South Painter Road development approved

A Georgia developer hoping to build a 388-bed student housing complex in Cullowhee has cleared two of three major hurdles…
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Feds allege bail bondsman accepted sex in lieu of loan repayments

Cherokee’s only bail bondsman is facing federal charges for allegedly having sex with female clients in lieu of loan repayment,…
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Mapping conflicts of interest

On Monday, May 22, the Cherokee Tribal Council will preside over a hearing to consider impeachment charges against Principal Chief…
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Major retail development clears first hurdle

With nearly two years of prep work already under their belts, developers have cleared the first major hurdle for bringing…
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Franklin asks for face time with Mission

It’s been more than two weeks since Mission Health announced Angel Medical Center would stop delivering babies as of July…
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Haywood County school bus rear-ended
 

Haywood County school bus rear-ended

On Friday, May 12, at approximately 6:50 a.m., Haywood County Schools bus 52 was making a passenger stop in the…
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Thrill of the dig: Gem mining alive and well in Macon County

Susan Boyette and her mother Martha Drew drove down from Tennessee early Friday morning to Rose Creek Mine outside of…
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Franklin museum a real ‘gem’

At first glance, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum may seem like a hokey tourist attraction, but visitors willing to…
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Community fights to keep babies born in Franklin

When Macon County residents joined together in 1971 to raise money to buy Angel Hospital and make it a community…
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Meadows: ACA repeal will offer better flexibility, lower premiums

The Affordable Health Care Act got a bit closer to repeal last week as the U.S. House of Representatives passed…
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Public hearing slated for new Publix site
 

Public hearing slated for new Publix site

Although speculation has been rife over the past year, plans for a Publix grocery store in Waynesville have finally been…
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Wake-up call: Fry Street closure sparks involvement from local business

A recent debacle between the town of Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has been a wake-up call…
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Town board welcomes more community input

Bryson City aldermen are quite aware of the rift created in the community over the Fry Street closure issue, but…
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Waynesville park acreage to grow by almost 20 percent

As summer approaches, Waynesville’s green spaces are getting greener, but they’re also getting greater — in size. 
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Jackson talks capital: Five-year plan maps spending for school, health, animal shelter and courtroom projects

From softball fields to health buildings to animal shelters, funding requests have been arriving hot and heavy to the Jackson…
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Stalled student housing project could revive

Two years have passed since developers first got approval to build a student housing complex along South Painter Road in…
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Developer to extend water and sewer access in Cullowhee

The Jackson County Commissioners have unanimously approved an easement through county land that will allow plans for a 72-bedroom development…
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Meadows: Obamacare repeal provides ‘net of protection’ for vulnerable
 

Meadows: Obamacare repeal provides ‘net of protection’ for vulnerable

Obamacare is one step closer to repeal as the U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation that would provide a…
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Student assault at Tuscola caught on video
 

Student assault at Tuscola caught on video

On Wednesday, May 3, a male student assaulted another student at approximately 9:30 a.m. at Tuscola High School. The assault…
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Weigh in on WNC transportation planning
 

Weigh in on WNC transportation planning

The N.C. Department of Transportation wants your feedback on its Draft 10-Year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which identifies the…
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Cavy-crazed crowd convenes, competes

The stakes were as high as the hopes last weekend as competitors from across North America came together at the…
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New fire districts approved despite opposition

Lake Junaluska residents opposed to a new Waynesville Fire District in their neighborhood will get one anyway, after a 2-1…
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Haywood County may dip into fund balance

Haywood County commissioners have set a date for the required public hearing in advance of passing next year’s budget —…
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More staff, higher pay boost Jackson schools budget request

With an eye to improving student performance and employee retention, Jackson County Public Schools has upped its budget ask to…
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Lopsided allocation favors SCC project over Jackson County Schools

Jackson County Schools has found itself at the back of the line to get a piece of the quarter-cent sales…
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Baby deliveries to cease at Angel Medical

A difficult decision for Mission Health will now present a difficult decision for expecting mothers in Macon County.  With Mission’s…
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Mission to invest $45 million for new hospital in Franklin

Along with the announcement to stop labor and delivery services at Angel Medical Center, Mission Health also announced plans to…
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Harris prepared to deliver more babies

With the current expansion of its New Generations Family Birthing Center, Harris Regional Hospital couldn’t be in a better position…
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Community backlash ensues following AMC decision

Macon County residents have made a clear statement that they oppose Mission Health’s decision to discontinue labor and delivery services…
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Connecting pets and people: PAWS swoops in to shelter puppy mill rescues

A large-scale rescue effort involving multiple animal welfare agencies resulted in the removal of more than 400 animals from a…
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Folkmoot's Cultural Conversations: A more equitable community

Over the course of the six Cultural Conversations sessions I participated in at Folkmoot, our diverse little group — sitting…
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Tools of the Trade: GE grants Pisgah High $100K for industrial education

Advanced manufacturing and machining in Western North Carolina just got a huge boost from a Fortune-500 multinational conglomerate with more…
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Progressives, citizens criticize Congress, President

After a busy week of rallies around the country, the state and the county, progressives gathered at the Historic Haywood…
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A short break with Coffay

Born in Florida but raised in tiny Blue Ridge, Georgia — just a few miles outside of Murphy and not…
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Is this thing on? WNC groups claim Meadows isn’t listening

Members of several progressive groups concerned over the moral and monetary implications of Affordable Care Act repeal in rural Western…
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Harnessing the progressive tide

A progressive tour de force has emerged across the mountains since the election of President Donald Trump.
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Late to the party? Democrats welcome progressives in symbiotic alliance

Thousands of pop-up progressive activist groups have emerged around the country since November’s election.
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Waynesville man charged with murder
 

Waynesville man charged with murder

Justin Scott Fuller, of Waynesville was arrested Saturday, April 22, and charged with murder following a dispute with Christopher Phillips.
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Asheville Democrat to run against Meadows

A powerful Republican Congressman who also serves as the leader of his party’s most conservative faction now has his first…
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Canton keeps it moving: Burrell to replace departing Hendler-Voss

Canton’s search for a new town manager took about an hour. “We’ve sent a clear signal to the town and…
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Bear activity reported in Panthertown
 

Bear activity reported in Panthertown

Recent bear encounters in Panthertown have spurred the U.S. Forest Service to issue a warning for visitors to the area. 
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A grassroots progressive group takes off in Haywood
 

A grassroots progressive group takes off in Haywood

A progressive tour de force has emerged across the mountains since the election of President Donald Trump.
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The petri dish of American politics: Homegrown factions wreak havoc on mainstream parties

The recent tug-of-war for control of the Haywood County Republican Party has left many conservatives cringing and embarrassed over the…
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Bryson City reconsiders railroad request

It only took about two weeks for the Bryson City Board of Aldermen to change its mind regarding a request…
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Swain ER visits down from last year

Still struggling to make people understand that Swain Community Hospital’s emergency room is still open 24 hours, seven days a…
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Mill Street lane reduction work to begin soon

Mill Street will be getting a makeover after Sylva’s board of commissioners approved funding for the lane reduction project in…
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Panthertown purchase gets a boost

A key piece of land bordering Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area will be conserved following a pledge from the Jackson County…
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Macon changes policy to include elected officials

Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland said he’s been trying for years to get commissioners to change the county’s personnel policy…
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Tax Day cometh, but not for Trump

A little rain couldn’t drown out the voices of a small group of protestors who gathered at the Historic Haywood…
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Mountain Projects acquires building

A Waynesville-based regional social services agency will finally get that new building its been after.
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