Press release says Cawthorn’s made his decision on where to run
Rep. Madison Cawthorn drew mixed reactions when he announced on Nov. 11, 2021 that he’d run in the newly drawn…
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A shift for sanctuaries: Wildlife Commission considers opening new areas to bear hunting
With already record-high bear populations continuing robust growth in Western North Carolina, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing a…
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The Creative Thought Center: For many, the final step on a spiritual journey
On Sunday morning, silence falls in the Creative Thought Center, save the voice of Kim May as she leads her…
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Keeping the faith: Religious diversity flourishes in the mountains
One need look only to the hundreds of churches in Western North Carolina to see that the people of Southern…
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‘One brotherhood’: Asheville mosque offers rare prayer center for mountain Muslims
In the Muslim faith, corporate prayer is a pillar of the practice — and in Western North Carolina, there’s only…
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East meets west at the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
In a small room tucked away in the corner of a nondescript strip mall in the heart of Waynesville, spindly…
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Mountain Synagogue: Jewish community growing in WNC
There aren’t many synagogues in Western North Carolina, just one west of Asheville. Mountain Synagogue in Franklin is a community…
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WNC schools repeal mask mandates
School systems in all four counties of The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage area are no longer requiring masks in schools.…
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Cooper urges mask mandate end as Omicron subsides
Case numbers continue to decline in Western North Carolina and statewide as the Omicron surge subsides.
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Haywood commissioners evaluate fiscal health, budget requests
Debt is rolling off the books and sales tax revenue is still through the roof, but because Haywood County will…
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BLM marchers again take to Maggie Valley under increased security
The Aug. 1 Black Lives Matter demonstration in Maggie Valley may have been bigger and louder than its predecessor on…
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Little free pantry ‘fills in the cracks’
You may be familiar with the concept of the “little free library” — those small outdoor cabinets stuffed with donated…
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Some details emerge, but questions remain in Maggie Valley motel death
More than a week after an unattended death was reported at Maggie Valley’s Our Place Inn, law enforcement officials still…
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French theme park company in talks with EBCI for Exit 407 project
Representatives of a world-renowned French theme park company met with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council this week…
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Haywood Waterways director moves on
Nearly two decades ago, Eric Romaniszyn joined the nonprofit world as the new project manager for Haywood Waterways Association .
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Masks now optional in Jackson Schools
Effective Monday, Feb. 21, masks will be optional in Jackson County Schools. The decision was made at an emergency board…
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Masks now optional in Haywood schools
Masks are optional for students and staff of Haywood County Schools after the school board voted last night to remove…
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Haywood library increases access
The Haywood County Public Library will take care of the work of renewing checked out items for patrons.
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Case counts drop as families mourn COVID deaths
COVID-19 cases are dropping precipitously both locally and statewide, with hospitalizations now hovering just above the 3,000 mark after hitting…
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Macon firefighter injured on fire line
A Macon County firefighter was flown to the Augusta Burn Center in Georgia with severe injuries last week after flames…
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Rep. Pless looks back on 2021
It’s been a challenging year in Haywood County government circles, especially on the state level.
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First board members selected for Waynesville’s new downtown group
Goodbye, Downtown Waynesville Association. Hello, Downtown Waynesville Advisory Committee.
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Cherokee debates term limit referendum language
In an unusual sequence of events Feb. 3, the Cherokee Tribal Council passed a resolution outlining a set of referendum…
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JCTDA rolls out tourism capital project fund
Jackson County Tourism Development Authority will open applications for its first round of tourism capital projects funds this year. This…
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Sylva tables chicken discussion
After community members showed up in force to object to certain provisions of Sylva’s proposed updated zoning ordinance, commissioners tabled…
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Capital needs in Macon pit capacity vs. affordability
Macon County has a long, expensive list of capital needs over the next decade, and commissioners took nearly three hours…
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Sylva approves plan for open carry alcohol
Despite a strong public showing against the proposed social district at Sylva’s town meeting on Thursday, commissioners voted 3-2 to…
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Smoky Mountain Young Republicans seek members
Last week’s GOP congressional forum wasn’t hosted by the state party, some national media outlet or even a local county…
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Republicans off to the races in NC-14
The first Republican forum in the NC-14 congressional race may have been light on specific policy proposals, but the eight…
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Saving our lifesavers: Donaldson pleads for help
A comprehensive assessment of Haywood Emergency Management Services completed in 2019 suggested that aggressive shift schedules put employees at greater…
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Donations sought for Carden scholarship
Beloved Western North Carolina author, educator and storyteller Gary Carden has immortalized himself though his life’s work of preserving and…
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Sylva begins budget discussions
With budget season in full swing, Sylva commissioners have begun discussing their priorities for how to spend taxpayer dollars in…
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Clear trends emerge in partisan voter registration
Two years ago, The Smoky Mountain News took a look at statistical data on the party affiliation of registered voters…
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HCS adopts shortened quarantine policy
Haywood County Schools will follow new COVID protocol, referred to as “5+5 COVID Guidance,” after a presentation from the Haywood…
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N.C. Supreme Court throws out maps
As expected, the North Carolina Supreme Court overruled on party lines a unanimous Wake County Superior Court decision that upheld…
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Jackson, Macon schools address pre-K need
Families in Jackson and Macon counties are set to see a bump in pre-K capacity as both counties work to…
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Cherokee ramps up housing efforts
In response to a deepening housing crisis and a growing casino enterprise in need of workers, the Eastern Band of…
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Echoes From Civil War Reverberate In Challenge to Cawthorn Re-election
Does Constitution disqualify him for office? BY TOM FIEDLER, Asheville Watchdog To former Army Gen. Joseph C. Abbott, a candidate…
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In advance of midterms, Republicans fight for the soul of the party
With President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings through the roof and a recent spate of setbacks in the Senate, Republicans appear…
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Omicron brings fewer deaths, more hospitalizations than previous variants
After case counts soared to unprecedentedly high levels throughout the month of January, the Omicron wave of COVID-19 appears to…
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Sylva considers creating social districts
After a bill allowing cities and counties to create their own social districts passed through the general assembly last September,…
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WCU enrollment dips
Enrollment at Western Carolina University is the lowest it’s been for any spring semester since 2018, according to student census…
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Canton begins to explore rebuilding flood-damaged facilities
In addition to the devastating loss of life and tremendous damage to private property, Tropical Storm Fred caused millions in…
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Canton may try vehicle tax again
Four years after the Town of Canton made an unsuccessful push to impose a vehicle tax to fund much-needed road…
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Cherokee man sentenced in child sex abuse case
Cherokee resident Forrest Cole Stamper, 28, will spend four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to…
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Missing persons cases aren’t always what they seem
Every so often — about 20 times a year — Western North Carolina’s social media networks flare up with impassioned…
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Author responds to Tuscola pulling ‘Dear Martin’
After Haywood County Schools administration pulled “Dear Martin” from a 10th grade English II class , The Smoky Mountain News…
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Grant could bring new life to historic Waynesville springhouse
Today, almost nothing remains of Waynesville’s majestic old Victorian-era hotel — except for some faded photographs and sepia-toned memories that…
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Cawthorn sues N.C. Board of Elections over attempt to disqualify him
On Monday, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district, filed…
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Black History Month gets underway at WCU
CULLOWHEE – A series of activities, exhibits and events are planned at Western Carolina University in recognition of February as…
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