Dine with Haywood Waterways
 

Dine with Haywood Waterways

Celebrate the Pigeon River Watershed during Haywood Waterways Association’s annual membership meeting and holiday dinner 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6,…
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Forest Service advisory group seeks new members
 

Forest Service advisory group seeks new members

The committee responsible for advising on U.S. Forest Service recreation fees is looking for new members. 
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Workforce grants available for ag employers
 

Workforce grants available for ag employers

Through Nov. 28 agricultural employers can apply for grants through a pilot program designed to improve the resilience of the…
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NOC welcomes Santa
 

NOC welcomes Santa

Meet Santa at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Swain County at one of three events coming up next month. 
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Tree discounts available for military members, veterans
 

Tree discounts available for military members, veterans

During the month of November, military members and veterans can receive a discount on tree seedling orders from the N.C.…
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Nantahala Hiking Club to celebrate year of stewardship
 

Nantahala Hiking Club to celebrate year of stewardship

The Nantahala Hiking Club will recognize outstanding volunteers during its annual awards banquet 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at First…
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Practice your shot
 

Practice your shot

A turkey shoot will be held 9 a.m. Saturdays at the American Legion in Waynesville, continuing weekly through mid-April 2024. 
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Cherokee Justice Center
 

Arrest made in Big Cove cold case murder

Nearly a decade after 26-year-old Marie Walkingstick Pheasant’s body was found in a burned-out vehicle in Cherokee’s Big Cove community,…
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Smoke rises from the Collett Ridge Fire near Andrews. USFS photo
 

Wildfires burn across the region as drought continues

For the first time since 2016, Western North Carolina is in the midst of a severe drought coupled with an…
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LGBTQ+ candidates earn historic victories nationally, locally
 

LGBTQ+ candidates earn historic victories nationally, locally

Tuesday, Nov. 7 was an important night for out LGBTQ+ candidates across the country, the state and Haywood County, with…
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The paper mill at the heart of Canton stopped producing paper in May. A Shot Above photo
 

Pactiv Evergreen blamed for milk carton shortages in schools

There’s no use crying over spilt milk, but a shocking report suggests that Pactiv Evergreen failed in its analysis of…
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WNC swears in a new judge
 

WNC swears in a new judge

After several months of filling gaps in court calendars with visiting judges, Western North Carolina will finally fill its District…
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Turnout in this year's election was significantly higher than last time. File photo
 

Incumbents roll, 'Team Waynesville' falls flat

They ran a noisy campaign, filled with distortions, misinformation and outright fabrication, but in the end, that’s all it was…
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Sylva elects new mayor, council members
 

Sylva elects new mayor, council members

The Sylva Town Council could have three new members, including a new mayor after vote totals become official later this…
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Maggie Valley winners pledge to work together
 

Maggie Valley winners pledge to work together

Maggie Valley will retain two of its incumbents, including its mayor, for the next four years. 
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Haywood sees high turnout, no voter ID issues
 

Haywood sees high turnout, no voter ID issues

Fears that North Carolina’s new voter ID implementation would disenfranchise legitimate voters have proven unfounded — at least in Haywood…
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Canton reveals plan for waste water treatment plant
 

Canton reveals plan for waste water treatment plant

While there are still plenty of unknowns regarding Canton’s new waste water treatment plant, including where it will go and…
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Longtime Canton board members reelected
 

Longtime Canton board members reelected

The Town of Canton’s governing board has been through a lot in the last four years — with the 2021…
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Improvements to Bridge Park include a paved parking area. Donated photo
 

Bridge Park set for upgrades

After delays due to funding and insufficient bids, Sylva is set to begin work on the Bridge Park Green Infrastructure…
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Maggie King. Haywood County photo
 

New principal at Waynesville Middle School

The Haywood County School Board moved quickly to approve a new principal for Waynesville Middle School after the sudden departure…
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Russell, Jesse prevail in Clyde
 

Russell, Jesse prevail in Clyde

Incumbent Alderman Dann Jesse will return to the Town of Clyde Board of Aldermen, along with a new face, Amy…
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Work beginning on WNC portion of I-40
 

Work beginning on WNC portion of I-40

Work will start soon to add an acceleration lane from Interstate 40 East to U.S. 74A for $1.3 million. 
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The French Broad River flows north into Tennessee. File photo
 

WNC's watershed moment: Regional leaders discuss French Broad’s past, present and future

More than 100 people came together to discuss the future of one of the region’s most important resources during the…
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Participants in Asheville GreenWorks’ Youth Environmental Leadership Program look for aquatic creatures.  Asheville Greenworks photo
 

Water quality grants distributed to area organizations

Environmental groups working to improve water quality in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties recently received 10 grants totaling $285,190 from…
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The former farmland contains rolling hills with sweeping mountain views.  SAHC photo
 

Sandy Mush Game Lands expand

The Sandy Mush Game Lands in Buncombe and Madison counties are now 67 acres larger after the Southern Appalachian Highlands…
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The shelter shows signs of aging  and rotting wood. U.S. Forest Service photo
 

Overmountain Shelter to be removed from the A.T.

