No longer resigned to handouts from Ghost Town, Maggie searches for its own identity
No one is more intimate with the highs and lows of amusement park Ghost Town in the Sky than the…
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Facing cuts of its own, regional economic arm axes tourism from its portfolio
With ever shrinking pockets, the regional economic development arm AdvantageWest is scaling back its investment in tourism for the time…
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Invigorating Cullowhee could hinge on Forest Hills
An unusual proposition has landed on the doorstep of Forest Hills, a tiny speck of a town at the edge…
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Main Street Mile race to debut in Waynesville
A one-mile race down Main Street in Waynesville on Friday evening, Aug. 13, will raise money for the Shriners Children…
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Police survival seminar offered at WCU
Western Carolina University’s Police Department will host a free law enforcement seminar on police officer survival skills from 10 a.m.…
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Women show off the ‘Power of the Purse’
The women’s giving circle, Women for Women, was able to award $235,000 in new grants this year. To date, the…
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Groundbreaking to be held for hospice facility
An “old-fashioned” groundbreaking will be held July 30 for the new Homestead hospice inpatient facility, complete with a working mule…
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Drowned student had 0.38 BAC
A college student who drowned in the Tuckasegee River last month was highly intoxicated, according to toxicology reports that have…
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Tribe hopes to fund Cherokee as foreign language class in public schools
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is urging the state to formally license Cherokee language teachers, enabling Cherokee courses taught…
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DNA testing for crime suspects sparks ethics debate
Starting next February, all law enforcement officers will be required to collect DNA from people arrested for certain crimes. Anyone…
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Donations dropped at thrift store doorsteps being swiped by thieves
For community nonprofits facing a daily test of survival, thefts from the thrift stores they rely on are like a…
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Escaravage honored for service to Folkmoot
Longtime Folkmoot volunteer and supporter George Escaravage was given the Alan Brown award for service to the international dance festival…
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Thanks to local efforts, Folkmoot food is fresher than ever
An unseen cultural exchange takes place every day in the cafeteria where Folkmoot performers take their meals. Before, during and…
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Visa issues a growing challenge for Folkmoot
For those who think getting a travel visa is a headache, try steering hundreds of Folkmoot dancers from a dozen…
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Skyships over Cashiers? Local women track extraterrestrial activity
Eight-year-old Devon Heenan stood with her arm extended in the parking lot of the Ingles in Cashiers. With her cell…
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With cash settlement rolling in, ideas fly on how to spend it
After decades of bitter division among Swain County residents concerning the North Shore Road controversy, people on both sides have…
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Maggie Valley first in region to pursue food and beverage tax
Restaurant and bar patrons in Maggie Valley may see an extra tax on their bills to support tourism promotion and…
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Senate clamps down on sweepstakes
If Rep. Ray Rapp has his way, the state House will crush video sweepstakes as fervently as the state Senate…
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Replacement to Sylva town board sets stage for new voting majority
The make-up of Sylva’s town board shifted this week when board members voted 3-1 to replace outgoing board member Sarah…
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County, HCC still at loggerheads over craft building price
An ongoing debate over the cost of a new building on the Haywood Community College campus lacks a clear resolution,…
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Sylva to impose employee parking ban downtown
The Sylva town board voted unanimously to adopt a new parking ordinance that will fine downtown employees and business owners…
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Information offered to small businesses
Two informational sessions will be available for Western North Carolina’s small businesses. “Ask the Experts: What’s new for small businesses…
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Shuler announces WNC job fairs
Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., has announced a series of job fairs throughout the summer month. Workforce training and employer training…
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County health rankings yield mixed results
Measuring the overall health of a population at the local level is an elusive and cumbersome task. As a result,…
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Yates named Kimmel Professor of Construction Management
The only woman to head a college or university construction management department in the United States has joined the faculty…
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SCC recognized for performance
Southwestern Community College was one of only 11 colleges to earn an exceptional rating in the annual performance measures report…
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Martial arts master leads small-town team to unlikely victory on the mat
Armando Basulto had his opponent’s arm sandwiched between his legs. He leaned forward, putting pressure on the man’s shoulder. The…
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Sediment foils irrigation systems at worst possible time
For farmers who rely on the Tuckasegee River to irrigate their crops, a brutal summer heat wave and dry spell…
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Evergreen holds assets too tightly, officials say
Board members of Smoky Mountain Center, a state mental health agency for the 15 western counties, have questioned whether its…
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Smoky Mountain, Evergreen lock horns over foundation assets
A state mental health agency and its sister nonprofit are locked in a debate over whether the nonprofit should continue…
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Growth of dog bakeries tempt owners to indulge their canine companions
At the end of a rough week, your dog might consider stopping in at Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery in Dillsboro…
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HRMC uses garden therapy
The engineering, grounds and Behavioral Health Unit at Haywood Regional Medical worked together to brighten the hospital community by planting…
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Builders fear slope rules aimed at safety could drive up costs
As Macon County closes in on a steep slope ordinance, some members of the building and real estate industry fear…
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New pavilion shapes Cashiers’ Village Green into high-caliber venue
When the Summit Charter School found a new home last year, it left behind an empty space in the heart…
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Franklin to decide whether to allow Super Wal-Mart to proceed
Franklin Alderman Bob Scott wants to know what people think about a proposed Super Wal-Mart on the edge of town.…
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Haywood Market hits full stride this weekend
Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market will have a festival in conjunction with the long-awaited arrival of summer corn and tomatoes from…
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Scam targets hotel owners
When a $4,000 payment showed up in the mail to cover a $1,195 bill, Jim Freeman knew something was up.…
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Swain leaders take back raise amidst quagmire over policy
After violating their own policy, Swain County commissioners convened a special meeting Wednesday (June 23) for a do-over on a…
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Memorial garden marks a lasting love
With the single-mindedness of Ahab and the devotion of a wounded heart, Phil Schmidt is building a monument for his…
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Who’s visiting the Smokies?
While conducting a research study a few years ago, tourism official David Huskins came across an Atlanta resident who thought…
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Home Depot site for sale — for $4 million
Home Depot is still trying to unload a 12-acre tract in Waynesville after sidelining plans for its first store west…
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One-legged soccer coach inspires young players
At 9 years old, Italian Joseph Di Lillo lost his leg as a civilian casualty in World War II. He…
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WNC tourism trends
Motorcyclists Maggie Valley business owners have seen an uptick in motorcycle enthusiasts with the opening of the Wheels through Time…
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Testing points to potential sediment runoff issues at quarry
Water pollution stemming from a Waynesville rock quarry is 100 times higher than that allowed under state standards, according to…
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Franklin, Waynesville downtown organizations thriving
While Sylva’s downtown organization struggles for stable financial footing, similar programs in Waynesville and Franklin are seeing the results that…
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DSA’s future tenuous without more money
Recently, the town of Sylva passed a $1.6 million budget on a 3 to 2 vote. The most contentious line…
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Sylva town board to appoint Graham’s replacement
The Sylva town board is in for another shakeup. The board will vote at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 1,…
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Replacement to Sylva town board sets stage for new voting majority
The make-up of Sylva’s town board shifted this week when board members voted 3-1 to replace outgoing board member Sarah…
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Runoff election for Swain sheriff sets stage for brisk competition come fall
Swain County residents overwhelmingly chose John Ensley in Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff for sheriff — those who voted anyway. Ensley,…
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Cashing in the cash settlement for property tax holiday lacks traction among Swain leaders
At a special session of the Swain County board last week, Commissioner David Monteith stood up and stunned the crowd…
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