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Wednesday, 12 September 2012 00:00

Exploding waterfowl population prompts feeding ban at Lake Junaluska

As the first chunk of bread was tossed in the air, a swarm of ducks and geese at Lake Junaluska swiftly waddled toward the source of the handout, a chorus of quacks and honks rising up from the flurry of…
Wednesday, 12 September 2012 00:00

Low-income apartments to make a dent in affordable housing shortage in Macon

What was once a construction scene characterized by luxury, mountainside housing and second-home developments has a newcomer at the table. The latest construction project in Macon County are not mini-mansions in the highlands but a low-income apartment complex in town.
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Waynesville searching for Russ Avenue fix

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Increasing congestion coupled with pressure from candidates in the upcoming election is forcing the town of Waynesville to confront growing traffic problems along Russ Avenue.
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Room tax will pay for visitor center

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Swain County commissioners have approved a measure that will carve out up to one third of the Tourism Development Authority’s total budget to pay for the purchase of a new downtown visitor’s center. The…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Emergency department expansion slated for Harris Regional

Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva is planning an $18.45 million renovation project to expand and modernize the emergency department. The current ER, built in 1989, simply isn’t big enough, according to Mark Leonard, the CEO of Harris. Leonard cited growth…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Haywood pitches unique tomato

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Vidalia onions. Georgia peaches. Washington apples. Haywood County tomatoes? The formal name is still up in the air, but local officials are aiming to make Haywood County known for a variety of tomato unique…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Two bite the dust

On one hand, Avram Friedman couldn’t believe Duke Power’s announcement two years ago that it wanted to build a twin-unit coal plant near Hickory. Who builds coal plants anymore, he thought. “It’s out of the question,” said Friedman, director of…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Feeding the need: New power plants destined for state’s future barring radical action

A state energy bill expected to pass this week has received mixed reviews from environmentalists for failing to go far enough. On the surface, it looks good. State utilities, namely Duke and Progress Energy, will have to generate at least…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Deal underway to preserve Dean Island from development

A 40-acre island in the Little Tennessee River will be protected from development if the owner can successfully hammer out an agreement with conservation groups. “We’ve been in dialogue with the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and some other…
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 00:00

Swain seeks more input on road regulations

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Contractors, Realtors and graders in Swain County claim they need more time to comment on an ordinance that would regulate the slope and width of mountainside roads. County commissioners, who have already held two…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Health services building marks beginning of Millennial Campus

N.C. Gov. Mike Easley signed a $20.7 billion budget bill Tuesday, July 31, that includes $46.2 million in funding for a new health and gerontological sciences building at Western Carolina University. The 145,000 square-foot facility that will house WCU’s educational…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Dayco deal finalized after three-year process

An abandoned rubber plant in Waynesville that once seemed destined to rust into the ground was officially turned over to developers of a Super Wal-Mart and Home Depot two weeks ago.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Housing industry, county leaders stage battlefield as tax debate heats up

A battle over whether to tax property transactions will soon be playing out in communities across the state, but likely nowhere as fervently as the mountains where resentment toward newcomers runs high, but so does fear of upsetting the real…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Passing school bonds in Macon could prove a tough sell

If retirees Fred Plesner and Ray Behr are any indication of how voters in Macon County are reacting to a vote on $64 million in bonds, Macon County’s leaders could find that November is a cold month indeed.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

HRMC eliminates 36 jobs as patient volume drops

Haywood Regional Medical Center has downsized its workforce by 36 positions in response to a decrease in patient volume and a drop in revenue in recent months. The move will save $1.6 million annually. The hospital is not exactly in…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

SCC’s Macon campus named after college president Cecil Groves

It’s a first for the president and a first for Macon County. Southwestern Community College Board of Trustees named the new Macon Campus after the college’s President Cecil Groves, whom they called “the visionary leader” behind the project. The name…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Jackson gives final OK to new development regulations

Jackson County commissioners have given final approval to what are generally regarded as the state’s toughest subdivision and steep slope ordinances. The approval of the ordinances was followed by a lifting of the controversial moratorium on new subdivisions that was…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Cherokee candidates square off at forum

