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Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:46

Forum encourages Smokies tourism players to band together for the greater good

Niche marketing and regional cooperation were the reoccurring topics of this year’s Smoky Mountain Host meeting held in Cherokee last week, an annual forum that brings together the major tourism players of the Smoky Mountain region. “Our greatest customers are…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:46

Rec Center offers new after-school program

An after-school program for sixth graders will be offered from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursday starting in January at the Waynesville Recreation Center. The first hour will be devoted to homework with assistance for students who need help.…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:44

Library opens collection for homeschoolers

The Haywood County Public Library has opened to the public a unique library collection to help meet the recreational and educational needs of children that are homeschooled. This special collection contains a variety of formats including fiction, biographies, history, language…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:42

In a business where profit margins are small, hotel owners fear larger tax will drive tourists elsewhere

Running a small hotel in Western North Carolina isn’t the easiest way to make a living, particularly not in these penny-pinching times when prospective customers want a full range of amenities and a rock-bottom room price. “It is hard for…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:41

Cashiers TTA briefs county on marketing efforts

The Cashiers Travel and Tourism Authority briefed Jackson County commissioners on some of their marketing campaigns from the year, responding to calls that the agency was too insular. Mark Jones, a member of the Cashiers tourism board who is also…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:39

Do-over an option in Jackson tourism spat

It’s not too late for Jackson County leaders to go back to the drawing board on a state bill that consolidates the county’s two separate tourism agencies. Commissioners have found themselves in the hot seat over a bill that would…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:37

Swain County High School celebrates football championship

Swain County High School’s football players and coaches on Monday were in a different sort of huddle than usual. Instead of planning the next play, they were picking out a design for their championship rings following Saturday’s 20-14 win over…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:37

Local woman opens music lessons studio

Deborah Horn, from Lake Junaluska, is now teaching music lessons out of her home studio. Horn has taught music lessons since she was seventeen and recently working in the public school system. She also performs with her flute, piano and…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:34

Larger classes, higher fees, fewer professors: what the WCU budget cuts really mean

Laurie Oxford’s department is getting smaller; some of her former co-worker’s offices sit empty. Oxford, an assistant Spanish professor at Western Carolina University, spoke at a public forum about university cuts Monday on how multi-level reductions have affected the Arts…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:32

Getting ready: Growing number of preppers work to ensure survival in case of societal collapse

At Carolina Readiness Supply in Waynesville you can buy freeze-dried macaroni and cheese by the 20-ounce can and a solar oven in which to warm it. You can get a woven bracelet in a variety of fashionable colors that converts…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:31

New 911 technology could save critical seconds in emergency dispatch

Emergency agencies throughout Haywood County expect to be clocking in quicker response times soon. Fire, police and EMS divisions within the county will begin using a new Computer-Aided Dispatch and Mobile Data Information System this week, aimed at improving efficiency…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:30

Haywood threatens lawsuits against lodging owners over room tax

Businesses skirting Haywood County’s room tax laws should pay up or they could soon find themselves slapped with a lawsuit. The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority plans to sue six accommodation owners who have repeatedly and openly neglected to pay…
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:28

Furor prompts re-think over TDA funding in Haywood

The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority board backed down from plans to cut grant funding for long-celebrated events such as Folkmoot USA, Downtown Waynesville street dances and Canton’s Labor Day Festival. The tourism board had been contemplating new grant guidelines…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:58

Fired up over Devil’s championship run

If you want to talk high school football in Swain County there’s plenty of options. But one of the most enjoyable is to head to Smith’s Dry Goods on Everett Street, a Bryson City mainstay since the mid 1970s, and…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:58

Maggie Park to get facelift

The Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen approved the construction drawings for a pavilion and restrooms to be located at Parham Park. Among the other amenities, walking trails and a handicap assessable deck have been installed to provide residents and visitors…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:57

WCU Talent Search wins grant, becomes Project Discovery

The Educational Talent Search program at Western Carolina University recently was awarded a five-year, $1.7 million grant to serve 780 students at five Western North Carolina high schools. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, WCU Educational Talent Search…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:56

