The Jackson County Department of Social Services has faced incredible challenges over the past year associated with placing children in foster care. Now both the state and the county are providing funding to try and alleviate that problem. 

Macon County Early College student athletes took to the public comment period during the March 25 school board meeting to speak out against the possibility of not being allowed to play Franklin High School sports, as has long been the norm. 

The Sylva Pride celebration will look a little different this year after the Sylva Town Board denied the group’s road closure application for its fourth annual Pride Parade, despite support for the event from much of the downtown business community. 

Overcast skies didn’t deter a large crowd from coming out to witness the unveiling of the sculpture “Sowing Seeds of the Future,” on Saturday, March 23,­ in downtown Franklin. 

When Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close its Canton paper mill last year, Haywood County Schools was already facing a host of other challenges, among them a declining student population, costs incurred from damages caused during the Pigeon River flood in 2021, and the impending end of COVID-era relief funds. 

Macon County residents will see the quarter-cent sales tax referendum on the ballot this November after commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to put the decision to voters again. 

Haywood County Schools has increased the number of people it employs to care for and monitor students’ mental health this year, largely due to increased funding from the county commission that allowed for additional school resource officers. 

The Macon County Commission will see one new member seated in December after Barry Breeden beat incumbent Paul Higdon to represent district three. 

The Haywood County School Board approved several personnel recommendations last week that saw the return of a previous finance director and new principals for two schools.

Jackson County Schools will install over 100 new security cameras throughout the school system after it received over a quarter of a million dollars from the Center for Safer Schools’ Safety Grant Program. 

Incumbent Wes Jamison and newcomer Gayle Woody have won the race for Jackson County Board of Education.

The Macon County Commission will see one new member seated in December after newcomer Barry Breeden beat out incumbent Paul Higdon to represent District 3.

The Development Finance Initiative has conducted a housing needs assessment for Jackson County, and while the findings won’t be surprising to anyone living in the area, they do outline critical housing needs.

The Town of Sylva is embarking on a five-year plan to revitalize Mill Street with updated façades as part of the design pillar of the Main Street Sylva Association. 

Josh Brooks will return as head coach for Franklin High School football after players implored the school board to reinstate the recently resigned coach.

Capital needs are at the center of Macon County’s budget process for fiscal year 2024-25 and the county is in a good position to fund several big-ticket items. Even so, commissioners are considering another look at the quarter-cent sales tax option. 

This election season, there are four candidates vying for two seats on the Jackson County Board of Education. With Chairman Elizabeth Cooper choosing not to seek reelection, the board will have at least one new member after votes are in.

The Town of Sylva passed an ordinance addressing panhandling last week by a narrow margin after extensive and contentious discussion on the topic. 

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has hired Kevin King as the new manager for Jackson County. 

A facilities study for Jackson County Schools that will help inform capital improvements for years to come found several schools in the county are overcrowded, something administration and school board members hope a traditional middle school will help alleviate.  

The Macon County School Board has approved a policy for emergency use of naloxone, an opioid inhibitor, within the school system.

Students in Haywood County who want to be educators will have a new opportunity that could help pay for college after the school district was chosen for a new Teaching Fellows pilot program that emphasizes local recruitment. 

Macon County is one step closer to a new Franklin High School after state leaders awarded $62 million for the project. 

Sylva began its budget process last week with presentations from department heads about what they need in the budget, as well as what they want to see in the budget.

The Town of Sylva is once again considering a solicitation ordinance for the streets and sidewalks section of its code of ordinances, and now the public will have a chance to weigh in. 

Marianna Black Library is set for a major expansion and renovation thanks to funding from several parties, including a large allotment in the state budget. 

In a rare split vote, the Haywood County School Board approved the hiring of a new head football coach for the Pisgah Bears — Rick Brindley.

After the last school year, Haywood County Schools held onto its seventh-place ranking in the state, out of 115 school districts, in academic performance. The school system first attained this historic high-water mark during the 2021-22 school year, prior to which it was ranked 10th. 

With Allen Street now operational, the Town of Sylva is set to begin work on renovations to Bryson Park. But before any decisions are made about what that work will entail, the town is soliciting input from members of the public about what they would like to see at the upgraded park.

With three new members seated following November elections, the Sylva Town Council is once again considering an update to the Streets and Sidewalks section of its code of ordinances to include a section on panhandling. 

Jackson County will make some adjustments to Macon County’s proposed changes to the Fontana Regional Library interlocal agreement after the board reviewed those changes in December and then directed its attorney to do the same. 

The Town of Franklin will be the latest municipality in North Carolina to implement a social district after the town council unanimously voted to adopt the ordinance during its first meeting of the new year. 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is poised to deploy several cameras around the county with automatic license plate readers in an attempt to combat crime more efficiently. 

The race for Board of Education in Jackson County is one step closer to being moved to November elections after county commissioners signed a resolution in support of the change. 

There is a new director at the head of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department, after commissioners made their selection official late last month. 

Macon County will see a change of leadership for the coming year after the county commission unanimously voted to appoint a new member to the chairmanship. 

After Macon County proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system agreement, Jackson County commissioners are taking a look at the recommendations to determine what will work, and what won’t. 

Despite the intention by some commissioners to make the school board race partisan in Macon County, it will remain non-partisan, in part due to an outpouring of opposition from both the public and members of the current school board. 

The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that it is decided during the Primary Election, despite being non-partisan. Now, the Jackson County Commission is considering changing the date of that race to the General Election in hopes of involving more of the electorate. 

The Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the county on the town’s request to include three parcels of county property. 

Macon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan. 

One of Haywood County’s used bookstores is entering its next chapter with a change of ownership and a continuation of tradition. 

After county commissioners considered signing a resolution in support of transitioning the Macon County Board of Education to a partisan-elected body, the school board has made clear their vehement opposition to the change. 

Haywood County Schools recently received two grants from Dogwood Health Trust. One will benefit students at the Haywood Community Learning Center, and another will help fund mental health support services in elementary and middle grades. 

Less than a month after Jackson County Manager Don Adams announced his resignation, commissioners have appointed an interim to fill the post. 

Without discussion or stated reasoning, Macon County commissioners decided not to allow Franklin to use county property for its proposed social district. 

Macon County Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe came before the Board of Commissioners this month to outline problems his department is having with staffing and interfacility transportation.