Shutdown irks tourism industry on the eve of leaf season
The tourism industry in Western North Carolina is not letting the shut down of visitor facilities on the Blue Ridge…
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College students must jump through new hoops to vote where they go to school
The new voter identification requirement won’t likely affect North Carolinians who have put down roots, but more transient populations including…
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Every good slogan needs a logo
The Jackson County tourism industry adopted a new logo last week to go with their new slogan: “Play On.”
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Sylva’s beloved Lulu’s under new ownership
The new owners of the iconic Lulu’s on Main restaurant in downtown Sylva are dedicated to keeping around the diner’s…
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New brewery to round out Jackson’s craft beer scene
Nicole Dexter and Chip Owen might be the only brewmasters in Western North Carolina who left Asheville — the Mecca…
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Sweepstakes to cops: your move
A woman charged with illegally operating sweepstakes-style video gambling machines got off in court this week after prosecutors dismissed the…
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In with greenways and yoga, out with ball field sports
An indoor swimming pool, a river park in Dillsboro and more greenways emerged as top priorities in a 10-year master…
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Replacing power poles a never-ending job
If you come across men in bright orange vests directing traffic around crews handling a towering power pole into the…
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Macon on the prowl for a new county manager
Macon County closed the application window last week and will soon begin paring down applicants in search of its next…
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Franklin unable to shake Nikwasi Mound missteps
The saga of Nikwasi Mound in Franklin being sprayed with potent weed killer more than a year ago continues to…
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Business leaders to educators: strong math skills a must
Western North Carolina’s educational institutions must re-emphasize the importance of mathematical skills at all levels — from basic addition and…
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State voting changes dissected, debated at political forum
Changes to the voting laws in North Carolina will have only a small effect on voter turnout, according to a…
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From the great outdoors to musical theater, WCU’s drawing cards are all over the map
After a surge in the freshmen retention rate at Western Carolina University, school administrators are trying to get a feel…
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WCU makes big strides in freshmen retention rate
They made it a top priority, but Western Carolina University administrators were still a bit surprised when they learned they…
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New sewer line could unbottle commercial growth in Canton
The commercial corridor of the Canton exit off Interstate 40 has been in a vice grip for several years due…
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Use it or lose it: Canton acts quick to spend outstanding grant money from Rural Center
The clock is ticking for Canton to spend $25,000 in remaining grant money from the N.C. Rural Center.
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Swain deputies rack up 13 wrecks in three years
A Swain County deputy totaled his patrol car earlier this month after hitting a parked car while going more than…
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Business calendar
• Western Carolina University will host information sessions on a new part-time MBA program starting in January and held in…
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District elections could be a partisan game changer in Jackson
In what he characterized as simply starting the discussion, Jackson County Commission Chairman Jack Debnam broached the idea of changing…
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Deserted factory to morph into agriculture venture
An abandoned, county-owned furniture factory in Whittier could transform into a center for agritourism in Jackson County, or it could…
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National Guard Unit from Haywood to deploy to Afghanistan
The National Guard’s 211th Military Police Company based in Haywood County is deploying to Afghanistan.
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Model plane club allows members to take the pilot seat
The Macon Aero Modelers Club members are not afraid to fly much of anything. Large, wooden aircraft churning through the…
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Macon County ponies up for airport upgrades, again
The Macon County Commission last week narrowly approved funding for upgrades and an expansion of the runway at the county…
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Maggie bites off more than it can chew in Stillwell concert
Maggie Valley residents and leaders are questioning how and why town taxpayers ended up footing the bill for a Country…
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Experts educate residents on cumbersome healthcare reform
Thousands of uninsured Western North Carolina residents will soon benefit from the Affordable Care Act, despite most people still being…
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Appointment signals Meadow’s rising clout in Washington
U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows was appointed as one of the country’ two representatives to the United Nation’s General Assembly last…
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A moving target: Small-towns’ eternal chase for doctors
Five full-time doctors practicing at Swain County Medical Center have left during the past year. The departures account for half…
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Bryson City: just what the doctor ordered
As Dr. Randall Castor stared down the final weeks of his residency, it was clear those long, grueling years of…
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How a tiny bracelet saved the life of a man with dementia
During rehearsal for her church’s band one Monday night, Paula McElroy called home to check on her 82-year-old husband who…
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Canton factory revs up production of big-rig cab parts
A manufacturing plant that makes parts for big-rig cab interiors has broken ground on a $5.9 million expansion in Canton…
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Forging a new economy: public input sought in roadmap for WNC
The creation of a monolithic blueprint that will lead the seven western counties into a new economy is under way,…
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Haywood acts to secure Mauney Cove trash site
Haywood County has secured the first right of refusal on the 1.4-acre tract where the Mauney Cove trash and recycling…
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Construction climate warming up again in Haywood
Building permits are trending upwards in Haywood County thanks to an increase in single-family home construction. The majority of new…
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Swain County fights for its just due
Swain County Manager Kevin King made another trip up to Washington, D.C. last week, though this time the visit was…
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Haywood Schools assess benevolent policy toward club sports
A proposal to charge youth sports clubs and outside groups rental fees to use school property is being studied by…
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Opponents of Maggie mayor try but fail to remove him from office
As the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen called its monthly meeting to order, it was the last item on the…
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Tourism tax increase at root of complaints lobbed against Maggie mayor
Two Maggie Valley aldermen recently indicated that they have a laundry list of grievances against the town’s mayor, but there…
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Exhibit aimed a piquing interest in Cherokee history
A new traveling exhibit is using technology to teach people about traditional Cherokee culture.
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Forest Hills doesn’t have the green to buy abandoned golf course
Forest Hills residents and town leaders overwhelmingly opposed purchasing a 60-acre abandoned golf course in the middle of their community…
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Skaters find their groove at Waynesville’s new concrete playground
Skateboarders from across Western North Carolina have streamed into Waynesville during the past week to try out the town’s newly…
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Sewer credits: a commodity market in Cashiers
To relieve sewer gridlock in the Cashiers area, the Tuckasegee Water and Sewer Authority may change its rules to let…
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Changes on table for TDA grant funding
People seeking funds from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority spend hours filling out grant applications, and all the tourism…
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Rural Center will survive, but as a shadow of its former self
Despite fears that the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center would meet its maker after losing its state funding, the…
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Getting a handle on cutlery
Kristi Culpepper knows knives. Browsing the wide selection of specialized hunting, hobby and kitchen cutlery at Old School Knife Works…
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Highlands-Cashiers Hospital soon to forge partnership with Mission
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital is expected to come under the umbrella of Mission Health in coming months. The Highlands-Cashiers Hospital is current…
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Tribal council gets a few new faces following election
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians held tribal council elections last Thursday (Sept. 5). All 12 seats on tribal council…
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New restrooms in store for Waynesville playground
The town of Waynesville will soon put in temporary restrooms next to the popular children’s playground on Marshall Street. They…
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Waynesville to invest in tennis courts
Waynesville plans to repair the six cracked and aging tennis courts in its recreation park, as long as the local…
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Clyde police chief suspended, but keeps job
Clyde Police Chief Gerard Ball won’t return to work until Oct. 5 after the Clyde Board of Aldermen decided to…
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Razing the sweepstakes: Police handcuffed in latest standoff with successor of video gambling
Sweepstakes-style video gambling is making bold forays into the rural communities of Western North Carolina, back for yet another skirmish…
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