Bryson City approves one-time bonuses

Bryson City Council approved premium pay for 32 employees during a Dec. 6 board of aldermen meeting. 
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Franklin approves premium pay policy

Franklin Town Council has agreed on how to spend $73,000 of the town’s $1.3 million allocation from the American Rescue…
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Macon uses rescue funds to increase employee pay

Macon County decided early on to invest all of its American Rescue Plan allocation toward county employees. 
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Haywood undecided on rescue fund spending

Haywood County commissioners haven’t made any decisions regarding how they plan to allocate the $12 million coming from the American…
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Cherokee rolls out ARP spending plan

A long-term care center, massive expansion to broadband access and direct payments to tribal members are some of the many…
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Domestic violence shelter planned for Jackson

Too often at the Center for Domestic Peace in Jackson County, a staff member picks up the phone to encounter…
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Maggie Valley will discuss restricting campgrounds, RV parks

Maggie Valley will discuss restricting all campgrounds and RV parks after newly-elected Alderman Jim Owens recommended the move during his…
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SCC to hold traditional graduation ceremony
 

SCC to hold traditional graduation ceremony

After enduring a series of unexpected, pandemic-related challenges, the latest group of Southwestern Community College graduates will celebrate their accomplishments…
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Candidate filing halted, restarted as courts consider maps

Election season in North Carolina got off to a predictably unpredictable start on Dec. 6 when an appellate court issued…
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Public meeting scheduled to discuss U.S. 276 improvements

The N.C. Department of Transportation invites the public to a meeting next week to offer opinions and submit questions regarding…
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SCC to hold first traditional graduation ceremony

After enduring a series of unexpected, pandemic-related challenges, the latest group of Southwestern Community College graduates will celebrate their accomplishments…
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Graham County deputy cleared of wrongdoing

A Graham County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a Tennessee man on June 20 has been cleared of any wrongdoing,…
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The next chapter: Wall Street Books seeks new home

Miss Virginia stretches unassumingly in the lamplit window of Wall Street Books. While she used to host bridge once a…
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Libertarian candidate offers voters a third way in NC-14

Libertarian David Coatney entered the race for North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District long before Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Henderson) announced his…
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Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards joins race for NC-14

After much speculation, three-term Henderson County incumbent Sen. Chuck Edwards made his 14th Congressional District candidacy official with an announcement…
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No sleep until January: Retailers rejoice over bustling holiday season

The holiday shopping season tends to be a stressful time for shoppers as well as retailers with large crowds, long…
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Macon officer investigated on rape allegations

On the evening of Monday, Nov. 15, the Special Victims Unit of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation…
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Former deputy sues DA over Giglio Order

Former Western North Carolina law enforcement officer Eric Giles is suing District Attorney Ashley Welch and Assistant DA John Hindsman…
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Duke LifePoint hospitals implement vaccine mandate

Harris Regional Hospital, Swain Community Hospital and Haywood Regional Medical Center, all owned by Duke LifePoint, will require the COVID-19…
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Macon County Schools offers staff retention bonuses

Last week the Macon County School Board approved the use of ESSER funds to give recurring $1,500 bonuses to all…
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State budget funds all WCU requests

Western Carolina University leaders are celebrating passage of a state budget bill that funds every item on the university’s legislative…
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State budget funds might cover Allen Street repairs

More than $3 million in the recently enacted state budget will help Sylva reopen Bryson Park, install long-discussed public bathrooms…
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Two countries, one literature class, brought together by WCU

CULLOWHEE – Looking for study abroad opportunities in the midst of the pandemic, Brian Railsback, a professor of English at Western Carolina University,…
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Drake Software announces interim CEO

With strong financial results, underpinned by industry leading client satisfaction, Drake Software is moving forward with plans to increase investment…
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Be ready for travel delay in WNC

Digital signs posted several counties away are warning of delays on Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
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Cherokee invests $15 million with Kituwah LLC

The Cherokee Tribal Council voted unanimously this month to allocate $15 million to Kituwah LLC as an equity investment from…
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State budget includes teacher pay increase, COVID relief

After years of working to provide public education during a pandemic without pay raises, or a state budget, public schools…
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Corbin, Pless secure critical improvements for Haywood County

Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) secured critical improvements for Haywood County in the compromise state budget…
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State budget includes $850K for Swain

The North Carolina General Assembly passed an official budget last week that includes $850,000 for critical infrastructure projects in Swain…
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Woodhouse makes her NC-14 run official

Almost immediately after Rep. Madison Cawthorn announced on Nov. 11 that he’d seek an open seat in the new 13th…
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Corbin will run for re-election to Senate, not NC-14

Saying that he feels he can “offer more to the citizens of Western North Carolina as a senator than as…
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New Register of Deeds in Jackson County

Shandra Sims will serve as the new register of deeds for Jackson County after being sworn in Thursday, Nov. 18.…
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Officials Warn of Travel Delay in WNC

Digital signs posted several counties away are warning of delays on Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge. They will…
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Perkins brothers turn custom home building business into YouTube fame

“Living the dream” is what comes to mind after spending a couple of hours with the Perkins brothers and their…
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Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen opens at Harrah's

Flavortown has arrived at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort. Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen + Bar is now open and is serving…
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Debris removal from flood to cease until Nov. 29

This week marks the 90-day post-flood milestone after Tropical Storm Fred impacted Haywood County. As that date nears, the second…
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Jackson to pay $725,000 in jail death settlement

Nearly three years after a Sylva woman was found dead  in the Jackson County Detention Center, the county has agreed…
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Meth trafficker busted in Haywood

Haywood County Sheriff’s Office deputies seized 4.1 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop resulting in one arrest and trafficking…
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Cawthorn Accepts AMAC American PATRIOT Award

Washington, D.C. — On Nov. 2 on Capitol Hill, Congressman Madison Cawthorn accepted The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC)…
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Haywood reports more COVID-19 related deaths

In the last week, Haywood County has mourned the loss of two more people to COVID-19. Both were in their…
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Going rogue: Cawthorn’s move has widespread implications

Western North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn has become known for saying some surprising things to further his political agenda, but…
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Planning Board Chairman removed from post in Maggie

David Williamson was removed from his position as Planning Board Chairman for the Town of Maggie Valley following a 3-2…
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New electoral maps approved

The North Carolina General Assembly passed new House, Senate and congressional maps last week, but if the lawsuits — some…
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HCC awarded $1 million construction grant

Haywood Community College was selected by the Department of Labor, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, to receive a…
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Movement to memorialize lynching victim in Franklin gains momentum

Exactly 123 years to the day after a Black man was dragged from his cell in Franklin and hung from…
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King, Augustine elected to Bryson City board

Only 10% of Bryson City residents cast a ballot in this year’s municipal election, which is not unusual for the…
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Franklin elects incumbent, two newcomers

The Town of Franklin elected one incumbent and two newcomers to the town council board during the Nov. 2 municipal…
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Newman, Gelbaugh triumph in Sylva elections

Beating out two incumbent board members, Natalie Newman took the top spot in last week’s Sylva Board of Commissioners election…
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Newcomers sweep Maggie Valley election

Municipal elections in Maggie Valley drew a record number of voters in a contest that boiled down to growth and…
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Haywood County Schools modifies quarantine policy

Haywood County Public Schools has implemented a new COVID-19 quarantine policy change. In certain cases, students will be required to…
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