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Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:11

Jackson to assess potential for ABC profits

Jackson County commissioners in the coming months will weigh whether to open a liquor store in Cashiers, outside Cherokee — or both — but the road to a decision will take a lot of number crunching. Namely, Jackson County must…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:11

Angel Medical butterfly release to honors Hospice patients

The community is invited to attend a memorial butterfly release ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9 at Angel Medical Center. The ceremony will feature music, inspirational readings and a time of prayer, followed by the release of live butterflies by…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:10

Notification of wastewater spill in Haywood County

The Town of Waynesville had a discharge of untreated wastewater from a sanitary sewer line located along N.C. 209, Crabtree Road adjacent to Richland Creek and the County fairgrounds. The spill amount is estimated at 9,000 gallons. The sanitary sewer…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:08

Confederate supporters protest flag removal at courthouse

A protest was held this week in front of the Haywood County historic courthouse by Confederate supporters who say their flag is being discriminated against.
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:06

Mothers unite to pray for schools

By Peggy Manning • Correspondent Every Friday morning, a small group of mothers meet in Bryson City to pray for students, teachers and school administrators. Called Moms in Prayer, the sessions last about an hour and focus on issues participants…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 13:01

Some banks still struggling to pick up the pieces

The view from Roger Plemens office is hard to beat. Bay windows serve up a bird’s eye view of the Nantahala mountain range, a vantage point that must have been a factor when Macon Bank chose this hilltop for its…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Volunteers needed for Haywood County Fair

Adult volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 21 to help youth register for the Haywood County Fair. If you are available to help, volunteers are asked to sign-up for three-hour shifts from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 1-3…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Republican Party opening new headquarters in Sylva

Republican and unaffiliated voters are invited to the grand opening of a new Republican Party office at 4 p.m. Aug. 9 at 58 D Sunrise Park, a retail complex located opposite the intersection of Highway 107 and the Asheville Highway…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Mission Health and the American Red Cross to offer Citizen CPR class

Mission Health, Angel Medical Center, and the American Red Cross will offer a free Citizen CPR, hands only, class at 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. During the 30-minute class, participants learn how to check for consciousness, call…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

We salute you, Balsam Range

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners declared Aug. 10 as the official “Balsam Range Day” to celebrate the upcoming release of the bluegrass band’s newest record as well as its contributions to the county. “Congratulations. Very well deserved,” County Commissioner…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Incoming: Jackson airport to land a share of increased casino traffic

The advent of live dealers and table games at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is widely predicted to bring sweeping economic benefits to the region — benefits that are so far-reaching even the tiny landing strip known as the Jackson County Airport…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Cherokee, Franklin search for common ground over Nikwasi mound dispute

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and some Franklin townspeople would like to see the Nikwasi Indian Mound back under Cherokee ownership.
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

UPDATED: WestCare hospital board weighs future of MedWest partnership

The Westcare Board of Directors met for more than four hours Tuesday, Aug. 7, to discuss the future of MedWest-Harris and MedWest-Swain hospitals. The board did not take an official vote on whether to pull out of the MedWest partnership…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Controversial billboard clearcutting gets fuller viewing

By Paul Clark • Contributor Implementation of a new state law that increases the amount of land that can be clear-cut in front of highway billboards will get final tweaking and a public audience this month. The N.C. Department of…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

‘One-Day Website’ class to be offered at WCU

Local residents will have an opportunity to learn how to develop a website in “The One-Day Website,” a class that will be offered from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Aug. 17, by Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing Education. The…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Cherokee hopes to broker tourist train deal with Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will met with the owner of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad this week to discuss the possibility of expanding the scenic tourist railway to Cherokee. Chief Michell Hicks publicly broached…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

New outpatient surgery center aimed at easing patient experience

Barbara Wells donned her fanciest scrubs last week — a cute flowered bandana and matching green top — for the grand opening of a new outpatient surgery center on the campus of MedWest-Haywood. Whether it’s a mammogram, cataract surgery, hip…
Wednesday, 08 August 2012 00:00

Clock could be running out for denuded Waynesville hillside to get green again

An earth-moving project that has left a large, visible hillside on Russ Avenue in Waynesville denuded, gouged and barren could continue into the indefinite future despite pressure from the state environmental agency monitoring the site to bring it to a…
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Future big-box stores, strip malls to face scrutiny in Franklin

