To tax or not to tax? Waynesville considers adding another tax-exempt parcel

It isn’t often that citizens avail themselves of the public comment session offered by local governments.
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Only opposition heard for Walnut Street widening

Although work on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s proposed improvements to Russ Avenue won’t begin until 2022, Waynesville residents…
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Canton dives in to pool project

Town of Canton officials faced a “sink or swim” moment Jan. 3 when, in a special public hearing, they had…
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Neglected Canton dogs still need homes

In a case that stunned Western North Carolina residents last November, 137 dogs were found being kept in varying states…
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Sequoyah Fund embezzler sentenced

Embezzling nearly $1 million from The Sequoyah Fund in Cherokee will land the organization’s former executive director in federal prison…
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Jackson commissioner drops lawsuit

Recently elected Jackson County Commissioner Mickey Luker has dropped a lawsuit he filed in June contesting a permit denial handed…
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Timeline for Mill Street lane reduction will depend on town budget

Mill Street in Sylva will go from two lanes to one when a 2016 decision from the Sylva Board of…
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Lost hikers rescued from Shining Rock Wilderness Area
 

Lost hikers rescued from Shining Rock Wilderness Area

Two hikers lost in the Shining Rock Wilderness area in Haywood County were rescued Saturday evening thanks to the efforts…
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Downtown vacancies prompt concern

An unusual number of “for rent” signs have been cropping up in downtown Sylva lately, and the vacancies have town…
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Quilting group donates to sheriff’s office
 

Quilting group donates to sheriff’s office

Members of the Blue Ridge Mountain Quilt Guild in Canton stopped by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office recently to drop…
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Interim director of Lake Junaluska Singers hired
 

Interim director of Lake Junaluska Singers hired

Lake Junaluska has announced new leadership of the Lake Junaluska Singers, a choral group that has been part of Lake…
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Bryson City Bicycles receives small business grant

Bryson City Bicycles will use a $20,000 grant to expand its online presence and to provide a fleet of bicycles…
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WCU to form school for primary grades

Western Carolina University will soon be opening a school serving primary grades — likely in Jackson County — after a state mandate…
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Sylva appoints public art committee

Sylva’s town leaders were so excited to see the number of applications they received from prospective members of a public…
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Community Health Center to open in Sylva

Health services emanating from the Good Samaritan building in Sylva are set to expand this year as Good Sam moves…
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TWSA reviews water shortage plan following drought

As the drought of 2016 progressed, flows of streams and rivers dwindled region-wide — and the Tuckasegee River, water source for…
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Haywood water systems join forces to aid each other in times of need

From the control room of Canton’s water plant, a steady barrage of numbers flash across the computer monitors.
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In the wake of the drought, Haywood towns besieged by water shortage search for answers

As days slid by without rain last fall, and the days stacked into weeks, Neil Carpenter watched the water gauge…
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Showdown looms over Russ Avenue project

News of a historic portion of Walnut Street’s inclusion in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s plan for the widening…
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Mountain legislator to be sworn in

It took Bryson City Republican Mike Clampitt three tries over six years to finally become a member of the North…
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Worth it at every turn: WNC native joins N.C. Court of Appeals

As voters cast their ballots each Election Day, judicial races are often overlooked — they’re the least publicized, least funded…
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State tries to curb indigent defense expenses

Court-appointed lawyers are the crux of the U.S justice system because it is their duty to ensure every U.S. citizen…
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Haywood School Board fills vacancy
 

Haywood School Board fills vacancy

After receiving applications from three people, the Haywood County School Board has selected Bethel’s David Burnette to fill the seat…
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Bill Taylor to represent tribe in Raleigh, D.C.

Former Tribal Council Chairman Bill Taylor is now settling into a new position as the tribe’s governmental affairs liaison after…
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Jackson’s comprehensive plan nears approval

After two years of meetings, research and public input, the Jackson County Comprehensive Land Use Plan must go through one…
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The Haywood shuffle: top county posts remain unfilled

Employee turnover in local governments is nothing new, but Haywood County’s recent rash of retirements and resignations has resulted in…
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Haywood Chamber awards business leaders

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce recently presented its annual awards to business leaders who have gone above and beyond…
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Political climate makes future uncertain for aspiring dentist, DACA recipient

At 21, Teresa Luna holds two associate’s degrees, a freshly minted diploma in dental assisting from AB Tech and dreams…
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‘Haywood Five’ to face state disloyalty charges

Charges of “political party disloyalty” first leveled by the Haywood County Republican Party this past May against a group of…
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Community mourns the loss of Franklin alderman

Just a couple of weeks ago, Billy Mashburn discussed with The Smoky Mountain News his continued goals and vision for…
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Runoff election overturns recount results in Cherokee

An Oct. 10 runoff election to determine the winner of a disputed Tribal Council seat ended with a reversal of…
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Guilty pleas filed in marriage fraud case

Four people accused of entering into fraudulent marriages with non-U.S. citizens will plead guilty to the charge of marriage fraud,…
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Focus groups needed to discuss Swain ER changes

Swain Community Hospital is looking for small groups of residents to be part of ongoing focus groups to discuss changes…
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Impact fees to change in Jackson

A state law passed in July 2017 will lead to changes in water and sewer fees across North Carolina this…
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Cherokee sues opioid companies

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has filed a federal lawsuit seeking damages from 23 companies that manufacture or distribute…
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Deep freeze: Frozen waterfalls offer rare winter spectacle

It was cold, but I was prepared. Leggings and Underarmour, sweatpants and sweatshirt, parka and hiking pants, an array of…
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Bryson City to expand hours for alcohol sales

After voting down the measure just a couple of months ago, the Bryson City Board of Aldermen is now on…
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Bryson City manager moving to Murphy

After serving as Bryson City’s town manager for more than a year, Chad Simons will be moving on to Murphy…
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Waynesville mayor indicted for forgery

A North Carolina State Bar complaint filed against Waynesville attorney and Mayor Gavin Brown Oct. 11, 2017, that had accused…
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Charter school narrows down school director choices

After receiving 20 applications from candidates hoping to succeed founding School Director Ben Butler at Shining Rock Classical Academy, the…
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SRCA hiring process not kept private

Last week, Shining Rock Classical Academy held an event for “parents and community supporters” to meet the top four candidates…
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Academic performance of schools in Haywood County, 2016-17

No matter who takes the helm at SRCA, the new director will no doubt have his or her hands full…
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Cherokee chief under investigation

Principal Chief Richard Sneed is now under investigation following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s unanimous vote Jan. 4 to look into…
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Haywood school board discusses hiring a new superintendent

By coincidence, Haywood County Schools has, since about the same time as Shining Rock Classical Academy been readying itself to…
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Brunch Bill stymied in Dillsboro

An ordinance that would have allowed Sunday morning alcohol sales to begin in Dillsboro died for lack of a motion…
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School superintendent search progresses in Jackson

Jackson County is getting closer to choosing a replacement for former school superintendent Mike Murray after school board members held…
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Mashburn to fill late husband’s seat on Franklin board

When longtime councilmember Billy Mashburn passed away just days before the 2017 municipal election, the Franklin Town Council was prepared…
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Franklin passes noise ordinance

After months of trying to figure out the best way to address late-night partying that was disturbing residents, the Franklin…
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Former chief Youngdeer named Beloved Man

War hero and former Principal Chief Robert Youngdeer received the highest honor available in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians…
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