Incumbent commissioners prevail; Obama wins state - Incumbent Commissioners Joe Cowan and Mark Jones held off all challengers to keep their seats during the primary election Tuesday (May 6), while Jackson County bucked the state trend and supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. The two Democrats were the top vote-getters in their respective races....

Farmers speak out on proposed ordinance - County commissioners Monday night (May 5) took comments from local farmers on a proposed Voluntary/Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District ordinance. The draft ordinance would allow county officials to split the county into a number of agricultural districts, with farms inside those areas eligible for a number of benefits. To qualify, the lands must be in or be eligible for “present-use valuation.” Farmers with property in that program pay significantly...

Schools ask county for $7.9 million - Local county and school officials met April 30 to discuss the school board’s 2008-09 budget requests. School leaders have requested $7,937,906 for the upcoming fiscal year, which is almost a $2 million increase over last year’s county appropriation. Superintendent Sue Nations attributed the jump to rising costs across the board. “I don’t have to tell you how much things are going up,” Nations said. “When we put these numbers in, it’s a reflection of what we’re...

Skateboarders’ parents ask town leaders to set aside area for sport - Nearly 30 people approached Sylva leaders during their May 1 meeting to discuss skate boarding in town. “We would like our children to be able to skate in Jackson County and have a designated area to do so,” said Kim McCall of Sylva. “We know insurance is an issue, but every parent here and the parent of every child here is willing to sign a waiver that would hold the town of Sylva not responsible (for any injuries).” The town offers areas for others to practice and play other sports, McCall...

Another winner - “White Daffy,” an image captured by F.C. Etier of Maggie Valley, is the second-place winner in this year’s Sylva Herald “Mountain Spring” photo contest. Other winners include Kaitlin Grant of Cullowhee, first; Dave Redman of Sylva, third; and Jennifer Thomas of Whittier, Dara Eberly Smith of Livermore, Calif., and Ron Allen of Sylva, honorable mention. Area landscape photographer and former Smoky Mountain High School biology teacher Larry Tucker judged this...

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