Archive for October, 2011

Chip Smith, Western Carolina’s athletic director since September 2004, has been fired and replaced on an interim basis by Fred Cantler. Smith’s contract was scheduled to expire May 25. Cantler, who retired in March after 33 years in athletics administration at WCU, will serve as interim athletic director while the university conducts a national search… »

Bradley Littrell has been named Smoky Mountain’s baseball coach. A math teacher at the school, he had been coaching the Mustang JVs. He replaces Jamie Extine, who resigned after four seasons…. »

Smoky Mountain’s volleyball season ended Saturday with a 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21 loss at Polk in the first round of the state 2-A playoffs. The Lady Mustangs finished 12-11 for the second straight… »

What a difference a year makes. Last year, Smoky Mountain entered the final game of the football season trying to snap a 22-game losing streak. This year, the Mustangs (4-6, 3-3) will be playing for the top seed from the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference into the state 2-A playoffs in their final regular season… »

According to Detective Jennie Rumsey of the Sylva Police Department, the suspect in an Oct. 6 robbery attempt at Food Lion is apparently the same man who stole a purse from a customer’s cart in Walmart that same day. After viewing surveillance video, police now believe the two crimes were committed by the same person…. »

Michael Morgan of Weaverville was hired effective Nov. 1 as Sylva’s interim town manager after an interview held during today’s (Thursday, Oct. 20)  9:15 a.m. meeting. The meeting was recessed until 4 p.m. this afternoon when board members reconvened to approve Morgan. “I’m looking forward to working with the town of Sylva until they can… »

The new Jackson County Library, including the restored Jackson County Courthouse, will be featured at 9 p.m. tonight on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend. The show will also be aired at 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m…. »

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a search warrant for the Danny William Ratliff residence at 333 Lazy Lane in the Barkers Creek area. The search warrant was executed with assistance from the  State Bureau of Investigation around 10:15 p.m. There they discovered an active meth lab, according to… »

Smoky Mountain will open the state 2-A volleyball playoffs at 6 p.m. Saturday at Polk. The Lady Mustangs (12-10) are the third seed from the Western North Carolina Athletic Conference. Polk (17-4) is the Western Highlands Conference champion. If SM wins, the second round match would be Tuesday at Pisgah (16-5), the WNCAC champ, or… »

Linda and Bill Jennings trekked out to the Blue Ridge Parkway early Thursday morning (Oct. 20) to catch a glimpse of the snow that fell overnight. The couple, from Tampa, Fla., said they have a home in Bryson City and are vacationing. The Jennings said this was the first snow their dog Starr had experienced… »