Maggie festival grounds line up five events in 2012

The Town of Maggie Valley approved a five-year contract for five events to be held at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds beginning in 2012. The confirmed dates are May 25-27 for the Slammin’ & Jammin’ Car & Truck Show and…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:55

WCU hosts ‘Cuts Hurt’ forum Dec. 5

A discussion titled “The Western Carolina University Cuts Hurt Education Forum: Collaborating Toward the Success of North Carolina Education” will be held on campus Monday, Dec. 5. The event, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Grandroom of A.K. Hinds…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:52

Well-known festivals may lose TDA funding

More than two dozen popular festivals in Haywood County are at risk of losing funding from the county’s tourism agency, hampering the ability of organizers to advertise and promote their events. Grant funding for festivals, typically ranging from $2,000 to…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:35

Sylva’s WRGC could get bigger, cover from Haywood to Swain

Sylva might hear its local AM radio station WRGC back on the air — but the company involved wants a loan of $289,000 from Jackson County’s economic development fund to make it happen. Roy Burnette, the CEO of the hopefully…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:34

GOP set to pick McClellan substitute

The 36-member executive committee of the Macon County Republican Party will meet next week to nominate a replacement for county Commissioner Brian McClellan. McClellan announced that he would resign as a commissioner following his second driving-while-impaired charge in two-and-a-half years.…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:33

Alcohol referendum in Cherokee raises questions about who could sell

Joe Bock, an Indiana resident passing through this area on his way to Florida, was on a bit of a mission one recent day in Cherokee. Bock wanted to enjoy a beer with his lunch. That desire remained unfulfilled, however…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:31

Cherokee vote on alcohol sales a go next April

Businesses in Cherokee are gearing up for a campaign aimed at convincing members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to vote ‘yes’ on a measure that could end the nearly reservation-wide moratorium on the sale of alcohol. Michell Hicks,…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:29

Cherokee signs deal with Governor to bring live table games to Harrah’s

After years of lobbying and months of hard negotiating, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians sealed a deal with Gov. Beverly Perdue this week to bring table games, real cards and live dealers to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort. “It…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:28

New GM’s job is to make good on Harrah’s gamble to transition from casino to resort

When Brooks Robinson left his manager’s job at Domino’s Pizza to be a dealer in the fledgling casino market of Tunica, Miss., he wasted little time finding that first rung in his climb up the corporate ladder. “I had never…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:26

Sylva Internet company squeezed out by bigger players in high-speed fiber world

Metrostat Communications, the company that pioneered the advent of high-speed Internet in Sylva, will close Dec. 30. “We’ve been through the screaming, the upset, and we’re at the point we know this is the best decision we can make,” said…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:26

Republican candidates pile on for the chance to take on Shuler

At least eight Republicans have lined up to spar with incumbent Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler for Western North Carolina’s 11th U.S. Congressional seat, but they have to knock their fellow party members out of the competition first. The controlling political…
Wednesday, 30 November 2011 20:23

A Christmas without Santa? Not if these nonprofits can help it

For those who help the economically disadvantaged, the holiday season raises plenty of questions: how many people need help; will they receive enough donations; and how will they ensure every child in Western North Carolina has a present under the…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 20:15

Chief Hicks won’t veto alcohol vote

Michell Hicks, chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will allow a controversial vote to go forward next April on whether to legalize alcohol sales on the reservation. “At this point, I just feel strongly that it’s the people…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:29

Business notes

Cackleberry Mountain will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 23. There will be discounts, surprises, hot cider and nibbles for everyone. As a special treat, John Long, a 80-year-old local artist, will be “in the house” painting…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:28

Local scout troop gifted CPR dummy

Local Boy Scout Troop 999 sponsored by Sylva First Methodist Church is focusing this year on what to do when a person suffers a heart attack. This vital training program was greatly enhanced this week when the North Carolina Automobile…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:27

Chamber joins the second annual Small Business Saturday

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce will participate in the second-annual Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26. Small Business Saturday is a day for dedicating a portion of holiday shopping to local, independently owned small businesses. Small business advocate groups, public…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:26

