Runaway teen sought in Jackson County
UPDATE: Ward was found in Tennessee Jan. 18 thanks to help from a citizen and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.…
Read More
Maggie Chamber honors dedicated volunteers
The Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the hard work of its many volunteers Tuesday night during its annual banquet…
Read More
Waynesville’s cemetery policy revamp begins
Proposed changes to and clarifications of cemetery ordinances prompted by public outcry in Waynesville will undergo a period of public…
Read More
Catholic church identifies 'credibly accused' in WNC
On Monday, Dec. 30, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte published a list of several clergy the diocese found to…
Read More
Committed to the slopes: Waynesville snowboarder to appear in international competition
Zeb Powell was 7 years old the first time he tried a snowboard. That initial ride wasn’t great — Powell, a…
Read More
Duke Energy asks for rate increase
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, filed an application with the North Carolina Utilities Commission Sept. 30, 2019, requesting authority to increase…
Read More
Following the gleam: Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Something Dawn Gilchrist’s father-in-law, a retired Methodist minister, once said has stuck with her throughout her career as an educator…
Read More
Tribal Council passes term limits for casino board members
After nearly an hour of debate, Tribal Council voted unanimously last week to place term limits on members of the…
Read More
Regional hospitals look back on 2019 growth
Western North Carolina hospitals under the Duke LifePoint umbrella are celebrating several milestones in making communities healthier as a new…
Read More
Sylva planning board gets two new members
The Town of Sylva has two new members on its planning board following a pair of unanimous votes from town…
Read More
Search for new Waynesville police chief nears end
Almost seven months after the retirement of its longtime police chief, the Town of Waynesville is getting closer to naming…
Read More
Waynesville homelessness task force takes shape
Despite the urgency of the area’s homelessness problem and the cacophony of citizens clamoring for a task force to begin…
Read More
Cherokee angles for Virginia casino project
Casino gaming is under serious discussion in the Virginia legislature this year, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is…
Read More
Pisgah teacher under investigation resigns
A Pisgah High School teacher who had been under investigation by Haywood County Schools since late last year is no…
Read More
House approves bill to grant Cherokee land in Tennessee
For the second year running, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would return 76 culturally significant…
Read More
Lake Junaluska to draw down water levels
Lake Junaluska to draw down water levelsLake Junaluska has opened its dam to draw down the lake. The lake drawdown,…
Read More
Trend in party registration could sink Democrats
Only twice since 1972 has the state of North Carolina supported a Democratic candidate for president. But if a years-long…
Read More
Jackson County to purchase fire training trailer
Fire education in Jackson County will soon get a leg up following county commissioners’ vote Dec. 17 to appropriate $169,434…
Read More
2A or not 2A? Counties mull gun sanctuary resolutions
The vigorous debate over the necessity of “Second Amendment sanctuary” resolutions has finally begun to trickle into North Carolina, and…
Read More
Court: No ID at NC polls in 2020
Although voters approved a 2018 ballot measure requiring photo identification at North Carolina polls, voters won’t have to produce IDs…
Read More
Cherokee chief testifies against Lumbee recognition
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina, but that could…
Read More
‘Mountain Murders’ podcast celebrates one year
There’s just something so mysterious about Southern crime stories. Small towns with big characters and dark family secrets. People taking…
Read More
Deaths, possibly from flu, shock Haywood County
A pair of deaths from what’s being called a “flu-like illness” rocked Haywood County last week, underscoring the importance both…
Read More
No cop impersonator located in Haywood
The search for the driver of a silver/grey Dodge Charger with white strobe lights who allegedly held a woman at…
Read More
2019: What just happened?
As we ring in the New Year, The Smoky Mountain News likes to look back and reflect on the last…
Read More
Fake News Freakout!!!!!! Four
By Cory Vaillancourt • Fake News Editor | It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s time…
Read More
Cashiers rep fails to attend local meeting
The Jackson County Commissioners traveled to Cashiers for their Dec. 12 meeting, but Commissioner Mickey Luker — who was elected…
Read More
Generosity Feeds Haywood: Volunteers package 11,000 meals for homeless students
It was a sight to behold — more than 200 volunteers of all ages coming together on a cold Saturday morning…
Read More
Rep. Meadows retires from congress
As first reported by Politico earlier this morning, Western North Carolina’s four-term Republican congressman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, will not…
Read More
SCC’s new Health Sciences building on track
Southwestern Community College’s new $21 million Health Sciences Building is starting to take shape on the west side of the…
Read More
Nantahala foundation awards grants
The Nantahala Health Foundation has announced its initial grants awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and…
Read More
WCU student working to translate Cherokee language from native newspaper
Constance Owl’s master’s degree thesis is more than a means to a graduate degree in American history. It’s a portal…
Read More
Sylva police investigating impeachment protest incident
The Sylva Police Department is looking into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 17, during a protest downtown that…
Read More
Jackson discusses solutions to slow internet
Sylva was named the nation’s slowest city for internet in a recent report from internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com, and…
Read More
Animal shelter funding approved in Jackson
Funding for a new animal shelter in Jackson County has been approved following a Dec. 17 vote to OK $5.39…
Read More
Jackson approves $700,000 for new voting machines
After more than three years of anticipating the expenditure, Jackson County has allocated funds to replace its recently decertified voting…
Read More
WNC congressmen oppose Trump impeachment
For just the third time in American history members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve articles of…
Read More
Candidate filing period ends with a bang
A flurry of last-minute sign-ups means that 2020 will likely be a lively election season in Western North Carolina and…
Read More
Macon inmate captured after fleeing custody
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland told commissioners last week that he tries his best not to ask for more money…
Read More
Price won’t run in NC-11, endorses fellow Democrat
UPDATED Dec. 19: Hours after this story was posted, Rep. Meadows announced he wouldn't seek reelection to the seat…
Read More
Studies show correlation between PTSD and substance abuse
By Taylor Sexton • Special to SMN | Emma Jordan lives in Hatteras, North Carolina, where she spends her days working hard,…
Read More
Running through life with PTSD
By Taylor Sexton • Contributing writer | I was 5 years old when I watched my father’s fist fly into the wall…
Read More
Macon amends contract for jail medical services
Macon County commissioners approved two amended contracts that will hopefully keep costs down at the detention center.
Read More
Airport authority chairman retires after 25 years
Macon County commissioners recently recognized Miles Gregory for his many years of service to the county, including his 25 years…
Read More
Two plead guilty to trafficking
Samantha Casey Green, 27, of Franklin, entered a guilty plea to one count of trafficking opiates as a result of…
Read More
Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Jackson County Public Schools announced that Dawn Gilchrist has been selected as the Western Region Teacher of the Year.
Read More
SCC celebrates new class of grads
Dressed in a royal blue cap and gown, with a glowing Christmas tree behind her and a smile from ear…
Read More
Candidate signups continue in WNC
There will be a primary election for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat following Susan Bogardus’ decision…
Read More
WNC Entegra branches to close during merger
A merger between Macon County-based Entegra Bank and First-Citizens Bank is moving forward, but under the condition that Entegra will…
Read More
Beer and wine sales approved for WCU athletics
Beer and wine could join hot dogs and sodas as common concessions at Western Carolina University athletic events following a…
Read More
