Ghost Town: a new start for an old favorite
A weekend-long reunion event brought dozens of former Ghost Town in the Sky performers together to share some old memories,…
Read More
Divisive sign catalyzes Back the Blue rally
Maggie Valley Town Hall Pavilion and the surrounding grassy area were ablaze with the black and blue flags of a…
Read More
Tribal Council candidates make their case
During the Primary Election next week, Cherokee voters will decide which candidates vying for seats on Tribal Council and the…
Read More
Bridge cleanup fiasco could result in legal action
A group of concerned citizens conducting a local cleanup effort intended to address the problem of homelessness in Waynesville inadvertently exacerbated…
Read More
Funding approved for Sylva statue changes
The pedestal of the Confederate soldier statue in Sylva will get a $14,000 makeover following a 4-1 vote from the…
Read More
Cherokee appeals Catawba casino decision
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is appealing an April 16 decision from District Court Judge James A. Boasberg that…
Read More
Elevated Mountain to host Ghost Town reunion
Meet, greet and eat with some of your favorite former Ghost Town in the Sky performers on Friday, May 21,…
Read More
Jackson names new economic development director
Tiffany Henry will be Jackson County’s next director of economic development following a unanimous vote from county commissioners May 18.…
Read More
Summer Camp Guide
While summer camps were on hiatus during the height of the pandemic in 2020, many camps in Western North Carolina…
Read More
The Joy of Discovery: Foreign students, host families relish cultural exchange
It’s easy to imagine the ways in which a foreign exchange student’s world is broadened by an experience studying abroad,…
Read More
Jackson considers five additional firefighting positions
During a May 11 work session, Jackson County commissioners discussed a plan to use $400,000 from the general fund —…
Read More
Macon mulls $80 million new high school
Plans to construct a new Franklin High School are back on the table as Macon County commissioners weigh the costs…
Read More
Community shows support for arts education
A packed room of Macon County residents pleaded with county commissioners during a May 13 meeting to provide the school…
Read More
Mask mandates lifted amid plummeting COVID-19 numbers
New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are falling toward the lowest levels seen since the pandemic took root.
Read More
Tribal Council candidates make their case
Early voting is underway for the June 3 Primary Election in Cherokee, which will determine the final slate of candidates…
Read More
AG takes over sex abuse case
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced the state Attorney General’s Office would take over the criminal investigation and potential prosecution…
Read More
Waynesville man charged with insurance fraud
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Keith Brody Parks, 36, Waynesville. Parks was charged with…
Read More
Swain asks for 6 percent room tax
After passing a resolution at its May 13 meeting, Swain County will be asking its state representatives to introduce legislation…
Read More
Independent auditor will evaluate Waynesville electric bills
Despite being the result of a confluence of factors, the true reasons behind some abnormally high electric bills for Town…
Read More
Cawthorn tries to succeed where state broadband bills failed
The Coronavirus Pandemic has lain bare the massive digital divide between those with reliable high-speed internet access and those without,…
Read More
Campaign against new Haywood jail continues
Citing limited drug rehabilitation options, a lack of mental health treatment facilities, an inefficient justice system and overwhelming public opposition,…
Read More
Strong start for SHARE Project
If the newly-formed SHARE Project’s May 16 drug awareness march was any indication, the group can look forward to strong…
Read More
Cherokee scholar awarded honorary WCU doctorate
Cherokee scholar Thomas Belt received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Western Carolina University last week during commencement on…
Read More
Canton town manager resigns
Jason Burrell, an integral part of the town of Canton’s administration for the past 12 years and town manager for…
Read More
Haywood schools lift outside mask mandate
Students in Haywood County Schools will no longer be required to wear masks outside, where social distancing is possible. Administration…
Read More
Tribe loosens marijuana laws
In a pair of actions taken during Tribal Council on Thursday, May 6, Tribal Council voted to decriminalize possession of…
Read More
Newby begins 100 county courthouse tour
Chief Justice Paul Newby launched a courthouse tour during which he will visit courthouses in all of North Carolina's 100…
Read More
Harrah's offers enticing sign-on bonus
As one of the largest employers in Western North Carolina, Harrah's Cherokee Casinos is taking a strong approach to market…
Read More
Vaccine opportunities for youth and adults
Clinic for 16-18- year-olds planned Haywood County Health and Human Services is partnering with Haywood Community College to host a…
Read More
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Last summer, the tiny Haywood County tourist town of Maggie Valley was rocked by not one but two peaceful “Black…
Read More
Tribal Council candidates make their case
Early voting is underway for the June 3 Primary Election in Cherokee, which will determine the final slate of candidates…
Read More
Town of Canton joins municipal TDA bill
A week after Haywood County Republican Rep. Mark Pless’ municipal TDA bill came out of committee wholly rewritten to include…
Read More
Investment continues flowing into Haywood County
There’s not yet a lot of information about the latest economic development announcement made by Haywood County commissioners — the…
Read More
Funding coming for telepsychiatry in schools — if N.C. budget passes
A conversation between Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, D-Rocky Mount, seems to indicate that Cooper will…
Read More
‘The lady behind the scenes’: Carmaleta Monteith named Beloved Woman
Carmaleta Littlejohn Monteith has worn an impressive number of titles over the course of her life.
Read More
Macon requests more funds for the arts
Last year, Macon County Schools requested a nearly $2 million budget increase to fund additional staff positions. When the pandemic…
Read More
Spectators allowed at Haywood graduations
Graduation ceremonies will be allowed as many spectators as school sporting events this spring, after the Haywood County Schools Board…
Read More
Cherokee to pursue new casino project
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will pursue a new casino project in partnership with a publicly traded gaming company,…
Read More
Franklin manager delivers last budget proposal
Longtime Franklin Manager Summer Woodard will be leaving for a new job in June, but before she goes, she presented…
Read More
Skaters make case for Franklin skatepark
The Franklin Town Council board room was standing room only last week as several local teenagers expressed their desire for…
Read More
Vaccination still slow as Pfizer shot approved for teens
For the fourth straight week, the rate of vaccinations has decreased in the four-county area, with just 0.5 percent of…
Read More
Urgent Pipe Replacement Coming to U.S. 19/23
CLYDE – A deep pipe failure under the eastbound lanes of U.S. 19/23 between Clyde and Canton near Crawford Memorial Gardens…
Read More
Canton mayor selected as ‘Outstanding Rising Leaders’
Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing…
Read More
Urgent pipe replacement coming to U.S. 19/23
A deep pipe failure under the eastbound lanes of U.S. 19/23 between Clyde and Canton near Crawford Memorial Gardens will…
Read More
WNC towns debate future of room occupancy tax
If passed, legislation introduced by Western North Carolina Republican representatives would allow municipalities within Haywood County to levy their own…
Read More
Canton, Waynesville to consider room tax increases
A tax bill sponsored by two western Republicans that’s currently making its way through the North Carolina General Assembly has…
Read More
Bryson City removed from room tax legislation
The Town of Bryson City has been removed from a piece of state legislation that would have allowed the town…
Read More
No plans for town room tax in Sylva
While Sylva’s leaders have considered the idea of a town occupancy tax a couple times over the years, so far…
Read More
Maggie Valley occupancy tax on the horizon
Maggie Valley may have the opportunity to create its own Tourism Development Authority for the purpose of promoting tourism in…
Read More
Summer school aims to address learning loss
As much of Western North Carolina bounces back from the devastation of COVID-19 — lower case counts, rising tourism numbers…
Read More
