WCU students teach business owners to use social media
When John Miele, co-owner of the Golden Carp, left a social media class recently taught by Western Carolina University students,…
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Key candidates missing at Swain forum
Swain County citizens might have been more thrilled about a candidate forum that was held Thursday, April 22, than the…
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Enrollment audit a slow, uneasy process for Cherokee
In a 2002 referendum, the members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voted to authorize an audit of the…
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Haywood schools, HCC struggle to meet needs as revenues plummet
With Haywood County’s revenues down by 4 percent, schools are looking at another year of disappointing budget allocations at the…
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I-40 opens at last
Interstate 40, closed since October due to a massive rockslide, reopened with little fanfare on Sunday evening. For the people…
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Grassroots effort aims to make Jackson County greenest
What if the driveway to the county’s administration building were lined with blueberries? It was January, and Jeannette Cabanis-Brewin and…
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Jackson County schools hope for no more job cuts
On Monday evening, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners met with leaders from Jackson County Schools to talk about next…
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Politicking illegal at county meetings
At the last Haywood commissioners meeting, a citizen asked Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick and Commissioner Bill Upton to answer a political…
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Meet the candidates
Three District Court judge seats are up for election in the seven western counties. The race for judge isn’t partisan,…
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Early voting off to slow start
Early voting began last Thursday, April 15, and runs through noon on Saturday, May 1. As of press time Tuesday,…
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Demand for referendums impractical, says county attorney
Haywood County Attorney Chip Killian had his response ready for the citizen activists who have incessantly demanded referendums on a…
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Jackson EDC debate is over, again
Anyone who thought the discussion over the Jackson County Economic Development Commission’s missing audits was over when the board closed…
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Swain manager’s decision-making under fire as campaign heats up
In the lead-up to the primary elections on May 4, criticism of the current administration is stewing underground in Swain…
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N.C. 50th Senate
The 50th Senate seat represents Jackson, Macon, Swain, Clay, Graham, and Cherokee counties, along with a portion of Haywood. Republican…
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Ghost Town charts course to walk away from debt
A primary owner of Ghost Town in the Sky wants to buy the amusement park out of bankruptcy. But there’s…
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Sylva board elects to pay music licensing
With Sylva’s annual street festival Greening Up the Mountains right around the corner, town commissioners had a somewhat unusual decision…
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Evergreen Foundation needs to be reined in
It is past time someone looked closely at just what is going on with the Evergreen Foundation, because apparently those…
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Candidates weigh in
Democrats Donnie Dixon: “I can’t rightfully say he’s done a bad job. It could reflect the commissioners’ doings...I have nothing…
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Jackson Sheriff’s race reveals rift in county
The Jackson County Sheriff’s race is hot and getting hotter. While a controversial pay raise and allegations of questionable financial…
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N.C. 47th Senate
North Carolina’s 47th District Senate seat represents Haywood, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery and McDowell counties. Republican voters will choose between…
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Swain candidates address task of pulling county out of the red
Nine Democrats and four Republicans have set their sights on four open commissioner seats in Swain County. A primary on…
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Swain and Graham strike deal over ambulance service to motorcycle Mecca
Swain County is nearing the end of an ongoing saga with neighboring Graham County over who will provide emergency services…
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Oversight of mental health foundation called into question
Western North Carolina’s mental health agency may be headed for a civil war with its partner foundation. Smoky Mountain Center,…
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Cherokee casino renovation halfway home
Last week, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians celebrated the topping off of their new 21-story hotel tower, the centerpiece…
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Haywood commissioner candidates
Democrat candidates, pick three Raymond L. Brooks, 59, owner of trucking company Brooks has worked with citizens for more than…
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Fiscal responsibility resounding theme in Macon election
This year in Macon County, three seats on the board are up for election. Each commissioner represents a geographic district…
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Swain commissioner candidates
Democratic candidates, pick four Steve Moon, 59, owner of a tire shop, incumbent Moon is finishing up his first term…
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Scant primary in Jackson commissioner race
While three of five seats are up for election on the Jackson County board of commissioners, there is primary competition…
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Haywood commissioner candidates tackle the county’s hot-button issues
Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for three seats on the Haywood County board of commissioners. Only three from…
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Haywood commissioner candidates tackle the county’s hot-button issues
Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for three seats on the Haywood County board of commissioners. Only three from…
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Debate Web site new to WNC election scene
Shane Burrell’s idea was simple: create a Web site where political candidates can talk to directly to voters about issues.…
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The case for ball and bat
Like many of the stakeholders in the argument, county commission chairman Kirk Kirkpatrick wishes the county could build enough fields…
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Haire seeks re-election in N.C. 119 race
N.C. House District 119 represents Jackson, Swain and portions of Haywood and Macon counties. In the Democratic primary, incumbent Phil…
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Duke faces yet another hurdle on substation
A coalition of Cherokee and Swain County residents have stepped up the pressure on a proposed Duke Energy substation in…
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EPA ozone standards
Limit prior to 2008: .08 parts per million New limit set in 2008: .075 parts per million New limit pending…
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The case for soccer
Soccer coach Nathan Trout recalled, with a tinge of jealousy, the four “unbelievable” sports parks in his Florida hometown, including…
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Live dealer conversation stalled in courts
After years of a stalemate with the state over live dealers at Harrah’s Casino, the election of Gov. Beverly Perdue…
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Design under way for old Wal-Mart renovations
The deserted Wal-Mart near Clyde will be hardly recognizable once Haywood County is through with its makeover of the megastore.…
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Malicious prosecution lawsuit dismissed
A malicious prosecution lawsuit by a woman accused of misappropriating flood relief donations was dismissed by a federal judge last…
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GOP hopes voter anger will help beat Shuler
Republicans hope 2010 will be their year to reclaim the congressional seat representing Western North Carolina — a seat they…
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GOP contenders
There are six Republicans vying for a shot to run against Congressman Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, this year. The six Republican…
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Residents challenge price tag of new DSS building in Haywood
A handful of Haywood County residents are demanding a vote by the people before county leaders proceed with purchasing the…
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Jackson ridge law review off the table
The Jackson County planning board is no longer contemplating revisions to the county’s ban on ridge top construction. The ridge…
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Smoky Mountain Center privatizes services
Smoky Mountain Center, the mental health management entity for Western North Carolina, has finally gotten itself out of the game…
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TWASA looks for long-term solution on orphan sewer lines
Last month, officials from the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority and the Town of Sylva clashed over who was responsible…
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Friedman aims to take ‘green’ thinking to Raleigh
Avram Friedman is not your average North Carolina political candidate. Born in the Bronx, Friedman studied political science at Hunter…
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A knack for helping others
With a long trail of accomplishments already behind him, Tony Giorgio is ready to work his magic on Western North…
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A tale of two sports at new Jonathan Creek Park
It’s not often that soccer players go head-to-head with softball and baseball athletes. But whenever Haywood County decides to build…
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Ridge law questions renew development debate in Jackson
Tony Elders didn’t realize quite how much on-the-job exercise he was in for when he was hired to oversee Jackson…
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New Jackson library built as regional showpiece
The Jackson County Courthouse, Sylva’s most distinctive building, was built in a rush. C.J. Harris, a prominent industrialist and wealthy…
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