By Michael Beadle

Running can be a lonely sport. It’s hard finding someone who has a similar pace, someone who runs when you do, someone who can get you through those tough, uphill climbs.

Haywood County commissioners suggested they could be amenable to a slight property tax increase this year if there is something really important they want the money for.

George Ivey, a well-known leader in conservation efforts in Haywood County, received the Pigeon River Award for 2006 from Haywood Waterways Association.

Canton native Marty Stamey has been named the new director of Haywood County’s Emergency Medical Services program.

As the population in the rural areas of Haywood County grows, leaders are being faced with the question of whether it’s time to station new ambulances in these outlying areas.

It’s still 11 months away, but organizers of a year-long Haywood County bicentennial celebration in 2008 are already counting down the days until the kick-off.

The Haywood County Board of Commissioners have appointed two new members to the Tourism Development Authority board: Deborah Reed, a leader of the Canton merchant’s association FOCUS, and Art O’Neil, owner of Sunset Inn, Sunset Bakery and Sunset Café at Lake Junaluska, and Sunset on Main restaurant in downtown Waynesville.

Slope development regulations will go into effect in Haywood County on March 1.

Students in Haywood County are on the front lines of an ambitious effort to reintroduce a slew of native species to the Pigeon River following decades of pollution from the Canton paper mill that destroyed the aquatic habitat.

Thanks to major environmental investments by Blue Ridge Paper Products in Canton, the last advisory against eating fish downstream of the mill was lifted this month — ending a 20-year effort to clean up the river following decades of pollution from chemicals historically dumped in the river by the mill.