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Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:14

What’s in a name? Image is everything when it comes to slogans

Tee Coker and his company recently learned firsthand something they probably already suspected about creating brands and taglines for towns. Forget about pleasing everyone: it can be an insurmountable challenge to please anyone at all when it comes to developing…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:12

Swain County property values looking up

Tim Cain has a bird’s eye view of Swain County’s real estate market, and from where he sits, the news looks good. Cain was hired to oversee the countywide appraisal of every home, lot and tract of land in Swain…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:10

Trash shuffle prompts Canton to privatize garbage pick-up

Canton and Waynesville’s paths have diverged when it comes to the most cost efficient way to haul trash to White Oak Landfill. Both towns will face higher costs to dump residents’ trash starting this summer when the county closes a…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:09

Strapped by budget cuts, Haywood schools suffer from building upkeep backlog

When the maintenance director for Haywood County Schools received news that a transformer at Pisgah High School stopped working last Thursday, it seemed apropos given the grim portrait of the schools’ budget he and other education officials would paint for…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:07

HCC makes pitch for bigger budget to county commissioners

Haywood Community College officials have requested an additional $380,000 in county funding this year — all of which would help pay for renovations and new construction on campus. Similarly to Haywood County Schools, the college has been strapped by recession-drive…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:07

Franklin public workshop set for truck-turnaround proposal

A public workshop on a proposed truck turn-around and information station on U.S. 64 in Franklin will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the Franklin Town Hall boardroom. The turn-around and station would be located between U.S. 23/441 in Franklin…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:07

Sports clinic scheduled at Macon health center

A sports physical clinic for school athletic programs will be held from 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Macon County Public Health Center. The clinics are open to rising seventh grade to 12th grade students who plan to participate…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:06

Eastern Band to retrace portion of Trail of Tears

A retracing of the northern route of the Trail of Tears will be held May 18-26 in a collaboration of the Eastern Band and the United Keetoowah Band and Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee…
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 19:06

No changes recommended to how Mission does business

The state has not recommended any changes be made to how Mission hospital does business under its Certificate of Public Advantage, or anti-trust regulations that govern this regional healthcare leader. The regulations date to Mission’s merger with St. Joseph’s 15…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:52

Old Edwards Inn CEO bilked upscale resort in fraud, kickback scheme

The former chief executive officer and general manager of the Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands was recently convicted on federal charges of masterminding kickbacks and of illegally billing his company for an addition to his own home. Mario…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:50

Fundraising unveiled in down-to-the-wire Congressional race

The litany of Republicans from Western North Carolina running for Congress haven’t taken any cues from their counterparts on the presidential stage, where the once robust field of candidates has slowly been picked off until there was just one man…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:49

Canton urgent care center holds open house May 2

MedWest-Haywood will hold an open house from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at the newly constructed MedWest Urgent Care Center in Canton. The community can get a preview of the new facility during the open house. MedWest Urgent Care…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:48

Selling Haywood a collective effort

Departing from the normal talks of budget cuts and tightening belts, Haywood County commissioners asked a group of tourism and town leaders how the county could pitch in to help bring visitors or new second-home owners to the county. The…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:46

Soup kitchen to serve double role for farmers

The Community Table, Sylva’s nonprofit soup kitchen for the needy, is within weeks of moving its digs from its cramped existing facility to the town’s now-vacant senior center. The county built a new senior center, freeing up space in the…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:46

Property owners keep asking to be booted out of Maggie’s town limits

The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen’s split decision to de-annex someone who didn’t want to be in the town limits anymore — or pay town taxes any more — seems to have brought a trickle of other unsatisfied residents making…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:45

Swain and Graham settle county line dispute with big bucks on the hook

After two years of lawsuits and two mediations, Swain and Graham counties have finally agreed on where to draw the county line signifying their portions of the Fontana Dam. Fontana Dam straddles the two counties. How much of the dam…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:42

Interchange construction in Haywood could take three years

The Lowe’s interchange in Haywood County will finally get re-structured but not for a couple more years. N.C. Department of Transportation plans to start reconstructing the exit onto N.C. 209 and leading to Paragon Parkway and Hospital Drive in summer…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:41

