Recreational marijuana coming next month: Cherokee announces adult-use cannabis date
Beginning, Sept. 7, anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purcha se and use marijuana on the…
Read More
Haywood TDA’s destination master plan focuses on the future
Tourism remains a critically important component of Western North Carolina’s economy. To ensure it remains strong well into the future,…
Read More
Diversity ‘passport’ seeks to boost Haywood businesses
A “community passport” program with the goal of increasing tourist visits and overnight stays by spotlighting businesses that pledge to fight…
Read More
Pactiv doesn’t want to pay back grant
Since unceremoniously announcing its exit from Canton early in 2023, Pactiv Evergreen, owner of the now-shuttered 115-year-old paper mill, has…
Read More
Stein visits Cherokee as part of gubernatorial campaign
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein spoke to members of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council Monday, during which…
Read More
Strategic plan approved for Macon County Schools
Macon County Schools has spent the better part of a year undergoing a strategic planning process that charts a course…
Read More
Macon maintains no for-profit use of school facilities
Macon County Schools decided last month to maintain a policy that had been in place — but until now had…
Read More
New river gauge installation begins in Haywood County
The first of eight planned new river gauges will be installed in Haywood County this week. When complete the project…
Read More
Asheville VA, Pardee, AdventHealth get top grades in latest Medicare hospital ratings
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its annual hospital ratings July 31, awarding top five-star ratings…
Read More
Bethel Rural Community Organization rededicates historic marker
Nearly three years after a historic marker on Haywood County’s oldest continuously operating farm was damaged by Tropical Storm Fred,…
Read More
Film looks at the disappearing American Chestnut
On Monday, Aug. 19, the series “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture,” will present a screening of the film,…
Read More
WCU School of Nursing receives UNC System grant
To help address the critical workforce shortage in health care, nursing in particular, the University of North Carolina System initiated…
Read More
Man sentenced to 15 years for extreme child abuse
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced that a Cherokee County man pleaded guilty to intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily…
Read More
Tillis' funding request for Canton fire station moves forward
The effects of deadly flooding in 2021 are still being felt in the town of Canton, but thanks to a…
Read More
Swain County's Leibfarth medals at Paris Olympics
Bryson City’s Evy Leibfarth is now an Olympic medalist after finishing in third place and taking home the bronze medal…
Read More
Leibfarth falls short of Olympic medal
Bryson City Olympian Evy Leibfarth will leave Tokyo without a medal, but the 17-year-old is already setting her sights on…
Read More
Democrats hit the campaign trail in rural North Carolina
Old-school campaigning is back in rural North Carolina, and this time it’s the Democrats leading the charge. In the 2020…
Read More
‘Bridging the gap’: Macon school board to request county funding for school meals
In the face of rising prices for school lunches, the Macon County Board of Education is set to request funding…
Read More
Franklin High School cracks down on attendance, tardiness, vaping
The Macon County Board of Education approved revisions to student and staff handbooks for several schools at its July 22…
Read More
Swain mulls what to do with opioid settlement funds
As fiscal year 2024-2025 begins, North Carolina’s county governments are receiving their third installment of the Opioid Settlement Fund. This…
Read More
KidzCare partners with WNC Farm to Table to provide food to families in need
KidzCare Pediatrics Sylva announced a partnership with WNC Farm to Table to provide weekly food bags for patients and their…
Read More
Building back from the brink
After twin tragedies in 2021 and 2023, the town of Canton still has a substantial list of ongoing projects in…
Read More
Macon County Schools to increase pre-K, after school costs
After the sunset of COVID-era child care stabilization grants, Macon County Schools will have to increase costs for both Pre-K…
Read More
Staff shakeup in Canton
Just months after a staff realignment meant to free up then-Town Manager Nick Scheuer to focus on recovery and resiliency…
Read More
Canton lowers restrictions on outdoor special event requests
In the past, Canton required that a request to use public spaces for events be submitted four months in advance.…
Read More
Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund
The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has announced a new quarterly cycle for the Tourism Capital Project Fund (TCPF),…
Read More
Haywood TDA to Host Community Input Session
Have your say in the future of the county’s tourism industry by attending a community input session for the Haywood…
Read More
Jackson to fund Fairview School construction
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted this month to commit to funding construction and renovation of Fairview School, which…
Read More
WNC at the RNC: Western delegates reflect on historic GOP convention
Eight days is what it took to shock the world and cast the contentious 2024 Presidential race down untrodden paths.
