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Waynesville Apple Harvest Festival proceeds

After discussions and consulting with the Town of Waynesville and partner organizations, The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s 36th Apple Harvest Festival will be taking place as scheduled, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

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Soul Sisters Depot full of hope after losing business to Helene

Around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, Haley Ramey, co-owner of Soul Sisters Depot in Frog Level, began receiving calls from ADT that the store’s security alert system was sensing motion. 

“I tried to look at the security videos on my phone but couldn’t see what was going on. I started breaking down knowing something really bad was happening,” said Haley. “I could just feel it.”

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Putting in the work: Responders of all stripes converge on Haywood County following Helene

On the morning of Sept. 27, as rain fell steadily from the pre-dawn sky, Travis Donaldson took a drive around the eastern end of Haywood County. Donaldson, the county’s emergency services director, made a lap around all the appropriate areas, finishing up in Cruso with the intention of turning around and heading back toward Waynesville, where an emergency operations center had already been set up. 

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Falsehoods vs. facts: Debunking lies about Helene

Let’s not sugarcoat it anymore. To call it “misinformation” is, in itself, misinformation. Let’s just call it what it is — straight-up lies, of the sort that would earn you a whoopin’ by meemaw if you repeated them to her face instead of spreading them from behind a keyboard like a coward. 

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Federal, state officials tour Haywood County after Helene

Where once were surging floodwaters, now elected representatives from both the federal and state level are pouring into Western North Carolina and Haywood County, touring damaged areas, talking to local officials about needs and thanking first responders for their service to their communities.  

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Developer still pursuing Pactiv parcel despite Helene damage

Hurricane Helene has dealt serious damage to Pactiv Evergreen’s shuttered Canton paper mill, but the St. Louis-based demolition and development company owner trying to buy the 185-acre parcel remains undeterred. 

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Tillis, Cooper spar over military response to Helene

Despite criticizing ridiculous conspiracy theories that came in the wake of Hurricane Helene — and supporting state Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) for calling them out — North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis made clear today that in his opinion, not everything has gone smoothly during the state’s recovery from the storm. Gov. Roy Cooper pushed back on at least one aspect of Tillis’ claim.

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How to Apply for FEMA Assistance After Hurricane Helene

North Carolina homeowners and renters in 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. 

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Attorney general warns public about storm scammers

Josh Stein, North Carolina’s attorney general, visited Canton today to survey damage, to talk with local leaders and first responders and to caution those seeking to profit off of the misery of a storm-lashed region.

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