Smoky Mountain News

OldTown Bank

Wed06192013

     Subscribe  |  Contact  |  Advertise  |  RSS Feed  |  Other Publications

Western Carolina Properties
Subscribe to this RSS feed
Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:16

Wildlife Commission reaffirms support for hunting with dogs

The Commissioners of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission unanimously adopted a resolution recently reaffirming the agency’s longstanding support for hunting with the use of dogs. “We support the use of dogs in hunting in North Carolina where such hunting is…
Tuesday, 01 February 2011 21:15

Gardening for a cause

The Sylva Community Garden project is seeking new members to join for the upcoming season. Plots of 15-feet by 30-feet are available for free in downtown Sylva. Gardeners participating must agree to donate at least one-half of the produce grown…
Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:12

The Naturalist's Corner: Take this book outside

Don’t put this book on your bookshelf, mounted there like some hunter’s head of a deer, to prove you can read. Don’t put this book on the coffee table, turned slightly askance — to be noticeable, so people will know…
Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:10

New wilderness area near Highlands unlikely

The situation doesn’t look promising for the formation of a new wilderness area in the Nantahala National Forest, the dream child of Brent Martin, the Sylva-based Southern Appalachian program director for The Wilderness Society. Martin envisioned easy political passage of…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:25

Agrarians: Learn to write a business plan

Mountain Bizworks wants to help farmers and would-be farmers looking to turn an idea into a practical business plan. The ag-biz foundations course will cover key elements every business plan needs, including writing a mission; financial planning and resources; and…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:24

State slashes power bill

A mandate to cut electricity use in state government buildings has saved North Carolina tax payers $55.3 million last fiscal year. The state law passed in 2003 required public buildings to reduce water and power use by 20 percent by…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:23

Soccer for big kids

Co-ed soccer for adults will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday nights starting Jan. 26 at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville. The soccer games are organized by Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department. The cost is $3…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:23

Reel basics class set for Pisgah Center

Learn the ins and outs of the fly fishing rod and reel from 10 a.m. until noon Jan. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Participants will learn to attach backing and line to the reel, discuss the various…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:22

Podcast spreads the word about threat to Smokies’ bats

A podcast released by Great Smoky Mountains National Park outlines efforts to save bats from White-nose syndrome, a potentially fatal disease sweeping through the Smokies’ bat population. The park is home to at least 11 species of bats, a primary…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:20

The Naturalist's Corner: Godzilla meets Barbi

Pandemonium had engulfed Shoal Creek by the time authorities arrived. One fisherman sat, dazed, on a boulder, rocking back and forth, his head in his hands, mumbling, “It was big as a horse – and those pinchers, oh, those pinchers…
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:17

Jockeying for space on the Nantahala: Outfitters and summer camps spar over control of river traffic

Rafting outfitters in the Nantahala Gorge have arrived at a compromise with summer camps and colleges vying for the chance to take kids down the Nantahala River without going through an existing commercial outfitter. The U.S. Forest Service issues only…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:10

Want more bike lanes? This survey is for you

If you like to bike, but don’t like how few bike lanes there are in your community, now’s the chance to tell the N.C. Department of Transportation to do a better job of accommodating cyclists. A 5- to 10-minute survey…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:09

Motorcycle maps make parkway sidetrips a breeze

A new series of maps designed for motorcycle riders chronicle the side trips and excursions along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The maps identify thousands of miles of classic motorcycle rides that lay beyond the parkway. The routes on the map…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:08

New mountain bike trails at Jackrabbit

After years of hard work by the mountain bike community, a new system of trails at Jackrabbit Recreation Area on Chatuge Lake near Hayesville is quickly becoming a top single-track destination. The 14-mile trail system skirts the edge of peninsulas…
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 20:07

Group training runs kick off this week for new half marathon

Runners who need a little inspiration to stay in shape this winter can now look toward a new half marathon to be held at Western Carolina University on Sunday, April 3. To help runners get ready — including those who…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:06

Plott Hound exhibit hits the road

Anyone who missed the historical exhibit on the Plott Hound at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center has through April to make a trip over to Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman to check it out. The only American hound not from…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:05

