Archived News

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:48

Coat donations sought for Swain’s needy

The second annual “Coats 4 Folks” program in Swain County will continue through Oct. 31, and winter clothes can be dropped off at collection boxes in all county buildings. Organizers are collecting gently used coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, gloves, scarves, etc.,…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:47

Program on addiction scheduled at Junaluska

The Live and Learn program “The Genetics of Addiction” will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, in the Gains Auditorium of the Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. The program is designed to aid in understanding addiction. Experts…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:43

Haywood Heroes 5K to make first annual debut

The Haywood Heroes 5K Road Race and 1-mile Fun Run honoring emergency service personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, in Canton. The race is sponsored by the Canton Lions Club…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:42

Sylva ‘back street’ eyed for facelift

Neglect has its advantages. At least it does if you are talking about preservation. On back street in Sylva — the proper name is Mill Street, but few use that term — many of the buildings still bear the names…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:37

Budget issues top Macon commission race

On this, the seven candidates for the Macon County Board of Commissioners agree: the problems of a dour economy, and the subsequent need to watch every dollar spent and encourage any economic growth possible, is the No. 1 responsibility facing…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:37

Jackson sheriff’s candidate’s only option — complain to sheriff

Is Mary Rock paranoid, trying to garner a sympathy vote? Or is her opponent for sheriff, incumbent Jimmy Ashe, really targeting her by destroying campaign signs? Over the past week or so, three signs — the large ones, which cost…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:35

Franklin commercial corridors facing future controls

Sam Greenwood has been around the governmental block a few times. He twice served as Macon County’s manager, and after retiring he promptly returned to the ranks of bureaucracy again, this time as the town of Franklin’s manager. So it…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:35

Flu shots offered

The Haywood County Health Department is offering flu vaccines on a walk-in basis, with no appointment necessary, to people ages 19 and older. The walk-in vaccines are available from 9 a.m. to Noon Monday-Thursday and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:32

Jackson forum allows for more candidate scrutiny ... sort of

Jackson County commissioners passed a slate of sweeping development regulations in 2007 designed to rein in what they saw as runaway development. Commissioners touted the regulations as protecting not only the environment and but also the quality of life from…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:30

Jackson commission race stands out in complexity

Ambivalence toward development, and who should pace and manage growth in a manner that preserves the natural beauty of the mountains, has surfaced as the central debate in the race for Jackson County’s Board of Commissioners. Three seats are open…

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:27

Judging the judges: Forums put candidates in public eye

Candidates in this year’s race for District Court judge fielded questions about the job they’re seeking to fill at a judge’s forum Oct. 14 hosted jointly by The Smoky Mountain News and the Western Carolina University Public Policy Institute. In…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:04

NC residents state concerns at hearing on Rabun sewage permit

Macon County residents fearful that a proposed sewage treatment plant in Georgia will harm the Little Tennessee River turned out en masse at a public hearing last week to voice those concerns. The Little Tennessee River flows north from Rabun…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:04

Change of signage overdue, according to brand’s owner

A regular guest at the Dillsboro Holiday Inn Express upset by phone and Internet outages at the hotel discovered it is no longer affiliated with the Holiday Inn corporate brand. The inn’s de-listing was confirmed by a spokeswoman for brand…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:03

‘Skeleton’ of a plan

Derek Roland’s presentation about the effort to create a comprehensive planning document for Macon County suggested that a progressive document might come out of the planning process. But it was evident from the ensuing question-and-answer session [see main article] that…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 20:01

Macon to create broad plan — again

At a forum on Macon County’s move to begin working on a comprehensive plan to address future growth, the presenter focused on the what, the how and the why. Following the talk, by new county Planner Derek Roland, audience members…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:57

Big developer in foreclosure as lenders call their loans

A mega developer in Jackson County has landed in foreclosure due to sluggish lot sales in the down real estate economy. Legasus development company saw a portion of its massive land holdings auctioned off on the courthouse steps last week.…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:56

New medical office building coming to Harris Regional

Construction will soon begin on a medical office building on the Harris Regional Hospital campus in Sylva. The new 45,000-square-foot, three-story building will house physician practices, allowing for growth of the medical community. The building will also house an outpatient…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:55

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino builds the future

The Cherokee Nation and Harrah’s pulled out all the stops to mark start of construction on a third hotel tower at the tribe’s casino — an addition that will make the property the largest hotel in the state. The $633…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:50

Developer’s plight mixed blessing for community

Legasus developers have been attracting attention from Jackson County residents for almost two years. When news of the plans got out in early 2007 — calling for 1,800 lots on 3,500 acres between Tuckasegee and Glenville — Legasus evoked the…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:45