Franklin will soon have a new slate of comprehensive guidelines regulating development and promoting smart growth principles. An overhaul of the town’s development ordinances has been four years in the making. The town board intends to pass the new regulations…
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Initial North Shore Road payment clears Senate

Swain County inched a notch closer this month toward seeing a cash settlement in lieu of the long-promised North Shore Road.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Maggie Valley mayor’s race pits long-time foes

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Forget the presidential election — the biggest race to watch in the coming months may be the battle for mayor of Maggie Valley.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Vote on Southern Loop postponed

Opponents of the Southern Loop have questioned whether the controversial highway should be included on a list of top priority road projects for the region.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Mumpower first to formally challenge Shuler

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer With no word yet from former U.S. House Rep. Charles Taylor on his decision to run for re-election, one Republican candidate — Asheville city councilman Dr. Carl Mumpower — has stepped up to announce…
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

State says mill discharge does not require public notification

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A clean water advocacy group is questioning why an accidental discharge of a paper-making byproduct into the Pigeon River by the former Blue Ridge Paper mill hasn’t been the subject of more scrutiny.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

The Super Wal-Mart land rush: Discount retail giant brings rising property prices

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Roger Winge knew a good deal when he spotted one. Before Super Wal-Mart had announced plans to set foot in Waynesville, Winge, a local realtor, took one look at the 30-acre former industrial site…
Wednesday, 26 September 2007 00:00

Changing electorate could shake up Sylva election

The race for the Sylva town board this fall could speak volumes about the changing demographics of the town — namely whether the downtown scene dominated by a young, perhaps more progressive, clientele is truly where the town’s heart is.
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Southern Loop opposition mounts

Jackson County residents opposed to the construction of the Southern Loop — a new major highway that would bisect Jackson County — are gearing up for a fight with the N.C. Department of Transportation to halt the slow but steady…
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Hicks declared winner in contested Cherokee vote

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Supreme Court ruled Saturday that a new election will not be held on the Qualla Boundary, putting to rest a month-long debate filled with accusations of eligible voters…
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Jackson library to go atop courthouse hill

A decade of debate over where to build a new library in Jackson County was put to rest this week. County commissioners voted 3-2 Monday night (Oct. 1) to build a new library next to the historic courthouse overlooking downtown…
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Swain urged to tap into motorcycle tourism

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The roar of motorcycles is a familiar sound in the mountains of Western North Carolina. And for many business owners, it’s music to their ears. Bikers mean warm bodies to occupy beds, eat in…
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

The new face of Waynesville: Town’s land use plan holds firm under pressure

When Doug Anderson unfurled the blueprints for his latest assignment — a new Bojangles’ going up in Waynesville — he was expecting the same cookie-cutter design as the last 10 Bojangles’ his construction company built.
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Haywood’s League of Women Voters fosters non-partisan involvement

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Voters can thank the recently formed Haywood County League of Women Voters for the opportunity to hear what each Waynesville mayor candidate had to say about the important issues in the Nov. 6 race.
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

What magazines would work best for Swain?

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Advertising was the hot topic of discussion at the second meeting of the recently re-organized Swain County Tourism Development Authority on Sept. 26. The board was presented with a range of magazine options, courtesy…
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 00:00

Waynesville candidates make their cases

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Over 50 people came out to hear Waynesville’s next mayor speak at the this election season’s first mayor’s forum, held by the recently formed chapter of the League of Women Voters.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:34

Canton hopes to tap potential of downtown museum, visitor center

From Staff Reports Patrick Willis is a history buff of the first order, so when he landed a part-time job staffing the front desk at the Canton Area Historical Museum while working on his masters in history from Western Carolina…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:31

Uncovering the past: UT project lets Cherokee students discover their ancestors

By Paul Clark • Contributor Long caravans of traffic streamed into Cherokee on U.S. 441 recently, but relatively few passengers cast more than a disinterested glance at the small excavation by the Oconaluftee River. There a dozen local high school…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:28

Commissioned landscape now crowns Joey’s Pancake House

Regular patrons of Joey’s Pancake House will notice a different view when they enter the restaurant that is a social center of Maggie Valley.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:27

