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Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:19

Tug-of-war over Cherokee sign takes a new turn

Maggie Valley has been rallying allies in its fight to save a small but perhaps precious sliver of its struggling tourism trade: pass-thru business from travelers en route to Cherokee. A highway sign currently proclaims Maggie Valley as the proper…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:17

WCU students stage drag show to get out the vote against gay marriage proposal

A student club at Western Carolina University is defending its decision to pair a drag show featuring “kings” and “queens” from across the state with a get-out-the-vote drive aimed at defeating a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:16

Free self-defense class for women

A free self-defense and personal-safety seminar for women is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at Basulto Academy of Defense in Waynesville. Armando Basulto, who has over 30 years experience in teaching martial arts and self-defense,…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:16

Help neighbors during disasters

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Training will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in Waynesville for those interested in becoming part of the Disaster Action Team serving Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. This course will…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:15

Sylva woman regional Teacher of the Year

Edith Callahan, a health science teacher at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, was recently named Teacher of the Year for Western North Carolina. Callahan will be considered for North Carolina Teacher of the Year, along with seven other regional…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:15

Exploring the ethical issues and aging

Learn about the ethical issues faced when loved ones age at a Feb. 6, 1 p.m. workshop at Haywood Community Connections. Dr. Lisa Verges will discuss the fine art of gracefully navigating difficult issues with relatives who are getting older,…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:12

Marking his plot in life: Author shares his love of local lore and mountain heritage

For most boys, Superman and Batman were their heroes; for Bob Plott, his ancestors were super men. As he grew up in Haywood County, Plott would spend hours listening to his elders tell stories about the old-timers and life in…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:11

Battle to save historic truss bridge likely to end in compromise

A compromise has emerged in a fight over the historic McCoy truss bridge, one that would keep the old bridge in place for foot traffic while building a newer, bigger bridge alongside it for vehicles. But Macon residents who have…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:10

Police beating in Bryson City leads to $22,500 settlement

A mentally ill man got a $22,500 settlement in a lawsuit against a Bryson City police officer who hit him multiple times with a baton and sprayed him with pepper spray. The settlement came more than three years after the…
Thursday, 26 January 2012 01:08

Giant trucks on tiny street pose headaches for Waynesville neighborhood

Earl Bradley watches from the parking lot of his auto repair shop as a tractor trailer struggles for 15 minutes to align itself with Premier Chemicals’ loading dock across the street in Waynesville. Bradley has videotaped the trucks for months,…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:16

Lawsuit calls on mental health nonprofit to share the wealth

A lawsuit filed last week claims $17 million has been hijacked from public coffers over the past two decades by a mental health nonprofit. A regional mental health agency filed the suit in hopes of recouping the lost money, as…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:16

News in brief

The Jackson County Republican Party will hold an open house at its new office in Sylva from 3 p.m. until 5: 30 p.m. Monday, Jan 23, located at Sunrise Park Drive This office is the second GOP office opened in…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:15

Bryson federal building will be ‘occupied’

Members of Move to Amend, a grassroots coalition, will be in front of the Federal Courthouse on Main Street in Bryson City, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 to mark the second anniversary of the Citizens United…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:15

Teach-in on corporate influence planned

Confused about what corporate personhood is, and why it even matters? A group of Haywood County residents will hold a teach-in from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the historic courthouse in downtown Waynesville. “We want to…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:14

Players sought for football teams

Alumni football is coming to Waynesville via Gridiron Alumni, which is planning several full-contact alumni football games.   Players are needed; the first 40 on each team get to play. The team that gets 30 people registered first gains home…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:14

Edwards sentenced for Cullowhee bank robbery

Brian Anthony Edwards, a junior a Western Carolina University, was convicted of robbery and sentenced to a maximum of 21 months in a North Carolina prison on Jan. 3. Edwards, a 21-year-old Hendersonville native, pleaded guilty to “common law robbery”…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:12

Merger of Jackson County tourism entities on the table

While a proposed room-tax hike in Jackson County has been sidelined at least for now, the idea of merging the county’s two tourism entities has been tapped for further study. Jackson County commissioners plan to appoint a task force to…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:04

