Gary Carden has accomplished a great deal in his life. But by his own estimation, none of it compares to his most recent endeavor — donating a treasure trove of books to the Jackson County Public Library that took him a lifetime to collect. 

For the second year in a row, Macon County Schools will request funding from county commissioners to bridge the gap in funding for free school meals for all K-12 students. But with data trending downward, it’s unclear whether the school system will be able to continue its free meal program for more than two more years.  

The Jackson County Board of Education this month took an in-depth look at per pupil spending across the school system, prompted by recent discussions about Jackson Community School and its viability for the future. 

On Saturday, April 26, a group of protesters took to the Little Tennessee River to call attention to what they see as excessive debris removal in Macon County as part of the cleanup process from damage by Hurricane Helene last year. 

This year’s Greening Up the Mountains, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, celebrates the 27th anniversary of the spring festival. True to its roots in the celebration of Earth Day and Appalachian heritage, the event continues to focus on local environmental stewardship and sustainability.

In the face of challenges with Section 8 rental assistance, Mountain Projects Executive Director Patsy Davis visited county commissions in both Haywood and Jackson counties this month to inform elected officials of just how dire the situation is becoming.  

Haywood County Schools is working with a tight budget for the coming year. 

After making cuts where possible over the last few years, Superintendent Trevor Putnam told county commissioners last week that the school system was as lean as it could be and would dip into its fund balance for the second year in a row in order to balance the budget for the 2025-26 school year. 

On the morning of April 8, county employees removed commemorative plaques from the Confederate statue outside the Jackson County Library and placed them in the county’s storage facility. Few in the county, save the board of commissioners, knew the possibility of removal was even on the table. 

A new gas station, T&C General Store, is planned for the corner of N.C. 107 and South River Road, where the old Jack the Dipper used to sit, right on the Tuckasegee River. 

While a project of this nature is permitted in the zoning district, the public has expressed concern over environmental, aesthetic and traffic safety concerns, especially in the wake of flooding from Hurricane Helene. 

The Jackson County Commission invited Library Director Tracy Fitzmaurice to come before the board and give a report on the state of libraries in the county after concerns were raised over library security last month. 

During its March 27 meeting, the Sylva Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Joseph Waldrun to fill the seat left vacant by Commissioner Mark Jones in February. 

The Macon County Board of Education approved funding to permit Macon Early College in Franklin to apply to become a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and field its own sports teams. Previously, MEC students had participated in athletics at Franklin High School. 

As Sylva closes in on a final proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, it looks like the town will be able to achieve its top budget priorities without an increase to the tax rate, due in part to growth in its taxable value from the 2025 tax revaluation in Jackson County.  

As of 10 a.m. this morning, the Kitchens Branch fire in Sylva is 94 acres and 60% contained.

Haywood County Schools Board of Education passed its budget for 2025-26, and despite multiple years of contraction and yet another budget focused on offsetting losses and minimizing expenses, the school system continues to outperform other districts across the state.

The Sicklefin Redhorse has a long history in the waters of southern Appalachia. But the fish wasn’t rediscovered and recognized as a distinct species until 1992. Now, the fish has been scientifically described and as of February, has an official scientific name — Moxostoma ugidatli. 

On Friday, March 14, Representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly hosted a town hall to update the public and local elected officials about the progress of both Hurricane Helene Recovery and broadband expansion in the region on Friday March 14. 

The aim of newly-elected State Superintendent of Public Schools Mo Green’s “Mo Wants to Know” tour is simple — to garner as much input as possible about the direction North Carolina Public Schools should be heading in the coming years.

Commissioners appointed Warren Cabe as the new manager for Macon County after he had served just over four months as interim county manager.

“I appreciate the opportunity,” said Cabe at the March 11 meeting when commissioners appointed him to the position.

In a split vote during its March 11 meeting, Macon County Commissioners decided to reduce the time limit for people speaking during public comment. The decision was made to allow more people to speak during the monthly, 45-minute public comment sessions. 

Jackson County Sheriff Doug Farmer gave his annual report to his county commissioners last week, and while overdose deaths have declined dramatically, the agency is facing difficulties housing inmates in a crowded jail. 

On March 6 Jackson County Representative Mike Clampitt filed a local bill in the North Carolina House of Representatives to make the Jackson County Board of Education election a partisan race. If the bill passes, partisan elections for the school board would begin with the 2026 election.  

