Jury trials to resume in WNC
After months of delay, jury trials resume on a limited basis this week in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the…
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Smokey Mountain Elementary to continue remote learning
Buildings at Smokey Mountain Elementary School will remain closed through Friday, Oct. 30, following identification of a COVID-19 cluster there…
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Mission sale: Good for WNC, or just HCA?
Smaller, less-profitable hospital nets twice the price By Peter H. Lewis AVL Watchdog Years from now, the decision in 2018…
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A Done Deal: How Mission Health Wooed HCA
More than 2 years later, secrets and silence continue By Peter H. Lewis AVL Watchdog The news stunned Asheville and…
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WCU student pleads guilty to death by vehicle
A Western Carolina University student pleaded guilty Tuesday in Jackson County District Court to misdemeanor death by vehicle in connection…
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Body of lost hiker recovered in Shining Rock Wilderness
At approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday search teams located the body of missing hiker Chad Seger. He was found in an…
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WCU to host modified Open House
Western Carolina University will pop up the tents for prospective students and their families and friends as the university holds…
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Eager voters flock to Haywood polls
Early voting began across North Carolina on Oct. 15, and since then, large numbers of voters have descended on their…
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Businesses adapt to survive pandemic
Despite the setbacks and challenges the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about in March, a surprising number of businesses in different industries…
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Haywood businesses become COVID-resilient
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | When the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns hit Haywood County in March, business owners braced for…
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Jackson businesses find their place in the post-pandemic world
Lured by the promise of drivable, socially distanced adventure, visitors from across the region have flocked to Jackson County in…
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Macon merchants adapt during pandemic to stay open
During the initial pandemic panic back in March, many merchants in Macon County closed up shop while they tried to…
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Swain businesses survive, thrive during pandemic
Swain County’s economy relies heavily on the tourism industry from outdoor recreation businesses to downtown retailers, restaurants and the railroad.
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Cherokee businesses feel pandemic impact
With the economic powerhouse that is Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort surfacing as one of the pandemic era’s most-impacted local businesses,…
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Haywood property revaluation to be presented Nov. 2
After more than a year of work, Haywood County’s property revaluation process is nearly complete and will be presented during…
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Vandalism, campaign sign thefts show deep division in Haywood
As the tumultuous 2020 election season draws to a close, partisans on both sides of the aisle are expressing anger…
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School systems seeing more COVID-19 cases, clusters
Since public school systems have returned to in-person instruction, more COVID-19 cases are being reported in Western North Carolina.
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Fierce campaign divides Mark Meadows’ old district
Those who hadn’t learned through backchannels a day or two beforehand found out early on a cold mountain morning late…
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Swain commission incumbents face challengers
Two Republicans and two Democrats are vying for two open seats on the Swain County Board of Commissioners this year.
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Wallace, Young seek open seat on Macon commission
After being the top vote-getters during the primary election, Democrat Betty Cloer Wallace and Republican Josh Young are seeking the…
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Jackson approves $4 million for animal shelter project
Jackson County commissioners voted 4-1 Oct. 20 to approve a $4.33 million contract to build a new animal rescue center…
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Kamala Harris to visit Asheville after COVID cancellation
Less than a week after cancelling travel to Asheville and Charlotte, Democratic vice presidential nominee and California Sen. Kamala Harris…
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Order wreaths for deceased veterans by Nov. 15
Wreath laying on the graves of veterans buried at Greenhill Cemetery in Waynesville will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday,…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Franklin church
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster of positive cases in an area church located in Franklin.
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WNC tourism numbers show quick recovery
When North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper gave the order to close bars and restaurants back on March 17, that was…
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Waynesville hires new assistant manager
Town Manager Robert Hites announced that he has appointed Jesse D. Fowler as Waynesville’s Assistant Town Manager. Fowler is currently…
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WCU to waive undergrad application fee
Western Carolina University is among the institutions of higher education that will be participating in “North Carolina Countdown to College,”…
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Macon volleyball game attendees could have been exposed
Macon County Public Health has identified possible exposure to COVID-19 among those who attended a volleyball game at Franklin High…
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Haywood schools rolls out COVID-19 dashboard
Haywood County Schools Administration announced the creation of the COVID-19 dashboard, intended to keep the public up to date on…
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Swain summer tourism dollars up 37 percent
The Coronavirus Pandemic hasn’t stopped the Swain County Tourism Development Authority from having another record-setting year in occupancy tax revenue.
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Grants available for Dillsboro businesses
The Town of Dillsboro is launching a grant program to help struggling businesses using $200,000 it received as part of…
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Harris staff tests positive for COVID-19
Statement by Biden for President Campaign Manager Jen O'Malley Dillon:
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Election could remake Haywood County Board of Commissioners
Longtime commissioner and current Chairman of the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Kevin Ensley is seeking re-election to his seat,…
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Rural allure, strong hospitality sector set Jackson County up for success amid pandemic
Things were looking bleak for the tourism industry — for all industries, really — as coronavirus shutdowns and stay-at-home orders…
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Pandemic impacts Franklin’s tourism revenue
The Town of Franklin is one of the many local governments that saw a decrease in its occupancy tax revenue…
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Haywood tourism emerges from pandemic nearly unscathed
During the summer and fall of 2019, room occupancy tax data collected by Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority suggested that…
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Full slate of candidates in Beaverdam school board race
This year’s race for the Haywood County School Board has had a lot of interest with 12 candidates running for…
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Early voting starts Oct. 15
Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. Early voting sites in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area…
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Tribal government modifies operations amid COVID-19 surge
Many tribal offices are closed or operating at reduced levels this week following what Principal Chief Richard Sneed called an…
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Jackson to vote on animal shelter contract
Jackson County commissioners plan to vote next week on a construction contract to build a new animal rescue center as…
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Kamala Harris to appear in Asheville, Charlotte
Less than three weeks from Election Day, California senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will visit the North…
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Haywood reports four COVID-19 deaths
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting four COVID-19 deaths. The individuals died within the last few weeks either…
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Two cases of La Crosse Encephalitis confirmed in Haywood
Haywood County Health Director, Patrick Johnson, recently confirmed that two residents of Haywood County has been diagnosed with La Crosse…
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New detour opens for Scotts Creek bridge project
A new detour for local traffic and passenger vehicles is now available to bypass the road closure caused by the…
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Political newcomers run for Jackson’s District 3 seat
As in the District 4 race, the ballot for the District 3 county commission seat in Jackson County is devoid…
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Sylva cancels Christmas parade
The Sylva Town Board has voted unanimously this evening to cancel this year’s Christmas Parade, citing coronavirus concerns.
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Whittier man faces charges in wife’s death
Whittier resident Billy Hicks, 48, is being held without bond in the Jackson County Detention Center after his wife Danielle…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Macon Sheriff's Office
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of employees at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office who have tested positive for…
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Free medications offered to Swain residents in need
NC MedAssist is partnering with Swain County Health Department to host a Mobile Free Pharmacy event, providing residents in need with…
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Program to use therapy dogs to aid domestic violence victims
An initiative by Cyndy Caravelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Western Carolina University, will include a pilot…
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