Real (estate) problems: Concerns emerge over what Pactiv Evergreen might leave behind

The 185-acre paper mill at the heart of Canton is the most visible sign of Pactiv Evergreen’s corporate presence in…
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Unfinished business: Hal Weatherman steps out from behind the curtain

For the first time since 2008, North Carolina’s governor is termed out, meaning Democrats and Republicans will both have a…
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New grant funds PEARLS to help aging adults at risk of isolation and depression

Sixty-five-year-old Donna lived an active life until 2014, when her health struggles began. She soon felt isolated and depressed. Donna…
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Candidates certified for tribal elections

A total of 43 candidates have been certified to run for 17 offices up for election in the Eastern Band…
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Highlanders object to canceling school expansion 


Several Highlands residents converged on a recent Macon County commissioners meeting to voice their opposition to the county commission cancelling…
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Macon helps fund 
Franklin Skatepark

The start date for construction of the Franklin Skatepark is approaching quickly, and now the project has all the funding…
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Macon Superintendent announces retirement

After more than 30 years in education, Superintendent Chris Baldwin will retire from his position at Macon County Schools.
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Report shows literacy instruction deficiencies in UNC System teacher prep programs

North Carolina fourth graders are testing proficient in reading at the lowest level since 2009, and the University of North…
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After the final whistle: Papertown stands strong in the face of an identity crisis

To visitors, the noise seems strange and maybe even concerning. To folks in Canton, it sounds like home.
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Survey will study impact of mill closure

When Pactiv Evergreen shuts its doors in a few short months, about 1,000 employees will be out of work. And…
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Charges dropped against police shooting victim

Jason Harley Kloepfer left his home near Murphy on Dec. 13, 2022, with bullets in his body and criminal charges…
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Eating an elephant: Canton, county will solve huge mill problems by taking small bites

No one living can remember a time when there wasn’t a paper mill at the heart of Canton. Now, after…
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‘It means everything’: Former worker reflects on career amid Canton mill closure

At 94 years young, Ben Best is proud of several things in his long, bountiful life — a marriage of…
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Area manufacturers, colleges could help laid-off mill workers write their next chapter 


When the Pactiv-Evergreen packaging plant in Canton closes this spring, 1,000 people who thought they’d secured steady work to last…
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‘We’re still here’: Canton businesses, residents react to mill closure

It’s 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Southern Porch restaurant in the heart of downtown Canton. Less than 24 hours ago,…
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Canton mill will close by summer

After more than a century of serving as the cultural, economic and geographical center of the tiny Haywood County town…
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Schools support calendar flexibility

School boards across Western North Carolina are signing resolutions in support of flexibility and local control when it comes to…
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Five years later, residents still mourn the loss of Angel Medical Center’s maternity unit

Before the sun rises on a Tuesday morning in December, Amelia Cline smooches her partner goodbye and heads out the…
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Parker wins special 
election in Cherokee

During a special election Thursday, March 2, Wolfetown and Big Y voters chose Mike Parker to fill the Eastern Band…
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Jackson applies for medication-assisted treatment grant

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has applied for a grant to fund a Medication Assisted Treatment program in the county’s…
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Transitioning from Medicaid to marketplace coverage in 2023
 

Transitioning from Medicaid to marketplace coverage in 2023

The process of termination (unwinding) of Medicaid coverage for those enrolled in the program because of the Covid Public Health…
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It’s party time – Pless again files bill to make Haywood, Madison municipal elections partisan

Despite strong opposition last year, Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) has again filed a bill that if passed would bring partisanship…
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Final forest management plan draws mixed reactions from stakeholder groups

The Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are now operating under a new management plan, ending an arduous, 11-year process to…
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Franklin High project moves forward

Progress will continue on the new Franklin High School after a vote by the Macon County Commission to enter into…
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Haywood schools announce new leadership

Haywood County Schools has new leaders at several schools after the resignation of the Tuscola High School Principal left a…
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Suit against district attorney challenging Giglio order dismissed

A lawsuit filed by a former deputy against District Attorney Ashley Welch and Assistant District Attorney John Hindsman has been entirely…
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All the world’s a stage: Broadcasting meetings a tough call for Waynesville

All the world’s a stage, Shakespeare wrote, and all the men and women merely players. But with the recent uptick…
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Sylva selects new town commissioner

The Sylva Board of Commissioners selected Brad Waldrop as its newest member, filling a seat that had been vacant since…
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A rose by any other name: Waynesville mulls dropping gendered titles for aldermen

When is an alderman not an alderman? When that alderman happens to be a woman. 
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Cooper visits TWSA, announces funding

Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority received a visit from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper last week as he announced $462.9…
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Cherokee man sentenced to 15 years for child sexual abuse

David Green Edwards, 32, of Cherokee, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release…
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TDA welcomes Kara Addy as Social Media Manager
 

TDA welcomes Kara Addy as Social Media Manager

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority announced the hire of Kara Addy as its new Social Media Manager.
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Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen

Waynesville is Haywood County’s only municipal government that elects all of its members at once, but that will likely change…
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Working on Waynesville: Aldermen look to avoid budget crunch

The Town of Waynesville’s municipal expenditures and revenue streams have all come in as expected during the 2022-23 fiscal year,…
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Enrollment dips again at WCU

Spring 2023 enrollment at Western Carolina University is down 3.6% compared to the spring semester last year, according to a…
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Waynesville considers more incentives for affordable housing development

Two years after a nonprofit affordable housing developer was granted incentives by the Town of Waynesville, the project is finally…
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SCC grad inspires latest New Century Scholars

Jake Tallent vividly remembers the impact that the New Century Scholars program had on his life.
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Town of Waynesville will pursue staggered terms for aldermen

Waynesville is Haywood County’s only municipal government that elects all of its members at once, but that will likely change…
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Sylva selects new town commissioner

The Sylva Board of Commissioners selected Brad Waldrop as its newest member today, filling a seat that had been vacant…
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Meet the candidates for Wolfetown special election

On Thursday, March 2, Wolfetown voters will head to the polls for a special election to replace a Tribal Council…
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Pigeon Center rebounds from COVID, carries on mission

Like a lot of Americans, Lyn Forney remembers exactly what she was doing when the whole world shut down.
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Residents object to LGBTQ literature at Macon library

A group of Macon County residents and library patrons attended a Feb. 7 library board meeting to air a plethora of…
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Haywood jail financing plan pays off

Haywood County commissioners made the right call on jail financing according to County Manager Bryant Morehead, and will proceed with…
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Tribe will now receive half of Indiana casino profits

After owning Caesar’s Southern Indiana Casino for a year and a half, EBCI Holdings LLC will increase the share of…
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Medicaid expansion passes house

After years of infighting and obstruction, the North Carolina General Assembly is closer than ever to expanding Medicaid after the…
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Folkmoot’s hit education program expands culture and learning in second semester

Folkmoot USA has announced the second semester of its “Life Long Learning” education initiative. Conceived and sponsored by Dr. Darryl…
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Hung jury leads to mistrial in police-involved wrongful death case

After a seven-day trial and several hours of jury deliberations, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North…
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Haywood TDA names new executive director

Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority will enter a new era with the announcement of an executive director to replace the…
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Candidates announced for Wolfetown special election

Six people will run to fill the seat vacated by Wolfetown Rep. Bo Crowe during Cherokee’s second special election in…
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Former Tuscola football coach may land new gig

Less than a month after resigning from his position as head football coach at Tuscola High School following allegations of…
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