A Jackson County commissioner brought up the issue of library security during the commission’s March 4 meeting, citing safety concerns for staff at the Jackson County Library in Sylva.

State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green is set to be in Western North Carolina next week as part of his “Mo Wants to Know” tour happening throughout March and April. 

After weeks of consideration and input from public, students and staff, the Jackson County Board of Education has decided to keep Jackson Community School in its current location and has committed to recruiting more students to the school and revamping campus offerings. 

Amid changing federal regulations regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one Jackson County group is making the rounds at public meetings in an effort to remind both elected officials and community members that it is there to support the Hispanic community. 

With the impending sunset of grants that have sustained the Community Care Program in Sylva Police Department, town officials have made clear that continuing the program will be a top budget priority. 

Editor’s note: While it is standard SMN and AP style to use last names when referring to people in articles, this story refers to students by their first names.

The Spanish word “camino” means road or path in English, and according to the student leaders of a new club at Franklin High School, that is exactly what they want their group to be. 

After a surprise move by Commissioner John Smith at a meeting on Feb. 18, Jackson County is one step closer to partisan school board elections. 

But the move, which was approved unanimously by the commission, was not on the agenda, which means the public, and members of the Board of Education, were left in the dark on the issue and the fact that commissioners were even considering the move. 

Sylva Commissioner Mark Jones tendered his resignation from the board through a letter during the Feb. 13 meeting, citing health-related reasons. 

Jackson County Commissioners appointed Dale Collins to the county’s Tourism Development Authority Board, filling a vacancy that had been left open since before December. 

Just months after Jackson, Macon and Swain counties reached an agreement to approve a new version of the Fontana Regional Library interlocal agreement following more than two years of controversy, an email originating from the account of a Macon County Library Board member plots a path for dissolution. 

The Macon County Library Board has signed an overture in opposition to the Fontana Regional Library System going fine-free, a topic that came up most recently during a November meeting of the Fontana Regional Library Board but may not be raised again. 

During a Feb. 11 Macon County Commissioners meeting, Interim Manager Warren Cabe announced that the county would be hiring a new position for animal control, a department that runs largely on the work of volunteers. 

Jackson County is embarking on a conservation plan with goal of protecting certain tracts of land. 

“Jackson County is, from a natural resources perspective, a phenomenal county,” said Owen Carson, senior ecologist at Equinox Environmental in a presentation to commissioners Feb. 4.

“Affrilachia: Testimonies,” by Chris Aluka Berry sets out to document the Black experience in Appalachia. The book is a historical artifact that honors, represents and celebrates a diverse community whose own history is the history of Appalachia, and whose existence has shaped the region. 

Jackson County commissioners chose to delay an appointment to the county’s Tourism Development Authority Board for the third month in a row, leaving a board that has had difficulty filling seats in the past one member down when there are multiple applicants that have been vetted and are ready to serve. 

Each year the North Carolina Department of Education travels across the state to recognize one district or school per region that stands out for their work and commitment to the Science of Reading.

The Macon County Board of Education has approved additional coaching supplements for head and assistant coaches in the district, to the tune of about $6,000 annually. 

After years of work on the project and more than a decade of planning and advocacy, the new aquatic center in Jackson County is officially open to patrons. 

Residents of Jackson County have long voiced their support, organized and fundraised for a skatepark with little to show other than a temporary half-pipe that stood behind Motion Makers in Sylva for just over one year. 

After receiving requests for additional staffing at the Macon County Animal Shelter, commissioners have decided to see if they might be able to contract the county’s animal control services out to a private company. 

After previous County Manager Derek Roland announced his resignation in September, Macon County decided to appoint Warren Cabe as interim county manager until June 30. Cabe previously worked for the county as emergency services director. 

Despite the hell Asheville and greater Western North Carolina have gone through since flooding caused by Hurricane Helene last fall, as well as the recent terror attacks on large crowds during New Year festivities around the country, passionate protestors showed out for the People’s March in Pack Square on Saturday, Jan. 18. 

HERE of Jackson County, the county’s primary homeless services provider, is requesting half a million dollars from the county to purchase and renovate a facility that would become Jackson’s first and only permanent homeless shelter. 

Jackson County has been working to develop a plan it hopes will mend the multigenerational workforce issue that is impacting communities around the country — childcare, and the lack of availability — on the local level.