Jackson gets influx of vaccine doses
Jackson County is still lagging behind surrounding counties when it comes to the percentage of its population that’s received a…
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WNC schools already adhering to state recommendation
Last week, North Carolina officials recommended that all schools return to in-person learning as soon as possible.
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Cost-saving measure could lead to less government transparency
A bill in the North Carolina General Assembly that would allow local governments to stop publishing mandated legal notices in…
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Jail expansion project enters critical phase
Opponents of Haywood County’s proposed $16 million jail expansion project are ramping up pressure on county commissioners to consider alternative…
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Council overrides veto claiming Charter violation
Following an 80-minute closed session discussion, Tribal Council voted 9-3 last week to override Principal Chief Richard Sneed’s veto of…
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Tribe to explore indoor sports facility
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is moving toward construction of an indoor baseball and softball facility following a Feb.…
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Dog park coming to Cashiers
Cashiers will get a dog park following the Jackson County Commissioners’ unanimous vote Jan. 26 to approve a contract with…
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NASA extends SCC partnership for 5 years
Two years before a total solar eclipse left area residents breathless in 2017, Southwestern Community College started working with the…
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What to know about second dose appointments
COVID-19 Second Dose clinics are coming up in Haywood County, here is what you need to know.
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Three more COVID deaths reported in Macon
Macon County Public Health reported that three Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away. To protect the family…
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Haywood reports five more COVID-19 deaths
Since mid-January Haywood County Health and Human Services has received notice of five more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number now…
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Cashiers crossroads developer offers last-minute plan reduction
After nearly eight hours of discussion and testimony on Monday, Jan. 25, the first day of the quasi-judicial hearing that…
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Enrollment for ACA coverage open Feb. 15 through May 15
People have a new opportunity to enroll in health insurance for 2021 on HealthCare.gov, but only for a limited time.
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Pro-bono legal service requests spike during COVID
As people continue to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for pro-bono legal services has spiked, putting more demand…
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Raising canes: River cane project protects environment, Cherokee culture
The sky shone an unbroken blue and afternoon sunshine cast sparkles on the lazy Pigeon River as a group of…
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Sarge’s dedicates memorial plaque
Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation dedicated a memorial plaque to honor Gary Smith Dec. 17, at Sarge’s Adoption Center.
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Haywood vaccinations surge, other counties lag
The number of Haywood County residents receiving a first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine jumped by 45 percent between…
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Bi-partisan opposition builds against Cawthorn
He hasn’t even been in office for a month, but Western North Carolina’s Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn is already starting…
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Equal Rights Amendment introduced in General Assembly
More than 40 years after it first took up the matter, the North Carolina General Assembly may consider finally ratifying…
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Cullowhee Valley retires controversial mascot
Cullowhee Valley School will no longer be represented by the Rebel mascot, which is personified by an old, white, confederate…
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SCC to host two virtual job fairs
Even as the pandemic continues, employers continue to seek eager workers to fill important job roles. To help with the search,…
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Significance of iconic Rock City Barn in Bryson City
Unbeknownst to many a passerby as they enter the town of Bryson City from the east, there lies a structural…
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Ultra-cold vaccine freezers come to UNC schools
New mobile freezers capable of capable of safely storing and transporting COVID-19 vaccine vials will soon arrive at all 15…
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WCU students research which masks work the best
Things like color, size, shape, prints and even bling, factor into the decision-making process. There are standard face coverings and…
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Pancake Day in a pandemic?
That is the question the Pancake Day Team and staff at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville pondered last fall…
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Getting to Madison Cawthorn: New congressman courts controversy
Madison Cawthorn, rolling himself around the Longworth House Office Building, draws attention from around every corner and down every straightaway…
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The Inauguration in pictures
Photojournalist Jeffrey Delannoy spent four days on assignment for The Smoky Mountain News in Washington, D.C. both before and after…
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Vaccinations climb in WNC
Staff at Jackson County Public Schools looking forward to COVID-19 vaccination got a welcome surprise last week when an impromptu…
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COVID vaccine supply diverted to larger counties
Just last week, Swain and Macon county health officials lamented over a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines making it to…
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Seasonal flu cases remain low in 2020-21
It’s always hard to predict what kind of flu season the U.S. should expect and how severe cases could be. Add…
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Swain tourism agency plans for new website
Swain County Tourism Development Authority plans to take another step toward separating itself from the Chamber of Commerce after the…
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Governor approves Catawba gaming compact
The Catawba Nation of South Carolina cleared an important hurdle in its quest to open a casino in Kings Mountain…
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Architectural contract approved for Jackson pool
Jackson County commissioners approved five pieces of legislation during their regular meeting Jan. 19 that will allow work to begin…
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Commissioners should attend meetings, Jackson board says
Jackson County Commissioners unanimously passed a policy change last week that makes it clear that sitting commissioners are expected to…
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No charges in Qualla Housing probe
More than three years after the cold February day when 26 FBI agents descended on the Qualla Housing Authority building…
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Jackson updates vaccine registration process
A new vaccine pre-registration process is in effect at the Jackson County Department of Public Health, which is currently vaccinating…
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Over 6,000 vaccines given in Haywood
Vaccinations by the numbers: Total number vaccinated in Haywood County: Over 6,000 Total vaccinated this week in drive-through events: 1,500
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Price named WCU’s director of economic development
Rich Price, a passionate and proud 1988 graduate of Western Carolina University, has spent the last seven years as the…
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DC dispatch: Jan. 21
It wasn’t exactly the fall of the Berlin Wall, but on Thursday, Jan. 21, workers in Washington, D.C. began disassembling…
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Revis sentenced to 87 months after assaulting officers
Stealing a leaf blower in Haywood County ended last week with a hefty prison sentence for an Asheville man, who…
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DC dispatch: Jan. 19
First it was 10,000. Then, 15,000. Then, 20,000. Now, they say, there are 25,000 National Guard troops in this city…
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Vaccine distribution ramps up in Jackson
As the afternoon sun sank in the wintry sky Jan. 15, a line of first responders stretched 50-deep outside the…
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First United Methodist talks about racism
For many, the issues of race, injustice and reconciliation of our violent history seem insurmountable. How do we solve problems…
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New director takes reins at Folkmoot
Like any organization that brings people together, Folkmoot USA had a difficult 2020. Without the ability for travel or gathering,…
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Cherokee alcohol referendum proposal tabled
A trio of resolutions seeking to put three alcohol-related referendum questions before Cherokee voters this year was withdrawn in Tribal…
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Jackson to hold vaccination clinic
Jackson County hopes to vaccinate 200 first responders and front-line emergency services staff with the first in a series of…
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COVID surge continues in Haywood County
As of Tuesday, Jan. 19, Haywood County Public Health received notice of 130 new cases of COVID-19 within the last…
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Frustrations mount over vaccine roll out
Rural counties in Western North Carolina are feeling the frustrations with the national COVID-19 roll out plan.
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State report calls for greater police transparency
A task force founded by Gov. Roy Cooper in the wake of violent protests after the police killing of Minneapolis man…
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