Tribal Council removes casino board chairman

In a closely divided vote following an at-times tense discussion Thursday, Dec. 3, the Cherokee Tribal Council removed Tribal Casino…
Read More

Comment

 

NPS investigates sexual assault case

The National Park Service Investigative Services Branch continues to seek information related to sexual assaults that may have occurred within…
Read More

Comment

 

New members join Macon County School Board

Macon County School Board has two new members following the 2020 election and a special appointment to fill a recent…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood Schools central office relocates

Haywood County Schools Central Office began the process of relocating to Central Elementary last week. 
Read More

Comment

 

Female farmers survive a challenging year

By Laura Lauffer • Contributing writer | During the holiday season, we often recognize and appreciate the farmers in our community for…
Read More

Comment

 

Gov. Cooper presents grim coronavirus numbers, new restrictions

Calling the stakes dire and the situation “a matter of life and death,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced a…
Read More

Comment

 

Conspiracy theorists continue to spread misinformation in Haywood

Weeks after controversy erupted due to a mischaracterization of a routine local government housekeeping measure in Waynesville, conspiracy theorists continue…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood Regional Medical Center Suspends Visitation

Haywood County is currently experiencing a rapid increase in positive cases of COVID-19, indicating unchecked community spread. Thus, with the…
Read More

Comment

 

Contact tracing crucial as COVID case spike

Between Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, Haywood County Public Health received notice of 79 new cases of COVID-19. As of…
Read More

Comment

 

Governor, tribe approve sports betting agreement

After a yearlong delay, the effort to bring sports betting to Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos is finally moving forward following Gov.…
Read More

Comment

 

Trio of Paving Contracts Awarded in WNC counties

N.C. Department of Transportation officials recently awarded three separate contracts totaling more than $6.7 million to resurface more than 26.2…
Read More

Comment

 

Hernandez pleads guilty in motorcycle death

Jorge Hernandez, arrested last year after crashing into a motorcyclist on N.C. 107 near Glenville, killing him, pleaded guilty Tuesday…
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson says goodbye to Mau and Luker

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners said goodbye to outgoing Commissioners Ron Mau and Mickey Luker on Tuesday, Dec. 1,…
Read More

Comment

 

Two COVID-19 deaths reported in Haywood nursing home

Two people have died related to a COVID-19 outbreak at Maggie Valley Nursing Home and Rehabilitation, bringing Haywood County’s total…
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19 spikes force WCU to cancel in-person commencements

In response to concerns about the surge of COVID-19 cases across North Carolina and the U.S. and in consultation with…
Read More

Comment

 

DA undergoes breast cancer treatment

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced that she has breast cancer and is undergoing medical treatment.
Read More

Comment

 

HCC students guaranteed admission to Lees-McRae

Haywood Community College (HCC) and Lees-McRae College (LMC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Guaranteed Admission Program…
Read More

Comment

 

Mayflower anniversary celebrated

Families observing Thanksgiving this month will be following a tradition that arose several hundred years ago from events in Plymouth,…
Read More

Comment

 

State releases new economic ranking for counties

The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2021, showing that Haywood moved to a more…
Read More

Comment

 

Coronavirus creeps into WNC nursing homes

COVID-19 is surging in Western North Carolina counties, and eight nursing homes in Haywood, Jackson and Macon counties are currently…
Read More

Comment

 

Shining Rock ends partnership with TeamCFA

Shining Rock Classical Academy’s Board of Directors recently voted to terminate its long-time partnership with TeamCFA, a national network of…
Read More

Comment

 

F*ckface and Other Stories by Leah Hampton: the real stories of modern Appalachia

The name of Leah Hampton’s new book will likely grab your attention. If it does, let it pull you in.…
Read More

Comment

 

Few differences apparent in Haywood commission candidates

Round two of the Haywood County Republican Party’s candidate screening process is now complete, and after fielding more than two…
Read More

Comment

 

