Jessi Stone

fr newfostersAs Caroline Kernahan talked about why she wanted to be a foster parent, her 4-year-old daughter Claire climbed into her lap and asked when her new brother or sister would be coming to stay with them.

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fr fosterneededDonna Lupton, director of social work in Haywood County, admits that fostering a child or teen isn’t for everyone.

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coverIn a perfect world, every child would have a loving family and a safe home to return to at the end of the day, but it’s not a perfect world. The reality is that thousands of children are removed from their homes each year in North Carolina.

ALSO:
Compassionate parents needed
• Couple opens their home, heart for foster children
• Broyhill provides family setting for foster kids
• Broyhill upbringing brought peace to Brunck

Foster care agencies continue to see the number of foster care cases increase and the opportunities to reunify those children with their biological parents decrease. It’s a trend many Western North Carolina counties are experiencing. 

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election timeAs candidate sign-ups get underway, Swain County commissioner incumbents plan to seek another term.

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haywoodDespite the recent election, the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen still has an empty seat to fill.

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fr hawthorneWhile the former Hawthorn Heights teen shelter presented a number of challenges, the only challenge for teens moving into the new shelter will be calling dibs on their favorite room.

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fr corbinMacon County Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin announced his plans Monday night to run next year for the North Carolina House of Representatives.

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fr storywalkFranklin will soon be joining other communities around the world who are incorporating a love for reading with a love of the outdoors.

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fr smallbizWhat would Western North Carolina’s small towns be like without a strong base of small businesses?

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franklinEveryone was a bit surprised on Nov. 3 when the election results came out in Franklin — even the candidates who were elected.

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fr franklinfacesYoung people growing up in a small town usually have one main goal — to get out.

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fr ghosttownGhost Town in the Sky will no longer be a western-themed amusement park come next summer, according to a recent announcement.

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fr distilleryMaggie Valley Board of Aldermen welcomed Dave Angel to town Monday night after approving his request for a special exception permit to operate Elevated Mountain Distillery.

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fr wolfeJerry Wolfe is a storyteller. Whether he’s telling a story of his people at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian or retelling his years spent in the U.S. Navy, the 91-year-old remembers every detail.

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fr busdriverAlice Bradley says she’s just an old country girl who isn’t used to the applause and compliments that come with being in the spotlight.

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election timeAs the municipal elections were coming to a close last Tuesday night, it became clear that the race in Bryson City would be too close to call. 

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fr homelessLowell Monteith is tired of hearing “No.” It seems like everywhere he turns for help, the answer is always the same.

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election timeRep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, has announced her intentions to run for a third term, but two Democrats have stepped up to challenge her for the chance to represent the 118th District of North Carolina.

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election timeBryson City’s town election may be too close to call given that there were eight provisionary ballots left to count on election night.

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election timeThe Franklin Board of Aldermen will soon have some new blood leading the town into the future.

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election timeAfter a long day at the polls, Ralph Hamlett and Gail Mull were heading to The Imperial on election night to celebrate their re-election to the Canton Board of Aldermen.

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election timeMaggie Valley had the opportunity to select new leadership in this election, but residents voted for incumbents to continue the progress made over the last four years. 

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fr franklinFranklin beat out 47 other small towns this year for the title of “2015 Top Small Town” in Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine. 

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fr helipadTwo newly completed infrastructure projects in Swain County are welcome additions for the emergency services staff.

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fr carolinanightsA brand new craft distillery is looking to set up shop in the former Carolina Nights dinner theater building in Maggie Valley, but the owner will first have to get special permission from town aldermen.

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out frThanks to some fortunate happenstance and a lot of hard work from the staff at the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, a piece of property in downtown Franklin will go from being a potential environmental nightmare to a model example of restoration and redevelopment. 

“We wanted to improve the area, but we didn’t think the opportunity would be available so quickly,” said LTLT Executive Director Sharon Taylor. “But our organization is in a perfect position to take the title of that property and it’s a win-win for everyone.”

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fr martinGirl Scout Elizabeth Martin has remained quiet and humble for the last couple of weeks as local leaders shower her with accolades.