Agritourism no longer a newfangled venture

Farmers interesting in tapping the potential of agritourism can attend an all-day workshop on Thursday, Jan. 27, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Put on by the N.C. Cooperative Extension, “The Business Side of Agritourism” will explore the myriad ways…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:01

The Naturalist's Corner: Triple play

Crawl out of your igloo and take a look around. We had kind of assumed a “snow” mentality here at the Hendershot household. A little sledding, a little snow play, then back into the house for hot chocolate, snacks and…
Wednesday, 19 January 2011 19:49

Logging for cash versus long-range forest health

Logging in national forests might take on a radically different look in coming years. The forest service might be moving away from the old-school timber sale, where stands of trees were auctioned to the highest bidder and then left to…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:37

Frog Awareness Program Offered at the Cradle of Forestry

A February program at the Cradle of Forestry will explore how frogs come out of their hiding places to find mates and lay eggs in woodland waters. The program — whimsically named “Frog Love in the Pink Beds”  in honor…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:37

Shooting range sidelined by opposition

The U.S. Forest Service has backed off a proposed shooting range in Clay County following public opposition. The forest service planned to build a new shooting range near Perry Creek in the Nantahala National Forest, but the site has been…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:36

Downhill racing season heats up at Cataloochee

The ski racing season kicked off at Cataloochee Ski Area last week. More than 200 skiers and snowboarders from middle schools and high schools across the region competed for the best downhill times during the inaugural week of racing. You…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:34

After-school ski program includes a ride to Cataloochee

An after-school ski and snowboard program for middle school students will be held Thursday afternoons starting Jan. 27 and running for five weeks. The program, offered by Waynesville Parks and Recreation, includes transportation, rental equipment, a lift ticket and a…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:34

Study shows growth in recycling jobs

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources released a study this week showing strong growth in recycling jobs in the state despite the effects of the recent recession.   The research, conducted by DENR’s Division of Environmental Assistance and…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:32

Haywood Waterways honors water guardians

Tom Anspach wrestled 1,020 pounds of trash out of the Pigeon River around the Canton Recreation Park over the past year nearly single-handedly. The magnanimous effort landed Anspach the title of volunteer of the year by Haywood Waterways Association. Anspach…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:31

The Naturalist's Corner: Dead birds, dead fish, dead crabs, oh my!

If there was any lingering doubt that the apocalypse was, indeed, scheduled for 2012, it has been erased. The totally unprecedented death of thousands of birds, tens of thousand (or more) fish and tens of thousands of crabs has been…
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:26

WildSouth facilitates wildlife meeting

The non-profit grassroots conservation organization WildSouth sponsored a meeting last week to discuss complaints and questions from the public regarding poaching, trespassing and other wildlife-related issues. The meeting, held in the Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska on Jan. 7, attracted…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 21:01

Farming the woods for forest crops

A one-day workshop called “Does Your Forest Talk Money?” will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Graham County. It’s geared for landowners, farmers, wild crafters and food entrepreneurs. The course will explore…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 21:00

Green Drinks series to highlight chestnut restoration

A talk called “Forest Majesty: Bringing back the American chestnut tree” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at Posana Restaurant in downtown Asheville as part of the Green Drinks series, a monthly get together to discuss environmental…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:59

Waynesville rec center now offers spin classes

Cyclists aiming to stay fit during winter or those looking for a change of pace in their workout should check out the new spin classes at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Spin classes make exercise on a stationary bike more exciting,…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:59

Ski area to offer after-school program

Cataloochee Ski Area is offering after-school programs for elementary, middle and high school kids to learn to ski or snowboard this winter. The five-week course includes a two-hour clinic once a week from 5 to 7 p.m. Elementary school kids…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:58

Donation sets the stage for protection of Headwaters tract

The quest to protect the 8,000-acre Headwaters tract in Transylvania County — one of the last undeveloped tracts of its size in the Southern Appalachians — is celebrating its first milestone. A donation from Fred and Alice Stanback — conservation…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:57