Cullowhee community holds second meeting

Residents and business owners of Cullowhee and Jackson County are invited to attend a community meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, at the Cullowhee Valley School library. This is a follow-up to the March 13 meeting when community…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:39

Tuckasegee bridge to be replaced

A $3.4-million contract to replace the T. Walter Middleton Bridge on N.C. 107 over the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County has been awarded to a Whittier company. Owle Construction Co. will build a new bridge that will be widened from…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:38

Two signs to Cherokee after all: Tribe rents billboard

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is taking matters into its own hands in the tug-of-war over the best route to Cherokee. A tribe-purchased billboard on Interstate 40, heading west of Asheville, will soon tout two possible routes to Cherokee.…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:36

Doctors take a stand out of fear for MedWest-Harris’ future

When Dr. Bob Adams walked into a hospital-wide meeting of Jackson County doctors in early January, he believed he had finally mustered the critical mass to demand action, action that so far had been elusive despite a year of working…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:33

Carolinas affiliation catalyst for docs’ departure

When the Med-West venture was coined two years ago, the premise was an easy sell. Together the hospitals would be stronger than going it alone. Both Harris and Haywood hospitals had witnessed a troubling loss of patients to Mission —…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:30

Specialty plates to stay on North Carolina highways

The iconic black bear, the parkway’s winding scenic road and the Appalachian Trail’s solitary hiker have gotten a reprieve. A bill will be introduced next month to allow a version of the full-color specialty plates. They’d been facing a death…
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 12:14

Jackson gas stations on Cherokee’s doorstep now in the catbird seat as alcohol vote nears

Large, walk-in beer coolers are ready and waiting to be stocked at Dwight and Jamie Winchester’s Catamount Travel Center, a gas station directly across the street from the entrance to the Cherokee Indian Reservation on U.S. 441. They’ve been there…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:41

Haywood County commissioners to host work session

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 19, at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. The purpose of the work session is to conduct a roundtable discussion with community leaders…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:40

Tuscola High School counters rumors that advanced courses have been curtailed

Despite rumors that cuts at Tuscola High School in Waynesville could reduce the number of advanced courses, academically gifted students will have just as many courses to chose from next school year. Tuscola will lose five teaching positions, which is…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:39

Sylva man gets seven years for 2008 murders

The last of six people accused of playing a role in the murders of two Swain County residents back in 2008 has been put away. Mark Goolsby of Sylva plead guilty to nine counts of accessory after the fact to…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:38

Learn how to sell, serve alcohol

The N.C. ABC Commission is holding a series of free Responsible Alcohol Seller/Server Program classes to educate businesses with alcohol permits and their employees about the responsible sales and service of alcoholic beverages. This is part of a region wide…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:36

Nursing scholarship available

The Judy Moore Memorial Scholarship Endowment Committee is accepting scholarship applications for 2012. The scholarship program for nurses was established in 1997 as a memorial to Judy Moore, a registered nurse who was killed in a car accident. At least…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:36

Wayesville finalist in favorite Main Street competition

Go online and vote for Waynesville as your favorite Main Street in the contest “Great Places in North Carolina.” A panel of experts chose six “People’s Choice” award finalists from the more than 40 nominations submitted by North Carolina residents.…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:35

Franklin sprays ancient Indian mound with weed killer

The use of weed killer to temporarily denude an ancient Indian mound in Franklin has some critics accusing the town of cultural insensitivity. Nikwasi Indian Mound, which is located within Franklin’s town limits and is tended to and maintained by…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:33

Dissension among the Jackson medical community spells trouble for MedWest

A group of Jackson County doctors say they want out of the two-year-old partnership with the hospital in Haywood County and instead would like to look toward Mission Hospital in Asheville as a future partner. There have been murmurings for…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:33

Forum to focus on Lake Junaluska’s future as a town or not

As Lake Junaluska weighs whether to become part of the town of Waynesville or form its own town, a public forum for residents to ask questions or share comments will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Bethea…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:31