Folkmoot expands into three new counties

Last year Cindy Gilbert took her Polk County band students to China to perform. This year she is bringing the world’s music to them — thanks to Folkmoot USA and its drive to expand its presence in Western North Carolina.…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:43

Director says community values festival

By Melanie Threlkeld McConnell Forget Europe. Haywood County is where the action is for Karen Babcock this summer, and she couldn’t be happier. Well, give her a piece of dark chocolate and she could be. Babcock is the new executive…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:41

Public split on South Main’s future

In the heyday of curbside service, Jim Caldwell had a special talent for dressing hot dogs. He could balance 10 buns up on one arm, stacked from his wrist to his bicep, while his other wielded ketchup and mustard bottles,…

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:38

Public art showcases Folkmoot USA

Folkmoot will be the subject of a public art piece commissioned by the Waynesville Public Art Commission (WPAC).Artist Wayne Trapp has been selected to be the artist for the third public art piece. With an installation date scheduled for early…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 19:36

South Main redesign could ‘raze’ the bar

South Main Street in Waynesville is headed for a major roadway redesign, one that could take out rows of long-time businesses to make way for more lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and a median. South Main Street — the two-lane thoroughfare…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 19:28

Duke starts dredging above Dillsboro Dam

Duke Energy has begun work preparing a site along the Tuckasegee River upstream of the Dillsboro Dam in order to start dredging the river there. While virtually everyone agrees the dredging is a good thing in and of itself, the…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:31

Ghost Town coaster an open-and-shut case

The much-anticipated roller coaster at Ghost Town opened amid fanfare last week, then was promptly shut down again. The coaster is one of the primary attractions at the mountaintop amusement park in Maggie Valley, but has been plagued by a…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:27

‘Rainbow people’ — fewer this time — grace area forest

A much smaller contingent of Rainbow Family members than North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest has sometimes experienced descended on Buck Creek in the forest’s Tusquitee District in late June. In 1987, an estimated 12,000 Rainbow Family members converged on Nantahala…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:25

Family, social worker had to push to get embezzlement, elder exploitation case moving

By May 2008, members of Earla Mae Cowan’s family had begun to suspect a trusted nephew was stealing from her. And, in the first few months when they were most anxious to see the matter taken seriously and looked into…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:18

441 corridor plan poised for passage

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners held a final public hearing on the proposed U.S. 441 “Gateway” Corridor ordinance Monday (July 6). Michael Egan, the county’s consulting attorney on land development matters, gave an overview of the ordinance before comments…

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:05

Long-time Sylva mayor won’t run again

Sylva’s mayor for the past 17 years, Brenda Oliver, has announced that she will not run for re-election this fall.Oliver, 67, said she has enjoyed serving the town and is optimistic about the direction it is headed. Oliver said she…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 18:03

Canton election hangs on vision for town

How Canton residents envision the future of their town could play a pivotal role in who gets elected this fall. The current town board has been locked in a power struggle recently, with two long-time board members often at odds…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:59

New bike shop opens in Bryson

Andy Zivinsky and Diane Cutler were determined to move to the mountains. Their passion for all things outdoors was making the Raleigh area increasingly ill-suited to the type of lifestyle they wanted. “We were only taking an outdoor trip once…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:58

Vice mayor aspirant to challenge incumbent for mayor

Two-term Franklin Alderman Bob Scott has wanted a turn as vice mayor going back a while — an honor that traditionally rotates among aldermen. But a couple of years ago, Mayor Joe Collins reportedly told him, Bob, “ain’t gonna happen.”…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:56

PETA targets bear zoos in national campaign

Recently, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians found itself the whipping boy of an unlikely opponent. Much to the tribe’s surprise, the national organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals last month released a statement calling for an end…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:55

Stimulus funds boost WNC mass transit

Mass transit is set to get a boost in Western North Carolina thanks to some economic stimulus money targeted for park and ride and carpooling lots. The Region 14 DOT office in Sylva was recently awarded $460,000 for several projects.…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:54

Jackson eyes options for current library site

In the game of musical chairs stemming from the library moving out of its current digs on Sylva’s Main Street, “rear ends” may be landing in unexpected places. The Sylva Police Department was at least temporarily rebuffed — not “rebutted,”…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:38

Cherokee needs new superintendent after personnel upheaval

The Cherokee School Board is on the verge of appointing a new superintendent following the termination of Rosemary Townsend after three years on the job. Board Chairman Anthony Sequoyah said Townsend was an at-will employee and that the board chose…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:37

How Bob Barker took on the Eastern Band

Bob Barker?! The involvement of famed television host Bob Barker in the fight to end the Cherokee bear exhibits took many by surprise. During a phone interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Barker explained that he first became aware of…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:29

Will Sylva vote expose usual fault line?