Maggie tightens up noise ordinance, again

Maggie Valley was thrust back into controversy over its noise ordinance last week, an ongoing debate that has pitted residents against bars hosting live bands outdoors. Only four months after the previous town board made changes to the noise ordinance,…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:04

Jackson reval probably will occur in 2016; commissioners cite lack of sales data for second postponement

Jackson leaders will likely pushback a countywide property revaluation from next year to 2016 following a strong recommendation by their tax man. “Truthfully, if you want this thing done and you want it done right, we don’t have an adequate…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:03

Commissioners angle for piece of library glory in plaque dispute

Jackson County leaders have decided that tradition is overrated. Six months after the new Jackson County library opened, commissioners have decided whose name to put on a plaque in the foyer — a spot that until now featured a cardboard…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:02

Haywood cuts slope engineer because of construction slowdown

The construction downturn has led Haywood County to lay off its steep slope engineer, a position created during the heyday of mountainside home building. The county can no longer justify having an engineer on its payroll to oversee steep slope…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:01

Controversial planning board likely sentenced to backseat in Macon

Driven by a Republican-dominated commission, Macon County’s beleaguered planning board will undergo wholesale changes that likely include member term limits and a lessened, some might argue silenced, voice in writing development ordinances. But these steps, agreed to in concept by…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 13:58

One façade at a time: Cherokee makes over downtown appeal

Cherokee is on a mission to remodel the look of its business district, in the hope that an infusion of native-themed architecture can give new life to its outdated commercial appearance. “We want it to be pleasing to the eye…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 13:56

All or nothing? Cherokee ponders whether to tailor upcoming alcohol vote

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians might have the chance to decide whether they want alcohol in their individual communities this spring, but Tribal Council is still trying to decide if and how it would include the option…
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 13:53

The road less traveled

The question ‘which way to Cherokee?’ continues bedeviling the state transportation department, which has been caught in a tug-of-war between Jackson County and Maggie Valley over who deserves a sign pointing the “right” way to Cherokee. Maggie Valley currently holds…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:27

Waynesville welcomes a new bakery

Waynesville is getting its Main Street bakery back, but not just any bakery. City Bakery, a well-known café and bakery with two locations in downtown Asheville and a successful wholesale product line, will move in to the space formerly occupied…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:26

Imperial Hotel restaurant opens

Sid’s on Main opened for business last Friday in Canton. The restaurant is housed within the Imperial Hotel, which has been slowly renovated by former Canton mayor Pat Smathers. The new locale has remained “steadily busy” since it opened, said…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:26

Maggie Valley Chamber hires executive director

Teresa Smith completed her first day as the full-time executive director of the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce Monday. Smith previously filled in as a volunteer director for four years when the chamber suspended the job of a paid director…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:24

Debate rages over proposed cell phone ban behind the wheel

Calling and talking on cell phones while driving is likely to continue, at least for now, in North Carolina. But the debate still rages since the National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended a national ban on all cell phone use,…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:21

Swain ponders room tax increase

Swain County’s Tourism Development Authority will appeal to county officials for a 1 percent increase in the room tax rate. The tax on overnight lodging currently stands at 3 percent. The proposed increase would bring in at least an additional…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:18

Dillsboro hopes to broker funding deal for tourist railroad

Swain County has now been targeted as part of a regional effort to drum up financial support for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s steam engine dreams. Dillsboro officials are leading the charge, already courting Jackson County to make loans or…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:17

Film series features ‘Women, War & Peace’

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva is hosting a four-week film discussion program on the recent PBS series, “Women, War & Peace,” from 6-8 p.m. on consecutive Wednesdays beginning Jan. 18. Film viewings will be followed by a directed discussion.…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:16

GOP candidate Dan Forest to appear in Macon

Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Dan Forest will be the guest speaker at a Macon County Republican Party “Meet & Greet” at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 at the Boiler Room in Franklin.   Republican congressional candidates (11th Congressional District) as…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:16

