David Joy helps Central Haywood students find their voice

As a writer, it’s easy to feel that one’s ability is never quite good enough; as a writer in the…
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Forgotten Pigeon Street school has historic roots

More than a century ago, the state of African-American education in the antebellum South was so utterly deplorable that it…
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Pigeon Street revival continues at community center

Things are happening in Waynesville’s historic African American community along the Pigeon Street corridor; the town is pursuing a grant…
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Harris positions itself as WNC health care hub

From a geographical prospective, Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva is strategically located to serve as a health care hub for…
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Public art set for Hazelwood

The Town of Waynesville has selected an artist and an art piece for its latest public art installation.
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Folkmoot’s Cultural Conversations: Inclusiveness program graduates first class

When most people think about Folkmoot, they doubtlessly think about the huge 10-day international folk dance festival that has taken…
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North Shore Road case dismissed in federal court

A federal judge has dismissed Swain County’s breach of contract lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior to collect $39.2…
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N.C. GOP bans members of Haywood’s patriot faction from party events

Two conservative activists in Haywood County have been banned from Republican Party functions under the threat of trespassing charges from…
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Woman killed in fall from Parkway overlook

An 83-year-old women died after falling 150 feet from an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Graveyard Fields in…
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Tanker spill closes I-40 near Tennessee
 

Tanker spill closes I-40 near Tennessee

The N.C. Department of Transportation is working with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to advise drivers from the Knoxville area…
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Neglected animals relinquished in Macon County
 

Neglected animals relinquished in Macon County

Macon County Public Health Animal Services, along with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, responded to an animal cruelty complaint on…
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More changes coming for Canton Labor Day fest?

If Canton’s legendary Labor Day festival – the oldest in the south – is to survive, it’s going to have…
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A Tale of Two Cities: Canton, Maggie Valley chart different budget courses

Each year, counties and municipalities must pass their upcoming year’s budget by July 1.
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Small increase proposed for Haywood budget

A recovering economy and low unemployment along with a 30 percent increase in tourist spending since 2011 has kept Haywood…
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Emissions testing scrapped in Haywood
 

Emissions testing scrapped in Haywood

Offering “credit where credit is due,” Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, congratulated Gov. Roy Cooper for recently signing a bill that…
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Haywood schools to keep Central Elementary

The strange saga of a shuttered school still casts a shadow over Haywood County, but it may turn out that…
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Suit targets ‘aggressive’ Department of Social Services

A complaint filed in Haywood County Superior Court late last month alleges that several defendants committed battery and inflicted emotional…
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Swain’s band blossoms despite budget constraints

Karen Williams only had a handful of students in her beginner class when she first took the band director position…
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Swain fights to change school funding formula

While many local school districts are struggling to make ends meet these days, Swain County Schools is facing a much…
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Lawmakers reach classroom size compromise

Local school districts will have one more year before they have to abide by much stricter classroom size requirements thanks…
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South Painter Road development approved

A Georgia developer hoping to build a 388-bed student housing complex in Cullowhee has cleared two of three major hurdles…
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Feds allege bail bondsman accepted sex in lieu of loan repayments

Cherokee’s only bail bondsman is facing federal charges for allegedly having sex with female clients in lieu of loan repayment,…
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Mapping conflicts of interest

On Monday, May 22, the Cherokee Tribal Council will preside over a hearing to consider impeachment charges against Principal Chief…
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Major retail development clears first hurdle

With nearly two years of prep work already under their belts, developers have cleared the first major hurdle for bringing…
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Franklin asks for face time with Mission

It’s been more than two weeks since Mission Health announced Angel Medical Center would stop delivering babies as of July…
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Haywood County school bus rear-ended
 

Haywood County school bus rear-ended

On Friday, May 12, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Haywood County Schools bus 52 was making a passenger stop in the…
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Thrill of the dig: Gem mining alive and well in Macon County

Susan Boyette and her mother Martha Drew drove down from Tennessee early Friday morning to Rose Creek Mine outside of…
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Franklin museum a real ‘gem’

At first glance, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum may seem like a hokey tourist attraction, but visitors willing to…
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Community fights to keep babies born in Franklin

When Macon County residents joined together in 1971 to raise money to buy Angel Hospital and make it a community…
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Meadows: ACA repeal will offer better flexibility, lower premiums

The Affordable Health Care Act got a bit closer to repeal last week as the U.S. House of Representatives passed…
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Public hearing slated for new Publix site
 

Public hearing slated for new Publix site

Although speculation has been rife over the past year, plans for a Publix grocery store in Waynesville have finally been…
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Wake-up call: Fry Street closure sparks involvement from local business

A recent debacle between the town of Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has been a wake-up call…
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Town board welcomes more community input

Bryson City aldermen are quite aware of the rift created in the community over the Fry Street closure issue, but…
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Waynesville park acreage to grow by almost 20 percent

As summer approaches, Waynesville’s green spaces are getting greener, but they’re also getting greater — in size. 
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Jackson talks capital: Five-year plan maps spending for school, health, animal shelter and courtroom projects

From softball fields to health buildings to animal shelters, funding requests have been arriving hot and heavy to the Jackson…
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Stalled student housing project could revive

Two years have passed since developers first got approval to build a student housing complex along South Painter Road in…
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Developer to extend water and sewer access in Cullowhee

The Jackson County Commissioners have unanimously approved an easement through county land that will allow plans for a 72-bedroom development…
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Meadows: Obamacare repeal provides ‘net of protection’ for vulnerable
 

Meadows: Obamacare repeal provides ‘net of protection’ for vulnerable

Obamacare is one step closer to repeal as the U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation that would provide a…
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Student assault at Tuscola caught on video
 

Student assault at Tuscola caught on video

On Wednesday, May 3, a male student assaulted another student at approximately 9:30 a.m. at Tuscola High School. The assault…
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Weigh in on WNC transportation planning
 

Weigh in on WNC transportation planning

The N.C. Department of Transportation wants your feedback on its Draft 10-Year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which identifies the…
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Cavy-crazed crowd convenes, competes

The stakes were as high as the hopes last weekend as competitors from across North America came together at the…
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New fire districts approved despite opposition

Lake Junaluska residents opposed to a new Waynesville Fire District in their neighborhood will get one anyway, after a 2-1…
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Haywood County may dip into fund balance

Haywood County commissioners have set a date for the required public hearing in advance of passing next year’s budget —…
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More staff, higher pay boost Jackson schools budget request

With an eye to improving student performance and employee retention, Jackson County Public Schools has upped its budget ask to…
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Lopsided allocation favors SCC project over Jackson County Schools

Jackson County Schools has found itself at the back of the line to get a piece of the quarter-cent sales…
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Baby deliveries to cease at Angel Medical

A difficult decision for Mission Health will now present a difficult decision for expecting mothers in Macon County.  With Mission’s…
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Mission to invest $45 million for new hospital in Franklin

Along with the announcement to stop labor and delivery services at Angel Medical Center, Mission Health also announced plans to…
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Harris prepared to deliver more babies

With the current expansion of its New Generations Family Birthing Center, Harris Regional Hospital couldn’t be in a better position…
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Community backlash ensues following AMC decision

Macon County residents have made a clear statement that they oppose Mission Health’s decision to discontinue labor and delivery services…
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Connecting pets and people: PAWS swoops in to shelter puppy mill rescues

A large-scale rescue effort involving multiple animal welfare agencies resulted in the removal of more than 400 animals from a…
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