Chief to decide on alcohol referendum

Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will decide this week whether to veto tribal council’s decision to hold an alcohol referendum. In a previous interview, Hicks called the decision a difficult one that required prayer…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:25

Commissioner steps down after second DWI

Brian McClellan will resign from the Macon County Board of Commissioners following his second drunken-driving arrest in just more than two years. McClellan, a two-term Republican who served as board chairman, announced his resignation Tuesday. A replacement hasn’t been named…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:24

Cherokee plays hardball with state on casino

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has agreed to give up 8.5 percent of the gross revenue from new table games if the state will open the doors for live dealers at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort. In addition to…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:23

Sen. Davis makes political rounds to tribal council

N.C. Senator Jim Davis spoke about the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ contribution to Western North Carolina at a tribal council meeting in Cherokee last week. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort contributes about $375 million to the economy in Western…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:22

Bryson City needs standards, but public split on how far to go

Gil Crouch was working in his Bryson City business one day this summer when a regular visitor to town told Crouch that he would not be returning ever again because he was repulsed by its deteriorating look. “Quite frankly, this…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:20

Renegade houseboat meets its demise

A houseboat on Fontana Lake was dismantled and hauled off this month after the owner repeatedly failed to dispose of waste properly. For more than a year the houseboat owner dodged rules against straight piping sewage into the lake. The…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:20

Sylva crunching budget to pay for police department move

Renovating the old library on Main Street in Sylva for a new police department is on something of a hiatus until a new town board convenes. The town board will get a new member following this month’s elections. Lynda Sossoman…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:17

Jackson subdivision rules come under review

It could mark the first move in an effort to dismantle a set of strict land regulations in Jackson County that are widely considered some of the most progressive in all of Western North Carolina. Or perhaps the renewed focus…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:17

There is more than one road to Cherokee …

Jackson County wants some of the Cherokee-bound traffic diverted its way despite highway signs that indicate the way to Cherokee is through Maggie Valley. Anyone coming to Western North Carolina from Interstate 40 encounters a sign in Waynesville pointing the…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:15

Consultant talks traits for new town manager

The clock is ticking on what will be a rigorous and thorough process to replace long-time Waynesville Town Manager Lee Galloway. A series of meetings was held in Waynesville Nov. 16-17 by the firm hired to steer the town through…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:12

Summer-lovers group gears up for possible school-calendar fight next year

A group protesting ever-earlier school starts in North Carolina has turned the heat down for now on its shining Bad Example in the state, Macon County, but that reprieve might prove temporary. Save Our Summers-NC joined forces with Highlands resident…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:11

WCU students collect winter wear for youth

The Nurses Christian Fellowship student organization at Western Carolina University is seeking donations of gloves, scarves, hats and mittens to give to youth in Jackson County. A collection box for donations is located at Room 209 of Moore Hall on…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:10

Capitol’s Christmas tree stops in Cherokee

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will make a stop in Cherokee during this year’s national tour. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is hosting the event at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Nov. 23, beginning at 10 a.m. The…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:09

Maggie awarded funds for law enforcement

The Town of Maggie Valley was awarded a $184,786 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The funding, which will be distributed during a three-year period, is the reimbursement to the town for…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:09

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, 23 November 2011 14:08

Old hand in economic development comes on board as new Macon director

Macon County has turned to veteran lawmaker and businessman Tommy Jenkins of Franklin to head local economic development efforts. Jenkins, who previously chaired the regional economic group Advantage West and served stints in both the state House and Senate, will…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:08

Sonoco Plastics expansion to add 35 jobs in Waynesville

When many businesses are still cutting back or maintaining their current workforce, Sonoco Plastics announced last week that it will add 35 jobs and expand its current Waynesville operations. “Every job in today’s environment is important,” said Mark Clasby, executive…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:06

Haywood construction industry fell 34 percent in recession

During the past decade, Haywood County’s economy has seen some ups — but mostly downs. A presentation given at the recent Haywood County Economic Development Commission meeting offers a glimpse of how the county fared before and during the recession.…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:05

Election protest by Waynesville mayor candidate gets denied

A challenger for the mayor’s seat in Waynesville protested the election results this week, claiming residents of a new apartment complex were disenfranchised. A mapping error caused temporary confusion on Election Day over whether residents of the apartment complex were…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:04

Jackson commissioner regrets public airing of discord on board

A brouhaha among Jackson County commissioners at a meeting last week prompted a follow-up public apology from Chairman Jack Debnam. Debnam told The Smoky Mountain News there was a time and place for such disagreements but that the county meeting…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 14:03

Are dog-barking complainers simply howling at the moon?

