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Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Maggie seeks input from business owners on town’s future

A Thursday meeting with Maggie Valley business owners and area leaders will serve as the first test to see if the valley can successfully come together for the town’s common good.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Rural precincts needed as easy voting option

During early voting this year, some voters in Haywood County found themselves waiting up to an hour to cast their ballot. But when Election Day rolled around, many walked right into their precinct without delay.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Internet exploits: All-day Wi-Fi users a problem for some coffee shops

Nowadays, coffee and wireless Internet go hand-in-hand; you can’t really have one without the other. It is an expected amenity at coffee shops and bakeries. With the purchase of a coffee, tea or cinnamon bun, the customer is permitted to…
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Fire destroys HCC sawmill, closes campus

The remnants of Haywood Community College’s old sawmill were still smoldering Tuesday after a fire the night before destroyed most of the building.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Waynesville publisher hopes to capitalize on niche market

Covering everything from bugs’ butts and food for animals to animal tongues and eyes, EarlyLight Books has found a special section of the book world to occupy — science books for toddlers.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:52

A short bout with Victor the Bear

This is a bear story. Unlike many bear stories, this one is true. Tourism started in Western North Carolina during the post-Civil War era, but it wasn’t a huge factor in the region’s economy until the Great Smoky Mountains National…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:49

For the love of local bookstores

When I was a child living in Boonville, N.C., a town of 600 people, my mother would load us into the station wagon twice a year — at the start of each new school year and at Christmas — and…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 06:05

More briefs

Future of Cowee School discussed at luncheon Stacy Guffey will talk about the Macon County Heritage Center planned for Cowee School during the monthly Lunch with the League at noon on Nov. 8 in the Tartan Hall of the First…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 06:01

Sylva Pediatrics picks Mission to partner with

Three longtime doctors with Sylva Pediatrics will soon come under the wing of Mission Hospital in Asheville. The physicians will keep practicing out of their same offices in Sylva and Bryson City, and keep serving the same local patients they…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:59

Challenges lie ahead for new MedWest CEO

A new CEO who will take over MedWest-Haywood in December will face the parallel challenges of improving the hospital’s bottom line and capturing patients who travel to Asheville for health care.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:57

MedWest-Haywood new CEO started as a nurse

Janie Sinacore-Jaberg will become the new CEO of MedWest-Haywood in December. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer of a 320-bed system in Muskogee, Okla. She has served as the COO and CEO of several hospitals in Georgia, South Carolina…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:52

GOP’s Meadows takes 11th Congressional District seat

Republican Mark Meadows won the 11th U.S. Congressional seat with more than 57 percent of the votes Tuesday. “We’re obviously humbled by the confidence that everybody has placed in us,” Meadows said.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:49

Romney wins Western North Carolina but loses nationally

Western North Carolina voters favored Gov. Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama despite the president’s narrow victory nationally.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:48

Davis beats Snow by a wide margin

Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, pulled out a surprisingly strong win over his Democratic challenger John Snow in what was supposed to be razor thin race.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:46

Queen slips by Clampitt in House race

Waynesville Democrat Joe Sam Queen beat out Republican candidate Mike Clampitt by a commanding margin to take an open seat in the N.C. House.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:43

Ray Rapp out of N.C. House

N.C. Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, was defeated after serving a decade in Raleigh. It was one of the most surprising election results of the night, given Rapp’s popularity, accomplishments and likeability during his long tenure.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:17

Sales tax for schools goes down in Swain

Swain County voters shot down a quarter-cent sales tax increase that would have funded school construction by a 3-to-1 margin.  The optional sales tax increase would have brought in roughly $250,000 a year and would have paid for a $2…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:16

Macon voters replace Democratic commissioner

The Republican stronghold of Macon County chose to elect conservative Paul Higdon over Democrat incumbent Bobby Kuppers to the board of county commissioners. 
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:14

Jackson to keep its current mix on board

The Jackson County Commissioner race was decided by a large margin, granting incumbent Mark Jones another term in office. He defeated Republican candidate Marty Jones handily, despite the county overall narrowly going for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. 
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 05:06

Haywood County commissioners to remain unchanged

Commissioners Mark Swanger and Kevin Ensley — a Democrat and Republican respectively — won reelection to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Tuesday. 
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 22:03

WNC voters step to the plate

Temperatures dropped on Election Day, with high elevation snowflakes and low-lying raindrops greeting voters around Western North Carolina, making for low voter turnout trailing that of 2008. With troves of citizens opting for early voting — more than half those…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Guided hikes continue as fall gives way to winter

Hike amidst flowing creeks and historic remnants along the Smokemont Loop Trail on a guided hike through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday, Nov.15. The hike is sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

An easy, historical hike on the Carolina side of the Smokies

Hikers can participate in a leisurely, guided hike Saturday, Nov. 17, on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike will follow the Kephart Prong Trail, located just nine miles from Newfound Gap or five…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Water stewardship videos shown in Swain

Four short videos that are part of a Watershed Film Series titled “It’s Our Water” will be shown the evening of Nov. 15 in the fellowship hall of the Bryson City United Methodist Church. The videos will cover issues from…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Trails initiative seeks input from Haywood residents

A public workshop focusing on ideas for Haywood County trails that could become part of a Regional Trails Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the multi-purpose room at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Vance Street.…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Fourth-graders conquer Appalachian trails on hiking trip

