Hannah McLeod

North Carolina

Reporter at Smoky Mountain News

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Articles

‘Trash’ or ‘Tribute’?: Community responds to statue plaque removal

1 week ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

Latest ‘Trash’ or ‘Tribute’?: Community responds to statue plaque removal Wednesday, April 16, 2025 A little over a week after the county removed what has been referred to as the “compromise plaques” from the Confederate memorial outside the Jackson County Library, residents showed up at the county commission’s April 15 meeting to speak on both sides of the issue, despite the lack of public discussion about the decision from commissioners. In total, seven people spoke about the Confederate...
‘As lean as we can be:’ HCS on a tight budget

1 week ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

“We’re as lean as I would allow us to be,” said Putnam. During the first six months of Putnam’s tenure, he said he cut 42 positions, both faculty and administration at the Central Office. But now, Putnam says, there’s no more cutting to be done. For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the school system is limiting budgetary expansions.
Mountain Projects raises alarm on housing crisis

1 week ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

Latest Mountain Projects raises alarm on housing crisis In the face of challenges with Section 8 rental assistance, Mountain Projects Executive Director Patsy Davis visited county commissions in both Haywood and Jackson counties this month to inform elected officials of just how dire the situation is becoming. “I felt like as elected officials in Jackson County and our leaders, you needed to know what we’re seeing and the housing crisis that I feel is coming,” Davis told Jackson County...
FEMA decision to cost WNC millions: Rep. Edwards accepts ruling while governor files formal appeal

1 week ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

Rather than fight the decision, the region’s representative in Congress, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) said he’s ready to move on. “Instead, I’m focusing on other ways I can make a tangible difference in helping the citizens of Western North Carolina recover more quickly,” Edwards told the Asheville Citizen-Times April 11. On Sept. 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene ravaged Western North Carolina, causing an estimated $60 billion in damage.
Behind closed doors: Commissioners make covert decision about Confederate statue

1 week ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

That’s because, while the decision to install the plaques — which covered up a depiction of a Confederate flag and the words “Our Heroes of the Confederacy” — in 2021 was a highly public discussion among community members, the decision to remove it was made in secret. The reasoning behind the decision to remove the plaque is still vague. The only commissioner who responded to requests for comment, Chairman Mark Letson, said he was not in favor of removing the plaque.
Fueled up: Public opposition mounts over gas station project

2 weeks ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

“The construction of a convenience store adjacent to the Tuckasegee River could not come at a more inappropriate time or be placed in a more inappropriate location,” said Miller Watson, owner of a full-service fly shop and WCU graduate. The plot of land, just over 70,000 square feet, which sits in Sylva’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, is zoned “general business” and is subject to the zoning and development review processes of the Town of Sylva.
Commission requests report on libraries

2 weeks ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

Jackson County has two libraries, both of which operate within the Fontana Regional Library system — the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library and the Jackson County Library in Sylva. The Fontana Regional Library system covers Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, with commissioners renewing the 10-year FRL agreement in November. While the Sylva library is open six days a week, the Cashiers library is open five days a week.
Sylva selects new commissioner

3 weeks ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

During its March 27 meeting, the Sylva Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Joseph Waldrun to fill the seat left vacant by Commissioner Mark Jones in February. The town received four applications for the position. The candidate had to be selected by a majority of votes, with each of the four commissioners able to cast a vote, but not the mayor. All four commissioners cast their vote for Waldrun, who will be sworn in at the April 10 meeting of the Town of Sylva.
Macon Early College to field its own athletic teams

3 weeks ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

Latest Macon Early College to field its own athletic teams The Macon County Board of Education approved funding to permit Macon Early College in Franklin to apply to become a member of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and field its own sports teams.
Sylva aims to maintain current tax rate

3 weeks ago | smokymountainnews.com | Hannah McLeod

“We are balanced based on our current tax rate,” said Town Manager Paige Dowling in a budget work session March 27. Jackson County is undergoing a property revaluation in 2025, something that is required by North Carolina Law at least every eight years. Real property taxable value in the county stood at about $11.45 billion in 2024. As of Jan. 1, that number has increased by almost $7 billion, or 60%, to about $18.4 billion.