News Headlines
Quarter-cent sales tax back on the ballot in Macon
Macon County voters will again have the chance to raise their sales tax by a quarter cent, from 6.75 to 7 cents on the dollar, a measure that unlike raising property taxes would impact not only locals, but also visitors who shop and dine in the area.
$14 Million in WNC small business grants announced
Nineteen new small business recovery projects in Western North Carolina have been awarded grants totaling $13.8 million through the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program.
Macon sets date for health board consolidation
Macon County will begin the consolidation of its county board of public health in January.
The vote to move forward with the consolidation came during the Nov. 13 board of commissioners meeting. In the months leading up to the vote, there was serious concern voiced by members of the community, as there were rumblings that commissioners intended to take over human relations and policy-setting operations for the crucial agency.
HCC announces new North Carolina university transfer agreements
Haywood Community College continues to expand university transfer agreements with North Carolina universities. HCC offers transferable degree programs and credit options as students choose to start their postsecondary education locally before transferring to a four-year institution. As spring 2026 registration opens, HCC has two new transfer agreements in place. This offers students additional guaranteed transferable options to two North Carolina universities.
Senator recognizes sheriffs after narcotics operation
Four Western North Carolina sheriffs were honored with a congressional recognition from Sen. Ted Budd.
Transylvania County Sheriff Chuck Owenby, Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke, Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin and Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller received the honor — which was read aloud on the Senate floor — for their participation in Operation Uptown Funk earlier this year, which led to the seizure over 30 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, as well as 30 arrests related to drug trafficking.
More funding for temporary jobs, training for Helene recovery
The U.S. Department of Labor has released additional funds to help North Carolinians get back to work in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
The new funds, totaling $4 million, represent the remaining portion of a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant that the U.S. Department of Labor initially awarded to North Carolina in 2024 in the wake of Helene.
Waynesville parking deck elevators to be replaced
Starting Dec. 1, 2025, contractors will be on-site at the Haywood County parking deck located at 143 Branner Ave. in Waynesville to begin replacing both elevators.
The elevators currently in use are more than 20 years old and upgrading them is necessary to keep things running safely and smoothly. The project will take about six months to complete.
Hooper’s absences continue to raise oversight questions
Last month, an investigation by The Smoky Mountain News revealed that Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper had missed at least 13 of 16 meetings of various oversight or advisory boards she volunteered to serve on after her November 2024 election. Since then, new information has come to light showing she’s now missed at least 14 of 17 meetings, but Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Chairman Robert Jumper still can’t cite any authority that exempts Hooper from the removal policy stated in TDA’s own bylaws.
For Qualla Boundary advocates, domestic violence and MMIW/P are intertwined
Maggie Jackson doesn’t plan to stop spreading awareness about domestic violence in her community come November. Instead, the Qualla Boundary Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s group co-chair knows it to be a timeless issue.
