Haywood schools score major grant
The Haywood County School District has landed a $1 million grant to fight childhood obesity by encouraging an active, healthy…
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Shared finances complicate MedWest partnership
Some within the Jackson County medical community are wondering whether their hospital has gotten a fair shake in the partnership…
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Domestic violence agency shuts without warning amid irregularities
A domestic violence and sexual assault agency serving victims of abuse in Jackson County abruptly shut its doors last week…
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Crowded field shows no signs of thinning out in GOP race for Congress
Republicans seeking the 11th District congressional seat are trying to find ways before May’s primary to stand out and attract…
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Has Maggie found its heroine?
Longtime Maggie Valley resident Alaska Presley has seen it all when it comes to Ghost Town in the Sky’s ups…
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Resurrecting a ghost town: Alaska Presley hopes to revive Maggie Valley by reopening the once-popular Ghost Town amusement park
Tears gathered in Alaska Presley’s eyes as she moved one step closer to attaining a Maggie Valley icon that has…
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Candidate forum to be held in Bryson City
Several Republican candidates for the 11th Congressional District will participate in a Feb. 17 forum sponsored by the Smoky Mountain…
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Girl Scouts seeking new troop leaders
In an effort to recruit new Troop Leaders and volunteers, Girl Scouts will host “Information Hours” from 1 to 6…
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Class on self-defense for women Feb. 16
Western Carolina University is offering a self-defense class for women Thursday, Feb. 16. The class, sponsored by WCU’s Division of…
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Build it and they still didn’t come: Wastewater plant pumps more money in than treated waste out
Whittier’s $5 million wastewater treatment plant could be facing eventual financial insolvency, saddled with too much overhead and too few…
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Haywood commissioners join fray over Cherokee signage
The Haywood Board of Commissioners agreed to put its John Hancock on a letter asking the N.C. Department of Transportation…
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Gender equality on pay under the magnifying glass
Western Carolina University has launched a pay study to determine whether male employees are paid more than their female counterparts…
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Lack of funds could hinder accessibility of early voting
Swain County’s Board of Elections will decide this month whether it is worth several thousand dollars to operate an early…
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Cherokee alcohol vote tailored to give communities more say so
Cherokee tribal council last week decided to change the format for an upcoming vote on alcohol sales, a move that…
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Cherokee Bear Zoo cited for Animal Welfare Act violations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited the Cherokee Bear Zoo for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. During…
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Motives questioned in term limit proposal for Macon board
If Macon County commissioners decide to impose term limits for the planning board, beleaguered planning members could become the only…
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Corndogs on the go: Couple brings mobile street food to Franklin
Street food vendors aren’t welcome everywhere in Western North Carolina, but Andy and Pamela Fife haven’t found that to be…
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Family welcomes charges in baby’s death
Caron Swayney knew better than to torture herself, but still she occasionally found herself drawn to the trailer park where…
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How much is a cell tower worth? Counties could be getting short end of the stick
Haywood County might not be getting a fair shake from cell tower companies on their property taxes. County commissioners learned…
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I-40 cleared of rock-slide debris and open to motorists
Interstate 40 near the Tennessee line in Haywood County reopened early Sunday morning following two rockslides in as many weeks.…
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Battle over public protests at Jackson meetings continue
Jackson County commissioners this week formally attempted to put the kibosh on 83-year-old Marie Leatherwood’s pattern of outbursts, picketing and…
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The Shuler effect: Democrats face uphill battle to hang on to seat
The race for the Congressional seat representing Western North Carolina was flipped on its head last week when incumbent U.S.…
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Family first: As Shuler steps down to spend time with family, finding a Shuler-esque candidate to fill the void has Democrats scrambling.