Dusting the mothballs off Sylva’s ‘ghostel’

The shell of a vacant four-story hotel sitting partially finished on Sylva’s main drag for three years is finally going somewhere. Developers from Greensboro bought the vacant hotel along N.C. 107 for $850,000 and are promising to pump an additional…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 20:19

Cherokee voters say ‘no’ to alcohol sales

About two dozen people gathered outside the tribal council house broke into song with the words “Praise God, Praise God, Praise God,” after the final results of Cherokee alcohol vote were tabulated last week. The Cherokee Reservation will remain dry,…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:58

Cherokee teens sue in class action for money lost in stock market crash

A class action complaint aims to hold the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians responsible for money lost when the stock market crashed in 2008 and eroded the personal accounts of Cherokee youth held in trust by the tribe. All 14,000…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:57

Seniors, start training

Seniors around the county are gearing up for the 2012 Haywood County Senior Games from May 7-22. For just $10, seniors can participate in as many events as they choose in both athletic events such as shuffleboard, tennis and pickleball,…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:57

Prevent child abuse

For the month of April K.A.R.E in Haywood County, Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, will join thousands of communities throughout North Carolina and the nation in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month with a pinwheel garden. The pinwheel is the new symbol…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:56

Walk in her shoes

The fourth-annual “Take A Walk In Her Shoes” sexual assault awareness event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, in front of the historic Haywood County Court House. The walk will be around the…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:54

Lawmakers hesitant to meddle in turf war between Mission, smaller hospitals

A movement to rein in the dominance of Mission Hospital in Western North Carolina’s healthcare landscape has hit a critical juncture. A legislative committee studying whether smaller hospitals are suffering from aggressive, monopoly-like tactics by Mission will unveil its recommendations…
Wednesday, 18 April 2012 19:52

Maggie wins out in which-way-to-Cherokee highway sign quandary

Maggie Valley has emerged victorious in an ongoing tug-of-war with Jackson County over who can rightfully lay claim to tourists en route to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort. The N.C. Department of Transportation rejected a request from Jackson County leaders…
Friday, 13 April 2012 02:31

Cherokee voters say ‘no’ to beer, wine and liquor sales

The Cherokee Reservation will remain dry, keeping in place the historic ban on alcohol sales, following Thursday’s election on the issue. Enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians sent a strong message with about 60 percent voting “no”…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:21

Perk up New coffee shop opens in Waynesville

Coffee lovers and addicts have a new place in Waynesville to get their fix. Main Street Perks opened on Main Street about three weeks ago, filling a large, vacant hole in the downtown façade with goodies, caffeine, a wall of…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:19

Sylva family bakery has a Cuban twist as stalwart Catamounts

With its obvious Cuban influences — the combination of guava and cream cheese, or even mango and cream cheese  — Mindy’s Bakery in Sylva is clearly not your typical mountain bakery. But that’s not all that sets this small bakery…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:18

All things bridal focus of workshops

A morning of free bridal workshops featuring local wedding merchants will be held at 9:45 a.m., April 21, at Twin Maples Farmhouse in Waynesville.   Brides will hear from experts and wedding professionals through a series of short workshops on…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:17

Fight AIDS by eating out

Help battle the AIDS disease April 26 by dining out at one of 108 restaurants in Western North Carolina. This fundraiser will support the Western North Carolina AIDS Project. Participating restaurants in the Haywood/Jackson area are, in Waynesville: Chef’s Table,…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:16

Dog parks taking shape in Franklin and Sylva

Two communities can see the finish line on respective dog parks: Franklin and Sylva. The Friends of the Greenway in Macon County are making progress on the construction of a dog park to be located beside the Big Bear Playground…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:15

WCU schedules public forum on final draft of strategic plan

A draft strategic plan for Western Carolina University will be the subject of a public forum at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center. The Western Carolina University’s 2020 Commission, a 36-member committee leading…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:15