The race for the Sylva town board this fall could once again gauge the extent of shifting demographics of the town. Two seats on the board are up for election. Town Commissioner Stacey Knotts confirmed she will run again while…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:28

Who’s running and who’s not?

Canton Mayor Pat Smathers could face opposition this fall from his leading opponent on the town board, Alderman Eric Dills. Dills said this week he is considering a run for mayor against Smathers, although he has not made up his…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:26

Tourism office takes tech strides

In her nearly six-month tenure as executive director, Lynn Collins has been helping Haywood County’s Tourism Development Authority make strides — especially in using technology to be more effective for tourism operators and visitors. As a prominent example, the tourism…

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:25

Tindall-Taylor leaving HRMC

The director of Haywood Regional Medical Center’s Foundation and Corporate Communications Department for the past 20 years, Robin Tindall-Taylor, has resigned her position at HRMC to take the position of the new executive director of the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation. “Over…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:27

Celebrate Halloween with dodgeball tournament

Sign-up for teams is now under way for Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center’s Night of Fright Dodgeball Tournament, to be held from 6 to 9 p.m, Oct. 28. Teams for the tournament may consist of four to seven participants,…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:26

Franklin Chamber to hold e-mail seminar

The Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a seminar entitled “The Power of Email Marketing” from 3-5 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Center for New Mountain Business located at 673 Siler Road in Franklin. The 1.5 hour seminar is…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:26

Groves said goodbye, but comes back again

Cecil Groves, former president of Southwestern Community College, is the new CEO of BalsamWest FiberNet. Groves, who had moved to Texas to be near family, replaces David Hubbs, who announced he was leaving to pursue personal

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:25

Sylva stays in-house for new police chief

Davis Woodard, a veteran law enforcement officer in Jackson County, has been selected as Sylva’s new police chief.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:23

Gummi bears and Kool Aid? State says not at daycares

A new state bill aims to encourage children to put down the sugary juices and frolic on the playground outside.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:20

Canton grant empowers citizens to develop revitalization plan

Canton may be looking toward a new era of revitalization, thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Rural Center. The town was awarded $25,000 earlier this fall for the Step Up Canton program, which will formulate strategies for economic…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:20

Swain sheriff receives federal grant

The Swain County Sheriff’s Office has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice under the 2010 COPS Hiring Program. The grant, in the amount of $125,811.00, will cover one officer position for a three-year period. The grant will…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:19

New Choices moves to REACH thrift store

The job training and life skills program, sponsored by REACH of Jackson County, has moved from its original location at the Client Service Center to Mariposa Boutique, the REACH thrift shop on Skyland Drive in Sylva. New Choices is a…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:19

Golf tournament to benefit REACH

A golf tournament will be held Monday, Oct. 18, at Highlands Falls Country Club in Highlands. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The “Playing for a Purpose” tournament will benefit REACH of Macon County, a nonprofit agency serving victims of family…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:18

Haywood Hospice volunteer training

Training for hospice is scheduled for the end of this month at Lake Junaluska First Baptist Church. Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice & Palliative Care will hold the volunteer training series on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 25, 26,…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:18

Candidates forum held in Franklin

A forum for Macon County Commissioner candidates will be hosted by the League of Women Voters of Macon County at 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church of Franklin. Incumbents Ronnie Beale (D) and Bob Simpson…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:16

As American as apple pie

On a chilly Wednesday night in early October, the small parking lot of the North Hominy Community Center in Haywood County is packed out.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:15

Big lot mandate hampers housing growth in Sylva

Residential density is coming under scrutiny in Sylva after town leaders learned they require larger lots than most similar-sized towns.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:13

Sylva merchant fights back against employee parking ban downtown

Dodie Allen might be an unlikely hero for those business owners and downtown employees in Sylva who believe a new parking ordinance impairs their ability to make a living.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:12

Brazilian energy company to set up shop on WCU campus

A partnership between Western Carolina University and a Brazilian-based company could eventually result in up to 300 new jobs for the region — if Vale Soluções em Energia, as hoped, agrees to build its yet-to-be-designed turbines here.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:09

Search for new chancellor could be silent process

A national search for a new Western Carolina University chancellor will start immediately following longtime leader John Bardo’s announcement this week he would leave the institution’s top post and join the faculty.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:06