The yippy-yappy cries of barking dogs have left Jackson County commissioners in a quandary as they face a rising tide of howls from unhappy residents. How best to balance dog owners’ rights with residents’ growls for peace? “I’m hoping that…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 13:40

Traditional Sylva feed and seed store seizes chance to fill modern organic niche

It’s not everyday that you can shop at the local feed and seed store for organic foods and produce, but that’s the case these days in Sylva. Last year at almost exactly this time, Deb and Randy Hooper took a…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:49

Business notes

The University Participant Program at Western Carolina University was awarded $19,500 from the Evergreen Foundation, a mental health nonprofit. The pilot program offers college-age kids with intellectual disabilities a chance to experience university life, including living on campus and taking…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:48

Christian bookstore celebrates 10 years

Dalton’s Christian Bookstore in Waynesville is putting 10 candles on its birthday cake this year. A decade ago, Waynesville had a small Christian bookstore, The Magnificat, owned by Susie Sorrells. Upon hearing about plans to open Dalton’s Christian Bookstore in…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:47

New business opens in Haywood County

A new business, Mountain View Appliance, opened its doors Oct. 3. The owners, Mark Atkinson and Elva Woody, said they are excited about what the business has done since they opened and strive to have the lowest service call rates…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:46

Students get “REAL” with entrepreneurship

Throughout the month of October, second through fifth grade students at the Roots in Education After School Homework House got “REAL” with entrepreneurship. Certified NC REAL instructor and Haywood County Chamber Marketing & Communications Manager, Katy McLean Gould, brought topics…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:46

WCU students seeking book donations

Those calling Reynolds Hall home on the Western Carolina University campus are shy of meeting a book-drive goal for Smokey Mountain Elementary School.   The goal is to have 1,000 books by Nov. 17 for delivery to children on Nov.…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:45

Grove Park CEO to keynote regional tourism meeting

Craig Madison, the president and CEO of the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa, will be the featured speaker at the annual meeting of Smoky Mountain Host in Cherokee Nov. 29. The meeting includes workshops for tourism businesses in developing…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:44

Input sought for new Waynesville manager

Everyone is invited to a “relaxed meeting” Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall to have their voices heard on the qualities needed in the next town manager for Waynesville. Town Manager Lee Galloway will retire June 30.…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:44

Peace conference to highlight speakers on poverty issues

The fourth annual Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, “Poverty, Abundance, and Peace:  Seeking Economic Justice for All God’s Children” through Nov. 15 will delve into the systemic causes of poverty and economic disparity. Speakers include Sen. George McGovern (a former presidential…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:43

Waynesville explores fix for run-down restrooms at park

A discussion regarding the fate of old restrooms at the Waynesville Recreation Park has prompted town officials to take another look at its recreation master plan. The recreation advisory committee will not just look at renovating the run-down and often…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:35

Bryson weighs regulations to protect character

Bryson City leaders will turn to residents to help solve their own disagreements over the severity of proposed appearance standards for new development downtown. Town leaders will host a public hearing on the ordinance, which would stipulate aesthetic standards such…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:25

Imperial Hotel caught in civil suit over unpaid building materials

The Imperial Hotel in Canton has become entangled in a legal battle as a result of unpaid bills by a contractor. Haywood County Builders Supply has filed a civil suit and lien against the hotel, owned by outgoing Canton Mayor…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:23

Twenty years and counting: Imperial renovations, perhaps, finally coming to a close

It’s anybody’s guess when the Imperial Hotel in Canton will open. The deadline for finishing renovations to the hotel, owned by outgoing Canton Mayor Pat Smathers, has continually been pushed back. The initial opening date in May turned into July,…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:22