When Coach Boyce Dietz got a call from his former standout quarterback Heath Shuler asking him to meet for breakfast…
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I-40 West expected to be open by Monday, Feb. 6
The Tennessee Department of Transportation anticipates the re-opening of Interstate 40's westbound lanes by Monday Feb. 6. TDOT has awarded…
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Slide closes westbound I-40
A rockslide has shut down a portion of Interstate 40 in Haywood County for up to two weeks. In the…
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REACH Volunteer Training Day
REACH of Haywood will hold its annual Volunteer Training Day on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Waynesville. Anyone who would like…
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‘Fight Like A Girl’ offered
Southwestern Community College will once again offer the popular Fight Like A Girl course from 9 a.m. to noon on…
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Sylva foot cop takes to patrol car to put the brakes on speeders
Sylva speeders beware: at downtown business owners’ requests, Sylva is tapping the full array of skills that newly hired downtown…
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Education cuts likely to steal the stage in elections
N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, spent much of his two-hour town hall in Haywood County last week addressing the topic…
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Bothwell goes on the stump in primary race for Congress
An Asheville Democrat going up against Congressman Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, in the May primary held his first town hall meeting…
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The difference between us and them
To the Editor: I wish to address the controversy surrounding the Macon County Planning Board. Maybe, just maybe you’ll understand…
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Haven keeps promises, makes enemies
To the Editor: Macon County should be proud to have a politician who makes promises to voters and then works…
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Macon’s Ron Haven is making a difference
To the Editor: Macon County Commissioner Ron Haven is a man of character, courage and conviction. He is knowledgeable of…
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We must fix election spending fiasco
To the Editor: There are two ways to look at the Supreme Court decision that enables corporations to spend what…
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Program was a unique, moving experience
To the Editor: My wife and I were richly blessed at a recent presentation of a unique ministry called “Let…
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Soon, we may all be working in our 70s
To the Editor: Last year I watched news coverage of the Occupy movement as it took root in cities around…
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McCrae’s new book a must have for local historians
Macon County residents, indeed all local history buffs, are about to receive a great gift from Barbara McRae, editor of…
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Shame on you, Smoky Mountain News, for poking fun
Shame on you, Smoky Mountain News, for making fun of my attempts at public service and, in so doing, potentially…
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Celebrating our little corner of the world
“[I] discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never…
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MedWest leadership shuffle gives hospitals more autonomy
Concerns among Jackson County doctors that Harris Regional Hospital is not thriving as it should under a partnership with Haywood…
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Jobs at what price? Jackson has long history of extending questionable loans
Supporters of Jackson County’s revolving loan program describe the financial give-outs as a tool in the county’s economic toolbelt, a…
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Sagging roof trusses on Waynesville fire station prompt lawsuit
The town of Waynesville is suing a Hendersonville contractor for negligence in the construction of its new fire station on…
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Just ask this therapist: laughter is definitely the best medicine
Teeheeheehee, yuk yuk yuk, ho ho ho, BAHAHAHA — no matter how you do it, laughter can boost your mood, lower…
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Waynesville leaders caught between salt factory and irked neighbors
Giles Chemical pledged last week to do what it could to appease neighbors fed up with intrusive truck traffic on…
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Lighten Up 4 Life seeks participants
Angel Medical Center and Macon County Public Health will kick-of Lighten Up 4 Life, a community wide weight loss challenge,…
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Financial series for women planned
Mountain BizWorks will host a free, women only three-part series on increasing your financial independence. The series is sponsored by…
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Local students compete in science fair at WCU
Students from across Western North Carolina will participate in the 2012 Western Regional Science Fair at Western Carolina University’s Ramsey…
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Cleanup leaders in Haywood County recognized
Winners of “Community Pride” awards through Haywood County’s Commission for a Clean County will gather at noon, Feb. 15, at…
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Human billboard gets his groove on to the delight of passing motorists
It ain’t easy be green. Nor is it particularly easy for a full-grown man to position himself beside a busy…
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Shuler confirms that he won’t run for governor
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) on Tuesday ended speculation that he was considering a run for governor. “I will not…
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