2023 A Look Back: Hometown heroes award
When Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its 115-year-old paper mill in Canton earlier this year, local leaders had to…
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2023 A Look Back: ‘That’s so Metal’ Award
This one goes to the Pigeon River, due both to the actual metals found in a sampling site along its…
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2023 A Look Back: Micromanager(s) of the Year Award
Sometimes there are awards that call for two winners, like back in the day before the College Football Playoffs system…
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2023 A Look Back: Meter Maid Award
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has earned this one for its decision to begin charging for parking, effective March…
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2023 A Look Back: Nobody puts baby in a corner award
The classic 1980s dance film Dirty Dancing taught all of us that “nobody puts Baby in a corner.” And if…
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2023 A Look Back: You Wanted It, You Got It Award
Congrats to Macon County GOP’s newest slate of officers. A dedicated bunch who fought hard, and allegedly dirty, to secure…
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2023 A Look Back: Keeper of the Flame award
This little award may not mean all that much to him — after all, he’s one of Southern Appalachia’s most…
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2023 A Look Back: Marty McFly Award
This one goes to Cherokee voters, who decided in this year’s election to look back to build their future.
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2023 A Look Back: Hard Joint to Pass Award
Sharing smokes has proven more difficult than anticipated for the winners of this award, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’…
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2023 A Look Back: Chumbawamba Award
This award goes to Cherokee’s Sgadugi Constitution Committee, which, as the namesake band sang in its 1997 classic “Tubthumping,” keeps…
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2023 A Look Back: Odd Man in award
Maggie Valley is gonna Maggie Valley. It comes with the territory. To win a seat on that town’s board of…
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2023 A Look Back: Community Care Award
This year, the Sylva Police Department received a grant from the Dogwood Health Foundation to continue the Community Care Program with…
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2023 A Look Back: Honey, the Internet’s Out Again Award
O Zito, O Zito, wherefore art thou, Zito? In case you didn’t know, the phrase “wherefore art thou” is fancy Shakespeare…
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2023 A Look Back: Persistence as Resistance Award
This year was filled with slights and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by local elected officials. But despite the environment,…
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2023 A Look Back: Survivor Award
This award goes out to the Fontana Regional Library, which, despite consistent attacks throughout 2023, is still standing, and continues…
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2023 A Look Back: Didn’t Read the Fine Print Award
Congressman Chuck Edwards apparently doesn’t read The Smoky Mountain News, but if he did, it may have saved him some…
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2023 A Look Back: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Award
The Macon County Board of Education has put in countless hours this year working to provide the best education possible…
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2023 A Look Back: The Hero You Never Knew You Needed Award
Not all heroes wear capes. At least not Amanda Seay. She seems more the utility pants and boots type.
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2023 A Look Back: Comeback Player(s) of the Year Award
Raise your hand if you’ve been paying attention to Western Carolina University athletics this academic year.
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2023 A Look Back: Throwback Award
Million-dollar mountaintop vacation homes, phony moonshine from corporate mega-distilleries, dime-a-dozen seedy strip malls — none of these things are Appalachian…
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Fake News Freakout! Episode 8
Welcome to the eighth installment of The Smoky Mountain News’ annual Fake News Freakout. I feel like I say this…
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The endless war: How drugs come into WNC and what, if anything, can be done about it
It’s the inevitable result of human nature. Addiction has impacted almost every American — even those who’ve never suffered from…
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Hipps steps down as Haywood Chamber president
At the Dec. 20 Haywood Chamber of Commerce board meeting, CeCe Hipps announced that she would be stepping down next…
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Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact
At least one Cherokee teenager is believed to have died as the result of a local teen suicide pact under…
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Tribe continues recovery from cyber attack
Update: In a Dec. 14, 2023, opinion, the Cherokee Supreme Court vacated a lower court's conviction of Benjamin Cody Long…
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Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office answers police shooting lawsuit
In a 65-page answer to an extensive lawsuit filed in response to the December 2022 police shooting of Jason Harley…
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Near to where her soul is: Missing hiker Melissa McDevitt is coming home
Almost exactly a year after a hiker vanished in the backcountry of British Columbia the night before a trip home…
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Haywood sheriff to release footage of alleged constitutional violation
The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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New leadership sees new direction for Macon
Macon County will see a change of leadership for the coming year after the county commission unanimously voted to appoint…
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Reduction in federal funding for crime victims hits home
The holidays are often viewed as an opportunity for families to gather together and share seasonal cheer, but when there’s…
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Changes for FRL: Jackson looks at Macon’s recommendations for library system
After Macon County proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system agreement, Jackson County commissioners are taking a look at…
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Partisan races for 2024 election set
North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ended last week, and after a slow start, a flurry…
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Macon BOE to remain non-partisan
Despite the intention by some commissioners to make the school board race partisan in Macon County, it will remain non-partisan,…
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Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues
After more than two months of operating under a continuing resolution, Tribal Council has approved a new budget for the…
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Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election
The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that it is decided during the Primary Election, despite…
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Haywood gets financial reporting award
Haywood County has been recognized with the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance…
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Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund
Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) will reopen its cycle for tourism capital projects Jan. 1, 2024. $600,000 is available…
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Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation
The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce as one of two…
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Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring
The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy is abuzz these days as 200 on-site construction workers hustle…
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HCSO to release body cam footage to plaintiff alleging Fourth Amendment violation
The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period
North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon , Friday, Dec. 15, and if the…
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Woodhouse returns as NC-11 GOP chair
Henderson County resident Michele Woodhouse has been reelected as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District after…
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Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit
The court has made its decision in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s request to dismiss many of the complaints in…
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Courting disloyalty: New program encourages shoppers to patronize Waynesville businesses
The disloyalty card is here and it’s, in a sense, exactly what it sounds like.
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Alumna gift will create endowment for interior design program
Students in Western Carolina University’s interior design program soon will have access to new experiential learning opportunities thanks to a…
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Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn: Council, chiefs will retain appointments
An ordinance seeking to change the makeup of the Cherokee One Feather’s editorial board made it back in front of…
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Public hearing set for Franklin social district
The Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the…
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Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan
Macon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan.
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Ribbon cutting for the house cat museum
On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team held a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony for the…
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The next chapter: New owner at Blue Moon Books
One of Haywood County’s used bookstores is entering its next chapter with a change of ownership and a continuation of…
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