Cory Vaillancourt
The tiny Haywood County Town of Clyde has joined a growing number of Western North Carolina communities by formalizing its opposition to data centers through a 12-month moratorium, but with limited jurisdiction beyond its borders and the possibility of preemption by Raleigh looming, Clyde knows it can’t go it alone.
The question before the North Carolina Utilities Commission is simple — should residential customers on fixed incomes continue to subsidize commercial and industrial customers, AI data centers owned by globalist juggernauts, environmentally unfriendly generation practices, industrial accidents and the astronomical corporate salaries of millionaires who run a monopoly, or not?
Lisa McDonald is not simply rebuilding what Hurricane Helene took from her — she’s replacing it with something that did not exist before.
“There was a definite calm before the storm,” McDonald told The Smoky Mountain News of her experience with Hurricane Helene in Hendersonville on Sept. 27, 2024.
The Republican parties of Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties, during a joint meeting, selected a replacement for Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), who passed away March 18 at age 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer.
A low-flying plane circling his property was the first sign. The passes were frequent enough to be noticed. Haywood County farmer and longtime Farm Bureau President Don Smart knew immediately what that kind of attention usually means.
In the old days, Smart said, they’d have been looking for illegal cannabis or tobacco plantings, but that wasn’t why the plane was tracing slow, deliberate circles in the sky over his farm. Two weeks later, confirmation of his suspicions arrived in writing.
Silicon Valley and Sylva are about as different as any two places can be, but they do share at least one thing in common.
In Cupertino, billion-dollar office buildings rise within sight of tents and tarps. People sleep in cars or on bare ground backdropped by a landscape where extreme wealth and extreme poverty exist side by side.
The message at the Haywood County Farm Bureau’s April 1 legislative breakfast was unmistakable — more than 18 months after Hurricane Helene, recovery is moving, but not at the pace or scale many farmers say is necessary to stabilize their operations.
Held annually, the breakfast serves as a touchpoint between Haywood County’s agricultural community and the policymakers charged with supporting it.
The numbers arrive without warning, often weeks after the crisis has passed, stamped in clinical language and coded in ways few patients understand — turning moments of vulnerability into prolonged financial strain.
“My first feeling was a very big thud in my stomach to get a big bill like that and not at all expect it. And then the second feeling was like, what the hell?” said Kasha Williamson. “A little bit of anger, I would say.”
A new political ad marks a sharp escalation in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, turning Hurricane Helene recovery into a central line of attack by accusing Whatley of overseeing delays of more than $100 million in disaster relief and framing the stalled aid as a failure of leadership, rather than of bureaucracy.
A pair of ads center on the claim that Whatley was tapped to lead the recovery but failed to deliver timely assistance.
A familiar face is returning to county government sooner than expected, as former tax collector Greg West steps back into the role following Sebastian Cothran’s sudden resignation.
“I would just like to say thank you,” West said. “I appreciate all the support I received during the Primary Election. I’m humbled and very appreciative. I look forward to the opportunity to get back in the office and work hard for the citizens of Haywood County.
The question of who will control one of Jackson County’s most visible public assets is beginning to draw clear lines, and on March 26, Sylva’s Board of Commissioners stepped firmly onto one side.
In a unanimous vote, commissioners adopted a resolution supporting continued control of the Jackson County Library Complex by the Jackson County Public Library, signaling opposition to any effort that would shift authority elsewhere.
A new political ad marks a sharp escalation in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, turning Hurricane Helene recovery into a central line of attack by accusing Whatley of overseeing delays of more than $100 million in disaster relief and framing the stalled aid as a failure of leadership, rather than of bureaucracy.
Before the chants started and long before the first speaker took the microphone, people were already drifting toward one another — introducing themselves, comparing stories, soaking up the quiet relief of being in a crowd where, for once, they didn’t feel outnumbered.
What emerged in those early moments of the March 28 “No Kings 3” rallies in Haywood and Jackson counties wasn’t just a protest but a kind of recognition, a temporary reordering of identity where private beliefs, often muted in churches, social circles or workplaces, could be expressed openly and without hesitation.
More than 18 months after Hurricane Helene caused roughly $60 billion in damage across Western North Carolina, only about 12% of federal recovery funding has arrived — as FEMA delays persist and questions about the agency’s future mount — leaving displaced families in campers, local governments with budget gaps and Gov. Josh Stein proposing another $792 million in state spending to keep a stalled federal recovery from slipping further behind.
