Macon board of elections petitions state to fire director
It’s been three months since Macon County officials unearthed $50,000 worth of embezzlement, but a return to normalcy is just…
Read More
Swain commissioner candidates weigh in on the issues
The Swain County commissioners race has attracted a deep bench of Democratic candidates — nine contenders vying for the four…
Read More
Macon commissioner race spending pits conservative and moderate Republicans
There’s only one primary in the Macon County commissioners’ races, but it’s a good one to watch. It might well…
Read More
Are Haywood commissioners big spenders, or doing the best they can?
Property taxes have emerged as a top issue in the Democratic primary for Haywood County commissioner candidates. The three sitting…
Read More
Bryson City shelter gives hurting teens a fresh start
Despite the automated security system that speaks up every time a door is opened and the whiteboard grid tracking points…
Read More
House party: Three GOP candidates take aim at Rep. Queen
A trio of Republican candidates have lined up to challenge N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, for his District 119…
Read More
Cohabitation ordinance makes trouble for drug recovery program
An ordinance designed to keep student housing from taking over the village of Forest Hills is creating an obstacle for…
Read More
Domestic violence and sexual abuse shelter looks to expand in Macon
Fundraising for a $1.3-million shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse is underway in Macon County, with REACH…
Read More
Dreaming of Davis’ seat: Hipps, Robinson vie for Senate 50
North Carolina’s District 50 senator represents the state’s seven western counties. In 2010, Sen. Jim Davis (R-Franklin) narrowly wrested the…
Read More
WNC attorneys to vet district court judge nominees
Six attorneys vying for a vacant district court judge seat in the region will try to win the endorsement of…
Read More
Cullowhee considers development standards
Cullowhee is awash in new developments. Specifically, the community is buzzing with the construction of high-density developments aimed at housing…
Read More
Franklin officials to further ‘mull’ gazebo redesign
The folks in Franklin are not yet sure what direction they may go with the revamping of the town’s gazebo…
Read More
Cherokee museum looks to the future
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has been having some trouble with its exhibit light and sound system lately, but…
Read More
GOP shake-up: Haywood Republicans wrestle with identity crisis, attempt to oust chair
A coup within the Haywood County Republican Party was set in motion this week by a group of precinct chairs…
Read More
Growing a brand: New marketing plan offers the authentic
Lynn Collins has honed the art of eavesdropping. It began innocently enough, unavoidable even, since nothing but a cubicle separates…
Read More
Trick bikes fall from grace at Waynesville’s skate park
The Waynesville skate park became an instant rock star after its debut last fall, gaining repute as a wildly popular…
Read More
A new paradigm
For decades, mountain tourism strategists have concocted catchy ways to state the obvious: come visit us because we are in…
Read More
Canton selects new town manager
Canton Mayor Mike Ray was happy to see it come to an end. Finally, a decision has been made. “We’ve…
Read More
Canton paper mill takes on $50 million air emission
Evergreen Packaging paper mill in Canton is embarking on a $50 million natural gas conversion of its coal-fired boilers to…
Read More
Franklin community offers alternative gazebo plans
When Franklin town leaders meet in April, they will be digesting a number of alternative plans for revamping the downtown…
Read More
Vision quest: Waynesville officials attempt glimpse into future
After a full day of brainstorming, the Waynesville Board of Aldermen had thrown a lot of meat onto the table.…
Read More
Occupancy tax supporters hold out hope
A tourism tax increase in Haywood County has virtually no hope of advancing in the N.C. General Assembly this year,…
Read More
WCU fine-tunes its course for Millennial Campus
Western Carolina University is expected to get the go-ahead this month to place development of the Millennial Campus under the…
Read More
Many moving parts to hospital sale
The sale of the hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties to Duke LifePoint has entered the final stages but…
Read More
Stemming the sequester squeeze
The federal sequester came back to haunt Macon County last month when commissioners voted to spend $13,000 to keep the…
Read More
Bryson City and Sylva aim to make in-town navigation easier
Plenty of green is popping up in Bryson City, but it’s not all due to the growing season. Green wayfinding…
Read More
No repercussions for officers involved in dismissed drug case
Three months after lies on a search warrant and a fabricated drug dog alert prompted a federal judge to throw…
Read More
Voting from bed: WCU, Jackson County election officials hammer out a hopeful home
Walking out of the Jackson County Board of Elections offices in Sylva, Lane Perry seemed pleased. A year’s worth of…
Read More
Macon ballfield complex to break ground soon
Macon County commissioners unanimously approved the first round of bids to begin construction of a $3.8 million sports complex in…
Read More
Lake Junaluska Peace Conference
The Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, taking place March 27-30, will feature six leadership speakers from across the globe. The speakers…
Read More
New apartment rules set the stage for a safer walk to campus for WCU students
The advent of three large student apartment complexes around Western Carolina University in the past few years has prompted concern…
Read More
Gambling halls raided
Two video gambling halls were raided in Haywood County last week following an undercover investigation by law enforcement agencies.
