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After months of delay, jury trials resume on a limited basis this week in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the state’s seven westernmost counties and overseen by District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch.
Smaller, less-profitable hospital nets twice the price
By Peter H. Lewis
AVL Watchdog
Years from now, the decision in 2018 by the directors of Mission Health to sell to HCA Healthcare might be seen as a brilliant strategic maneuver, one that guaranteed affordable, high-quality healthcare for future generations of western North Carolinians. This was, and still is, the position of the directors and executives who pushed the deal.
More than 2 years later, secrets and silence continue
By Peter H. Lewis
AVL Watchdog
The news stunned Asheville and Western North Carolina, where Mission Health System Inc. was the area’s largest employer, its main healthcare provider, and a long-time source of civic pride. Seemingly out of the blue, Mission’s directors publicly announced on March 21, 2018, that they had voted to sell the 133-year-old nonprofit to HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, for an estimated $1.5 billion.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Jackson County Department of Public Health wants to shine a light on the importance of this month.
By Leigh-Ann Renz
You know those moments when you had something to say but kept your mouth shut? You let the truth get lodged in your throat and stopped yourself: in order to keep the peace, because you were legitimately afraid, or maybe you just felt too tired to “get into it.”
The first thing you should pay attention to on the Nutrition Facts panel (the black and white panel on the side or back of an item) is the SERVING SIZE. The Nutrition Facts panel represents a breakdown of the nutrition of an item for a specific serving.
The N.C Tobacco Trust Fund has awarded $1.5 million in grants this year, and one of the 15 applications granted came from the Swain County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Fall wildfire season is underway in North Carolina, and the N.C. Forest Service together with the U.S. Forest Service is urging visitors and North Carolinians alike to be careful with campfires and debris burnings.
Outdoor Mission Community, formerly known as Outdoor Mission Camp, is seeking volunteers to aid in trip planning, leadership, skills certifications and more, with a pair of training trips now on the calendar.
Western Carolina University Professor Emeritus Maurice Phipps has released a new book aimed at people who are working or training to work as outdoor instructors.
By Terri Henry • Guest Columnist | When President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sen. Mitch McConnell did an about-face on his past policy to deny consideration of Supreme Court nominees in an election year. As you may recall, Sen. McConnell refused to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland back in 2016 on the basis that the American people should be able to opine on the next Supreme Court justice through their vote. Sen. Thom Tillis agreed. At the time, Sen. Tillis said, “We are in the middle of a presidential election, and the Senate majority is giving the American people a voice to determine the direction of the Supreme Court. This is about the principle, not the person.” At that time, the election was still eight months away.
By Larry Bryson • Guest Columnist | Vice President Mike Pence has stated, “I am a Christian, conservative, and Republican, in that order.” He might want to add politician to his list. I’ll leave it to you to decide its place in the hierarchy.
Jesus, however, reminds us, “By their fruits you shall know them.” When Pence engages in misleading, partisan rhetoric, it is difficult to see Christian principles at work. Generalizations such as, “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” “President Trump is a truth-teller,” and “President Trump marshalled the full resources of the federal government from the outset of this pandemic,” lack the honesty Pence’s faith calls for.
To the Editor:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage throughout the U.S. as people continue to contract the illness, require hospitalization and die. Rates of infection are rampant in many states, predominately those with Republican governors and/or legislatures that are following Trump’s insistence on not taking appropriate steps to curb the spread of infections.
To the Editor:
I support the candidacy of Tausha Forney for a position on the Haywood County Board of Education. I retired recently after 15 years as a professor of social studies education. Prior to that I began as a Title One math teacher and then taught a self-contained sixth-grade classroom.
To the Editor:
As a Waynesville resident, I’m a bystander in the NC House District 118 race, and it’s a shame, because it’s a race I’d like to cast a ballot for. In some ways, the two candidates running share a similar pedigree. Alan Jones and Mark Pless were both raised in Haywood County and both currently reside in Canton. After that, I’d say the similarities end. I wouldn’t chalk this race up to an apocalyptic battle of good versus evil, but I would say that the choice couldn’t be more stark.
To the Editor:
As a conservative, it is encouraging to see the unprecedented vandalism of campaign signs in the county. Illegal spray painting, taping over, uprooting, and actual stealing of campaign signs for conservative, law and order candidates is occurring more than I have seen in decades of elections.
To the Editor:
Here’s a message to the “concerned Republicans of Haywood County” who have paid for the “Law and Order Trump 2020” billboards I’ve seen. I don’t know what your concerns are, but what you really need to be concerned about is the unlawful acts Trump supporters are committing.
To the Editor:
How do we decide whom to vote for? As a recent letter to the Smoky Mountain News says, we should examine actions, not just words. My criteria:
Western Carolina University will pop up the tents for prospective students and their families and friends as the university holds Open House on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a new outdoor format to meet safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early voting began across North Carolina on Oct. 15, and since then, large numbers of voters have descended on their polling places to cast their ballots early.
