LATEST NEWS
Waynesville names Amie Owens town manager
The Town of Waynesville announced the selection of Amie Owens as its town manager. Owens brings extensive experience in municipal government leadership, public administration, strategic planning, budgeting, and community engagement to the position. Owens recently served as Franklin’s town manager, a position she held from September 2021 to October 2026. In this role, she oversaw daily town operations, coordinated departmental activities, administered the annual budget, managed capital improvement programs, and worked closely with the mayor and town council to advance community priorities. Her municipal government experience also includes serving as assistant town manager for the Altavista, Virginia, and Waynesville, as…
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Light in a dark place: REACH of Haywood County stands up for abuse victims
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so The Smoky Mountain News partnered with REACH of Haywood County to highlight some of what the nonprofit has done to help…
‘Fierce positivity:’ Jamie Ager is relentlessly optimistic. Can he actually win?
Editor’s note: The Smoky Mountain News has on several occasions attempted to contact Jennifer Balkcom’s campaign for a profile like this one. On Sept. 17, a campaign staffer…
Jackson opioid settlement funds go toward recovery housing
Jackson County Commissioners recently approved funding for opioid recovery housing, which research shows may cut the relapse rate in half.
At their Oct. 6 meeting, commissioners approved spending…
Sales tax referendum puts potential $2.4 million in Macon voters’ hands
Will the third time be the charm when it comes to passing an additional quarter-cent sales tax in Macon County this November?
Voters hold an estimated $2.2 million…
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Outdoors
Trout in crisis: Climate change adds to the strain on a mountain economy
On a typical October morning, anglers would line the banks the Tuckasegee River, hoping to take advantage of North Carolina’s delayed-harvest trout season. Guides would lead clients through…
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Heaven let your light shine down: Collective Soul rolls into Harrah’s
More than 23 years have elapsed since Collective Soul headlined the final night of the now-defunct two-day CulloWHEE! Artsfest at Western Carolina University in June 2003, performing its signature brand of radio-friendly rock, alternative, and grunge that ruled the airwaves in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
With the Georgia-based band returning to Western North…
This must be the place
This must be the place: ‘You’ll wear those shoes and I will wear that dress’
Last Wednesday afternoon, I walked onto a dock on Lake Logan and jumped in. The water held the first chill of the impending winter cold, and yet still felt soothing like it did when I immersed myself in the heavenly soak earlier in the summer. I knew, when I launched myself into the lake, that…
This must be the place: ‘Crossed the deserts bare, I’ve breathed the mountain air, of travel I’ve had my share’
Hello from Room 218 at the Holiday Express Inn & Suites in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. With a bustling Interstate 81 in the background, I awoke this morning and didn’t know where I was. The room was completely dark except for the small alarm clock on the nightstand. After a few seconds, I remembered I was in the Keystone State heading back home to Western North Carolina.
…
Partner content: Taste of Local
Thursday, October 29 • 3pm-6pm Ingles Markets • 630 Champion Drive • Canton Complimentary Samples (Limited Availability)
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Partner content: Old Food Rules to Put to Rest
Old rule: “Kids should eat everything on their plate, even if they aren’t hungry.”
Reality: This was definitely a rule I grew up with, perhaps due to parents who were born at the end of the Depression and experienced food restrictions during World War II. When we force children to “clean their plates,” even after…
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Partner content: Howell for Haywood
As Haywood County continues to navigate regional growth, rural public safety needs, and changing community expectations, local law enforcement strategy has taken center stage. Experienced law enforcement professional Tyler Howell brings a grounded, policy-focused perspective to the conversation surrounding the future of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. With nearly two decades in active service—spanning patrol,…
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Partner content: Old Rules vs New Reality
Recently I asked a question on my social media channels:
“What is a nutrition “rule” you grew up with, but now question – or maybe even realize was flawed and now you know better?”
Old rule – ‘Low fat and fat-free ice cream, cookies and cakes are good for you!’
Reality – We’ve realized when…
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What our jokes teach us about women
Editor’s note: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and REACH of Haywood County and The Smoky Mountain News have partnered in this week’s issue to raise awareness about…
letters to the editor
Framers never imagined Trump
Individual rights are at the heart of the Constitution, as expressed…
Fake claims of fake news
The only fake thing regarding fake news is the number…
Voting is your superpower
North Carolina’s regular voter registration deadline is Friday, October 9,…