North Carolina wins federal award for education

North Carolina will receive a $69.9 million grant award from the federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge fund to support early childhood education throughout the state.   “This award is outstanding news for our children, families and educators…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:15

MedWest to offer smoking cessation classes

MedWest Health System is offering smoking cessation classes starting this month at three of its hospital campuses. During the seven-week Freedom From Smoking program, participants will learn in small group settings how to overcome tobacco addiction. Classes will be held…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:14

Democrats sort out who will run for what in bid to reclaim seats

Two well-known Democrat senators from the mountains who lost in 2010 and hoped to reclaim their seats this year faced a conundrum. Joe Sam Queen of Waynesville and John Snow of Murphy both wanted to run for the Senate again,…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:13

House race shapes up following news of Haire’s retirement

Republicans aren’t the only ones who will have a reason to head to the polls in the May primary. While Republican voters sort out who their presidential nominee will be, Democrats have a race of their own to narrow down,…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:10

A bold fix for South Main Street

Maybe it’s pie in the sky, but the right ingredients could transform South Main Street into a thriving commercial district. A consultant with LaQuatra Bonci has mapped out a new look for the corridor. The plan banks on new-found aesthetic…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:06

Consultant takes bull by the horns in South Main master street plan

South Main Street is a mess. That’s the message from a consultant hired by the town of Waynesville to develop a revitalization plan for the struggling artery. The consultant spent six months studying South Main and developing a master street…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:05

Continue milking high-end homes for property taxes or realign real estate values?

Jackson County commissioners plan this week to discuss the upcoming property revaluation, though it remains unclear whether they will postpone the process as some residents are requesting. In a revaluation, every home, lot and tract of land is assigned a…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:04

Haywood pitches in to help towns deal with trash transport costs

Haywood County has offered a helping hand as towns grapple with how to cover the extra cost of hauling resident’s trash to the White Oak Landfill. Starting in July, towns will have to drive trash out to the White Oak…
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:00

Architect mix-up over HCC project begs the question: can water run uphill?

Haywood Community College has hit a nearly $227,000 roadblock during the construction of it new creative arts building. The $10.2 million building — a controversial project to begin with — will tap into contingency funds for the project to pay for previously…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 03:03

Going the distance: Hauling costs rise to reach Haywood’s far-flung landfill

Town residents in Haywood County will almost certainly see the cost of their garbage service go up this year when the county shuts down its central trash dump. Starting in July, towns will have to haul their residents’ trash all…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 03:02

New Macon commissioner offers solution to planning stalemate

With the advent of new leadership for commissioners, Macon County’s planning board could undergo a metamorphosis into what’s being dubbed a truer “advisory” role. In recent years, the planning board has been a magnet of negativity for factions on both…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:59

‘OccupyWNC’ a low-key, but intense affair

A loosely affiliated group of 30 some people have been quietly meeting, more or less each week, in Jackson County on the heels of an Occupy Sylva event held last October. This confederacy of the self-dubbed “99 percent” has morphed…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:58

Fighters rally to raise money for a good cause

A benefit to assist Western North Carolina resident Donna Smith, recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, is set for Jan. 14 at the Bird Town Recreation Center in Cherokee beginning at 7 p.m. The Palaestra Combat Sports Club, a mixed…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:58

New emergency services director in Macon

David Key, longtime assistant director of Macon County Emergency Services, will take over as the agency’s director. Key has held the position on an interim basis since mid-August. He has been with emergency services in that county for more than…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:57

DSS services continue during relocation

Haywood County residents needing aid from social services will continue to receive it as the department shifts physical locations. Employees will relocate to new offices on Friday, Jan. 6, and Monday, Jan. 9. The new building is the newly renovated,…
Wednesday, 04 January 2012 02:57

Live well with diabetes

Learn how to better manage diabetes at a two-day workshop at Angel Medical Center. The event will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, and Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the third floor videoconference room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information on…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:52

Passion for old inn draws innkeeper back to Balsam

When Merrily Teasley returned for her second first day at the Balsam Mountain Inn in early September, a familiar couple was sitting on the entry room couch — a St. Louis duo who had visited the inn those years when she…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:51

