Joe Sam Queen
 

Joe Sam Queen

What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list?
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Keith Presnell
 

Keith Presnell

1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list? Jobs, to make sure we have infrastructure…
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Swain challengers question spending
 

Swain challengers question spending

All five seats on the Swain County Board of Commissioners are up for election this year. The winners will serve…
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The road ends here
 

The road ends here

If Congressman Charles Taylor is defeated in two weeks, it could spell the end of plans to build a road…
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What is the North Shore Road?
 

What is the North Shore Road?

The North Shore Road is proposed to go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Bryson City to Tennessee…
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How do you stand on the North Shore Road issue?
 

How do you stand on the North Shore Road issue?

Charles Taylor: The federal government should live up to its 60-year-old commitment to Swain County residents and complete the North…
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Differences are obvious, say Haire, Carpenter
 

Differences are obvious, say Haire, Carpenter

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The candidates for the District 119 House race describe themselves as polar opposites.
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Case management key issue in DA’s race
 

Case management key issue in DA’s race

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The race for District Attorney is garnering what some may say is an unusual…
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Candidates evenly split on North Shore Road
 

Candidates evenly split on North Shore Road

Some voters in Swain County consider the North Shore Road a litmus test for candidates in the county commissioners race…
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An open letter to Sylva
 

An open letter to Sylva

Most of us in the course of a week find a reason to go to downtown Sylva. We may go…
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Planning ahead a critical first step in escaping abuse
 

Planning ahead a critical first step in escaping abuse

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer If you or someone you know is thinking about leaving an abusive relationship, there…
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What role should the federal government play in helping to make health care more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans?
 

What role should the federal government play in helping to make health care more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans?

Heath Shuler: America is truly facing a health care crisis. Over 46 million Americans are currently living without health insurance…
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Health care costs remain important issue for voters
 

Health care costs remain important issue for voters

From behind the prescription counter at Village Pharmacy in Waynesville, Jim Winfree has a bird’s eye view of rising drug…
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Haywood County school board race
 

Haywood County school board race

There are four seats up for election on the Haywood County school board this November. The county is divided into…
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Slope proposal supported at hearing: Concerns raised, but most agree it’s time for steep slope laws
 

Slope proposal supported at hearing: Concerns raised, but most agree it’s time for steep slope laws

Slope ordinance Haywood County commissioners are considering a slope development ordinance with the following restrictions:
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Safe haven: Domestic violence hits home
 

Safe haven: Domestic violence hits home

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Editor’s note: The names of domestic violence victims Linda and Anne, who were interviewed…
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Playing with the numbers: School board accused of arbitrarily deflating cost estimates
 

Playing with the numbers: School board accused of arbitrarily deflating cost estimates

Bond numbers Haywood County voters approved a $25 million school bond in May 2005 intended to pay for a host…
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John Snow
 

John Snow

1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list?
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Ken McKim
 

Ken McKim

1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list?
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Phil Haire
 

Phil Haire

1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list?
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Marge Carpenter
 

Marge Carpenter

1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list?
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Do you support a Constitutional Ammendment to define marriage as between a man and woman? Why or why not?
 

Do you support a Constitutional Ammendment to define marriage as between a man and woman? Why or why not?

Taylor: My position is, and has always been, that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.
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Taylor, Shuler share similar views on gay marriage
 

Taylor, Shuler share similar views on gay marriage

Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, took time to address the gay marriage issue and how…
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Sen. John Snow earns high marks during first term
 

Sen. John Snow earns high marks during first term

When Sen. John Snow talks about being a senator for the far western counties that he calls home, he becomes…
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Scorecards
 

Scorecards

Several groups compile score cards for state legislators based on their voting record. Queen and Presnell were both ranked by…
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Ken McKim says choice is clear in 50th District
 

Ken McKim says choice is clear in 50th District

Thirty-six year-old Ken McKim has lots of ideas about the issues he would tackle if he can wrest the 50th…
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Jackson race outcome may depend on party turnout
 

Jackson race outcome may depend on party turnout

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer • Mark Jones, 47, a Democrat, has been the general manager of High Hampton…
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Jackson County celebrates opening of  Green Energy Park
 

Jackson County celebrates opening of Green Energy Park

A small spot on the side of a valley overlooking the Tuckasegee River outside Dillsboro may not seem the obvious…
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How high on the totem pole? Each with two years of experience under their belts, Presnell and Queen vie for NC Senate
 

