The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office was ordered to turn over recordings from Nov. 9. File photo
 

Haywood sheriff to release footage of alleged constitutional violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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The outgoing chair, Commissioner Paul Higdon (right), congratulates  the new chair, Commissioner Gary Shields. Bob Scott photo
 

New leadership sees new direction for Macon

Macon County will see a change of leadership for the coming year after the county commission unanimously voted to appoint…
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Reduced funding will affect a number of nonprofits in the coming year. File photo
 

Reduction in federal funding for crime victims hits home

The holidays are often viewed as an opportunity for families to gather together and share seasonal cheer, but when there’s…
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Macon County commissioners proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system. File photo
 

Changes for FRL: Jackson looks at Macon’s recommendations for library system

After Macon County proposed several changes to the Fontana Regional Library system agreement, Jackson County commissioners are taking a look at…
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Partisan races for 2024 election set
 

Partisan races for 2024 election set

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ended last week, and after a slow start, a flurry…
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The Macon County Board of Education was unanimously opposed  to a partisan school board race. File photo
 

Macon BOE to remain non-partisan

Despite the intention by some commissioners to make the school board race partisan in Macon County, it will remain non-partisan,…
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Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues
 

Cherokee adopts budget reflecting lower casino revenues

After more than two months of operating under a continuing resolution, Tribal Council has approved a new budget for the…
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Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election
 

Jackson considers moving school board race to General Election

The race for Jackson County Board of Education is unique in that it is decided during the Primary Election, despite…
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Haywood gets financial reporting award
 

Haywood gets financial reporting award

Haywood County has been recognized with the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance…
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Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund
 

Jackson TDA announces new cycle for tourism capital project fund

Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) will reopen its cycle for tourism capital projects Jan. 1, 2024. $600,000 is available…
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Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation
 

Haywood Chamber of Commerce gains rare accreditation

The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce as one of two…
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Because trout require clean, cold water, trout fishing goes hand-in-hand with environmental conservation. NCWRC photo
 

Billion-dollar catch: Report reveals economic impact of N.C. trout fishing industry

The economic impact of trout fishing in North Carolina has more than tripled since 2014, clocking in at $1.38 billion…
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A record 4,056 bears were harvested in North Carolina during the 2022 bear season. NCWRC photo
 

Expanded bear season proposed for WNC

A significantly expanded bear hunting season and loosened rules about bait usage are among the rule changes the N.C. Wildlife…
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The Black Bear Fire sparked Nov. 16  following a tractor-trailer crash. USFS photo
 

Last WNC wildfires contained

For the first time since Oct. 23, Western North Carolina is free of active wildfires. 
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Updated drought maps are released every Thursday. U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map
 

Extreme drought leaves North Carolina

Drought conditions are the best they’ve been in a month, according to the latest map from the Drought Management Advisory…
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Cataloochee Ski Area opened  for the season Nov. 29. File photo
 

Explore the world of snowmaking

Go behind the scenes with snowmaking at Cataloochee Ski area with field trips offered Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Tuesday, Feb.…
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Wildlife photo contest open
 

Wildlife photo contest open

The Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition is now open, accepting entries until 5 p.m. Jan. 31, 2024. 
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Namesake chosen for red spruce greenhouse
 

Namesake chosen for red spruce greenhouse

A namesake has been chosen for the $2 million greenhouse the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway is building to…
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The Haywood County Sheriff's Office was ordered to turn over their recordings from Nov. 9.
 

HCSO to release body cam footage to plaintiff alleging Fourth Amendment violation

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered by a judge to provide dash and body cam footage to a…
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Lumpy Lambert, executive director of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, shares progress from the construction site Dec. 11.
 

Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring

The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy is abuzz these days as 200 on-site construction workers hustle…
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The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court in Asheville.
 

Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit

The court has made its decision in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s request to dismiss  many of the complaints in…
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Kathy Greeley.
 

Alumna gift will create endowment for interior design program

Students in Western Carolina University’s interior design program soon will have access to new experiential learning opportunities thanks to a…
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Here’s what the disloyalty cards look like in downtown Waynesville’s Twigs & Leaves Gallery.
 

Courting disloyalty: New program encourages shoppers to patronize Waynesville businesses

The disloyalty card is here and it’s, in a sense, exactly what it sounds like. 
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Cherokee One Feather Editor Robert Jumper discusses proposed changes to the Editorial Board ordinance with Tribal Council during a Nov. 21 work session.
 

Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn: Council, chiefs will retain appointments

An ordinance seeking to change the makeup of the Cherokee One Feather’s editorial board made it back in front of…
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This map shows where the social district would exist in Franklin.
 

Public hearing set for Franklin social district

The Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the…
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Macon County School Board.
 

Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan

Macon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan. 
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Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period
 

Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period

North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon , Friday, Dec. 15, and if the…
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From left are Chamber Ambassadors Chad Gerrety, Matt Saenger, Marne Harris, Patricia Bryson-Wink, American Museum of the House Cat Director Harold Sims, Marketing Director Kimberly Crow, Museum Manager Julie Kimbrell (holding official museum cat Mimi), and ambassadors Patricia Stanberry, Karson Walston, Natalie Newman and Chris Stuckey.
 