Cherokee bands combat claims of native ancestry by “faux” tribes

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma have officially banded together against “fabricated” tribes accused of stealing the Cherokee identity. “It’s something that’s important to all Cherokees — all federally-recognized Cherokees. Many times people are…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:18

Lake Junaluska stares down uncertain future with bold vision

Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center has reached a critical crossroads on the eve of its 100-year mark. It’s headed toward financial insolvency, and the only thing that can save it now is a bold and aggressive makeover aimed at…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:16

County commissioners demand answers from Cashiers tourism leader

A failure by the Cashiers Chamber of Commerce and the Cashiers Travel and Tourism Authority to provide county leaders reports on how room-tax dollars are spent led this week to promises of prompt corrective action. Mark Jones, who serves in…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:15

Commissioner complains he’s been relegated to benchwarmer status

A work session this week on Jackson County’s room tax appears to mark the beginning of open warfare and the explosive end of a fragile truce that has existed on the board of commissioners since three newcomers were elected last…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:14

Whitman’s closing leaves downtown Waynesville ‘hungry for a bakery’

A donut or cannoli will no longer be a hop, skip and a jump away for people in downtown Waynesville. Whitman’s Bakery closed its doors this month, ending a 66-year run as a beloved hometown bakery. Whitman’s was a mainstay…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:13

Sylva mainstay, Annie’s Naturally Bakery, to close this week

Annie’s Naturally Bakery, the beloved coffee, bakery and gathering place in Sylva that helped launch a Main Street renaissance of sorts here when it opened more than a decade ago, will close Thursday. The closure comes as a surprise to…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 21:10

Police wrestle bear cub into custody

A baby bear went on a romp through downtown Waynesville last week before finally being cornered and captured by police officers on a preschool playground on Main Street. The bear was first spotted on the playground of the First United…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 04:14

Brown wins by slim margin in Waynesville

All of Waynesville’s current leaders managed to hang on to their seats despite an impressive challenge mounted by a contender for mayor. Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown nearly lost his seat to Hugh Phillips, the general manager of Bi-Lo grocery store.…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 03:47

Two incumbents win seats in Sylva, “old” newcomer joins board, too

Sylva voters on Tuesday night might have put the brakes on something of a voting trifecta by adding former commissioner Lynda Sossamon to the town board at the expense of incumbent Ray Lewis. Two other incumbent commissioners, Chris Matheson and…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 03:44

Winning trio promises change in Maggie Valley

A slate of three candidates pledging change and an end to good old boy politics swept into office in Maggie Valley in this week’s the town election. Longtime Mayor Roger McElroy, who has been on the town board for 30…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 03:41

Newcomer Patrick Willis joins incumbents on Canton board

The Canton Town Board of Aldermen will now feature three old dogs and one new one. Patrick Willis, who ran unsuccessfully in the last election, won a seat on the board with 312 votes. “I am looking forward to working…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 03:38

Write-in candidate takes mayor’s race in Bryson City

After months of campaigning, a write-in candidate won the Bryson City mayoral election — an interesting twist in a competition that had only one name on the ballot. Tom Sutton beat out Jeramy Shuler, the only candidate whose name was…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:31

News notes

Lake Junaluska is inviting Haywood County citizens to a public meeting to discuss its “vision” for its second century. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Nov. 10 in Gaines Auditorium at the Bethea Welcome Center on the Lake…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:31

Jackson to build new EMS center

Jackson County plans to buy land along U.S. 441 heading toward Franklin for a future emergency management center to house 911 operations and dispatch. The 7-acre tract is owned by Duke Energy. If the deal closes, it will cost $350,000.…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:29

Railroad wants money, county wants assurances

Jackson County is nowhere close to cementing a deal with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad — one that would offer financial incentives in exchange for basing a steam engine tourist train in Dillsboro. “It is far from a done deal,”…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:28

Is room tax hike aimed at helping scenic railroad?