Timeline announced for indoor pool project

After Jackson County voters narrowly approved a Nov. 4 referendum to bring an indoor pool to Cullowhee, the lanes are…
Read More

Comment

 

Sylva grapples with slope failure fix

A 150-foot section of Allen Street in Sylva has been closed since April as the town board decides what to…
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19 cluster found at Hermitage Care

Four people at Hermitage Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sylva have tested positive for COVID-19, constituting a new outbreak.
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson NAACP Awarded $25K Grant

The Jackson County Branch of the North Carolina Conference of the NAACP was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the…
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19 outbreaks at three Haywood living facilities

The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has identified COVID-19 outbreaks at Autumn Care of Waynesville, Maggie Valley Nursing…
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19 deaths in Jackson reach 10

During the month of November thus far, three people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in Jackson County, bringing the county’s…
Read More

Comment

 

Macon reports ninth COVID-related death

A Macon County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away Sunday. The person was over the age of 65 and had…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood reports 40th COVID-19 death

Haywood County Health and Human Services has reported three more COVID-19 related deaths as of Nov. 24, bringing the county’s…
Read More

Comment

 

‘They deserve the best’: Culture is key to care for Cherokee geriatrician

Blythe Winchester has known since a young age that she wanted to be a doctor. She remembers “doctoring” her dolls…
Read More

Comment

 

Shop Local Saturday: Support local businesses onsite and online

By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | This year’s post-Thanksgiving weekend of shopping holidays will be unlike any other. This…
Read More

Comment

 

More access proposed for Graveyard Fields

The National Park Service announced it is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service on a project that includes a proposal…
Read More

Comment

 

Junaluska Woman’s Club decorates for fall

This year Junaluska Woman’s Club members have crafted plans for wonderful, supportive projects and fundraising events that, during the pandemic,…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU launches Veterans and Military Alumni Society

Melissa Metcalf Le Roy believes her father, the late Oscar William Metcalf Jr., would have been the first to apply for…
Read More

Comment

 

Nikwasi Initiative moves forward with big plans

As November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month, it seemed like a perfect time for Nikwasi Initiative leaders to…
Read More

Comment

 

Tribe considers Indiana casino purchase

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is hoping to close a deal to buy Caesars Southern Indiana Casino, with Tribal…
Read More

Comment

 

County applies for funds to renovate Clyde armory

Haywood County is applying for federal funds that would allow for a major renovation project at the Clyde armory building,…
Read More

Comment

 

The new norm difficult for schools

When the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading in North Carolina in March of 2020, public schools were forced to close their…
Read More

Comment

 

Major development proposed for Cashiers crossroads

The face of Cashiers could change significantly if a proposed 55.52-acre development is approved. Planned as a mixed-use development in…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood GOP will fill commission vacancy

A vacancy on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners will soon be filled, albeit through an unusual method that gives…
Read More

Comment

 

Recount confirms Jones’ win in Jackson County

A recount of votes cast in the race for the District 4 seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners…
Read More

Comment

 

Eliada seeks holiday sponsors

Eliada works hard to make the holidays a special time for the children in our care. This year, due to…
Read More

Comment

 

Allegiant to offer flights to Las Vegas

Allegiant recently announced a new nonstop route to McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas from Asheville Regional Airport beginning March…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU professor named P.E. Teacher of the Year

Western Carolina University assistant professor Amy Stringer has been named North Carolina College/University Physical Education Teacher of the Year by…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood reports two more COVID-19 deaths

Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting its 38th and 39th COVID-19 deaths. 
Read More

Comment

 

COVID-19 cluster found following law enforcement class

The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has identified a COVID-19 cluster among Haywood County Detention Center staff. The…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU Faculty Senate approves extension of satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades for fall 2020

Western Carolina University students will be allowed to request grades of satisfactory or unsatisfactory for 2020 fall semester classes following…
Read More

Comment

 

Macon identifies COVID-19 outbreak at Drake Cottage

Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at Drake Cottage, a congregate living facility. Three individuals have tested…
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.