Wal-Mart explosion ‘deliberate,’ authorities say - Law enforcement officials announced Wednesday (Oct. 3) that they believe the explosion that rocked Sylva’s Wal-Mart a week ago was deliberate. That information was revealed by Earl Woodham, supervisory special agent with the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agency during a Wednesday morning...

Commissioners choose Courthouse Hill for new library - After years of debate, county officials Monday night (Oct. 1) chose Courthouse Hill as the site for a new county library. Applause greeted the 3-2 decision in favor of the historic site. Commissioners Tom Massie, William Shelton and Mark Jones voted “yes,” while Chairman Brian McMahan and Commissioner Joe Cowan voted “no.” This decision comes on the heels of a Sept. 17 report by architects Donnie Love and...

Task force says N.C. 107 study should be ahead of Southern Loop - Members of the Jackson County Transportation Task Force, along with county commissioners, are recommending the Department of Transportation complete its local Comprehensive Transportation Plan before moving forward with plans to construct the Southern Loop. During a called meeting Monday (Oct. 1), Southwestern Commission Regional Planning Office Planner Ryan Sherby gave task force members a...

Speakers voice familiar pleas in latest relicensing hearing - Though the venue was different, the sentiments expressed were familiar. The occasion for last Tuesday’s (Sept. 25) gathering at Western Carolina University’s Ramsey Center was the latest in a string of public hearings concerning Duke Energy’s relicensing applications for its Jackson County electric generating plants. The power company currently operates five...

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Parris earns Adcock Award - Retired Sylva Herald pressman Norman Parris of Sylva, left, a community member of Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day Committee, was honored at the festival Saturday, Sept. 29, as recipient of the 2007 Eva Adcock Award. The award is given to a committee member who has provided exceptional and significant service to Mountain Heritage Day. Parris has been a festival...