Jessi Stone
What’s in it? Does it really classify as a salad? Was it named after the infamous Watergate scandal?
As November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month, it seemed like a perfect time for Nikwasi Initiative leaders to give Macon County commissioners an update on their long-term vision to bring more awareness to the Nikwasi Mound and other lands that hold cultural significance to the Cherokee people.
Haywood County is applying for federal funds that would allow for a major renovation project at the Clyde armory building, which was gifted to the county a couple of years ago.
Jamye Sheppard has been at the helm of Haywood Habitat for Humanity since 2014, but you may also remember her as the former director of Dining for Women and Folkmoot USA before that. Jamye is passionate about helping families find their forever home and is working hard to provide more affordable housing options in Haywood County.
Collectively, we've experienced massive amounts of disappointment this year. Nothing has gone as we've planned — 2020 was supposed to be our year, right? We all had big dreams, set goals, committed to new habits — and then the pandemic turned our worlds upside down.
With the real estate market in Western North Carolina booming right now, it’s clear the region is reaping the economic benefits of the urban exodus happening during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
At the recommendation of County Manager Derek Roland, Macon County commissioners recently approved hazard pay for its 300-plus employees.
Jessica Merritt is counting down the days until her husband returns home from his final days of service in the U.S. Navy. After more than 20 years in the military and nine deployments, Cory Merritt will return home to his family for good in about two weeks, and this time he’ll return to their new home in Western North Carolina.
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 57 new cases of COVID-19 since Oct. 30. As of 5 p.m. Nov. 5, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded 783 cases in Haywood County.
It's a stressful time and a lot of people are counting on you, but you can't take care of others if you're not taking care of yourself. Here is a list of self-care tips to get you through the rest of the month.
For the last few months my social media newsfeeds have been full of inspirational quotes, woo-woo goddess sisterhood memes, cute animal pictures, hiking suggestions and updates from the people in my life that show love, friendship, empathy, support and authenticity.
After spending more than a year campaigning across Western North Carolina, 31-year-old Republican Kaleb Wingate will claim a District Court judge seat in the 30th Judicial District and will be one of the youngest judges in the state.
Josh Young, a young Republican in his first attempt to run for public office, will join the Macon County Board of Commissioners after receiving large support in his hometown.
Two incumbents will claim their second terms on the Swain County Board of Commissioners after being the top vote-getters out of four candidates.
As the colder weather settles in, many Western North Carolina counties are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Swain County commissioners recently approved about $200,000 in funding for the school system in an effort to improve student reading levels.
Breast cancer is something that weighs heavy on every woman’s mind. What is my risk? Does it run in my family? Do I carry the gene? When should I get a mammogram? Where do I have to go to get the best care?
Kaleb Wingate and Justin Greene both earned their law degrees at North Carolina Central University in Durham, but they have different perspectives when it comes to the current criminal justice system and how they plan to serve Western North Carolina if elected to serve as a district judge.
During the initial pandemic panic back in March, many merchants in Macon County closed up shop while they tried to reassess all their plans for 2020.
Swain County’s economy relies heavily on the tourism industry from outdoor recreation businesses to downtown retailers, restaurants and the railroad.
Since public school systems have returned to in-person instruction, more COVID-19 cases are being reported in Western North Carolina.
Two Republicans and two Democrats are vying for two open seats on the Swain County Board of Commissioners this year.
After being the top vote-getters during the primary election, Democrat Betty Cloer Wallace and Republican Josh Young are seeking the open District 2 Macon County Commissioner seat this November.
The Coronavirus Pandemic hasn’t stopped the Swain County Tourism Development Authority from having another record-setting year in occupancy tax revenue.
The Town of Franklin is one of the many local governments that saw a decrease in its occupancy tax revenue this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
A 10-day road trip covering thousands of miles was either going to save us or kill us.
None of us like to talk about mental health. Even as a reporter who has been covering the issue for years and understands the importance of removing the stigma, I don’t want to talk about my own mental health struggles.
The Folkmoot International Festival has overcome many obstacles in its 36 years of existence, but it couldn’t withstand the pressures of a global pandemic.
I struggle with my wanderlust most of the year, but there’s something about the change from summer to fall that really lights a fire under me to travel.
Nikwasi Initiative, a new nonprofit established in 2018 with the mission of preserving the Nikwasi Mound in downtown Franklin and expanding access and educational activities, has hired its first executive director, Elaine Eisenbraun.
The gazebo in Downtown Franklin has long been a popular gathering spot for live music during Pickin’ on the Square, fall festivals, prayer rallies, recovery celebrations and much more, but the town has been bombarded with requests to reserve the space in the last several months.
Developers are planning another new Ingles project that will include a complete upgrade to the Holly Springs Plaza off U.S. 441 in Franklin.
My family history goes back a good ways in Northeast Georgia and particularly in Helen. My mom grew up on the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River. She and her four stair-step sisters, my grandparents and my great grandmother Leilah Abernathy lived on Scorpion Holler (now called Myra Branch Road to all the locals’ chagrin). They grew up wearing dresses made of potato sacks, making mud pies, gardening, canning and trying to stay out of trouble.
As the number of new cases begins to stabilize in Western North Carolina, medical directors urge people to keep doing what they’re doing to prevent another spike.
Last summer, I thought I could never lose weight — it was too hard, I was too busy and life just wasn’t fair. Today, I have lost 70 pounds with 30 more to go.
Det. Sgt. Ron Martin often uses a popular Star Trek anecdote to make a point about making difficult changes when the current ways aren’t netting the best results.
After students and staff were exposed to positive cases of COVID-19, Macon County Board of Education decided to suspend face-to-face instruction at Union Academy, Mountain View Intermediate School and Macon Middle School beginning Aug. 26 through Sept. 11.
A COVID-19 outbreak at Silver Bluff Village in Canton has resulted in 24 deaths in the last couple of weeks, bringing the virus’s devastation too close to home as families have lost their loved ones.
It’s fun to imagine what the people of Macon County must have thought of Lassie Kelly. Born in 1881, she was regarded as a “vivid leader” in Franklin and an actively engaged community member until her death in 1963.
Michelle Mathis, chairwoman and interim director of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, admits the organization does enable drug users.
Tensions ran high at the Aug. 3 Haywood County Board of Commissioners meeting as harm reduction critics become more vocal in their opposition and community health advocates become more frustrated over a lack of facts and understanding surrounding substance use disorder.
The town of Franklin may employ a majority of men, but the women are making more on average than their male co-workers.
Bryson City is a small town with a lot of big responsibilities and limited financial resources. While it is a major tourism hub that supports second-home owners and thousands of visitors during the season, the full-time population is only an estimated 1,500.
Swain County might still be led by men, but women are key contributors in the day-to-day operations of the county government.
According to the Haywood County Health Department, a significant number of the close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases recently identified by contact tracers have refused to participate in contact tracing, testing, and/or quarantine.
Alfred Douglas “Doug” Reed, one of Western North Carolina’s most respected journalists and community advocates and a key leader through 10 administrations at Western Carolina University, died Sunday, July 19, at his home in Cullowhee at age 92.
Jackson County has seen a steady growth in active COVID-19 cases in the last week as an outbreak was reported at a local skilled nursing facility on July 17 and a cluster was announced at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino on July 20.
Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland stood before county commissioners Tuesday night with a heartfelt plea for better pay for his law enforcement officers who are going above and beyond during the COVID-19 Pandemic and ongoing civil rights protests.
As more tests for COVID-19 pour into laboratories across the state, the time taken to get results continues to increase.
