Local News

WNC -- Great Smoky National Park announced the following Sunday, February 3, 2025: Missing hiker Ann Houghton, age 73, was found

Raleigh -- Press Release: North Carolina Governor Stein's Office Governor Josh Stein today requested $1.07 billion in immediate funding to

Haywood County -- Press Release Haywood County Government: The Haywood County Board of Commissioners February Regular Morning Meeting was held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 AM. 

1. Administrative/Agency Reports/Presentations
-The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) presented their master plan.

2. Consent Agenda (approved)

-Approval of January 21 meeting minutes.
-Approval of a budget amendment for Social Services – Meals on Wheels in the amount of $15,000 to accept and appropriate local funding from the Southwestern Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to serve 12 citizens from the Meals on Wheels waiting list.
-Approval of a $667,530 budget amendment for Public Health to accept state funding for Hurricane Helene recovery. The funds will help restore essential public health services and support local recovery efforts.
-Approval to adjust the Public Health budget by $166,869. This funding comes from the North Carolina Medicaid Cost Report through NC DHHS. It will be used to reimburse staff salaries and buy supplies and equipment for Public Health clinics and the Public Health Dental Clinic.
-Approval to accept the FY 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant for $20,652 to support salaries in the Emergency Management program. Also requesting approval of the Memorandum of Agreement with the State of North Carolina and authorization for the County Manager to sign all related documents.

3. Regular Agenda

-Approval of the annual report on unpaid taxes for the current fiscal year that are liens on real property, as required by N.C.G.S. 105-369(a). Also requesting approval to set April 16, 2025, as the advertising date for delinquent 2024 real estate taxes. (approved)
-Approval of a resolution authorizing Haywood County to purchase seven (7) additional river level gauges for $108,792.25 under an exception to competitive bidding requirements. (approved)
-Approval of a resolution authorizing the purchase of 50 Viking-Kenwood VHF-UHF Analog, DMR, 7/800 P25-compliant radios for $287,695.66 under the NCDIT State Contract #725G, utilizing an exception to competitive bidding requirements. (approved)

4. Appointments

-Approval to appoint Leah Meares to a four-year term as a Public Member on the Health and Human Services (HHS) Board. (approved)
Presentations can be found on our website and as always, thank you for your continued support of Haywood County!

Image: WNCTimes

Burnsville -- Officers with the Burnsville Police Department responded to a residence in town to a reported Breaking and Entering with Larceny.

NC -- Duke Energy recently announced plans for four new natural gas plants, including one in Catawba County, near Western North

North Carolina --  U.S. Marines from North Carolina's Camp Lejeune have been ordered to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in response to President

Asheville -- Press Release The Asheville Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run

Asheville -- Press Release City of Asheville: On Tuesday, January 28, the Asheville City Council voted to adopt text amendments to Chapter 7