Woman bank president to speak at Aug. 9 chamber luncheon

Suzanne DeFerie, CEO and president of Asheville Savings Bank, will be the guest speaker at the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Gateway Club. DeFerie was born, raised…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:26

Yard sale to benefit mother-baby unit at MedWest-Harris

A community yard sale held from noon to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 10, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, in the MedWest-Harris parking lot will benefit the Mother and Baby Unit at MedWest-Harris. People wishing to…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:24

Heirs lament loss of heritage in court-ordered sale of family land

Every year on the first weekend in August, Linda Maxwell and other heirs of patriarch H.B. Wood make a pilgrimage to family land in the rural reaches of Little Canada and gather at the Wood cemetery where so many of…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:23

Tunnel work to cause delays on I-40

The N.C. Department of Transportation will conduct inspections of three tunnels in the Pigeon River Gorge on Interstate 40 in Haywood County, causing traffic delays for motorists during August. The tunnels being examined are located between the Tennessee border and…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:23

League hosts forum for senate hopefuls

The League of Women voters of Macon County will host a candidate forum at 12:15 p.m. Aug. 9 for N.C. state Senate candidates Democrat John Snow and Republican Jim Davis. Snow, a retired chief District Court Judge from Murphy, will…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:20

Waynesville playground and rec park to get much needed new restrooms

The vandalized, charred restrooms in the Waynesville Recreation Park will soon get a long-awaited facelift.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:18

Waynesville keeps tight reins on sewer lines in the name of smart growth

Waynesville has once again denied Haywood County’s proposition for extending its sewer lines several miles beyond the town limits toward Balsam along U.S. 23/74. The county has asked the town to augment its sewer lines near the rest stop a…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:17

Under-the-radar sublease of county building comes to light in convoluted civil case

The director of a mental health nonprofit falsely posed as the landlord for a building he didn’t own for nearly a decade, collecting more than $371,000 in rent on office space that in fact belonged to Haywood County, according to…
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:15

McDevitt loses CPA license

The former director of Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health has lost his CPA license over allegations he backdated his first day of state employment to bolster his retirement benefits.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:10

Jackson physicians want out of MedWest affiliation

The medical community in Jackson and Swain counties has renewed its call to part ways with Haywood Regional Medical Center less than three years after forging an alliance under the MedWest banner.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 13:05

New Health and Human Sciences building to greet returning WCU students this fall

Western Carolina University will unveil a state-of-the art $46 million Health and Human Sciences building when students return to campus in a few weeks.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 12:47

WCU’s Millennial Campus gets its first building

The new Health and Human Sciences building is the first building to crown WCU’s Millennial Campus, and hopefully a stepping stone to help realize the initial vision for the 344-acre addition to campus.
Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00

Creative Endeavors Craft Show to feature Sir Lamps-A-Lot

The Junaluska Woman’s Club Creative Endeavors Craft Show will exhibit custom-made table lamps from Kenneth Lambert, a.k.a. Sir Lamps-A-Lot, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 10-11 at Harrell Center Auditorium at Lake Junaluska.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Tourism change could cost chambers

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer As Macon County officials work to create a new tourism development association, the financial picture for the Franklin and Highland chambers of commerce could change drastically. Right now, the Highland’s chamber receives an estimated…
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Most Waynesville candidates support Russ Avenue fix

The vast majority of candidates running for the Waynesville town board say they would support a major traffic redesign on Russ Avenue.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Ghost Town hires new general manager

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Ghost Town in the Sky has named Kevin Bailey as its new general manager effective Oct. 1.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Candidates: Review necessary to keep land use plan viable

All the candidates running for Waynesville town board and mayor seem to agree on one thing when it comes to the land-use plan: that a comprehensive review of how it’s working can’t hurt.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Candidates reveal their take on land use plan

Four years ago, the Waynesville town board passed a revolutionary land-use plan that elevated Waynesville to a state example of smart growth principles. Few could disagree the town’s commercial districts are already looking better as a result: landscaped parking lots,…
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Growth a major concern for Highlands hopefuls

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Six candidates are vying for three spots on the Highland’s Town Board of Commissioners.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Growth roundtable has guidelines, but now must decide how to use them

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer What to do with advice to give, but no audience to receive it? That’s the dilemma facing participants of the Haywood County Growth Readiness Roundtable. The diverse group of Haywood County representatives — including…
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Canton banks, businesses prepare for buyout infusion

