Building Outdoor Communities Program launches

The WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership officially launched the Building Outdoor Communities Program (BOC) last week, welcoming over 100 attendees for an…
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SCC names building in honor of school president

During a recent meeting, Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to name the new Health Sciences Center in…
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Swain runner advocates for sports equality

Amaya Hicks, Swain County High School senior and captain of the women’s cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track teams,…
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Sylva extends take-home vehicle policy for police

In the face of a housing shortage and increased competition for employees, the Town of Sylva has updated its policy…
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Canton woman’s lawsuit will test COVID immunity law for health care providers

A Canton woman has filed a lawsuit against the Hospital Corporation of America in which she claims “egregious acts of…
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Smathers sues HCA for 'egregious' medical negligence during son's birth

A Canton woman has filed a lawsuit against Hospital Corporation of America in which she claims “egregious acts of medical…
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Haywood seeks event center board members
 

Haywood seeks event center board members

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications to fill two upcoming vacancies on the Smoky Mountain Event Center…
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NCWorks hosts Manufacturing Day event
 

NCWorks hosts Manufacturing Day event

National Manufacturing Day is Oct. 7, and to celebrate NCWorks will be hosting its second annual Manufacturing Day event. The…
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Legal Aid to host clinics for those affected by Tropical Storm Fred
 

Legal Aid to host clinics for those affected by Tropical Storm Fred

Legal Aid of North Carolina is helping those recovering from the catastrophic flooding that occurred in August 2021 through free…
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Maggie Valley officer recognized for life-saving courage

An officer who risked her own safety to save the lives of others was hailed as a hero last week…
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Audience chastised for applauding nonprofit leader’s mishap

Members of Waynesville’s Board of Aldermen responded harshly to applause from the audience after payments to a nonprofit contractor were…
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Haywood County Schools names teacher of the year

Bethel Middle School teacher Sally Hundley was named Haywood County Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year.
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With county funding, AWAKE will complete building repairs

The Jackson County Commission allocated just over $60,000 of American Rescue Plan funds to AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center for the…
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Legislative raises hit WCU paychecks

Faculty and staff at Western Carolina University have been seeing higher paychecks since July following the N.C. General Assembly’s passage…
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Tribal Council debates election law changes

Term limits could be on the chopping block in Cherokee’s updated election ordinance due to legal advice arguing that the…
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FUR hosts seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast

FUR’s seventh annual Barnyard BBQ Blast fundraiser will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. With…
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Waynesville Police to launch new app

As the world becomes more and more accessible in the palm of our hands, local governments must adapt to ensure…
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Ambitious proposal could be game-changer for affordable housing in Haywood

Haywood County was recently awarded another substantial grant to help address the affordable housing crisis, but the way the county…
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Threats force Waynesville to consider meeting security measures

The Town of Waynesville may soon start subjecting public meeting attendees to metal detectors in some form or fashion, Town…
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Pisgah Legal Services offers free help during September tax clinics 
 

Pisgah Legal Services offers free help during September tax clinics 

If you haven’t received your tax refund, it’s not too late. Families who make less than $58,000 per year can…
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An illuminating panorama of Three Forks

A few months after a devastating Pigeon River flood in 2021, some friends of the Canton Area Historical Museum gathered…
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No search, no problem: Putnam named superintendent

Just over a month after Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte announced his impending retirement, the Haywood County School Board has chosen…
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Payment Hours Changing at Franklin Town Hall
 

Payment Hours Changing at Franklin Town Hall

The Town of Franklin Town Hall payment hours are changing effective Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.   
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Make a plan during Fire Prevention Week
 

Make a plan during Fire Prevention Week

The Cullowhee Fire Department is teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this…
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Hearing date set for Lake Santeetlah voter fraud charges

Weeks after a hearing by the Graham County Board of Elections found probable cause to suspect that eight individuals had…
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Book reading, film screening to commemorate Popcorn Sutton

Filmed in one week in June, 2002, less than seven years before infamous moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton committed suicide to…
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Sylva extends social district hours

When the Town of Sylva instituted its social district earlier this year, it planned to revisit the ordinance six months later…
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Free on bond, Moody will face federal charges after FBI arrest

A Haywood County woman who admitted to serving phony writs that offered bounties on public officials will face federal charges…
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After removing sensitive objects, Cherokee museum fills empty cases with artistic responses

Navigating the darkened exhibit halls at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian is slow work on Wednesday evening, Sept. 7.…
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WNC residents pave a ‘trail of truth’ to Washington for drug deaths

As a stark reminder of the toll that substance abuse has taken on families across the country and across Western…
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Council approves $732.5 million budget

On Oct. 1, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will start a new fiscal year with $732.5 million in the…
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WCU celebrates opening of its newest residence halls

When Western Carolina University officials held a ribbon-cutting event to officially open “The Rocks” freshman residence halls on Sept. 2,…
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Macon County Board of Education vice chairman dead at 79

Tommy Cabe, Macon County resident and Board of Education vice chairman, died Thursday, Sept. 1, after undergoing heart surgery in…
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FBI makes arrest in phony writs case

A Haywood County woman who admitted to sending threatening letters that offered bounties on public officials will face felony federal…
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Author of threatening writs revealed, but still no action from law enforcement

She’s “served” threatening letters on elected officials offering bounties for their capture, she has plans to serve more and she’s…
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WNC schools still recovering from Covid-era learning

New state testing results reveal that schools in Western North Carolina are in the process of a mixed recovery from…
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September is National Preparedness Month
 

September is National Preparedness Month

There’s no such thing as a calm season when it comes to natural disasters.
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More money for affordable housing flows into the region

A $542,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, matched by more than $200,000 from the Dogwood Health…
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Commissioners may seek to regulate syringe service programs in Haywood

Two weeks after rejecting misinformation from the public about Haywood County’s non-existent syringe exchange services, commissioners began their Sept. 6…
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Recovery court coming to Haywood County

Haywood County will administer state funds to establish an Adult Accountability and Recovery Court meant to help people experiencing substance…
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Sylva gets temporary skate park

Over the next month, the Town of Sylva will be constructing a temporary skatepark in the lot behind Motion Makers,…
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Council overrides golf course project veto

A  $39 million hotel project  at the Sequoyah National Golf Course in Cherokee will move forward after Tribal Council overrode…
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Experience on the ballot for Swain Commission chairman

The issues facing Swain County are similar to those in other Western North Carolina communities — an affordable housing shortage,…
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Man pleads guilty in chase leading to fatal car wreck

A Jackson County man pleaded guilty Thursday in Haywood County Superior Court to killing one person and injuring two others…
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Enrollment falls again at WCU, but freshman class size increases

For the second year straight , enrollment is down at Western Carolina University — but an uptick in freshman class size…
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Cherokee to expand prosecution authority

A unanimous vote from the Cherokee Tribal Council puts the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on track to start prosecuting…
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Tribe swears in police chief, adds new positions 


Less than three months after being named interim chief of police, Carla Neadeau has been sworn in as the first…
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Western counties receive ‘GREAT’ news on broadband

The latest round of state grants for broadband infrastructure have landed, and represent a big win for six Western North…
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Haywood Regional Medical Center CEO to step down

Haywood County Regional Medical Center CEO Greg Caples has informed hospital staff that he is stepping down.
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SMN wins prestigious honors at Press Association conference

The Smoky Mountain News won 16 advertising awards and 20 editorial awards from the N.C. Press Association in a ceremony…
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