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Swain leaders go to Washington, D.C.
 

Swain leaders go to Washington, D.C.

The recent three-day trip to Washington, D.C., marks the fourth time Swain County representatives have visited the capital during the…
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Discouraged but not defeated, Swain continues quest for overdue cash settlement
 

Discouraged but not defeated, Swain continues quest for overdue cash settlement

The outlook for Swain County doesn’t look any better this year than it did the last three years in its…
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Sylva leaders give green light to more, bigger, brighter signs
 

Sylva leaders give green light to more, bigger, brighter signs

It’s not quite little Las Vegas, yet, but new sign laws in Sylva are clearing the way for a brighter,…
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Waynesville puts brakes on the slow creep of sandwich boards, for now
 

Waynesville puts brakes on the slow creep of sandwich boards, for now

Pending changes to Waynesville’s sign laws could pave the way for sidewalk sandwich boards downtown, but they aren’t legal yet.
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Jackson Meals on Wheels leaves money on the table
 

Jackson Meals on Wheels leaves money on the table

Jackson County commissioners took the director of the Jackson County Department on Aging to task this week over why Meals…
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Survey says: Macon and Jackson call for state help to sort out muddled border
 

Survey says: Macon and Jackson call for state help to sort out muddled border

One of life’s great unsolved mysteries will soon be settled thanks to an official survey of the murky border between…
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New fire tax moves to the front burner in Jackson County
 

New fire tax moves to the front burner in Jackson County

Jackson County commissioners signaled support this week to change the way volunteer fire departments are funded, although the plan is…
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One door closed, but many more opened with rebirth of Cowee School
 

One door closed, but many more opened with rebirth of Cowee School

An old closed-down elementary school in the rural Cowee community in Macon County will soon reclaim its role as a…
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Cherokee sets sights on Nikwasi mound, but Franklin leaders reluctant to let go
 

Cherokee sets sights on Nikwasi mound, but Franklin leaders reluctant to let go

The chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians wants the town of Franklin to relinquish ownership of the historic…
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Rally to bring King’s dream to Sylva
 

Rally to bring King’s dream to Sylva

The Moral Monday protests that started  in Raleigh and made national headlines are now making the rounds in North Carolina…
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Buskers: coming soon to a street corner near you
 

Buskers: coming soon to a street corner near you

Waynesville officials will hold a public hearing next week on an ordinance that would pave the way for street performers,…
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Rally cry to save Camp Hope persists in wake of lawsuit
 

Rally cry to save Camp Hope persists in wake of lawsuit

The town of Canton is not out of the woods yet in its fight to keep Camp Hope, a public…
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WCU students return to new nightlife landscape this year
 

WCU students return to new nightlife landscape this year

Western Carolina University students will open their textbooks this year with a livelier Cullowhee awaiting them after the class bell…
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Second Vatican Council anniversary commemorated with seminar
 

Second Vatican Council anniversary commemorated with seminar

St. John the Evanglist Church in Waynesville will host a special seminar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug.…
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Blurred boundary leads to permit, tax problems
 

Blurred boundary leads to permit, tax problems

Whether you live in Macon County or Jackson County may depend on which one you ask.
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Home building, commercial development climbing in Jackson
 

Home building, commercial development climbing in Jackson

The building sector in Jackson County has continued its upward swing in 2013.
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N.C. reverts to paper ballots at big cost to counties
 

N.C. reverts to paper ballots at big cost to counties

North Carolina is reverting back to paper ballots, forcing Haywood, Jackson and 29 other counties in the state to purchase…
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No bailout for Lake Junaluska
 

No bailout for Lake Junaluska

Lake Junaluska community leaders gave residents a first look at how its service fees will increase since its merger with…
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The tricky terrain of Native American labels
 

The tricky terrain of Native American labels

Diamond Brown has perfected the art of bait and switch. He hooks his unsuspecting subjects with an eye-catching spread of…
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Cell phone subsidies for low-income people: a luxury or necessity?
 

Cell phone subsidies for low-income people: a luxury or necessity?

In addition to food, shelter and medical care, access to a phone is one of life’s bare necessities — at…
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Going rogue to fight obesity: Undercover video project stalks overweight people in Macon
 

Going rogue to fight obesity: Undercover video project stalks overweight people in Macon

One man’s mission to bring to light an obesity epidemic in Macon County has offended many in the community, prompted…
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New law to allow concealed weapons in cars on campus
 

New law to allow concealed weapons in cars on campus

Back to school essentials have always been a familiar list of pens, pencils, fresh notebooks, new sneakers and a calculator,…
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Gridiron Gals: WCU program teaches women football tactics
 

Gridiron Gals: WCU program teaches women football tactics

Female fans of Western Carolina University athletics know three things — which player the quarterback is, when a touchdown is scored…
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Public hearing on future of Haywood hospital is next week
 

Public hearing on future of Haywood hospital is next week

A public hearing on the future of Haywood Regional Medical Center will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22,…
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Regional DOT chief demoted to new position
 