How high on the totem pole? Each with two years of experience under their belts, Presnell and Queen vie for NC Senate

When Joe Sam Queen arrived at a reception hosted by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce earlier this year, the…
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Haywood seeks bids on historic courthouse renovation
 

Haywood seeks bids on historic courthouse renovation

The Haywood County commissioners are soliciting construction bids for the long-awaited renovation of the historic courthouse in downtown Waynesville.
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Haire, Caprenter are familiar foes
 

Haire, Caprenter are familiar foes

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer In some elections an incumbent candidate may face a political newcomer, like the congressional…
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Haire, Carpenter a contrast in philosophies
 

Haire, Carpenter a contrast in philosophies

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer In the race for the 119th District seat, candidates Marge Carpenter and Rep. Phil…
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Debate plan could die due to demands
 

Debate plan could die due to demands

Voters who got excited at early reports that Congresman Charles Taylor and challenger Heath Shuler had agreed to a debate…
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Cherokee marketing efforts get $500,000 from foundation
 

Cherokee marketing efforts get $500,000 from foundation

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Travel and Promotion program of the Eastern Band of…
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Planning issues dominate Macon election
 

Planning issues dominate Macon election

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Macon County commissioner candidates fielded several questions about growth and the county’s future during…
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Haywood proposal would regulate slope construction
 

Haywood proposal would regulate slope construction

Slope proposal • Cut-and-fill slopes taller than 40 feet are not allowed.
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How do you feel about America’s current energy policy? Do you think drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a good idea?
 

How do you feel about America’s current energy policy? Do you think drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a good idea?

Taylor: Each time we visit the gasoline pump, it is clear that the U.S. has become overly dependent on foreign…
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Comment

Jackson Green Energy Park opens
 

Jackson Green Energy Park opens

The Jackson County Green Energy Park will celebrate the opening of Phase 1 of the park with an open house…
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The energy debate: Taylor pushes increased drilling, while Shuler looks to alternative fuels
 

The energy debate: Taylor pushes increased drilling, while Shuler looks to alternative fuels

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Prices at the gas pump began falling last month with the announcement that a…
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Commissioners weigh in on Bethel sewer debate
 

Commissioners weigh in on Bethel sewer debate

A survey conducted by the Bethel Community Club asked candidates for the Haywood County Board of Commissioners to weigh in…
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Stance of Bethel sewer separates Cathey, Holbrook
 

Stance of Bethel sewer separates Cathey, Holbrook

A long-standing controversy over extending water and sewer lines to the semi-rural community of Bethel could be a defining issue…
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Beale resigns from planning board
 

Beale resigns from planning board

Citing his candidacy for county commissioner, Macon County planning board chairman Ronnie Beale announced his resignation last Wednesday (Sept. 27)…
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About the candidates
 

About the candidates

Bob Cathey Cathey worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 34 years in timber inventory and currently serves on the…
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Bonfoey discusses shelter safety issues
 

Bonfoey discusses shelter safety issues

Following the brutal shooting death of a Jackson County woman staying at a local shelter for battered women, District Attorney…
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One board seat up for grabs in Jackson
 

One board seat up for grabs in Jackson

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Jackson County commission candidate Mark Jones, a Democrat, will face Republican Geoff Higginbotham this…
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Upping the ante on the values debate: Life’s struggles leave little time for voting for some
 

Upping the ante on the values debate: Life’s struggles leave little time for voting for some

Richard Morrison wiled away the hours last Thursday in front of Pop’s Mini Mart in Clyde in hopes of hitching…
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Silent Segways lead to noisy debate
 

Silent Segways lead to noisy debate

By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Reviews on the on the Zerve.com Web site all rave about Mountain Glides’ Segway…
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What is your position on raising the minimum wage?
 

What is your position on raising the minimum wage?

Charles Taylor: My opponent has made numerous allegations about my record on the federal minimum wage, but the fact is…
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Minimum wage battle in Congress marked by politics
 

Minimum wage battle in Congress marked by politics

When Congress proposed raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour this summer, the resulting vote epitomized the…
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Cherokee goes green with new biodiesel pump
 

Cherokee goes green with new biodiesel pump

By Michael Beadle Cherokee now has a biodiesel gas pump at its filling station to fuel up Tribal transit and…
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