With just one month left until the election, candidates for chief and vice chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians squared off in a debate Monday night. Candidates were asked to outline their plans to combat drug use, increase…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Maggie Valley sways vote on recreation site

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A sudden turn of events in Haywood County’s bidding for a 22-acre tract slated for use as a park has exposed an overwhelming desire for recreation in the Jonathan Creek and Maggie Valley areas.
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

Q&A with David Rice

Has there ever been a workforce reduction at HRMC in the past 15 years, and does this workforce reduction indicate any long-term financial problems? This re-engineering process is similar to 1993 when I first arrived. In 1993 there were different…
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 00:00

The nuts and bolts of the property transfer tax

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A bill hailed by state and local officials as a way to help pad the bank accounts of county governments may not turn out to be as simple, or as lucrative, as it initially…
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Profile: Rose Johnson

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The woman at the forefront of Haywood Community College’s progressive new vision of sustainability didn’t come to the college to champion that cause. Her vast life experiences, though, did help to mold her desire…
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Haywood records highest-ever room tax collections

Haywood County experienced its best tourism year ever during the 2006-2007 fiscal year, according to lodging tax figures released by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. From July 2006 through June 2007, Haywood County accommodations collected more than $700,000 in…
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Orthopedist shortage costs HRMC patients, revenue

Every morning, the dispatcher for Haywood Emergency Medical Services starts his shift with a call to the emergency room of Haywood Regional Medical Center. “Is there an orthopedist on call today?” the dispatcher asks.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

How-to of dam removal still a source of debate: State, feds object to backlogged sediment being unleashed downstream

Duke Energy has cleared a major hurdle in its efforts to tear down the nearly 100-year-old Dillsboro dam. Duke got approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month to tear down the dam. Removal could happen as early as…
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

High and dry: Fontana boat dock owners losing money as TVA lowers lake

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer One of the driest periods in the last 118 years is prompting TVA to draw down waters on Fontana Lake to wintertime levels, a move costing boat dock owners thousands of dollars of business.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Vice Chief candidates address a broad range of issues

Candidates for vice chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shared their views on an array of issues facing the tribe during a debate last week.
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Sustainability at HCC

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer If Dr. Rose Johnson has her way, the future campus of Haywood Community College will serve as a model of sustainable practices. The college is making it its goal to practice what it preaches.…
Wednesday, 15 August 2007 00:00

Macon leaders ask voters for property transfer tax

Macon County will be the first in Western North Carolina to test the idea of a new tax on real estate transactions. Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to put the new property transfer tax on the ballot in November, along…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:11

Southwestern Community College to dedicate new building Sept. 14

Southwestern Community College will hold a dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Conrad G. Burrell building at 2 p.m. Sept. 14 on the Jackson campus in Sylva. The three-story, 38,000-square-foot building cost $8.8 million and was funded two-thirds by the…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:10

McCrory goes to WNC

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory stopped in Sylva Thursday, Aug. 30, to meet with area supporters and planned to attend a fundraising event on Friday, Aug. 31, with U.S. congressional candidate Mark Meadows of Cashiers. McCrory, the former mayor of…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:09

Political roundup

Rogers receives key endorsements Hayden Rogers, the Democratic candidate in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, was endorsed by the bipartisan Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) for his support of sportsmen’s and animal owners’ rights.   SAOVA has endorsed both Democrats…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:06

Maggie aldermen stumble over best practices for filling vacant seat

The simple task of replacing an empty seat on the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen has turned into a process rife with finger pointing and faultfinding after the board failed to lay out a clear process for how the new…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:05

WCU opens its doors to prospective student

Western Carolina University will open its doors to prospective college students, their families and friends for its first open house of the fall semester on Sept. 15 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The open house gives visitors a chance to tour…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:05

