Macon County government to lose two of its finest
 

Macon County government to lose two of its finest

Macon County is losing an incredible amount of experience this year with the impending retirements of two employees. Between them,…
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Small Towns program under way in Bryson
 

Small Towns program under way in Bryson

HandMade in America is working with Bryson City as a part of its Small Towns program, which assists small towns…
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Red Cross offers free CPR training
 

Red Cross offers free CPR training

Haywood and Jackson County residents can attend free CPR training from the American Red Cross. Registration is open for “CPR…
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Healthy Haywood kicks off fitness challenge
 

Healthy Haywood kicks off fitness challenge

Healthy Haywood will kick off its annual fitness challenge beginning March 14. Registration is $10. Participants can attend a variety…
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MedWest expands mental health services
 

MedWest expands mental health services

A mental health program at MedWest-Haywood hospital has been expanded to include the general population through a behavioral health outpatient…
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Volunteer opportunity with Arc of Haywood
 

Volunteer opportunity with Arc of Haywood

The Arc of Haywood will be promoting advocacy for those with development disabilities in March. This is to honor Development…
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Revaluation in Jackson County back on ... maybe?
 

Revaluation in Jackson County back on ... maybe?

In a we-were-really-just-kidding-around reversal, Jackson County commissioners this week decided to delay their previous decision to delay property revaluation. A…
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Second-home economy makes its mark on WNC
 

Second-home economy makes its mark on WNC

The second-home economy has fueled far more than construction and real estate jobs over the past decade. “If it’s someone’s…
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Macon loses bragging rights for fastest growing county
 

Macon loses bragging rights for fastest growing county

Macon County isn’t exactly asking for a recount, but officials here do want to know why the county’s 2010 census…
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Former HRMC CEO gets $150,000 settlement
 

Former HRMC CEO gets $150,000 settlement

The former CEO of Haywood Regional Medical Center will get $150,000 from the hospital after settling a lawsuit claiming he…
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Swain commissioners call for resignation of DSS board
 

Swain commissioners call for resignation of DSS board

The following statement was issued by the Swain County Board of Commissioners after the DSS board failed to take action…
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Swain DSS board fails to reach consensus on suspensions
 

Swain DSS board fails to reach consensus on suspensions

The Swain County Department of Social Services board met for three hours Tuesday night (March 8) to discuss whether employees…
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Reading between the census lines
 

Reading between the census lines

Although population in Western North Carolina increased only by a modest amount over the past decade, home construction grew at…
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Haywood County bails out fairground arena, again
 

Haywood County bails out fairground arena, again

The Haywood County Fairgrounds are on the way to being back in business after a scare that shuttered the covered…
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Jackson County increasingly attracting young professionals
 

Jackson County increasingly attracting young professionals

For upwardly mobile professionals who are looking for an outdoor lifestyle, scenic mountain beauty and the company of like-minded individuals,…
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Swain commissioners recommend DSS employee suspension DSS board to meet on the matter Tuesday
 

Swain commissioners recommend DSS employee suspension DSS board to meet on the matter Tuesday

Swain County commissioners voted 4 to 1 in a special meeting Thursday (March 3) to formally recommend that the  Department…
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Swain County commissioners, DSS board to meet
 

Swain County commissioners, DSS board to meet

The Swain County Department of Social Services board has agreed to meet with the Swain County commissioners to discuss whether…
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Local magazine calls for photography
 

Local magazine calls for photography

Smoky Mountain Living magazine has issued a call for photos for its next issue, which will hit the stands in…
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Waynesville Armory launches Brain Gym for seniors
 

Waynesville Armory launches Brain Gym for seniors

For Waynesville seniors, the old armory recreation center now offers exercise for more than just the body. The new Brain…
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MedWest to open Urgent Care Center
 

MedWest to open Urgent Care Center

An Urgent Care Center will open in August at Wal-Mart Plaza in Sylva. The location of the MedWest’s new urgent…
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Volunteers needed for Meals on Wheels
 

Volunteers needed for Meals on Wheels

The Haywood County Meals on Wheels program is seeking volunteers in the Fines Creek community to deliver nutritious meals to…
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Political ill will still lingers in Jackson
 

Political ill will still lingers in Jackson

The election for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners might have wrapped up last fall, but the war of words…
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HCC causes a stir with clear cutting
 

HCC causes a stir with clear cutting

A new and long-awaited Creative Arts Building is only days away from its groundbreaking ceremony at Haywood Community College. But…
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Goodwill not showing much good will to other nonprofits
 

Goodwill not showing much good will to other nonprofits

Some local thrift shop operators in Jackson County or crying foul over a nonprofit accepting donations in Sylva despite not…
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Budget woes force WCU to cut jobs
 

