Canton lowers restrictions on outdoor special event requests
 

Canton lowers restrictions on outdoor special event requests

In the past, Canton required that a request to use public spaces for events be submitted four months in advance.…
Read More

Comment

Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund
 

Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has announced a new quarterly cycle for the Tourism Capital Project Fund (TCPF),…
Read More

Comment

Haywood TDA to Host Community Input Session
 

Haywood TDA to Host Community Input Session

Have your say in the future of the county’s tourism industry by attending a community input session for the Haywood…
Read More

Comment

The Sylva gardening club maintains the large garden that runs the length of Bicentennial Park. Donated photo
 

Sylva Garden Club hosts its annual picnic

The Sylva Garden Club will be hosting its annual picnic 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Bicentennial…
Read More

Comment

Runners faced cool, wet weather for last year’s Friends of the Lake 5K, which was held in April. This year’s race will be held Labor Day weekend. Donated photo
 

Friends of the Lake 5K

The Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race & Walk will take place at Lake Junaluska on Saturday, Aug. 31. Those…
Read More

Comment

NCDEQ recognizes WNC institutes for energy reductions
 

NCDEQ recognizes WNC institutes for energy reductions

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office recognized thirteen state agencies, universities and community colleges for their…
Read More

Comment

Benton MacKaye Trail proposal heard in Congress
 

Benton MacKaye Trail proposal heard in Congress

A hearing before the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands was held July 24 for H.R. 8403 — a bipartisan bill in…
Read More

Comment

Much of the drought has abated across the state, including Western North Carolina. From ncdrought.org
 

North Carolina free from extreme drought

North Carolina is free from extreme drought in the latest advisory issued by the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) on Thursday.
Read More

Comment

The snorkel trail event will be hosted by Haywood Waterways Association. Donated graphic
 

Snorkeling event offers river education opportunity

On Aug. 3, join Haywood Waterways Association on the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail to discover the fish and other wildlife…
Read More

Comment

Input sought on environmental justice initiative
 

Input sought on environmental justice initiative

People can soon comment on an environmental justice initiative outlined in Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 292. The order reestablished an…
Read More

Comment

Public comment period open for Foothills Parkway environmental assessment
 

Public comment period open for Foothills Parkway environmental assessment

National Park Service (NPS) posted the Foothills Parkway Section 8D Environmental Assessment (EA) today for a 30-day public comment period…
Read More

Comment

Haywood master gardeners host information session
 

Haywood master gardeners host information session

People interested in gardening will have the chance to join a network of like-minded folks across the state dedicated to…
Read More

Comment

Buncombe Turnpike will play Franklin July 27. File photo
 

Cowee School welcomes Buncombe Turnpike

Americana/bluegrass ensemble Buncombe Turnpike will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center…
Read More

Comment

Timmy Abell will play Cashiers July 27. File photo
 

Cashiers to host JarrettFest

A nationally recognized touring and recording artist of children’s music, Timmy Abell will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27,…
Read More

Comment

An artist's rendition of the SWOT satellite. Donated photo
 

Highlands lecture series to host NASA scientist

The Highlands Biological Foundation (HBF) announced the next lecture in their Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, taking place at 6 p.m.…
Read More

Comment

Haywood Waterways hosts annual picnicHaywood Waterways hosts annual picnic
 

Haywood Waterways hosts annual picnicHaywood Waterways hosts annual picnic

The nonprofit Haywood Waterways is inviting members and supporters to gather for its annual picnic to be held at the…
Read More

Comment

Beekeeper group to host Varroa testing demo
 

Beekeeper group to host Varroa testing demo

Smoky Mountain Beekeepers’ August meeting will be held at the apiary at Mountain Discovery Charter School located at the top…
Read More

Comment

Youth fishing event in Cherokee
 

Youth fishing event in Cherokee

The Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby will be held from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Oconaluftee…
Read More

Comment

Farmers market hosts Styrofoam disposal event
 

Farmers market hosts Styrofoam disposal event

Bring unwanted Styrofoam by the Haywood County Farmers Market Saturday, July 27. 
Read More

Comment

WNC at the RNC: Western delegates reflect on historic GOP convention
 

WNC at the RNC: Western delegates reflect on historic GOP convention

Eight days is what it took to shock the world and cast the contentious 2024 Presidential race down untrodden paths. 
Read More

Comment

The opioid epidemic has taken the lives of more than 37,000 North Carolinians since 2000.
 

