Brown’s budgets warrant deeper look

haywoodAfter several public opportunities for comment resulted in sparse discussion, Waynesville’s 2016-17 budget passed June 14 with the largest tax hike of Mayor Gavin Brown’s tenure.

Waynesville board works to plug budget hole

fr waynesvilleA sparsely-attended special meeting held June 7 at the Waynesville Town Hall was meant to serve as a public hearing on the town’s proposed $29.7 million budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, but instead talk centered mostly around things much more elemental — namely, fire.

Drawing the lines to your passion

art frFor Teresa Pennington, it’s a race against time. 

“You have one hour to complete this drawing, where I’m usually taking three months on a single piece,” she laughed. “But, I’ve gotten better at it. You just have to be focused, have everything you need right there, and also plan ahead as to what you want to do.”

Waynesville split over proposed food truck rules

fr foodtrucksAn ongoing debate over food trucks and pushcart vendors in Waynesville made its way to the town board last week, but a vote was delayed after it became evident town board members differed on their views.

Town manager hiring pool narrows

haywoodThe Waynesville town board met Tuesday for a third stab at narrowing down their pool of applicants for the town manager position.

Waynesville mulls adding eight firefighters

haywoodWaynesville town leaders will decide this month whether to raise property taxes to hire additional firefighters, and if so, by how much.

Not your average tourist: Waynesville man reflects on decades of travel in the jungles of Ecuador

out frWhen life gets hectic, most people have a vacation spot where they go to unwind — perhaps a family cabin on the lake, a favorite campground or a sandy beach. 

David Burns, 73, finds that place somewhere in the depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

New stage to open next month

art frSitting on a bench one recent sunny afternoon, Steven Lloyd gazes to his right, a big smile immediately rolling across his face.

“When I look over there, I see potential — a lot of potential,” he said.

Waynesville rolls out compromise in ongoing food truck debate

fr foodtrucksNew rules for where and how food trucks can set up shop in Waynesville attempt to balance the popular and growing food truck movement with the signature small-town character and established economy already here.

More firefighters needed, but is it worth a tax increase?

haywoodWaynesville leaders will face a big decision this budget year: whether to increase property taxes by 10 percent to pay for additional firefighters.

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