STYMIED — Empty lots line both side of South Main Street in Waynesville Abandon buildings on the lots were torn down after attracting vagrants and being deemed unsafe Bumper to bumper traffic along the Walmart section of South Main in Waynesville isn’t uncommon The on-again-off-again makeover of South Main Street in Waynesville is off again prolonging congestion through the commercialized stretch around Walmart and creating uncertainty for the myriad vacant lots that line the corridor Preliminary plans for South Main Street call for the following: • Segment 1: section along Walmart from the intersections of Hyatt Creek to Allens Creek and additional turn lanes at the entrance to the Walmart complex “That’s where the majority of your traffic is,” said Barry Mosteller senior project manager for the DOT’s westernmost Division 14 “The existing one lane in each direction cannot accommodate the traffic given the business in this area.” • Segment 2: section from Allens Creek intersection to Country Club Drive While this section is also prone to congestion two lanes are considered sufficient because the backups here are largely due to backups stemming from the Walmart area which will be relieved by extra lanes in that segment there will be a designated left turn lane at the Allens Creek intersection There will also be a roundabout at the intersection of Nineveh Road replacing the existing stoplight and taking out Maynor Tire • Segment 3: section from Country Club Drive to Hazelwood Avenue There will be no widening through this area to preserve the residential character “We want to accommodate the growth of Hazelwood but keep in mind the residential feel as it transitions toward downtown,” Mosteller said There will be a so-called “mini roundabout” at the intersection of Country Club Drive in lieu of the stop light which will prevent backups from traffic waiting to make a left turn without having to widen the road for a dedicated left-turn lane Email notifications are only sent once a day or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Get quarterly updates Check here to sign up Be a WNC insider with The Guide’s e-newsletter and you’ll always have plans Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account (WLOS) — Four people from Upstate South Carolina face counterfeit and drug charges after police said they tried to pass fake money at a Waynesville grocery store Waynesville police said counterfeit money – mainly $100 bills – were passed at the Ingles off Russ Avenue in Waynesville and one had gone inside and attempted to pass a counterfeit bill Waynesville Police Detective Evan Davis says all four suspects are from the Upstate NORTH CAROLINIANS RUSH TO DMV FOR REAL IDS BEFORE TSA REQUIREMENT TAKES EFFECT MAY 7 "We don't know why exactly they were up in this area," Davis told News 13 you'll see it’s almost like a yellow mark that's showing on the bill then that's where the cashier clerks are trained to look for those types of things The watermarks and certain stuff are going to be missing," he said The four subjects – two men and two women – left Ingles in a rented U-Haul But the store contacted police and just a short distance away several $20 bills[...] they were counterfeit The serial numbers were all matching from one bill that they had made a copy of “There was quite an[...] amount of drugs that were seized I believe there was some fentanyl and heroin." CAROLINAS RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK LAUNCHED TO PROTECT BEACHGOERS, PREVENT FATALITIES they're facing possessing and transporting counterfeit instruments and maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances But we're going to let South Carolina know it could develop into a federal case if more than 15-to-20 bills are involved Waynesville police said cases like this take away resources that could be dedicated to solving other crimes A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike “Art After Dark” will launch its 2025 season from 6-9 p.m Each first Friday of the month (May-December) Main Street transforms into an evening of art beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit downtownwaynesville.com Do you have celiac disease or do you follow a gluten-free diet for another health condition Did you know there is a Facebook group for that I set up this group over 10 years ago and it now has over 1000 members Look for “Gluten-Free Asheville and WNC” on Facebook.  Question: My father-in-law is now living with us Should I be buying sugar-free candy and cookies for him or is there a better option?  Complimentary Samples (Limited Availability)  Question: My mother-in-law is elderly and doesn’t want to cook at all and only wants to microwave food for herself What are some ways I can make sure she’s still eating healthy?  © 2021 The Smoky Mountain News. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 • 828.452.4251 regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us Investigators with the Morganton Department of Public Safety are requesting the public’s help in locating 32-year-old Shannon Elaine Bowman She is 5’3″ tall and weighs 115 pounds Her family and friends have not heard from her since March 21 Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Shannon Elaine Bowman should call Morganton Public Safety at 828-437-1211 Morganton Public Safety responded to a vehicle accident… Catawba County agencies and organizations will commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations,… A home sustained heavy damage in a fire Sunday night (May 5) More than graffiti is appearing on the bathroom stalls of Waynesville businesses (WLOS) — More than graffiti is appearing on the bathroom stalls of Waynesville businesses The threats have appeared multiple times with many impacts WAYNESVILLE MAN ARRESTED FOR FALSE BOMB REPORT AFTER JUSTICE CENTER EVACUATION Waynesville Police Chief David Adams said the series of bomb threats in Waynesville this month alone is up to eight It all started on April 1 at Walmart and again at Walmart ten days later write on the stall a bomb threat — none of them have been by telephone,” Adams said Another written bomb threat on a men's room stall at Walmart on April 12 with a second threat written on the stalls on April 14 forcing evacuations at the Hazelwood Ingles Dave Angel was heading there for what he hoped would be a healthy lunch 'We're under a bomb threat — we're not sure when we're going to get to go back in," he said "I went from soup and salad to fast food real fast there was an evacuation for the same reason at the Ingles off Russ Avenue similar bomb threats have occurred at the Hazelwood Ingles,at another business in town they haven't strayed too far," he said "Sylva is the first one we know of outside of the Waynesville business district." Adams says the message is consistent: It mentions a bomb “I'd say it's pretty close to being identical," Adams said leading him to believe it's the same person “Between Ingles and Walmart--their staff is reviewing videos with our detectives we hope we can find the comparison there — somebody at both locations we've contacted the FBI- possibly help with the video and the SBI is helping us as well,” Adams said Waynesville police are determining no credible threat right now but they are taking these incidents seriously too — it's a terrorist threat,” Adams said He said it’s costly for businesses to lose money evacuating and costly to bring in bomb sniffing dogs from Buncombe County and WCU “It's very taxing on the agencies working it as well as manpower hours when we could work on something more serious," he said MAN ARRESTED FOR BOMB THREATS AT FOREST CITY LOWE'S AND WALMART “I really hope they can find who's doing it and put an end to it,” Angel said Chief Adams said if you have any information If you drive past old homes and wonder what lies beyond the wrought iron gate or brick paths wonder no more — an upcoming tour of homes allows guests to get a look inside some of Waynesville’s historical foundations There will be five homes in the third annual Historic Home Tour that offer a glimpse into the history of Haywood County on May 18 sprinkling in historical facts as they lead guests through their residences “The tour is a wonderful way to see inside homes that they’re never going to get to be in without an invitation,” said Ann Melton a Waynesville historian and Shelton house board member The first tour will run from 1 until 3:30 p.m A second tour will be held from 3:30 until 6 p.m The Historic Home Tour is put on by the Shelton House a historic home that doubles as the Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts The tour was envisioned as a way to gain public awareness for the Shelton House “I don’t know that a lot of people are aware of just how amazing the Shelton house really is,” Melton said “It’s a wonderful handicraft museum and we just want more people to take advantage of it.” While the historic Shelton House is a staple of the annual tour allowing those who attend annually to be treated to a new showcase Tour goers will receive a colorful booklet of all the homes with a brief history of each Melton encourages tour-goers to save their guide booklets — over time they’ll amass a personal archive of Waynesville’s most historically significant homes The tour was originally scheduled for the fall Tickets for the tour are $50 and include access to five homes Tour goers will be given time slots to visit each house in order to limit the number of people inside a home at any given time to 14 people at most A reception with refreshments will be held at the Shelton House Barn from 1-7 p.m. those in the earlier tour can attend after they visit the homes and those visiting in the evening can attend before their tour call the Shelton House at 828-452-1551 or Melton at 828-452-2500 • The Stone House: Built in 1920 by Hubert G this house is an outstanding example of Oriental Arts and Crafts architecture Candace Strawn purchased the property after persuading Mr Stone’s real estate agent to sell his own home different owners have updated