Meet the candidates in Haywood County’s commissioner primary
Over the past two weeks, The Smoky Mountain News has explored where Haywood County commissioner candidates stand on education, economic…
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Higher education leaders push for Connect N.C. bond
With $120 million at stake, higher education leaders in Western North Carolina have taken every opportunity in the last month…
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Referendum on sales tax increase possible in Jackson
Jackson County Commissioners will vote this week on whether to approve a referendum vote for a quarter-cent sales tax increase…
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How about them apples?
The Smoky Mountain News won more awards in the large circulation, non-daily newspaper category than all but one newspaper in…
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Murphy’s Law turns simple water line repair into quagmire
Residents and business owners in Hazelwood have grown increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of water-and-sewer line work that has…
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Champion Credit Union donation gives teachers a deserved boost
Champion Credit Union donated $100,000 last week to nine local school systems in the communities it serves — including Haywood,…
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After 19-year run, Meadowbrook to end its year-round school experiment
Meadowbrook Elementary in Canton is ending its long run as a year-round school.
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Oscar winners to film movie in Sylva
Sylva is going to hit the big screen next year, made over as the fictional town of Ebbing, Missouri, and…
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WCU preps for visit from new UNC president
Western Carolina University leaders are getting ready to roll out the red carpet for the impending arrival of Margaret Spellings,…
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Bishop back out on bond after failing drug test
Former Macon County Elections Director Kim Bishop recently had to appear before a federal judge for the second time to…
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Tobacco-free ordinance on hold in Swain
Swain County Commissioners postponed a vote on whether to make the county recreation center a tobacco-free area after hearing feedback…
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Animal hospitals donate pet oxygen masks
Country Lane Animal Hospital in Clyde and The Animal Hospital in Waynesville teamed together to address the issue of pet…
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Development could be in Cullowhee’s future
Phones in Jackson County’s planning department have been buzzing lately with people interested in developing property in Cullowhee, and that…
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WCU chancellor to host forum on NC bond issue
Western Carolina University Chancellor David Belcher will host an educational forum at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, in the theater…
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Schools work through calendar challenges
Macon County teachers recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of adding 20 minutes to their school days in an effort to…
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Homeless shelter planned for Cherokee
Work will begin on establishing a shelter for Cherokee’s homeless following passage of a resolution Principal Chief Patrick Lambert introduced…
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Artificial turf likely for Smoky Mountain High
A plan to replace the football field at Smoky Mountain High School with artificial turf is likely to move ahead…
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Republican candidates deliberate Macon’s future
Even though all five of the candidates running for two open seats in the Macon County commissioner primary are Republicans,…
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Haywood candidates come up empty on fresh ideas for economic development
Candidates for Haywood County commissioner all agreed economic development is one of the top issues facing the county during an…
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Prepare to show photo ID at the polls
New voter identification laws are in effect for the 2016 elections, meaning voters should be prepared to show a valid…
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Free meal program going well at WNC schools
Half a year after launching a program that makes breakfast and lunch free for every child in school, the financials…
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Waynesville begins mobile vending discussions
The debate over when, where and how mobile vendors should be allowed to operate within the town limits has now…
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Haywood OKs outdoor shooting range moratorium
A moratorium on commercial outdoor shooting ranges took effect in Haywood County this week, temporarily halting any new shooting ranges…
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Swain County partnering with charter school for new gym
With the help of Swain County commissioners, Mountain Discovery Charter School is about to begin a capital campaign to build…
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Former church leader investigated for sexual misconduct
Rev. Howard “Howdie” White, former rector of the Episcopal Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville, is being investigated in…
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Sylva sets sights on revitalized Scotts Creek
Running through the hearts of Dillsboro and Sylva on its tumble down from Balsam, Scotts Creek has star potential. It…
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Haywood commissioners question whether scattergun economic development approach is working
A freewheeling discussion on how to create more jobs stumped Haywood County commissioners last week as they pondered what else…
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Democrat candidates for commissioner weigh in on Swain issues
Five Swain County Democrats are heading for the March 15 primary election in hopes of securing a seat on the…
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Four elk dead in Jonathan Creek
After three elk were shot on the Ross dairy farm in Jonathan Creek for eating winter wheat, a follow-up visit…
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Wildlife Commission OKs elk hunting rules
Elk hunting could be on the way to becoming legal in North Carolina following the N.C. Wildlife Resource’s Commission unanimous…
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Sky’s the limit: Drone operators on front lines of an exciting new industry
Everyone enjoys the ground-level Western North Carolina views, but drones provide a whole new perspective on things. SEE ALSO:• Drone technology…
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Contractor walks away from $15.9 million road contract
Construction on the 0.7-mile connector road through Southwestern Community College has come to a halt after the contractor working on…
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Arrest made in Lake Junaluska home invasion
A man accused of breaking into an occupied home at Lake Junaluska a week ago was arrested Monday night after…
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Drone operators navigate strict laws
Drone operators have found that navigating the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulations is more complicated than navigating their unmanned aircrafts.
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Drone technology presents opportunities and challenges
Though it can make certain aspects of life easier, technology often has unintended consequences.
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The Panthers’ role in a cathode ray tube crisis
In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, avid Panthers’ fan David Francis came up with a novel approach…
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Cherokee shoots down U.S. motto display
Since launching the U.S. Motto Action Committee, Rick Lanier has gotten his pitch to government leaders pretty well dialed in.…
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Fired WCU worker will return to work
While most people are mourning the coming of another Monday, Rob Russell will be rejoicing as he returns to his…
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SCC, DOT and road contractor debate who should fix damage to campus building
A three-way finger-pointing contest over cracks in Southwestern Community College’s biggest building — and their relation to construction work on…
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Homeless shelter gets $15,000 from Jackson commissioners
A $15,000 contribution from Jackson County Commissioners will ensure that housing for the county’s homeless continues through the winter.
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Blue-ribbon committee seeks balance in push-and-pull over Koch-funded center at WCU
Fears that a controversial economics policy center coming to Western Carolina University will be a vehicle to advance conservative, laissez-faire…
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Conditions improving at Sequoyah golf course
The new management at Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee had hoped to start turning a profit within a year…
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SCC master plan calls for $34 million of construction in Jackson, Swain
What’s the best way to spend $55 million? As far as the leadership at Southwestern Community College is concerned, the…
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Franklin town board plans for 2016 projects
With a few fresh faces, the Franklin Board of Aldermen met last Saturday morning to make plans and set priorities…
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Steam engine project still on track
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad officials say they will make their deadline for getting a steam engine back up and running…
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Tempers flare over idea of renaming Waynesville thoroughfare for MLK
Members of the African American community in Waynesville hope to rename a major street for Martin Luther King Jr., not…
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Tourism board contemplates firing web manager
Every month, the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority shells out $2,650 to keep its website updated, get it to show…
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Haywood mulls rules on outdoor shooting ranges
Outdoor shooting ranges could soon be under the microscope in Haywood County.
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Deputies intervene during tense moment at shooting range hearing
A public hearing on an outdoor shooting range moratorium in Haywood County got off to a dicey start this week.
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Central on the chopping block: who’s to blame?
Central Elementary School has become a rallying cry for advocates of public education across the state.
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