Canton is preparing to turn one of its most flood-prone, long-neglected buildings into something it has rarely been in decades — useful.
Once the project is complete, the aging structure at 225 Park St. will become a flexible, flood-adapted gathering space designed not just to survive the next storm but to anchor a broader transformation already reshaping the surrounding blocks.
A looming deadline on a critical wastewater agreement has exposed a growing divide between Canton officials and their private partner, with negotiations stalled over cost, oversight and the data needed to shape the town’s long-term infrastructure plans.
Town leaders confirmed they do not yet have an extension in place for wastewater treatment services as the current agreement with mill site owner Eric Spirtas was set to expire at 5 p.m. March 31 — when The Smoky Mountain News went to print — leaving only days to resolve a dispute that has been building over months.
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners believes it has the authority to appoint an interim tax collector, after the incumbent resigned March 25.
Two complaints filed with the North Carolina State Board of Elections against Jackson County Board of Elections Chair Bill Thompson were dismissed after they were given initial consideration at a March 25 meeting of the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Haywood County Tax Collector Sebastian Cothran abruptly resigned mid-day on March 24, ending a brief tenure that began with his historic election at age 21 — one of the youngest elected officials in North Carolina at the time.
The stories came in waves, each more graphic than the last, until the room itself seemed to tighten under the weight of them — a dog so badly abused she could not walk, a horse found dead in a dry creek bed, another starving animal that did not survive despite last-ditch rescue efforts. By the time public comment ended March 16, Haywood County commissioners were left facing a stark question residents had repeated in different ways all night: how had so many warnings gone unanswered?
A pair of complaints have been filed against a Jackson County Board of Elections official, alleging he made inappropriate comments inside the Cullowhee polling site during early voting.
A leaked draft of the FEMA Review Council’s final report on reform of the disaster response agency appears to shift considerable burden onto states, local governments, tribes and territories (SLTTs) while slashing the agency’s workforce by 50%, positioning federal response in the rear and largely ignoring requests to send recovery funding down to the county level.
With grocery bills climbing and health care costs squeezing household budgets, former Gov. Roy Cooper is taking aim at the pocketbook issues he believes will define his U.S. Senate race against Republican Michael Whatley, framing his campaign as a direct response to what he calls an economy tilted against working families.
It was always more than just a place to pick up the mail. Long before asphalt and electronic highways reduced time and space to mere trivialities, a quieter system stitched scattered settlements together. The tiny Jackson County municipality of Webster grew up around that system, bringing residents together, creating a sense of identity and promising them that even remote mountain towns belonged to a wider republic.
Failures in the federal response to Hurricane Helene are still rippling into Haywood County’s bottom line, forcing the county — like most of its municipalities — to build a budget around uncertainty and delay rather than recovery.
County Manager Bryant Morehead’s March 16 presentation made clear that millions in storm-related costs remain unreimbursed, leaving the county to carry the financial burden 18 months after the disaster.
Two counties hit hard by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina will soon have a new representative in the General Assembly, after Republican Primary Election voters backed a challenger who won by nearly 10 points.
Haywood and Madison counties comprise the 118th House District and together tallied more than $200 million in losses from the Sept. 27, 2024, storm, which caused $60 billion in damage statewide.
Just two days before the three-year anniversary of the announcement that the Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton would close, Canton’s governing board took a decisive step toward securing both its wastewater infrastructure and its economic future by approving a complex land purchase that will place key portions of the former paper mill site under municipal control.
More than 17 months after Hurricane Helene carved a path of destruction through Western North Carolina, the floodwaters have long since receded — but Waynesville officials say the federal reimbursement process remains mired in uncertainty, denials, reversals and what several described as mounting roadblocks.
Crumbling promises and frozen FEMA reimbursements cast a long shadow over Waynesville’s budget retreat, where town officials confronted a stark reality — a $5.4 million deficit for the coming fiscal year, nearly $4 million of it tied up in lagging FEMA reimbursements from Hurricane Helene.
With insurance costs climbing, mandated retirement contributions rising and capital requests topping $20 million, Waynesville Town Council will now face what one member called “the worst ever” budget picture in recent memory.
At a Feb. 27 budget retreat, Waynesville aldermen confronted a familiar tension — how to keep municipal salaries competitive in a tightening labor market while staring down mounting infrastructure demands and lingering financial uncertainty tied to Hurricane Helene.
Two presentations from Human Resources Director Page McCurry outlined the first steps in an overhaul of pay classifications, beginning with public works positions and moving next to police and fire.