Bear license plate support projects the Smokies

Special license plates sporting a black bear have proliferated across WNC, raising $356,000 in 2010 for Friends of the Smokies, which funds projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some of the projects made possible by the license plate…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:55

Anglers offer fly-fishing class for beginners

Fly-fishing wannabes can learn the basics and try their hand at casting a line this winter thanks to an ongoing series of beginner fly-fishing classes offer by the Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Sylva. The program includes two classroom…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:53

The Naturalist's Corner: A soggy record

The twin banes of birding, wind and rain, combined to help set a new record low for the eighth annual Balsam Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The soggy but undaunted cadre of birders sloshed and slogged their way around Lake Logan,…
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:50

The great white quiet

Doug McFalls spent last winter as caretaker at LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The lodge is near the 6,593-foot summit of Mt. LeConte, the third highest peak in the Smokies. “I came away with a better…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:44

Holiday recycling hits Haywood

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than any other time of the year, which amounts to 25 million tons of trash. Following are some tips on how to reduce waste and consider energy…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:43

Swimming lessons to start in the new year

The Aquatics Department of Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center will begin the 2011 group swim lesson lineup with the winter session, Jan. 14 and 15, through March 4 and 5. Group swimming lessons are available for children of all…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:42

Viticulture conference coming to Candler

The North Carolina BioNetwork BioBusiness Center in Candler will host the first annual North Carolina Conference on Sustainable Viticulture on Feb. 23. The conference will feature speakers from throughout the U.S. who will share information on how to grow grapes…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:42

Fees waived and free screenings at HRHFC

Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center is waiving the usual initiation fee on six-month memberships as a holiday gift to the community. The special is valid through Jan. 7. For more information call 828.452.8080. A highly trained member of the…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:40

The Naturalist's Corner: 2010 through the Naturalist’s Corner’s window

Correction: Last week’s story regarding the Balsam CBC stated that dinner after the count would be at the Sagebrush. Wrong! The fine people at Bocelli’s will graciously be putting up with a bunch of tired, noisy birders. This year is…
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 20:38

More Blue Ridge Parkway viewshed protected

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) recently protected Blackrock Ridge in northern Jackson County, a striking and important component of the Plott Balsam Mountains. The Plott Balsams, which reach 6,000 feet in elevation, tower above Waynesville, Sylva and Cherokee. Blackrock…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:53

Appalachian Trail guide debuts 33rd edition

The legendary Appalachian Trail grew by 1.9 miles in 2010. Every December, the latest mileage and shelter information for the 11 official guides to the AT is updated from volunteers who are constantly improving the trail. Volunteer Daniel D. Chazin…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:52

Forest health takes teamwork

The University of North Carolina at Asheville and the U.S. Forest Service are joining forces to boost awareness and understanding of threats to forest health. The joint venture will team UNCA’s advanced computer modeling and imaging capabilities with Forest Service…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:51

Learn to garden organically at UNCA

Early registration is now open for the 2011 Organic Growers School Conference on March 5-6 on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville campus. More than 1,500 farmers, gardeners, chefs, food activists and consumers are expected to…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:50

Wildlife Advocates to meet at Lake J

The Western North Carolina Wildlife Advocates will meet from noon to 3 p.m. on Jan. 7 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.   North Carolina Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, will present his ideas for increasing funding and manpower for wildlife law…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:49

The Naturalist's Corner: Invasion of the PUFIs

Don’t worry, PUFIs won’t harm you. They won’t even take you up to the mothership to probe and prod you and send you home with nothing but a vague recollection of bluish lights and otherworldly mutterings. PUFI is simply bird-nerd…
Wednesday, 22 December 2010 20:46

National Audubon’s 111th Christmas Bird Count

Tis the season to be counting. The National Audubon Society’s century-old citizen-science prototype — the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) — began Dec. 14 and will run through Jan. 5, 2011. Area birders will join forces with counters across the state…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:33

Cataloochee group raises more than $10,000 for chestnut restoration projects

A local group has raised more than $10,000 to support local, state and national efforts to bring back that mighty giant, the American chestnut tree. The Cataloochee Branch of The American Chestnut Foundation sponsored its first annual Chestnut Saturday and…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:32

