Macon commissioners split on budget approval
By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer Following a somewhat contentious debate leading up to final budget approval, Macon County Commissioners…
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Fair, schmair — nonpartisan redistricting to forever languish?
Eminent figures have called for common sense, nonpartisan redistricting since even before Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry unwittingly lent his name…
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Swain budget hearing set for June 22
Swain County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 22, to hear feedback from the community…
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Maggie restaurant bestowed with awards upon closing
Since announcing its closure after 51 years in business, Joey’s Pancake House owner Brenda O’Keefe and her staff have been…
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A piece of plastic is all you got: Books still a revered treasure for Mary Judith Messer
A squat little cinder block shop tucked away in a quiet mountain cove on the outskirts of Waynesville caught fire…
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Council expresses support for vice chief special election
The September ballot could include a special election for vice chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, pending a…
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Exercise tests federal, local catastrophe response
By the dawn’s early light, about 300 members of the North Carolina National Guard along with a host of local…
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Permit denied for Cullowhee development
A controversial request to build a 388-bed student housing complex on South Painter Road in Cullowhee was denied this week…
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Public input will guide library’s renovation
An ambitious dream of expanding and remodeling the main Haywood County library in Waynesville has been abandoned, with sights now…
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Haywood Dems hold spring rally
Several candidates announced their intent to run for office as Haywood County Democrats held their Spring Rally at the Maggie…
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Pool renovations finishing in Sylva and Cashiers
If all goes according to plan, within the week folks in Jackson County will have their choice of pools to…
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Maggie Valley adopts tight budget with small tax increase
Haywood County’s 2017 property revaluation was like a bucket of cold water in the face of every local government official…
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Mom delivers baby on way to hospital
Expectant mother Caitlin Austin of Balsam never imagined giving birth to her second child in a car.
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Public not invited to meeting with Mission
Mission Health leaders finally agreed to hold a meeting in Franklin to discuss their controversial decision to close the labor…
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Waynesville falls short in playground contest
Despite finishing first in an online contest with more than double the votes of its nearest competitor, Waynesville’s adaptive playground…
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Haywood housing task force sets goal, issues recommendations
A strategic plan developed by a subcommittee of the Haywood County Affordable Housing Task Force that proposes 400 affordable housing…
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Pisgah, Haywood Early College to get new principals
Three Haywood County Schools will see new administrators this fall after the Haywood County Board of Education approved the personnel…
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Broadband group begins mapping plans for service
By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer Broadband internet service is vital for future economic growth in Macon County, but it…
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Franklin discusses climate change resolution
The town of Franklin is considering how to become more environmentally friendly after being presented with a climate solutions resolution…
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Calling all vets: Macon County wants you
By Kurt J. Volker • Contributing Writer A program designed to offer free I.D. cards to Macon County veterans for discounted…
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Franklin wants to address noise complaints
Franklin Mayor Bob Scott was recently awoken at midnight on a Friday by a phone call from Franklin resident Janet…
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New Cherokee chief addresses employees: Richie Sneed calls for collaborative, equitable government
Principal Chief Richard Sneed laid out communication, collaboration and community as the guiding principles of his new administration in an…
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Joey's Pancake House - a Maggie Valley institution
Joey’s Pancake House owner Brenda O' Keefe announced June 6 that the revered Maggie Valley landmark that served visitors and locals…
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Naloxone saves people from overdose
Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office administered Naloxone twice over the weekend on individuals who were overdosing on opiates…
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GSMP investigates two fatalities
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials released the names of two men who recently died in the park.
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All good things must end: Joey’s Pancake House to close next week
Some institutions are meant to last forever, while others have their place in time and then they’re gone. After Tuesday,…
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Public ignores county budget process
Revenues are down, costs are up and local conservative factions haven’t been silent in their criticism of the Democratic-majority Haywood…
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Francis Farm landfill needs cover
A problematic landfill in Waynesville’s Francis Farm community will be seeing a lot of activity between now and 2019 —…
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Macon cancels jail food contract with Mission
To combat the rising cost of feeding inmates, Macon County commissioners chose to ditch a $360,000 food contract with Mission…
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Macon County revenues up across the board
The Macon County commissioners have some challenges in balancing the proposed 2017-18 budget, but County Manager Derek Roland said those…
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Important dates for Waynesville budget
The first draft of the Town of Waynesville’s proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget was presented to the public on May…
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Public hearing slated for Publix site
A 56,000-square-foot, $20 million retail project that will bring a long-awaited Publix grocery store to Waynesville was unanimously approved by…
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Emergency simulation begins in Canton Saturday
A multi-agency training exercise led by the N.C. National Guard meant to test and improve disaster response will result in…
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Sylva keeps tax rate flat, grapples with long-term budget challenges
One year after the town’s tax rate rose by 12.5 cents per $100, Sylva is considering a proposed $3.7 million…
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Jackson prepares for $12 million capital plan
Jackson County’s proposed $62.5 million budget for 2016-17 doesn’t include a tax increase, but it sets the stage for a…
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Primary Election results roll in to Cherokee
Following a 43 percent voter turnout during the June 1 Primary Election, the field of 45 Tribal Council candidates has…
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How they fared
Of the 12 current Tribal Council representatives, nine are running for re-election in this year’s race. The June 1 primary…
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Incumbents suffer in Tribal Council elections
If the results of the June 1 primary elections are any indication, incumbent Tribal Council members could be in trouble…
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New residence hall planned for WCU
Designs for a new 600-bed residence hall at Western Carolina University met approval from the WCU Board of Trustees June…
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Inside job scammed unemployment benefits by inventing claims
A Haywood County woman has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for filing bogus unemployment claims on behalf of unsuspecting…
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Joey’s Pancake House to close next week
Some institutions are meant to last forever, while others have their place in time and then they’re gone.After Tuesday, June…
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Rep. Meadows introduces infrastructure bill
Congressman Mark Meadows, R-NC, recently introduced the Revamping American Infrastructure Act, a bill he says will provide a better path…
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Man falls at Ramsey Cascades
On Sunday, May 28, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers received a report that a 37-year-old male fell from the…
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B-Day Victory! Community celebrates WWII veteran’s birthday, service
They say “Ask and thou shalt receive,” but Nancy Bolding of Otto probably received way more than she bargained for…
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Bryson City to maintain tax rate, increase service fees
With an annual budget of only about $2.9 million, the town of Bryson City doesn’t have much wiggle room when…
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Waynesville budget follows county trends
Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown opened the town’s February budget retreat — his 17th or 18th, by his own reckoning —…
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Mission closes Sylva women and children’s practices
In an effort to consolidate women’s and children’s services in Franklin, Mission Health has announced it will be closing those…
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Jackson County Schools superintendent to leave for Cherokee
After six years at the helm of Jackson County Public Schools, Superintendent Mike Murray will be leaving for a new…
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Emergency planners brace for crowds during total solar eclipse
Todd Dillard isn’t the kind of guy who leaves anything to chance. What-ifs are his forte, as they should be…
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High hopes for Ghost Town sale
Opened atop Buck Mountain in 1961, Wild West-themed Ghost Town in the Sky used to draw as many as 600,000…
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