Ribbon cutting for the house cat museum

On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team held a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony for the…
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Rachel Sease, a longtime employee of Blue Moon, purchased the downtown Canton bookstore.
 

The next chapter: New owner at Blue Moon Books

One of Haywood County’s used bookstores is entering its next chapter with a change of ownership and a continuation of…
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Michele Woodhouse.
 

Woodhouse returns as NC-11 GOP chair

Henderson County resident Michele Woodhouse has been reelected as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District after…
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Mountain Projects calls for participation in housing surveys
 

Mountain Projects calls for participation in housing surveys

Three surveys from Mountain Projects that aim to help the nonprofit develop a housing plan, identify housing projects that will…
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Jackson County license plate agency to close: Office will reopen under new contractor
 

Jackson County license plate agency to close: Office will reopen under new contractor

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles’ license plate agency in Jackson County will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 15. 
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Statewide holiday ‘Booze It & Lose It’ enforcement campaign underway
 

Statewide holiday ‘Booze It & Lose It’ enforcement campaign underway

 This holiday season, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program joins local and state law enforcement to urge drivers against impaired driving. 
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The Sarge’s pack explores the Dahlia Ridge Trail System at Haywood Community College. Lyndsey Tate photo
 

Nose for adventure: New program gets Sarge's shelter dogs hiking

Monday mornings have a bad reputation, but for dogs at Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Waynesville, they’ve become the best part…
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Amy McIntosh snuggles one of Misfit Mountain’s furry residents. Donated photo
 

Misfit Mountain seeks to help animals and owners alike

The holiday season is among the toughest times in the animal rescue world. Adopting pets isn’t always front of mind…
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Study reveals the red wolf’s ecological impact
 

Study reveals the red wolf’s ecological impact

According to a study published last month in the scientific journal Animal Conservation, wild red wolves in eastern North Carolina…
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Franklin County deer tests positive for CWD
 

Franklin County deer tests positive for CWD

A 2.5-year-old female white-tailed deer harvested during firearm season in Franklin County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, an…
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Ski after school or after work
 

Ski after school or after work

Cataloochee Ski Area offers discounted rates for youth and adults to explore the slopes and hone their skills with several…
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Race Cataloochee
 

Race Cataloochee

The racing season is back at Cataloochee Ski Area, starting in January for ages 8 through adult. 
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Money available for farmers who experienced lending discrimination
 

Money available for farmers who experienced lending discrimination

Through Jan. 13, farmers, forest landowners and ranchers who have experienced discrimination in farm lending from the U.S. Department of…
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Friends group launches for Cherokee National Forest
 

Friends group launches for Cherokee National Forest

Friends of the Cherokee National Forest, a new nonprofit based in Knoxville, aims to become a driving force in preserving…
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Joe Russo.
 

What does it mean to be: A conversation with Joe Russo

When drummer Joe Russo takes a moment to reflect on his decades-long friendship and collaboration with guitarist Tom Hamilton, he…
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A church in communion with all creatures
 

A church in communion with all creatures

The Covid pandemic has produced many new books with many of them addressing the current situation in which we humans…
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Pictured from left to right are members of North Canton Fire Department’s drone unit  — Allen Newland, Tony Pope, Steve Kelley, Chance Best and Billy Hannah.  Not pictured are Levi Allen and Christian Wilkie. Julie Newland photo
 

Up in the air: North Canton Fire Department puts eyes in the sky to save lives

As technology evolves, every entity and industry finds new and innovative ways to use those advances to improve their operations.
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Program Director Kelly Kelley (left) celebrates with a  University Participant Program student following  the spring 2016 commencement. WCU photo
 

Vision for the future: WCU program helps intellectually disabled students achieve their dreams

As he entered his sophomore year at Andrews High School in Cherokee County, David Maennle started to notice his classmates…
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Macon County’s school board has made it clear that it opposes the push from some county commissioners to make its elections partisan. File photo
 

Macon school board opposes partisan elections

After county commissioners considered signing a resolution in support of transitioning the Macon County Board of Education to a partisan-elected…
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Vonterius Woolbright brings the ball up the court. Donated photo
 

WCU men's basketball picks up steam

It’s a great time to be a Catamount basketball fan, certainly the best in a while. 
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Volunteers break ground on the Walton Woods neighborhood after the land donation in 2009. Donated photo
 

Habitat’s ‘return on investment': Building strong communities, strong futures

It’s  tough out there for anyone hoping to gain entry into the housing market. 
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 The Locust Cove #2 Fire is one of two currently burning in McDowell County. USFS photo
 

Fire activity resumes

Despite an uptick in precipitation and humidity levels, the region is still facing the worst drought conditions  since 2017, with…
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Two grants help Haywood students
 

Two grants help Haywood students

Haywood County Schools recently received two grants from Dogwood Health Trust. One will benefit students at the Haywood Community Learning…
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