Haywood School Board decides fate of superintendent who posted racially insensitive meme
After a social media post regarded by some as racially insensitive, Haywood County’s superintendent of schools has been temporarily relieved…
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Two COVID-related deaths reported in Jackson
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has confirmed that two recent deaths in Jackson County residents are related to…
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NC schools to reopen Aug. 17 as state remains in Phase 2
After weeks of speculation, Gov. Roy Cooper announced July 14 that North Carolina would again remain in Phase 2 of…
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"Sylva Sam" draws debate at commissioner meeting
The public comment portion of tonight’s meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners drew 16 people who spoke for…
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Nonprofit grants available for COVID-19 relief
Nantahala Health Foundation has announced a call for grant proposals directed at regional nonprofits and governmental agencies with immediate needs,…
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Of 117 COVID cases in Haywood, 94 are recovered
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 10 of two new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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Haywood schools develop summer programs
House Bill 1043 requires school systems to develop a Remediation and Summer Jump Start Plan for the 2020-2021 school year.…
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Successful search and rescue effort for lost hikers
The search for missing hikers Kelly and Mark Kleinbrahm and their son Noah ended successfully Tuesday afternoon around 1 p.m.…
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Health officials urge people with symptoms to get tested
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 9 of six new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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COVID-19 cluster found at Macon County farm
Macon County Public Health has identified a cluster of 9 people who have tested positive at Norton Creek Farms. Employees…
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Hemp farmers growing business in Macon
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Appalachian Growers located in the Cowee Valley.
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New assistant DA hired for western counties
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced Wednesday that Michael Macht has joined the 43rd Prosecutorial District as an assistant district…
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WCU police chief runner-up in Campus Safety awards
Western Carolina University Chief of Police Steve Lillard was named national runner-up in the higher education division of Campus Safety…
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Haywood surpasses 100 COVID-19 cases
Haywood County Public Health received notice on July 8 of two new cases of COVID-19. This brings the number of…
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Cherokee cultural corridor plan receives award
Knoxville, Tennessee-based Johnson Architecture, along with project partner IBI Placemaking, recently earned an award in North Carolina for the Cherokee…
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Entwined with slavery: A brief local history
By Peter H. Lewis • AVL Watchdog | By 1860, about 15 percent of the population of Western North Carolina was enslaved. Only…
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What’s in a name? For Asheville, signs point to history of racism
By Peter H. Lewis • AVL Watchdog | Vance, Patton, Woodfin, Henderson, Weaver, Chunn, Baird — their names are familiar to anyone living in…
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COVID-19 cases curving up again
Haywood County Medical Director Dr. Mark Jaben has been keeping residents updated through the COVID-19 Pandemic with weekly video messages…
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SCC supports mask distribution efforts
On Monday, June 22, Southwestern Community College hosted Nantahala Health Foundation representatives as they set up a mask distribution site…
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WCU disbands Board of Visitors
Western Carolina University’s Board of Visitors no longer exists following the WCU Board of Trustees’ vote June 5 to repeal…
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Elliott to retire from Jackson Schools
After two years in the position, Jackson County Public Schools Superintendent Kim Elliott will retire as head of the school…
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Franklin restaurant wants to expand outdoor seating
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to impact local businesses, restaurants and bars have been trying to look for ways to…
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Second COVID cluster identified at Mountaintop Golf Club
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified its second COVID-19 cluster in a single day, announcing that 11…
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Crews search for three missing hikers at Black Balsam
UPDATE: Searchers made contact with the hikers around noon Tuesday, July 7. They were able to walk out with search…
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COVID-19 cluster identified at Jackson dermatologist
Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster in a local medical provider’s office.
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Cashiers chamber supplying free masks for businesses
The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation to provide valuable Personal Protection Equipment…
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New Haywood COVID cases traveled to Florida
Haywood County Public Health received notice July 2 that another Haywood County resident has tested positive for COVID-19. This brings…
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‘The arts will always be open’: Bardo Arts Center adapts to remote audience
By Andrew Dundas • Contributing writer | This fall, Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center…
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Second Blessing needs donations, volunteers
The Second Blessing Thrift Store, located in Waynesville, is open, expanding operations and in need of donations and volunteers.
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Pandemic changes WNC’s Independence Day tourism
By Boyd Allsbrook • Contributing writer | In the past, the Fourth of July holiday has been counted on to…
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Republicans reject Trump-endorsed candidate in NC11 runoff
Republicans finally know who will face Democrat Moe Davis in the November General Election, and the results indicate a major…
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Outdoor adventures reopen in WNC
The Coronavirus Pandemic and ensuing shutdown means folks have been spending most of their time at home for the last…
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Customer service should be a powerful connection
By Gerri Wolfe Grady • Special to SMN | Customer service is an important commodity for any business and particularly…
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It’s Cawthorn in NC11 after runoff blowout
How, exactly, does someone lose a Primary Election in which they have almost a year’s exclusive advance knowledge of the…
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‘Back the Badge’ rally comes to Waynesville
Last week, as demonstrations were taking place across the nation to call attention to police brutality and racial injustice, Canton…
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Maggie Valley starts planning process for waterfall park
When tourists visit this region, many of them come seeking the beauty and awe of the waterfalls that decorate the…
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No Phase 3 for NC
North Carolina’s graduated three-phase COVID-19 reopening plan was set to cruise into Phase 3 on June 26, but due to…
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Cherokee has second COVID-related death; Macon experiences nursing home ‘outbreak’
As of June 30, North Carolina had 64,670 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll is now over 1,300 and…
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DOT revises plan for Dillsboro bridge project
Plans for a $14 million bridge project in Dillsboro have changed, with the project now expected to take nine months…
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WCU removes name 'Hoey' from auditorium
The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution removing the name “Hoey” from a campus performance facility.
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Less pomp, more circumstance: Western North Carolina’s future leaders graduate amidst pandemic
The Class of 2020 will forever be remembered as the “asterisk” class. Whether it be high school, community college or…
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DA searches for larger substitute courtrooms during COVID
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said across the 43rd Prosecutorial District, in the state’s seven most-westernmost counties, court officials are…
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Additional COVID-19 cases confirmed in Haywood
Haywood County Public Health received notice on June 26 that three more Haywood County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. …
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Lake Junaluska opens new restaurant
The Terrace Bistro has opened at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, offering a rare lakeside dining option in…
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Drowning occurs near Oconaluftee Visitor Center
At approximately 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress…
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SRCA approves preliminary plans for $15 million facility
According to a press release, Shining Rock Classical Academy board of directors recently unanimous voted to accept the architectural designs…
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COVID-19 outbreak at Macon nursing home
Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak in staff at Macon Valley Nursing Home. Two staff members of…
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Jackson County budget passes without tax cut
Following a June 23 public hearing, Jackson County Commissioners voted to pass the proposed 2020-21 budget without any of the…
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Gateway to recreation: Canton begins planning for 448-acre outdoor park
The 448-acre woodland property sitting right off U.S. 23/19 and Interstate 40 near Canton was almost a speedway. Then, it…
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State allocates $26 million for families
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies have begun to…
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