Waynesville did not reject solar last year; it hesitated. Twelve months later, amid skyrocketing electricity costs, a shortened federal incentive window, a roof nearing the end of its life and more rate spikes on the way, council is again weighing whether the town’s recreation center should become its own power producer.
The solar push aligns with the town’s goal of carbon neutrality and net zero emissions by 2050.
Jackson County Democrats have chosen the candidate they think can beat Republican incumbent John Smith in November.
Sean Bridgers is a Western Carolina University graduate who built a career as a working actor after growing up in Sylva. Bridgers opposed the county’s withdrawal from the Fontana Regional Library system and criticized rapid budget growth, calling for transparency, deliberation and responsible fiscal management.
The November commission contest will unfold amid mounting debate over government growth and cultural division. In recent years, Jackson County’s operating budget expanded markedly, leading to higher property tax bills and sharper public scrutiny. Supporters of the increases cited inflation, staffing demands and expanded services. Critics argued spending had accelerated beyond necessity.
The decision to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library system intensified those disputes. Advocates framed the move as asserting local authority over library policy. Opponents warned it could raise costs and weaken regional cooperation. Together, fiscal pressure and the library controversy highlighted broader tensions about governance, transparency and the county’s future trajectory.
Bridgers' opponent has come under scrutiny, like fellow Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Hooper, for failing to attend meetings of at least one advisory board he was appointed to — the Jackson County Public Library board. Smith also violated state law by failing to complete state-mandated ethics training within the statutory 12-month period after his election.
Francis Owens, Bridgers' Primary Election opponent, came away with 31% of the vote, not enough to top Bridgers' 69%.
Check back with The Smoky Mountain News for full results and detailed analysis across Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in our March 11 issue.
Steven Sutton, a Republican candidate for Jackson County Commission District 1, will face Democrat Casey Walawender in November after defeating Anthony Sequoyah in the Primary Eleciton.
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.
Greg West is heading back to his old office in the Historic Haywood County Courthouse.
Haywood County voters have selected Republican Stacy Cutshaw Moore to follow longtime Register of Deeds Sherri Rogers.
After nearly four years of drama, incumbent Haywood County Commissioner Terry Ramey won't be a commissioner much longer.
Mike Clampitt will advance to the November General Election with a convincing victory over a pair of challengers.
Three-term Republican Rep. Mark Pless will not be returning to Raleigh next year after his defeat by longtime Haywood County Schools board member Jimmy Rogers.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards will go on to face Democratic nominee Jamie Ager in a high-profile contest later this year, after defeating his Primary Election opponent Adam Smith.
Fairview farmer Jamie Ager has prevailed in an 11th Congressional District Democratic Primary Election that drew unusual national attention and substantial investment.
Western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District has been a Republican stronghold for more than a decade, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s decision to elevate Buncombe County farmer Jamie Ager into its first 2026 “Red to Blue” cohort amid a competitive Primary Election has turned the spotlight inward as much as outward. North Carolina Democrats aren't the only ones complaining.
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.
When Grace Powell walks into the Jackson County Public Library on June 1 as its new full-time director, she will inherit more than a building full of books — she will inherit a community still divided.
Powell, a lifelong Sylva resident, earned her elementary education degree at Western Carolina University, taught third grade at Scotts Creek elementary school for a year and a half before earning a master’s degree in library science from East Carolina University.
As Maggie Valley rebuilds from Hurricane Helene and absorbs slow but steady residential growth, aldermen have begun shaping a 2026-27 fiscal year budget defined by guarded optimism, rising service costs and lingering storm obligations.
New Maggie Valley Town Manager Sam Cullen opened the workshop with a reminder that the board recently adopted a policy preventing the fund balance from dropping below 100% of annual expenditures — a common but informal goal for many of North Carolina’s smaller municipalities.
On a quiet stretch of county-owned land once defined by grass and gravel and garbage, a ribbon of asphalt now loops, banks and swells in tight rhythmic curves — engineered not for pedaling, but for flow. Riders generate speed by pumping their bodies through rollers and berms, transforming momentum into motion without ever turning a crank. In September, that motion will carry Haywood County into the international spotlight.
In a move that underscores shifting political terrain in Western North Carolina, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed a candidate in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District on its radar — an unusual step for a district long considered safely Republican.
The fourth annual “Slow Down Move Over” awareness ride will take place Sunday, Feb. 22 in Canton, continuing a local effort to remind drivers to reduce speed and change lanes for stopped emergency and roadside vehicles.
