MCSO affidavits offer strange and heinous details of alleged kidnapping, homicide

A man currently in jail on charges of kidnapping and assault may soon be charged with murder if search warrants…
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2023 A Look Back: Throwback Award

Million-dollar mountaintop vacation homes, phony moonshine from corporate mega-distilleries, dime-a-dozen seedy strip malls — none of these things are Appalachian…
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Fake News Freakout! Episode 8

Welcome to the eighth installment of The Smoky Mountain News’ annual Fake News Freakout. I feel like I say this…
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The endless war: How drugs come into WNC and what, if anything, can be done about it

It’s the inevitable result of human nature. Addiction has impacted almost every American — even those who’ve never suffered from…
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Hipps steps down as Haywood Chamber president

At the Dec. 20 Haywood Chamber of Commerce board meeting, CeCe Hipps announced that she would be stepping down next…
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Cherokee police investigating teen suicide pact

At least one Cherokee teenager is believed to have died as the result of a local teen suicide pact under…
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Tribe continues recovery from cyber attack

Update: In a Dec. 14, 2023, opinion, the Cherokee Supreme Court vacated a lower court's conviction of Benjamin Cody Long…
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Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office answers police shooting lawsuit

In a 65-page answer to an extensive lawsuit  filed in response to the December 2022 police shooting of Jason Harley…
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Near to where her soul is: Missing hiker Melissa McDevitt is coming home

Almost exactly a year after a hiker vanished in the backcountry of British Columbia the night before a trip home…
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Haywood sheriff to release footage of alleged constitutional violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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New leadership sees new direction for Macon

Macon County will see a change of leadership for the coming year after the county commission unanimously voted to appoint…
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Reduction in federal funding for crime victims hits home

The holidays are often viewed as an opportunity for families to gather together and share seasonal cheer, but when there’s…
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Changes for FRL: Jackson looks at Macon’s recommendations for library system

After Macon County proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system agreement, Jackson County commissioners are taking a look at…
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Partisan races for 2024 election set

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ended last week, and after a slow start, a flurry…
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Macon BOE to remain non-partisan

Despite the intention by some commissioners to make the school board race partisan in Macon County, it will remain non-partisan,…
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Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues

After more than two months of operating under a continuing resolution, Tribal Council has approved a new budget for the…
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Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election

The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that it is decided during the Primary Election, despite…
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Haywood gets financial reporting award

Haywood County has been recognized with the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance…
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Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund

Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) will reopen its cycle for tourism capital projects Jan. 1, 2024. $600,000 is available…
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Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation

The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce as one of two…
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Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring

The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy is abuzz these days as 200 on-site construction workers hustle…
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HCSO to release body cam footage to plaintiff alleging Fourth Amendment violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon , Friday, Dec. 15, and if the…
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Woodhouse returns as NC-11 GOP chair

Henderson County resident Michele Woodhouse has been reelected as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District after…
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Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit

The court has made its decision in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s request to dismiss  many of the complaints in…
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Courting disloyalty: New program encourages shoppers to patronize Waynesville businesses

The disloyalty card is here and it’s, in a sense, exactly what it sounds like. 
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Alumna gift will create endowment for interior design program

Students in Western Carolina University’s interior design program soon will have access to new experiential learning opportunities thanks to a…
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Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn: Council, chiefs will retain appointments

An ordinance seeking to change the makeup of the Cherokee One Feather’s editorial board made it back in front of…
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Public hearing set for Franklin social district

The Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the…
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Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan

Macon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan. 
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Ribbon cutting for the house cat museum

On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team held a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony for the…
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The next chapter: New owner at Blue Moon Books

One of Haywood County’s used bookstores is entering its next chapter with a change of ownership and a continuation of…
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Mountain Projects calls for participation in housing surveys

Three surveys from Mountain Projects that aim to help the nonprofit develop a housing plan, identify housing projects that will…
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Jackson County license plate agency to close: Office will reopen under new contractor

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles’ license plate agency in Jackson County will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 15. 
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Statewide holiday ‘Booze It & Lose It’ enforcement campaign underway

 This holiday season, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program joins local and state law enforcement to urge drivers against impaired driving. 
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Up in the air: North Canton Fire Department puts eyes in the sky to save lives

As technology evolves, every entity and industry finds new and innovative ways to use those advances to improve their operations.
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Vision for the future: WCU program helps intellectually disabled students achieve their dreams

As he entered his sophomore year at Andrews High School in Cherokee County, David Maennle started to notice his classmates…
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Macon school board opposes partisan elections

After county commissioners considered signing a resolution in support of transitioning the Macon County Board of Education to a partisan-elected…
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WCU men's basketball picks up steam

It’s a great time to be a Catamount basketball fan, certainly the best in a while. 
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Habitat’s ‘return on investment': Building strong communities, strong futures

It’s  tough out there for anyone hoping to gain entry into the housing market. 
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Fire activity resumes

Despite an uptick in precipitation and humidity levels, the region is still facing the worst drought conditions  since 2017, with…
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Two grants help Haywood students

Haywood County Schools recently received two grants from Dogwood Health Trust. One will benefit students at the Haywood Community Learning…
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Candidates continue filing for 2024 election

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election began on Monday, Dec. 4, with candidates slowly making their…
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Fox named interim county manager

Less than a month after Jackson County Manager Don Adams announced his resignation, commissioners have appointed an interim to fill…
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Man arrested for child sex crimes in Haywood

On Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, Haywood County Sheriff’s deputies from the Criminal Suppression Unit located and arrested Tyler James Ponder,…
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Johnson named Preceptor of the Year

Haywood Regional Medical Center announced that Dr. Allison Johnson was named Preceptor of the Year by the Virginia College of…
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Wildfire season 2023: live updates

After months of dry weather, drought is translating into wildfires and burn bans.
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Medicaid expansion is here; Pisgah Legal offers free advice on gaining access

More than 500,000 North Carolinians stand to gain free health coverage in the coming months. 
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Rudow announces congressional bid in Western North Carolina

The 2024 election season isn’t quite yet officially underway, but one Democrat isn’t waiting for Dec. 4 to get into…
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