‘Not our jurisdiction’: Office of Charter Schools will not get involved in SRCA dispute
The Office of Charter Schools decided a recent dispute between Shining Rock Classical Academy and a parent is outside its…
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Cherokee prepares for special election
On Thursday, Dec. 15, Cherokee voters will head to the polls for a special election that will seat two new…
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The next chapter: Balsam Range celebrates 15 years, looks ahead
In a year that’ll surely end on a bittersweet note, beloved Haywood County bluegrass sensation Balsam Range is not only…
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Schools struggle with state-mandated pay increases
As Swain County Schools digs into the 2022-23 budget, staff are planning for the largest fund balance allocation needed in…
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Free lunch for Swain Elementary students
All students in Swain County elementary schools will receive free lunch this year with the help of a grant from…
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Wildfire grows at Harmons Den
A wildfire reported Wednesday, Nov. 23, in the Harmon Den area of Haywood County was still burning with no containment…
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WCU human remains detection K9 training program wins award
Western Carolina University’s human remains detection cadaver dog training program was recently awarded the 2022 University Professional and Continuing Education…
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Searching for Boomer Inn
Readers are now likely to be searching their own minds for the meaning of the term “boomer inn.” Could it…
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WCU students network at research forum
Students from Western Carolina University were given the opportunity to network with students from other Southern Conference schools and expand…
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Couple calls out FedEx after driver admits to 17 break-ins
A couple that owns a home near Highlands is speaking out after they say FedEx failed to act even after warned…
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Information sought on runaway teen in Cherokee
The Cherokee Indian Police Department is seeking information about the whereabouts of Kyria Neal Swayney, a 16-year-old girl who was…
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Man found guilty of attempted murder in pig dispute
A dispute about a pig that escalated into attempted murder ended last week with a Tuckasegee man ordered to serve…
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Jackson County man indicted on first-degree murder charge
Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a former Cashiers resident this week for first-degree murder, Sheriff Chip Hall said.
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Macon County votes ‘no’ on quarter-cent sales tax
Decisions about following through with the new Franklin High School project were always going to fall to a new board…
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Untangling the web: Leading Native journalist says ignorance on Native issues poses danger for tribes
As voting hours ended on Election Day 2020, talking heads waiting for results to roll in filled the TV airwaves…
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Mainspring signs agreement in dam removal effort
After months of discussion and deliberation, Mainspring Conservation Trust and Northbrook Carolina Hydro II have signed an agreement allowing Mainspring…
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Cherokee strengthens banishment law
In a unanimous vote during Annual Council Monday, Oct. 24, the Cherokee Tribal Council passed an ordinance to strengthen the tribe’s…
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Seeing green: Inexperienced tax collector-elect gears up for new role
Of the many Republican victories in the 2022 General Election amid a red wave washing over Western North Carolina that…
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Kick off the season with a Christmas home tour
After the Canton tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 30 and the Christmas parade on Dec. 1, the festivities continue with…
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‘Friendraiser:' REACH partners with Adamas Entertainment for Christmas benefit show
In a world mired with conflict and divisiveness, it can seem like there is little common ground to be found…
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Evergreen logs nine environmental violations in 18 months
Sept. 27, 2021, was a day of constant phone calls and email notifications for Brendan Davey, regional supervisor at the…
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Seventeen candidates vie for two seats in special election
Voters in Cherokee’s Dec. 15 special election will choose from a crowded field of candidates seeking to fill two unexpected…
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Republicans secure big victories, but their future in North Carolina is less certain
The predicted red wave washed over most of North Carolina’s elections last week, but now as it recedes and parties…
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Republicans dominate Western North Carolina races
The highly anticipated red wave hit Western North Carolina hard on Nov. 8, with Republicans retaining several crucial legislative seats and…
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Haywood 4 Good program announces enrollment
The Haywood 4 Good community wellness program is pleased to announce a new feature: continuous enrollment. Participants may register for…
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Man faces murder charges in Kobe Toineeta death
The Cherokee community is mourning the death of Kobe Toineeta, 25, who died by homicide Friday, Nov. 11.
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No panhandling ordinance for Sylva
Sylva will not update the Streets and Sidewalks section of its code of ordinances to include a section on panhandling…
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Edwards takes 11th Congressional District over Beach-Ferrara
Hendersonville’s three-term Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards is moving up in the world, from Raleigh to Washington, after defeating his Democrat…
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Haywood Regional Medical Center names CEO
Haywood Regional Medical Center announced that Chris Brown has been named chief executive officer (CEO), effective Nov. 28, 2022.
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Jackson Board of Elections corrects election night mistake
The Jackson County Board of Elections held a public meeting Friday, Nov. 11, to inform the public about a misstep…
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Vecinos receives federal USDA funding
On Sept. 14, 2022, Vecinos, a free clinic for uninsured, low-income adults in Western North Carolina, received a $1 million…
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Jackson allocates funds for parks projects
This month, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners took the next steps toward capital improvement and construction projects for parks…
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Sylva to fund Art Walk with municipal grant
With the help of the Jackson County Municipal Grant, Sylva may soon be able to implement a Sylva Art Walk.
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Haywood Tree to serve as Capitol Christmas tree, prompt spruce restoration efforts
Sometime around 1940, a red spruce seedling pushed above the forest floor in southern Haywood County. Its roots drank from…
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Rob Saunooke announces campaign for chief
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Rob Saunooke is banned from practicing law on the Qualla…
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Cherokee Central Schools gets funding for cost-of-living, minimum wage increase
The Cherokee Tribal Council allocated an additional $1.38 million to Cherokee Central Schools during an Oct. 24 Annual Council session,…
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WCU rolls out scholarship guarantee program
This fall, Western Carolina University will launch a pilot program that guarantees undergraduate students up to $3,000 per year in…
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Haywood County Special Olympics receives makeover
Haywood County residents with special needs have long treasured the Special Olympics Spring Games, but now they’ll have a reason…
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Tribe partners on Kentucky horse race track
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is a key partner in a $55 million effort to bring the state’s first…
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Republicans sweep Swain County Commission races
The Swain County Board of Commissioners will be shaken up next year.
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Cochran wins re-election, will serve fifth term as Swain County Sheriff
Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran has won his bid for reelection after defeating Doug “Tank” Anthony.
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Republicans win all three Macon Commission seats up for grabs
The results are in, and the Macon County Board of Commissioners is going to look different for the next two…
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Haywood County commission goes fully Republican
Just four years after gaining their first-ever majority on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners, Republicans succeeded in booting the…
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Haywood County Operation nets 112 grams of fentanyl
Over four days, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and agency partners led a large-scale operation that resulted in the seizure of 63…
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Vecinos awarded grant from Hispanic Federation
Recently, Vecinos, serving a large Hispanic/Latino community in the six western counties of North Carolina, was granted $25,000 by The…
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Cherokee Council updates ethics ordinance
During an Oct. 17 Annual Council meeting, the Cherokee Tribal Council approved an ordinance that strengthens ethics laws for tribal…
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Western counties may combine opioid settlement funds for regional treatment center
No matter how it all shakes out in the end, Nov. 3, 2022 will be looked upon as a historic…
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NC’s Local Government Commission returns to its roots in Western North Carolina
Although little-known, there’s an agency within the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer that has a tremendous impact on everything…
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Haywood student nominated to advise State Board of Education
Lily Seymour has been asked to join the State Board of Education as a student advisor. The Haywood County student’s…
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