It’s just a Bojangle’s, but that’s a step up for Waynesville’s South Main
The commercial revitalization of South Main Street in Waynesville has taken another step forward this month with the bulldozing of…
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Walleyed mercury
It’s probably best to avoid eating fish out of Lake Glenville. At least the walleye. “I’d like to tell you…
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Franklin chews on traffic: Study looks at parking, crosswalks on Main Street
Downtown Franklin is sporting some fresh paint after an October decision to spruce up the fading road lines, but over…
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Sylva commissions second 2014 study to look into two-way traffic on Main Street
After landing a $10,000 grant from the Southwestern Commission — and putting in $10,000 of its own money — Sylva…
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A new tax collector is in town, but the old one isn’t going anywhere, at least for now
The long-time tax collector in Haywood County was narrowly defeated in the November election, a surprise upset that has sent…
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Teaching students about driving dangers
Safe driving program “VIP for a VIP” impacts students in partnership with EMS and local law enforcement. Harris Regional Hospital,…
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Canton aims for improvements at Recreation Park
The Town of Canton Recreation Commission is leading a volunteer effort to make safety improvements to the playground at Recreation…
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The bicycle puzzle: Exploring opportunities of cycling tourism
For the past few years, the Blue Ridge Breakaway has lured cyclists to Haywood for a ride through the mountains.…
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Search still on for missing teen
The search for Alec Lansing, the missing 17-year-old in Jackson County, has yet to produce any viable leads. He has…
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Hymnbook breathes life into Cherokee lyrics
It’s Sunday afternoon, and a quartet of musicians — one guitarist, three vocalists — stands at the front of a…
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Crabtree Road to close for three November weekends
Construction along N.C. 209 — locally called Crabtree Road — near its exchange with U.S. 74 will cause the state…
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Forests for the future: First glimmers of forest plan draw polarized reactions
When Brent Martin emerged from the Forest Management Plan meeting in Franklin, the first glimpse into the direction that management…
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Contemplating the evolution of Fry Street
It’s not much of a street now. And soon, Fry Street might not be a street at all. “What we’re…
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Maggie’s big plan
Maggie Valley is on its way to building a downtown. “This is something I’m very excited to present to the…
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Ridgetop revisions in play for Jackson tower ordinance
Cell phone towers in Jackson County cannot currently be built on ridgetops. That looks likely to change as revisions to…
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Sorting out Haywood’s take on hospital sale will take time
It’s been three months since publicly owned Haywood Regional Medical Center became a private hospital owned by Duke LifePoint Healthcare,…
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New 911 center to up the game for Haywood emergency response
A $3 million project to build a central 911 dispatching center inside the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office aims to reduce…
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Upset election for tax collector prompts job reshuffling
A new tax collector has been elected in Haywood County, but when he takes office next month his duties will…
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New tax collector had to have wages garnished
In a narrow upset in the Haywood County Tax Collector race last week, voters elected a man with a history…
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Democrats, GOP see new era in Haywood
Karin Wollin had just taken a break from a sullen morning of sorting through stacks of campaign signs at the…
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I-40 Canton-exit closure Nov. 10
Tonight (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m., the N.C. Department of Transportation will close the westbound on-ramp to Interstate 40 at…
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Presnell holds onto state seat
Rep. Michele Presnell , R-Yancey, retained her seat for the N.C House, narrowly defeating fellow Yancey resident Dean Hicks in…
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Bushyhead, Burns demand ‘change’
Smart money had the contest for the Swain commissioners race locked down in the primary. The board’s chairman, Phil Carson,…
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Three incumbents, one new candidate win Haywood School Board seats
With 10 candidates coming out for four seats on the Haywood County School board, the races was certainly a contested…
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Cochran wins a third term
Three candidates were aiming for the top prize in Swain’s sheriff race. The contest pitted the status quo against the…
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Hall wins sheriff’s seat
Chip Hall closed out a grueling race for the Jackson County sheriff’s seat with a landslide victory against his opponent,…
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Welch wins DA race decided by a landslide
After a hard-fought and hotly contested race, the job of top prosecutor for the seven western counties was won by…
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Commissioner challengers win two, lose one in Jackson
The fate of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners rested with this election. With six candidates on the ballot —…
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Haywood commissioners back for another four years
By Becky Johnson Staff writer Voters gave their seal of approval to the current Haywood County commissioners, returning all three…
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Haven ousted; Shields top vote-getter
The Macon County Board of Commissioners will soon see a new face at the table, and it will be that…
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Queen shuts down Clampitt, again
After winning re-election in the N.C. House District 119 race, Rep. Joe Sam Queen sounded more glum than one might…
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Davis pulls out a win, pledges to continue Republican direction in Raleigh
N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, pulled out a sizeable win over Democratic challenger Jane Hipps. Davis has represented the mountains…
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HCC student spearheads effort to restore East Street Park
When Katie Messer first presented her plan to improve water quality and generally spruce up a little-used park in Waynesville,…
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Dockie Brendle bridge now official
A dedication ceremony last week, held by the N.C. Department of Transportation, officially named a bridge at the intersection of…
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Iranian-born journalist to speak Nov. 20 at WCU
A native of Iran who is a former Rotary Peace Fellow and past editor of publications now banned or shut…
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HCC awarded forestry grant
Haywood Community College was recently awarded a Tennessee Valley Authority Ag & Forestry Fund Grant through the N.C. Department of…
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Haywood’s new economic development commission is ‘on the move’
The newly minted Haywood County Economic Development Commission has hit the ground running in its first three months following a…
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Signs of a new cell tower rush on the horizon
After a several-year lull in new cell towers being built in the mountains, a new wave of tower construction could…
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WCU adopts sophomore residency requirement
It’s official. Starting with the 2016-17 academic year, sophomores attending Western Carolina University will be required to live on campus.…
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Benefit concert aids WNC veterans
It’s been two years since Bruce Yarrington and his Knights of Columbus buddies started volunteering at the Veterans Restoration Quarters…
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Haywood launches survey to access internet availability
The folks spearheading the effort to expand broadband access in Haywood County are thinking big. Gigabyte big. “Our goal is…
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YMCA camp coming to Swain County
Swain County will soon be home to a YMCA camp. The camp — called YMCA Camp Watia — will be…
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Franklin residents debate Nikwasi
Of the shoppers polled while coming and going from the Bi-Lo parking lot in Franklin on a recent Thursday, none…
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Davis vs. Hipps debate video
On Oct. 30, Sen. Jim Davis and challenger Jane Hipps squared off in a debate at Southwestern Community College. It…
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Winter weather causes Parkway closures
The first winter weather closures of the season will be in effect on the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend.
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Blue Ridge Parkway closes section for Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel repairs
A small section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, between Milepost 420 (near Black Balsam Road) and Milepost 423 (at Hwy.…
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Ebola panel discussion offered at WCU
A panel discussion and question-and-answer session on the Ebola crises and the risk it poses will take place 4-5:30 p.m.…
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Early voting has begun
Registered voters who can't wait until Election Day to vote now have the opportunity to vote in person across North…
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Canton economic initiative strives to hold on to past while looking to the future
Hanging out at the confluence of crossroads that embraces downtown Canton, two young skateboarders while away a lazy afternoon. They’re…
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