the house to preserve its cozy atmosphere while maintaining a focus on its extensive gardens and surrounding woodlands • The Massie House: Originally built as a summer home this residence was visible from Main Street and sat on 13 acres Visitors once had to climb 101 steps to reach its original entrance where he built Park Theater and went on to open several other theaters in the region during the 1930s • Hannah-Graham-Morgan House: This house was constructed around 1897 using lumber from 1,800 acres of timber owned by Captain William Johnson Hannah in the Cataloochee area Hannah purchased the half-acre lot for $200 in February 1897 He went on to serve in the Spanish-American War appointed judge advocate general for the governor held a term as Waynesville’s town attorney The property’s original cast iron fence still stands showcasing classic cast iron craftsmanship the Lukes family from Florida built this original structure and painted it yellow — a color it retained for more than 135 years Lee owned the property during the 1920s and 1940s The winding driveway was strategically designed to serve as a lookout for approaching law enforcement Update: This story was updated to include a clarification stuffed animals and a broken automatic wheelchair Rebecca Clark and Jean Gibbs' camper-trailer is crammed A small TV chatters as they watch movies on DVD a promised home had become a place of "isolation and alienation" rather than the refuge it was meant to be Since December, the couple has lived at Haven on the Hill, a temporary emergency housing complex in Haywood County. Set up after Tropical Storm Helene pummeled the region Sept. 27, dozens of YouTube videos refer to it as an "Appalachian refugee camp" that has been roundly praised by conservative media including Fox News and Steve Bannon's podcast management and discriminatory actions have generated serious questions among officials about the financial and physical resources funneled to the site Clark and Gibbs have described a threatening environment in which they have been exploited and targeted for reprisal In nearly a dozen interviews with current and former Haven on the Hill residents and volunteers the Citizen Times has documented a pattern of abuse that has further victimized an already vulnerable population: Almost everyone who has stayed at Haven on the Hill was homeless during Helene who were homeless before and during the storm "I'm just literally stuck without a truck to pull my ride," Gibbs said in late April "I'm willing to go to a dirt parking lot with no generator and take a chance with the law than stay here." After they had discussed their situation with the Citizen Times filed second-degree criminal trespassing against them April 25 Clark said Lunsford told them: "You want to talk to the reporter Lunsford admitted to asking them to leave for speaking with a reporter in an interview with the Citizen Times Haven on the Hill has housed more than 150 people since October Almost all were experiencing homelessness before arriving there Haywood County Assistant Manager Garron Bradish told the Citizen Times Many are from Asheville or surrounding counties where they were promised campers and a place to put them Haven on the Hill was started to "help out" after the storm but its remote location on a former cow pasture up a winding country road near Waynesville has been an obstacle to residents getting the resources they need and while some food and water are provided for residents who don't have reliable transportation securing essentials is a persistent concern Though Haywood County social service workers visit residents once a week More: ‘Grief-filled decisions:' Swannanoa residents stuck in housing limbo 6 months after Helene according to Social Security documents she provided to the Citizen Times She relied on an automatic wheelchair to get around until it recently broke Another wheelchair washed away in the flood Clark was diagnosed with a mild form of Down syndrome as a child "They can't even contact me to do the appointments or paperwork or nothing," Gibbs said of her caseworkers When asked about allegations of insufficient resources on the property and lack of social support for the mostly chronically homeless population even questioning whether Gibbs is actually disabled 'A scam,' Haywood County Commission Chair saysHaven operates as a "temporary park" under North Carolina's State of Emergency It is run through an LLC managed by Lunsford and Pringle a retired realtor who manages Haven's finances They never ran background checks for new residents The business does not have nonprofit status though Pringle maintains they have initiated the process A GoFundMe managed by Pringle has raised over $112,000 but the total amount raised by donors going to the site is unclear Pringle declined to give the total amount of donations Lunsford has also received a publicity boost from national conservative media The site and its residents have been featured on Fox News Steve Bannon's WarRoom and local media outlets as "offering hope" to those displaced by the storm Haywood County Commission Chair Kevin Ensley told the Citizen Times the business looks like a "grift" — where Lunsford and Pringle bring in the region's most vulnerable and draw in donations with them leaving much of the chronically homeless population "He was basically raising money off the misery of our people," Ensley told the Citizen Times it's really just a scam raising money off of Helene." Clark and Gibbs were camping along the French Broad River They were swift water rescued and would then spend time at an emergency shelter at the WNC Agricultural Center before ending up at the Gold's Gym disaster shelter in Asheville As the Gold's Gym shelter prepared to close in December the couple learned that a church could give them a camper Shelter employees told them it would be at Haven on the Hill Others in the shelter were departing for the site The camper was never connected to running water Three times Gibbs scraped together what little money she had to get a motel room to shower: "That's more money that we don't have." The couple is not alone as "about half" remain without consistent running water Pringle and Lunsford blamed the county's permitting department "We've been waiting six months on permits from the county," Pringle said But permitting requirements didn't stop Lunsford from running live electrical wiring from nearby power poles to just above Gibbs' trailer a misplaced portable power station in an occupied RV lit the vehicle's propane tanks on fire Its soot-covered husk remains on the site over a month-and-a-half later finding residence in another camper on the site Gibbs and Clark's trailer relies on a generator Each time generators have been stolen; donors have replaced them 202 calls for service to the property had been placed since Nov It is more than four times the number of calls to the site in the full year before Haven's creation For days after being served with the trespassing charge worried that Lunsford would try to repossess the camper She hoped someone would help take their trailer to a local parking lot where they might be breaking the law were they to stay overnight When asked why he told the couple to leave on April 25 "If they start lying and stuff to reporters and social media they're asked to leave immediately," apparently referring to an agreement they signed a copy of Haven on the Hill "Rules and Regulations" obtained by the Citizen Times makes no reference to restrictions on speaking with media It does include a "Social Media" section that states: "Any resident or volunteer who posts false information that could jeopardize this community or its residents will be asked to leave immediately." But the legality of the trespassing charge is unclear and goes against traditional small claims evictions It's not the first time Lunsford has made the move Lunsford filed criminal charges against six people with second-degree trespass at Haven on the Hill the legality of the eviction process depends on whether the residents were officially considered "tenants," Pisgah Legal Services housing attorney David Bartholomew said "While 'tenancy' is not specifically defined under Chapter 42 of North Carolina law some due process protections are afforded only to tenants and not to guests or licensees The specifics of the agreement will determine whether an occupant is a tenant and these status questions are usually ones that judge must decide," Bartholomew told the Citizen Times The site will officially be deemed inoperable at the end of North Carolina's June 30 temporary disaster deadline But Pringle and Lunsford said Haven on the Hill plans to continue as a "co-op" of nine people Gibbs and Clark were told by Amanda Fowler a Canton-based pastor who manages some of the camper titles Gibbs is still trying to make sense of all they have endured "It's just frustrating when you've got nothing and you finally get something and you're fixing to lose it again," Gibbs said "We had everything taken from us because of a natural disaster Gibbs was unable to make it to a nearby tent and sat out in the rain for hours Seemingly mediating between Lunsford and the couple Fowler arranged a truck to take the two and their camper away to a new location Gibbs said she “didn’t look back.” The new campsite near the Tuckasegee River was full of lady bugs More: 'The remainder:' What the Swannanoa River left behind after Helene's 'fury' More: After Helene, a mother mourns daughter's tragic death: ‘Wherever I went, she went with me’ Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com or message will_hofmann.1 on Signal Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times In a town where history lives not just in the pages of books but on every brick-lined sidewalk beneath every gabled rooftop and deep within every stately mansion Waynesville’s Historic Preservation Commission is stepping boldly into the future by leaning into a past that “As the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission we think that there’s historical