WCU appoints Henley as director of the Pride of the Mountains and Athletic Bands
Western Carolina University announced the appointment of Matt Henley as the next director of Athletic Bands and director of the…
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Haywood commissioner Ramey rebuked
Editor’s note: this story contains strong language. Since his election in 2022, Haywood County Commissioner Terry Ramey has been known…
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You are not alone: Macon housing needs assessment tells familiar story
When Patrick Bowen, president of Bowen National Research, presented a housing needs assessment to the Macon County’s board of commissioners…
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Veto override: Lawmakers expand funding for private school vouchers
Lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly voted last week to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto and pass a mini…
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Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat
Judge Roy Wijewickrama has been appointed to fill the recently vacated senior resident superior court seat in the district made…
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The Pigeon Center responds to community’s disaster needs: Support needed to make up fundraising shortfall
The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center quickly became a storm recovery hub in Waynesville just days after Hurricane Helene devastated…
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WNC law enforcement aims to turn ‘Blackout Wednesday’ blue
In some areas, Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, and it is known the…
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Rental assistance available for homeowners, renters
Homeowners and renters in North Carolina may be eligible for FEMA Rental Assistance if they cannot live in their homes because…
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Sham Helene relief bill riles western leaders: Contentious veto override vote likely looms
To be, rather than to seem; North Carolina’s aspirational state motto evokes notions of determination and the desire for substance…
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Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat
Judge Roy Wijewickrama has been appointed to fill the recently vacated senior resident superior court seat in the district made…
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Gov. Cooper goes to D.C. after General Assembly fails to deliver on storm relief
With North Carolina’s Republican-dominated General Assembly still dead-set on refusing to provide meaningful relief for mountain communities hit hard by…
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Sound the siren: Spotlight shines on Canton mayor, staff at Hurricanes game
Sounding the Carolina Hurricanes’ ceremonial storm siren is a sort of sacred duty, something to be enjoyed, but also something…
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Haywood County takes stock, plots post-Helene recovery
Solid numbers on damage from Hurricane Helene are finally coming into Haywood County, along with a state plan to repurpose…
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Helene damage coming into focus in Waynesville
Like much of Haywood County, Waynesville wasn’t affected by Hurricane Helene as badly as many other Western North Carolina communities,…
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Canton honors radio stations for service during Hurricane Helene
In recognition of the exceptional public service provided by a trio of radio stations during Hurricane Helene — when nearly…
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Jackson, Macon, Swain reach FRL agreement
Macon County has approved a new version of the Fontana Regional Library interlocal agreement that contains changes made by all…
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Macon votes to retain environmental health fees
Macon County Commissioners decided last week to oppose Commissioner Paul Higdon’s push to eliminate environmental health fees, an initiative he…
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Canton Fire Department moving to new temporary home
The Town of Canton’s temporary operations hub on Summer Street, home to town hall and the police department since shortly…
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Hellbent Hope: Generative writing workshops
Helene tore through many people’s lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Some lost homes, as well as the…
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Shop local, shop small for hurricane recovery
Holiday shoppers across the region, the state, the country and even the world can give the gift of Haywood by…
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Volunteer effort hooks up displaced WNC residents with temporary housing
As the recovery from the flooding disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene transitions to a different phase with more long-term…
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Green wins race for superintendent of NC schools
While a majority of North Carolina voters chose Republican candidate Donald Trump for president of the United States, many split…
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Macon votes no, again, to quarter-cent sales tax
For the second time in two years, Macon County voters have rejected the implementation of a quarter-cent sales tax to…
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Jackson Commission considers increasing commissioner pay
With the General Election over and two new members set to join the Jackson County Commission in December, the board…
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FEMA extends deadline to apply for Helene assistance
The deadline for North Carolinians in 39 counties to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance after Hurricane Helene has been extended…
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Trump victory overshadows Stein win and gains by NC Dems
While it certainly appears that a “red wave” washed over the United States on Nov. 5, that’s not exactly the…
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Haywood TDA reacts to Helene problems with grants, budget cut
Two days after Haywood Chamber President and CEO David Francis announced the creation of a small business grant recovery program…
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State of the waterways: Water Quality Advisory Committee releases new report
The Water Quality Advisory Committee has released its latest report detailing potential impacts of revising the Macon County Flood Damage…
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Haywood County postpones property reappraisal
A state-mandated countywide property reappraisal that was nearly complete and slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, has been shelved…
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Letts appointed to EBCI Supreme Court, vacates superior court seat
Last month, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians swore in Bradley B. Letts as the tribe’s new chief supreme court…
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Jackson’s school improvement plan under question from board member
When district leadership presented school improvement plans to the Jackson County Board of Education during its October meeting, one school…
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Memorial scholarship established to assist nontraditional art students at WCU
Nontraditional students working to earn a degree in an art-related major at Western Carolina University soon will have financial assistance…
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Grants for businesses impacted by Helene are on the way in Haywood County
A coalition of Haywood County community organizations, quasi-governmental institutions, local businesses and private individuals have stepped in where the North Carolina…
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Swain awarded $52 million for new middle school
Swain County is on its way to building a new middle school after securing $52 million in grant funds from…
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Connecting local businesses with the outside world
Challenges still abound after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina a little over a month ago. But one resource…
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Haywood voters stick with Ensley, Rogers for commission
Two Republicans seeking to fend off a challenge by a lone Democrat, Waynesville native Tausha Forney, have done so, and…
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Edwards overperforms, wins in 11th Congressional District
Western North Carolina Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards, who became a Hurricane Helene hero for debunking storm response lies spread by…
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Pless easily cruises to third term in House District 118
Haywood County native and Republican Rep. Mark Pless will return to the North Carolina General Assembly for a third term…
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Corbin will return as North Carolina’s westernmost senator
Macon County native Kevin Corbin just keeps on winning and will return to Raleigh for his third term as the…
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Republicans take Jackson Commission
With all precincts reporting, Republican candidates appear to have secured two more seats in the Jackson county commission, creating a…
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Gillespie continues dominance in House District 120
Over the past four years, Macon County native and second-term House Rep. Karl Gillespie has represented one of the most…
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Newcomers win Swain County Commission seats
Swain County has elected two political newcomers to its board of commissioners.
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Clampitt keeps 119th House District
The man still known for his protracted electoral feud with former Democratic Rep. Joe Sam Queen — the two faced…
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Incumbents keep Macon County Board of Education
With all precincts reporting, three incumbents have maintained their seats on the Macon County Board of Education.
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NCDOT estimates date for 2-lane traffic on I-40 in gorge
Traffic may be flowing in both directions on Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge — albeit slower than normal…
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Jackson voters to choose two new commissioners
With two current commissioners not seeking reelection, no matter the outcome, the Jackson County Commission will have two new faces…
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Walz makes final campaign push in return to Asheville
With just days remaining before voters go to the polls on Nov. 5, Democratic Vice Presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov.…
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Macon to consider waiving environmental health fees
In the coming months, the Macon County Commission will consider waiving environmental health fees, and possibly building inspection fees, after…
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Early voting ends this weekend
In-person early voting ends Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m., but voters will still have one last opportunity to cast…
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Grant program assists Jackson businesses post-Helene
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Jackson County Economic Development has put together a grant opportunity for businesses impacted by…
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