Read More
Macon, Jackson to receive more opioid settlement funds
Macon and Jackson County commissions signed resolutions this month enabling the governments to receive funding from the Kroger opioid settlement,…
Read More
eCourts launches in Western North Carolina
Members of the public interested in Western North Carolina court cases now have better access than ever to criminal and…
Read More
Macon Economic Development funds internship program
A historic partnership intended to connect high schoolers with future employment opportunities and further economic development in Macon County has been…
Read More
Construction starting on new U.S. 23/74 turn lane
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation has begun a safety project on U.S. 23/74 between Hyatt Creek Road…
Read More
Canopy Housing Foundation makes grants for housing, education
The Canopy Housing Foundation continued its longstanding commitment to the communities it serves by giving away more than $25,000 in…
Read More
HRMC doubles mammography capacity with new unit
Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) is thrilled to announce the addition of a new mammography unit that will significantly enhance…
Read More
eCourts coming to Western North Carolina: Officials promise greater public access to judicial system
The public in Western North Carolina is about to have more access to the courts than ever before, assuming all…
Read More
Haywood Dem delegate explains Harris pick
News of President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race may have shocked some observers, but North Carolina’s Democratic…
Read More
Canton mill parcel rezoned
A rezoning of the former paper mill parcel in Canton has replaced an expiring industrial development moratorium, maintaining the town’s limited…
Read More
Haywood awards nearly $6 million for affordable housing developments
Haywood County commissioners approved two funding recommendations from its Affordable Housing Development Committee that will increase affordable housing stock at…
Read More
Whose future? Consultant report ignores Haywood’s working class
Consultants finally delivered to Haywood County commissioners a report on the results of a secretive, long-awaited “listening post exercise” meant…
Read More
Macon tables floodplain ordinance decision
After an outpouring of opposition from members of the public over the course of several county commission meetings, Macon County…
Read More
Pactiv sells Waynesville plant, Pine Bluff facility for $110 million
Pactiv Evergreen, owner of the now-shuttered paper mill in Canton, announced last week that it had agreed to sell its…
Read More
Canton meeting focuses on accountability, transparency
With the eyes of the state, the region and the county on the Town of Canton — flood recovery is…
Read More
Commission on Future of NC elections presents findings on election administration
Leaders from around the state recently found North Carolina Elections to be fair and secure with opportunities for increased funding,…
Read More
Census bureau to conduct 2026 field test in Cherokee
In 2026, the United States Census Bureau is conducting three field tests in “American Indian Areas” to prepare for unique…
Read More
Henley named interim director of athletic bands at WCU
Matt Henley has been named interim director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University and will lead the Pride of…
Read More
HCC signs transfer agreement with Western Governors University
Graduates and employees will have access to personalized learning pathways to higher education On Friday, June 21, leaders from Haywood…
Read More
Swain County Commission weighs code of conduct
Following a lengthy closed session during the Swain County Board of Commission’s July 2 work session, commission chair Kevin Seagle…
Read More
Alzheimer walk welcomes WNC participants
On Saturday, Oct. 5, WNC residents will join the fight against Alzheimer’s disease at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End…
Read More
Nantahala Health Foundation launches grant cycle to benefit youth
Nantahala Health Foundation will launch its next competitive grant opportunity on July 1 with a focus on investing in educational,…
Read More