More than 70 fourth-graders and parents trekked across the Appalachians in Macon County as part of an annual student trip to Siler Bald. Eight hike leaders from the Nantahala Hiking Club — which is the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail Club —…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

New trout website aims to hook anglers

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has fired up its new trout fishing webpage, which provides useful information for trout anglers looking to know more about their favorite outdoor pastime. “We wanted to consolidate all the trout-related information on our website…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Diamond Brand partners to produce outdoor rec website

Asheville retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors has partnered with RootsRated.com to introduce a new, locally-sourced digital outdoor recreation guide for the greater Asheville area.  Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to generate reviews of their favorite recreational areas and opportunities in the…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Lily effort takes root around WCU

An effort to re-establish a favorite local flower while also growing a scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is off to a blooming start.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

A WCU campus run with a twist and a message

Western Carolina University, as part of its Love Your Body Week, will hold a station run on campus at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. The Amazing Catamount Challenge will consist of teams of up to four participants who will be…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Stranded hiker rescued from national park backcountry

A hiker stranded on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was successfully evacuated by rescuers last Friday after spending one night in the cold.   An air rescue operation was launched at 2 p.m. Nov. 2…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Some things never get old

Last Saturday (Nov. 3) was this year’s annual fall hike in the Waynesville watershed. The hikes started back in 2007, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited to tag along on most. The Waynesville watershed comprises nearly 8,600 acres,…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Cherokee hopes bounty will help rein in pesky coyote population

In Cherokee, a dead coyote is worth more than a live one — about $25 more. In the coming weeks, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian’s Fisheries and Wildlife Department will begin doling out $25 bounties to enrolled tribal members…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Consequences of intervention not so good

To the Editor: Almost all actions of politicians have unintended consequences. In times of tragedies their mistakes are amplified. Last week, before, during and after “Super Storm” Sandy hit the northeastern United States, governors and attorneys general in that part…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Points about Mormonism obviously misunderstood

To the Editor: Your correspondent William Fisher has written a constructive response to my recent letter about religion and politics, which deserves an explanatory reply. To begin with, he has overlooked one important word in my letter — “among.” I…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Election is over, so use newfound time wisely

To the Editor: I am writing this letter in celebration that the elections are now over. I will not miss the never-ending supply of politically charged letters and opinions to the editor that have been inundating your publication over the…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Jackson commissioners off the mark on tourism

To the Editor: As a nearly 50-year-veteran of the tourism industry and one of the “authors” of the Florida accommodation tax legislation in the 1970s I must underscore the importance of preventing politicians from having anything to do with the…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Income disparity much more than a campaign issue

I’m a late-blooming entrepreneur from a lower middle-class upbringing. My parents came from farming and mill-town childhoods, and they bought wholesale into the part of the American dream that told them their children, through education and hard work, will do…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Tourism-driven growth in Cherokee burdens sewer system

The tribal council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians recently approved a $28 million upgrade for the sewage treatment plant, which will double the capacity and accommodate demand fueled in part by growth of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Haywood keeps tabs on contaminants leaching from old landfill

Eight new monitoring wells will be drilled an old landfill in Haywood County, the latest step in an ongoing effort to track and measure groundwater contamination emanating from the now-closed landfill.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Seminar will address physical therapy, lower back pain

Orthopedic physical therapist Todd Watson will speak at a free Dine and Learn seminar that addresses the links between physical therapy and back pain from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the MedWest Rehabilitation Service office on the MedWest-Harris campus…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Waynesville Rec Center basketball courts get facelift

The Waynesville Recreation Center recently had a new design placed on the basketball courts. This was the first time the lines had to be removed so the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department decided to go with a new layout. The…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Girl Scouts offer affordable and fun activities

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) has opportunities for volunteers who are committed to helping girls develop courage, confidence and character. Volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting – whether you have an hour, a day, a…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Online database holds the key to reining in stolen goods black market

A $12,000 tractor stolen in Macon County and sold as scrap in Georgia for a fraction of the price; rusting automobiles yanked from lawns in the middle of night; copper wiring stripped from construction sites — rising scrap metal prices…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Safety committee tries to improve emergency response

When Kevin Seagel slipped into Swain County’s courthouse during a mock exercise brandishing a pretend weapon, it only took emergency responders one minute to find him, but by then, he had already killed several people.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Swain’s courthouse metal detector not pulling its weight

Swain County may heighten security measures at the courthouse and administration building to stop guns and weapons from being carried into the lobby.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Vehicle property tax bill will soon be wrapped in with tag registration

In an effort to extinguish delinquent vehicle taxes, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that will combine vehicle property tax and car registration into one bill. When it goes into effect, drivers can’t get their tags renewed until…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Waynesville police engage residents through forums

A committee of Waynesville residents is putting the community in the term “community policing.”
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

College music scene at Sylva’s No Name Pub clashes with neighbors

Two years ago, Gregg Fuller tried to fill a void in Sylva’s nightlife scene when he opened the No Name Sports Pub, featuring drinks, food and live bands three to four nights a week. But soon, the increasingly boisterous crowds…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Sylva town board forces auto dealer to keep sidewalk promise

Despite pleas for leniency, the owner of a Sylva auto dealership faces a $500 fine for failing to build a sidewalk in front of his car lot. Russ Cagle, owner of Concept Automotive, initially agreed to build the sidewalk last…
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