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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:34

The Naturalist's Corner

Bird Lag Last weekend (5/21-5/23) was a blur of birds, bears and blooms — a combination of work, friends, fellowship and family that left me beat and begging for more. I started out in the thick damp predawn hours Friday…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:29

Screening to feature extreme outdoor footage

Catch the steepest and deepest in high-adrenaline outdoor sport films when Radical Reels Tour comes to Asheville on Monday, Sept. 13. Hurtle down steep untouched powder, feel the cold spray of stomach-dropping kayak first descents, fly high with the world’s…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:27

Plant conference brings out all things botanical

Landscape design, botany, horticulture and gardening will be the highlight of “Landscaping and Gardening With Native Plants” conference held in Highlands on Sept. 10 and 11. Hundreds attend the annual conference featuring two days of fieldtrips, workshops and speakers. Get…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:25

5K set among the fairways of Highlands course

A 5K race will traverse the front nine holes of the Old Edwards Club in Highlands on Saturday, Sept. 11, serving up a tranquil setting and a twist on the typical 5K route through town streets. “Doing the PAR 5K…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:24

Rules for guns and game on the Blue Ridge Parkway

With guns now allowed in national parks, red tape faced by hunters crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway en route to a hunting spot has been lifted. Hunting is still illegal in national parks, but this year it became legal to…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:21

Fox sightings up

Fox sightings in town are on the rise, including residential suburban neighborhoods and they have even been reported on busy town streets. Simply seeing a fox is not a cause for alarm, according to the N.C. Wildlife Commission. Nonetheless, don’t…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:18

WNC birders jolted from summer doldrums

Birders are a restless, impatient lot. From the end of June till the end of August they walk around in a kind of stupor. You will see them occasionally stop shuffling, cock their head with hand cupped behind their ear,…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:16

Cataloochee Elk deemed a success

Fans of the elk herd in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would be surprised to learn that until now, the elk’s existence here was merely an experiment — they theoretically could be rounded up and hauled away at any…
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:03

A busy summer on the Nantahala River

Nantahala Outdoor Center raft guides can finally relax after working the busiest season the outfitter has seen in the last 10 years. “There are a lot of sore shoulders,” said Charles Connor, director of marketing at NOC. “We’re all kind…
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:25

The Naturalist's Corner

A sure bet I’m sure that if you belong to any environmental/conservation organization or if you have donated to causes in the past or perhaps simply visited a website recently, you have received pleas for donations and/or instructions detailing ways…
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:18

Nantahala Gorge ready for the world

“The Nantahala River has been many things to many people, but it’s never been a World Championship destination,” said Joe Jacobi, CEO of USA Canoe/Kayak, the governing body for whitewater sports in America. In April, the International Canoe Federation named…
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 15:08

New Bartram Trail map offers all the details

Hikers and map geeks will revel in poring over a new map of the Bartram Trail being released this week. The map covers a 75-mile stretch of the Bartram Trail that winds through the Nantahala National Forest of Macon and…
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 14:57

The Naturalist's Corner

Still soaring after all these years Eagle Lady Doris Mager enjoyed a “rock star” reception last Friday (6/18) at the Waynesville public library. But instead of overage adolescents flicking bics and shouting “Freebird,” Mager and her friend E.T. (Extra Terrific),…
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 14:55

Coastal Crusaders

When asked how he felt about the catastrophic BP oil spill, Robert Young paused for the first time during the interview, visibly moved. “It’s depressing...don’t make me cry,” Young said before walking over to his desktop and opening up a…
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 14:03

Exploring Sylva’s secret garden

Jay Coward is no stranger to Pinnacle Park. When the work day ends, Coward often trades in his attorney’s suit and tie for hiking attire and escapes into the 1,000-acre wilderness at Sylva’s doorstep. An intergral player with the Pinnacle…
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 13:59

The Naturalist's Corner

Skulker of the tangles The other morning at 6 o’clock at Hickey Fork in the Pisgah National Forest’s Shelton Laurel Backcountry Area in Madison County, the loud ringing song of a Swainson’s warbler shattered the early morning stillness. The mnemonic…
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 13:40

The Naturalist's Corner

uddling – a kaleidoscope adventure Maddy (my 4-year-old) and I had been in the woods at Harmons Den checking on some bird points. We came out of the woods at the Harmons Den Horse Camp. At the intersection of Cold…
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 13:32

Conservation of tract protects the Pigeon River

A 92-acre tract near the Little East Fork of the Pigeon River in the Bethel community in Haywood County has been protected through a conservation agreement by the property owner. “We are very grateful to everyone involved in this project…
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 13:26

Protection of mountain’s vast tract hinges on funding

An 8,000 acre tract in Transylvania County, the largest block of privately owned wilderness in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, may soon be protected if enough funds can be raised. The landowner, former Congressman Charles Taylor who is also a…
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 20:03

Ecology and culture intertwine with incredibly useful river cane

The Cherokee uses and ecology of river cane will be discussed during a guided walk from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 9, in Franklin. “We Brake for River Cane” will discuss biology and ecology of canebrakes, and the…
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 16:34

The answer’s still blowin; but the times may be a’changin’

