Whiteside cell tower on the table
A public hearing over a controversial cell tower in the scenic Whiteside Cove area of Cashiers will be held at…
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Focused on Franklin: Residents pack in to sound off at town hall meeting
The boardroom in Franklin’s town hall was so packed last Wednesday that town employees had to scavenge chairs from the…
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Haywood to spend millions sealing old landfill
The old Francis Farm Landfill in Waynesville has been closed for nearly 20 years, but its ghost continues to haunt…
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Haywood makeover of old prison lands cash and celebrity muscle
It’s official — TV personality Ty Pennington is coming to Waynesville, and Haywood Pathways Center has secured $50,000 of its…
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Haywood tourism board talks strategy
After contracting with Magellan Strategy Group in May to come up with a five-to-ten-year marketing and management strategy, the Haywood…
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Maggie Valley mudslide lawsuit settled on the eve of trial
A lawsuit casting blame for a massive landslide in Maggie Valley four years ago was settled at the 11th hour…
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Wells event center opens in downtown Waynesville
The music inside Wells Event and Reception Center is noticeably different than next door at Wells Funeral Home. Instead of…
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A good ‘move’ for Swain farmers market
The Swain Farmers Market is enjoying its new location near the Tuckasegee River in downtown Bryson City on Island Street.…
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Recreation node added along the Tuck, this time down Whittier’s way
Jackson County will soon get a new park at Barkers Creek. County commissioners approved a lease this week for a…
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The need to achieve: Western counties work to satisfy state law, get young readers on track
Carson Angel is excited to show off her reading skills as she waits outside East Franklin Elementary for her mom…
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Tapping the trough
A wall calendar edged with hot-pink swirls seems out of place in the Junaluska Sanitary District, where the back door…
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Snowbird youth club gets a home
A dream eight years in the making met reality earlier this month when the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians cut…
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Hospital sales on track to close this week
The sale of the MedWest hospital trio in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties will go through on July 31, in…
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Folkmoot festival inspires Waynesville leaders to restore town funding
After oscillating on how much money to give Folkmoot USA during annual budget machinations last month, Waynesville town leaders have…
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Canton debates public alcohol ordinance
A new push to change the public alcohol consumption and possession law in Canton has not come without controversy.
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Big dreams, but no money: A new library in Swain searches for funding
A day earlier the room was full. Wall-to-wall children and snakes. “That was in this room,” said Swain County Librarian…
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Junaluska merger plan sidelined until next year
Lake Junaluska homeowners have suspended their push to merge with the town of Waynesville until next year due to political…
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Maggie Valley mudslide lands in court
A lawsuit casting blame for a massive landslide in Maggie Valley four years ago is headed to a jury trial…
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WCU launches lifelong learning program
Western Carolina University is launching a new lifelong learning institute aimed at people age 50 and older across Western North…
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Cullowhee development standards get reviewed
The Cullowhee Community Planning Advisory Committee will meet July 31 to review proposed development standards for the area. The proposed…
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Hicks testifies before U.S. Senate committee on positive impact of tribal gaming
Michell Hicks, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, told a U.S. Senate committee in testimony on July…
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Canton gets new fire chief
The Town of Canton has selected J. Derek Littlejohn as its next fire chief. Littlejohn has been employed with the…
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Swain passes fracking resolution
Swain County recently passed a resolution in opposition to fracking. “Are you familiar with what fracking is?” asked Swain County Commissioner…
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After initially being overlooked, WNC gets fracking hearing
The North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission has scheduled a public hearing on fracking for Western North Carolina. The hearing…
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Prison protest: Hazelwood residents voice concerns about prison conversion
With the lease drawn up and fundraising underway, most people attending the Haywood County Commissioner meeting last week figured that…
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A bright idea: Skaters say park needs lighting
Austin Fore calls it “a blessing.” “If I’m not there every other day I’m bummed,” the Clyde skateboarder said.
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Sylva comes out against fracking
The town of Sylva is now the second Jackson County locale to formally oppose hydraulic fracturing for natural gas within…
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On track to grow: Macon TRACs’ in-school horse therapy program moves beyond pilot stage
A summer school horse therapy offering at South Macon Elementary School in Franklin will be sticking around once the school…
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Road to Nowhere bill advances
Swain County is one step closer to getting $4 million in “Road to Nowhere” funds after a bill introduced by…
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Swain murder suspects have August court date
Eight defendants charged with the 2013 murder of Calup Joe Caston in Swain County are slated for an Aug. 11…
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WCU launching new program for retirees this fall
Western Carolina University is launching a new lifelong learning institute aimed at people age 50 and older across Western North…
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HCC gets donated fire truck, ambulance
Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department recently added an ambulance and a fire truck to help train students in…
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Prison makeover project closes in on $50K prize
Haywood Pathways Center is almost to the finish line in an online voting contest that would provide $50,000 — plus…
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Sylva considers expanding territorial jurisdiction
Property owners along the fringes of Sylva may soon have to adhere to town zoning regulations. The town board is…
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Canton nixes street parking near Blackbear Automotive
A section of Johnson Street in Canton has been closed following complaints that parked vehicles — repair jobs from Blackbear…
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Growing the neighborhood: Claiborne preaches unity, community to Junaluska youth
Shane Claiborne was a couple minutes late for his interview with The Smoky Mountain News, but for good reason. Claiborne…
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Ballot shapes up for Jackson sheriff’s race
Jackson County voters will finally be able to see the shape of the November ballot with the close of a…
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The slow leak: Junaluska Sanitary District rocked by embezzlement
No one knows for sure what motivated Scarlette Heatherly the first time she skimmed a little cash off the top…
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Canton wins Camp Hope appeal
A two-year court battle over the ownership of Camp Hope concluded last week when the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled…
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Macon County revisits Parker Meadows plans
Discovery of a Cherokee gravesite on the soon-to-be ballfield complex at Macon County’s Parker Meadows property will likely mean that…
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Haywood dogs go bulletproof: Group donates Kevlar vests for local police dogs
The four-legged officers of Haywood County are now bulletproof, thanks to a donation from the Western North Carolina Dog Fanciers…
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Suite of school leadership changes announced in Haywood
The summer ritual of naming new principals and assistant principals before the start of the next school year wrapped up…
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WestCare to open primary care clinic
WestCare Health will launch a new full-time primary care clinic in the Health and Human Sciences Building at Western Carolina…
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Canton business, neighbors in parking dispute
A Canton business has recently found itself in the midst of a heated parking debate. Blackbear Automotive & Transmission, located…
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Macon commissioners pass resolution opposing additional wilderness
Macon County commissioners voted unanimously last week to endorse a resolution stating that no new wilderness areas in Macon County…
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Franklin aldermen vote no to hospice grant
Hospice House of WNC suffered a setback last week when the Franklin Board of Aldermen made a split decision not…
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Fracking presentation draws a crowd in Jackson
A question-and-answer session concerning fracking drew a full crowd to a recent Jackson County Planning Board meeting. Western Carolina University…
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Jackson still mulling landslide mapping
Landslide hazard maps for the Wayehutta Creek watershed in the Cullowhee area of Jackson County were unveiled recently. The mapping…
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Construction turns up Cherokee grave in Franklin
Macon County’s project to turn the 48-acre Parker Meadows project into a tournament-level softball and baseball complex met some complications…
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With food allergies on the rise, schools grapple with how to keep students safe
In light of the growing number of children with food allergies, a new policy has been adopted by Haywood County…
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