Macon County airport lands federal runway paving dollars

More than $2 million in mostly federal dollars will pay for repaving the runway at the Macon County Airport, likely boosting a surge of business-class jets now landing there since an extension of the runway was added last year. The…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:47

Resurrecting Balsam Mountain Preserve is one part business, two parts passion

New owners of the high-end Balsam Mountain Preserve development aren’t daunted by the choppy waters of Western North Carolina’s real estate landscape. Despite the still tepid demand for pricey second homes in the mountains, they say they have charted a…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:47

Mandatory meetings planned for tourism grant applicants

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will hold two mandatory workshops this month for any organization or event organizer applying for a tourism grant. The meetings will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 10 and at 2 p.m. on…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:46

Bryson land-use standards up for public review

Critics of Bryson City’s land use regulations will get another opportunity to sandblast the ordinance. The town of Bryson City is inviting the public to a working meeting with the town planning board to discuss their concerns and issues with…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:43

Stuck in a rut: Too few jobs coming on line

Similar to other parts of the U.S., counties in Western North Carolina have been plagued with high unemployment rates and little job growth. “We have a lot still unemployed,” said Vicki Gribble, head of Haywood County’s Employment Security Commission. There…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:36

Desperate for work, WNC residents flock to regional jobs fair

People once again lined up at the Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville last week, but this time they weren't waiting for hours to see Santa Claus. Instead, they were looking for a belated Christmas gift — a job. The mall was…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:34

Fontana Dam gets a temporary reprieve from post office closure

The town of Fontana Dam can still send and receive mail via its own post office — at least for now. The U.S. Postal Service decided to delay closing or merging scores of post offices nationwide following protests from lawmakers…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:32

Bear shooting leads to a bevy of charges, from poaching to littering

Wildlife officers have charged a Cashiers man with killing a bear that he claimed was damaging his property, the second such case in Jackson County in less than a year. Jeffrey Spencer Green, 39, was charged recently with illegally shooting…
Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:28

Dogs’ anti-freeze deaths sadden families

Two dogs in the rural countryside of Upper Crabtree in Haywood County died from antifreeze poisoning last week, a tragic fate that has left the dog owners wondering whether it was an accident or malicious deed. Pat and Stone Reuning…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:57

Vigil planned for troops

Honor the troops who have fought in the war in Iraq by participating in a candlelight vigil on Friday, Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m., below the steps to the Jackson County Public Library at the Veterans Memorial Fountain. The event…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:57

Support available for prostate patients

MedWest Health System is sponsoring “Man to Man” support group meetings for prostate cancer patients and survivors. The meetings are from 7-8 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the Annex Conference Room on the MedWest-Harris campus in Sylva.…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:57

Judo classes to start

Beginner judo classes in Waynesville start Jan. 3 through the Waynesville Kodokan Judo Club. The club practices at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. Children participate from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and adults…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:54

Going for the green: Tribe debates future course for Sequoyah Golf Club

Despite a double-digit rise in revenue this year, the Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee is at least five more years away from breaking even — let alone turning a profit. “The cost of maintaining a golf course is astronomical,”…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:53

School wants to help foundation

Smokey Mountain Elementary seventh-grade students will help the Tye Blanton Foundation through their “Service to Others” project. Tye, who died after a four-and-a-half month battle in Neo-natal ICU, was the son of slain Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Blanton and his…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:48

Mustang magic: Magazine marvels over restoration job by Franklin man

Jim Pennington’s rebuilt Mustang car is a thing of beauty. Candy-apple red, spotlessly clean, sleek lines and an immaculate, original interior make for one amazing car. Toiling over the Mustang has been a labor of love for Pennington. He needs…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 13:17

2011 In Review

The Smoky Mountain News takes note this week of some of the newsmakers of 2011 by handing out our annual awards. Back issues of the newspaper never fail to reveal a variety of humdingers: the funny, the astonishing, the interesting,…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 21:55

Who will Haire’s heir be? State office holder’s retirement opens up race for House

N.C. Rep. Phil Haire’s decision not to run for re-election after 14 years in office opens the door for a possible free-for-all of both Democratic and Republican candidates seeking the suddenly available House seat. Tuesday’s news spread like an out-of-control…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 21:53