Regional DOT chief demoted to new position

The regional head of the N.C. Depart-ment of Transportation has been demoted after nine years at the helm of road…
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Eagle Scout project leads to better future for forgotten cemeteries
 

Eagle Scout project leads to better future for forgotten cemeteries

Abandoned, dilapidated and sometimes forgotten burial places are likely to get better care now that Macon County commissioners have decided…
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Jackson wants to do background checks on volunteers
 

Jackson wants to do background checks on volunteers

To lend a helping hand in Jackson County, a willingness to volunteer may not be enough.
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Waynesville VFW post reopens following alcohol, gambling charges
 

Waynesville VFW post reopens following alcohol, gambling charges

Following a nine-month undercover investigation, six people were charged with conducting illegal activities, including selling moonshine and gambling, at the…
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Donated clothes help kids fit in
 

Donated clothes help kids fit in

Sylvia Russell remembers how crucial it was to wear the “right” clothes to school, how the “right” outfit could win…
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Patrol car laptops should aid Jackson deputies
 

Patrol car laptops should aid Jackson deputies

It’s not quite Robocop, but the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is getting a law enforcement boost thanks to technology.
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Duke ready to officially turn Dillsboro Dam site over to local officials
 

Duke ready to officially turn Dillsboro Dam site over to local officials

A decade-long saga in deciding the fate of Duke Energy’s former dam near Dillsboro is drawing to a close as…
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Bryson City readies itself for kayaking worlds
 

Bryson City readies itself for kayaking worlds

Batten down the hatches, the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships are coming. “This event shows how this tiny town…
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WCU campus master planners to seek community input
 

WCU campus master planners to seek community input

Representatives from the firms assisting Western Carolina University in drafting a comprehensive master plan that will guide campus development and…
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State budget includes funding for WCU engineering program
 

State budget includes funding for WCU engineering program

The $20.6 billion biennial budget recently approved by the N.C. General Assembly includes more than $1.4 million for expansion of…
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Sylva sticks to zoning guns, keeps church out of downtown
 

Sylva sticks to zoning guns, keeps church out of downtown

Town board members said no to expanding Sylva’s zoning laws to be more inclusive for churches downtown, citing a desire…
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Fumes kill one, hospitalize a dozen in Macon
 

Fumes kill one, hospitalize a dozen in Macon

An incident at a farm facility in Macon County last week left one worker dead and caused the hospitalization of…
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Canton reopens application process in town manager search
 

Canton reopens application process in town manager search

The Canton Board of Aldermen is still accepting applications for the open town manager position. “We’ve interviewed some that we…
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Rural Center cut may negatively affect WNC
 

Rural Center cut may negatively affect WNC

A recent government audit of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has divided much of the state. 
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WNC leaders worry that region will be left behind economically
 

WNC leaders worry that region will be left behind economically

Western North Carolina business and political leaders are wondering who will go to the mat for them to attract new…
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Man’s quest to flee town limits ends in charges
 

Man’s quest to flee town limits ends in charges

A candidate for Maggie Valley alderman was indicted this month on eight felony charges, including forgery.  The July 19 indictment…
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Injured Ghost Town gunfighter gets hope in worker’s comp claim
 

Injured Ghost Town gunfighter gets hope in worker’s comp claim

A Ghost Town in the Sky gunfighter wounded during a staged fight has new hope of being compensated for his…
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Specialty license plates rescued
 

Specialty license plates rescued

Colorful specialty license plates have been spared the gallows thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of the…
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Law enforcement excited about new WNC crime lab
 

Law enforcement excited about new WNC crime lab

The recently signed state budget bill will fund the hiring of 19 toxicology analysts for a new western crime lab,…
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Vandalism prompts Sylva to mount security cameras in parks
 

Vandalism prompts Sylva to mount security cameras in parks

Persistent vandals have pushed Sylva decision-makers to ramp up the town’s surveillance program.   Coming soon to two Sylva parks…
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Forest Hills mayor race down to the wire, but not in the way you might think
 

Forest Hills mayor race down to the wire, but not in the way you might think

The clock was ticking. There were just two days to go for mayor candidates to step up to the plate…
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Swain library dreams of new digs despite funding realities
 

Swain library dreams of new digs despite funding realities

Bryson City’s library has storied yet humble beginnings — born from a suitcase of books toted around town by a…
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Wells Funeral Home brings multi-purpose event center to downtown Waynesville
 

Wells Funeral Home brings multi-purpose event center to downtown Waynesville

A new event center in Waynesville could be just the beginning of the vitalization of Wall Street, said Wells Greeley,…
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Diagonal parking a conundrum for downtown Sylva
 

Diagonal parking a conundrum for downtown Sylva

Business owner Marion Jones claims to sit on Sylva’s Main Street watching traffic more than any other person in town. 
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Macon board plows into floodplain rules
 

Macon board plows into floodplain rules

The Macon County planning board signaled its intent this month to loosen rules on development in floodplains. 
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Cullowhee: meet your makers
 

Cullowhee: meet your makers

Jackson County Commissioners have begun naming a task force that will shepherd Cullowhee along the way to becoming a bonafide …
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