Meet new local physicians

MedWest Health System is hosting two receptions, one at MedWest-Harris and another on the campus of MedWest-Haywood, to allow members of the community to meet several new area doctors who have recently joined MedWest.  MedWest-Harris reception is from 5-7 p.m.…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:04

Clinic to benefit from unique fundraiser

Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild is sponsoring an “Afternoon Extravaganza” at 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater on Pigeon Street in Waynesville to support the Good Samaritan Clinic of Haywood County. The event will feature the “Sound…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:03

HCC to offer sneak peek at regional schools

Area high school students and residents will have a chance to talk with college representatives from more than 55 Southeastern universities, colleges and trade schools at the 2012 College Night from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Haywood Community College…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:02

Latinos on protest circuit ‘sit-in’ at sheriff’s office

Undocumented workers staged a sit-in at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office last week to protest the sheriff’s alleged targeting of Latino immigrants through deliberately placed traffic stops.
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 02:00

Satellite land dispute throws wrench in plans for smaller casino

A Cherokee judge ruled last week in a case that could affect a long-range plan of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to build a low-level casino on a satellite tract of the reservation outside Andrews. The case also has…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:55

Blowgun, knives and traditional items stolen from Cherokee historical village

The Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee was broken into recently. Sacred and traditional items used by re-enactors who portray early Native American life at the living history site were stolen.
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:53

Forgotten African-American cemetery finds an unlikely hero

The dead lay in indiscernible rows beneath the earth, their resting places marked by a jumble of faded and often illegible stone markers — the most distinguishable carrying etched dates and names, but the most nondescript void of any writing…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:53

WestCare decision on partnership could be decided soon

The board of directors for MedWest-Harris and Med-West Swain hospitals met Tuesday, Sept. 4, to discuss whether to dissolve its ties with MedWest-Haywood. The board met a month ago on the same subject but decided to continue studying the issue…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:52

Chamber to host meet-and-greet for young professionals

Young professionals can network and learn more about the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce at a special event from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 6. at Headwaters Brewing Co. in Waynesville. The Chamber’s Young Professionals of Haywood program was established in an…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:51

‘Out of the Darkness’ walk draws attention to suicide

Western North Carolina’s “Out of the Darkness” community walk will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Jackson County Recreation Complex in Cullowhee.  The goal of the event is to raise awareness about suicide, honor lost…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:49

Jackson County goes on offense with new tax collection tactics

Delinquent property tax payers beware — Jackson County is coming for you. For more than a year, county tax collectors, with the help of contracted private attorneys, have been aggressively targeting property owners who owe substantial back taxes — and…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:43

As campaign season hits full stride, party loyals double down to turn out the vote

Sporting a red Obama hat, a matching “Change Rocks” t-shirt and a “Barack Obama 2012” button, Ron Frendreis approached the first house on his list. With pen, papers and clipboard in hand, he climbed the concrete steps to a white…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:41

WCU police practice a different brand of law enforcement

You probably won’t see them on television with the “Bad Boys” theme song playing in the background, jumping chain link fences or tackling shirtless men in motel parking lots — unless they have to. Rather, a lot of what goes…
Wednesday, 05 September 2012 01:31

Safety, maintenance headaches put an end to student hang out spot

A row of four stately evergreens that anchored the front of Waynesville Middle School — providing both shade and a meeting hub on campus — were cut down two weeks ago to the chagrin of students and teachers.
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Business notes

Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center is offering a free “Ebay for Small Business” class from 1–4 p.m. Sept. 4-6 on the Jackson Campus in the Founders Hall computer lab room 124 with instructor Nick Hawks. Space is limited. 828.306.7017.…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

WCU helps develop and market new inventions

Western Carolina University will receive a five-year grant of $642,960 to continue operation of the Center for Rapid Product Realization, which works to accelerate job creation and retention among existing businesses and emerging entrepreneurial enterprises in Western North Carolina. The…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Biodiesel now available at Sylva Catamount station

The Catamount Pump & Go in Sylva is now offering biodiesel from the Asheville-based Blue Ridge Biofuels for use in vehicles. Blue Ridge Biofuels uses recycled, used cooking oil from area restaurants to produce the sustainable, renewable biodiesel that meets…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Skating rink holding fundraisers for expansion