Macon, Jackson to receive more opioid settlement funds

Macon and Jackson County commissions signed resolutions this month enabling the governments to receive funding from the Kroger opioid settlement,…
Read More

Comment

As planned, Western North Carolina courts became fully digital on July 22. North Carolina Judicial Branch photo
 

eCourts launches in Western North Carolina

Members of the public interested in Western North Carolina court cases now have better access than ever to criminal and…
Read More

Comment

Students crowd into the Fairview School cafeteria. Donated photo
 

Jackson to fund Fairview School construction

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted this month to commit to funding construction and renovation of Fairview School, which…
Read More

Comment

Macon Economic Development funds internship program
 

Macon Economic Development funds internship program

A historic partnership intended to connect high schoolers with future employment opportunities and further economic development in Macon County has been…
Read More

Comment

Canopy Housing Foundation makes grants for housing, education
 

Canopy Housing Foundation makes grants for housing, education

The Canopy Housing Foundation continued its longstanding commitment to the communities it serves by giving away more than $25,000 in…
Read More

Comment

Construction starting on new U.S. 23/74 turn lane
 

Construction starting on new U.S. 23/74 turn lane

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation has begun a safety project on U.S. 23/74 between Hyatt Creek Road…
Read More

Comment

HRMC doubles mammography capacity with new unit
 

HRMC doubles mammography capacity with new unit

Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) is thrilled to announce the addition of a new mammography unit that will significantly enhance…
Read More

Comment

The Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago in less than a month, from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22.
 

Haywood Dem delegate explains Harris pick

News of President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race may have shocked some observers, but North Carolina’s Democratic…
Read More

Comment

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) expanded its severe drought classification and classified two counties as in extreme drought in the latest advisory issued Thursday.
 

Severe drought hits WNC

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council (DMAC) expanded its severe drought classification and classified two counties as in extreme drought in the latest advisory issued…
Read More

Comment

Folkmoot kicks off annual Summer Fest with soirée
 

Folkmoot kicks off annual Summer Fest with soirée

Folkmoot kicked off its 41st Summer Fest celebration last Thursday with its Summer Soirée. Guests gathered at the Folkmoot Friendship…
Read More

Comment

Jackson Grimm will play Waynesville July 20. File photo
 

Americana, folk at Scotsman

Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Scotsman…
Read More

Comment

Haywood Community Band. File photo
 

Haywood Community Band venue change

The Haywood Community Band (HCB) has announced a change of venue for the three remaining 2024 season Maggie Valley concerts…
Read More

Comment

Ready for the Gemboree?
 

Ready for the Gemboree?

The 57th annual Macon County Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 26-27 and 10 a.m.…
Read More

Comment

The event is part of Haywood Waterways’ “Get to Know Your Watershed” series of outdoor recreation activities. Donated photo
 

Join HWA for a West Fork workshop

Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College invites the public to discover the amazing aquatic life living in the West…
Read More

Comment

Friends of Panthertown hosts trail work days on the first Tuesday and third Saturday of each month. Donated photo
 

Fireside chat and workday

One of Friends of Panthertown’s upcoming programs includes a “Fireside Chat” in which it will share information about the organization…
Read More

Comment

Pisgah View is the 35th state park added to the North Carolina state parks system, and the 10th state park in the mountain region of the state. Donated photo
 

Input sought for Pisgah View plan

The third public information meeting for the Pisgah View State Park Master Plan will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday,…
Read More

