Jackson County

Sylva Town Mayor Lynda Sossamon resigned effective Thursday, January 26, following more than seven years leading the Jackson County town.In a letter to the public, Sossamon explained a planned heart surgery has resulted in serious complications.

This week, the final step of the election process took place. In courthouses across Western North Carolina, local officials were sworn in including county commissioners, school board members, sheriffs and more.

Jackson County Board of Commissioners and Chair candidates met on October 11th for a forum hosted by Western Carolina University, Blue Ridge Public Radio and Smoky Mountain News.Watch the full forum here.

School boards have become more politicized in recent years, from opposition to COVID policies to pressure to ban certain books. BPR spoke to Smoky Mountain News reporter Hannah McLeod about her reporting on school board races in three local counties: Swain, Macon and Haywood.

Over the weekend, a Pride parade was held in Sylva for the second year in a row. Sylva Pride parade

The film, “Where There Are Bees, There Is Honey,” features some of performers behind the growing drag scene in Jackson County including local performers: Calcutta, Marigold Showers and Beulah Land.

Tuesday is election day for Jackson and Graham Counties. Following the May primary election, both counties had to schedule second races to determine the winner who will be on the ballot in November during the general election.

Early voting is underway across the state. Voters in half a dozen cities are choosing mayors and other municipal positions. The only elections here in Western North Carolina are runoffs. Graham County will choose a Republican sheriff and Jackson County will choose a school board seat.

A Jackson County storyteller has spun tall tales for decades to preserve mountain culture. The Liars Bench with Gary Carden will be at the Jackson County Library on July 12th at 7 pm in an event hosted by The Smoky Mountain News.

A social district is launching this weekend at the Greening Up The Mountain’s festival in Sylva. Folks over 21 will be allowed to drink alcohol in public starting Saturday.