WCU faculty members discuss Koch funds
 

WCU faculty members discuss Koch funds

Western Carolina University Chancellor David Belcher had a heart-to-heart with university faculty last week about the controversy over a politically…
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Waynesville institution to close its doors after three generations, 88 years
 

Waynesville institution to close its doors after three generations, 88 years

A devoted customer stood at the counter at Walker Service chatting with Clayton Cathey before picking up his truck for…
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Democrats scramble to recruit candidates for Haywood commissioner contest
 

Democrats scramble to recruit candidates for Haywood commissioner contest

The ballot for Haywood County commissioner could be a sparse one based on rumblings of who’s running — and more…
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Haywood primary offers platter of party positions
 

Haywood primary offers platter of party positions

The race for Haywood County commissioner has begun to take shape with the candidate sign-up period now officially underway, with…
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Harris brings OB doctors under one umbrella
 

Harris brings OB doctors under one umbrella

Harris Regional Hospital is a powerhouse when it comes to delivering babies in the mountains, a legacy it has pledged…
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Major renovation planned for Harris’ New Generations Birthing Center
 

Major renovation planned for Harris’ New Generations Birthing Center

A $5.5 million renovation and expansion of the New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital will soon be…
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Restoring unity important, say Waynesville leaders
 

Restoring unity important, say Waynesville leaders

Waynesville leaders made a pact last week to work cooperatively in choosing a new town manager, despite the rift among…
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Haywood to consider moratorium on outdoor shooting ranges
 

Haywood to consider moratorium on outdoor shooting ranges

Backlash from rural residents in Haywood County who fear an indoor shooting range proposed in their midst will disrupt their…
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From worst-case scenario to sinking reality: the evolution of closing a school
 

From worst-case scenario to sinking reality: the evolution of closing a school

The potential closing of Central Elementary School in Waynesville due to a massive, sudden budget shortfall for Haywood County Schools…
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Overbuilt? School consolidation targets Central Elementary as collateral damage
 

Overbuilt? School consolidation targets Central Elementary as collateral damage

A feasibility report on the potential closure of Central Elementary School in Waynesville was released by Haywood County Schools last…
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Jackson schools map out millions in capital needs
 

Jackson schools map out millions in capital needs

Jackson County Public Schools wants more than $12 million for improvements to its facilities through 2020, but despite the big…
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Charter school chairwoman steps down
 

Charter school chairwoman steps down

Tara Keilberg, a founding board member for the Shining Rock Classical Academy, has resigned from her post as chairwoman on…
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Jackson homeless shelter short on cash
 

Jackson homeless shelter short on cash

Things are coming down to the wire for Jackson County’s only homeless shelter. Without a fast infusion of cash, Jackson…
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Tax value notices to be issued in Jackson
 

Tax value notices to be issued in Jackson

Some Jackson County property owners might find themselves doing a doubletake when notice of their updated property value comes in…
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MADD advocate honored for lives she’s touched
 

MADD advocate honored for lives she’s touched

A Haywood County woman who has dedicated the past dozen years to a crusade against driving while impaired was honored…
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Commissioners look to secure Macon County Courthouse
 

Commissioners look to secure Macon County Courthouse

Before it becomes a mandate from a judge, Macon County commissioners are looking to make improvements to security at the…
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Clayton Davis to join Maggie town board
 

Clayton Davis to join Maggie town board

After interviewing seven people Monday night, the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen unanimously chose Clayton Davis to fill a two-year…
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GALLERY: Snow Storm Jonas in Haywood County
 

GALLERY: Snow Storm Jonas in Haywood County

Allen Newland with A Shot Above aerial photography took these shots on Sunday, Jan. 24, showing the aftermath of Snow…
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Saturday school on tap for Haywood County kids
 

Saturday school on tap for Haywood County kids

Haywood County Schools have pulled the trigger on Saturday school, announcing that this Saturday (Jan. 30) will be a snow…
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Koch money at WCU remains under scrutiny
 

Koch money at WCU remains under scrutiny

A Western Carolina University professor with ties to the ultra-conservative Koch brothers political network worked behind the scenes with outside…
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Infrastructure bonds garner bipartisan support
 

Infrastructure bonds garner bipartisan support

On March 15, North Carolina voters will be asked whether they support borrowing $2 billion to fund a backlog of…
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Canton working to restore water to residents
 

Canton working to restore water to residents

Many residents in Canton and Clyde were without water overnight as a result of an 8-inch waterline break yesterday and…
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What’s next in the Waynesville town manager debate
 

What’s next in the Waynesville town manager debate

Waynesville leaders interviewed two potential candidates Tuesday night to serve as an interim town manager following the dismissal of Town…
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Nine apply for Maggie Valley alderman seat
 

