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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Tombstone buyers in grave situation with Moody Funeral Home
It’s been nearly a year-and-a-half since Edna Queen lost her son, and despite forking over $1,100 for a headstone to…
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Macon planning board on the chopping block?
The fate of Macon County’s planning board and whether it will exist in a meaningful form will be decided at…
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Sylva funeral home directors swindled pre-payers, investigators say
A former Jackson County funeral director has been charged with fraud for swindling people who paid for their own funerals…
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Job help streamlined by SCC and JobLink
Southwestern Community College and Macon County JobLink Career Center have joined forces to provide a “one-stop shop” for people looking…
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New accounting firm opens in Franklin
The Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Carla L. Haire, a certified public accountant who…
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Haywood chamber to host elected officials reception
The Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual elected officials reception from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on…
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Free speech or rude disruption? Jackson County bans woman from holding signs during meetings
In town and county governments there are those dedicated members of the public who speak out and stand up to…
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Sales tax hike for education faces uphill battle
Gov. Beverly Perdue laid out a proposal last week to increase the state’s sales tax by three-quarters of a cent…
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Occupy protesters rally in Bryson City
Western North Carolina occupiers “took possession” last week of the Federal Building in Bryson City where federal court is held…
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Sullied by sewer back-ups, Cherokee resident files suit against tribe
A member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is suing the tribe over sewage overflows onto her property, which…
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Police look for high-tech help tracking stolen goods
Sylva will likely hire a private company in Texas to process daily pawnshop and second-hand dealers’ receipts instead of those…
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Smoky Mountain Living seeks spring photos
Smoky Mountain Living magazine prominently features images from across the southern Appalachians in each edition. Photo essays adhere to the…
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Conrad Burrell steps down as SCC leader
Macon County resident and longtime educator Terry Bell will take over as chairman of Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees.…
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Franklin walk benefits Cystic Fibrosis
A “Great Strides” walk will take place in Franklin, with a kickoff party and information session at 6 p.m., Feb.…
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Sustainable tourism subject of seminar
A seminar on sustainable tourism is set for 2 p.m., Jan. 31, at the First Presbyterian Church in Highlands, in…
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Folkmoot sculpture must be moved, but to where?
Finding a new home for the Folkmoot sculpture in downtown Waynesville has taken a new turn. The Waynesville public art…
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Tug-of-war over Cherokee sign takes a new turn
Maggie Valley has been rallying allies in its fight to save a small but perhaps precious sliver of its struggling…
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WCU students stage drag show to get out the vote against gay marriage proposal
A student club at Western Carolina University is defending its decision to pair a drag show featuring “kings” and “queens”…
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Help neighbors during disasters
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Training will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in Waynesville for…
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Free self-defense class for women
A free self-defense and personal-safety seminar for women is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at…
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Exploring the ethical issues and aging
Learn about the ethical issues faced when loved ones age at a Feb. 6, 1 p.m. workshop at Haywood Community…
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Sylva woman regional Teacher of the Year
Edith Callahan, a health science teacher at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, was recently named Teacher of the Year…
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Marking his plot in life: Author shares his love of local lore and mountain heritage
For most boys, Superman and Batman were their heroes; for Bob Plott, his ancestors were super men. As he grew…
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Battle to save historic truss bridge likely to end in compromise
A compromise has emerged in a fight over the historic McCoy truss bridge, one that would keep the old bridge…
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Police beating in Bryson City leads to $22,500 settlement
A mentally ill man got a $22,500 settlement in a lawsuit against a Bryson City police officer who hit him…
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Giant trucks on tiny street pose headaches for Waynesville neighborhood
Earl Bradley watches from the parking lot of his auto repair shop as a tractor trailer struggles for 15 minutes…
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Lawsuit calls on mental health nonprofit to share the wealth
A lawsuit filed last week claims $17 million has been hijacked from public coffers over the past two decades by…
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News in brief
The Jackson County Republican Party will hold an open house at its new office in Sylva from 3 p.m. until…
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Bryson federal building will be ‘occupied’
Members of Move to Amend, a grassroots coalition, will be in front of the Federal Courthouse on Main Street in…
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Teach-in on corporate influence planned
Confused about what corporate personhood is, and why it even matters? A group of Haywood County residents will hold a…
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Players sought for football teams
Alumni football is coming to Waynesville via Gridiron Alumni, which is planning several full-contact alumni football games. Players are…
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Edwards sentenced for Cullowhee bank robbery
Brian Anthony Edwards, a junior a Western Carolina University, was convicted of robbery and sentenced to a maximum of 21…
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Maggie tightens up noise ordinance, again
Maggie Valley was thrust back into controversy over its noise ordinance last week, an ongoing debate that has pitted residents…
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Merger of Jackson County tourism entities on the table
While a proposed room-tax hike in Jackson County has been sidelined at least for now, the idea of merging the…
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Jackson reval probably will occur in 2016; commissioners cite lack of sales data for second postponement
Jackson leaders will likely pushback a countywide property revaluation from next year to 2016 following a strong recommendation by their…
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Commissioners angle for piece of library glory in plaque dispute
Jackson County leaders have decided that tradition is overrated. Six months after the new Jackson County library opened, commissioners have…
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Haywood cuts slope engineer because of construction slowdown
The construction downturn has led Haywood County to lay off its steep slope engineer, a position created during the heyday…
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Controversial planning board likely sentenced to backseat in Macon
Driven by a Republican-dominated commission, Macon County’s beleaguered planning board will undergo wholesale changes that likely include member term limits…
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One façade at a time: Cherokee makes over downtown appeal
Cherokee is on a mission to remodel the look of its business district, in the hope that an infusion of…
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All or nothing? Cherokee ponders whether to tailor upcoming alcohol vote
Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians might have the chance to decide whether they want alcohol in their…
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The road less traveled
The question ‘which way to Cherokee?’ continues bedeviling the state transportation department, which has been caught in a tug-of-war between…
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Waynesville welcomes a new bakery
Waynesville is getting its Main Street bakery back, but not just any bakery. City Bakery, a well-known café and bakery…
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Imperial Hotel restaurant opens
Sid’s on Main opened for business last Friday in Canton. The restaurant is housed within the Imperial Hotel, which has…
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Maggie Valley Chamber hires executive director
Teresa Smith completed her first day as the full-time executive director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce Monday. Smith…
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Debate rages over proposed cell phone ban behind the wheel
Calling and talking on cell phones while driving is likely to continue, at least for now, in North Carolina. But…
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Swain ponders room tax increase
Swain County’s Tourism Development Authority will appeal to county officials for a 1 percent increase in the room tax rate.…
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Dillsboro hopes to broker funding deal for tourist railroad
Swain County has now been targeted as part of a regional effort to drum up financial support for the Great…
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Film series features ‘Women, War & Peace’
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva is hosting a four-week film discussion program on the recent PBS series, “Women, War…
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GOP candidate Dan Forest to appear in Macon
Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Forest will be the guest speaker at a Macon County Republican Party “Meet & Greet”…
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