Housing Foundation awards $13,500
 

Housing Foundation awards $13,500

Through the work of Canopy Housing Foundation, Haywood County area Realtors are dedicated to grassroots support of area nonprofit organizations…
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Haywood Healthcare Foundation grants
 

Haywood Healthcare Foundation grants

The Haywood Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees recently awarded $281,431 in grants to 14 agencies for healthcare needs in Haywood…
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Dog beds needed

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is in urgent need of new Kuranda beds in the CHHS Canine Adoption Center. 
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EXCLUSIVE: Gash will unveil education policy at candidate forum tomorrow

All six Democratic congressional candidates in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will appear at a candidate forum in Marshall on…
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Mask mandate back in Cherokee; Masking encouraged but not required in N.C.

The indoor mask mandate is back on the Qualla Boundary following a July 29 executive order from Eastern Band of…
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School boards make different decisions on masks

Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and transmission rates following the spread of the Delta variant, the Centers for…
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Delta surge comes to Harris

Dr. Ben Guiney wasn’t sure what he’d find when he showed up for his weekend shifts at Harris Regional Hospital…
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Delta variant rolls back pandemic progress

Like much of the U.S., North Carolina’s efforts to recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic are backsliding as the Delta Variant…
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When town hall is empty: Boards debate merits of in-person, remote meetings

After a mass migration from boardrooms to cyberspace last spring, one by one Western North Carolina’s public bodies have transitioned…
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Jackson jails, senior center to get new food vendor

For the first time in six years, Jackson County will have a new vendor providing meals at its jail and…
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Audit finds Waynesville electric bills were accurate

The results from an independent audit of the Town of Waynesville’s electric billing process are in and despite speculation to…
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Leibfarth falls short of Olympic medal

Bryson City Olympian Evy Leibfarth will leave Tokyo without a medal, but the 17-year-old is already setting her sights on…
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Eviction moratorium expires
 

Eviction moratorium expires

The federal moratorium on evictions was allowed to expire on July 31, bringing an end to protections enjoyed by tenants…
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Republican field for Cawthorn’s seat grows to five

On the heels of “ Gungate ” and a shouting match  with a West Virginia congressman on the house floor,…
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Jackson schools will begin with mask mandate

Jackson County Schools will begin the 2021-22 school year with a mask mandate for all students, staff and visitors, with…
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Masks will be optional in Haywood schools

Following contentious public input, and relatively little board discussion, Haywood County Schools will begin the 2021-22 school year without a…
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No smoke without buyers: Research explores cigar wrapper tobacco as cash crop for mountain farmers

On a perfectly sunny and gloriously cool July morning, Tucker Worley starts up the John Deere golf cart and takes…
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Police chase leads to one death, multiple injured
 

Police chase leads to one death, multiple injured

On Wednesday, July 21, a Haywood County Deputy observed Dalton Suttles driving on U.S. 209 in Haywood County. 
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Riggs pleads to felony charges
 

Riggs pleads to felony charges

Last August, Jackson County deputies responded to reports of a vehicle fire on Parris Branch. They arrived to find a…
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Haney convicted of sexual assault
 

Haney convicted of sexual assault

Following a two-week trial, a Graham County jury on Friday returned a guilty verdict in 45 minutes against Casey Haney,…
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Tobacco’s Haywood County heyday

Slowly meandering through Haywood County’s tranquil farmlands, the winding two-lane mountain road rises and falls as behind each bend it…
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Local school boards now responsible for mask mandate

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina public schools on Wednesday. School districts should require…
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Macon Schools plan to start year without masks

After North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina Public Schools, giving local school boards the…
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COVID-19 cases continue to rise

After months of decline, North Carolina is experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 spread among those who are unvaccinated. 
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Searching for gold: Bryson City Olympian misses kayaking finals, aims for canoe medal

Bryson City Olympian Evy Leibfarth , 17, came up short in her quest for an Olympic kayaking medal but will…
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Candidate visits show senate race is heating up

With the U.S. Senate under razor-thin Democratic control and a rare open seat in North Carolina, candidates on both sides…
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Full circle: Cherokee’s new museum director seeks to bring tribe’s story to the present

Throughout her 20-year museum career, Shana Bushyhead Condill had wondered what it might be like to work on the Qualla…
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Final beam placed at new hospital

With an eye on the future and supporting healthcare throughout the Western North Carolina region, the final beam was placed…
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Macon approves emergency funds for KIDS Place

Macon County commissioners recently approved $55,000 worth of emergency funds to KIDS Place Child Advocacy Center to ensure the nonprofit…
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Vaya Health awarded health plan by N.C. DHHS
 

Vaya Health awarded health plan by N.C. DHHS

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services selected Vaya Health to operate a health care plan for North Carolina…
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Swain to support Medicaid expansion

Swain County Board of Commissioners plans to pass a resolution showing the county’s support for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina…
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Another Republican out to oust Madison Cawthorn

As the second Republican to enter the 2022 Congressional Primary field, Bruce O’Connell is certainly looking at a David versus…
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Local school boards now responsible for mask mandate

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina public schools on Wednesday. School districts should require…
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Filing period closes for 2021 municipal elections

While there aren’t any state or federal elections being held this year, there are a number of municipal governing board…
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Jam on: Hillbilly Jam returns to Maggie Valley

If you think it’s hard to sum up what, exactly, Hillbilly Jam  is, you’re not alone. 
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Cherokee approves $275 million expansion plan for Murphy casino

After a 45-minute off-air discussion  July 8, the Cherokee Tribal Council approved a $275 million master plan to expand the…
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Folkmoot USA: Celebrating diversity of the United States

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Festival, returns with Folkmoot Summerfest July 22-25. The theme of this year’s festival is…
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Opioid settlement could result in drug treatment facility

Millions in opioid settlement money is coming to the state, to most counties and even to some municipalities.
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Maggie Valley residents concerned for safety

Last week’s Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen meeting was riddled with complaints from residents of a development on Jonathan Creek…
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COVID cases surge: Haywood reports two nursing home outbreaks

New coronavirus cases were down to nearly nothing in Western North Carolina by the close of June, but in the…
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Jackson approves $7 million for school security

Jackson County will spend $7 million to convert four public school campuses to a single-point-of-entry system after commissioners voted  unanimously…
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Karl Rove talks Trump, Cawthorn, NC11

Known mostly to the current generation as a political pundit and frequent television/radio/newspaper commentator, Karl Rove has roots in Republican…
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Parents oppose Pride Month display at Macon library

The Macon County Public Library provides a number of diverse educational opportunities for youth, but a book display promoting Pride…
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Three arrested on meth trafficking charges

Two Canton man and one Asheville man are being held on six-figure bonds after the Jackson County deputies arrested them…
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Gas leak at Hazelwood Elementary

Before noon on Monday, July 19, school employees smelled propane. Summer school students, summer childcare students, and staff were evacuated…
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Back to the blue: Wounded Haywood deputy returns to work

UPDATE: Shortly after this story was published, Batchelor declared his intent to enter the NCGOP NC11 Primary Election field.  He’d…
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General Assembly names new WCU trustees

A former state representative from Matthews and a retired charitable trust director from Winston-Salem will replace former Principal Chief Joyce…
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SCC offering free tuition
 

SCC offering free tuition

Through a one-time program, Southwestern Community College will not charge tuition or fees to students for the 2021-22 academic year.
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HCC holds ‘Peak Week’
 

HCC holds ‘Peak Week’

Haywood Community College is holding Peak Week July 12 through July 16. 
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SCC’s Health Science Center ready this fall

As workers apply the last few coats of paint and other finishing touches this summer, Southwestern Community College officials are…
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