Mill town riddle: Bearing the burden and reaping the rewards
Canton exists against the backdrop of the paper mill. Both literally and figuratively. For generations, the paper mill — currently…
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Seven years war for the mountainsides rages on in Jackson
Controlling mountainside development is a universal issue grappled with across Western North Carolina. But Jackson County’s residents have wrestled more…
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Steep slope ordinance rewrite timeline: The inopportune arrival of a slow but steady train
When Jackson County commissioners halted the controversial rewrite of the steep slope development rules earlier this year, critics were both…
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Cullowhee proposals in for a tweaking
They weren’t thrilled about it, but members of the Cullowhee community did show an appetite for possible development standards during…
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Dealing with violence: Children the focus of nonprofit’s $1 million grant
Domestic violence in Haywood County — and its effect on children — could take a hit as the Thirtieth Judicial…
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All OK after bomb threat clears Tuscola
Things are back on track at Tuscola High School after some threatening graffiti found in a boys bathroom last week…
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Forest Hills hosts workshop, explores planning issues
The Village of Forest Hills is about to go on a vision quest. The quest begins Nov. 3 with a…
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Macon approves $1.5 million for landfill expansion
With its landfill nearing capacity, Macon County is taking steps to add a new cell before the existing area fills…
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Swain’s museum offers new attraction, old relics
Inside and out, the Swain County Heritage Museum is an ode to history. The very building that houses the museum…
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Haywood looks to start Friends of the Parkway chapter, clear overlooks
With park funding falling and visitation increasing, keeping those iconic views open along the 46 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway…
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Jackson TDA laying groundwork for hiring director
The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority is pursuing a leader, someone to act as the organization’s executive director. The workload…
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Cherokee fly fishing museum sets opening day, fundraising dinner
It’s been two years since Alen Baker, the self-described “instigator” of the effort to create the Fly Fishing Museum of…
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Business notes
• The 2014 Apple Harvest Festival, held Oct. 18 in Waynesville, was a tremendous success. The estimated attendance was 50,000-plus…
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Economic development summit set for Nov. 12
Leaders from government, business and nonprofits across Western North Carolina will gather with economic development experts and others to discuss…
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Waynesville Soda Jerks win national award
The Waynesville Soda Jerks, an independent artisan beverage company, recently won first place at the National Association of Community Colleges…
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Election Day countdown
Early voting turnout is outpacing the last statewide, non-presidential election year of 2010. And in the seven western counties, early…
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The GOP’s new normal in Raleigh — Are you for it or against it?
North Carolina has rarely seen an election where the candidates matter so little, but who wins matters so much. This…
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March to the polls
With elections nearing, some groups are already making plans for how to cast their ballot. In Sylva, a group will…
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Cullowhee community meeting tonight
Tonight will be the last of two public input meetings concerning the proposed Cullowhee Planning Area development standards. Tonight’s meeting…
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Take a stroll with Webster’s residents and leaders
The Town of Webster invites the public to attend its Oct. 27 Community Stroll to help identify ways to improves the community's health,…
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Confused about voting procedures? Democracy North Carolina offers these 15 quick tips
By Bob Hall As an independent watchdog group, Democracy North Carolina receives all kinds of reports on our hotline at 888-OUR-VOTE.…
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Dockie Brendle’s bridge dedication
Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient Dockie Brendle will have a bridge officially named in honor of him this month.…
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New roof for Waynesville middle
Waynesville Middle School is set to get a new roof, following a vote by Haywood County Commissioners to approve a…
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Meet the candidates for district attorney
Two candidates are competing for the job of top legal prosecutor in the seven western counties. The seat came up…
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Evergreen negotiations ‘worked out fine’
Evergreen Packaging has been in talks with its employees since the spring, trying to hammer out a new contract. This…
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County votes ‘yes’ on hospice grant
Hospice House of WNC passed a hurdle in its fundraising effort when the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted to…
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Folkmoot gets $25,000 donation
Folkmoot USA got some cash toward its expansion of education programs with a $25,000 donation from Wells Fargo & Company. …
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Franklin, Macon County debate taxes on old town hall
When a property tax bill for the old town hall building showed up in the Town of Franklin’s mail, John…
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House 118th seat showdown
Hicks: Getting off the sidelines Dean Hicks is still a coach at heart. “I’m an old coach, I don’t want to…
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A day in the life: Sen. Jim Davis makes the rounds, confident of outcome
Editor’s note: The Smoky Mountain News spent a day on the campaign trail with Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, as he…
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A day in the life: A political newcomer finds her stride
Editor’s note: The Smoky Mountain News spent a day with Jane Hipps, a Democratic challenger running for the state Senate…
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Queen, Clampitt battle it out again
Election season is winding down to the finish line and both candidates in the N.C. House’s 119th District race are…
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Class warfare looms in debate over state tax reform
Tax reform was one of the top issues tackled by the new Republican majority in Raleigh last year, but voters…
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They do, too: Same-sex couples in WNC embrace new legal landscape
Jamie Kemper knew it’d happen. She just didn’t think it’d happen this quickly. “We thought it’d be a few years,”…
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Same-sex marriages cause Swain magistrate to resign
In the short walk from the doors of the Swain County Courthouse to the steps outside it, a couple of…
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Cullowhee community expresses reservations about planning at public forum
Up to now, the mood at many of the Cullowhee planning meetings and public forums was upbeat and positive —…
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WCU faculty to discuss Ebola crisis risk and response at Nov. 4 event
A panel of Western Carolina University faculty members, including an environmental health professor who has studied the spread and control…
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Ten vie for Haywood school board seats
With shrinking budgets, cries for higher teacher salaries and the struggle to keep test scores high while working with limited…
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Jackson commissioner candidates: The issues
Property Revaluations The hurt is coming. All the candidates agree, it won’t be pretty. In 2016, Jackson County will preform a…
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Showdown in Jackson
No one really knows how the Jackson County commissioner races are going to pan out. Incumbent Republican Commissioner Charles Elders…
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Education, tax rates on ballot in Macon
State issues are trickling down to the election debate surrounding the Macon County commissioners’ races. Three of the five seats…
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Haywood trio seek to oust incumbents, reduce local government
Three challengers running for Haywood County commissioner are touting lower property taxes, a smaller budget, limited government, less regulation and…
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Haywood incumbents cite progressive, responsible leadership
Criticism over taxes and spending from the conservative arm of the local Republican Party is nothing new for Haywood County…
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New documents released surrounding hospital sale
Haywood County Commissioners have released a collection of minutes from closed sessions going back to August 2013, detailing discussions surrounding…
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Tipping the scales
The past four years have been the first in recent memory that Democrats haven’t held a majority on the Jackson…
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Jackson sheriff snapshots
Chip Hall, D, 46 Qualifications: Chief deputy at Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. Twenty-five years at Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in…
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Haywood commissioner snapshots
Democrats • Kirk Kirkpatrick, a lawyer, has been on the board since 2002 and has been a supporter of recreation.…
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Jackson commissioner snapshots
Jackson commissioner chairman • Jack Debnam, the current commissioner chairman and a Realtor. As an unaffiliated candidate, he belongs to…
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Macon Commissioner snapshot
Highlands district, one seat Republican • Jim Tate is seeking reelection because he wants to “ensure that Macon County will…
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Macon Commissioner snapshot
Highlands district, one seat Republican • Jim Tate is seeking reelection because he wants to “ensure that Macon County will…
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