Read More
State, counties play hot potato over teacher salaries
Stagnating pay for North Carolina teachers is prompting some local school leaders to dig a little deeper for salary bonuses…
Read More
On with the show
Though the process has been long, Steven Lloyd is beginning to see the fruits of his labor. “I sometimes feel…
Read More
One and done — Macon sheriff race to be sewed up in primary
The Macon County Sheriff race will be short and sweet. Incumbent Sheriff Robbie Holland, a Republican, only faces one challenger,…
Read More
Candidates lineup for a shot on Swain sheriff ballot
Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran will have an easy primary season, with no Republicans challenging his bid for a third…
Read More
Candidates sound off on issues in crowded sheriff race
With the May election primary drawing nearer and the ring chock-full of hats contending for the Jackson County sheriff seat,…
Read More
HCC’s low-impact development degree axed
Four years ago, Haywood Community College launched the first low-impact development program in North Carolina, a new degree to train…
Read More
Election laws in the ‘new’ North Carolina
New controversial voting laws passed by the N.C. General Assembly last year were supposed to take effect in 2016, but…
Read More
Franklin brewery deal moves along
Franklin is one step closer to getting its first microbrewery, which plans to set up shop in the former town…
Read More
Franklin downtown soul-searches for solution to discord
The division along Franklin’s Main Street is tough to see with the naked eye. Passersby appear oblivious to the battle…
Read More
County races: Swain
Swain County Swain Commissioners What’s up for election? All five seats on the county board are up for election, including…
Read More
County races: Macon
Macon County Macon Commissioners What’s up for election: One seat in the Highlands district and two seats in the Franklin…
Read More
County races: Jackson
Jackson County Jackson Sheriff About the race: This promises to be one of the most hotly contested elections in the…
Read More
Maggie roller coaster over, but stars still aren’t aligned for Haywood room tax hike
After oscillating on the issue last year, Maggie Valley town leaders have now endorsed a room tax hike in Haywood…
Read More
15 months and counting, Canton delays decision on town manager again
The Canton town board remains undecided about who will take over as town manager. The board was expected to choose…
Read More
Sylva board talks downtown traffic fixes
Over the past half-century, traffic patterns in downtown Sylva have prompted a repeated cycle of complaint, remedy and return to…
Read More
Swain cyclists help DOT in rumble strip study
When drivers veer off the road, they’re often alerted to the error by a vicious vibration caused by an ingrained…
Read More
Sheriff candidate fired from Sylva police force
Jackson County sheriff candidate Curtis Lambert no longer has a job with the Sylva Police Department, but he says his…
Read More
Brewing possibilities in Franklin: Town board considers lease offer for old town hall
Franklin could soon get its first taste of microbrew beer. An offer to lease the old town hall building and…
Read More
