News Headlines
Commissioners delay TDA appointment, again
For the second meeting in a row, Jackson County Commissioners chose to table a routine appointment to the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Board, leaving a board that has had difficulty filling seats in the past one member down with an applicant willing, ready and waiting in the wings.
School board to consider additional coaching supplements
After a request for an assistant JV volleyball coach prompted a review of coaching supplements in the school system, the Macon County Board of Education is considering funding several additional assistant coaching positions.
Helene assistance deadline extended
At the request of Gov. Josh Stein, FEMA has granted North Carolina an extension for local governments and certain types of non-profits to apply for public assistance until Feb. 6, 2025.
Practical Nursing class celebrates pinning ceremony
On Dec. 10, the Burrell conference room on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus was packed full of friends and family as the college’s founding class of Practical Nursing students celebrated their accomplishments during a pinning ceremony.
Stein moves quickly on Hurricane Helene relief
Newly elected Gov. Josh Stein wasted no time addressing some of the state’s biggest challenges after being sworn in on Jan. 1, traveling to Buncombe County today to announce immediate action on Hurricane Helene recovery.
2024 A Look Back: Continuous groan award
The fallout immediately following the disaster wrought by Hurricane Helene was tragic and traumatizing, but as time has gone on and debris piles slowly disappear, certain secondary woes are being fully realized.
2024 A Look Back: Least influential YouTube influencer award
The last few years have been a helluva ride for Haywood County Commissioner Terry “double down” Ramey. Prior to his 2022 election, Ramey faced criticism over his decade-long nonpayment of county property taxes, so he did what any decent, upstanding, God-fearing man would do — he lied about it and threatened the media for reporting on it.
2024 A Look Back: Trailblazer award
By the end of the 1900s, groups of marginalized Americans like women, Blacks, Hispanics and others had made great strides in their respective liberation movements after centuries of subjugation, leaving some to wonder if we’d ever again witness the bravery and sacrifice required when the oppressed refuse to be treated as second-class citizens any longer.
2024 A Look Back: Hometown pride award
Evy Leibfarth was welcomed home in style this summer after her medal-winning performance at the Olympics.
In her second Olympic appearance at Paris 2024, the Swain County native took home a bronze medal in the women’s canoe slalom event.
