As residents of Jackson County continue to rail against commissioners’ June vote to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library system over LGBTQ content — a decision made without a plan, without a clear understanding of library operations and without reliable financial projections — questions are growing more pointed, but the minority that supports withdrawal continues to spread misinformation about key aspects of library operations. 

In the first of what will be many additional expenditures of taxpayer funds related to the withdrawal from the Fontana Regional Library system, Jackson County commissioners have formally engaged a library consulting firm to help them understand what it takes to run an independent public library and to facilitate the transition if necessary. 

Indivisible Commonground WNC will host a free candidate forum for the upcoming Sylva Board of Commissioners municipal election on Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.  

UPDATE: The initial version of this story noted that the resolution passed unanimously. Due to poor video and audio quality of the meeting, Commissioner Blitz Estridge's "no" vote appeared to be a "yes" vote. The story has been updated to reflect the true vote tally. 

Two weeks after spearheading the removal of a resolution in support of the Fontana Regional Library system from the Sylva Board of Commissioners agenda, a move he later called a “rookie mistake,” Commissioner Jon Brown made good on his promise to introduce a new resolution of support, which passed July 24 — more than a month after Jackson County commissioners voted to leave the system over LGBTQ+ content. 

 Watching Cal Raleigh win the final round of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on TV last week was a special kind of thrill for Steve Wilson, who works in Purchasing, Shipping and Receiving for Southwestern Community College. 

Adults and youth ages 10 and up are welcome to kayak Wolf Lake with Jackson County Recreation.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 7 by meeting up at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. 

To the Editor:

When a disaster like Hurricane Helene strikes, the impulse to “clean up” is powerful. That said, our recent approach in Jackson County to stream debris removal doesn’t make sense for the environment or our economy. 

With the end of the municipal election filing period, candidates are now gearing up to take their message to voters as they look to claim seats on local government boards across Western North Carolina. 

As the Fontana Regional Library sizes up a monumental change coming into the focus over the hill like a band of Vandals looking to sack Rome, its outgoing attorney, Rady Large, offers a simple piece of advice. 

Two weeks after instigating the removal of a resolution supporting the Fontana Regional Library from a Sylva Board of Commissioners meeting agenda — and just moments after scorching public comments delivered by a longtime local — a first-term Sylva commissioner says he regrets his decision and hopes to move forward.