WCU chancellor to retire

John Bardo, chancellor of Western North Carolina since 1995, announced this week he would step down. It’s been an extraordinarily long tenure for a university chancellor, and Bardo simply said it is time for a change at the top.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:06

Franklin gets reprieve from oversized radio tower

A radio tower that caused an outcry in Franklin because of its height — 471 feet — and its location — on the outskirts of town, in a residential area — won’t be built there after all. Instead, following a…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:04

Late-night shuttle to keep drunken WCU students off the road

The “buzz bus” soon will be ferrying students from bars in Sylva back to the Western Carolina University campus.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 20:02

Western caught in crosshairs of First Amendment battle

A First Amendment battle is not what Western Carolina University senior Justin Caudell expected when he returned to campus this fall. But Caudell, who is editor-in-chief of the school’s student newspaper, the Western Carolinian, found himself on the other side…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 19:58

WCU student paper accused of plagiarism

Though The Sylva Herald and the Western Carolinian are still at odds about whether plagiarism occurred this summer, The Smoky Mountain News conducted its own investigation into the claims that led university officials to open the inquiry that temporarily closed…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 19:54

Lake Junaluska Multicultural Conference early registration approaches

A conference at Lake Janaluska Dec. 2-4 will be, “Embracing Christ’s Multi-Ethnic Body: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges.” This represents Lake Junaluska’s second multicultural conference. During this event, people will experience life-changing times of listening and learning as participants…

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 19:52

Few takers step up to run Haywood’s landfill

Selling space in the Haywood County landfill might not be the windfall some county leaders were hoping for.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 19:51

Homeowners in limbo as sides volley blame in Maggie landslide lawsuit

The latest filing in a lawsuit over the massive landslide in Maggie Valley last winter claims the collapse of the mountainside was triggered by a broken waterline at Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park. Until now, accusations centered on…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:41

Swain embarks on new vision for old library

More bestsellers? A computer lab? Meeting space? This month, Swain County residents will be asked what it is they crave from their local Marianna Black Library. The surveys are part of an assessment funded by a planning grant from the…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:39

Forestry, farmland tax breaks reduced

Haywood County landowners who get a property tax break for agriculture or foresty will see a reduction in that benefit next year. A countywide revaluation will hit the books next year, bringing home and land values in line with market…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:38

WCU celebrates homecoming Oct. 8-10

The Alumni Scholarship Homecoming Golf Tournament will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Sequoyah National Golf Club in Whittier. Then, the Homecoming parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Sylva. Meanwhile, the Catamount soccer team will play…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:36

Foray into turbine business part of WCU’s mission, college says

Is going into business with a Brazilian company within the mission of Western Carolina University? Dean Robert McMahan says so, and he bases that decision on the university’s adoption of the Boyer model. WCU formally adopted this new tenure model,…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:34

WCU strikes business deal with Brazilian-based company

A company with South American roots will set up U.S. headquarters on the campus of Western Carolina University in a partnership to design, develop and build turbines. A public announcement about the deal is scheduled for next week. The Smoky…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:33

Learn about early college high school

Jackson County Early College High School (JCEC) is recruiting for the 2011-2012 school year. Several information sessions are scheduled for interested students and their parents. Four dates are scheduled; each begin at 6 p.m. Students and parent should select…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:31

Gargantuan radio tower prompts outcry in Macon County

Town and county leaders will meet with the N.C. Highway Patrol this week in Franklin to discuss where in Macon County the state agency can build a radio tower. Something of a brouhaha erupted last week after town leaders learned…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:26

Long-awaited livestock market gets needed boost toward finish line

Haywood County Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to pitch in $25,000 toward the regional livestock market under construction in Canton, adding their name to the list of governments and organizations from around the region that have contributed to the project. The…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:22

Haywood commissioner candidates debate merits of spending

Taxes and spending in a recession economy have emerged as the top issue in the race for Haywood County commissioner this year. Challengers vying for a seat on the board have jumped on the bandwagon of critics who have continually…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:15

Breathing life into the Museum that Runs

A few steps past the door at Maggie Valley’s Wheels Through Time museum, and the characteristic, unmistakable scent of a mechanic’s workshop wafts out – a heady mix of grease, motor oil, gasoline and rubber worn down by open roads.…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:14

Built for growth that hasn’t come, costly Whittier sewer system struggles to stay viable

Back about a decade ago, setting the table for economic growth around Whittier seemed something of a no-brainer — the casino in Cherokee was booming, and it seemed inevitable that businesses such as restaurants and hotels would clamor for space…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:12