Fundraiser set for Debbie Ginn in Jackson

The First United Methodist Church of Sylva will hold an Alzheimer’s disease awareness event from 1-7 p.m., April 21, in honor of Debbie Ginn, a longtime former organist at the Church. Debbie is in the last stages of early-onset Alzheimer’s…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:14

Macon commission candidates forum

The public can find out where candidates for county commissioner stand on various issues at noon on Thursday, April 12, at a League of Women Voters forum. Three seats are available on the commission. All six primary candidates plan to…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:13

Opportunity to meet Mike Clampitt, House candidate

Mike Clampitt, Republican candidate for the 119th House District, will hold a “Meet and Greet” from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Herren House in Waynesville. This is an informal gathering and serves as an opportunity for voters to…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:10

Cherokee Preservation Foundation announces $1.8 million in grants

Cherokee Preservation Foundation has awarded 24 new grants totaling $1.8 million that support cultural preservation, economic development, job creation and environmental preservation.   They include: • A grant to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian to celebrate the 250th anniversary…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:09

Cashiers wants guarantee of seats at the table on new Jackson tourism board

A task force studying whether Jackson County should revamp its approach to luring tourists began laying the groundwork last week to merge its two separate tourism agencies into one. In coming months, the task force will wrestle with the best…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:07

Commissioners raise eyebrows over HCC building snags

The creative arts building at Haywood Community College has hit a few more snags on its way to completion — much to the chagrin of county commissioners. The college will once again tap into its contingency fund to correct miscalculations resulting…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:06

Lose some weight, have some fun

The second kick-off in Macon County for Lighten Up for Life will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Franklin High School Gymnasium. The LU4L program is a free weight loss challenge that is entirely web-based. The program…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:05

MedWest to benefit from golf tournament

A golf tournament will be held starting at 9 a.m. on May 12 at Smoky Mountain Country Club in Whittier to support hospital chaplaincy programs and spiritual care. The tournament is sponsored by MedWest Health System and is a four-man…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 13:04

Alumni football game coming up in May

The famed Pisgah-Tuscola rivalry will renew itself six months sooner than usual as alumni from both schools take to the field again in support of the Canton Lions Club at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Pisgah Memorial Stadium. Tickets…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:59

Ghost Town’s savior officially takes title to retro amusement rides

The new owner of Ghost Town in the Sky tied up the final loose ends related to her purchase of the bankrupt amusement park last week. Alaska Presley officially took title to the rides and buildings on the grounds of…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:58

Reviving domestic violence agency in Jackson could take time

Two months after the domestic violence agency REACH of Jackson County abruptly shut its doors in February, services to domestic violence victims continue to be handled by nonprofits in neighboring counties. Jackson County commissioners would like to see a local…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:58

Macon schools seek more funding

Facing a dire state budget outlook and a loss of one-time federal stimulus dollars, Macon County School’s leaders came hat in hand this week asking county commissioners for money. The school system wants a budget increase of more $1.15 million…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:56

What comes next?

Finding a new leader to replace the outgoing MedWest-Haywood President Mike Poore could take months and will be handled by Carolinas HealthCare Network rather than the local hospital board. Carolinas HealthCare System, a Charlotte-based network of 34 hospitals that MedWest-Haywood…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:54

Poore resigns as MedWest Haywood leader

The president of MedWest-Haywood hospital suddenly stepped down this week after three-and-a-half years on the job. Mike Poore’s tenure at the helm of MedWest-Haywood was marked by an aggressive strategy to restore a crisis of community confidence, rebuild plummeting finances…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:47

Some voters still undecided on eve of Cherokee alcohol vote

Opinions among members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians remain mixed leading up to a vote that could lift a historic ban on alcohol sales on the reservation or continue the longtime moratorium. In the days leading up to…
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 12:27

Third time’s the charm for The Strand revival

The old Strand movie theater in downtown Waynesville is finally getting a new lease on life after two false starts in the past decade to revive the shuttered Main Street icon. The building was bought in foreclosure last year by…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:49

NOC forges ahead with new ownership team

A group of new owners has taken the reins of Nantahala Outdoor Center, a generational milestone for the outfitter that has grown from a small fleet of rafts in the early 1970s to a diversified multi-million operation under the leadership…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:49

