Vision quest: Waynesville officials attempt glimpse into future
After a full day of brainstorming, the Waynesville Board of Aldermen had thrown a lot of meat onto the table.…
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Occupancy tax supporters hold out hope
A tourism tax increase in Haywood County has virtually no hope of advancing in the N.C. General Assembly this year,…
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WCU fine-tunes its course for Millennial Campus
Western Carolina University is expected to get the go-ahead this month to place development of the Millennial Campus under the…
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Many moving parts to hospital sale
The sale of the hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties to Duke LifePoint has entered the final stages but…
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Stemming the sequester squeeze
The federal sequester came back to haunt Macon County last month when commissioners voted to spend $13,000 to keep the…
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Bryson City and Sylva aim to make in-town navigation easier
Plenty of green is popping up in Bryson City, but it’s not all due to the growing season. Green wayfinding…
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No repercussions for officers involved in dismissed drug case
Three months after lies on a search warrant and a fabricated drug dog alert prompted a federal judge to throw…
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Voting from bed: WCU, Jackson County election officials hammer out a hopeful home
Walking out of the Jackson County Board of Elections offices in Sylva, Lane Perry seemed pleased. A year’s worth of…
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Macon ballfield complex to break ground soon
Macon County commissioners unanimously approved the first round of bids to begin construction of a $3.8 million sports complex in…
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Lake Junaluska Peace Conference
The Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, taking place March 27-30, will feature six leadership speakers from across the globe. The speakers…
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New apartment rules set the stage for a safer walk to campus for WCU students
The advent of three large student apartment complexes around Western Carolina University in the past few years has prompted concern…
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Gambling halls raided
Two video gambling halls were raided in Haywood County last week following an undercover investigation by law enforcement agencies.
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State, counties play hot potato over teacher salaries
Stagnating pay for North Carolina teachers is prompting some local school leaders to dig a little deeper for salary bonuses…
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On with the show
Though the process has been long, Steven Lloyd is beginning to see the fruits of his labor. “I sometimes feel…
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One and done — Macon sheriff race to be sewed up in primary
The Macon County Sheriff race will be short and sweet. Incumbent Sheriff Robbie Holland, a Republican, only faces one challenger,…
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Candidates lineup for a shot on Swain sheriff ballot
Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran will have an easy primary season, with no Republicans challenging his bid for a third…
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Candidates sound off on issues in crowded sheriff race
With the May election primary drawing nearer and the ring chock-full of hats contending for the Jackson County sheriff seat,…
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HCC’s low-impact development degree axed
Four years ago, Haywood Community College launched the first low-impact development program in North Carolina, a new degree to train…
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Election laws in the ‘new’ North Carolina
New controversial voting laws passed by the N.C. General Assembly last year were supposed to take effect in 2016, but…
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Franklin brewery deal moves along
Franklin is one step closer to getting its first microbrewery, which plans to set up shop in the former town…
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Franklin downtown soul-searches for solution to discord
The division along Franklin’s Main Street is tough to see with the naked eye. Passersby appear oblivious to the battle…
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County races: Swain
Swain County Swain Commissioners What’s up for election? All five seats on the county board are up for election, including…
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County races: Macon
Macon County Macon Commissioners What’s up for election: One seat in the Highlands district and two seats in the Franklin…
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County races: Jackson
Jackson County Jackson Sheriff About the race: This promises to be one of the most hotly contested elections in the…
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Maggie roller coaster over, but stars still aren’t aligned for Haywood room tax hike
After oscillating on the issue last year, Maggie Valley town leaders have now endorsed a room tax hike in Haywood…
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15 months and counting, Canton delays decision on town manager again
The Canton town board remains undecided about who will take over as town manager. The board was expected to choose…
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Sylva board talks downtown traffic fixes
Over the past half-century, traffic patterns in downtown Sylva have prompted a repeated cycle of complaint, remedy and return to…
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Swain cyclists help DOT in rumble strip study
When drivers veer off the road, they’re often alerted to the error by a vicious vibration caused by an ingrained…
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Sheriff candidate fired from Sylva police force
Jackson County sheriff candidate Curtis Lambert no longer has a job with the Sylva Police Department, but he says his…
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Brewing possibilities in Franklin: Town board considers lease offer for old town hall
Franklin could soon get its first taste of microbrew beer. An offer to lease the old town hall building and…
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Jackson County Planning Board reconsiders rewrites
A proposal to loosen steep slope development rules in Jackson County is headed back to the drawing board. A large…
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Film crew granted access to Judaculla Rock
A film crew with the show “American Unearthed” will arrive in Jackson County this week to film an episode on…
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MedWest hosts community meetings
MedWest Haywood will hold another series of community meetings in April and May. Feedback collected from the community during an…
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Macon candidate challenges reveal rift between conservative, moderate Republicans
Dueling challenges over the legitimacy of two Macon County commissioner candidates could have had far-reaching implications for the county’s political…
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Macon assistant prosecutor to challenge Moore for DA job
Assistant District Attorney Ashley Welch, a Republican from Macon County, announced this week she will be running for district attorney…
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Wide-open race for district attorney in 2014
District Attorney Mike Bonfoey publicly announced plans to retire next year when his current term of office expires. Bonfoey has been…
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Jackson sheriff’s race shapes up
With campaign season barely off the ground, the Jackson County sheriff’s race has already drawn a hefty list of candidates…
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DOT explains N.C. 107 survey letter mystery
A controversial bypass around Sylva that was supposedly tabled by the highway department last year suddenly and mysteriously seemed to…
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WCU staff and students improve libraries in area jails
For most people, the word “jail” stirs up mental images of vertical bars and stark concrete walls, not of rows…
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Deer reclaim historic home in Cherokee
From clothing to art to clan names, deer are everywhere in Cherokee culture. But for the past couple of centuries,…
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Jackson County Republicans ready for annual convention
Jackson County Republicans have been busy during the winter season finalizing plans for their 2014 annual county convention, the NCGOP…
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Steinem celebrates ‘escaping’
By Melanie Threlkeld McConnell • Correspondent Here is a simple solution for stimulating the economy in this country: give women equal…
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WCU hikes citation fees
Students and visitors to the Western Carolina University campus, whether in a car or on roller skates, will soon have…
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Haven convinces board that motel is home
In front of a crowded courtroom Tuesday, the Macon County Board of Elections voted unanimously to dismiss a challenge protesting…
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Downtown Sylva bakery opens in April
A new bakery and bistro is coming to downtown Sylva. The Perk & Pastry Bistro will offer a wide array…
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Community asked for input in prison makeover
The trio of Christian ministries and advocates for the disadvantaged looking to transform the old state prison in Hazelwood into…
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Canton school to be reborn
William McDowell remembers when segregation was a reality in Canton. “When I was a kid we weren’t allowed to sit…
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Voucher legislation hits roadblock
After a morning of arguments from both sides of the school voucher debate, N.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ordered…
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Haywood commissioners on a quest for a better courthouse lawn
Nearly a year after cutting down the historic maple trees in front of the Haywood County Courthouse, the lawn still…
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Fire at Cherokee motel under investigation
The cause of a fire that caused substantial damage to the Pageant Inn in Cherokee last week is being investigated.
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