Judge candidates to take stage in Jackson, Haywood next week

Candidates for District Court judge will espouse their vision for the bench at election forums held next week in Haywood and Jackson County. “Judges make decisions every day that directly influence people’s lives, yet many voters don’t know where judicial…

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 19:07

Judge’s race to have lasting impact, say attorneys

Not a day goes by that Judge Monica Leslie doesn’t realize the gravity of her decisions. Leslie is one of six District Court judges in the seven western counties. They decide how to split property and wealth when a couple…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 15:05

Library supporters close to $1.6 million fundraising goal

Fundraising for the new Jackson County library may have entered the home stretch, but is far from home free. Friends of the Library is only $250,000 away from its $1.6 million goal. But the final leg will prove the toughest,…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 15:02

Graham, Swain still squabbling over emergency coverage in isolated area

Swain and Graham county commissioners agreed Monday to let their respective county managers look at solid numbers before deciding on a resolution to the Deal’s Gap quandary. Graham County, which provides rescue service to the satellite Swain County territory and…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:58

Land sales challenge basis for vested rights, some argue

When the 3,500-acre Legasus development won exemptions from Jackson County’s development regulations two years ago, it raised the hackles of residents in the Tuckasegee community who claimed the hard-fought growth protections they ardently supported had failed when needed the most.…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:56

WCU welcomes freshman class

Probably very little about freshmen move-in day at Western Carolina University has changed over the years: the “nervous but excited” students, the teary-eyed, mostly just nervous parents following close behind, the authoritative, no-nonsense Resident Advisors directing their new underlings, and…

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 14:55

Webster scrambles to drum up candidates for town board

When voters head to the polls to elect town leaders in Webster this fall, the choices will be slim. Mighty slim. Only two candidates are running for five openings on the board — leaving three seats unclaimed. The tiny Jackson…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:52

A popular road reveals a dark side

An inspiration for songs, poems, and pilgrimages by motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world, the challengingly curvy stretch of U.S. 129 that crosses over from Western North Carolina to Tennessee has become the center of a political dispute between Swain…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:51

Coalition builds momentum for Nikwasi park

A proposed park at the site of the Nikwasi mound in Franklin would provide a quiet place for residents to gather while beautifying downtown and educating passersby on the mound’s historical importance. The Nikwasi mound, located near East Main Street…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:47

Big decisions ahead in debate over land-use plan

A steering committee tasked with examining and recommending possible changes to Waynesville’s land-use plan is finally getting down to brass tacks. Town aldermen commissioned the project nearly a year-and-a-half ago as a five-year review of how the town’s new land-use…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:43

Ghost Town still in the red despite $1.53 million in revenue

Ghost Town in the Sky did not bring in enough revenue from its amusement park operations during the months of May, June and July to cover its overhead and operating expenses. Ghost Town recently filed financial statements with the U.S.…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:42

Jackson EDC says new direction key to future

A comprehensive economic development strategy would go a long way toward solving the quagmire that is holding back progress on the Jackson County Economic Development Commission, the EDC board decided this week. “This is probably the most important issue,” said…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:41

Forest Hills mayor misses deadline, will run write-in campaign

Jackson County poll workers will contend with write-in ballots from at least two towns on election night this fall. One is Webster, where not enough people have stepped forward to run, leaving the town’s fate up to write-in candidates. The…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:40

WCU ranks highly among master’s degree universities

The latest U.S. News & World Report guide to “America’s Best Colleges” ranks Western Carolina University 10th among public universities in the South that offer master’s degrees. It is the first time WCU has made the U.S. News top 10…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:39

Bulb crusher helps recycling efforts

The state will ban plastic bottles, motor oil filters, and wooden pallets from landfills starting this October. The ban aims to fuel more recycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create more jobs. On the local level, Haywood Builders Supply in…

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 14:38

Maggie board OKs assisted living facility in town limits

The Maggie Valley Zoning Board of Adjustments approved a special zoning exception to make way for a 114-bed assisted living facility in the Campbell Creek area. The proposed facility, located in a 5-acre section of a 16-acre tract, would be…

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 14:35

Q&A with Congressman Shuler

SMN: What did you learn from the teletown meeting? Anything new? Heath Shuler: “The meeting reinforced my belief that most people don’t fully understand what is in the health-care reform bill and they have many valid questions about it. It…

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 14:34

Healthcare debate civil at tele-town meeting

Against the backdrop of a nation embroiled in an emotional, high-stakes debate on health care reform, the voices of Western North Carolina citizens seemed remarkably calm and polite during a telephone town hall meeting with Congressman Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, last…

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 14:33

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