Haywood County Tax Collector Sebastian Cothran abruptly resigned mid-day on March 24, ending a brief tenure that began with his historic election at age 21 — one of the youngest elected officials in North Carolina at the time.

To the Editor:

Does it seem like every day you are overwhelmed by the atrocities in the news? Are you feeling beaten down in despair and hopelessness? Are you longing for some positive energy, some common sense, some time to gather with others, a chance to make some changes in the world?  

We invite you to come join us.

The stories came in waves, each more graphic than the last, until the room itself seemed to tighten under the weight of them — a dog so badly abused she could not walk, a horse found dead in a dry creek bed, another starving animal that did not survive despite last-ditch rescue efforts. By the time public comment ended March 16, Haywood County commissioners were left facing a stark question residents had repeated in different ways all night: how had so many warnings gone unanswered? 

A leaked draft of the FEMA Review Council’s final report on reform of the disaster response agency appears to shift considerable burden onto states, local governments, tribes and territories (SLTTs) while slashing the agency’s workforce by 50%, positioning federal response in the rear and largely ignoring requests to send recovery funding down to the county level.

Two Days of Mountain Culture, Craft, Food, and Live Music – With Exciting New Experiences for 2026

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — The mountains are calling, and the Appalachian True Heritage Festival is answering. Organizers are proud to announce the return of this beloved celebration to the heart of Downtown Waynesville, gathering community members, cultural bearers, artisans, musicians, and storytellers for a two-day immersion in the rich history and living traditions of Western North Carolina. 

Haywood Community College will welcome multiple speakers, guests and partners to campus on Friday, March 20, for the WNC Environmental Summit.

The WNC Environmental Summit will provide educational opportunities for regional groups to come together, share ideas, encourage each other and take action to make a difference.

The Environmental Action Community of WNC invites supporters and the public to its New Solar Financing for Organizations and Residents from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at the First United Methodist Church gymnasium located at 566 S. Haywood St. in Waynesville.

Failures in the federal response to Hurricane Helene are still rippling into Haywood County’s bottom line, forcing the county — like most of its municipalities — to build a budget around uncertainty and delay rather than recovery. 

County Manager Bryant Morehead’s March 16 presentation made clear that millions in storm-related costs remain unreimbursed, leaving the county to carry the financial burden 18 months after the disaster. 

Haywood Health Foundation announced its Annual Request For Proposals for Grants Pertaining to Unmet Healthcare Needs in Haywood County.

HHF’s grant program will provide grants to Haywood County non-profit organizations, government agencies and schools for healthcare initiatives, as well as educational and leadership programs related to improving healthcare in Haywood County. 

In 1983, when Rolf Kaufman attended a small meeting at the Waynesville home of his neighbor Dr. Clinton Border, he couldn’t have known that he was stepping into his life’s work. He’d simply said yes to an invitation, but not long after, Folkmoot USA would become inseparable from his name. 

Kaufman, who passed away on Feb. 15 at age 95, was more than a founding board member. Over four decades, he became the festival’s ambassador, diplomat, fundraiser, strategist and quiet guardian. To many, he was simply “Mr. Folkmoot.”