Despite the setbacks and challenges the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about in March, a surprising number of businesses in different industries have been able to weather the storm with quick-thinking, innovative changes to their operations. In some cases, businesses have made a full rebound and are reporting their best numbers ever.
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | When the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns hit Haywood County in March, business owners braced for the worst. Some closed their doors forever, while others scrambled for ways to reopen under the new normal. Months later, local entrepreneurs were able to give a retrospective on how they survived and changed with the times.
Wreath laying on the graves of veterans buried at Greenhill Cemetery in Waynesville will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. This is part of the National Wreaths Across America event.
At approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday search teams located the body of missing hiker Chad Seger. He was found in an off-trail area near the Art Loeb trail in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster of positive cases in an area church located in Franklin.
Town Manager Robert Hites announced that he has appointed Jesse D. Fowler as Waynesville’s Assistant Town Manager. Fowler is currently serving as a Planner for the Town.
Western Carolina University is among the institutions of higher education that will be participating in “North Carolina Countdown to College,” an annual campaign to support college access through the waiving of standard application fees.
Macon County Public Health has identified possible exposure to COVID-19 among those who attended a volleyball game at Franklin High School gym from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10.
Statement by Biden for President Campaign Manager Jen O'Malley Dillon:
For fun Halloween treats and more, visit ingles-markets.com/recipes.
To the Editor:
Recent letters have railed against a Democratic plan to make America into a “socialist country.” History shows that part of that plan has already succeeded. In the proceeding 75 years Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, clean water legislation, housing subsidies, disabilities protections, and welfare in various forms have all become part of American life. These programs and a hundred more like them have formed the basis of our modern American society.
To the Editor:
On a full-page ad in the October 7 edition of The Smoky Mountain News, Joe Biden supporters cited their reasons for being Biden supporters. Mistakenly, their reasons have nothing to do with Joe Biden’s agenda.
To the Editor:
I received several campaign ads for Thom Tillis over the past several weeks. The ads say “I’ve cut your taxes before — and I’ll cut your taxes again, and again, because you deserve to keep more of your hard-earned money.”
To the Editor:
Recently we have read about the discovery of the universe black hole by astronomers. The United States is about to enter a black hole of our own if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win the presidential election.
To the Editor:
If you’re a Republican planning to steal the election, here’s how you do it.
To the Editor:
As a Jackson County resident, I am excited to vote for the indoor pool at the Jackson County Recreation Center. This pool could be used for so many activities such as swimming, pool parties, exercise classes, water aerobics, SUP yoga, and serve the needs of many people who suffer from medical conditions and injuries.
Several years of research, compilation and collaboration by two writers from Western Carolina University have resulted in a scholarly book about Horace Kephart, a pivotal and sometimes controversial figure in the region from the early 20th century.
Haywood County water treatment plants received top honors among the 55 plants honored statewide with the N.C. Area Wide Optimization Award for surpassing state and federal drinking water standards in 2019.
Two lifeguards at the Waynesville Recreation Center have been officially certified as American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors.
Friends of the Smokies raised $53,000 to support the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the second annual Smokies Cup, held Sept. 17-19 at the Biltmore Sporting Clays Club.
By Carrie Griffin
We opened 828 Market 15 months ago. We’ve really enjoyed making soups for the market. We’ve just eased back in to making them since shutting down the kitchen due to Covid and it’s bringing back memories of which soups guests liked and the stories they’d tell me about soup recipes they grew up with. Seems like soup and memories go hand in hand.
Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. Early voting sites in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area will include:
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting four COVID-19 deaths. The individuals died within the last few weeks either at Mission Health or at Haywood Regional Medical Center.
Haywood County Health Director, Patrick Johnson, recently confirmed that two residents of Haywood County has been diagnosed with La Crosse Encephalitis Virus (LACV).
Whittier resident Billy Hicks, 48, is being held without bond in the Jackson County Detention Center after his wife Danielle Hicks, 34, died as the result of a gunshot wound.
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of employees at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office who have tested positive for COVID-19.
NC MedAssist is partnering with Swain County Health Department to host a Mobile Free Pharmacy event, providing residents in need with free over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Such items include cough and cold medicine, vitamins, allergy medication, first aid supplies, etc. This partnership comes at a crucial time, when remaining healthy and stopping the spread of germs is more essential than ever.
An initiative by Cyndy Caravelis, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at Western Carolina University, will include a pilot program to use a therapy dog to aid domestic violence victims and their families in Jackson County.
Life in quarantine is hard. 2020 is hard. And if you’re feeling the stress and pain and heartache of this year, I suggest you write it out.