Houck Medford steps down from Foundation

Dr. Carolyn Ward of Asheville was recently named as head of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Ward replaces Dr. Houck Medford, a Waynesville native, who has served as the founder and CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation since its…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:31

Casada takes home writing awards

A Swain County native now living in South Carolina has won several writing awards from the South Carolina Outdoor Press Association. Jim Casada writes frequently about the Smokies and is a regular columnist in The Smoky Mountain Times in Bryson…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:29

Smokies fish expert, Steve Moore, earns national recognition

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Supervisory Fisheries Biologist Steve Moore was recently recognized with two national awards for his leadership in native trout stream restoration in the Smokies and at national parks across the nation. Moore recently received the Aldo…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:28

Cataloochee collects coats, food for the needy

Cataloochee Ski Area continued a long tradition of holiday giving to the local community recently with its 9th Annual Can-U-Ski Food and Coat Drive.   Cataloochee skiers and riders turned out in record numbers to participate in the area’s annual…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:27

Foothills ‘missing link’ set for 2015 completion

The so-called “Missing Link” of the Foothills Parkway in east Tennessee is now scheduled for completion by 2015. Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say a $33.8 million contract has been awarded to the Lane Construction Company of…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:25

The Naturalist's Corner: A heartfelt thanks to the Stanbacks

I received an email last week from Ida Phillips, communications director for Audubon North Carolina, announcing that Lea Island, a barrier island in Pender County was close to being permanently protected: “One of the last undeveloped barrier islands in North…
Wednesday, 15 December 2010 21:23

Mixing business with birding

A recent program brought together business owners and outdoor enthusiasts who shared a common desire — to promote birding while also taking advantage of its potential economic impact Rob Hawk, the new Jackson and Swain County extension director for the North…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:08

Popular Maggie Moonlight Race returns in 2011

The Maggie Valley Moonlight Race will return in 2011, once again enticing runners from near and far to lace up their sneakers in the dark. “After a two-year absence, Glory Hound Events is proud to bring back this fixture of…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:07

35th annual “Festival of Christmas Past”

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold the 35th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.   The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:07

Support your local farms this winter

Harvests of sweet corn, tomatoes, and other produce wrapped up weeks ago, but Haywood County farmers still have plenty to offer this holiday season — everything from Christmas trees and wreaths to smoked trout and other meats. “Many shoppers connected…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:05

The Naturalist's Corner: Goose dilemma

A spin around Lake Junaluska the other day (12/2) turned up another unusual winter visitor plus highlighted the foibles and frustrations sometimes associated with birding. I had finished a quick check of the new wetlands and was headed back to…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:05

Cataloochee’s 50th season off to a great white start

Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley is off to another strong start to its season. “We’ve been open since Nov. 6,” said Cataloochee General Manager Chris Bates. “We have a base of anywhere between 18 to 80 inches. And the…
Wednesday, 08 December 2010 21:02

Cataloochee Ski Patrol: Keeping you safe on the slope

The Cataloochee Ski Patrol began in 1961 as a group of friends who enjoyed skiing at the new Cataloochee Ski Hill, the first ski area to open south of Pennsylvania. As Cataloochee Ski Area grew and became more popular, it’s…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:27

Birding trail workshop set for Dec. 9

A “Birder Friendly Community Workshop” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Balsam Mountain Inn. The workshop, sponsored by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, will provide training for businesses and communities to help…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:26

Jackson County Farmers Market to hold Holiday Bazaar

The Jackson County Farmers Market will remain open throughout the winter months. The market vendors will hold a Holiday Bazaar to kick off the winter season from 9 a.m. until noon on Dec. 4 in the parish hall of St.…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:26

Visitation to the Smokies jumps over last year

Visitation to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through October is up for the year, and in October 2010 park visitation jumped by 19 percent over October 2009. Parkwide, visitation for the year is up 2.9 percent. Through October 2009,…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:24

N.C. parks prove popular with visitors

More than a quarter million visitors to North Carolina state parks used a new reservations system in its first full year of operation, with most campers preferring short visits to state parks near their homes, according to the N.C. Division…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:23