Nine apply for Maggie Valley alderman seat

In a surprising last-minute turnout, nine Maggie Valley residents have submitted applications to be considered for a board of aldermen…
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Fallen officer to be namesake of new justice center
 

Fallen officer to be namesake of new justice center

Tony Lossiah was a good man, a quiet guy with a caring heart. He loved his family and worked hard…
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No charges will be filed in Jackson jail suicides
 

No charges will be filed in Jackson jail suicides

No charges will be filed following suicides at the Jackson County Detention Center in November 2014 and March 2015, District…
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Low morale cited in vote to fire Waynesville town manager
 

Low morale cited in vote to fire Waynesville town manager

Waynesville Town Manager Marcy Onieal was fired last week in a 3-2 split vote by the town board following a…
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A yes or no please: Has the state school budget been cut?
 

A yes or no please: Has the state school budget been cut?

Democratic candidates who pledge to fight for more education funding could resonate with parents witnessing the impacts of the funding…
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Fired WCU worker wins wrongful termination suit
 

Fired WCU worker wins wrongful termination suit

After a former employee won a lawsuit claiming that Western Carolina University had fired him without cause, the university is…
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Community colleges also stand to benefit from bond passage
 

Community colleges also stand to benefit from bond passage

Though community college leaders aren’t allowed to take an official position on whether they support the $2 billion Connect NC…
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Bond could give higher education an influx of funds
 

Bond could give higher education an influx of funds

Despite the large number of politicians that will be on the ballot March 15, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee probably…
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Macon commissioners pass on wilderness resolution
 

Macon commissioners pass on wilderness resolution

Macon County commissioners maintained their stance against creating more wilderness areas in the county despite The Wilderness Society’s attempt to…
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Free clinic to serve uninsured in Swain County
 

Free clinic to serve uninsured in Swain County

Dr. Frank VanMiddlesworth is on a mission to bring free medical care to the uninsured in Swain County and improve…
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Suspects sought in Canton armed robbery incident
 

Suspects sought in Canton armed robbery incident

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public in locating two suspects in an armed robbery that…
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Jackson County manager announces retirement
 

Jackson County manager announces retirement

For Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten, the time has come to shift his professional focus from managing a county to…
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Waynesville town manager fired in narrow vote of board Tuesday; Supporters question motives of those who ousted her
 

Waynesville town manager fired in narrow vote of board Tuesday; Supporters question motives of those who ousted her

Waynesville Town Manager Marcy Onieal was fired Tuesday night in a 3-2 split vote by the town board following a…
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Friday last day to apply for Maggie board
 

Friday last day to apply for Maggie board

Maggie Valley is still accepting applications from potential candidates to fill a two-year unexpired term on the board of aldermen.
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Man’s body found near Dry Falls
 

Man’s body found near Dry Falls

Rescue crews recovered the body of Sean Kasey around 1:30 p.m. Sunday from the Cullasaja River after conducting a search…
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Macon flood damage exceeds $1 million
 

Macon flood damage exceeds $1 million

Heavy rains and high waters in December have resulted in more than $1 million in flood damage in Macon County.
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Bill introduced for Swain to receive school funding
 

Bill introduced for Swain to receive school funding

Since 1940, the Federal Government has provided Impact Aid Funding to assist school districts that have lost a portion of…
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Animal shelter advocates make their case
 

Animal shelter advocates make their case

Jackson County’s animal lovers had a message for county commissioners last week, and it couldn’t have been clearer: We need…
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Council discusses the court system’s place in government
 

Council discusses the court system’s place in government

Last week wasn’t the first time since the new tribal leadership took office that the issue of separation of powers…
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Tribal council votes to create legislative office separate from executive oversight
 

Tribal council votes to create legislative office separate from executive oversight

When the Cherokee Tribal Council voted to create the Office of Legislative Support last week, it was doing more than…
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Motion to dismiss filed in lawsuit contesting Cherokee council raises
 

Motion to dismiss filed in lawsuit contesting Cherokee council raises

Defendants in a lawsuit stemming from raises and backpay the Cherokee Tribal Council voted itself in October 2014 are hoping…
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Cashiers cell tower approved
 

Cashiers cell tower approved

A proposal to build a new cell tower outside Cashiers got the OK from Jackson County Commissioners last week, a…
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Emergency animal clinic to open this spring in Waynesville
 

Emergency animal clinic to open this spring in Waynesville

Pet owners in the western counties will soon have a shorter drive to tackle when their furry charges are in…
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Howell Mill Road projects nears completion | Gallery
 

Howell Mill Road projects nears completion | Gallery

Barring any unexpected circumstances, Howell Mill Road should be open to vehicle traffic in a couple of weeks. The $11.7…
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Abandoned hospital to find new purpose
 

Abandoned hospital to find new purpose

A new plan is the works to convert the abandoned old hospital in Haywood County into an affordable housing apartment…
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