Family accepts national award for Mary Jane Queen - The legacy of Caney Fork’s Mary Jane Queen, who died June 29, was honored last month when members of her family traveled to Washington, D.C., to claim a final award for the legendary local musician. Word came on the day of her death that Queen, a renowned ballad singer....

Sylva receives $3.5 million for watershed development rights - Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver announced at the Oct. 4 that the town has been paid by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for the development rights of Pinnacle Park. “This is exciting,” Oliver said. “We now have in our bank account a check for $3.58 million. That is big. This is something we have worked on for years.” Town Manager Jay Denton said town leaders held a number of work sessions last spring to discuss....

Wal-Mart explosion - Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Supervisory Special Agent Earl Woodham, left, answers questions about the Sept. 27 explosion at the Sylva Wal-Mart last week (Oct. 3) as, from left, Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe and Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison look on. Woodham revealed last week that the blast was deliberate and released photos of three persons of interest. The investigation is ongoing and officials are sifting through leads and awaiting enhanced photos, Ashe said...

Dillsboro votes to relinquish future property title to county - After a request from Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan, Dillsboro leaders agreed to cede title to property they stand to gain as a result of Duke Energy relicensing agreements to Jackson County. McMahan met with Dillsboro officials during a work session prior to the town’s Oct. 1 meeting to discuss the possibility of Dillsboro handing over the property....

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WCU student is found dead Saturday at Catamount Peak - A 19-year-old Western Carolina University student was found dead in Cullowhee Saturday morning at Catamount Peak apartments. Sean Anthony Cerda of High Point was found around 9:10 on Oct. 6. He was lying face down in front of a green Ford Ranger pickup, which was subsequently determined to be his truck, according to Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, who said there is no evidence that foul play was involved in the...

Preparing for Bridge Park fest - Construction continued Monday on a foundation for the new Bridge Park pavilion. That foundation will serve as the stage for Sunday’s (Oct. 14) Bridge Park Project fund-raising music festival, which will feature Grammy Award winning musician and storyteller David Holt and Haywood County-based bluegrass band Balsam Range. Rounding out the program will be rock band Cooking with Quanta of Sylva. The festival will be from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Railroad Avenue site of the planned park. While the event is free to the public, organizers are asking for donations to help build the pavilion...