Smoky Mountain Sk8way outside Waynesville plans to add an additional 10,000 square feet to its existing facility, which will allow it to offer a much larger skating surface, a cafe, a climbing wall, a toddler area, mini-golf and a pro…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Within REACH store opens

REACH of Haywood County has opened the Within REACH Home Store doors down from their popular Within REACH resale store on Hazelwood Avenue in Sylva. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. It features previously owned furniture,…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Harmony House Foods to locate in Franklin

Harmony House Foods, a leading provider of dehydrated foods to backpackers, will open a new facility at the Macon County Business Development Center. Founded in 2005 in Eastern North Carolina, the company markets dehydrated meals primarily to outdoor adventurers with…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Duke funding not guaranteed forever

While the Pigeon River Trust Fund isn’t threatened in the short term, the lucrative water quality funding stream isn’t a sure bet forever. The annual payment of $290,000 ponied up by Progress Energy — and soon by Duke post merger…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Pigeon River Fund will survive transition from Progress to Duke

A trust fund backed by Progress Energy that has funneled more than $2 million and counting to water quality projects in Haywood County since the mid-1990s is not in jeopardy following the merger of the utility with Duke Energy.
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Upgrades on tap for mother-baby floor at MedWest-Harris

When Dr. Janine Keever hit the online shoe stores last month to hunt for the optimal pair of white knee-high platform boots, she wasn’t trying to spice up the look of her delivery room scrubs. Instead, the retro footgear would…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Macon as a case study of the exurban population shift

Exurbanites are invading Macon County, and the rest of Appalachia for that matter. Don’t be alarmed, they’re generally docile, but the ramifications of their settlement could mark, and to an extent already have marked, a permanent change in the region’s…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Indian health subject of lecture

A public lecture on Indian health by a leading international epidemiologist will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 5 at Western Carolina University’s new Health and Human Sciences Building. Epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson will perform the lecture from England via a…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Bogey Fore Golf is Sept. 21

The Third Annual Bogey Fore Golf Tournament will tee off Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. at Maggie Valley Club. The tournament will benefit the Haywood Jackson Volunteer Center. The fee to enter is $160 for a two-man team. The Volunteer…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Fundraiser to benefit outpatient project

Angel Medical Center will hold a Radiothon Sept. 8th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to raise funds for an Outpatient Medicine Expansion project. Pledges can be placed in person or by phone at 828.349.8200 during the event. A goal…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Political corner

The Haywood County Democratic Party Headquarters, located at 286 Haywood Square in Waynesville, has expanded Saturday hours to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Normal hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. 828.452.9607 or haywooddemocrats.org. ••• A post…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Cherokee ABC board claims their generous salary is warranted

The high salaries collected by the five members of the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Commission for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have drawn criticism from some enrolled members. The ABC commission in Cherokee makes more than 10 times what…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Jackson hopes to brand county with flag

When it comes to Southerners, there are a few topics that get their blood pressure elevated — and one of those topics is flags. They represent everything from historical ties, bloodshed, peace, pride and Nascar. They’re flown everywhere from government…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Get cooking for a good cause: New recipe book to raise money for downtown Waynesville art piece

The Waynesville Public Art Commission has put together a 150-recipe cookbook to benefit future public art pieces. The Taste of the Great Smoky Mountains Cookbook is $10 and is the culmination a month-long process of collecting recipes from area residents.…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Don’t fear the beard

Though Aaron Stone has always had a love of mayonnaise, lately the condiment has become a real nuisance in his life. “It just gets all stuck in my beard,” he said. “That and soups, it’s just becomes a real mess.”
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Business boost from paddling World Cup hasn’t materialized yet

Economic development and tourism leaders in Swain County are treating the Freestyle Kayaking World Cup two weeks away as a dry run for the far more highly anticipated World Freestyle Kayaking Championship coming in 2013. “This will start the ball…
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 00:00

