Health and social services consolidation final in Jackson
A pair of party-line votes May 7 triggered the next step in consolidating Jackson County’s social services and health departments,…
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Resolution to reverse Cherokee media ban withdrawn
A resolution seeking to reverse a ban on non-Cherokee media outlets — enacted by the Cherokee Tribal Council Thursday, April…
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Rebirth of an icon: Joey’s Pancake House reopens this month
Over the past two summers, visitors to the western end of Haywood County have experienced something few others ever have…
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Every rose has its thorns: Cuts coming for HCC horticulture program
There’s a bit of pruning taking place at Haywood Community College — specifically, the Horticulture Technology program. And just like…
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Franklin man shot and killed by Macon deputy
The lawyer for a Franklin resident killed by a Macon County deputy claims the shooting was not justified and that…
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Student suicide pact, hit list rocks Macon
It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for Macon County as school administration and law enforcement try to get to…
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Impeachment attorney banned from practicing law in Cherokee
Cherokee attorney Robert Saunooke will no longer be allowed to practice law on the Qualla Boundary following a recent ruling…
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Swain completes recreation master plan
Swain County commissioners recently approved a 10-year master plan for its parks and recreation programs and facilities, but it appears…
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Swain mulls putting sales tax back on ballot
As they prepare for the annual budgeting process, Swain County commissioners are considering placing a quarter-cent sales tax increase on…
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Town of Franklin releases preliminary budget
With the 2018-19 preliminary budget in hand, Franklin Town Council will have a week to review it before the board’s…
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No tax increase proposed in Haywood
It was a good day for Interim Haywood County Manager Joel Mashburn, and will probably go down as a good…
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The Open Door’s ‘next season’
One memorable afternoon several years ago, Perry Hines was sitting in the dining room of the Open Door after it…
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Unofficial Primary Election results are in
The unofficial results of the May 8 Primary Election are now in with all precincts reporting.
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#MeToo: Shedding the stigma around sexual assault
Five years ago, Haywood County resident Janelle Smith was working late when a much older male colleague she’d thought of…
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Macon bus catches on fire
On April 28, a Macon County Schools activity bus was traveling back to Franklin from an Upward Bound trip with…
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New Haywood animal shelter opens
When local veterinarian Dr. Kristen Hammett appeared before the Haywood County Board of Commissioners on the morning of Sept. 7,…
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Apartment complex hinges on text amendment
For a great example of just how important the Town of Waynesville’s comprehensive plan is, one needn’t look any further…
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Progress with vision: Waynesville comprehensive plan overhaul underway
Failing to plan, as it is often said, is planning to fail.
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Tax rate to stay flat in Sylva
Sylva residents won’t see a tax increase this year, but despite the proposed budget’s 15 percent spending increase over 2018-2019,…
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Jackson County gives $150K for Mountain Projects building
Mountain Projects is now moving into a newly renovated building on Asheville Road in Waynesville, thanks in part to matching…
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Swain sheriff candidate challenge appealed to state
A candidate challenge against Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran has been appealed to the State Board of Elections & Ethics…
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Macon deputy shoots suspect
According to a press release from Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland, Macon deputies were dispatched to 164 Pheasant Dr., around 11:41…
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‘Not guilty’ in trial of former Tribal Council candidate
Following the May 2017 impeachment of then-Principal Chief Patrick Lambert, tribal member Lori Taylor lost her job with the Tribal…
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Walking in someone else’s story: Swain students find common ground with NYC students
On the surface, students in Swain County grow up worlds apart from students in New York City.
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Local governments mull 400-acre land purchase
An effort to conserve a 441.5-acre block of land adjacent to Pinnacle Park in the Plott Balsams is now looking…
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Women’s municipal government group reorganizes
Representatives from the revamped North Carolina Women in Municipal Government visited Maggie Valley last weekend to recruit women from the…
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HCC to hold graduation ceremony
The Haywood Community College 2018 graduation ceremonies will be held at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the…
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Republicans vie for Macon commissioner seat
Macon County Commission Chairman Jim Tate will face fellow Republican challenger John Shearl in the May 8 Primary to claim…
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Student suicide pact reported in Macon County
Macon County Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Baldwin has alerted parents about a group of students who may be involved in…
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A closer look at festivals in Western North Carolina
The proud communities that make up Western North Carolina were once mountain towns that played host to several successful blue-collar…
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Mission moves forward with for-profit buyout
Mission Health CEO Dr. Ron Paulus made a visit to Franklin last week to provide the community with more details…
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State to take over Lake Junaluska system
Lake Junaluska Assembly received notice recently that the North Carolina Utilities Commission will in the near future be resuming regulation…
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Canton hires assistant town manager
Canton’s Town Manager Jason Burrell is about to get some help.
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Living wage already in place in Waynesville
Activists hoping to press the Town of Waynesville into adopting a living wage for full-time employees were recently told that…
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TWSA contemplates fee changes for 2018-19
During a recent public comment period, water and sewer customers in Jackson County told the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority…
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Mission approved to build new Franklin hospital
With Mission Health in the process of building a replacement hospital in Franklin, Macon County and town of Franklin leaders…
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Sheriff candidate challenge appealed to state board
Swain County resident Jerry Lowery has appealed his candidate challenge against Sheriff Curtis Cochran to the N.C. Board of Elections…
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Belcher receives Long Leaf honor
It’s been quite a week for Western Carolina University Chancellor Dr. David Belcher.
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Governor, Haywood leaders meet on opioid crisis
As the opioid crisis continues to rage across the nation and the state, legislators, law enforcement and medical professionals are…
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Cherokee lands bill moves forward in Congress
Following a 383-2 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation transferring the property to the tribe, the…
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Law gives Council chairman authority over chambers
The Cherokee Tribal Council voted unanimously to formalize rules governing who has final authority over procedures in the council house,…
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Renovation plans progress for Jackson health department
Plans are moving forward for an extensive renovation of the Jackson County Health Department building, with County Manager Don Adams…
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Meet the Macon County commissioner candidates
The Smoky Mountain News and The Macon County News will jointly host a meet and greet and candidate forum from…
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Jackson will hire new director to oversee consolidated department
After January’s split vote to merge the social services and health departments into one consolidated department, the Jackson County commissioners…
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2018 Summer Camp Guide
While there are plenty of summer camp opportunities for youth in WNC, parents have to begin planning far in advance…
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Jackson commissioner candidates to face off in primary
During the May 8 Primary Election in Jackson County, two Republican candidates for county commissioner will race for the right…
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Newspapers to host candidate forum in Franklin
The Macon County News is teaming up with The Smoky Mountain News to host candidate forums and meet and greets…
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Six candidates compete in Swain commissioner primary
Six candidates for Swain County commissioner — three Republicans and three Democrats — will appear on the May 8 Primary Election ballot.
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Primary will decide Jackson clerk race
For the two Democrats running to serve as Jackson County’s next clerk of Superior Court, the results of the May…
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Haywood Commission primary could be first step to GOP majority
Three Democratic seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners are up for election this year, but only two of…
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