assets in town that need to be saved especially at a time of encroaching development and lots of new building going on,” said Alex McKay “We’d like to preserve our town for what it is.” At the April 8 meeting of the Waynesville Town Council led by McKay and Land Use Administrator Alex Mumby delivered a sweeping presentation on an array of historic preservation initiatives that span everything from murals and coloring books to signage walking tours and multi-year planning documents The most significant effort unveiled at the meeting is the formal preservation plan for Waynesville’s three distinct historic commercial districts — Main Street Developed in collaboration with Annie McDonald a senior architectural historian with Wake Forest-based Richard Grubb & Associates and funded through a $10,000 federal grant received from the U.S the plan outlines a 10-year roadmap to guide preservation policy The project began with public engagement meetings in 2023 and fieldwork in 2024 and has now culminated in a comprehensive document addressing administration outreach and formal designation of historic properties Public feedback was gathered through meetings and online surveys to inform the final draft The plan mentions “a significant concentration of attached one- and two-story commercial buildings” along Main Street from Walnut Street to Pigeon Street highlighting the Citizens Bank & Trust Company at 74 North Main St. the Waynesville Library at 113 North Main St. and the Waynesville Hardware Building at 226 North Main St Frog Level presents a different identity than the Main Street District a reflection of its links to the old Western North Carolina Railroad Structures of note in the Commerce Street corridor include the Cherokee Garage at 222 Depot St. the Grady Honeycutt Building at 313 Depot St. the two freight depots at 40 and 66 Commerce St and the North Carolina National Guard Armory at 44 Boundary St Both the Cherokee Garage and the Logan Auto building have fallen into disrepair and have been vacant for some time The two most notable buildings in Frog Level Massie & Son building at 244 Depot St. the Massey and Burgin buildings were partially submerged by Richland Creek during Hurricane Helene last fall The WNC Railroad also played a significant role in the development of Hazelwood as nearby manufacturing concerns prompted the development of a small commercial strip along Hazelwood Avenue Nearly every building along this strip is significant the old Hazelwood School and its addition now home to Folkmoot remain noteworthy examples of the neighborhood’s character while a few buildings on South Main Street The plan notes Waynesville’s strong commitment to preservation over decades suggesting a road map to ensure buildings in the three distinct cores remain as authentic as possible the National Register Advisory Committee added 16 individual Waynesville properties and the Woolsey Heights Historic District to the National Register Study List Waynesville became a Certified Local Government qualifying for federal Historic Preservation Fund grants managed by the National Park Service the town has received six grants totaling $39,800 for projects such as architectural surveys historic district nominations and design guidelines A notable 2017 grant supported the survey of African American heritage sites and a 2020 grant funded updated documentation along key corridors originally the nonprofit Downtown Waynesville Association continues to support preservation through its Main Street affiliation and is largely responsible for how downtown looks today and why it’s so popular with the tourists that drive the town’s economy tourism has always been our thing,” McKay said the sulphur springs — they’ve always been a pull During the public engagement phase of the plan’s creation more than 65% of respondents expressed concern over the demolition of historic buildings while just over 56% were worried about inappropriate alterations to historic buildings neither the town nor the county is home to a dedicated nonprofit preservation organization Such organizations have achieved exceptional results in other areas; the Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County filled the gap left by lack of municipal government engagement while the Historic Savannah Foundation is responsible for much of the historical character the 292-year-old Georgia city retains — along with the resultant tourism that powers the local economy population growth and the demand for commercial space remain threats to historic structures so the plan includes a series of goals for the town that could help Waynesville down the road Along with the implementation of ordinance-based municipal actions like the establishment of historic districts bolstering public engagement and expanding awareness of existing resources strengthening the HPC is paramount according to the plan The HPC has long been working toward these goals the HPC has distributed illustrated coloring books to local fourth graders drawn by local artist Chris Sylvester and annotated by McKay The books depict iconic buildings and sites across Waynesville serving as an engaging introduction to the town’s architectural and cultural legacy The program reached students at Hazelwood Elementary and Shining Rock in 2024 deepening the connection between youth and heritage Wayfinding through all that history is also about to get easier The HPC is finalizing the design of interpretive signage for several key areas including Hazelwood the Historic Haywood County Courthouse and as part of a broader improvement plan with the parks and recreation department its iconic springhouse and the long-lost Sulphur Springs Hotel Additional signs are planned for the Main Street district and Frog Level Waynesville’s self-guided tour book is also receiving a modern update the new edition will include updated photos The book is scheduled to go to press this spring and will be made available at the municipal building for a suggested donation of $5 the HPC also received Town Council approval to apply for another CLG grant to nominate either the Love Lane neighborhood or the Country Club area for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places The proposed $10,000 grant would be split 60/40 with the town’s $4,000 match already requested — albeit in a tight budget year — for the fiscal year 2025–26 budget Hundreds of Waynesville Middle School students must cross Brown Avenue every morning and afternoon a safety issue that could be solved by rerouting the street around the edge of the school parking lot But higher-than-expected costs could ax the project Almost 10% of the streets maintained by Waynesville will get a facelift this fall Town council recently approved a list of 26 paving projects that will resurface eight miles of Waynesville streets using Powell Bill money allocated annually from the N.C by Marisa Sardonia WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) is preparing to treat spongy moth infestations in Waynesville Spongy moths are known for eating the leaves of hundreds of tree species Spongy moth infestations can harm trees and make them more vulnerable to other pests and even tree death Spongy moth caterpillars can also trigger severe allergic reactions in humans Treatments are expected to start May 2 and could continue through May 5 BEARWISE BASICS: HOW TO COEXIST WITH THE GROWING BLACK BEAR POPULATION IN WNC NCDA&CS officials said approximately 5,990 acres need to be treated This treatment will address the reproducing population of spongy moths in Waynesville organic biopesticide called Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki to control the spongy moth caterpillar population The NCDA&CS works in collaboration with the U.S Department of Agriculture's Forest Service to address spongy moth infestations A new business focused on printing giclees officially opened in Waynesville last week.  a sister business of neighboring Twigs & Leaves Gallery who has worked in that industry for a decade.  family and Haywood County Chamber of Commerce officials cut the ribbon she had a few words for those who turned out for the occasion The business is a fine art printing house where artists can bring in original work “The goal of our business is to be a resource for our artists and also for the art community,” Metlon said “It’s a really special moment when an artist brings in an original piece and that’s hands-down the coolest part of the job.” smokymtnstudios.com ROTOR WASH — A helicopter is an ideal tool for spongy moth treatment FROM BALSAM TO MAGGIE TO JUNALUSKA — Residents in the shaded areas can expect to see and hear helicopters conducting spongy moth spraying May 3 through 5 PEST CONTROL — The invasive spongy moth population in Waynesville has expanded dramatically in the last year Aerial spraying to tamp down an infestation of the forest-killing spongy moth in Waynesville and Maggie Valley has been bumped back to the second half of next week The spraying in Haywood County was originally scheduled to start May 2 but treatment crews have to finish up a job in Virginia first So May 7 is now the earliest that the helicopter could begin making the rounds here "These anticipated start dates are often very fluid since weather and other factors come into play but that is not set in stone," said Andrea Ashby (See below to sign up for a text notice the day before spraying begins.) Spongy moths — the invasive pest whose caterpillars can defoliate and destroy large sections of forest — are on the rise in Haywood Aerial spraying from a helicopter will be deployed starting Friday to hopefully tamp down an explosion of the devastating moths in the Waynesville and Maggie Valley area The spraying will target 5,990 acres where an alarming uptick in the moths was detected last year The swath lies along the south side of U.S goes up the mountainside to the ridgeline and back down the other side into the Eagle’s Nest area of Waynesville then runs south following the ridgeline to Balsam “We chose those spots because they’re where we caught