Rudow announces congressional bid in Western North Carolina

The 2024 election season isn’t quite yet officially underway, but one Democrat isn’t waiting for Dec. 4 to get into…
Read More

Comment

 

Burn bans lift and wildfires wind down following rain

Burn bans have been lifted and wildfires contained after steady rains Tuesday, Nov. 21, put a pause in a relentless drought that…
Read More

Comment

 

Cherokee man arrested in cold case murder

Nearly a decade after 26-year-old Marie Walkingstick Pheasant’s body was found in a burned-out vehicle in Cherokee’s Big Cove community,…
Read More

Comment

 

No county property for proposed Franklin Social District

Without discussion or stated reasoning, Macon County commissioners decided not to allow Franklin to use county property for its proposed…
Read More

Comment

 

Arson investigations follow some wildfires

Arsonists were responsible for some of the wildfires first responders have battled over the past month, with one arrest made…
Read More

Comment

 

The state of emergency services: Macon’s EMS Director highlights transport and staffing concerns

Macon County Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe came before the Board of Commissioners this month to outline problems his department…
Read More

Comment

 

Macon signs resolution to restructure commission elections

Macon County Commissioners are divided over a resolution in support of revising the system to elect county commissioners in order…
Read More

Comment

 

Per cap numbers indicate faltering casino revenues

The most recent per capita distribution numbers indicate flagging revenues at the two casinos operating on Eastern Band of Cherokee…
Read More

Comment

 

Candidate filing begins for 2024 elections

National, state and local offices will be on the ballot across North Carolina for a high-stakes 2024 election, and it…
Read More

Comment

 

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation names new executive director

 The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation announced that Charlotte Muir has been appointed as its new executive director. The announcement comes…
Read More

Comment

 

Macon tables partisan school board discussion

After contentious debate over the decision to make the Macon County Board of Education partisan-elected, county commissioners tabled the issue…
Read More

Comment

 

Mayhem in Macon

In a public meeting that lasted more than five hours, Macon County Commissioners approved premium pay for county employees, 3-2.…
Read More

Comment

 

Buck the system: Macon recommends changes to Fontana Regional Library agreement

With the 10-year Fontana Regional Library agreement up for review, commissions in all three counties are considering changes to the…
Read More

Comment

 

Living culture: WCU undertakes project showcasing Cherokee heritage on campus

At mid-morning on Wednesday, Nov. 15, the fountain at the heart of Western Carolina University’s campus is a thoroughfare.
Read More

Comment

 

Wildfires burn as rain reaches WNC

A steady rain arrived in Western North Carolina Tuesday, Nov. 21, marking the first precipitation of that magnitude the region has…
Read More

Comment

 

Watershed restoration underway after 2021 flooding

More than two years after flooding along the Pigeon River and its tributaries killed half a dozen people and destroyed…
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood County and Waynesville look to stay ahead of cryptocurrency mining

It’s novel, it’s trendy and it’s a great way to become fabulously wealthy — or lose everything you have —…
Read More

Comment

 

The state of the sheriff’s office: Haywood’s top cop drops data, details from his first year

It’s been just under a year since Bill Wilke became Haywood County’s sheriff, after longtime popular incumbent, Greg Christopher, decided…
Read More

Comment

 

Lake Santeetlah back to business after election wins

New town leadership is looking forward to getting things moving again in the tiny Graham County municipality of Lake Santeetlah,…
Read More

Comment

 

Estridge in, Guiney out for Sylva Town Council

After canvassing, the vote count is official, with Brad Waldrop, Mark Jones and Blitz Estridge winning seats on the Sylva…
Read More

Comment

 

Arrest made in Big Cove cold case murder

Nearly a decade after 26-year-old Marie Walkingstick Pheasant’s body was found in a burned-out vehicle in Cherokee’s Big Cove community,…
Read More

Comment

 

Wildfires burn across the region as drought continues

For the first time since 2016, Western North Carolina is in the midst of a severe drought coupled with an…
Read More

Comment

 

LGBTQ+ candidates earn historic victories nationally, locally

Tuesday, Nov. 7 was an important night for out LGBTQ+ candidates across the country, the state and Haywood County, with…
Read More

Comment

 

Pactiv Evergreen blamed for milk carton shortages in schools

There’s no use crying over spilt milk, but a shocking report suggests that Pactiv Evergreen failed in its analysis of…
Read More

