Tobacco’s Haywood County heyday

Slowly meandering through Haywood County’s tranquil farmlands, the winding two-lane mountain road rises and falls as behind each bend it…
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Local school boards now responsible for mask mandate

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina public schools on Wednesday. School districts should require…
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Macon Schools plan to start year without masks

After North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina Public Schools, giving local school boards the…
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COVID-19 cases continue to rise

After months of decline, North Carolina is experiencing a rapid increase in COVID-19 spread among those who are unvaccinated. 
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Searching for gold: Bryson City Olympian misses kayaking finals, aims for canoe medal

Bryson City Olympian Evy Leibfarth , 17, came up short in her quest for an Olympic kayaking medal but will…
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Candidate visits show senate race is heating up

With the U.S. Senate under razor-thin Democratic control and a rare open seat in North Carolina, candidates on both sides…
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Full circle: Cherokee’s new museum director seeks to bring tribe’s story to the present

Throughout her 20-year museum career, Shana Bushyhead Condill had wondered what it might be like to work on the Qualla…
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Final beam placed at new hospital

With an eye on the future and supporting healthcare throughout the Western North Carolina region, the final beam was placed…
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Macon approves emergency funds for KIDS Place

Macon County commissioners recently approved $55,000 worth of emergency funds to KIDS Place Child Advocacy Center to ensure the nonprofit…
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Vaya Health awarded health plan by N.C. DHHS
 

Vaya Health awarded health plan by N.C. DHHS

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services selected Vaya Health to operate a health care plan for North Carolina…
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Swain to support Medicaid expansion

Swain County Board of Commissioners plans to pass a resolution showing the county’s support for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina…
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Another Republican out to oust Madison Cawthorn

As the second Republican to enter the 2022 Congressional Primary field, Bruce O’Connell is certainly looking at a David versus…
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Local school boards now responsible for mask mandate

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced new health guidelines for North Carolina public schools on Wednesday. School districts should require…
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Filing period closes for 2021 municipal elections

While there aren’t any state or federal elections being held this year, there are a number of municipal governing board…
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Jam on: Hillbilly Jam returns to Maggie Valley

If you think it’s hard to sum up what, exactly, Hillbilly Jam  is, you’re not alone. 
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Cherokee approves $275 million expansion plan for Murphy casino

After a 45-minute off-air discussion  July 8, the Cherokee Tribal Council approved a $275 million master plan to expand the…
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Folkmoot USA: Celebrating diversity of the United States

Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Festival, returns with Folkmoot Summerfest July 22-25. The theme of this year’s festival is…
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Opioid settlement could result in drug treatment facility

Millions in opioid settlement money is coming to the state, to most counties and even to some municipalities.
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Maggie Valley residents concerned for safety

Last week’s Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen meeting was riddled with complaints from residents of a development on Jonathan Creek…
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COVID cases surge: Haywood reports two nursing home outbreaks

New coronavirus cases were down to nearly nothing in Western North Carolina by the close of June, but in the…
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Jackson approves $7 million for school security

Jackson County will spend $7 million to convert four public school campuses to a single-point-of-entry system after commissioners voted  unanimously…
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Karl Rove talks Trump, Cawthorn, NC11

Known mostly to the current generation as a political pundit and frequent television/radio/newspaper commentator, Karl Rove has roots in Republican…
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Parents oppose Pride Month display at Macon library

The Macon County Public Library provides a number of diverse educational opportunities for youth, but a book display promoting Pride…
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Three arrested on meth trafficking charges

Two Canton man and one Asheville man are being held on six-figure bonds after the Jackson County deputies arrested them…
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Gas leak at Hazelwood Elementary

Before noon on Monday, July 19, school employees smelled propane. Summer school students, summer childcare students, and staff were evacuated…
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Back to the blue: Wounded Haywood deputy returns to work

UPDATE: Shortly after this story was published, Batchelor declared his intent to enter the NCGOP NC11 Primary Election field.  He’d…
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General Assembly names new WCU trustees

A former state representative from Matthews and a retired charitable trust director from Winston-Salem will replace former Principal Chief Joyce…
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SCC offering free tuition
 

SCC offering free tuition

Through a one-time program, Southwestern Community College will not charge tuition or fees to students for the 2021-22 academic year.
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HCC holds ‘Peak Week’
 

HCC holds ‘Peak Week’

Haywood Community College is holding Peak Week July 12 through July 16. 
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SCC’s Health Science Center ready this fall

As workers apply the last few coats of paint and other finishing touches this summer, Southwestern Community College officials are…
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Harrah’s chips away at job vacancies

Now carrying double the vacancies it had in the summer of 2019, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos is feeling the effects of…
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Developers tee off on Waynesville Inn rehab

With some demolition work currently underway and a membership drive event held on July 12, the new owners of The…
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Alcohol referenda to appear on Cherokee’s September ballot

Cherokee voters will decide whether to loosen alcohol regulations on the Qualla Boundary this September by answering three referendum questions…
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After uproar, DOT relents on bridge replacement project

A controversial bridge replacement project that would have snarled Haywood County traffic for up to four years will likely get…
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Task force issues draft recommendations on homelessness

More than 18 months after its creation and just over 12 months since its first meeting, Waynesville’s Task Force on…
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Haywood among top school districts nationwide

Haywood County Schools has made the list of National Board Accomplished Districts recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching…
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Nursing homes face essential worker shortage

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities were among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they are facing another…
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Tribal Council again refuses to consider same-sex marriage ordinance

For the second month in a row , the first item on Tribal Council’s agenda  was an ordinance to legalize…
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Labor shortage a lesser challenge for many outdoor industry businesses

While prominently displayed “now hiring” signs and sign-on bonuses attest to the difficulty many employers now face in staffing their…
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In Western North Carolina, memories of old-time baseball endure

For much of the 20th Century, small-town life in Western North Carolina revolved around the large-scale industrial enterprises that had…
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Haywood courts back in full swing

Haywood County courts are back in full swing following safety-related case delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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New fly shop opening in Waynesville
 

New fly shop opening in Waynesville

Tuckaseegee Fly Shop will expand into Haywood County starting Aug. 1, with plans to open a retail shop and guide…
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Maggie Valley discusses RV park rules

A draft text amendment to a Maggie Valley ordinance concerning campgrounds and RV parks has sparked a larger conversation about…
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UNC system president visits Cullowhee

University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans toured institutional improvements at Western Carolina University July 1, marking his first…
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Housing crunch exacerbates WCU’s stagnant salaries

With the state’s biennial budget process  now nearing its conclusion, Western Carolina University employees are hopeful that they could soon…
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City Lights owner to lead Sylva’s Main Street program

Bernadette Peters, owner of City Lights Café, has been hired to lead economic development efforts in downtown Sylva. 
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One step closer to affordable housing
 

One step closer to affordable housing

Southwestern NC HOME Consortium is one step closer to receiving annual allocation to bring more affordable housing to the region.
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Drake Software expands to Waynesville
 

Drake Software expands to Waynesville

An economic development venture previously referred to as “Project Duck Call” has been revealed to be a new call center…
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Man takes plea in fatal DWI case
 

Man takes plea in fatal DWI case

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said a Haywood County man will serve the maximum sentence possible in prison after entering…
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Candidates file for municipal seats

The filing period for candidates seeking municipal governing board seats in November began at noon on Friday, July 2, with…
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