Retired teachers ask state for a raise
When teachers were starting their careers in North Carolina some 30 years ago, they did so with the understanding that…
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Macon considers Second Amendment proposal
On Monday, Jan. 20, as many people were off work to honor the memory of the late Martin Luther King…
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Runaway teen sought in Jackson County
UPDATE: Ward was found in Tennessee Jan. 18 thanks to help from a citizen and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.…
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Maggie Chamber honors dedicated volunteers
The Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the hard work of its many volunteers Tuesday night during its annual banquet…
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Waynesville’s cemetery policy revamp begins
Proposed changes to and clarifications of cemetery ordinances prompted by public outcry in Waynesville will undergo a period of public…
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Catholic church identifies 'credibly accused' in WNC
On Monday, Dec. 30, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte published a list of several clergy the diocese found to…
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Committed to the slopes: Waynesville snowboarder to appear in international competition
Zeb Powell was 7 years old the first time he tried a snowboard. That initial ride wasn’t great — Powell, a…
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Duke Energy asks for rate increase
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, filed an application with the North Carolina Utilities Commission Sept. 30, 2019, requesting authority to increase…
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Following the gleam: Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Something Dawn Gilchrist’s father-in-law, a retired Methodist minister, once said has stuck with her throughout her career as an educator…
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Tribal Council passes term limits for casino board members
After nearly an hour of debate, Tribal Council voted unanimously last week to place term limits on members of the…
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Regional hospitals look back on 2019 growth
Western North Carolina hospitals under the Duke LifePoint umbrella are celebrating several milestones in making communities healthier as a new…
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Sylva planning board gets two new members
The Town of Sylva has two new members on its planning board following a pair of unanimous votes from town…
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Search for new Waynesville police chief nears end
Almost seven months after the retirement of its longtime police chief, the Town of Waynesville is getting closer to naming…
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Waynesville homelessness task force takes shape
Despite the urgency of the area’s homelessness problem and the cacophony of citizens clamoring for a task force to begin…
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Cherokee angles for Virginia casino project
Casino gaming is under serious discussion in the Virginia legislature this year, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is…
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Pisgah teacher under investigation resigns
A Pisgah High School teacher who had been under investigation by Haywood County Schools since late last year is no…
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House approves bill to grant Cherokee land in Tennessee
For the second year running, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would return 76 culturally significant…
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Lake Junaluska to draw down water levels
Lake Junaluska to draw down water levelsLake Junaluska has opened its dam to draw down the lake. The lake drawdown,…
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Trend in party registration could sink Democrats
Only twice since 1972 has the state of North Carolina supported a Democratic candidate for president. But if a years-long…
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Jackson County to purchase fire training trailer
Fire education in Jackson County will soon get a leg up following county commissioners’ vote Dec. 17 to appropriate $169,434…
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2A or not 2A? Counties mull gun sanctuary resolutions
The vigorous debate over the necessity of “Second Amendment sanctuary” resolutions has finally begun to trickle into North Carolina, and…
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Court: No ID at NC polls in 2020
Although voters approved a 2018 ballot measure requiring photo identification at North Carolina polls, voters won’t have to produce IDs…
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Cherokee chief testifies against Lumbee recognition
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is the only federally recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina, but that could…
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‘Mountain Murders’ podcast celebrates one year
There’s just something so mysterious about Southern crime stories. Small towns with big characters and dark family secrets. People taking…
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Deaths, possibly from flu, shock Haywood County
A pair of deaths from what’s being called a “flu-like illness” rocked Haywood County last week, underscoring the importance both…
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No cop impersonator located in Haywood
The search for the driver of a silver/grey Dodge Charger with white strobe lights who allegedly held a woman at…
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2019: What just happened?
As we ring in the New Year, The Smoky Mountain News likes to look back and reflect on the last…
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Fake News Freakout!!!!!! Four
By Cory Vaillancourt • Fake News Editor | It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s time…
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Cashiers rep fails to attend local meeting
The Jackson County Commissioners traveled to Cashiers for their Dec. 12 meeting, but Commissioner Mickey Luker — who was elected…
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Generosity Feeds Haywood: Volunteers package 11,000 meals for homeless students
It was a sight to behold — more than 200 volunteers of all ages coming together on a cold Saturday morning…
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Rep. Meadows retires from congress
As first reported by Politico earlier this morning, Western North Carolina’s four-term Republican congressman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Asheville, will not…
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SCC’s new Health Sciences building on track
Southwestern Community College’s new $21 million Health Sciences Building is starting to take shape on the west side of the…
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Nantahala foundation awards grants
The Nantahala Health Foundation has announced its initial grants awarded to local organizations in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and…
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WCU student working to translate Cherokee language from native newspaper
Constance Owl’s master’s degree thesis is more than a means to a graduate degree in American history. It’s a portal…
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Sylva police investigating impeachment protest incident
The Sylva Police Department is looking into an incident that occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 17, during a protest downtown that…
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Jackson discusses solutions to slow internet
Sylva was named the nation’s slowest city for internet in a recent report from internet service comparison website www.highspeedinternet.com, and…
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Animal shelter funding approved in Jackson
Funding for a new animal shelter in Jackson County has been approved following a Dec. 17 vote to OK $5.39…
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Jackson approves $700,000 for new voting machines
After more than three years of anticipating the expenditure, Jackson County has allocated funds to replace its recently decertified voting…
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WNC congressmen oppose Trump impeachment
For just the third time in American history members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve articles of…
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Candidate filing period ends with a bang
A flurry of last-minute sign-ups means that 2020 will likely be a lively election season in Western North Carolina and…
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Macon inmate captured after fleeing custody
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland told commissioners last week that he tries his best not to ask for more money…
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Price won’t run in NC-11, endorses fellow Democrat
UPDATED Dec. 19: Hours after this story was posted, Rep. Meadows announced he wouldn't seek reelection to the seat…
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Studies show correlation between PTSD and substance abuse
By Taylor Sexton • Special to SMN | Emma Jordan lives in Hatteras, North Carolina, where she spends her days working hard,…
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Running through life with PTSD
By Taylor Sexton • Contributing writer | I was 5 years old when I watched my father’s fist fly into the wall…
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Macon amends contract for jail medical services
Macon County commissioners approved two amended contracts that will hopefully keep costs down at the detention center.
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Airport authority chairman retires after 25 years
Macon County commissioners recently recognized Miles Gregory for his many years of service to the county, including his 25 years…
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Two plead guilty to trafficking
Samantha Casey Green, 27, of Franklin, entered a guilty plea to one count of trafficking opiates as a result of…
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Gilchrist named Regional Teacher of the Year
Jackson County Public Schools announced that Dawn Gilchrist has been selected as the Western Region Teacher of the Year.
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SCC celebrates new class of grads
Dressed in a royal blue cap and gown, with a glowing Christmas tree behind her and a smile from ear…
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Candidate signups continue in WNC
There will be a primary election for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat following Susan Bogardus’ decision…
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