Battle of the Bucket: Haywood volunteer firefighters test mettle in annual showdown

With torrential rain and a fierce wind blowing through the Haywood County Fairgrounds last Thursday evening, the harsh weather conditions didn’t deter several local fire departments from their mission of the day — to claim victory during the “Battle of…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 13:04

The search is on for an HCC president — and an interim, again

Haywood Community College has not only expanded its search for a new president, but is now on the hunt for an interim president as well. It’s the second bump in what was initially mapped out as a smooth transition following…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 13:02

Former Bryson Fire Chief and wife charged with embezzlement

Former Bryson City Fire Chief Joey Hughes and his wife, Cylena, were arrested and indicted on embezzlement, fraud, and other charges last week for allegedly purloining money from the volunteer fire department’s fundraising arm. More than $200,000 was taken over…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:57

WCU takes over off-campus shuttle service

The university’s parking and transportation services office has assumed responsibility for running an off-campus shuttle service previously provided by Jackson County Transit. “Other than the look and color of the bus, not much will change for the students and other…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:54

Good intentions bite Maggie with sewer fee quandary

Greg Snyder was perturbed when he addressed the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen in June. In March, Snyder had plunked down $4,625 to connect five new RV sites at Twinbrook Resorts to the town’s sewer system. Less than two weeks…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:52

Meet fellow Franklin entrepreneurs Aug. 23

The Macon County Economic Development Commission will host an entrepreneur networking night at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Appalachian Harvest in downtown Franklin. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at www.maconedc.com. The…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:51

Families sought to host international students

Ayusa, an international student exchange organization, is looking to match willing families with international high school students. The program is government-regulated and brings students from more than 60 countries. All types of families are eligible to host an international student.…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:49

Maggie bids farewell to longtime voice and local personality

Longtime alderman and Maggie Valley resident and business owner Phil Aldridge resigned from the town board last week. Aldridge was a staple around town and owned Phil’s Grocery on Soco Road — the only grocery store in the valley for…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:48

Sylva welcomes new town board member

Barbara Hamilton participated in her first Sylva Town Board meeting last week after being newly appointed to fill the vacated seat of Stacy Knotts, who resigned to move with her husband to South Carolina. Hamilton was one of three candidates…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:46

Jackson sweepstakes violations land on unlikely doorstep

The mayor of Sylva, Maurice Moody, was first to receive a violation notice for an allegedly illegal sweepstakes establishment in one of his rental properties along U.S. Highway 441. And Jackson County Commission Chairman Jack Debman may be next.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:44

Russ Avenue in Waynesville to get Ingles gas station

Ingles has unveiled plans to build a new gas station on Russ Avenue, Waynesville’s most heavily trafficked commercial corridor. It marks a slight change to previous plans, which called for a gas station along the entrance road leading to Ingles…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:43

Ingles chain to make big splash in Waynesville

Waynesville will be home to the largest Ingles grocery store in Western North Carolina following major renovations and expansion at its Russ Avenue location. Shoppers will have a larger beer and wine selection, expanded deli and prepared food counter and…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:42

Cherokee Preservation Foundation celebrates 10 years of good work

Winners of Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s 10th anniversary photo contest will be announced at a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23 at Qualla Arts & Crafts. Residents living on the Qualla Boundary and the seven western counties have…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:40

Political corner

Mike Clampitt, a candidate running for the state House, is hosting “Mornings with Mike” from 7-8 a.m. every Tuesday at 58D Sunrise Park Dr. in Sylva through Oct. 30. The event features Clampitt, but other Republican candidates running for office…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:38

New college landscape greets returning WCU students

It’s been more than three months since voters in Jackson County approved a countywide alcohol initiative. Yet, except for a few telltale signs, a look around Cullowhee on the doorstep of Western Carolina University wouldn’t lead anyone to believe that…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:37

WCU Chancellor Belcher announces raises for faculty

Western Carolina University Chancellor David O. Belcher gave an opening address to kick off the fall semester last week and called on members of the university community to help realize the vision articulated by the 2020 Vision: Focusing Our Future…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:36

