Queen retakes 47th District
Overwhelming support from Haywood County voters will return Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, to the state Senate after a two-year hiatus…
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Macon picks two new board members, new majority rule
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Ronnie Beale is the newest Macon County commissioner and will join incumbent Bob Simpson,…
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Lodging owners hold too much sway, say task force members
A county-appointed tourism task force charged with making recommendations to improve the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority agrees on one…
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Jackson gets entirely Democratic Commissioner Board
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Democrats swept the Jackson County Board of Commissioners as voters elected Cashiers’ Mark Jones…
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Help for those with mental illness: Waynesville couple helps start local NAMI chapter
By Michael Beadle When John and Suzanne Gernandt’s son Matthew began showing signs of schizophrenia, it might have been misread…
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Kirkpatrick, Upton and Curtis in Haywood
An unusually large margin separated Democratic and Republican candidates in the Haywood County commissioners race, suggesting that Republican candidates were…
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Haire keeps 119th House seat
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer District 119 incumbent Phil Haire, D-Sylva, has once against defeated Marge Carpenter, R-Waynesville, for…
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Democrats sweep commissioners race
It was a tight race between two candidates running for Swain County commission chairman, but Chairman Glenn Jones hung on…
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Bonfoey keeps seat in tight race against Forga
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Mike Bonfoey defeated Republican challenger Donna Forga 34,445 to 29,771 to retain his position…
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Candidates divided on county’s role in initiating planning efforts
All five candidates running for Haywood County commissioner say they support a proposed slope development ordinance, which is poised for…
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Shuler camp presses message that change is needed
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer It’s 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Andrew Whalen, 11th Congressional District candidate Heath…
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Taylor’s touts congressional clout on campaign trail
By Michael Beadle It’s a chilly fall morning in downtown Bryson City, and U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor steps up into…
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Five vie for three seats on Haywood board
There are five candidates running for three seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. Kirk Kirkpatrick, Democrat, attorney Kirkpatrick…
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Most Swain candidates cite need for land planning
As growth and development accelerate in Swain County, discussion over the need for road and slope regulations has increasingly taken…
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Some critical of price paid for Swain land
The price of a recent land purchase by Swain County for school expansion has raised some eyebrows among candidates running…
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Paying for the purchase
Here’s how Swain County plans to pay for the school land purchase.
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Macon sheriff's race
Robert Holland, 39, has been Macon County Sheriff for four years and with the sheriff's department since 1991. He is…
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Mixed allegiances make Haywood race especially difficult to call
The scene at Haywood County commissioner meetings today is quite different from that four years ago. In the year prior…
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Three commission seats up for grabs in Macon
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Macon County’s three Democratic commissioners are facing a challenge from three Republican contenders in…
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Keith Presnell
1. What specific legislation or policies are at the top of your list? Jobs, to make sure we have infrastructure…
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Swain challengers question spending
All five seats on the Swain County Board of Commissioners are up for election this year. The winners will serve…
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The road ends here
If Congressman Charles Taylor is defeated in two weeks, it could spell the end of plans to build a road…
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What is the North Shore Road?
The North Shore Road is proposed to go through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Bryson City to Tennessee…
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How do you stand on the North Shore Road issue?
Charles Taylor: The federal government should live up to its 60-year-old commitment to Swain County residents and complete the North…
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Differences are obvious, say Haire, Carpenter
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The candidates for the District 119 House race describe themselves as polar opposites.
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Case management key issue in DA’s race
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer The race for District Attorney is garnering what some may say is an unusual…
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Candidates evenly split on North Shore Road
Some voters in Swain County consider the North Shore Road a litmus test for candidates in the county commissioners race…
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An open letter to Sylva
Most of us in the course of a week find a reason to go to downtown Sylva. We may go…
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Planning ahead a critical first step in escaping abuse
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer If you or someone you know is thinking about leaving an abusive relationship, there…
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What role should the federal government play in helping to make health care more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans?
Heath Shuler: America is truly facing a health care crisis. Over 46 million Americans are currently living without health insurance…
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Health care costs remain important issue for voters
From behind the prescription counter at Village Pharmacy in Waynesville, Jim Winfree has a bird’s eye view of rising drug…
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Haywood County school board race
There are four seats up for election on the Haywood County school board this November. The county is divided into…
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Slope proposal supported at hearing: Concerns raised, but most agree it’s time for steep slope laws
Slope ordinance Haywood County commissioners are considering a slope development ordinance with the following restrictions:
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Safe haven: Domestic violence hits home
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Editor’s note: The names of domestic violence victims Linda and Anne, who were interviewed…
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Playing with the numbers: School board accused of arbitrarily deflating cost estimates
Bond numbers Haywood County voters approved a $25 million school bond in May 2005 intended to pay for a host…
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Do you support a Constitutional Ammendment to define marriage as between a man and woman? Why or why not?
Taylor: My position is, and has always been, that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.
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Taylor, Shuler share similar views on gay marriage
Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, took time to address the gay marriage issue and how…
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Sen. John Snow earns high marks during first term
When Sen. John Snow talks about being a senator for the far western counties that he calls home, he becomes…
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Scorecards
Several groups compile score cards for state legislators based on their voting record. Queen and Presnell were both ranked by…
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Ken McKim says choice is clear in 50th District
Thirty-six year-old Ken McKim has lots of ideas about the issues he would tackle if he can wrest the 50th…
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Jackson race outcome may depend on party turnout
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer • Mark Jones, 47, a Democrat, has been the general manager of High Hampton…
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Jackson County celebrates opening of Green Energy Park
A small spot on the side of a valley overlooking the Tuckasegee River outside Dillsboro may not seem the obvious…
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How high on the totem pole? Each with two years of experience under their belts, Presnell and Queen vie for NC Senate
When Joe Sam Queen arrived at a reception hosted by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce earlier this year, the…
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Haywood seeks bids on historic courthouse renovation
The Haywood County commissioners are soliciting construction bids for the long-awaited renovation of the historic courthouse in downtown Waynesville.
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Haire, Caprenter are familiar foes
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer In some elections an incumbent candidate may face a political newcomer, like the congressional…
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