After closing it four years ago, the U.S. Forest Service has decided to decommission and remove the Overmountain Shelter, located…
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A volunteer, shown in a yellow vest, approaches park visitors as they view elk. NPS photo
 

Elk volunteers wanted

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is looking for volunteers to expand its Elk Volunteer-in-Park Program in 2024. 
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Tuscola High School student August Fama helps collect plastics from Waynesville’s Richland Creek watershed. WCU photo
 

Microplastics study confirms atmospheric deposition

A recently completed study on microplastics in Western North Carolina has revealed that even remote headwater streams are impacted, as…
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Book offers unique look at Smokies history
 

Book offers unique look at Smokies history

A newly released book from the Great Smoky Mountains Association compiles written accounts from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s…
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The headwaters of Maggie Valley’s watershed  start at the Blue Ridge Parkway. Steve Orr photo
 

Maggie Valley water earns prestigious award

The Maggie Valley Sanitary District again earned top marks for water quality from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, one…
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Book your Winter Lights tickets
 

Book your Winter Lights tickets

Dubbed ‘Asheville’s brightest holiday tradition,’ Winter Lights opens Friday, Nov. 17, with the brilliant display open daily 6-10 p.m. through…
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The plant doctor is in
 

The plant doctor is in

The growing season is winding down, but Haywood County Master Gardeners are still available to answer questions about all manner…
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Enter the cornhole tournament
 

Enter the cornhole tournament

Earn your place as a cornhole champion during a tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Cullowhee Recreation…
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Senior Games contestants take the podium
 

Senior Games contestants take the podium

Haywood County is home to a slew of state medalists in this year’s North Carolina Senior Games. 
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Smoke fills the valleys surrounding the Collett Ridge Fire. USFS photo
 

Wildfire season 2023: live updates

After months of dry weather, drought is translating into wildfires and burn bans.
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Although the Niskanens found themselves in a precarious situation in Israel, they still marveled at its natural beauty, like here at the Sea of Galilee. Donated photo
 

An unexpected adventure: Macon County couple recalls evacuation from Israel

When Hamas hit Israel with a massive terrorist attack on Oct. 7, there were an estimated 600,000 Americans in the…
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Haywood County is adding to its early warning capabilities. Garret K. Woodward photo
 

Siren warning system will alert Haywood residents to flooding

More than two years after deadly flooding killed six people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to…
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Crane has over 40 years of experience in international criminal law and prosecuted Liberian president and  warlord Charles Taylor. File photo
 

Local expert weighs in on potential Hamas war crimes

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, folks around the world have become more divided in their support for…
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Jason Harley Kloepfer stands at the door with his hands up one second before officers fired.  Photo from Kloepfer security video
 

SBI report on police shooting heads to special prosecutor

Nearly 11 months after a Cherokee County man was shot by police officers in the doorway of his own home, a…
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Western Carolina University associate professor Katerina Spasovska will soon head to Kosovo to teach and conduct research. WCU photo
 

WCU prof awarded prestigious Fullbright fellowship

A Western Carolina University professor has been awarded one of the most respected fellowships in the world, which she hopes will…
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Donor Susie Ray (center) and daughter Kelly Schwenk and granddaughter Olivia Reed visit the newly named Robert G. and Susie R. Ray Men’s Basketball Players Lounge. Donated photo
 

WCU basketball facilities enjoy new improvements

A long-range list of upgrades to Western Carolina University athletics facilities tipped off this fall with a project in support of…
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The new pay schedule is intended to help recruit and retain non-certified positions like bus drivers. File photo
 

Jackson schools institutes salary decompression

In order to fairly compensate non-certified employees with several years of service to the school system, Jackson County Public Schools…
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After 115 years in operation, the paper mill in Canton shut down this year.  Jeffrey Delannoy photo
 

Canton mill receives new water quality violation

Evergreen Packaging is no longer making paper in Canton, but it’s still receiving environmental violations. A new notice issued Thursday,…
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Qualla Enterprises headquarters.  Holly Kays photo
 

Tribal Council approves short-term funding for Qualla Enterprises: Long-term plan still in process

Tribal Council has again delayed approving long-term funding for its cannabis enterprise but voted overwhelmingly Thursday, Nov. 2, to loan…
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Downtown Sylva. Allen Newland photo
 

Sylva moves forward on public restrooms

To save money after bids for the downtown public restroom project came in over budget, Sylva will move forward without…
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Bryan Tadlock. File photo
 

Man convicted of brutal domestic abuse

A Haywood County jury found a former jailer-turned-security guard guilty of strangling, raping and assaulting his then-wife. 
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Bartender charged after underage driver crashes
 

Bartender charged after underage driver crashes

A bartender has been criminally charged following a single-vehicle collision in Macon County. 
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Competitors in the 2022 Lake Logan Half Ironman wait for the race to start. Glory Hound Events photo
 

Lake Logan triathlons say goodbye

After 17 years, one of the most beloved triathlons in the southeast has crossed the finish line.
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Campers woke up Nov. 12 to find their RV  severely damaged by a bear. N.C. State Parks photo
 

Gorges campground closed after bear encounter

The campground at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County is closed through Nov. 16 after a bear attacked an RV…
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Staff conduct a prescribed burn in the Cades Cove area. NPS photo
 

Burns planned in Cades Cove

Prescribed burns on about 1,200 acres of fields in Cades Cove are taking place this fall. 
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