Long-time state legislator retires

N.C. Rep. Phil Haire, D-Sylva, will retire from the state legislature this year after 14 years in office. Haire will be 76 next year and said that he realized it’s time to trade in the long drives back and forth…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 20:13

Numbers tell the tale: New Jackson library a self-fulfilling prophecy

The number of people applying for library cards in Jackson County has doubled since the new library opened this summer. Jackson’s striking increase in library use in part is a testament to just how low use was before. A dismally…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 20:11

New Sylva library top in the state

Everyone who has seen and toured Jackson County’s new public library knows that it’s beautiful, but now the state has put an official stamp on that fact. The library recently won the Outstanding Facility Award for new libraries larger than…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 20:07

Waynesville begins fund drive to pay for historic arch replica

Donations are already rolling in for the Waynesville Art Commission’s latest public art piece, a replica of the historic Smokies’ arch over Main Street, but the group is still looking for donors. “I am real pleased with the response so…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 20:06

Clyde’s top cop sidelined on suspension

Clyde’s police chief has been placed on suspension, but town leaders are not saying why. Police Chief Derek Dendy is currently on a 30-day unpaid suspension, with the possibility of further action pending the outcome of a hearing in two…
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 20:04

Motorcycle battle royale: Maggie parleys with Rally in the Valley, Thunder in the Smokies to negotiate truce

The coordinators of the annual Rally in the Valley motorcycle event have strapped Maggie Valley leaders a seemingly impossible ultimatum that could leave the town in straits no matter what they decide. Rally in the Valley coordinators asked the town…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:33

Swain courthouse slated for civic revival

After years of talk and little action, Swain County is moving forward with a long-held dream to turn its iconic, domed courthouse into a cultural history museum and visitors center. The architectural centerpiece of town, the old courthouse has been…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:31

Barely legal: reincarnation of video gambling continues on borrowed time pending court challenge

It’s early on a workday, and there’s a single player seated at one of the 18 machines in the two-room M&J’s sweepstakes café, located in a small strip mall on Highlands Road in Franklin. Louise Dills, who works at the…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:30

Tug-of-war heats up over highway sign pointing to Cherokee

Counties and towns in the region are sparring over a highway sign that points the way to Cherokee, each hoping to capture a share of the 3.5 million annual visitors en route to the tribe’s casino by bringing that traffic…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:28

Haywood to cash in on landfill methane

An alternative energy project to convert methane landfill gas into electricity will cost Haywood County a little extra after a wrench was thrown into the plans. The county will have to fork over an additional $45,000 and bring in a…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:28

North Carolina wins federal award for education

North Carolina will receive a $69.9 million grant award from the federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge fund to support early childhood education throughout the state.   “This award is outstanding news for our children, families and educators…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:27

Learn to swim, or learn to swim better

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer swim lessons in January, February and March. The lessons will take place at the Waynesville Recreation Center:   • January lessons: Level one swim lessons from 4-4:30 p.m., level two from 5-5:30…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:26

Jackson County Schools leading the way on farm-to-school path

When it comes to connecting farmers with students and substituting common cafeteria fare with fresh, local produce grown here in the mountains, Jackson County Schools stands at or near the forefront of Western North Carolina school systems. Jackson County has…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:24

Ringing it up: Strained finances pose a hurdle to healthier school lunches

Few restaurants could afford to lose $1 on every meal they serve, but in Haywood County school cafeterias, that’s the reality faced every day. It costs $3.75 to fix a lunch, including the food and labor. But, the federal government…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:15

Out with the fryer, in with baked sweet potatoes: Schools balance healthier lunches with what kids will eat

It was only 11 a.m., and already 60 fidgeting children had streamed down the lunch line at Jonathan Valley Elementary School, eagerly eying the pans of corndogs and beans, a steady barrage that would continue in five-minute waves until, some…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:11

Lockdown, quick arrest follow bank robbery near WCU

A bank robbery at the N.C. State Employees Credit Union last week in Cullowhee saw a series of recent safety measures at Western Carolina University suddenly transform into the real thing. In 2007, a shooter went on a rampage at…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:10

