Robert Haught of Etowah has been sizing up the Republican field of presidential candidates and says Mitt Romney "unfortunately" is the best of the bunch so far.

A water main break today has left customers in the Etowah area of Henderson County without water, and customers in that area are advised to boil drinking water after the break is fixed.

From the press release: For Debi Whitmire, owner of Headwaters Outfitters, the vision of the French Broad River paddle trail is an exciting opportunity that is becoming one step closer to reality thanks to a grant from REI to the Western North Carolina Alliance .

Area conservation workers and volunteers will construct a third campsite later this month on the French Broad River as part of a new paddle trail.