HCC hosts spring hunter safety courses

Haywood Community  College’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the  North Carolina  Wildlife Resources Commission  will offer two opportunities for hunter safety courses in Spring 2025.

WCU’s GivingTuesday nets $6 million

Friends and alumni contributed more than $6 million to Western Carolina University during the 2024 GivingTuesday initiative, nearly quadrupling the previous record set last year and setting the stage for a corresponding challenge gift that would unlock significant additional funding for WCU athletics facilities renovations. 

The exit interview: Roy Cooper looks back, looks forward

On Jan. 11, 2025 at 10 a.m., North Carolina will have a new governor for the first time in eight years — and what an eight years it’s been.

SCC Executive VP Thom Brooks announces retirement

As a young boy, maybe 10 or 11 years old, Thom Brooks set foot onto Southwestern Community College’s campus in Sylva for the first time. 

His mother, Rhonda Brooks, worked full-time and had enrolled in some evening classes to better her life. Not only did young Thom have a front-row seat to his mother’s life-changing journey, he also got to participate in a class activity. 

New Century Scholars inducted at SCC

Walking across the same stage on which they’ll one day receive their college degrees, seventh graders from Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties were inducted into the New Century Scholars program on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Myers Auditorium on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 

HCS considers change to student athlete transfer policy

The Haywood County Board of Education is considering a change to its policy that governs transfers by student athletes between Pisgah and Tuscola, and with board members in disagreement on the issue, the board is welcoming public input. 

Veto override: Lawmakers expand funding for private school vouchers

Lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly voted last week to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto and pass a mini budget bill that includes $463 million in funding for the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program that provides voucher money for families with students attending private schools. 

Green wins race for superintendent of NC schools

While a majority of North Carolina voters chose Republican candidate Donald Trump for president of the United States, many split their ticket to elect Democratic candidates to top state offices.

Macon votes no, again, to quarter-cent sales tax

For the second time in two years, Macon County voters have rejected the implementation of a quarter-cent sales tax to bolster funding for local public schools. However, the margin of defeat for the referendum is shrinking. 

Jackson’s school improvement plan under question from board member

When district leadership presented school improvement plans to the Jackson County Board of Education during its October meeting, one school board member had serious questions about the efficacy of the academic products the school system is employing. 

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