WCU students hope new athletic director will turn the tide

Randy Eaton has been selected Western Carolina University’s new athletics director and the man designated with rescuing the school’s floundering football program. He was greeted last week by a throng of Western Carolina University coaches, administrators, faculty and staff. Some…
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:08

From purple ties to Liz Claiborne handbags, purple apparel all the rage at WCU

Just one day after being named Western Carolina University’s athletics director, Randy Eaton was shopping for purple-colored clothing at the school’s gift shop. He had figured out, in a mere matter of hours, that at WCU employees are expected to…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 17:31

WCU announces new athletic director

After a five-week search, Western Carolina University has found its new director of athletics. Randy Eaton, former senior associate director of athletics at the University of Maryland, was announced as the new director at a press conference Wednesday. Eaton will…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:20

Haywood has low infant mortality rate

Haywood County has a lower infant mortality rate than the state as a whole, according to a report given at last week’s county commission meeting. The Haywood County Health Department updated the commissioners on the county’s child and infant deaths…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:20

Hooper House gets historic designation

The Hooper House on West Main Street in Sylva has received Jackson County’s first designation as a Local Historic Landmark. The house, which now serves as home for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, was built in 1906. It was…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:19

Chamber hopes to regain footing with new director

After several years without a full-time promoter, the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce plans to bring back an executive director to help the valley rebound from a recession fraught with business closures. “We need that presence,” said Teresa Smith, president…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:16

What price athletics? WCU football costs mount as university pursues wins

The price tag of transforming Western Carolina University’s losing football team into a winner — or anything less than a total embarrassment to Catamount fans — keeps rising, leaving students, alumni, faculty and staff at odds about whether the cost…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:16

Chancellor fields football question

SMN: The $300,000 to the football coach represents at least three professors’ salaries. Is this cost worth trying to have a winning football program? Why pump this kind of money into athletics compared to academics in this day and age…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:14

Catamount comeback: Can new athletic director turn Western football around?

Western Carolina University hired a new athletic director this week who will face the daunting challenge of turning the college’s losing football team around. The official announcement will be made on campus Wednesday morning with an appearance by the new…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:12

Folkmoot statue could get new home on Main Street

A whimsical sculpture that honors the Folkmoot international dance festival will find new prominence at a different spot on Main Street in Waynesville. The Waynesville Art Commission approved the relocation of the “Celebrating Folkmoot” for public safety reasons and concerns…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:10

Students will need to dig deeper to cover costs

Western Carolina University students likely will shell out an additional $399 in tuition and fees to attend school next year, an increase in dollars that some on campus said will be hard for them to come by. It’s likely to…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:10

Group prepares for Panama relief trip

A group of residents and students from Western North Carolina will embark in early March on a trip to the Central American country of Panama, donating ten days to do renovation work, provide medical assistance and distribute needed supplies to…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:09

Ignore the rumors: The Coffee Shop isn’t closing

Rumors of an impending closing to the contrary, The Coffee Shop in Sylva is not shutting down, owner Phyllis Gibson said this week. “We’ve heard it, too,” Gibson said. “I had a woman customer come in this morning and say…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:08

Closing of Cope’s Superette in Sylva marks end of an era

It’s 8 a.m. and the everyday regulars — Sylva’s working class Janes and Joes — are stopping by Cope’s Superette on Mill Street for packs of cigarettes, morning newspapers, soft drinks, candy and other breakfast necessities you grab when on…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:08

Free throw contest this month in Waynesville

The annual Elks National "Hoop Shoot" Free Throw Contest will take place at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Friday, Dec. 16. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. and the event will start at 6 p.m. The event is for boys…
Wednesday, 14 December 2011 21:07

Historical Society commemorates Pearl Harbor anniversary

The Jackson County-Webster Historical Society commemorated Pearl Harbor’s anniversary on Dec. 7 at its first public meeting in the renovated, historic courthouse in Sylva. “We are commemorating here an event that fundamentally transformed the history of the United States and…
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