test and improve disaster response will result in…
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Sylva keeps tax rate flat, grapples with long-term budget challenges

One year after the town’s tax rate rose by 12.5 cents per $100, Sylva is considering a proposed $3.7 million…
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Jackson prepares for $12 million capital plan

Jackson County’s proposed $62.5 million budget for 2016-17 doesn’t include a tax increase, but it sets the stage for a…
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Primary Election results roll in to Cherokee

Following a 43 percent voter turnout during the June 1 Primary Election, the field of 45 Tribal Council candidates has…
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How they fared

Of the 12 current Tribal Council representatives, nine are running for re-election in this year’s race. The June 1 primary…
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Incumbents suffer in Tribal Council elections

If the results of the June 1 primary elections are any indication, incumbent Tribal Council members could be in trouble…
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New residence hall planned for WCU

Designs for a new 600-bed residence hall at Western Carolina University met approval from the WCU Board of Trustees June…
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Inside job scammed unemployment benefits by inventing claims

A Haywood County woman has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for filing bogus unemployment claims on behalf of unsuspecting…
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Joey’s Pancake House to close next week
 

Joey’s Pancake House to close next week

Some institutions are meant to last forever, while others have their place in time and then they’re gone.After Tuesday, June…
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Rep. Meadows introduces infrastructure bill
 

Rep. Meadows introduces infrastructure bill

Congressman Mark Meadows, R-NC, recently introduced the Revamping American Infrastructure Act, a bill he says will provide a better path…
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Man falls at Ramsey Cascades
 

Man falls at Ramsey Cascades

On Sunday, May 28, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers received a report that a 37-year-old male fell from the…
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B-Day Victory! Community celebrates WWII veteran’s birthday, service

They say “Ask and thou shalt receive,” but Nancy Bolding of Otto probably received way more than she bargained for…
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Bryson City to maintain tax rate, increase service fees

With an annual budget of only about $2.9 million, the town of Bryson City doesn’t have much wiggle room when…
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Waynesville budget follows county trends

Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown opened the town’s February budget retreat — his 17th or 18th, by his own reckoning —…
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Mission closes Sylva women and children’s practices

In an effort to consolidate women’s and children’s services in Franklin, Mission Health has announced it will be closing those…
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Jackson County Schools superintendent to leave for Cherokee

After six years at the helm of Jackson County Public Schools, Superintendent Mike Murray will be leaving for a new…
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Emergency planners brace for crowds during total solar eclipse

Todd Dillard isn’t the kind of guy who leaves anything to chance. What-ifs are his forte, as they should be…
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High hopes for Ghost Town sale

Opened atop Buck Mountain in 1961, Wild West-themed Ghost Town in the Sky used to draw as many as 600,000…
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Samuel Smith receives Governor’s award

Gov. Roy Cooper recently presented a Medallion Award for Volunteer Service to Samuel Smith of Waynesville at the State Capitol…
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Aldermen to councilmembers: Franklin changes its town board name

The town of Franklin Board of Aldermen will now officially be referred to as the Franklin Town Council after the…
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