Clampitt and Queen to face off once more in November for state house seat
 

Clampitt and Queen to face off once more in November for state house seat

After taking home 59 percent of the vote in last week’s election, Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, is looking toward a…
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New candidates allowed to sign up in congressional race
 

New candidates allowed to sign up in congressional race

North Carolina will hold a separate election on June 7 for the congressional primary, which means it’s not too late…
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When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition
 

When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition

Little boys worship them. Bruce Springsteen memorialized them. The helpless count on them.  Volunteer firefighters are a symbol of American…
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Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club
 

Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club

Despite the stereotype of volunteer firefighters as Type A alpha males, knowing your Nascar drivers and driving a pick-up truck…
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Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement
 

Envisioning Sylva’s future: Town leaders talk economy, recreation and civic engagement

Sylva’s town leaders spent a sunny Saturday indoors armed with pen, paper and heads full of ideas for bringing the…
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Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses
 

Canton sets up incentives for downtown businesses

Even though the money isn’t yet in place, the town of Canton is considering several options for economic development incentives…
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Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements
 

Canton proposes downtown pedestrian improvements

When Canton town officials were notified that the North Carolina Department of Transportation would be repaving all of Main Street…
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Public input wanted on Savannah park plan
 

Public input wanted on Savannah park plan

A public meeting will gauge support for a plan to give Jackson County’s Savannah community its first public park at…
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Tribe looks to strengthen preference laws for tribal businesses
 

Tribe looks to strengthen preference laws for tribal businesses

Change is likely coming to the ordinance outlining preference rules for tribally owned businesses. The rules come into play when…
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‘Big Slow Movers’ plague Cowee Mountain route
 

‘Big Slow Movers’ plague Cowee Mountain route

It’s easy to spot the unstable embankments as you drive over Cowee Mountain between Macon and Jackson counties.
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New district lines unveiled for Central Elementary students
 

New district lines unveiled for Central Elementary students

Students who attend Central Elementary School in Waynesville learned this week what their new school will be come fall. SEE…
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R-5000 contractor under suit: DeVere being sued by bonding company
 

R-5000 contractor under suit: DeVere being sued by bonding company

There’s another kink in the knot surrounding the ill-fated R-5000 road project connecting N.C. 107 and N.C. 116 in Jackson…
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‘Seed money’ being raised for new Swain library
 

‘Seed money’ being raised for new Swain library

The community support behind getting a new public library in Swain County has been impressive, but the fundraising efforts have…
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Director of regional planning commission resigns
 

Director of regional planning commission resigns

After being at the helm of Region A’s Southwestern Commission, Executive Director Ryan Sherby tendered his resignation on March 1…
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New UNC president promises to fight for higher salaries, engage WCU faculty on policy
 

New UNC president promises to fight for higher salaries, engage WCU faculty on policy

The mood was jovial as Western Carolina University’s Faculty Senate waited over cookies and coffee for their hour with Margaret…
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Plan advances to convert old hospital to affordable lofts
 

Plan advances to convert old hospital to affordable lofts

Haywood County commissioners will hold a public hearing next Monday on whether to give away the “old hospital” to a…
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Haywood visitor center makes the move to Maggie
 

Haywood visitor center makes the move to Maggie

The primary visitor center for Haywood County will be moving this spring from downtown Waynesville to Maggie Valley.
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2016 Election Primary Results
 

2016 Election Primary Results

Preliminary results are current as of March 15. Look for more in-depth coverage of the local and state races online Wednesday,…
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WCU police need help identifying suspects
 

WCU police need help identifying suspects

CULLOWHEE – The Western Carolina University Police Department is asking for assistance in an ongoing investigation into recent property damage…
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Little help from lottery: N.C.’s education games falling short of promises
 

Little help from lottery: N.C.’s education games falling short of promises

As people across North Carolina daydream about what they would do if they won millions from playing the lottery, they…
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Franklin banner issue causes tempers to flare
 

Franklin banner issue causes tempers to flare

Franklin officials thought the controversy over banners would end when the board of aldermen passed an ordinance last year allowing…
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Congressional primary moved to June 7
 

Congressional primary moved to June 7

North Carolina will now have two primary elections in 2016 as lawsuits challenging the state’s districting maps continue to play…
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Leap Day baby born at Haywood Regional
 

Leap Day baby born at Haywood Regional

Only 200,000 people in the United States have their birthdays fall on Feb. 29, and one of those lucky babies…
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REACH celebrates opening of new shelter in Macon
 

REACH celebrates opening of new shelter in Macon

The staff of REACH of Macon County understands how difficult it is to leave your home, even under the most…
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$7 million price tag on Maggie’s downtown dream
 

$7 million price tag on Maggie’s downtown dream

Maggie Valley’s dream of having a viable downtown inched closer last week when a $7 million town center plan was…
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Sound off: Haywood candidates talk animal shelter
 

