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Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:30

Waynesville skateboard park to ramp up by summer

After years of stops and starts, construction is now imminent on a long-awaited skateboard park in Waynesville.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:28

Study says Macon employees underpaid compared to counterparts

A study that revealed that most Macon County government employees were underpaid compared to counterparts in other North Carolina counties is catching flack from some critics for alleged design flaws, as well as calling into question the worth of a…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:23

Resources fail to keep up with mental health needs

In late February, a Macon County youth was checked into the local emergency room in need of psychological care. Because the hospital, Angel Medical Center, does not provide that type of service, he spent the night in the ER while…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:20

A real estate phoenix: Foreclosed second-home lots transformed into low-income housing

The story is all too familiar. A property developer buys a large swath of land with grand plans to build high-end homes and sell them for a substantial profit. But the housing bubble bursts. The lots don’t move. The property…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:18

World Methodist leader overcomes adversity in his life path to Junaluska

Ivan Abrahams didn’t come to hold the top spot in the World Methodist Council because he abided by the rules. At more than one point in his spiritual career, he was a bit of a thorn in the clergy’s side.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:17

Unloading machine guns could raise big bucks for Canton

The Canton Police Department is considering selling two 80-year-old submachine guns and using the proceeds to pay for new and better equipment for the force — before the federal government possibly bans such weapons.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:15

Due diligence underway on MedWest hospital split

MedWest hospital leaders have hired an outside consulting firm to help them analyze the pros and cons of staying together versus dissolving their fledgling partnership. Also at stake: whether Carolinas HealthCare System will stay on as the hospitals’ management company.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:12

WCU study to determine faculty satisfaction rate

Employees at Western Carolina University are distilling the recently released results of a Harvard University study to see if regional comprehensive universities have lower faculty satisfaction rates.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:08

What makes you stay: Survey evaluates faculty experience at WCU

Every three years, Western Carolina University gets a report card. It does not prescribe the university an A, B, C or even F, but the report does tell WCU what it does right and where it needs to improve. Then,…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:06

Maggie Valley contingent vehemently opposed to proposed room tax hike

A faction of lodging owners in Maggie Valley is hoping to derail a tax increase on overnight accommodations. The money brought in — roughly $450,000 a year — would be dedicated solely to building tourism attractions or improving existing ones.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 13:03

Parrying between tourism interests slows progress on tourism tax bill

The prospects of Haywood County’s tourism development tax increase making it through the General Assembly in Raleigh this year is highly likely — or perhaps highly unlikely. It depends on whom you ask.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

April activities on tap at Heinzelmännchen

April is the first-ever “North Carolina Beer Month” and Heinzelmännchen Brewery in Sylva taps into the fun with four initiatives for beer lovers. Specializing in alternative beer made in the warmer regions of Germany, the brewery will offer the following…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

Trout and ramp festival in Cherokee March 30

Mountain trout and wild ramps take center stage at the annual Rainbow and Ramps Festival from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds.  Hosted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the public is…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

'The Medium' comes to HART

Western Carolina University’s School of Music, in collaboration with the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, will present Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera “The Medium” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at HART in Waynesville.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

Vince Gill comes to Franklin

Country music star Vince Gill will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

Mountain Heritage Center jam series continues

The 2012-13 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Series will conclude with Phil and Gaye Johnson at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University.
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

Woodcarving demo held in Clyde

Artisan in the Mountains will host a woodcarving demonstration featuring the Pigeon River Woodcarvers Club from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at 99 Depot Street in Clyde.  Pigeon River Woodcarvers Club was founded in 1997 by Frank Burchfield…
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 00:00

Taking matters into his own hands

When he didn’t have the money to purchase a banjo, Joshua Grant took matters into his own hands. “I couldn’t afford what I wanted, so I decided to build one,” he said. A native of the Nantahala Gorge, the 31-year-old…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:22

I once was lost, but now I’m found

The directions said turn left, so naturally I turned right. I was still an hour drive from Sugarland Visitors Center in Tennessee — where I planned to take an introductory orienteering class — when I remembered that on occasion, I…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:19

News for anglers

Calling all fly fishermen for ‘Pints and Flies’  Attention fly fishermen: load up your fly-tying gear to partake in “Pints and Flies” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Frog Level Brewery in Waynesville. The event is…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:14

Cubs on the Run 5K kicks off spring

The family-friendly Cubs on the Run 5K will be held on Saturday, March 23, at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Canton, with a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K at 9 a.m. The Meadowbrook Cubs on the Run…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:13

Friends of the Lake 5K to celebrate Junaluska lakeshore recreation

Lake Junaluska will host the Friends of the Lake 5K, Family Walk, and Children’s Fun Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 30, as part of its annual Easter weekend activities. Proceeds for this event go towards the annual maintenance and…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:11

Smokies backcountry fee taken to court

A lawsuit has been filed over a new backcountry camping fee imposed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Southern Forest Watch claims the backcountry camping fee was “rejected by public sentiment, improperly vetted and imposed upon citizens without their consent.” 
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:10

A.T. hiking season kicks off in Franklin

Franklin will celebrate its love for Appalachian Trail hikers with the annual April Fools Trail Days festival on Saturday, March 30, timed to coincide with the wave of A.T. hikers passing through the region at the beginning of their long…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:09

Graveyard Fields overlook to get makeover

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will provide $740,000 for projects and programs on the Parkway this year, including children’s education, projects for visitors’ services and preservation of historic, cultural and natural resources along the Parkway.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:07

I have seen the light

I have seen the light, and I don’t like it. I have seen the light emanating from strip malls; from sports stadiums; from urban skylines; from cul-de-sacs; from factories; from almost any place twilight finds Homo sapiens and I don’t…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:04