the highest number of moths and the elevation range is about the same — meaning the trees in those areas are leafing out around the same time and the caterpillars are all about the same age and size making the treatment as effective as possible,” said Sara Lalk forest health research specialist with the N.C Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services And Lalk isn’t kidding about catching a lot of spongy moth caterpillars in the area Her team trapped 13 male moths there in 2023 That number had exploded to 2,627 the next year the infestation could mean bare trees in as little as two years leaving the affected forest vulnerable to other types of destructive pests The aerial treatment operations are now slated to begin around May 7 About 2,560 commercial or residential lots lay within or just outside the treatment area Residents in or near the treatment area can expect to see a low-flying helicopter making frequent passes overhead for eight hours a day during the treatment dates The choppers will be low — just above tree canopy — and might occasionally disappear for refueling And if it looks like the helicopters are spraying the same area over and over again “A helicopter treatment swath is about 125 feet wide so they may look like they’re working in the same area for a long time Managers have a display that shows treatment progression and we can watch them ‘color in’ the treatment block as they move back and forth,” Lalk explained Due to the nature of the biopesticide being used a helicopter’s slower speed and lower height make it a better tool for effective dispersal than a plane “The rotor wash from the turbulence created by the helicopter allows better coating of the little droplets on the leaf surfaces,” she said “More droplets on tree leaves means more chances for the spongy moth caterpillars to feed on them which means fewer make it to adulthood to possibly mate and lay eggs.” The helicopter will be spraying Bascillus thuringiensis var kurstaki — a naturally occurring soil bacteria which is fatal to spongy moths but harmless to people the aerial spongy moth treatments were conducted over Cruso but postponed for a year due to public opposition An education campaign quelled fears in the intervening year including enlisting the public to participate in moth trap checks to see the problem for themselves The treatment in Cruso used a “mating disruptor” that confused male spongy moths and interrupted their ability to find a mate But the Waynesville and Maggie spongy moth population is too robust for that the mating disruptor no longer works because there’s so many moths and they can still find each other Goforth stressed that Bascillus thuringiensis var kurstaki is “perfectly safe,” and that people should have “no concerns whatsoever.” After discovering the population boom last year the NCDA&CS held an information session over the winter for residents in the area To check if you are in the treatment area, or to request an email or text in advance of treatment, visit ncagr.gov/proposed-spongy-moth-management (WLOS) — Protesters gathered in Waynesville to participate in a series of national protests on April 5 Participants assembled at the Historic Courthouse in Downtown Waynesville waving and holding signs in opposition to policies implemented by the current administration THOUSANDS RALLY IN PACK SQUARE PARK TO AMPLIFY VOICES IN NATIONAL PROTEST MOVEMENT expressed her concerns about the Trump administration "It revives me a little bit and I have to admit I made some calls in the beginning but feeling overwhelmed "I nested myself in Netflix and chocolate and so forth but seeing Cory Booker go for 25 hours if he can do it Ross also expressed her belief that the tariffs should require Congressional approval she voiced her concerns about the potential impact of dismantling the Department of Education on individuals with special needs drawing from her experience as a special education teacher for many years shared his thoughts on the current administration HENDERSON COUNTY RALLY DRAWS OVER 1,000 PROTESTING CURRENT ADMINISTRATION POLICIES "This is all a plan — a lot of these things are a diversion to keep us off the real plan which is to get rid of our freedoms and to get rid of our rights and to get rid of everything our veterans fought for," Duffy said Duffy also voiced his frustrations with the current Democratic party saying the party has "no spine when it comes to standing up to the Trump administration." The aerial treatment operations will begin May 2 and run through May 5 To check if you are in the treatment area, or to request an email in advance of treatment, visit ncagr.gov/proposed-spongy-moth-management (WLOS) — Waynesville police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a series of recent bomb threats in the community WAYNESVILLE SHOPS DISRUPTED BY BOMB THREATS AS POLICE INTENSIFY INVESTIGATION The department announced the reward in a social media post Friday As previously reported, notes found in business bathrooms have prompted multiple evacuations and disruptions in recent weeks. As of April 17, Waynesville police said there had been eight such threats in April alone police offered a $1,000 reward for credible information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for the threats Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Batchelor at ebatchelor@waynesvillenc.gov or call 828-456-5363 by Rex Hodge Flooding from Richland Creek off Russ Avenue in Waynesville (WLOS) — Following some heavy rainfall Monday Richland Creek in Waynesville overflowed its banks and briefly flooded a neighborhood off Russ Avenue This flooding forced a temporary closure of Harris Street Residents say Hurricane Helene eroded sections of the Richland Creek bank allowing water to flow into the neighborhood more freely PROTESTERS IN WAYNESVILLE GATHER AT HISTORIC COURTHOUSE TO OPPOSE ADMINISTRATION POLICIES "There used to be something that prevented the water from coming over they just started rebuilding that baseball field It's already flooding again," said resident Michelle Moon Residents also told News 13 there is more debris in the creek due to construction along Russ Avenue They say that area should be dredged so water doesn't back up and flood their homes (WLOS) — The Haywood County Sheriff's Office is investigating a reported fatal shooting that happened on March 16 the sheriff's office said deputies were called just after 5 a.m on March 16 to possible gunshots on Mary John Drive in Waynesville they located two victims with possible gunshot wounds "Mary John Drive is off of Hyatt Creek Road and Log Cabin Road in Waynesville," the Haywood County Sheriff's Office said HIGHWAY PATROL: CHAIN-REACTION CRASH CAUSES 16-VEHICLE PILEUP NEAR PETER GUICE BRIDGE later identified as Chris Monteith of Waynesville The other individual was transported to a local hospital The sheriff's office didn't reveal the extent of the other individual's injuries The sheriff's office said it remains an active investigation and that no other details would be released at this time The sheriff's office confirmed that there is no threat to the public (WLOS) — The Haywood County Justice Center was evacuated during the early afternoon hours of March 19 due to a reported bomb threat According to a Haywood County Sheriff's Office news release law enforcement and emergency responders secured the area and conducted a thorough search of the facility of Waynesville was arrested and charged with felony false bomb report to a public building the Haywood County Sheriff's Office said Strickler is in custody at the Haywood County detention center under a $100,000 bond located at the Haywood County Courthouse at 285 N and the sheriff's office reported that there is no ongoing danger to the public Other agencies responding were the Waynesville Police Department along with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit (WLOS) — A car struck and killed a pedestrian on Brown Avenue near Hemlock Street in Waynesville on Saturday according to a Waynesville Police Department Facebook post Waynesville Police said the pedestrian was 38-year-old William Edward Crain who died from his injuries on Tuesday MAN CHARGED AFTER FATAL SOUTH ASHEVILLE CRASH HAYWOOD COUNTY ACCIDENT INVOLVING TWO VEHICLES LEADS TO SERIOUS INJURIES AND ROAD CLOSURE The person or persons were not identified in the hit-and-run incident The Waynesville Police provided a photo of the vehicle in a Facebook post The police department is seeking any information on this incident You can provide an anonymous tip on the WPD APP or contact Detective Micah Phillips at (828) 456-5363 (WLOS) — Waynesville has cut the ribbon on a new urgent care center that will officially begin operations in April The Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) aims to enhance walk-in clinic services in Western North Carolina It also intends to reduce unnecessary visits to hospitals or emergency departments by providing immediate assistance HEALTH CARE COALITION CALLS ON MISSION HOSPITAL TO INCREASE STAFFING, TRANSPARENCY The new center is a collaborative effort by Vaya Health and Appalachian Community Services The center's services will be available for both adults and children The center will offer 24-hour access to mental health and detox services every day of the week Learn more about behavioral healthcare in the mountains here More than six months after Hurricane Helene dealt millions in damage to government infrastructure across the region the Town of Waynesville reopened a newly repaired bridge — despite the complete absence of FEMA funding “I want to start off and thank y’all for coming out on this beautiful day that God has given us here today,” said Mayor Gary Caldwell “He has given us an awesome day to open this bridge back up for the citizens of Waynesville and especially the folks that live up in these neighborhoods like Chester Park and Love Lane that’s had to adjust to try to get to their homes.” Work crews were still tidying up the site at 9 a.m. as Caldwell and Town Council members Chuck