Plans moving forward for Caring for Creation conference

Early registration is currently under way for the 2011 Caring for Creation experience at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center on March 31-April 3, 2011. Caring for Creation is a loosely organized movement of faith communities that believe there is Biblical…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:22

JMCA marks 10 years with Dec. 9 celebration

The Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance is celebrating its 10th anniversary and holding its annual meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Episcopal Church in Highlands. The celebration will include food, wine/beer and music performed by Thea and the…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:20

The Naturalist's Corner: There’s jus’ sumthin’ bout a tree

I mean, where would you hang a tire swing if there were no trees? How could you lay back and watch the sky rock back and forth filling the jigsaw spaces between the leaves with ever-changing bits of sky and…
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 21:09

Photography stands out among a mixed bag of interest

Putting all of Ed Kelley’s interests in separate, tidy little boxes just doesn’t work. There’s no way to separate Ed from Ed’s photography; or Ed’s photography from nature; or nature from Ed’s philosophy. There is also Ed Kelley the artist,…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 20:03

Trying to preserve a national treasure

The U.S. Forest Service spent the first two weeks of November felling approximately 150 dead and/or dying eastern hemlocks in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest adjacent to the Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail. The hemlocks, many of them centuries old,…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 20:02

The Naturalist's Corner: Hey, can a squirrel get a lift around here?

The answer is, in the case of the federally endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel, a resounding yes. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission with the aid of North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke Energy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 19:57

Mountain grown Fraser fir Christmas trees

There’s nothing quite like a real Fraser fir Christmas tree. In recent years, the value and quality of locally produced food has re-inspired many Western North Carolina citizens to purchase locally grown food. After all, products produced in Western North…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 19:57

Hybrids hike park’s environmentally sensitive fleet

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently took delivery of seven Ford Escape Hybrid vehicles that were purchased using a $197,550 grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program.   The CMAQ funding…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 19:56

Park photo contest open until Dec. 31

The National Park Service is accepting entries in the Share the Experience photo contest through Dec. 31. The photo taken by the grand prize winner will appear on a 2012 America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 19:55

Clay County trail routed off private land

The U.S. Forest Service has rerouted a portion of the Rim Trail Clay County. The Rim Trail is a 26-mile Forest Service trail that travels along the rim of the Fires Creek basin near Hayesville. The approximately 2.5-mile section of…
Wednesday, 24 November 2010 19:54

Take precautions while out hunting

During the holiday season, when family and friends gather, many go on traditional hunting trips. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding hunters to take proper precautions when hunting during the holidays. The Wildlife Commission’s “Home From The Hunt” campaign…
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 19:31

The Naturalist's Corner: Black oil sunflower seed is king

One thing became clear during my little bird feeding experiment. If you’re looking for one birdseed that will attract just about any bird, black oil sunflower seed is the bomb. Remember a few weeks back when, disillusioned about the high…
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 19:18

Could hops be one of WNC’s new cash crops?

Tobacco is no longer the cash crop it once was in North Carolina, but its partner in crime — hops — could be on the way up. Several small farms across Western North Carolina are experimenting with hops to supply…
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 19:16

The Naturalist's Corner: 4TH Annual Hendershot Birdapalooza

The results are in and the fourth annual Hendershot Birdapalooza at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe, Louisiana was the most successful to date. We ended the day (6.5 hrs.) with 66 species. The success was due, in…
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 19:13

Spare me some spears

By Sandi Simons-Crawford Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is one of very few perennial vegetables. A properly managed bed will produce for 15 years or more. The taste of fresh asparagus from your garden rewards your initial effort and patience. Varieties The…
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 19:02

Guarding the Little Tennessee from exotics

Environmental groups in Macon County are joining forces to tackle the scourge of exotic plants along the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin. Exotic plants undermine the natural ecosystem, pushing out native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. The…
Wednesday, 18 February 2009 19:00

Smokies’ mania: 75 hikes for the 75th anniversary

Jerry Span stared down the sign post for Old Settlers Trail. The temperature registered a mere 6 degrees, and the 17 miles of frozen trail stretching before him through a remote corner of the Smokies loomed large in his mind.…
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 17:36