Budget woes force WCU to cut jobs

Western Carolina University is laying off 10 employees in April as it struggles with the projected loss of approximately $8.6…
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Marriage and family experts offer advice
 

Marriage and family experts offer advice

“The Thoroughly Modern Family,” a program aimed at giving advice on how to provide happy and healthy marriages and families…
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Blood drive in Blanton’s memory
 

Blood drive in Blanton’s memory

The Tye Blanton Foundation is hosting its annual blood drive from 12 to 5 p.m Sunday, March 6, at Canton…
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Program on fair elections in Macon
 

Program on fair elections in Macon

The League of Women Voters of Macon County will hold a program Thursday, March 10, on fair elections, presented by…
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Downtown Waynesville readies for spring
 

Downtown Waynesville readies for spring

The Downtown Waynesville Association is gearing up for spring, with new businesses and events in the works for the coming…
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Local nursing home celebrates solar panel installation
 

Local nursing home celebrates solar panel installation

By DeeAnna Haney • SMN Intern Perched atop a Canton nursing home roof, gleaming in the sun is the newest…
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Tribal members to help develop plan for future
 

Tribal members to help develop plan for future

Two outreach sessions for members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to develop a 10-year “legacy plan” for tribal…
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Swain commissioners recommend suspending DSS employees in wake of SBI probe
 

Swain commissioners recommend suspending DSS employees in wake of SBI probe

Relatives of a Cherokee child who died in January are publicly calling for the suspension of the Swain County Department…
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Swain DSS investigated for cover-up in child’s death
 

Swain DSS investigated for cover-up in child’s death

The Swain County Department of Social Services falsified records relating to the abuse and neglect of a 15-month-old baby who…
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Railroad’s return to Dillsboro would cost Jackson $817,000
 

Railroad’s return to Dillsboro would cost Jackson $817,000

Great Smoky Mountains Railway this week promised to return to Dillsboro in a big way, on this condition: Jackson County…
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Ingles continues growth trend
 

Ingles continues growth trend

Ingles got a green light last week from Waynesville’s town board to bulk out their Russ Avenue location, complete with…
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Residents weigh in on new Ingles
 

Residents weigh in on new Ingles

When Ingles pushes out of its old shell, it’s new home will bring new options to customers, like a stir-fry…
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Clean Slate to offer women in this region a second chance
 

Clean Slate to offer women in this region a second chance

A halfway house to help women who have been released from jail after serving time for minor offenses or other…
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Mental health education class gets going
 

Mental health education class gets going

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Family-to-Family Education Program offers new spring classes for caregivers of individuals living with mental…
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Much ado about everything in Maggie
 

Much ado about everything in Maggie

In Maggie Valley’s Town Hall, the cooperative spirit has been in short supply of late, with disputes flaring at nearly…
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Sylva Rotary Club hosts weekday pancake breakfast
 

Sylva Rotary Club hosts weekday pancake breakfast

A pancake breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, March 4, at the First United Methodist…
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Tribal police struggle to communicate in outlying areas
 

Tribal police struggle to communicate in outlying areas

In the farthest reaches of the Cherokee Indian  Reservation, work is being done to ensure that when crime happens, the…
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Jackson puts property revaluations off until 2015
 

Jackson puts property revaluations off until 2015

Jackson County has decided to postpone its revaluation of property values from next year until 2015. A resolution to that…
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Train to help victims of domestic violence
 

Train to help victims of domestic violence

Reach of Haywood needs volunteers for the nonprofit’s helpline. Helpline volunteers can assist from home — or away from home…
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Bigger building, higher costs, no money
 

Bigger building, higher costs, no money

Jackson County commissioners are faced with a dilemma over the new Sylva library slated to open in May: either pony…
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Seats open on MedWest Haywood board
 

Seats open on MedWest Haywood board

Four seats on the MedWest-Haywood hospital governing board will open up in April, with a deadline to apply of Feb.…
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Health Department offering free vaccines
 

Health Department offering free vaccines

Free flu vaccines are available at the Haywood County Health Department while supplies last. The flu vaccine is recommended for…
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Construction begins on U.S. 441
 

Construction begins on U.S. 441

Delays are expected on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park beginning March 1, due…
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Plows miss part of I-40
 

Plows miss part of I-40

Motorists beware: a no man’s land at exit 37 on Interstate 40 may not be plowed and salted in bad…
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Sharpen your marketing skills, increase sales
 

Sharpen your marketing skills, increase sales

A seminar on how to use marketing to increase sales will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb.…
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Shuler appointed to budget committee
 

Shuler appointed to budget committee

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, has been appointed to serve on the House Committee on the Budget. “Our nation’s exploding…
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