Opponents to a proposed room tax increase in Jackson County are accusing county leaders of secretly earmarking the money for a grant to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. “If this is about raising funds to get the railroad to move…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:27

Cashiers crowd mounts protest to room tax increase in Jackson

Cashiers business owners led the charge against a proposed tax increase on overnight lodging in Jackson County during a public hearing this week. Several lodging owners complained that tourism is already down because of the economy. Asking tourists to pay…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:24

Bryson town officials failed to keep tabs on fire department finances

Despite multiple red flags, Bryson City officials failed to provide proper oversight of the town’s volunteer fire department over the past decade, eventually leading to a State Bureau of Investigation probe of possible misappropriation by the fire chief. An investigation…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:22

County workers ready for move-in day at remodeled Walmart in Haywood

Finishing on time and on budget, the Haywood County Department of Social Services and several other government offices will move from their deteriorating, cramped homes to the renovated former Walmart by mid-January. The Walmart shell was purchased and renovated at…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:20

Business owners craft campaign to promote alcohol sales

A group of Cherokee business leaders will be a driving force in the campaign to permit alcohol sales on the reservation. Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will vote in April on whether to legalize alcohol sales on…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:19

Faculty want say in future reorganizations

Constant reshuffling of the organizational structure at Western Carolina University — at least three such applecart upsets in just six years — led to a recent faculty resolution seeking some order to the chaos. “This … is in response to…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:18

Jackson board to revisit U.S. 441 zoning plan

Rules in Jackson County controlling how development occurs along the five-mile stretch or so of U.S. 441 that leads into the Cherokee Indian Reservation are undergoing review. That concerns former Commissioner William Shelton, a resident and farmer who lives and…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:17

Shuler leads national call for much larger debt cuts

Congressman Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, is leading a bipartisan call, asking the joint super committee to spare nothing in its cuts to the U.S. deficit. “It will be heard throughout the world that we can do something together,” Shuler said in…
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 21:12

Franklin revs up for foray into motorcycle scene

Motorcycle rallies are all the rage these days in Western North Carolina, and Franklin tourism leaders are busy finalizing plans to take their first bite out of that tempting economic pie. “Rumble in the Smokies” is scheduled to take place…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:30

Bryson City — from sleeper race to write-in frenzy

Despite only having one candidate on its ballot, the Bryson City mayoral race has heated up, with two potential write-in candidates joining the race. Bryson City resident Tom Sutton is actively campaigning as a write-in candidate, while current mayor Brad…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:30

Man thieving election signs

Hide your posters; hide your signs. Somebody might sneak on your property and snatch all your election signs up. The Maggie Valley Police Department is looking for an unidentified white male who has been seen stealing elections signs from an…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:29

2011 Peace Conference addresses poverty

Registration is still open for the fourth annual Lake Junaluska Peace Conference, “Poverty, Abundance, and Peace:  Seeking Economic Justice for All God’s Children,” on Nov. 13-15. Speakers for this year’s conference include Sen. George McGovern; David Beckmann, executive director of…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:14

Speakers urge state to deny rate hike request

Economic times are simply too hard, and Duke Energy is being too greedy for the state utilities commission to allow the company to hike its rates, many of the speakers taking advantage of a public hearing in Franklin said last…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:14

Surgeons support women’s right to choose

Newly released statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show more than 79,000 breast reconstruction procedures were performed in 2008, a 39 percent increase compared to 2007. Yet according to a recent report, almost 70 percent of women…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:13

WCU to hold Native American Heritage Expo

The third annual Native American Heritage Expo will be held at Western Carolina University beginning Nov. 7. All events held throughout the week are free and open to the public. The Native American Heritage Expo will explore the rich and…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:13

AARP thanks veterans for service

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Driver Safety Program is offering a free, four-hour classroom course to all veterans and their spouses, regardless of age, from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. It will update participants’ knowledge of roads, traffic…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:12

Catamount Legacy Walk fundraiser begins

With about half of the bricks for the first section of the Western Carolina University Catamount Legacy Walk commissioned, facilitators are expanding publicity efforts in hopes of having the first section installed before spring commencement. A fundraiser for a student…
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 19:12

Grant money available

Tourism groups and projects that want to apply for a 1 percent funding grant from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority have until 5 p.m., Nov. 7, to the town subcommittees in Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Clyde and Canton.
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