Dillsboro break-ins prompt caution for Jackson County businesses
Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton is urging local businesses to secure their buildings after multiple Dillsboro restaurants were broken into…
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Latino vaccine clinic to take place April 4
The International Friendship Center, the Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers and Vecinos have hosted six weekly Latino COVID-19 vaccine clinics…
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Long overdue regulation bans rebel flag in Haywood County Schools
J.D. Moore started his first year at Tuscola in 1999. He was an athlete, played football and basketball. He learned…
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Sen. Corbin again leads health care push
With the support of a bi-partisan panel including commissioners from Macon and Graham counties as well as the head of…
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Reps. Clampitt, Pless make big ask for mental health
Filed in the General Assembly on March 15, House Bill 280 contains only 112 words, but if it gains legislative…
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Room tax increases proposed for Haywood, Bryson City
Western North Carolina Republicans have introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would result in substantial changes to the…
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New tax values, fire protection costs drive rate discussion
With the 2021 property revaluation now complete, Jackson County’s taxable value will rise nearly 20 percent over the value established…
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DWA leader announces retirement
Downtown Waynesville Association Executive Director Buffy Phillips has apparently told members of the DWA executive board that she plans to…
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Tribe approves $35 million for Sevier County project
Tribal Council voted 11-1 this month to allocate an additional $35 million toward a Kituwah LLC development project along Interstate…
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Tribe approves allocation plan for commercial gaming profits
By unanimous vote, Tribal Council approved an allocation plan for future revenues from the Southern Indiana Casino during its monthly…
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Mountain Pediatrics re-opens Canton office
Mountain Pediatric Group’s Canton location, temporarily closed during the pandemic, has now reopened and is accepting new patients.
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Transparency efforts underway for cops, teachers, other gov’t employees
For the very first time, the North Carolina General Assembly will consider giving the public meaningful access to personnel records…
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New leadership for Jackson County Schools
Jackson County Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. Dana Ayers as its new superintendent beginning June 1.
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COVID-19: Those We've Lost
By Sally Kestin | Asheville Watchdog They taught students in school, delivered the mail, advised Congress, and served the country in…
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Ghost Town developers reach major milestone
In another encouraging sign of progress, ownership of the land upon which Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town in the Sky amusement…
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Vaccine distribution update from Haywood
Key Updates: Haywood County has opened vaccination to all groups eligible under North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services…
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Macon reports two more COVID-related deaths
Macon County Public Health received notification that two Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away.
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Detour Allows Crews to Finish Dillsboro Bridge
SYLVA – Just one short phase remains before a major bridge project in Jackson County is functionally complete.
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Environmental Review Process Complete for Corridor K
A major milestone has been reached in the planning phase of a project to improve Corridor K in Graham County.
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Jackson opens vaccine registration to all groups, WCU to follow
Anyone 18 or older can now schedule a vaccine appointment with the Jackson County Department of Public Health, regardless of…
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Hospitals offer incentives to attract providers
In 2019, registered nurses were listed as the third most in-demand job in the U.S., and even though enrollment in…
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Growing the pipeline: Amid pandemic, educators train new generation of healthcare professionals
As a respiratory therapist, Bruce Moyle is trained to deliver breathing therapies to people who struggle to draw oxygen. As…
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Nursing students find purpose amid difficulties of pandemic
For students in the nursing program at Western Carolina University, the Coronavirus Pandemic sauntered into their world during spring break…
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As cases recede, health experts urge caution
Vaccination numbers have nearly doubled in the four-county area of Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties over past month and…
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Early start for 2022 Haywood sheriff’s race
It’s been an open secret for a while now, but two-term incumbent Democratic Sheriff of Haywood County Greg Christopher made…
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Two apartment projects proposed for Sylva
A pair of public hearings slated for April 1 will determine the fate of two proposed apartment developments in Sylva.
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Waynesville greenway survey needs your input
The Town of Waynesville’s chances at being awarded a $500,000 grant for greenway infrastructure could drastically improve — with your…
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Sports betting opens at Harrah’s
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ new sports betting venue is now open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday, March…
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WNC schools to finish school year in person
North Carolina State legislators have voted to send more students back to in-person learning with the passage of Senate Bill…
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Blue Ridge Parkway seeks help in identifying armed robbery suspect
National Park Service officials are seeking help from the public in identifying a suspect believed to be connected to a…
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More COVID restrictions lifted in NC
As coronavirus case counts continue to decline and vaccination totals continue to rise, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued a…
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Sylva police arrest suspected drug trafficker
A Georgia resident suspected of supplying illegal drugs to the local community was arrested last week after a Sylva Police…
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Haywood County reports 94th COVID-19 death
Haywood County Health and Human Services have received notice of another COVID-19 death, bringing the total number now to 94.
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Jackson moves to new online vaccine scheduling portal
The Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH) has transitioned to a new online scheduling portal, https://myspot.nc.gov/. To make an…
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Haywood Sheriff Greg Christopher won’t seek reelection
It’s been an open secret for a while now, but two-term Democratic Sheriff of Haywood County Greg Christopher made it…
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More rabid raccoons found in Macon County
Macon County has identified an additional rabies positive raccoon, bring the total of rabies positive wildlife detected in Macon County…
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Come Hell or High Water, Asheville Is Climate 'Winner'
By Tom Fiedler | Asheville Watchdog — Back in 2006, when Scott Shuford was Asheville’s planning director, he reluctantly accepted a…
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Palmer pleads guilty to murder
Thomas “Tommy” Glenn Palmer, 38, recently admitted in a Jackson County courtroom he shot and killed his stepfather, Tim Norris,…
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Sports betting opens March 18 at Harrah's
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ new sports betting venue is set to open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow at…
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Living Through A Pandemic — Year One
Think back to 2019. Back when things were normal. Back when masks were only for Halloween, or for bank robbers.…
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One year later: COVID-19 killed 189 in the four-county area
When life as we knew it slammed to a sudden stop in mid-March of 2020, the novel coronavirus from Wuhan…
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When the job can’t stop: Trash collection picked up during the pandemic
When meetings moved to Zoom and schools shut down last March, Zach Sorrells kept on reporting to work. As a…
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‘My place in life’: Nursing student finds peace in COVID-19 response
For Malcom Skinner, the pandemic was not a pause, but rather a call to action. “I’ve been trained up to…
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Using humor, finding purpose during a pandemic
Many people in the high-risk category for COVID-19 began isolating themselves at home last March to wait out the pandemic,…
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School through a screen: Cherokee immersion teacher navigates pandemic
Katlin Roberts was making coronavirus contingency plans before most people in the United States had even really heard of COVID-19.…
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Embracing solitude: Retiree finds peace in yearlong quarantine
In the pre-pandemic world, life was a constant swirl of activity for Lynn Jones and her husband.
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Unusual COVID case wreaks havoc on Macon EMT
It’s not easy to slow Wendy Barker down. She’s been an EMT for 15 years. She’s used to working 24…
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Silver Bluff administrator looks back on 2020
Lisa Leatherwood, Administrator at Silver Bluff Village, has had a unique perspective of the mayhem that is the COVID-19 pandemic…
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Affordable housing coming to Howell Mill Road
After the results of a Town of Waynesville Planning Board meeting on March 16, Haywood County will now move into…
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Maggie Valley considers waterfall park proposal
Maggie Valley will soon decide whether or not to develop a waterfall park on a property it has had in…
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