Environmentalists come in many forms at fair

Standing next to a display that showed pictures of West Virginia mountains scarred by mountaintop removal coal mining, Austin Hall with Appalachian Voices of Boone bemoaned, “That is wrong on such a gut level.” But with the new Barack Obama…
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 17:30

Building better, conserving energy

Western Carolina University is leading the way in a state mandate to cut energy production on college campuses. WCU has already reached the state target of reducing energy consumption by 30 percent by the year 2015, making it the first…
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 17:15

The Naturalist's Corner: Birder bucks

The mountain section of the North Carolina Birding Trail (NCBT) is complete and the Mountain Region Trail Guide, describing, with directions, the 105 sites along the trail should be available by early summer 2009. Many of those sites are in…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:37

Gardeners get a bargain

By Jane Young Haywood County Master Gardeners had you in mind when they wrote The Gardener’s Guide to Growing in the Mountains. This latest edition of the garden almanac addresses the Western North Carolina gardener’s concerns with elevation, weather, soils,…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:31

Another piece of farmland saved

Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a historic and scenic farm in Buncombe County, has been permanently protected through a conservation agreement with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. The family-owned farm raises livestock and grows produce found at several grocers, including Earth…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:30

The Naturalist's Corner: When not to feed the birds

Last week I wrote about the spiraling cost of birdseed and about experimenting with different seed and protocol for those bird-feeding aficionados who, like me, are on a budget. The idea was to try and find a way to still…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:27

How to decide?

A new rule could make it easier to open up trails in national parks to mountain biking. Mountain biking isn’t banned in national parks as a matter of course, although it is rare to find parks where it is allowed.…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:22

Haywood gets serious about tapping landfill methane

Haywood County officials want to tap the pent up methane in the county’s landfill to help the environment and hopefully make a little extra cash. The county has been eyeing the possibility of a methane recovery system at two of…
Wednesday, 04 February 2009 16:18

Can mountain bikes find a home in the Smokies?

Mountain bikers face a long, steep climb in their fight to see more trails opened to tires in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One of the major hurdles facing the sport is stereotypes, said Kent Cranford, a mountain biker…
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 21:02

Guns in parks? Court says not so fast

The ban on guns in national parks will continue to remain in place for the time being, despite a move by the outgoing Bush Administration to lift the ban. Environmental groups and park ranger associations joined forces in filing a…
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 20:57

The Naturalist's Corner: Going to Grandfather Mountain and back

By Izzy Hendershot (age 7) • Notes in italics by Dad We hopped in the car and started off. The first stop (two hours later, in Blowing Rock) was the hotel. We unpacked and then we got back in the…
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 20:41

Heritage you can taste: Cherokee savor apples of their ancestors

Preserving Cherokee heritage goes beyond baskets, blow guns and pow-wows to the very foods and crops once grown and savored by the tribe centuries ago. One of those important foods — for the Cherokee and any mountain dweller of yesteryear…
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 20:21

Hiking every last trail in the Smokies, and then some

By Danny Bernstein For the past year, I’ve kept a trail map of the Smokies and the trusted manual Hiking Trails of the Smokies, known affectionately as the brown book, stashed in the seat pocket of my car. The telephone…
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 20:19

Basil: king of herbs

By Jim Janke Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an incredible herb. Essential for tomato sauces, basil has plenty of other uses. You’ve not lived unless you’ve experienced chopped basil over fresh tomato slices in summer; bruschetta with tomatoes and basil;…
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 20:17

The Naturalist's Corner: Cornell knows birds – and I don’t

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a citizen-science venture conducted under the auspices of Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. It is conducted each February. It began as a kind of “feeder watch” or backyard project with volunteers counting…
Wednesday, 11 March 2009 20:00

Environmental groups poised to win long battle

Following a prolonged debate, the national forest service wants to close a system of four-wheel drive trails in the Tellico Off-Road Vehicle area outside Andrews. The playground is famous among four-wheel drive enthusiasts, but rutting of the trails by tires…
Page 17 of 22