Dickson Julia Freeman and Anthony Sutton made brief remarks on the bridge in front of a thick was more than just an inconvenience for people living in the Frog Level area — it was a hinderance to EMS services a for handicap for Frog Level merchants and coupled with an ongoing NCDOT project on Russ Avenue a horrific choke point that pushed even more traffic up Walnut Street to get this corridor opened back up,” Caldwell said Caldwell went on to thank Town Manager Rob Hites for dealing with FEMA and the accompanying paperwork involved in recovery efforts around town “A lot of you guys don’t know what it’s like to deal with FEMA But FEMA played no role in the bridge’s reopening and were it not for Town Council motorists would still be waiting in traffic Damage to the footings of the bridge required just over $300,000 in repairs Waynesville is not unique in having to come out-of-pocket for some hurricane recovery projects due to the lack of FEMA funding A recent Smoky Mountain News investigation concluded that of 23 local governments units in Western North Carolina claiming more than $1.7 billion in damage only nine had received any funding from FEMA — totaling just $67.2 million Lake Lure’s Mayor Carol Pritchett told SMN last week that right after the storm her town spent $1.5 million to reopen a critical bridge and still hasn’t seen a nickel from FEMA either Waynesville’s damage is reported to be in the neighborhood of $4.7 million against an annual general fund budget of just under $20 million Council member Anthony Sutton took advantage of the opportunity to call for action from FEMA “I challenge FEMA to reimburse us,” Sutton said "We have received zero funds from FEMA as has been reported and I challenge FEMA to reimburse us this quickly so that we can get it back in our general fund.” Council members then jumped into a town vehicle and drove through the ribbon is dead after reports of gun fire early Sunday morning A Waynesville man is dead and another victim is injured following reports of gunfire in the early morning hours of Sunday The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office received a call shortly before 5 a.m Sunday to a report of a possible gunshot on Mary John Drive in a mobile home park in the Hyatt Creek area of Waynesville One individual was transported to the hospital with a possible gunshot wound identified as Chris Monteith of Waynesville There is no on-going danger to the public stemming from the incident He worked as a stocker at the Waynesville Walmart for the past two years The sheriff’s office has not shared the cause of death of the deceased The sheriff’s office issued a brief statement notifying the public of the incident around 2 p.m and no further details will be released at this time,” according to the statement from the sheriff’s office Updates will be shared as soon as available This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Four are in custody after an Easter Sunday purchase at Ingles in Waynesville led to counterfeiting and drug charges “They were probably traveling around doing what they try to do — pass these 100 dollar bills and get change,” Waynesville Det The call came in from the Ingles on Barber Boulevard just before 9 a.m Sunday morning after a customer attempted to pass off a counterfeit $100 bill “They deemed it to be counterfeit and called us,” Davis said officers stopped the group in a U-Haul truck suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine were found all face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges All four face charges of possession of 5+ counterfeit instruments forgery of instrument and possession of drug paraphernalia Mabry and Clark all face charges of conspiracy to traffic opium or heroin while Nittel faces a charge of trafficking opium or heroin All four are in the Haywood County Detention Center while the other three are behind held on a $40,000 bond 2025 - Waynesville councilmember Jon Feichter says Chestnut Park Drive should remain a priority for repaving (WLOS) — Waynesville leaders are working on a list of town roads they believe should be a repaving priority A 2020 survey identifies and prioritizes dozens of streets but town council members are adding suggestions PROTESTERS IN WAYNESVILLE GATHER AT COURTHOUSE TO OPPOSE ADMINISTRATION POLICIES Councilmember Jon Feichter thinks Eagles Nest Road can wait Chestnut Park Drive is rightfully on the list and Boyd Avenue should be added as a priority "It's heavily used with the middle schools being down at the bottom of the hill are the biggest ones that I would like to see addressed," Feichter said The Waynesville Town Council is expected to finalize the road re-surfacing list during its meeting on April 22 (WLOS) — The Waynesville Police Department (WPD) is asking for the public's assistance in identifying a woman suspected of shoplifting Authorities believe the woman pushed a shopping cart out of a business without paying for the items Police also suspect she may be involved in other ongoing crimes that WPD is investigating Anyone with information is asked to submit an anonymous tip via the WPD App or by calling 828-456-5363 Scan the QR code below to submit an anonymous tip: demonstrate how a piece of fabric is measured at Superior Bargain Fabrics PLENTY OF BOLTS — Superior Bargain Fabrics features over 100 fabrics SECOND BUSINESS — Sue Smith has opened a second business in Waynesville The Superior Finish where customers can get custom-made window treatments and have furniture refinished the store manager at Superior Bargain Fabrics UNIQUE DESIGNS — Veronica Moore and Sue Smith are shown with one of the unique fabric designs in stock at Superior Bargain Fabrics PROOF — The yardage counter on a machine at Superior Bargain Fabrics never fails to show the tried and true nose tip to fingertip method is always correct VINYLS — A wide selection of vinyls provides customers with plenty of options at Superior Bargain Fabrics Superior Bargain Fabrics has opened in Waynesville sporting more than 100 bolts of fabric — from cloth to vinyl to leather on display there’s one price — $10 a yard for everything in stock where the bolts of fabric are overstock and from the previous year’s fabric lines The store is a spin-off of The Superior Finish a long-time establishment focused on upholstery blinds and custom jobs — from large reupholstery projects to make old furniture new again to crafting the perfect matching throw pillows Owner Sue Smith knew there was demand for a dedicated retail fabric outlet and decided to do something about it by opening the second store at the age of 80 I just can’t stop,” she said of her passion driving the new business Superior Bargain Fabrics opened in December and is located in the Waynesville Plaza off Russ Avenue Superior Finish is located at 145 Broadview St While Superior Finish has a large inventory of high-quality fabrics where fabric can cost between $20 and $30 a yard It also has hundreds of fabric sample books to peruse Superior Bargain Fabrics offers bargain prices like the name suggests so this guy buys container loads from the Hickory dealers and I buy from him,” Smith said Both shops are geared toward those who understand that it is much more economical to recover high-quality American made furniture through new cushions and a custom upholstery job than to buy cheap furniture with a two- to four-year life cycle The antiques that were made here are the ones getting redone,” she said Superior Finish’s reputation for high-quality work is far-reaching witnessed by a recent job reupholstering 142 seat bottoms onsite at The Grove Park Inn during January Smith told of a woman who bought four pieces of furniture at a regional store Smith was brought in to make the repair and found the back was only cardboard She fixed it up and told the woman that it was good her husband hadn’t fallen on an American-made sofa or he would have broken his back well-made piece of furniture recovered now have two options — to custom order at The Superior Finish where matching or color-coordinated window treatments can be ordered or to find a selection at Superior Bargain Fabrics and have Smith and her crew do the work They moved to Haywood in 1983 from Saudia Arabia after her husband’s job there was downsized Smith enrolled in an upholstery class at Haywood Community College because she had furniture that needed to be recovered Once word got out that Smith was very good at recovering furniture she began to save her money to buy the needed equipment to start her own business “I started the business for $135 when I bought a vertical blind book money that launched her effort to save up enough funds to buy needed equipment and fabric she brought in a partner who already had several machines and Smith ended up buying the machines from her family but it turned out she got $10,000 worth of merchandise another break for the budding businesswoman While the sound of whirring sewing machines fills Superior Finish there’s only one machine in the store — one that measures fabric Both Smith and store manager Veronica Moore use the standard practice that says one yard of fabric is the length between their fingertips and their nose The problem is that some customers don’t trust it That’s why the fabric measurer is in the store — one that proves the age-old measuring technique never fails Moore has her own sewing machine in the store where she makes teddy bears when business is slow FILE - The Depot Street bridge in Waynesville which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene over four months ago (WLOS) — A bridge in Waynesville has been closed due to Hurricane Helene damage for four months The reopening of the Depot Street bridge is anticipated in a matter of weeks It is a long process for the Town of Waynesville to go through to get a contract signed sealed and delivered to do the work to repair the bridge "It's about time," said Trevor Campbell After Helene undercut the bridge's support system blocking off one of the arteries into downtown Waynesville This impacted revenues into the