Folkmoot center renovation plans finalized
Folkmoot USA has finalized its capital improvements and business plan for the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Hazelwood. Since taking over…
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Babcock resigns from Folkmoot
After being at the helm of Folkmoot USA for six years, Karen Babcock has resigned as executive director and is…
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Community notes
Brush clearing at Monteith Farmstead Appalachian Tree Services of Franklin donated its services to remove several large trees and brush…
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Sylva Garden Club proposes pavilion for Bicentennial Park
The Sylva Garden Club is raising money to build a small pavilion in Bicentennial Park, a small green space located…
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Murphy casino project on track for summer
When the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise board opted to get rid of the project manager position for its Murphy casino…
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Land purchase under way for outdoor pool in Cherokee
Cherokee is one step closer to having an Olympic-sized outdoor pool following Tribal Council’s unanimous vote this month to purchase…
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Highlands lowering lake for major repairs
Lake Sequoyah in Highlands is currently being drained in preparation for completing about $3 million in repairs to the dam.
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State won’t help Maggie Valley ‘decipher’ its own ridge law
Maggie Valley is in limbo over a proposed mountaintop cross after learning last week the state won’t help sort out…
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YMCA summer camp coming to Swain
YMCA of Western North Carolina is getting ready to break ground on Camp Watia, a summer camp in Swain County…
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WCU falls under county subdivision ordinance, planning board says
Western Carolina University will now be subject to Jackson County’s revised subdivision ordinance, the planning board decided last week. Technically,…
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WCU to end off-campus busing
Once the spring 2015 semester wraps up at Western Carolina University, off-campus students will no longer have the option of…
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Haywood notifies clients of missing data report
Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency recently notified clients that an accounts receivable report went missing from a billing…
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Canton second guesses proposed Labor Day changes
Canton will continue researching recommended changes to the town’s Labor Day celebration despite several aldermen expressing reservations about changing the…
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Haywood Schools stick with national firm over local cleaning company
The Haywood County School Board followed the recommendation of school cafeteria workers this month and voted to continue buying cleaning…
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Nonprofit manufacturer expanding in Sylva
Webster Enterprises is settling into its newly leased building on Harold Street in Sylva following the town board’s unanimous vote…
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Dillsboro allocates $25K for economic incentives
It’s been a tough few years for the tiny town of Dillsboro. Ever since the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad moved…
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Blood donors show loyalty to Red Cross
The new contract Mission Health signed with The Blood Connection for blood products will affect the American Red Cross’ collections…
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The battle for blood: Mission Health changes blood supplier
Loyal blood donors will no longer see the iconic red cross on the side of the blood mobile next time…
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Haywood Schools think outside the box to bring pre-K to more kids
More kids will get a critical early start in education thanks to an expansion of the pre kindergarten program offered…
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Lake Junaluska pins hopes on total Terrace overhaul to win next generation of visitors
Jack Ewing stepped over a pail of drywall mud, dodged electrical wires dangling from the ceiling and picked his way…
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Inside immunizations: Parents weigh the risks and benefits
Lana Quinn of Waynesville has lost friends, been called crazy and was turned away from a pediatrician’s office because of…
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Cashiers library volunteers to get more elbow room
Jackson County commissioners will spend $100,000 on a storage room at the Cashiers library for the Friends of the Cashiers…
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Haywood to offer some teachers signing bonuses
Haywood County Schools will be offering signing bonuses for teachers in hard-to-get fields starting next school year.
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Jackson planning asks if WCU should be subject to county development rules
When Jackson County’s subdivision ordinance was revised last year, it included some changes that would apply to development at Western…
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Cullowhee land-use plan on the move
A land-use plan to guide growth in Cullowhee will take a detour past the planning board en route to Jackson…
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Rumors of giant cross on the ridgeline above Maggie prompts debate
Maggie Valley leaders could land in the middle of a controversy in coming months about whether the owner of Ghost…
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Jackson deputy fired
The investigation is ongoing following a Halloween party at Dillard Excavating in Sylva that allegedly involved underage drinking and allegedly…
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Bottleneck concerns prompt bigger courthouse foyer design
Call it a foyer, an atrium, a lobby, a cattle call — an addition is being planned for the Jackson…
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Fire burns 400 acres near Cherokee
A blaze in Cherokee has been fully contained, but not before burning up 400 acres of forest in the Qualla…
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Smokers could become scourge of downtown sidewalks
Downtown Waynesville could feel the not-so-pleasant trickle-down effects if a proposed smoking ban on Haywood County property goes through. The…
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Sylva citizenry sounds off about noise dispute
Conflict surrounding noise complaints at No Name Sports Pub — and the Sylva town ordinance that addresses how those complaints…
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Canton considers extensive special event policy
Event organizers may have to go through a more thorough application process if the Canton Board of Aldermen adopts a…
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Canton considers Labor Day overhaul
Canton’s annual Labor Day Celebration has been a beloved community tradition for more than 100 years. As attendance and excitement…
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Charting a new course: Haywood’s first charter school gets set to open in Waynesville
Anna Eason has nothing but good things to say about Haywood County Public Schools. It’s a “good school system,” doing…
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Love the Locals: Downtown businesses offer local discounts
More than 30 downtown Waynesville businesses are offering discounts for local residents throughout the month of February. Look for the…
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Sheriffs cope with exploding costs of involuntary committals
Law enforcement officers in Western North Carolina have been spending too much time and money driving all across the state…
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A spoonful of reality helps Macon property values go down
It’s been two weeks since new property values hit the mailboxes in Macon County, but there’s nary a line to…
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Macon planning board drafts noise ordinance
Macon County Planning Board members are still hashing out the details of a proposed noise ordinance. The board held two…
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Counties facing animal control inadequacies
Commissioners in Western North Carolina counties have been discussing the growing need for better animal control services. While Jackson and…
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Nonprofit employer set to expand in Sylva
Webster Enterprises is growing, and a newly leased building on Harold Street in Sylva is expected to allow the nonprofit…
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Sylva to get an earful over bar noise dispute
A showdown over noise at No Name Sports Pub is on tap for the Sylva Town Board meeting Feb. 5. …
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Dead dog drama
There’s no doubt that No Name has neighbors who are upset about noise. Next-door neighbor James Lupo had approached the…
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Jackson extends county attorney contract, considers creating staff position
Jay Coward will keep his job as Jackson County attorney — for five more months, at least. When a new…
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Year-round homeless shelter could be in Sylva’s future
If all goes according to plan, Jackson County could have a permanent homeless shelter up and running by April. That…
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HCC rolls out rebranded products
Trying to create a small logo that encompasses everything Haywood Community College stands for is no easy task. But with…
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Haywood concedes to tune up — and tone down — emergency playbook
Overbearing language in Haywood County’s emergency management protocols is being revised to make it more palatable to civil liberty watchdogs.…
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Church gets permit to solicit donations from middle of road
The town of Franklin recently passed a Charitable Solicitations ordinance in order to have more control over groups who stand…
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Chick-fil-A in the cards for Waynesville as Ingles expansion plans crystalize
There’s been a new turn in the much-anticipated redevelopment of Ingles’ super market site in Waynesville: Chick-fil-A has joined the…
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Haywood GOP members draw the line over inflammatory emails
Monroe Miller is no stranger to the inbox. Hundreds of emails from Miller have peppered the email accounts of people…
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Schools establish criminal justice articulation agreement
Southwestern Community College students who earn an associate’s degree in criminal justice technology have a new transfer option thanks to…
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