Done deal: State law mandates one Jackson tourism board, not two

The state is forcing Jackson County’s hand when it comes to forming a single entity to oversee how tourism tax dollars are spent. Jackson County has two tourism agencies — one representing the Cashiers area and one for Jackson County…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:46

Cherokee closing in on historic alcohol vote

In one week, enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will choose to either lift a historic ban on alcohol or maintain its dry status in a vote that has traditionally sparked fervor on both sides. On April…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:45

Alcohol vote may signal philosophical shift afoot

Historically, ballot measures on alcohol sales in Western North Carolina have been bitterly fought affairs, with pro and con forces battling it out publicly via billboards, church pulpits and through newspaper and radio advertising. But, that’s not been the case…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:44

Motorcycle rumble stirs up furor in Franklin

Franklin’s planned motorcycle rally hit a major roadblock this week when town leaders balked at shutting down a portion of Main Street for up to four days at the height of the tourist season. The rally had been lauded by…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:43

Haywood gives MedWest loan belated seal of approval

Haywood County commissioners this week gave their blessing to a $10 million line of credit for the MedWest-Haywood hospital, ending a delicate dance in the finer points of contract law that has spanned the past three months. The loan was…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:43

Reach Out and Read literacy initiative begins

Getting books from the doctor will soon be a routine part of regular pediatric checkups. Haywood Pediatrics recently joined the Reach Out and Read program, in which primary care providers advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:42

Host a foreign exchange student

Families interested in hosting a foreign exchange student can be matched with students from more than 60 countries through the company Ayusa. All high school foreign exchange students are fully insured, bring their own spending money and are proficient in…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:42

TRAC session aim at helping businesses

The North Carolina Division of Tourism and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership will host two TRAC Sessions in Western North Carolina. Sessions will be held from 2 – 5:30 p.m. on April 18 in Bryson City at the…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:40

Western’s new chancellor takes strong stand in inauguration message

David Belcher, Western Carolina University’s 11th chancellor, warned a crowd of 200 on hand last week for the pomp and circumstance of his installment ceremony that the state of North Carolina must not dally in protecting its educational assets. Other…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:31

Some sushi with that pedicure? Suit pitted neighboring businesses over alleged ‘noxious’ fumes

A sushi restaurant in Waynesville lost a protracted legal battle last month after accusing a neighboring nail salon of driving away its diners. Saki Sushi claimed fumes from Tweety Nails hurt its bottom-line. Litigation dating back two years culminated in…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 12:30

Cutting campaign restores Parkway vistas

Visitors to Haywood County will have a fuller view of its mountain beauty this year after a locally funded project left some of the Blue Ridge Parkway vistas a bit barer. The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority and Maggie Valley…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 20:00

Roller derby auditions at the fairgrounds

The Thunder Road Rollergirls of Waynesville will hold its spring open recruitment from April 5-24. There are plenty of available positions on the team for anyone interested. The women are also working closely with Smoky Mountain Rollergirls in Bryson City…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:59

Skate park getting money boosts

The future Waynesville Skate Park has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,260 from the North Carolina Community Foundation. The park also recently received a grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation in the amount of $5,000. The planned…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:58

Test drive a vehicle and help out a school

Andy Shaw Ford of Sylva will bring Ford Motor Company’s “Drive One 4UR School” Program to Jackson County from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. April 12 in the SCC Balsam Center parking lot. Proceeds will be shared evenly by Jackson…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:58

Women’s self defense class offered

A self-defense class for women will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 at MedWest-Haywood Health and Fitness Center. The instructor will be Marshall Hale, a Tae Kwon Do instructor with Blue Dragon. Cost for the workshop is…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:58

Donate food to help feed the hungry

A food drive is under way in Maggie Valley, with a food drop-off container located in town hall for nonperishable items. The drive has the support of town aldermen and was started at the request of resident Don Massey. The…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:57