Frog Level district HOLIDAY SEASON AND BIDDING PROCESS SLOW PROGRESS ON WAYNESVILLE BRIDGE REPAIR “It's been real hard on our business,” said Campbell “I know the other businesses that survived – they've been losing revenue because of the bridge.” Town leaders say finding someone to do the repair took time Strict adherence to state law is required to secure FEMA reimbursement with contractors busy with countless storm projects town leaders hired local-based Appalachian Sitework to fix the bridge “We hope to have the contractor on site as soon as the big steel plates are fabricated they're being fabricated locally,” said Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites they will have to direct Richland Creek away and dry out the middle part of the bridge so they can get down underneath and work on putting in a new structure PORTION OF SWANNANOA RIVER ROAD REOPENS AFTER MAJOR REPAIRS FOLLOWING HELENE That work could be done in about three weeks which comes as good news to businesses like Trader Campbell says that without local knowledge of how to maneuver around the closed bridge and get to his store "That hurts us quite a bit," he said The bridge closure funnels additional traffic to an ongoing road improvement project at the nearby Russ Avenue All are anxious to see the Depot Street bridge reopen “That's our most optimistic timetable,” said Hites (WLOS) — Waynesville Police said they have identified and located the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run death of a pedestrian Police did not specify if they have identified a suspect yet The hit-and-run happened on Brown Avenue near Hemlock Street in the early morning of Saturday Police say a patrol officer responded around 2 a.m POLICE SEEK INFORMATION ON FATAL HIT-AND-RUN THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN IN WAYNESVILLE Police said 38-year-old William Edward Crain was 20 to 30 yards from the vehicle Waynesville Police said Crain told the officer he had been run over February 11 Crain died at Mission Hospital Waynesville Police said the investigation is ongoing PROPERTY CRIME IN ASHEVILLE THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN A DECADE, 2024 STATS SHOW You can provide an anonymous tip on the Waynesville Police Department's app or through Crimestoppers for any information You can also contact Detective Micah Phillips at (828)456-5363 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Colton “Colty” James Shell was born on March 31 freed from all his pain and medical complications and an insatiable desire to connect with and help others He loved participating in the Special Olympics and performing with the Tuscola High School Marching Mountaineer Band he could often be found by the pool and boats at Lake Junaluska Music was his passion; he always had a headphone in one ear and enjoyed playing his drums daily Family was incredibly important to Colty – he loved talking with them He was always excited about participating in family activities had typical sibling rivalries and conflicts Colty always looked up to her and found solace in her company She helped him navigate his complex medical issues and his desire to just be a regular teenage kid He looked forward to seeing his friends at school and often would come back excited to tell a story about what had happened that day He never met a stranger and was kind to everyone Colton lived a fulfilling life with the help and guidance of his medical team including his many beloved and devoted home health nurses who have been part of his home team the longest We are so incredibly grateful to all of his doctors and care providers who worked tirelessly to provide the best possible life for Colty The family also sends their heartfelt thanks to the community for welcoming and embracing him as he was able to donate several organs to patients on the transplant list he was celebrated with an Honor Walk at Greenville Memorial lined the halls between his room and the operating room It was the largest gathering for an Honor Walk that the hospital’s staff had seen Jim and Carol Shell - all from Waynesville and Jessi and Hunter Chambers - from Waynesville VA; and his many cherished relatives who cared about him dearly at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church Visitation will follow in the Fellowship Hall the family is asking for donations to two organizations that he was passionate about Haywood County Special Olympics 1233 N Main St. Waynesville NC 28786  or  Tuscola High School Marching Band 564 Tuscola School Rd. NC 28786 (please put Colton Shell’s name in the memo line) The family would like to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation to everyone who has loved and played a vital role in Colty’s life They truly adore all the friendships that have been made in his 16 years of life The care of Colty has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville  First United Methodist Church of Waynesville Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Pickers entertain during the Appalachian Heritage weekend held in downtown Waynesville in 2024 brother Judah and grandmother Beth Madsen decorate Ella’s scooter for the Kids’ Patriotic Parade in Waynesville sponsored by the Downtown Waynesville Commission is on the schedule for July 4 this coming summer Martha Messer and Lea Owen at Treats on the Street in 2023 The annual kids’ favorite event is scheduled to return to Waynesville again this year The Downtown Waynesville Commission set its calendar of events for the coming year at its annual retreat this month But one event on the 2025 calendar that has not been confirmed is Art After Dark which is penciled in on the calendar to be held on the first Friday of the months May through December The event encourages people to stroll the streets of downtown Waynesville and Historic Frog Level District visiting art galleries and other businesses that that stay open until 9 p.m The DWC promotes the event and provides live music but DWC Executive Director Beth Gilmore said at the retreat she has not heard from downtown art galleries if the event is a definite go for 2025 “I talked to someone the other day and they are trying to get the galleries together for a meeting,” Gilmore said The galleries need to get together and decide or no we are not.’ If they are going to do it typically they communicate with us they want to do it and are we willing to continue to do the promotions It’s a great event and I don’t want to see it die.’’ The Haywood County Gallery Association first sponsored Art After Dark and the old Downtown Waynesville Association then took over the event for a short time when the HCGA dissolved “It landed with the DWA for a short time because no one would take it,” Gilmore said But it really doesn’t make sense for the DWC to own an event that is only benefitting the galleries “We have removed ourselves from the say of whether the event happens and how it happens I have no control of whether it goes on or not It goes on if the galleries say they are going to have a reception We hired the music last year to go on the sidewalk It’s been communicated that we will support it The rest of the DWC 2025 calendar has 13 confirmed events The list does not include other downtown events like Apple Festival or Folkmoot International Day which are held downtown but sponsored by other organizations • Appalachian Heritage Weekend on May 2-3; • Stars and Stripes Patriotic Kids Parade on July 4; • Mountain Street Dances on the Fridays of June 27 • The Church Street Arts and Craft Show on Oct wizards and muggles to Waynesville to drink a Butter Beer check out our magical shops and enjoy a day of enchantment all while enjoying all things Harry Potter⚡️ We welcome you to the Wizarding World of Waynesville to drink a Butter Beer check out our magical shops and enjoy a day of enchantment all while enjoying all things Harry Potter⚡️all Harry Potter fun begins at the shops at 12pm We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Crane created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Available by phone 24/7 (513) 897-5966 Copyright © 2025 Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More OHIO — After surveying damage in several counties following severe storms that swept across the state Sunday night the National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornadoes touched down in Ohio There were a total of three EF0 tornadoes and one EF1 tornado.  Two of the EF0 tornadoes hit Butler County — one north of Miami and another near West Chester The third EF0 tornado also hit Warren County near Corwin.  The EF1 tornado touched down in Fayette County near Jeffersonville.  During Sunday's storms, at least 40,000 people were without power and damage was reported in Butler County at Linda Mobile Home Park and at a southern Ohio church where the steeple was blown off THere were also many downed trees and powerlines reported.  While Sunday's weather event is over, there's more severe weather to come. Ohio has an increased chance of severe storms Wednesday, which are forecasted to bring damaging winds, flooding and possibly more tornadoes. The latest information on these storms can be found here. Take a look at the storms from photos submitted by viewers. Submit your photos here. 2025 - The Depot Street bridge in downtown Waynesville (WLOS) — A popular route into downtown Waynesville has finally reopened after a six-month closure following damages from Hurricane Helene The Depot Street bridge now has traffic flowing once again This comes after water undermined the center pier forcing a shutdown until repairs could be made Town leaders say it took time to put out bids to find a contractor they hired local-based Appalachian Sitework SWANNANOA RIVER ROAD REOPENS FRIDAY AFTER 6-MONTH CLOSURE FROM HELENE DAMAGE Crews had to redirect Richland Creek to create a dry environment to fix the middle support structure Mayor Gary Caldwell says the reopening is a win for drivers and emergency responders The town allocated more than $300,000 for repairs but hopes to be reimbursed by FEMA Waynesville wasn’t affected by Hurricane Helene as badly as many other Western North Carolina communities residents and the town still incurred millions in costly damages that will take time to fix.  