Haywood County’s Black Generational Wealth committee is the product of a long-dissolved 2020 book club. 

That year, a white police officer murdered an unarmed Black man named George Floyd with the assistance of three other officers.  Like many COVID-era racial justice collectives, the book club was a response to the horrific act perpetrated in Minneapolis, said committee chair Nancy Thomason.  

Mayor Gary Caldwell announced the appointment of Interim Manager Page McCurry and Interim Manager Rick Howell. McCurry will take office on June 11 and serve until July 5. Howell will take office on July 6 and serve until Town Council appoints a town manager. 

 McCurry currently serves as the town’s human resources director and has an extensive background in public administration. 

Construction along Waynesville’s commercial corridor is ready to begin its next major phase.

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will close the U.S. 74 West offramp to Russ Avenue (Exit 102) from Monday, June 8 through Sunday, Aug. 30. The closure is necessary for the safety of drivers and crews who will improve the offramp. 

Learn about Daniel Boone at an event held at the Western Waters Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The lecture, delivered by award-winning author Randell Jones will discuss the exciting episodes of America’s pioneer hero during the tumultuous, eventful years of the United States’ Founding Era. 

Hello from the depths of Panacea Coffee Company in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville. At the moment, I’m sitting at the prized table. If you’ve ever been to Panacea, you know which one I’m talking about, the one on the second tier, next to the big window looking down upon Richland Creek.  

The Waynesville Recreation Center announced the return of its annual free “Spring Fling” community event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. This family-friendly celebration will take place on the Recreation Center green space.

This rain-or-shine event is completely free and open to families, children and community members of all ages. 

Extension master gardener volunteers of Haywood County have divided their perennials, rooted cuttings and started plants. Hundreds of plants will be available, including house plants, herbs, natives, perennials, shrubs and more.

Second Hand Treasures will include a wide assortment of gently used garden items, tools, artwork and books. 

Editor’s note

As Tony Dillard notes in this guest column, we’ve printed two other opinion pieces over the last two weeks by Waynesville aldermen Chuck Dickson and Jon Feichter regarding this annexation and the issue of whether these housing developments fit into the character of Waynesville. It’s unusual for The Smoky Mountain News to then give this much space to a third opinion piece, but given the importance of this issue — how will we grow — we decided to give Mr. Dillard the opportunity to voice his concerns. To note, Dillard is a private citizen in Waynesville.

— Scott McLeod, SMN Editor 

As spring takes hold across Western North Carolina, property owners are stepping outside to assess winter’s toll — downed limbs, overgrowth, drainage issues, and land projects waiting to begin. For many in Haywood County and beyond, that seasonal reset starts with a call to Haynes Tree & Excavation.

Based in Waynesville and serving nearby communities like Clyde, Maggie Valley, and Canton, the family-owned company has become a go-to resource for everything from storm cleanup to full-scale land preparation.

As North Carolina braces against a surge in large-scale data center development, a new bill filed by Rep. Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe) aims to redraw the rules governing how those facilities use electricity, consume water and tap into public subsidies.

In filing the bill, Prather noted that she was inspired by a 12-month moratorium passed in the Town of Canton in February, but also that the bill was “crowd-sourced.”