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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Sylva considers, shelves mask mandate proposal
Amid a spike of coronavirus cases in October, some members of the Sylva town board advocated for passing a mask…
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Cherokee approves $25 million for Sevier County development
After a 15-minute closed session discussion, Tribal Council voted unanimously Oct. 29 to allocate up to $25 million to develop…
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Parents ask Jackson school board to retire Rebel mascot
Two women presented a petition to the Jackson County School Board during an Oct. 27 meeting asking the board to…
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Farmworker Health Program receives $10K grant
Vecinos Farmworker Health Program was honored to receive a $10,000 grant from Nantahala Health Foundation, which partners and collaborates with…
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Sixth Macon Health employee positive for COVID
Macon County has identified that a sixth Macon County Public Health employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
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More community spread of COVID-19 in Haywood
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 33 new cases of COVID-19 since Oct. 23. As of 5 p.m. Oct. 29, the…
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Dem veep nominee Harris speaks in Asheville
Democratic vice-presidential nominee/California Senator Kamala Harris visited Western North Carolina last week, reminding voters of the importance of getting to…
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SCC firing range cleanup gets statewide attention
More than six years ago, Southwestern Community College officials started looking into making necessary safety improvements at their firing range…
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Injured bear hunter successfully rescued
Tuesday night at approximately 5 p.m. Haywood County received notice that a local bear hunter, Richard Warren, had been injured…
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COVID-19 cluster found at Jackson child care center
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster at a child care center.
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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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Fighting for attention: When politics and professional wrestling collide
Earlier this month, nearly 300 people packed the four-bay garage of the Jackson County Rescue Squad in Sylva on a…
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Staff, technology brings breast care to new level at Harris
Breast cancer is something that weighs heavy on every woman’s mind. What is my risk? Does it run in my…
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Council balks at casino expansion price tag
Two years into construction of a $250 million expansion at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise approached…
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Sylva to host Tubman statue
A plan to host a sculpture of Harriet Tubman at Bridge Park next year met enthusiastic approval from the Sylva…
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Who will preside over District Court? Greene, Wingate run for judgeship
Kaleb Wingate and Justin Greene both earned their law degrees at North Carolina Central University in Durham, but they have…
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Beasley, Newby race for Chief Justice of NC Supreme Court
Cheri Beasley has served as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court since she was appointed by Gov. Roy…
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Rep. Corbin looks to move up in Senate District 50
Since last fall, events in North Carolina’s 50th Senate District have largely been overshadowed by an attention-grabbing race in the…
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COVID-19 cluster found in Jackson
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster associated with a social gathering.
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A Clear Contrast — The NC Agriculture Commissioner Race
By Boyd Allsbrook Agriculture has always been an integral part of the North Carolina culture and economy. Every year, farming…
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Jury trials to resume in WNC
After months of delay, jury trials resume on a limited basis this week in the 43rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the…
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