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The town of Canton will experience an infusion of dollars Oct. 12 when Blue Ridge Paper workers get their cash payouts from the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

New owners cut 150 jobs at paper mill

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A round of layoffs struck Evergreen Packaging (formerly Blue Ridge Paper) last week when officials cut the positions of 28 salaried employees outright and decided to eliminate 122 hourly positions through attrition.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007 00:00

Crowded field seeks Canton seats

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Five candidates are stepping up to challenge the four incumbents on Canton’s town board, who are all running for re-election. For the past several election cycles, the board has gone unopposed. Two major issues…
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

The BCCCP Program: As women struggle to pay for cancer treatment, the funds to help them are drying up

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A mammogram costs $200 out of pocket. A round of radiation is close to $40,000. And so far, this bill doesn’t include chemotherapy, a mastectomy, or hospital stays.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Two more seek 11th District GOP nomination

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Spence Campbell, chair of the Henderson County Republican Club, declared his intentions two weeks ago to run for the 11th Congressional District seat against Rep. Heath Shuler.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Two more seek 11th District GOP nomination

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Last week, John Armor, a Highlands attorney, became the third candidate to declare his bid for the 11th District Congressional seat.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Chief’s newspaper decree leads to free speech debate

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer The removal of an anonymous opinion column in the Cherokee One Feather has sparked a heated freedom of speech debate among Cherokee leaders.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Railsback retraces ride to commemorate Honors College anniversary at WCU

The dean of Western Carolina University’s Honors College hopes to replicate a successful fundraiser from a decade ago when he begins a three-day bicycle ride to Mount Mitchell to raise scholarship money for the college’s students.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Jackson library group needs to raise up to $1 million

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Now that a site has been chosen for the new Jackson County library, the Friends of the Library have a huge undertaking — raising up to $1 million for furnishing the interior of the…
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 00:00

Tax opponents organize in Macon, Swain

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A property transfer tax that could potentially bring nearly a million dollars a year to county coffers is meeting fierce opposition in two Western North Carolina counties where the tax will appear on the…
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00

Residents debate motives behind proposed road

Some Macon County residents are questioning the need for a proposed $11.5 million road project billed by the N.C. Department of Transportation as vital to assist development.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00

Watershed logging remains election issue

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer An issue that caused a firestorm of controversy for Waynesville’s current town board is rearing its head in this election cycle — and may prove to be a defining factor in how voters cast…
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00

Four options considered for the new road

The N.C. Department of Transportation is mulling four options for a new road in Macon County that would facilitate future development, but some members of the community wonder why a fifth option — simply improving the existing road — isn’t…
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00

Siler Road timeline

The benefits to private development of the Siler Road project in Macon County figured prominently in early planning documents and meetings, but were later toned down. Here’s a time line.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 00:00

Elections board investigates school bond activities

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer A complaint filed against the Macon County School Board over questionable campaign actions has the school district in hot water with the North Carolina Board of Elections.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:00

Transfer tax would help Swain schools

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer After several years of trying to secure funding for school improvements, Swain County officials say that money generated by a land transfer tax may be the answer they’ve been looking for.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:00

Who’ll pay the price?

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer It’s lunchtime in downtown Hazelwood, and the small area’s only parking lot of roughly 30 spaces is jam-packed. People jump out of their cars to grab a bite to eat, a haircut, medications, or…
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:00

Decision expected soon on quarry permit

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Tuckasegee community members will learn next week if a rock quarry gets state approval to be placed in their neighborhood.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:00

Ample options, no decision yet on Franklin Town Hall relocation

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer The possibility of relocating Franklin’s town hall has been a topic of debate among town board members and residents for some time now.
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 00:00

Shelter plan irks Hall Top residents

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer It’s a typical neighborhood with houses, trees, bikes in the yard, a basketball goal and — an animal shelter?
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Smart Roads Alliance seeks answers on Southern Loop

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer In their fight to stop progress to the proposed Southern Loop, members of the Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance filed a public records request last week with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to…
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Martin removed as editor in Cherokee

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Last week Eastern Band of Cherokee officials made the decision to remove The Cherokee One Feather Editor Joe Martin from his newspaper position.
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Sex offenders and civil liberties: Ordinance sparks debate over whether the two go hand and hand