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fr inglesIngles Markets has gotten approval for a few minor changes to its site plan as it moves forward with a $7.5 million expansion project off Russ Avenue, which includes a Chick-fil-A, gas station, car wash, a parking lot makeover and additional retailers.

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fr mainspringThe Land Trust for the Little Tennessee has outgrown its name.

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fr franklinFranklin could potentially see a significant changing of the guard during this year’s election with three open seats on the board of aldermen.

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fr srcaThe entire staff was called into the Shining Rock Classical Academy’s board meeting Monday afternoon to hear the news — the charter school has finally secured a location for the next five years.

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fr maggieFor a town that may only have 300 voters show up to the polls, the mayoral race in Maggie Valley has garnered plenty of interest this election year.

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swainThe five newcomers running for the Bryson City Board of Aldermen and mayor have made it clear they want to see some new faces on the board and some much-needed change to the town.

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maconRunning unopposed for his second term, Franklin Mayor Bob Scott hopes to continue on his path toward a more open and accessible government while leading the town for the next two years.

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fr cantonThe Canton Board of Aldermen has made major headway in the last two years by putting policies in place that will hopefully set the stage for a more prosperous future, which is why the incumbents up for election this year are scratching their heads wondering why they don’t have the support from everyone on the board.

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fr maggieThe four candidates vying for two seats on the Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen can all agree on one point — the town is in much better shape than it was two years ago. 

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fr cantonThe town of Canton elected a whole new board two years ago when all four aldermen decided not to run for another term.

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fr elkforceElk and humans are still trying to figure out how to cohabitate in Western North Carolina since the herd was re-introduced to the Cataloochee Valley in 2001.

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maconFranklin residents may soon have a closer and safer place to practice their shooting skills now that indoor gun ranges will be allowed in the town limits.

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wib maconfurnitureLike many women, Karen Buchanan Bacon loves to shop. She loves skimming through Pottery Barn and Southern Living magazines looking for home décor pieces that mesh together to create the perfect room.

wib silverthreadsThree women in Franklin have been able to weave their multiple talents together to run a successful downtown business.

fr shiningrockOperating a new charter school can be a learn-as-you-go process, and the Shining Rock Classical Academy board of directors is already adjusting to the expected growing pains as it moves into its second month of classes.

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fr mottoMembers of the U.S. Motto Action Committee have been making their way around the state asking county commissioners and town boards to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” prominently on government buildings.

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fr travelMost people have had the inclination at some point in their lives to just pack it up and hit the road without a finite destination in mind — to just feel the wind on their face with nothing but highway ahead.

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maconEach year, Macon County organizations stand before the Franklin Board of Aldermen to ask for a piece of the nonprofit grant funding the town sets aside in the budget.

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fr hillbillySix years ago, Becky Ramey and Terry Frady started a little festival in the parking lot of their Maggie Valley restaurant with improv performers on the back of a flatbed truck and one keg of beer.

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fr sccswainWhat should the future of Southwestern Community College look like in Swain County five to 10 years from now?

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out frIt’s all hands on deck this weekend as Waynesville prepares to welcome more than 1,100 cyclists and their families to town for the start of the Cycle N.C. Mountains to Coast Ride. 

Waynesville was fortunate enough to be selected as the starting point for the weeklong, 500-mile bicycle ride across the state, and town and tourism development officials have been prepping for months to make sure the event goes off without a hitch.

SEE ALSO: Haywood wants a share of cycling tourists

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coverIt isn’t often students in the creative arts program and the high-tech machinery program get to collaborate on a project, but Haywood Community College’s 50th anniversary has brought them together to create one-of-a-kind commemorative pieces.

SEE ALSO:
50 years forward: HCC invites community to ‘Big Day’ of celebration
• HCC graduates find success
• History in the making: HCC grows to meet community needs
• HCC President Parker looks forward 50 years

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fr hcc inviteWhat better way to celebrate 50 years of education at Haywood Community College than to invite the community for a firsthand look at what the school has to offer?

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