Casey Walawender will advance to November with a decisive win over three other Democratic candidates for Jackson County Commission's District 1.

Mark Letson, the incumbent Jackson County Commission Chair who was the only commissioner to vote against leaving the Fontana Regional Library system, will not be returning to that role come November. Taxes were also an issue, but his library vote likely cost him as well. 

Marcia Almond, former mayor of the tiny village of Forest Hills, is about to take on a big challenge — flipping the county commission chair from red to blue. 

After last year’s property tax increase, Jackson County commissioners met Feb. 17 to begin planning next year’s budget, balancing fresh revenue growth against rising costs and lingering anxiety from property owners still absorbing the impact of escalating property values — just as a competitive Primary Election looms. 

For months, Jackson County commissioners have been making material decisions to advance a costly and widely criticized plan to pull its two libraries from the Fontana Regional Library system.

Nonetheless, in 2025, the Jackson board proposed three amendments which, contingent on passage by fellow FRL-member counties Macon and Swain, might convince commissioners to change their course. 

A study by a Western Carolina University economist indicates that Jackson County saw more than $144 million in total economic impact from the $770,000 that county government invested in the local Department of Social Services to administer Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits last year. 

The 2026 Assault on BlackRock trail race has been set for Saturday, March 21 in Sylva.  

All proceeds from this race will go to the Sylva Art & Design Committee with a focus on bringing more art (outdoor murals) to downtown Sylva. 

Shortly after opening the doors of the Don Tomas Health Sciences Center back in 2021, Southwestern Community College developed a strategy for not only filling the area’s tremendous healthcare workforce needs — but also providing a promising future for soon-to-be high school graduates. 

Indie/soul singer-songwriters Shane Meade & Rob Masten will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva.

Hailing from Elkins, West Virginia, Meade is a self-taught late bloomer who borrowed an old guitar from his father.

Jackson County Recreation is hosting a class for those wishing to learn more about birding.

The class will be provide an interactive presentation, and prior experience isn’t necessary. Those who participate will learn about the “four keys to bird identification” and how to recognize species unique to the region.