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Convicted sex offenders don’t have many advocates, but a recent rush of laws banning them from public parks has called into question just how many civil liberties these people should have to give up.
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Incumbent Moody, newcomer Graham win in Sylva: Allen, Lewis tie will go to elections board

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Building a strong downtown district will be a top priority of the new Sylva Town Board of Commissioners.
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Brown unseats Foy in mayor’s race: Incumbents Feichter, Caldwell, Moore win; Roberson also in

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Former alderman Gavin Brown is now the new mayor of Waynesville, unseating 16-year incumbent Henry Foy. The two candidates were aligned on almost all issues but one — Brown has promised to make a…
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Jackson Airport study OK’d

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Jackson County commissioners have decided to invest money in the county’s airport. Commissioners voted 4-1 on Monday (Nov. 5) to award $65,000 to the airport authority to conduct a feasibility study of the mountaintop…
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Transfer tax goes down in Swain, Macon: Macon school bond, others all defeated

Voters in Swain and Macon counties soundly defeated land-transfer tax ballot initiatives Tuesday, dashing hopes that the newly approved measures would provide a new revenue source.
Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00

Franklin takes steps to fix sewage woes

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Franklin town leaders are in the process of fixing some of the sewage spills throughout town, Franklin Town Manager Mike Decker said.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00

Tuckasegee quarry permit denied

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Tuckasegee community members are at ease now that the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources denied a quarry permit to Carolina Boulder and Stone.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00

Highlands prepares for mixed drinks, beer

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Restaurant patrons in Highlands will soon be able to sip on rum and coke while eating a steak or order a pitcher of beer while eating pizza now that citizens voted “yes” to an…
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00

Haywood TDA shakeup underway

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Legislation passed in the most recent session of the General Assembly calls for the restructuring of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority Board.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00

Courthouse on track for bicentennial festivities

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The renovation of Haywood County’s historic courthouse is halfway complete, and things continue to move along smoothly — for the most part.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00

New mayor embraces new face of Bryson City

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer The election of Brad Walker, Bryson City’s new mayor, is more than just a changing of the guard — it’s representative of how the tiny Swain County town has transformed in recent years from…
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Huge development planned for Haywood County: Developers say things are a go, although local residents and officials wonder

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer If all goes as planned, Haywood County will one day be home to a 4,500-acre mega-resort that could drastically change the face of tourism in Western North Carolina — and what it means to…
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Macon looks for alternative funding for school projects

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Voters in Macon County rejected a $42.1 million bond that would have provided new funding to build new schools, leaving county officials no choice but to seek out alternative funding.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Drought devastates local farmers, businesses: With no relief in sight, those who depend on rain for their livelihood are increasingly desperate

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer It’s been more than a week since Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue raised some eyebrows with his atypical approach to getting rain to fall in the drought-ravaged state. With no rainfall in site and the…
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Cherokee asks for input into corridor planning

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer As Jackson County officials work to develop a plan to regulate commercial growth along U.S. 441, officials from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians say a partnership needs to be formed to ensure that…
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Horton returns to WNC as Macon county manager

By Jennifer Garlesky & Becky Johnson • Staff Writers An influential yet controversial figure in public policy is reclaiming a leadership post in the mountains three years after his forced departure as Haywood County’s manager.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Businessman’s past local projects failed to materialize

By Julia Merchant and Becky Johnson • Staff Writers One of the consultants involved in pulling off Cataloochee Wilderness Resorts — a 4,500 acre development supposedly coming to Haywood County — has raised some eyebrows in the community.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 00:00

Allen ends bid for re-election

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Sylva town board member Danny Allen conceded his race against fellow board member Ray Lewis on Monday, settling the tie between the two candidates following the Nov. 6 election.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007 00:00

Burrell, Setzer plug plan for Southern Loop

By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer Members of Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance are sifting through paperwork at the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 14 office in Webster to find out how the Southern Loop road project suddenly appeared…
Wednesday, 28 November 2007 00:00

WNC job outlook: Manufacturing out, entrepreneurship in

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer Looking to start your own business? You should do well in Western North Carolina. Seeking a job in traditional manufacturing? Good luck, experts say — it won’t be easy to find.
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