Help celebrate donate a book day

As a part of National Library Week from April 8-14, people are asked to donate new or gently used books to their local library branch. Books not added to the library’s collection will be given to the Friends of the…
Wednesday, 04 April 2012 19:57

HCC offers program on loans to small businesses April 10

The Small Business Center of Haywood Community College will offer a free seminar on business lending through the NC Rural Center Microenterprise program from 6-8 p.m. on April 10 on campus in the first floor of the student center. The…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:29

HCC implores legislators to restore budget cuts

Haywood Community College leaders told a gathering of elected state leaders this week that students and the economy would suffer if funding cuts to the college continue. While college leaders were making their points about funding, state legislators participated in…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:29

Council expands free book program to Cullowhee

After successful programs in Cashiers, Glenville and Sapphire, the Literacy Council of Cashier expanded its Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Cullowhee. Children, from birth to age 5, can register to have a free age appropriate book mailed to them each…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:24

Waynesville welcomes new town manager

After nearly six months of searching nationwide, Waynesville found a new town manager close to home from the town of Black Mountain. Marcia “Marcy” Onieal recently inked a contract with town leaders to become Waynesville’s new town manager, the first…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:23

Business notes

Foundations Express, a new five-week business-planning course, will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays starting March 27 at the Mountain BizWorks office in Sylva. Designed for current and prospective entrepreneurs who are willing to complete a business plan quickly…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:21

Business news

Cherokee woman recognized for leadership potential Juanita Wilson, Southwestern Community College’s program director for The Right Path Adult Leadership Program, has been selected to the national Circle of Leadership Academy. The goal of the 18-month leadership development academy is to…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:21

News in brief

Lake Junaluska will hold its second-annual Beautification Day Thursday, April 12. Members of the community are asked to join the Lake Junaluska staff and residents in an effort to add to the natural beauty of Lake Junaluska through the completion…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:19

Public input counts, but for how much, in road ranking

There’s no clear winner in a complex and multifarious new system for ranking roads projects when it comes to the ongoing debate over Sylva’s main commercial drag. In just-release road rankings, redesigning N.C. 107 out ranked the competing proposal to…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:17

Maggie man wants out in bid to undo annexation

A Maggie Valley man wants to extract himself from the town limits, claiming the services he gets from the town don’t warrant the taxes he pays. He stands to save $2,450 a year in town property taxes if successful in…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:17

Local veterans asked to participate in Memorial Day Parade

Haywood County will again honor its men and women who have served in the military with a Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m., May 28, on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. The parade will feature several National Guard and Reserve…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:16

Get help with business development

A workshop designed to help businesses develop and market their products and services is set for 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City. The North Carolina Division of Tourism and the…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:16

WCU event welcomes the community

Western Carolina University will throw open the doors to campus and invite residents in on Thursday, March 29. “Community on Campus” is designed to provide residents of Western North Carolina a chance to discover the range of entertainment, cultural, health…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:15

Belcher to take oath during WCU ceremony

David Belcher will be installed as chancellor of Western Carolina University during a traditional ceremony, capping a week of activities in late March designed to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of the university’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:14

Political opportunities abound to meet candidates

The political season is in full swing with a slew of campaign forums and meet-and-greets taking place. The biggest event will feature candidates running for U.S. Congress from 7 to 9 p.m. April 4 in Haywood Community College’s Charles Beall…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:13

Cherokee and Governor massage live dealers deal

Gov. Bev Perdue and leaders from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have headed back to their respective sides of the negotiating tables to tweak the landmark agreement that would permit table games, real cards and live dealers at Harrah’s…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:12

WCU faculty make collective, although not unanimous, stand on same-sex unions

Western Carolina University’s faculty senate took on the hot button statewide political issue last week of Amendment One, the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages and civil unions. The faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the amendment, which…
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 20:11

Jackson, Haywood settle tug-of-war over mental health agency jobs

The mental health agency Smoky Mountain Center will not be buying and moving into Waynesville’s former Department of Social Services office building after all, leaving Haywood County back at Square One trying to unload the large, dated, four-story brick complex…
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