Town government was hit across nearly all departments and lost property “We’ve developed a priority matrix of our urgent/non-urgent needs and also developed pricing,” said Town Manager Rob Hites during a Nov 12 meeting of the Waynesville Town Council Staff and contractors are still working to clean up piles of debris left after Helene struck the region in the early morning hours of Sept Southern Debris Removal is almost finished with its first pass through the town and will make two more passes with the understanding that some people are only just now able to reenter their homes and will begin gutting them where necessary SDR had already collected and removed around 168 cubic yards of debris per day or enough to cover a football field to a height of nearly two feet The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office reported removing 9,119 cubic yards of debris as of Nov 8,625 FEMA registrations have resulted in more than $11.9 million in disbursements to those impacted by the storm the town’s all-funds annual budget is around $35 million “And that’s to the public sector,” he said that’s damage to the city itself — to the city parks The cost will largely be reimbursed by FEMA with a check coming for urgent needs in the next few months and a check coming for non-urgent needs a few months later Frog Level and outlying reaches of the town The town’s finance department and one of its fire stations ServiceMaster has completed building restoration work and the town is currently drafting bid specifications to complete the project which will include bringing the bathrooms up to ADA compliance not including lost equipment and furnishings also flooded when Richland Creek rose dramatically late in the morning roared through Frog Level and destroyed several businesses there The armory has been completely restored and reopened on Oct Rain was also able to penetrate the roof of town hall at 9 South Main Street leaving behind significant moisture and causing issues with humidity that have allowed mold and mildew to spread Four police department vehicles were lost in the flood a 2019 Chevy Tahoe and a 2017 Chevy Silverado The town has already submitted claims to its insurer and ordered replacements using fund balance while awaiting FEMA reimbursement A 2015 Ford F-250 belonging to the fire department was also lost but a replacement has been purchased A pump house providing water service to 800 residents near Camp Branch Road was damaged; however the town’s public works department repaired it in-house in order to restore service as quickly as possible Material and equipment costs for the work are estimated at $80,000 was also damaged by a landslide and by erosion WNC Paving has been contracted to repair the road by the end of the month The town’s old wastewater treatment plant took on mud Hites’ report says the town was hoping to complete its new wastewater treatment plant ahead of schedule; however Helene has set the project back by perhaps three months The new plant is still on track to be ready by late spring 2025 The electric substation at Smathers Street has $18,000 in damage to the fencing surrounding it Estimates for battery and breaker cabinet damage aren’t yet available Probably the most visible — and irritating — storm damage in Waynesville is to the Depot Street bridge which is considered structurally compromised by Mattern & Craig Engineers With ongoing construction on Russ Avenue and few other ways in and out of Waynesville to and from the north the bridge’s closure has resulted in heavy traffic An engineering study has been used to create a design for permanent repairs to the bridge and the engineering firm will inspect final repairs the town will not have to comply with bid requirements to get the work done The current estimate for repairs is $330,000 A sewer main at Richland Creek will cost $325,000 with Buckeye Construction emerging as the top bidder infrastructure damage totals just under $1.3 million As Richland Creek made its way through Frog Level and down the railroad tracks toward Haywood Builders Supply topping a bridge on Russ Avenue and rising right up to Mountain Creek Apartments it eventually spilled out onto the Waynesville Recreation Center’s ballfields “We are continuing the debris removal with SDR and they’re continuing to get debris up as the weeks go by,” said Luke Kinsland Waynesville’s Parks and Recreation director obtain bids as far down as fencing [and] electrical and assess what can be restored and repaired or what needs a complete demo and rebuild.” The greenway section along Richland Creek incurred damage not only to the natural surfaces but also to the asphalt Some light grading will take care of the natural surfaces but the asphalt areas will need to be repaved so Kinsland is proposing to move it out of the floodway to where the sand volleyball courts are The volleyball courts in turn should be moved to BI-LO Park off East Street where damaged restrooms should not be rebuilt because they’d still be vulnerable to flood damage The Vance Street softball field and its restrooms were heavily damaged although the restrooms weren’t structurally compromised Some of the most heavily impacted recreation facilities weren’t at the rec center — they were in Hazelwood badly in need of upgrades even before Helene Kinsland’s report says building foundations were heavily undercut by floodwaters “What we hope to do is go out to bid soon and do an RFQ for engineering and design services to kind of get us back into rebuild and see what FEMA will reimburse us for,” Kinsland said adding that he hoped to see flood-mitigated facilities that are “not bulletproof but hold up better to future flooding” as the facilities are still in the floodplain “Our hope is to have the field ready by the spring of 2025,” Kinsland said Kinsland has requested the Army Corps of Engineers analyze Richland Creek for debris removal and possible restoration of its banks Total cost estimates for everything else top $264,000 As a national flood insurance program community Waynesville had to conduct damage assessments of private residences and private non-residential structures in the two weeks following Helene “They’re used not just to collect data but it also gets us on the street trying to connect people to resources,” said Development Services Director Elizabeth Teague In addition to maintaining NFIP compliance the damage assessments also identify unsafe structures inform long term planning and help expedite permitting “astounded” North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA officials with the focus of that data on telltale areas — Depot and Commerce streets in Frog Level Smathers and Killian streets near Sulphur Springs Harris Street near the rec center and Camp Branch Road just south of the Richland Creek Bridge over Russ Avenue notched the highest watermark of the storm Properties built to base flood elevation (BFE) standards plus 1 foot seem to have suffered less damage than other structures according to a development services department presentation Development services department staff assessed 446 structures that displayed visible damage 302 were residential and 144 were non-residential; 325 were at least partially within the regulatory 100-year floodplain with 17 outside that flood plain; 342 showed at least some damage and 62 sustained damages of between 30% and 50% Of particular concern are the 22 structures — 18 of them in the 100-year floodplain or about 6.5% of the total assessed — that were designated “substantially damaged,” which means damaged to more than 50% of the building’s value A majority of those structures presented watermarks between 3 and 5 feet above the ground Substantially damaged residential structures must be brought into full compliance with town regulations That could mean elevating them or moving them if possible “There are a couple of places where people may not be able to build back where they originally had their home,” Teague said we’re trying to be really sensitive and they’re working through their FEMA representative to see what their process is to do a potential buyout.” Substantially damaged commercial structures have an additional option which could be a welcome alternative in Waynesville’s hard-hit commercial districts four commercial structures were designated as substantially damaged mostly near the intersection of Depot and Commerce streets but also including Mia Salon on Water Street All other buildings in that cluster suffered moderate damage of varying degrees with the force of the flood ripping doors off hinges scouring mortar from between courses of brick and leaving watermarks of up to 4 feet above ground Richland Creek didn’t inflict as much damage on Panacea Coffee Company and Frog Level Brewing as one might have suspected while watching floodwaters roil down Commerce Street are somewhat elevated and are slab-on-grade Both businesses reopened quickly after the storm “Our theory is that because those buildings were built so close to the creek and were from so long ago even though most people we talk to say we haven’t seen a lot of this type of flooding ever in Waynesville we have a feeling the people who built those buildings had seen some level of flooding like that,” said Alex Mumby Waynesville Plaza fared somewhat better than Frog Level; however two commercial structures there were substantially damaged as some areas saw 2 feet of water Kobe Express has already moved from that location and the building will be demolished The status of Lilly’s Nails was unclear; however the business is also reported to have lost substantial amounts of inventory and equipment Suppositions that the Mountain Creek Apartments opened in 2023 just across the creek from Waynesville Plaza could have somehow contributed to flooding in the plaza aren’t supported by flood maps fared somewhat better