A long paper trail
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Jackson Paper Engineer Chas Mathis strides confidently through the company’s used cardboard warehouse, up…
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Motive questioned in budget cut
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer A 3 to 1 vote by the Swain County Board of Commissioners last week…
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Legal wrangling could slow decision on high-rise condos
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer A lawsuit over deed restrictions that could prevent a controversial high-rise condominium near Highlands…
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Citizens pack meeting to protest Sheriff’s treatment
An uncharacteristically large crowd packed the Swain County commissioners meeting last week (Nov. 21) to oppose a move that will…
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Behind the lens: Turlington finds art in industry
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Images from Sylva-based photographer Matthew Turlington’s 1998 work “A Photographic Depiction of Jackson Paper…
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Up to par? Golfers look forward to local ownership of Smoky Mountain Golf Course
While most golfers are clearing space in the closet for their clubs this winter, Travis Stephenson is already thinking ahead…
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Local governments wade into Mediacom-Sinclair fray
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Several area governments are taking steps to keep constituents who subscribe to Mediacom cable…
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Many Sylva building owners support downtown tax
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Most business and property owners have reacted positively to a Downtown Sylva Association proposal…
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Macon planners seek high-rise moratorium
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The Macon County Planning Board wants county commissioners to enact a moratorium on any…
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Slope development ordinance: Key changes
Haywood County Commissioners made several changes to the slope development ordinance before passing it. The ordinance kicks in when a…
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Haywood waters down slope ordinance
Haywood County commissioners made significant changes to a slope development ordinance created by the county planning board before passing it…
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Group gathers to discuss growth in Jackson
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer About 80 area residents gathered at the Jackson County Recreation Center Thursday night to…
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Smoky Mountain Golf Course’s ordeal: Drawn-out legal saga nears possible resolution
A three-year legal saga between the owners of Smoky Mountain Golf Course and the developers of Smoky Mountain Country Club…
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Commissioners to send extra room tax to corridors
Haywood County commissioners agreed on Monday (Nov. 20) to ask the General Assembly for an increase in the room tax…
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Ensley wants room tax money for recreation
Recreation programs in Haywood County could get a huge boost from tourism dollars if commissioners follow through on a recommendation…
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Golf course on the rocks
An ongoing lawsuit against the owners of Smoky Mountain Golf Course alleges numerous problems with the course’s management under its…
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Entrepreneurs open wine stores in Bryson
Swain County residents tired of the wine selection at the grocery store will soon have not one but two new…
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Tribe, area colleges collaborate on art degrees
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Officials with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on Monday unveiled plans for a…
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Slippery timing: Developers may try to rush plans to beat ordinance
Haywood County commissioners are poised to pass a slope development ordinance at their meeting next week, but a big question…
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Haywood TDA challenged with windfall
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority has an extra $90,000 to spend and everyone seems to have an idea of…
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Film explores Cherokee cultural identity issues
A documentary film on Cherokee aired nationwide on public television stations last week. The 90-minute documentary, produced by an all-Native…
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Farewell to familiar faces? Broadcast dispute could leave thousands without local TV news coverage
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Cable subscribers in Jackson and Macon counties are facing the possibility of losing local…
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Tourism task force makes final proposals
The tug-of-war over how best to spend tourism promotion dollars in Haywood County continues, but this time it appears it…
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Upset in Swain sheriff race
One of the biggest upsets in Tuesday’s election was the Swain County sheriff’s race, where Republican challenger Curtis Cochran beat…
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Snow easily defeats newcomer McKim
Sen. John Snow, D-Murphy, handily won his second term in the North Carolina Senate, beating challenger Ken McKim 38,537 to…
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Shuler triumphs in upset over Taylor
By Michael Beadle Call it a fourth-quarter, game-winning touchdown. A stunning upset over the perennial powerhouse. Pick your sports metaphor.
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Queen retakes 47th District
Overwhelming support from Haywood County voters will return Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, to the state Senate after a two-year hiatus…
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Macon picks two new board members, new majority rule
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Ronnie Beale is the newest Macon County commissioner and will join incumbent Bob Simpson,…
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Lodging owners hold too much sway, say task force members
A county-appointed tourism task force charged with making recommendations to improve the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority agrees on one…
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Jackson gets entirely Democratic Commissioner Board
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Democrats swept the Jackson County Board of Commissioners as voters elected Cashiers’ Mark Jones…
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Help for those with mental illness: Waynesville couple helps start local NAMI chapter
By Michael Beadle When John and Suzanne Gernandt’s son Matthew began showing signs of schizophrenia, it might have been misread…
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Kirkpatrick, Upton and Curtis in Haywood
An unusually large margin separated Democratic and Republican candidates in the Haywood County commissioners race, suggesting that Republican candidates were…
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Haire keeps 119th House seat
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer District 119 incumbent Phil Haire, D-Sylva, has once against defeated Marge Carpenter, R-Waynesville, for…
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Democrats sweep commissioners race
It was a tight race between two candidates running for Swain County commission chairman, but Chairman Glenn Jones hung on…
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Bonfoey keeps seat in tight race against Forga
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Mike Bonfoey defeated Republican challenger Donna Forga 34,445 to 29,771 to retain his position…
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Candidates divided on county’s role in initiating planning efforts
All five candidates running for Haywood County commissioner say they support a proposed slope development ordinance, which is poised for…
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Shuler camp presses message that change is needed
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer It’s 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Andrew Whalen, 11th Congressional District candidate Heath…
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Taylor’s touts congressional clout on campaign trail
By Michael Beadle It’s a chilly fall morning in downtown Bryson City, and U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor steps up into…
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Five vie for three seats on Haywood board
There are five candidates running for three seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. Kirk Kirkpatrick, Democrat, attorney Kirkpatrick…
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Most Swain candidates cite need for land planning
As growth and development accelerate in Swain County, discussion over the need for road and slope regulations has increasingly taken…
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Some critical of price paid for Swain land
The price of a recent land purchase by Swain County for school expansion has raised some eyebrows among candidates running…
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Paying for the purchase
Here’s how Swain County plans to pay for the school land purchase.
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Macon sheriff's race
Robert Holland, 39, has been Macon County Sheriff for four years and with the sheriff's department since 1991. He is…
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Mixed allegiances make Haywood race especially difficult to call
The scene at Haywood County commissioner meetings today is quite different from that four years ago. In the year prior…
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Three commission seats up for grabs in Macon
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Macon County’s three Democratic commissioners are facing a challenge from three Republican contenders in…
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Keith Presnell
1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list? Jobs, to make sure we have infrastructure…
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Swain challengers question spending
All five seats on the Swain County Board of Commissioners are up for election this year. The winners will serve…
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The road ends here
If Congressman Charles Taylor is defeated in two weeks, it could spell the end of plans to build a road…
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What is the North Shore Road?
The North Shore Road is proposed to go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Bryson City to Tennessee…
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