Mountain legislator to be sworn in
It took Bryson City Republican Mike Clampitt three tries over six years to finally become a member of the North…
Read More
Worth it at every turn: WNC native joins N.C. Court of Appeals
As voters cast their ballots each Election Day, judicial races are often overlooked — they’re the least publicized, least funded…
Read More
State tries to curb indigent defense expenses
Court-appointed lawyers are the crux of the U.S justice system because it is their duty to ensure every U.S. citizen…
Read More
Haywood School Board fills vacancy
After receiving applications from three people, the Haywood County School Board has selected Bethel’s David Burnette to fill the seat…
Read More
Bill Taylor to represent tribe in Raleigh, D.C.
Former Tribal Council Chairman Bill Taylor is now settling into a new position as the tribe’s governmental affairs liaison after…
Read More
Jackson’s comprehensive plan nears approval
After two years of meetings, research and public input, the Jackson County Comprehensive Land Use Plan must go through one…
Read More
The Haywood shuffle: top county posts remain unfilled
Employee turnover in local governments is nothing new, but Haywood County’s recent rash of retirements and resignations has resulted in…
Read More
Haywood Chamber awards business leaders
The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce recently presented its annual awards to business leaders who have gone above and beyond…
Read More
Political climate makes future uncertain for aspiring dentist, DACA recipient
At 21, Teresa Luna holds two associate’s degrees, a freshly minted diploma in dental assisting from AB Tech and dreams…
Read More
‘Haywood Five’ to face state disloyalty charges
Charges of “political party disloyalty” first leveled by the Haywood County Republican Party this past May against a group of…
Read More
Community mourns the loss of Franklin alderman
Just a couple of weeks ago, Billy Mashburn discussed with The Smoky Mountain News his continued goals and vision for…
Read More
Runoff election overturns recount results in Cherokee
An Oct. 10 runoff election to determine the winner of a disputed Tribal Council seat ended with a reversal of…
Read More
Guilty pleas filed in marriage fraud case
Four people accused of entering into fraudulent marriages with non-U.S. citizens will plead guilty to the charge of marriage fraud,…
Read More
Focus groups needed to discuss Swain ER changes
Swain Community Hospital is looking for small groups of residents to be part of ongoing focus groups to discuss changes…
Read More
Impact fees to change in Jackson
A state law passed in July 2017 will lead to changes in water and sewer fees across North Carolina this…
Read More
Cherokee sues opioid companies
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has filed a federal lawsuit seeking damages from 23 companies that manufacture or distribute…
Read More
Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle
It was cold, but I was prepared. Leggings and Underarmour, sweatpants and sweatshirt, parka and hiking pants, an array of…
Read More
Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales
After voting down the measure just a couple of months ago, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen is now on…
Read More
Bryson City manager moving to Murphy
After serving as Bryson City’s town manager for more than a year, Chad Simons will be moving on to Murphy…
Read More
Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery
A North Carolina State Bar complaint filed against Waynesville attorney and Mayor Gavin Brown Oct. 11, 2017, that had accused…
Read More
Charter school narrows down school director choices
After receiving 20 applications from candidates hoping to succeed founding School Director Ben Butler at Shining Rock Classical Academy, the…
Read More
SRCA hiring process not kept private
Last week, Shining Rock Classical Academy held an event for “parents and community supporters” to meet the top four candidates…
Read More
Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17
No matter who takes the helm at SRCA, the new director will no doubt have his or her hands full…
Read More
Cherokee chief under investigation
Principal Chief Richard Sneed is now under investigation following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s unanimous vote Jan. 4 to look into…
Read More
Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent
By coincidence, Haywood County Schools has, since about the same time as Shining Rock Classical Academy been readying itself to…
Read More
Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro
An ordinance that would have allowed Sunday morning alcohol sales to begin in Dillsboro died for lack of a motion…
Read More
School superintendent search progresses in Jackson
Jackson County is getting closer to choosing a replacement for former school superintendent Mike Murray after school board members held…
Read More
Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board
When longtime councilmember Billy Mashburn passed away just days before the 2017 municipal election, the Franklin Town Council was prepared…
Read More
Franklin passes noise ordinance
After months of trying to figure out the best way to address late-night partying that was disturbing residents, the Franklin…
Read More
Former chief Youngdeer named Beloved Man
War hero and former Principal Chief Robert Youngdeer received the highest honor available in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians…
Read More
Commissioners hopeful about future of historic hospital
A years-long effort to find some use for the Historic Haywood County Hospital on Waynesville’s North Main Street appears to…
Read More
Hearing granted for former alcohol commissioner
An alcohol commissioner who was removed from his post last month will get a hearing following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s…
Read More
Camper rescued from Linville Gorge
Mountain rescue teams, local rescuers and an aircrew from the NC Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team (NC HART) worked together early this…
Read More
Suspect still sought in Bethel shooting incident
Haywood County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two individuals who were believed to be involved in a shooting incident Tuesday night…
Read More
Following in the footfalls: Canton’s new mayor takes the reins
One of Zeb Smathers’ earliest memories is sitting in the cereal aisle of his grandfather’s downtown Canton grocery store, which…
Read More
Losing everything to find yourself: Waynesville native shares her story of addiction
Every recovering addict can recall a moment in their life when they hit their lowest point. For Jenny Green of…
Read More
Breaking the cycle: Restricting opioid access won’t solve the epidemic
Limiting the number of prescriptions written for addictive painkillers like Percocet and Oxycontin is definitely a good start, but addiction…
Read More
Vaya Health honored for efforts to reduce overdoses
Vaya Health has received statewide honors for its work to prevent fatal opioid drug overdoses throughout western North Carolina.
Read More
Buncombe County joins lawsuit against drug manufacturers
Buncombe County is taking a crucial step toward holding accountable the companies responsible for dumping millions of dollars’ worth of…
Read More
Jackson seeks no wake zone on Lake Glenville
Increased recreation on Lake Glenville has caused concerns about safety for swimmers sharing the lake with boaters, and despite an…
Read More
Haywood TDA to host funding workshops
With the arrival of 2018, the time to submit applications for 1% partnership funding for July 1, 2018, through June…
Read More
Haywood Regional welcomes first baby of 2018
Haywood Regional is ringing in 2018 with the year’s first bundle of joy. Weighing 7 pounds and 12 ounces and…
Read More
Scene shift in Sylva: Businesses come and go downtown
Downtown Sylva looks quite a bit different these days than this time last year.
Read More
Cherokee moves on alcohol referendum
Cherokee inched closer to holding a referendum vote asking how widely available alcohol should be on tribal land with a…
Read More
Mission, Macon partner to get new ambulance
Collaboration between Mission Health and Macon County leadership, with support from the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation, Mission Health Department of Philanthropy…
Read More
Waynesville native’s research published
The summer before Christopher Lile graduated from Gardner-Webb University, he spent five weeks studying small mammals on the Broad River…
Read More
WCU gets federal grants to help students
Western Carolina University faculty members Kelly Kelley and David Westling have learned a lot about assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities…
Read More
Waynesville police investigating suspicious death
Waynesville Police Department is looking for any information from the public that might help them with a recent suspicious death…
Read More
Sheriff investigates Fines Creek deaths
Haywood County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to investigate two deaths that occurred in the Fines Creek area last week.
Read More
Haywood County woman wins $200,000 lottery
The search for a ceramic Christmas tree led Sharon Frizzell of Canton to a $200,000 lottery win.
Read More
