Steep slope hearing postponed: Commissioners kick back date to comply with public notice laws

jacksonThe final public hearing in the two-year-old saga of revisions to Jackson County’s steep slope ordinance was all set to take place Sept. 22, but last week county commissioners decided to cancel the hearing and reschedule for a later date. 

Three’s Company: Sylva welcomes third craft brewery

art frJohn Duncan won’t forget Aug. 19 anytime soon.

“It was damn scary,” he chuckled.

That day not only marked the opening of the Duncan’s Sneak E Squirrel Brewery in Sylva, it also marked the culmination of a dream of his that’s been almost 20 years in the making.

Jackson signs jail health contract

fr jailhealthWhen John Buchanan first took the jail captain job at the Jackson County Detention Center, one assignment quickly rose to the top of his to do list: figure out a better option for inmates’ health care.

Jackson ABC board set to buy Cashiers store

cashiersIt’s been just over a year since the Cashiers ABC store opened its doors, but the store’s renting days are almost over. ABC Board chairman David Noland paid a visit to both the Jackson County and Sylva town commissioners last month, asking for their blessing on an owner-financed purchase deal.

Whittier farmers float idea for vacant factory’s future

fr drexelIdeas surrounding the fate of a vacant factory building in Whittier have been swirling since Jackson County commissioners started taking a serious look at its future earlier this year. Turn it into an agriculture center? Make it a recreation park? Deed it to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians? Demolish it?

Jackson passes revised cell tower ordinance

jacksonTwo years after the planning board first began reviewing the document, Jackson County has adopted a revised ordinance governing cell tower placement.

Jackson opts to pay for landslide mapping

fr jaxlandslideJackson became the first North Carolina county to take landslide mapping into its own hands when the board of commissioners voted unanimously to fund the $143,000 project last week.

Two schools, one campus: School year starts in Cashiers

fr blueridgeWhile most kids are just getting their new backpacks stocked or suffering through the first days of shift from summertime sleep schedules, students at Blue Ridge School in Cashiers are in the midst of their third week of the new school year.

Revised steep slope rules spark debate at planning board

fr jaxsteepslopeJackson County’s steep slope ordinance made one last stop at the planning board before heading to a public hearing, but it went out with a bang as some members took issue with the version commissioners would ultimately consider for adoption.

Jackson hires new attorney position

jacksonAfter more than four years as Jackson County’s attorney, Jay Coward will soon yield his spot as the county’s legal face. But commissioners aren’t replacing him with another contract attorney. Rather, they’ve opted to create a new staff position.

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