Paddling springs eternal

Whitewater fanatics wait in line for their chance to do tricks, flips, spins and somersaults with their play boats on the Tuckasegee River near last Saturday for annual Kayak Demo Day. The day was unseasonably sunny and warm. It featured…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:49

An insightful look at guerilla warfare

Since the Second World War, Americans have lived by the old dictum that only the dead have seen the end of war. For almost 70 years we have served as the world’s policeman, opposing the Soviet Union in a cold…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:44

My wife knows good morels when she sees them

It’s just about morel time. By early April (if not sooner), the succulent spring-fruiting fungi that are the most sought after mushrooms in North America will be popping up in woodlands across Western North Carolina.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:41

Chavez did some real good in Venezuela

 To the Editor: With the recent death of Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, there has been much speculation in the media as to whether the reforms he brought about in his country’s economy and society would be retained. As one…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:40

Voter ID law a waste of time, money

To the Editor: The voter suppression monster has reared its ugly head again in Raleigh. Although details are not known yet, any move to require voter ID is a thinly-veiled attempt to restrict the voting rights of certain groups for…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:37

My journey to the center of the Earth, and back

By Stephanie Wampler • Columnist Our Saturday morning cave adventure started out innocently enough. We would need flashlights. Check. I had purchased three apiece, plus four spare AAA batteries. Change of clothes. Check. Layers for warmth, since it was after all…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:19

Cullowhee River Club gets green light in exchange for greenway

The Jackson County Planning Board last week approved a preliminary plan for the Cullowhee River Club housing development proposed along the Tuckasegee River near Western Carolina University. Planning department staff gave a report saying the master plan for the large…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:19

Sweepstakes parlors could be banned near Cherokee

Sweepstakes establishments in Jackson County may be getting the boot from the U.S. 441 Corridor leading to Cherokee. Although sweepstakes-style gambling was outlawed by a recent N.C. Supreme Court ruling, County Planner Gerald Green believes it doesn’t hurt to have…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:18

Rep. Mark Meadows opening offices in 11th District

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-Cashiers) has opened 18 offices throughout the 11th Congressional District. “Constituents can set up meetings at any of the district office locations to receive help with anything from navigating the federal government to assistance with their Social…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:17

“Full Disclosure” workshop shines light on public information, open data

In honor of Sunshine Week in North Carolina, Carolina Public Press will hold a “Full Disclosure” workshop in the Cardinal Conference Room at Western Carolina University from 2:30-6 p.m. on April 4. The event will give journalists, students, public information…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:16

Cost-benefit of school safety weighs on Haywood

Law enforcement officials in Haywood County are stepping up to keep a watchful eye on schools as leaders plot their next steps toward increasing safety. Parents have probably already noticed one simple and cost-free solution to better school security: deputies…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:14

Jackson planning board wants to toss out part of steep slope rule

The Jackson County Planning Board voted last Thursday to eliminate a pivotal component of the county’s steep slope building rules. The planning board wants to do away with a controversial limits on how many homes can be built on steep…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:12

No recourse for trout farmer in wake of menacing landslides

Howard Brown doesn’t sleep well when there’s rain in the forecast. His trout farm in Nantahala — teaming with $400,000 worth of rainbow trout at any given time — has twice been victim of near miss landslides from a road…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:11

Swain school leaders set bar low on budget

Despite a big wish list, Swain County school leaders won’t be asking the county for more money next year. Swain school officials instead have posed a quite modest request — just don’t cut our budget. 
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:10

Cherokee bear zoo debate roars on

As the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ leaders mull the fate of bear zoos on the reservation, representatives from two of Cherokee’s three bear zoos have said they are being unfairly harried because of one bad egg.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:09

SCC wants money for building plan

A contingent of administrators from Southwestern Community College made a pitch to Jackson County commissioners Monday to help pay for a campus building plan.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:07

New tourism pitches unveiled in time for spring

The mountains are an undeniable tourist magnet, but with so many WNC destinations to chose from, the crusade to stand out from the pack is prompting county tourism agencies to constantly refine and redefine their message. What will entice a…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:06

Friends of the Lake launched to support walking path

Ed Green has plenty of time for contemplation during his 15 mile runs on the paths circling Lake Junaluska. One of his recurring thoughts turns to what’s underfoot: how lucky he is to run in such a beautiful place.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:03

New MedWest-Haywood CEO comfortable in challenging situation

Janie Sinacore-Jaberg has run a lot of hospitals — small hospitals, financially precarious hospitals, turf-war embattled hospitals, hospitals in the midst of a merger, even hospitals in the midst of hostile take over.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 13:01

Will Jackson ante up to bring tourist train back to Dillsboro?

Jackson County is one step closer to giving money to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad to outfit the scenic rail line with a refurbished steam engine in hopes of getting a tourist boost in return.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 12:59

Service with a smile

If you want a seat at one of Bobby Harracks’ tables, you better get to Clyde’s Restaurant early. A steady crowd of customers makes a beeline for Harracks’ section of the mainstay hometown diner in Waynesville, filling in the booths…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 12:29

Haywood fundraiser showcases lineup of mountain music, dance

A seemingly endless array of mountain music and dance will be showcased at the Dr. Ann R. Wilke Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds in Waynesville. Entertainment will be provided…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 12:27

Celebrate Easter in WNC

Communities across the mountains are rolling out the green carpet for the Easter bunny over the next two weekends. Check out the “Easter Events” section of the calendar for a full lineup Easter egg hunts, Easter services and even breakfast…
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 12:25

Alicia Keys hits Harrah’s

With her unmistakable blend of soul, hip-hop, jazz and classical music, superstar Alicia Keys will be performing at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.
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