Bridge cleanup fiasco could result in legal action
A group of concerned citizens conducting a local cleanup effort intended to address the problem of homelessness in Waynesville inadvertently exacerbated…
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Funding approved for Sylva statue changes
The pedestal of the Confederate soldier statue in Sylva will get a $14,000 makeover following a 4-1 vote from the…
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Cherokee appeals Catawba casino decision
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is appealing an April 16 decision from District Court Judge James A. Boasberg that…
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Elevated Mountain to host Ghost Town reunion
Meet, greet and eat with some of your favorite former Ghost Town in the Sky performers on Friday, May 21,…
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Jackson names new economic development director
Tiffany Henry will be Jackson County’s next director of economic development following a unanimous vote from county commissioners May 18.…
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Summer Camp Guide
While summer camps were on hiatus during the height of the pandemic in 2020, many camps in Western North Carolina…
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The Joy of Discovery: Foreign students, host families relish cultural exchange
It’s easy to imagine the ways in which a foreign exchange student’s world is broadened by an experience studying abroad,…
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Jackson considers five additional firefighting positions
During a May 11 work session, Jackson County commissioners discussed a plan to use $400,000 from the general fund —…
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Macon mulls $80 million new high school
Plans to construct a new Franklin High School are back on the table as Macon County commissioners weigh the costs…
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Community shows support for arts education
A packed room of Macon County residents pleaded with county commissioners during a May 13 meeting to provide the school…
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Mask mandates lifted amid plummeting COVID-19 numbers
New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are falling toward the lowest levels seen since the pandemic took root.
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Tribal Council candidates make their case
Early voting is underway for the June 3 Primary Election in Cherokee, which will determine the final slate of candidates…
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AG takes over sex abuse case
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced the state Attorney General’s Office would take over the criminal investigation and potential prosecution…
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Waynesville man charged with insurance fraud
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey today announced the arrest of Keith Brody Parks, 36, Waynesville. Parks was charged with…
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Swain asks for 6 percent room tax
After passing a resolution at its May 13 meeting, Swain County will be asking its state representatives to introduce legislation…
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Independent auditor will evaluate Waynesville electric bills
Despite being the result of a confluence of factors, the true reasons behind some abnormally high electric bills for Town…
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Cawthorn tries to succeed where state broadband bills failed
The Coronavirus Pandemic has lain bare the massive digital divide between those with reliable high-speed internet access and those without,…
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Campaign against new Haywood jail continues
Citing limited drug rehabilitation options, a lack of mental health treatment facilities, an inefficient justice system and overwhelming public opposition,…
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Strong start for SHARE Project
If the newly-formed SHARE Project’s May 16 drug awareness march was any indication, the group can look forward to strong…
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Cherokee scholar awarded honorary WCU doctorate
Cherokee scholar Thomas Belt received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Western Carolina University last week during commencement on…
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Canton town manager resigns
Jason Burrell, an integral part of the town of Canton’s administration for the past 12 years and town manager for…
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Haywood schools lift outside mask mandate
Students in Haywood County Schools will no longer be required to wear masks outside, where social distancing is possible. Administration…
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Tribe loosens marijuana laws
In a pair of actions taken during Tribal Council on Thursday, May 6, Tribal Council voted to decriminalize possession of…
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Newby begins 100 county courthouse tour
Chief Justice Paul Newby launched a courthouse tour during which he will visit courthouses in all of North Carolina's 100…
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Harrah's offers enticing sign-on bonus
As one of the largest employers in Western North Carolina, Harrah's Cherokee Casinos is taking a strong approach to market…
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Vaccine opportunities for youth and adults
Clinic for 16-18- year-olds planned Haywood County Health and Human Services is partnering with Haywood Community College to host a…
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Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Last summer, the tiny Haywood County tourist town of Maggie Valley was rocked by not one but two peaceful “Black…
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Tribal Council candidates make their case
Early voting is underway for the June 3 Primary Election in Cherokee, which will determine the final slate of candidates…
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Town of Canton joins municipal TDA bill
A week after Haywood County Republican Rep. Mark Pless’ municipal TDA bill came out of committee wholly rewritten to include…
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Investment continues flowing into Haywood County
There’s not yet a lot of information about the latest economic development announcement made by Haywood County commissioners — the…
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Funding coming for telepsychiatry in schools — if N.C. budget passes
A conversation between Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, D-Rocky Mount, seems to indicate that Cooper will…
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‘The lady behind the scenes’: Carmaleta Monteith named Beloved Woman
Carmaleta Littlejohn Monteith has worn an impressive number of titles over the course of her life.
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Macon requests more funds for the arts
Last year, Macon County Schools requested a nearly $2 million budget increase to fund additional staff positions. When the pandemic…
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Spectators allowed at Haywood graduations
Graduation ceremonies will be allowed as many spectators as school sporting events this spring, after the Haywood County Schools Board…
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Cherokee to pursue new casino project
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will pursue a new casino project in partnership with a publicly traded gaming company,…
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Franklin manager delivers last budget proposal
Longtime Franklin Manager Summer Woodard will be leaving for a new job in June, but before she goes, she presented…
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Skaters make case for Franklin skatepark
The Franklin Town Council board room was standing room only last week as several local teenagers expressed their desire for…
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Vaccination still slow as Pfizer shot approved for teens
For the fourth straight week, the rate of vaccinations has decreased in the four-county area, with just 0.5 percent of…
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Urgent Pipe Replacement Coming to U.S. 19/23
CLYDE – A deep pipe failure under the eastbound lanes of U.S. 19/23 between Clyde and Canton near Crawford Memorial Gardens…
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Canton mayor selected as ‘Outstanding Rising Leaders’
Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing…
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Urgent pipe replacement coming to U.S. 19/23
A deep pipe failure under the eastbound lanes of U.S. 19/23 between Clyde and Canton near Crawford Memorial Gardens will…
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WNC towns debate future of room occupancy tax
If passed, legislation introduced by Western North Carolina Republican representatives would allow municipalities within Haywood County to levy their own…
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Canton, Waynesville to consider room tax increases
A tax bill sponsored by two western Republicans that’s currently making its way through the North Carolina General Assembly has…
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Bryson City removed from room tax legislation
The Town of Bryson City has been removed from a piece of state legislation that would have allowed the town…
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No plans for town room tax in Sylva
While Sylva’s leaders have considered the idea of a town occupancy tax a couple times over the years, so far…
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Maggie Valley occupancy tax on the horizon
Maggie Valley may have the opportunity to create its own Tourism Development Authority for the purpose of promoting tourism in…
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Summer school aims to address learning loss
As much of Western North Carolina bounces back from the devastation of COVID-19 — lower case counts, rising tourism numbers…
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New vaccinations continue to slow
Vaccinations continue to slow down in the four-county area and in the state as a whole, but case counts are…
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Decision time coming for Haywood budget
Although the recommended budget won’t be presented for another two weeks, Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead took the opportunity on…
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HCA breaks ground on new Franklin hospital
HCA Healthcare officially broke ground last Friday morning on a $68 million facility to replace Angel Medical Center in Franklin.
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