Sound off: Haywood candidates talk animal shelter

Haywood County commissioner candidates were asked whether they think the county should spend $3.5 million on a new animal shelter.
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Numbers down at animal shelter, but space still doesn’t add up
 

Numbers down at animal shelter, but space still doesn’t add up

On paper, the case for a new, bigger Haywood County Animal Shelter is hard to justify.
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Tenants announced for Western’s mixed-used facility
 

Tenants announced for Western’s mixed-used facility

A full-service restaurant, an outdoor equipment outfitter, a combination bookstore and coffee cafe, a popular convenience store and a nationally…
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Capital priorities get sorted in Jackson
 

Capital priorities get sorted in Jackson

The animal shelter and health department are in, and the swimming pool and Green Energy Park expansion are out, Jackson…
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Sylva writer’s historic cabin purchased by county
 

Sylva writer’s historic cabin purchased by county

In a tiny cabin on a sliver of property adjacent to the Jackson County Historic Courthouse, Sylva author John Parris…
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Community collaborates to help Jackson’s uninsured, groom future medical professionals
 

Community collaborates to help Jackson’s uninsured, groom future medical professionals

When someone shows up to a medical clinic, sick and suffering, the hardest words to say can be, “Sorry, but…
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In state House race, Dems think viability
 

In state House race, Dems think viability

Two Democrats squaring off in the primary for the state House seat spanning Haywood, Madison and Yancey counties claim they’re…
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Sales tax on Jackson’s June ballot
 

Sales tax on Jackson’s June ballot

Sales tax in Jackson County could rise to 7 percent if voters approve a referendum vote that would add a…
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Jackson County begins county manager search
 

Jackson County begins county manager search

It’s been two months since Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten announced his impending retirement, and county commissioners are beginning the…
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A look at the races
 

A look at the races

• Republican reboot on tap for House 119 primary• Rep. West’s retirement leads to Republican primary tussle• Congressional primary moved to June 7• Meet…
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Swain sees Hepatitis B cases skyrocket
 

Swain sees Hepatitis B cases skyrocket

The Swain County Health Department is concerned about the number of Hepatitis B cases confirmed in 2015.
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NOC considering Dillsboro location
 

NOC considering Dillsboro location

If discussions between Nantahala Outdoor Center and Jackson County continue to move forward, the outdoor recreation giant could start work…
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Blurred lines for Haywood commissioner race
 

Blurred lines for Haywood commissioner race

On the right track or wrong track? That question was posed to candidates running for Haywood County commissioner and could…
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Some say time is right for land-use discussions
 

Some say time is right for land-use discussions

The controversy over a proposed gun range in a rural farming community in Haywood County has raised questions about the…
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Republican reboot on tap for House 119 primary
 

Republican reboot on tap for House 119 primary

The March ballot might feel a bit like déjà vu for Republican voters in N.C. House District 119, as Aaron…
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Rep. West’s retirement leads to Republican primary tussle
 

Rep. West’s retirement leads to Republican primary tussle

Rep. Roger West’s, R-Marble, announcement that he wouldn’t be running for re-election left a void in N.C. House District 120,…
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Voting begins March 3
 

Voting begins March 3

The 2016 Primary Election will be held March 15 and polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.…
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Meet the candidates in Haywood County’s commissioner primary
 

Meet the candidates in Haywood County’s commissioner primary

Over the past two weeks, The Smoky Mountain News has explored where Haywood County commissioner candidates stand on education, economic…
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Higher education leaders push for Connect N.C. bond
 

Higher education leaders push for Connect N.C. bond

With $120 million at stake, higher education leaders in Western North Carolina have taken every opportunity in the last month…
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Referendum on sales tax increase possible in Jackson
 

Referendum on sales tax increase possible in Jackson

Jackson County Commissioners will vote this week on whether to approve a referendum vote for a quarter-cent sales tax increase…
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How about them apples?
 

How about them apples?

The Smoky Mountain News won more awards in the large circulation, non-daily newspaper category than all but one newspaper in…
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Murphy’s Law turns simple water line repair into quagmire
 

Murphy’s Law turns simple water line repair into quagmire

Residents and business owners in Hazelwood have grown increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of water-and-sewer line work that has…
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Champion Credit Union donation gives teachers a deserved boost
 

Champion Credit Union donation gives teachers a deserved boost

Champion Credit Union donated $100,000 last week to nine local school systems in the communities it serves — including Haywood,…
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After 19-year run, Meadowbrook to end its year-round school experiment
 

After 19-year run, Meadowbrook to end its year-round school experiment

Meadowbrook Elementary in Canton is ending its long run as a year-round school.
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Oscar winners to film movie in Sylva
 

Oscar winners to film movie in Sylva

Sylva is going to hit the big screen next year, made over as the fictional town of Ebbing, Missouri, and…
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