Comment

 

WNC swears in a new judge

After several months of filling gaps in court calendars with visiting judges, Western North Carolina will finally fill its District…
Read More

Comment

 

Incumbents roll, 'Team Waynesville' falls flat

They ran a noisy campaign, filled with distortions, misinformation and outright fabrication, but in the end, that’s all it was…
Read More

Comment

 

Sylva elects new mayor, council members

The Sylva Town Council could have three new members, including a new mayor after vote totals become official later this…
Read More

Comment

 

Maggie Valley winners pledge to work together

Maggie Valley will retain two of its incumbents, including its mayor, for the next four years. 
Read More

Comment

 

Haywood sees high turnout, no voter ID issues

Fears that North Carolina’s new voter ID implementation would disenfranchise legitimate voters have proven unfounded — at least in Haywood…
Read More

Comment

 

Canton reveals plan for waste water treatment plant

While there are still plenty of unknowns regarding Canton’s new waste water treatment plant, including where it will go and…
Read More

Comment

 

Longtime Canton board members reelected

The Town of Canton’s governing board has been through a lot in the last four years — with the 2021…
Read More

Comment

 

Bridge Park set for upgrades

After delays due to funding and insufficient bids, Sylva is set to begin work on the Bridge Park Green Infrastructure…
Read More

Comment

 

New principal at Waynesville Middle School

The Haywood County School Board moved quickly to approve a new principal for Waynesville Middle School after the sudden departure…
Read More

Comment

 

Russell, Jesse prevail in Clyde

Incumbent Alderman Dann Jesse will return to the Town of Clyde Board of Aldermen, along with a new face, Amy…
Read More

Comment

 

Work beginning on WNC portion of I-40

Work will start soon to add an acceleration lane from Interstate 40 East to U.S. 74A for $1.3 million. 
Read More

Comment

 

An unexpected adventure: Macon County couple recalls evacuation from Israel

When Hamas hit Israel with a massive terrorist attack on Oct. 7, there were an estimated 600,000 Americans in the…
Read More

Comment

 

Siren warning system will alert Haywood residents to flooding

More than two years after deadly flooding killed six people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to…
Read More

Comment

 

Local expert weighs in on potential Hamas war crimes

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, folks around the world have become more divided in their support for…
Read More

Comment

 

SBI report on police shooting heads to special prosecutor

Nearly 11 months after a Cherokee County man was shot by police officers in the doorway of his own home, a…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU prof awarded prestigious Fullbright fellowship

A Western Carolina University professor has been awarded one of the most respected fellowships in the world, which she hopes will…
Read More

Comment

 

WCU basketball facilities enjoy new improvements

A long-range list of upgrades to Western Carolina University athletics facilities tipped off this fall with a project in support of…
Read More

Comment

 

Jackson schools institutes salary decompression

In order to fairly compensate non-certified employees with several years of service to the school system, Jackson County Public Schools…
Read More

Comment

 

Canton mill receives new water quality violation

Evergreen Packaging is no longer making paper in Canton, but it’s still receiving environmental violations. A new notice issued Thursday,…
Read More

Comment

 

Tribal Council approves short-term funding for Qualla Enterprises: Long-term plan still in process

Tribal Council has again delayed approving long-term funding for its cannabis enterprise but voted overwhelmingly Thursday, Nov. 2, to loan…
Read More

Comment

 

Sylva moves forward on public restrooms

To save money after bids for the downtown public restroom project came in over budget, Sylva will move forward without…
Read More

Comment

 

Man convicted of brutal domestic abuse

A Haywood County jury found a former jailer-turned-security guard guilty of strangling, raping and assaulting his then-wife. 
Read More

Comment

 

Bartender charged after underage driver crashes

A bartender has been criminally charged following a single-vehicle collision in Macon County. 
Read More

Comment

 

Incumbents roll, ‘Team Waynesville’ falls flat

They ran a noisy campaign, filled with distortions, misinformation and outright fabrication, but in the end, that’s all it was…
Read More

Comment

 

Russell, Jesse prevail in Clyde

Incumbent Alderman Dann Jesse will return to the Town of Clyde Board of Aldermen, along with a new face, Amy…
Read More

Comment

 

Weller joins Highlands Board of Commissioners

With unofficial results in, Highlands has elected one newcomer, Jeff Weller, to its Board of Commissioners.
Read More

Comment

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.