Lake Junaluska merger temporarily stymied by Raleigh politics
The merger of Lake Junaluska with the town of Waynesville has yet to get the blessing of state legislators in…
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Haywood tourism leaders hope to get in the film game
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority has unveiled several new strategies and initiatives this year in an effort to become…
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Southern Loop on hold
A decade-long tug-of-war over what to do about Sylva’s congested commercial strip of N.C. 107 took an unexpected turn last…
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Turning rust to gold: Lifelong collector saves everything … and sells it
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. “Ever since I was kid, I would take home all kinds of stuff,…
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More bang, less buck: Jackson to convert public transit shuttles to propane
It’s not quite the Jetsons’ flying car, but Jackson County is moving toward its own fleet of new-age vehicles powered…
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Caught red-handed with recyclables and nowhere to pitch them? Fret no more, Sylva
Recycling receptacles are coming to downtown Sylva soon, at last giving shoppers and strollers a green option for pitching their…
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Room tax revenue up in Haywood, thanks in part to audit
Lodging tax revenue was up during the past year in Haywood County, and could see another boost in the new…
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Swain commissioners go back on pledge to fund school resource officers
Despite rallying around calls for more school resource officers earlier this year, Swain County commissioners will not chip in after…
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With merger in limbo, Waynesville budget sent back to the drawing board
The Waynesville Board of Aldermen rubberstamped a $31.8 million budget Monday, but it may just have to turn right around…
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Ballot referendum likely in Lake Junaluska merger with Waynesville
A compromise has been floated in Raleigh that could break the political impasse over the proposed merger of Lake Junaluska…
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Cashiers fights for bigger piece of funding pie
The debate over the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority budget was bumped up another notch last week when dozens of…
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WCU neighbors chagrinned by sprawling student apartments — and the cars they bring
Adam Cartwright walked a thin line on the way back to his home in Cullowhee. He hugged the side of…
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Paula Deen restaurant shut down at Cherokee casino
Cook and television personality Paula Deen has gotten into hot butter in recent weeks over allegations of racism, prompting Caesar’s…
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Help wanted: A better road map for WNC
An ambitious yearlong exercise to create a collective economic vision for the mountains will decide whether a long-awaited $800 million…
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Mission, Angel Medical formalize partnership
Angel Medical Center in Franklin officially came under the umbrella of Mission Hospital System this week, a move Angel leaders…
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How much policing is too much? Maggie leaders try to strike balance
It was Groundhog Day again for the Maggie Valley Police Department. Last year, Police Chief Scott Sutton defended his department…
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HCC, contractor negotiate final fees on Creative Arts project
Haywood Community College is negotiating with the architects and contractor who worked on the college’s new Creative Arts building to…
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Construction ramps up on skate park in hopes of August opening
Construction on an 8,000-square-foot Waynesville skate park is visibly progressing.
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Rare mountain tornado damages GSMNP
The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado formed during an afternoon of thunderstorms and high winds that ripped…
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Job incentive deal brewing in Haywood
Haywood County could be landing new jobs in the near future — but what type of jobs, how many and…
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Waynesville hosts KIDS on MAIN Fourth of July parade
Children of all ages are invited to participate in this year’s 22nd annual “Stars & Stripes Celebration” at 10 a.m.…
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“Good Neighbors: Good Stewards” continues at the Rickman Store
The second session of “Good Neighbors, Good Stewards: Community and Environmental Change in Macon County” will take place at 11…
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Cashiers Chamber calls on members to support hike in visitor center funding
Leaders of the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce are pushing for more funding from the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority…
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New Waynesville ABC store to open
Come September, a brand new $1.3 million South Main Street liquor store will open in Waynesville.
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Face of Sylva board may change come November
Sylva Mayor Maurice Moody has announced he will retire from town government and not seek reelection in the upcoming election.…
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Franklin mayor set to retire
Franklin will soon be saying goodbye to its sitting mayor and longtime town politician Joe Collins. The Franklin native has…
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Town leadership seats up for grabs
Towns across the mountains will hold elections for their mayors and town board leaders this fall. The mandatory sign-up period…
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Multi-agency busts net 60 arrests
Law enforcement agencies in Western North Carolina are cracking down on drug use in the region.
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Democrats organize Waynesville protest against General Assembly’s actions
More than 150 protestors marched in downtown Waynesville Monday to oppose what they characterize as egregious policies by Republican state…
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WNC residents travel to Raleigh for moral Monday rally
When moral Monday protestors gathered this week in front of the legislature in Raleigh to decrying the policies of conservative…
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1882 Cowee Tunnel disaster comes into 21st century spotlight
Charged with stealing, 15-year-old Charles Eason was sentenced to work on a prison chain gang. It was 1882, and the…
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With backs against the wall, Swain hikes taxes
Swain County commissioners last week tentatively agreed to increase the property tax rate by 3 cents to cover a budget…
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Highlands soccer complex gets a green light
Macon County has it sights set on building a new soccer field in Highlands, one of the few mountain communities…
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From more inmates to more foster kids, drug abuse hits Haywood in the wallet
Illegal drug abuse and its repercussions are costing Haywood County taxpayers. An increase in drug use has led to more…
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Cherokee hopes to make inmates pay their own way
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians could make the inmates housed in its future jail pay — literally.
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Inspectors’ job is to determine which bridges are holding up
Delvin Adams stood at the top a ladder leaning against the underbelly of a bridge near Harmon Den in Haywood…
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Waynesville pays homage to historic character with new guidelines
Building owners in Waynesville’s historic districts may have to jump through extra hoops before undertaking renovations or alterations to their…
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Sandwich boards: if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
Judge not lest ye be judged. The Waynesville Planning Board is delving into the town’s sign ordinance to create more…
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Painting the town orange
A slap-happy spray paint job by a utility contractor has tarnished the quaint brick sidewalks in downtown Waynesville with obtrusive…
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WCU retirees organize to renew old bonds
While many professors and staff members enjoyed their careers teaching, assisting students and helping to keep the ever-growing Western Carolina…
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Feeding ban worked: Fewer ducks and geese now populate Lake Junaluska
There’s been a noticeable decline in the number of ducks and geese at Lake Junaluska since a feeding ban went…
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Cullowhee gets endorsement for land-use planning
Cullowhee community activists have finally made headway in a push to create a community land-use plan to regulate growth and…
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Public forum shows loss of community confidence in HRMC leadership
By Becky Johnson • Staff Writer Community outrage with Haywood Regional Medical Center continues to escalate over a move by…
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Swain change lets the sun shine in
Swain County commissioners have adopted a new policy designed to keep the public more informed and give them a bigger…
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Franklin passes plan to help guide growth
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Franklin’s proposed Principles of Growth flew past town aldermen Monday night in a mere…
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Haywood County prepares for slope ordinance by hiring engineer
Slope development regulations will go into effect in Haywood County on March 1.
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Haywood soda company aims to change palettes
Haywood County just got a little sweeter. Specializing in “handcrafted, locally produced, artisan beverages,” Waynesville Soda Jerks is a new…
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From the backyard to your table
The “Buy Haywood” initiative is a work-in-progress example of how local businesses benefit by connecting with each other.
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NASA helps geologists try to understand WNC landslides
Mitigating the deadly and damaging effects of mountain landslides might be as simple as understanding them.
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Long time street cleaner replaced by work crew
Foot traffic undeniably brings dollars to Waynesville’s downtown businesses. But what the passerby also brings is trash.
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