than Waynesville Plaza Despite the early presence of standing water on Hazelwood Avenue The water that did more often than not came in through the roof damaging inventory — the biggest casualty in Hazelwood Blue Ridge Books took the worst of the water slab-on-grade buildings or slightly elevated structures fared significantly better Teague said that her department would be bringing recommendations for changing or amending floodplain regulations locally based on what else they learn from the storm Although the state is pushing for the adoption of BFE plus 4 feet standards Teague said the town’s BFE plus 1 foot ordinance is working but that a BFE plus 2 feet would be beneficial Any recommended changes would first be heard at a meeting of the town’s planning board — Mast General Store general manager Joey Fuseler is pictured serving chili during the Waynesville Chili Cook-Off Stroll in 2020 ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD — Sample unlimited chilis with a $10 wristband during the Chili Cook Off Stroll in downtown Waynesville on Feb Pictured is Stacy Downs serving up chili at the Jeweler’s Workbench during the last Chili Cook-Off in 2020 A Chili Cook-Off Stroll filled with flavor fun and community spirit will be held in downtown Waynesville from noon-4 p.m The Chili Cook-Off Stroll invites you to stop into establishments throughout downtown to savor handcrafted chili recipes and vote for your favorite recipes Purchase a $10 wristband for unlimited chili samples and get a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Award a panel of judges will crown the Best Merchant Chili and Best Restaurant Chili Wristbands also include unlimited rides on a shuttle service Shuttles will loop between downtown Waynesville and Frog Level every 15 minutes The inaugural Chili Cook-Off Stroll was held in January 2020 but was sidelined due to Covid and is now making its return after a multi-year hiatus The event is sponsored by the Waynesville Rotary Club Half of the proceeds from all wristband sales will support local kids in need through the Rotary Club of Waynesville Enhance your chili experience with a special photo with the roaming chili mascot and partake in sales and specials from galleries It’s about supporting Waynesville’s vibrant local economy Did you know that for every $100 spent at local stores It’s a delicious way to make a difference while connecting with neighbors discovering hidden gems and having an unforgettable day Taking place during the long Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day weekend this event is perfect for locals and visitors to explore Waynesville’s shops restaurants and businesses while sampling and voting for the best chili in town Special “Chili Packages” for the holiday weekend are being offered by Andon Reid and The Yellow House bed-and-breakfasts and lodging partners For updates on participants, lodging partners, and sponsors, follow Waynesville Chili Cook-Off Stroll in Facebook, Instagram @HayChili, or email C.K. Davis at chilicookoffstroll@gmail.com Preliminary projections from Town of Waynesville show a tight budget for the upcoming fiscal year Elected officials don’t want to raise taxes but a variety of factors that all came together in a perfect storm will leave Town Council with some tough decisions after a budget retreat held March 21.  but it’s going to be the leanest year since I’ve been here,” said Town Manager Rob Hites who was hired in 2016 and called this year’s proposals “a hold the line” budget That “perfect storm” includes Hurricane Helene Haywood County and parts of Waynesville on Sept The Town’s damages totaled nearly $4.7 million including $2.1 million in recovery projects from the general fund $155,000 from the water fund and $35,000 from the electric fund More than $800,000 has already been spent on completed projects Those projects are paid for from the town’s fund balance accounts — the equivalent of a household savings account — and are later reimbursed through insurance or by FEMA must maintain a certain level of fund balance to avoid running afoul of the state’s Local Government Commission Waynesville’s general fund balance is currently $13.9 million or about 73% of the town’s estimated annual expenditures of $19.7 million but $1.4 million in fund balance is either restricted or already assigned bringing the total available to just over $12 million Hites said that to keep the town in good financial shape and qualify for the best loan rates meaning there’s really only $3.3 million left to spend with $3.8 million in projects not yet complete Municipal governments often use fund balance in annual budgeting to make relatively small adjustments that balance the budget or to make minor purchases that aren’t budgeted for in other categories but that doesn’t seem to be an option for the town this year Adding to the complexity of the 2025-26 fiscal year budget sales tax revenues are projected to be down slightly due to commercial disruptions caused by Helene; state-mandated retirement plan contributions will go up; the first $1.2 million loan payment for the Town’s new wastewater treatment plant comes due; employee salaries and cost-of-living increases are optional Department heads have submitted requests for an additional $1.75 million in capital projects, but those will be a tough sell this year. Over the past few years, Council Member Anthony Sutton has pleaded with Council to establish a capital project priority list  to no avail would help the town peck away at its growing capital project backlog each year instead of scrambling for money to pay for the most urgent needs at the last minute as equipment and facilities near the end of their useful lives or fail When a reappraisal occurs and property values go up elected officials have basically three choices: lower the existing property tax rate to maintain revenue collections at pre-reappraisal levels maintain the existing property tax rate to cash in on additional taxable value or split the difference with property owners setting the tax rate so that some additional taxable value can be captured as revenue That option would have given the town some flexibility but it won’t be an option for this budget year Even optimistic financial news is tempered by the impact of Helene taxable value of all property within the town has increased from $1.26 billion to $1.55 billion despite a development moratorium tied to capacity issues with the town’s old wastewater treatment plant the town added $38 million in taxable value but the town doesn’t yet know how much taxable value properties may have lost due to storm damage “I’m very leery of [anticipating] any tax [collections] increase,” Sutton said One positive — and highly anticipated — development that could help next year is that when the new wastewater treatment plant comes online later this year With that comes increasing property values and therefore increasing property tax revenue collection “They’re standing in line outside of Olga [Grooman assistant development services director]’s office right now,” Hites said of developers waiting for approval to begin projects has a downside — most development projects take two to three years to come to fruition meaning there’s nothing in the pipeline right now and it’s unlikely the town will see new developments come online for a few years as the affordable housing crisis continues to price middle-class Americans out of home ownership “Could you imagine what would happen if we could have had additional housing coming online How many thousands of people in Haywood County are without homes because of the flood?” Sutton said The Town expects to hold another public meeting for budget discussions in the near future and hopes to present the first formal draft of the budget at Council’s first regular meeting in May SECOND SITE — Sonic Drive-In will soon increase its Haywood County presence SONIC FUTURE — This property on Russ Avenue will soon be home to a new Sonic Drive-In The site of the last residential home on Russ Avenue in Waynesville will soon be home to a Sonic Drive-In Sonic Drive In’s of Asheville has submitted site plans to the town for a restaurant — located on a vacant lot between Arby’s and Enterprise Rent-A-Car WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The town of Waynesville has appointed Chris Mehaffey as its new fire chief succeeding the long-standing Chief Joey Webb including the last 16 years as Waynesville's fire chief Mehaffey will oversee the new Hazelwood fire station project and the acquisition of a new ladder truck for Station One LONGTIME WAYNESVILLE FIRE CHIEF JOEY WEBB SET TO RETIRE The first priority for the new chief will be addressing the damage at Fire Station Two in Hazelwood was damaged there in the process of rebuilding," said Mehaffey it will be moving forward recovering from that until we can start construction on the new Station Two We do have the property already acquired." The official swearing-in ceremony for Mehaffey will occur Tuesday at Waynesville Town Hall during a monthly council meeting The Waynesville Rotary Club will offer a Poor Man’s Supper from 11 a.m March 6 at the First United Methodist Church to benefit Waynesville Rotary community projects The lunch and dinner menu will include pinto beans dessert and a beverage. Carry out is available In addition to the food provided by Haywood 209 Café the Cider Ridge Band will provide music from 11:30 a.m and a silent auction will offer an array of items Tickets are $10 per plate for adults; children 8 and under eat for free Tickets can be purchased at the door.  Proceeds from the Poor Man’s Supper will benefit Waynesville Rotary community projects, including the Manna Backpack Project, providing food to school children, Christmas food baskets, scholarships and more. For more information on the club’s involvement in the community, including their service projects, visit waynesvillerotary.com.  For more information, contact Shelley White, fundraising chair, at 828.627.4516 The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.