Gov. Perdue and Chief Hicks bask in mutual success of live gaming deal at Harrah’s

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue and other dignitaries gathered at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel Tuesday to officially mark the introduction of live table games at the casino.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:35

Canton bridge work finished ahead of schedule

Traffic headaches caused by bridge work in downtown Canton for the past nine months are now over. Detour signs were taken down Monday, marking the end of the $3.5 million project to replace the 1920s-era Park Street bridge over the…
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 12:32

Haywood commissioners wade gingerly into Confederate flag fray

About 20 Southern heritage supporters lined a bench of Haywood County’s historic courtroom in Waynesville Monday, a show of force county commissioners were likely prepared for as they took on the perpetually controversial issue of Confederate flags: are they a…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Swain appoints members to re-configured TDA

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The restructuring of the Swain County TDA is well under way with a host of new board members appointed at the county commissioners’ Aug. 14 meeting. The selection of the new TDA differed from…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Many in Macon excited about rec center prospects

After visiting the Town of Waynesville’s recreation center, Michelle Green left marveling at the range and quality of activities the facility provides Haywood County residents. Swimming, racquetball, basketball courts, an indoor walking track and more — there’s simply not a…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Clean-up slow in wake of dam break: Patience runs thin with Balsam Mountain Preserve

Balsam Mountain Preserve has failed so far in its promise to make things right following a dam break that unleashed a wave of sediment into more than eight miles of mountain streams, according to state and federal environmental agencies. Balsam…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Dam escaped state permit threshold: Cause of failure stemmed from construction techniques

Balsam Mountain Preserve is off the hook on one front: it didn’t need a permit from the state dam safety office before constructing a dam at its golf course.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Muddy math plays into sediment calculations

Calculating the volume of mud that washed downstream with the collapse of a large earth dam at Balsam Mountain Preserve has emerged as a source of contention between the developer and state and federal agencies. The packed earth dam —…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Duke tries to get out of dredging behind dam

Duke Power does not want to dredge backlogged sediment from behind the Dillsboro dam before tearing it down despite both state and federal agencies insisting otherwise. Duke filed an appeal this week protesting a decision by the Federal Regulatory Energy…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

New TDA make-up leaves questions unanswered

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer New legislation to restructure the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority calls for a drastic overhaul of the organization while leaving much open to interpretation. The overhaul was prompted by controversy over the TDA’s budget,…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Canton bridge project to cause delays

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Construction is slated to begin immediately on a structurally deficient bridge in downtown Canton, a project the Department of Transportation says will take months and force them to re-route a major thoroughfare. The bridge…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

Macon leaders finally address animal shelter crisis: Five years with no animal laws wore public thin

After years of debate over stray animals in Macon County — namely the lack of anywhere to take them — county leaders decided last week that it’s time to build a county animal shelter. Along with the shelter will come…
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 00:00

County wins bidding war for Jonathan Creek land

Haywood County has emerged as the high bidder for 22-acre tract of land in Jonathan Creek that will become a recreation park. The county’s bid of $1,114,029.15 was not upset. For the last two months the county and a private…
Wednesday, 29 August 2007 00:00

Republicans to Taylor: Make up your mind

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Ever since Democrat Heath Shuler’s upset of incumbent Charles Taylor in the 2006 election, Republicans have been plotting their strategy to take back control of the 11th Congressional District. Taylor is the first choice…
Wednesday, 29 August 2007 00:00

Shuler goes to Washington: WNC’s freshman House representative is already turning heads in congress

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Heath Shuler’s time so far in the House of Representatives is shorter than his career in pro-football, but he’s already attracting more attention as a rookie member of the House than he ever did…
Wednesday, 29 August 2007 00:00

HRMC announces $16.5 million expansion

Haywood Regional Medical Center is planning a $16.5 million expansion including a surgery support wing, an endoscopy unit, a new lobby and unfinished shell space for future expansion. The expansion is being billed as a new surgery center, although it…
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