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Arrest Made After Macon County Resident Reportedly Loses More Than $200,000 to Fraud
A fraud investigation involving a loss of more than $200,000 has led to an arrest in Macon County. The Macon County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after receiving a report from a county resident in mid-August. Because of the size and apparent complexity of the case, the Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Investigators subsequently arrested 31-year-old Tsou Ming-Hsuan, a citizen of Taiwan who authorities said was in the United States on a visa. Ming-Hsuan was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense and felony conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense. Authorities have not publicly described the precise method allegedly used to obtain the money or disclosed whether investigators believe other people were involved. The charges remain allegations. Ming-Hsuan is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case comes as law-enforcement agencies across Western North Carolina warn residents about financial schemes involving impersonation, fraudulent investment opportunities and callers claiming that money must be withdrawn or transferred immediately. Authorities advise residents to independently verify unexpected financial requests before sending money, providing account information or meeting someone to hand over cash. A bank should be contacted through a known telephone number…
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Waynesville Police Warn of Elaborate Phone Scams After Resident Loses More Than $100,000
Waynesville police are warning residents about increasingly sophisticated telephone scams after one local victim reportedly lost more than $100,000. Investigators say the schemes frequently begin with a text message designed to look like an alert from a bank or financial institution. The message may claim suspicious activity has been detected and direct the recipient to call a telephone number or respond immediately. Once contact is made, another person may call while posing as a member of the bank’s fraud department. The scammer attempts to gain the victim’s confidence by creating a sense of urgency and claiming the victim’s money must be moved or withdrawn to keep it safe. Some recent schemes have gone beyond requests for gift cards or electronic transfers. According to Waynesville Police Detective Eric Batchelor, victims have been instructed to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars, place the cash in an envelope and leave it for a supposed courier. An unidentified driver then arrives to collect the money. Police say legitimate banks and law-enforcement agencies will not send an anonymous driver to a customer’s home to retrieve cash. Residents should also avoid calling telephone numbers contained in unsolicited text messages. Anyone receiving a suspicious alert should stop…
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Commissioners Reject $105 Million School Bond, Leaving District Projects Uncertain
Jackson County commissioners have rejected a proposed $105 million school bond referendum, removing the measure from the November ballot and leaving county and school leaders to reconsider several major construction projects. The Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 against the referendum during its Sept. 1 meeting. Chairman Mark Letson cast the only vote in favor of allowing residents to decide the issue at the polls. The proposed borrowing package would have helped finance a new consolidated middle school, improvements at Blue Ridge School, accessibility work at Smoky Mountain High School’s athletic facilities, a replacement bus garage and other districtwide maintenance projects. Before the final vote, county officials estimated the bond would require a property-tax increase of approximately 5.26 cents per $100 of assessed value. Supporters said construction costs would likely continue rising if the projects were delayed. Opponents questioned the size of the package, its long-term interest costs and whether every proposed project should be completed at once. Attention now turns to the planned middle school. Jackson County received a $52 million state grant for the project in 2024, but local funding will still be needed to complete the school as originally designed. Under the grant’s conditions, construction must begin by…
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Multiagency Investigation Leads to Fentanyl, Methamphetamine and Firearm Seizures
A multiagency narcotics investigation in Swain County has resulted in the seizure of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription medication and firearms. The operation was conducted Aug. 31 by the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee Indian Police Department. According to the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, investigators conducted a traffic stop that ultimately led authorities to obtain a search warrant for a Swain County residence. Detectives executing the warrant reportedly seized approximately six grams of suspected fentanyl. Officers also reported finding suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, cocaine, alprazolam pills, Suboxone strips, drug paraphernalia and two handguns inside the residence. Joyce Ann Fowls was charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver fentanyl, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana. The Sheriff’s Office said Fowls was being held without bond following her arrest. The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Authorities have not released additional information about the traffic stop, the location of the residence or whether other arrests are anticipated. The case is the latest in a series of joint investigations involving law-enforcement agencies in Swain and surrounding…
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Ceremony Held for Jackson County Administration Building
Jackson County officials and employees joined Vannoy Construction and other construction crews and officials for a “Topping Out” ceremony Thursday morning at the new Jackson County Administration Building project underway on Skyland Drive. The Topping Out ceremony is a construction tradition celebrating the placement of the final beam at the highest point of a building, marking the completion of its structural frame, honoring the workers involved, and celebrating its unique construction milestone. Those present signed their name on the white beam before it was hoisted to its position at the top of the structure. A small evergreen tree was placed on the beam, symbolizing growth, life, and protection. An American flag was also proudly hoisted. Earlier in April, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. County Manager Kevin King, Jackson County, said he is excited to see the construction of the new building as a place for residents to tend to various county services. “Being located next to the Skyland Service Center where other county services are already provided will certainly make this new location more convenient for our residents to efficiently manage their county needs and services.” Those county departments currently in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building located at…
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Jackson County’s Schools Were Built by Earlier Generations. Now It Is Our Turn.
Jackson County is not being asked to decide whether its public school facilities need work. Their ages, conditions and growing list of delayed projects have already answered that question. The decision is whether the county will make a comprehensive investment now or continue repairing aging buildings one problem at a time while construction costs rise and additional needs accumulate. Many of the facilities serving Jackson County students were built for another generation. Jackson Community School dates to 1951. The school bus garage was constructed in 1957. The Smoky Mountain High School campus and the building now used as the school district’s central office were built in 1960. Fairview Elementary opened in 1973, followed by Blue Ridge School in 1975 and Smokey Mountain Elementary in 1980. Cullowhee Valley opened in 1994, while Scotts Creek was completed in 2001. In 2026, that makes Jackson Community School approximately 75 years old, the bus garage 69, the Smoky Mountain High School campus and district office 66, Fairview 53, Blue Ridge 51 and Smokey Mountain Elementary 46. Scotts Creek, now 25 years old, remains the newest conventional elementary campus constructed in Jackson County. Jackson County Early College received a building on Southwestern Community College’s campus…
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Jackson County Schools Begins Year Short of Resource Officers
Jackson County Public Schools will begin the 2026–27 school year short of several school resource officers. District officials told the Jackson County Board of Education that the Sheriff’s Office has been unable to fill two SRO positions. The district currently places school resource officers throughout the school system to provide security and support students and staff. The school board approved a renewed agreement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for the upcoming school year. The agreement includes a higher hourly rate when schools request officers for after-school activities. The Sheriff’s Office provides coverage for a set number of athletic events at no cost to the district. Schools must pay the hourly rate when they request additional coverage beyond those events. District officials said higher state salaries for law enforcement officers did not include county or municipal employees, making it more difficult for the Sheriff’s Office to recruit and retain deputies. School administrators encouraged Jackson County commissioners to provide additional funding to help fill the open positions and support the Sheriff’s Office.
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