Comment

NC hunters harvest near-record number of turkeys
 

NC hunters harvest near-record number of turkeys

Results from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) 2024 Wild Turkey Harvest Summary report show that hunters recorded 24,074 birds…
Read More

Comment

Mountain Credit Union hosts Tee it Up for Diabetes golf tournament
 

Mountain Credit Union hosts Tee it Up for Diabetes golf tournament

Mountain Credit Union (MCU) held its annual Tee it Up for Diabetes Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. 
Read More

Comment

This class will teach people what they need to know to grow a robust vegetable garden during the cooler fall months. Donated photo
 

Haywood Extension hosts ‘learn to grow’ classes

Anyone interested in learning to grow fall vegetables is encouraged to attend the Haywood County Extension Office’s “learn to grow”…
Read More

Comment

New zoning classifications have changed permitted uses on the 185-acre mill parcel in Canton. Town of Canton photo
 

Canton mill parcel rezoned

A rezoning of the former paper mill parcel in Canton has replaced an expiring industrial development moratorium, maintaining the town’s limited…
Read More

Comment

Haywood awards nearly $6 million for affordable housing developments
 

Haywood awards nearly $6 million for affordable housing developments

Haywood County commissioners approved two funding recommendations from its Affordable Housing Development Committee that will increase affordable housing stock at…
Read More

Comment

Jesse Fripp (right) and David Lilly of Shining Rock Ventures present the results of their “listening post” exercise to Haywood County commissioners on July 15. Haywood County photo
 

Whose future? Consultant report ignores Haywood’s working class

Consultants finally delivered to Haywood County commissioners a report on the results of a secretive, long-awaited “listening post exercise” meant…
Read More

Comment

Rivers in Western North Carolina, although normally peaceful, are prone to flash flooding. Hannah McLeod photo
 

Macon tables floodplain ordinance decision

After an outpouring of opposition from members of the public over the course of several county commission meetings, Macon County…
Read More

Comment

Pactiv’s Waynesville facility will soon be under new management, if the deal goes through. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Pactiv sells Waynesville plant, Pine Bluff facility for $110 million

Pactiv Evergreen, owner of the now-shuttered paper mill in Canton, announced last week that it had agreed to sell its…
Read More

Comment

Canton’s town government and administration have faced incredible challenges over the past three years. Cory Vaillancourt photo
 

Canton meeting focuses on accountability, transparency

With the eyes of the state, the region and the county on the Town of Canton — flood recovery is…
Read More

Comment

The more than 60 members of the Commission represent the geographic, racial, age, ideological and gender diversity of the state, with individuals from various sectors, including the business, legal and academic communities. Stock illustration
 

Commission on Future of NC elections presents findings on election administration

Leaders from around the state recently found North Carolina Elections to be fair and secure with opportunities for increased funding,…
Read More

Comment

Census bureau to conduct 2026 field test in Cherokee
 

Census bureau to conduct 2026 field test in Cherokee

In 2026, the United States Census Bureau is conducting three field tests in “American Indian Areas” to prepare for unique…
Read More

Comment

Henley had been the assistant director of athletic bands under director Jack Eaddy Jr. who announced his departure July 5 to take a teaching position at the University of Georgia. Donated photo
 

Henley named interim director of athletic bands at WCU

Matt Henley has been named interim director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University and will lead the Pride of…
Read More

Comment

WGU North Carolina Chancellor Ben Coulter and HCC President Shelley White shake hands after signing the agreement. Donated photo
 

HCC signs transfer agreement with Western Governors University

Graduates and employees will have access to personalized learning pathways to higher education  On Friday, June 21, leaders from Haywood…
Read More

Comment

Swain County Commission weighs code of conduct
 

Swain County Commission weighs code of conduct

Following a lengthy closed session during the Swain County Board of Commission’s July 2 work session, commission chair Kevin Seagle…
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.