Ellison came to WNC as a ‘Kephart pilgrim’
While George and Elizabeth Ellison are fixtures in Bryson City today — Elizabeth as a renowned artist and George as…
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Ghost Town files financial statements with bankruptcy court
Ghost Town in the Sky owners paid themselves nearly $25,000 over two weeks in March despite the company being in…
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Jackson reluctant to turn over Duke dredging permits
An attorney for Duke Energy gave Jackson County commissioners a “friendly reminder” this week to stop dragging their feet on…
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New bypass alone can’t fix N.C. 107 traffic
A fix for impending traffic congestion on N.C. 107 in Sylva doesn’t lie solely with a new bypass but will…
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Library bids come in well under budget
The bad economy has finally reaped some dividends for Jackson County taxpayers. Construction of the new Jackson County library and…
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Ghost Town and alderman at loggerheads
Ghost Town CEO Steve Shiver threatened to sue Maggie Valley Alderman Colin Edwards during a town meeting this week. Edwards…
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Judging Kephart: Legacy of author, outdoorsman still debated
George Ellison never knows when a Horace Kephart pilgrim will come calling. But invariably, they will come — creaking up…
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A chat with Carolinas Healthcare president
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The Smoky Mountain News caught up with Carolinas Healthcare System Chief Operating Officer and…
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Maggie to hold public hearing on Ghost Town loan
Officials at Ghost Town in the Sky continued to pressure Maggie Valley leaders this week to pony up a $200,000…
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Ghost Town didn’t withhold sales tax
Among Ghost Town’s debts is $136,000 in back sales taxes owed to the state of North Carolina. It was previously…
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Ghost Town appears in bankruptcy court
Ghost Town in the Sky revealed last week that it was driven into bankruptcy by the threat of foreclosure from…
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Grandview Lodge
When Terry Ferguson and his wife Nancy bought the Grandview Lodge in 2008, they knew they were taking on a…
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HRMC, WestCare to join forces with Carolinas HealthCare
By Becky Johnson & Julia Merchant • Staff writer Haywood Regional Medical Center and WestCare announced plans to join forces…
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Funding for festivals and visitor centers hinges on tourism board decisions
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will weigh the merits of grant applications from tourism groups over the coming week.…
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New library complex will honor courthouse heritage
In Massachusetts, a vacant textile mill is now an art museum. An old city hall became a restaurant. In California,…
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Ghost Town partners establish own credit line
Owners of Ghost Town in the Sky hope to funnel up to $500,000 into the amusement park in order to…
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From South America to the Appalachians
Alpacas herald from South America, but are increasingly being found on farms in the Southern Appalachians. Alpacas are in the…
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Jackson Paper adding 61 jobs in Sylva
Stonewall Packaging LLC, a joint venture of Jackson Paper Manufacturing Co., announced today that it will invest more than $17…
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Park starts lengthy reorganization process
Despite the daunting hurdles faced by Ghost Town in the Sky to get the Maggie Valley amusement park open by…
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Ghost Town’s struggles challenge community
As Ghost Town continues to struggle, many are finally coming to grips with the reality that the Old West theme…
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Ghost Town faces huge challenges as it tries to restructure debt, open park
The business partners behind Ghost Town in the Sky are facing significant logistical and financial challenges as they pursue their…
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Debts mount at theme park
Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park in Maggie Valley has left a wake of unpaid bills with local companies…
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Ghost Town responds
The following comment was provided by Steve Shiver, Ghost Town CEO and president, in response to questions about the challenges…
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Cherokee voters to decide on alcohol sales at casino
After years of grappling with the controversial issue of alcohol sales on tribal land, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians…
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Grants benefit Cherokee arts
Cherokee Preservation Foundation recently awarded 25 new grants totaling nearly $3.2 million. Here are a few targeting the arts: •…
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What is the Evergreen Foundation?
The Evergreen Foundation was formed by the Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health in 1977. At that time, state mental…
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Task force aims to fix future traffic snarls
A Jackson County task force has entered the nitty-gritty stage in its quest to fix traffic congestion on N.C. 107…
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Missed deadline costs HRMC potential revenue
Haywood Regional Medical Center could miss out on as much as $750,000 in revenue over the course of a year…
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First things first: How many cars too many?
The Jackson County transportation task force has spent the past several months signing off on a projected traffic count for…
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Swain leaders divided on contentious fire station plan
By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Two Swain County commissioners are having second thoughts about a move to end contracted…
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State could pull contribution to Duke for dam removal
The $400,000 that Duke Energy was expecting to get from the state to help tear down the Dillsboro dam may…
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Physicians, HRMC may partner on surgery center
The prospect of an outpatient surgery center in Haywood County has drawn support from 14 doctors willing to pitch in…
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Press awards recognize ‘dogged commitment’
The Smoky Mountain News won four awards for its news coverage in the recent North Carolina Press Association News and…
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HRMC: A timeline
Oct. 2006-Feb. 2008 — HRMC has several problems with federal inspectors, culminating in the threat to revoke its ability to…
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Purported mega-development disappears from radar
Cataloochee Wilderness Resort, a 4,500-acre proposed development in Haywood County’s Jonathan Creek community, appears to have fallen off the map.…
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The new watchdogs: After crisis, hospital board renews emphasis on oversight
Today at HRMC, 10 sets of eyes peer over the shoulders of the hospital administration, ready and willing to question…
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In tough times, local company looks to expand
In yet another piece of positive economic news, Waynesville-based Haywood Vocational Opportunities announced a proposed expansion that would create at…
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Child still in critical condition after dog mauling in Sylva
A 7-year-old Jackson County boy is fighting for his life after being mauled by a dog last week, according to…
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Shuler said he’ll fight for stimulus funds
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, spoke to a crowd of about 200 town and county government officials from Western North…
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Haywood extends token to Canton solar farm
FLS Solar Energy wants a tax break from Haywood County in exchange for an $8 million solar farm the company…
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Poore a ‘breath of fresh air’: CEO’s congenial personality and industry knowledge impress community
As Mike Poore waited for an elevator between floors at Haywood Regional Medical Center Monday morning, he gazed out the…
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Back from the brink: A year later, turn around for HRMC is on the horizon
Last February, a crisis landed on the doorstep of Haywood Regional Medical Center. After failing federal inspections, the hospital lost…
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Sylva board rift heats up
Split votes are becoming increasingly common on the Sylva town board, throwing into question whether the board can meet its…
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Loss of Hazelwood prison likely just a matter of time
Local legislators are preparing to fight yet another attempt by the state to close the only minimum security prison west…
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Aldermen deny exploiting ‘Slategate’
Two Franklin aldermen said they didn’t whip up controversy regarding slate to get back at Mayor Joe Collins but because…
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A long and winding road
Sylva’s current library opened in 1970 and is 6,400 square feet. The debate over where to locate a new library…
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Haywood commissioners asked for more oversight of mega-developments
A group of Haywood residents appealed to county commissioners for an ordinance assessing the impacts of large developments. The ordinance…
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Library success rides on public support
Dr. John Bunn of Sylva lived through the Great Depression and said people bind together during tough times to help…
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Tight times force tough choices for Swain schools
The Swain County School District has terminated a popular program that emphasized science and math education, offered students smaller classes…
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Mandated cutbacks mean tough decisions
The first Friday in February came with some bad news for the Swain County School District and systems around the…
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