‘It feels like home’: Pandemic spurs migration to Jackson County
Patrick Cochran and Blair Smoker have lived in the Atlanta area their whole lives, but they’ve long believed that Sylva…
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Billy Graham’s Legacy Threatened by Family Split
By Tom Fiedler • AVLWatchdog.org | For the Rev. Franklin Graham, the scathing editorial in Christianity Today last year calling his friend…
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Veteran retreat center opens in Macon
Jessica Merritt is counting down the days until her husband returns home from his final days of service in the…
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Pandemic pushes people out of the city
With the real estate market in Western North Carolina booming right now, it’s clear the region is reaping the economic…
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From LA to Lake J — a pandemic relocation
Jane Pickett is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She has lived the last 15 years of her life in Los Angeles,…
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Western Carolina University athletics returns to play
By Todd Vinyard • Contributing writer | Each athletic season has its challenges, but the 2020-2021 season has more obstacles…
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Waynesville Parks and Rec receive national accreditation
The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department recently earned national accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies.
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Glass half full: Elevated Mountain turns beer into liquor
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | There were many things I expected to experience as a direct result of…
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Macon approves hazard pay for county employees
At the recommendation of County Manager Derek Roland, Macon County commissioners recently approved hazard pay for its 300-plus employees.
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Rescue squad alleges former chairman committed fraud
A longtime leader in the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad is facing criminal charges and a civil suit claiming he used lies…
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Jones ahead in Jackson Commission race after canvass
Following canvass Friday, Nov. 13, Democrat Mark Jones is still ahead in the race for the Jackson County Board of…
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Tribe breaks ground on Sevier County development
The first phase of a development effort worth tens of millions of dollars is expected to open in 2022 following…
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Capitol Christmas tree will stop in Asheville today
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will visit Asheville today, making its appearance 3 to 6 p.m. at the Asheville Outlets…
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Clay County to open first new school in 40 years
The new Hayesville Primary School opens Monday to students and teachers, providing a brand-new place of learning in Clay County…
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Haywood reports 37th COVID-19 death
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting its 37th COVID-19 death. The individual died at home and COVID-19 was listed…
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Infant perishes in Canton house fire
Emergency personnel were called to a residence in the North Hominy/Canton area in reference to a structure fire with entrapment…
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From one battlefield to another: A military family called to serve others
Canton native Eric Hill was 18 when he decided to join the military. It was a quick decision. He wanted…
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Tribe wants to name former chief as new Jackson County namesake
The 18th chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was a lot of things — a World War II veteran,…
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Spring registration open at HCC
Haywood Community College registration for spring semester is now open for both new and continuing students.
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Outcome still uncertain for Jackson’s District 4 race
Election Day results showed Democrat Mark Jones edging Republican Mark Letson by a slim nine-vote margin in the race for…
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Canton’s ConMet now hiring
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer Before the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns gutted U.S. commerce back in March, the Canton…
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WNC prosecutor also serves as military judge
By Quintin Ellison • Special to SMN John Hindsman Jr. leaves his civilian job this week for his military one,…
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The after-action report: 50 fast facts from the Haywood election results
The results are in — well, sort of — and Republicans in Western North Carolina don’t have much to complain…
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Hospice House in Franklin nears completion
The town of Franklin will soon be home to SECU Hospice House of WNC. This new facility will provide hospice…
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COVID cases on the rise again in Haywood
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 57 new cases of COVID-19 since Oct. 30. As of 5 p.m. Nov.…
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Native American Heritage Month celebrated at WCU
November is Native American Heritage Month and events adhering to pandemic protocols have been scheduled for Western Carolina University.
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Outcome uncertain for Jackson’s District 4 race
Election Day results showed Democrat Mark Jones edging Republican Mark Letson by a slim nine-vote margin in the race for…
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COVID-19 outbreak identified at Sylva nursing home
Two employees at Skyland Care Center in Sylva have tested positive for COVID-19, meeting the N.C. Division of Public Health’s…
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Jackson Republicans hold District 3 seat, District 4 remains uncertain
The Democratic majority on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners could strengthen to a 4-1 hold following Election Day results.…
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Cawthorn scores convincing victory in NC11
It was one of those fairy tales that actually came true. Madison Cawthorn, a 25-year-old political unknown, pounced upon an unexpected…
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Sponsored: Discover Biltmore, your year-round oasis from the cares of the world
George Vanderbilt first opened Biltmore, his magnificent private estate, to family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895. Today, 125 years…
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Gillespie keeps far-west house seat in GOP hands
Franklin Republican Karl Gillespie will now become the third Macon County commissioner in the last decade to make the jump…
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Wingate to take the bench in District Court
After spending more than a year campaigning across Western North Carolina, 31-year-old Republican Kaleb Wingate will claim a District Court…
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Pless prevails in quiet District 118 race
The abrupt departure of Western North Carolina’s congressman, Asheville Republican Rep. Mark Meadows, wasn’t the only surprise of the 2019…
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Incumbents keep control of Haywood School Board
Five seats were up for grabs on the Haywood County Board of Education this election — two in the Waynesville district,…
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Haywood Republicans win another term on commission
A pair of Republican incumbents seeking to retain their seats will remain on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners after…
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Corbin coasts to Senate victory
The Macon County Republican political machine just keeps on cranking out winners.
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Clampitt dethrones Queen, again
Western North Carolina’s longest-running political feud, between two men whose families have plodded about these here hills and hollers since…
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Jackson voters approve pool referendum
With 51.41 percent of voters in favor of the measure, Jackson County residents approved a referendum that will allow the…
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Young Republican to join Macon commission
Josh Young, a young Republican in his first attempt to run for public office, will join the Macon County Board…
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Swain incumbents retain commissioner seats
Two incumbents will claim their second terms on the Swain County Board of Commissioners after being the top vote-getters out…
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Newspaper story fuels tumultuous Waynesville town meeting
A routine housekeeping measure intended to clarify who, exactly, can declare a State of Emergency on behalf of the Town…
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Cold weather means COVID cases could heat up
As the colder weather settles in, many Western North Carolina counties are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
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Drug charges lead to stiff prison sentence
What began as a traffic stop ended with a jury finding a Waynesville man guilty last week on methamphetamine-related charges,…
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Enrollment open for ACA health plan
This year’s Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance may very well be the most challenging yet, with…
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DA seeks death penalty in case involving infant's death
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch’s office intends to seek the death penalty against a Haywood County man accused of killing…
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Swain approves funding for reading specialists
Swain County commissioners recently approved about $200,000 in funding for the school system in an effort to improve student reading…
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Pandemic hit to per cap payments smaller than feared
Due to decreased casino profits related to the pandemic, December per capita payments to members of the Eastern Band of…
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Council approves $80 million cost increase on casino expansion
Tribal Council voted 11-1 during Annual Council Oct. 29 to approve the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise’s request to borrow up…
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Haywood County sheriff proposes $16 million jail expansion
A report presented to Haywood County commissioners says the county’s detention center is approaching operational capacity and because the minimum…
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