I was heartened recently by two op-eds I read in area newspapers regarding industrial-sized wind turbines in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The reasoned commentaries were written by individuals with firsthand knowledge of science, the scientific method, Appalachian history,…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:56

The butternut in the creek bend

Like dimly-lit rhododendron tunnels or ancient sphagnum-layered bogs, creek bends are special places that invariably precipitate beauty. Sitting in the blue-gray shadows of my porch, I watch lower Lands Creek flow by on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:56

Smokies’ ash trees at risk from deadly insect

Researchers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park need volunteers to help map stands of ash trees and look for signs of the deadly Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer has been spreading and is now as close as…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:55

Tsali targeted for trail work

The famed mountain bike trails of Tsali will get a workover this fall thanks to federal stimulus funding. Vegetation will be trimmed back 4 feet on both sides from the center of the trail and 10-feet overhead, and areas with…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:54

Triathlon combines best of mountain sports

The ultimate triathlon for outdoors adventure lovers — with the triple combo of paddling, trail running and mountain biking — will come to the trails of Tsali this weekend, Aug. 28 and 29. The Tsali Challenge will be held at…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:51

Franklin 5k for Clean Water in Africa

The Franklin Blue Planet 5K for Clean Water will be held Saturday, Sept. 4, along the Little Tennessee Greenway. The Interact Club at Franklin High School is putting on the race to raise money for the Blue Planet Network, which…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:50

Blue Ridge Parkway tract preserved near Waynesville

A 110-acre tract along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville has been protected thanks to the longtime landowner selling the land to the Conservation Trust of North Carolina at a bargain rate. The Conservation Trust in turn plans to deed…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:49

Chestnut festival to be held at Cataloochee Ranch

Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley is hosting a chestnut celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The festivities will honor the all-important role of chestnut trees for early Appalachian settlers and efforts to repopulate the mountains with…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:48

Jackson lakes lowered

Boating at Tanasee Creek and Wolf Creek lakes will be reduced while Duke Energy repairs a hydroelectric generator below the two lakes. Both lakes are 18.5 feet below full, rendering the boat ramp at Wolf Lake useless. The current schedule…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:48

Fireman’s 5K blazes into Bryson City

The Fireman’s Day 5K will be held in Bryson City Saturday, Sept. 4, in conjunction with the 29th annual Fireman’s Day Street Festival. The 3.1-mile course starts and finishes at the Bryson City Fire Department. It makes a loop out…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:46

Greenhouses warmed by “green” heat up for rent

Growers looking for greenhouse space may find what they need at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro, where large greenhouses are heated using energy from methane given off by decomposing trash. There is more than 4,000 square feet…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:44

Won one for the piper

On Aug. 17, federal judge Royce C. Lambeth ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s designation of critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover in areas of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore were in compliance with the Endangered…
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 19:43

First Blue Ridge Breakaway a great success

Barring relentless rain and a couple of mishaps, the inaugural Blue Ridge Breakaway was a resounding success, according to ride organizers. About 300 avid cyclists headed out early on Saturday, Aug. 21, for the newest long-distance bike ride in Western…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:47

Overlooks in southern Appalachia

High-elevation overlooks are one of our finest natural resources. These vantage points allow us to rise above our everyday humdrum existence and see the world with fresh eyes. Many of the finest overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:45

A forest guide for the novice

A new book titled The Forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park serves as a guide to understanding and identifying southern Appalachian forest types for the non-scientist. The book explores the evolution of the diverse forests of the Smokies,…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:44

Builders can get an edge with HCC green building crash course

An eight-week course on the Fundamentals of Green Building will be held at Haywood Community College starting Aug. 30. The course is designed to help construction workers and contractors land work in the emerging green construction industry. The course is…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:43

Energy expo to feature sustainable lifestyles

The tenth annual Southern Energy and Environment Expo this weekend in Asheville will features dozens of programs and exhibits on how to create a more sustainable society. Thousands of people attend each year to hear the talks, attend workshops and…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:42

Photographers sought to document trees of the Parkway

Photographers should get to work now to come up with their best mountain images for the eighth annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. The photo contest celebrates the unique people, places, and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians. The contest has…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:39

Foot Rx brings 5K race to Jackson County

A cross-country style 5K race in Cullowhee sponsored by Foot Rx of Asheville, a running shoe store, will be held this Saturday, Aug. 21. The Foot Rx 5k Cross Country Challenge starts at 9 a.m. at the Jackson County Recreation…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:38

The oil is gone! Long live the oil!

A week or so ago White House energy adviser Carol Browner was hitting the morning TV circuit, telling anyone who would listen that the majority of the more than 200 million gallons of crude that gushered into the Gulf of…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:29

A few wrong turns on the way to paradise

I grabbed my guidebook and pen and wrapped my camera in a plastic grocery bag as it started to rain. Stuffing it all into my backpack, I headed down the ancient looking road, nothing but two narrow ruts overgrown by…
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:26

The allure of falling water

Although most people are drawn to waterfalls, many pause before they can articulate why. For some, it’s the sound of the water tumbling over the rocks. For others, it’s the sheer beauty or tranquility. “Everybody loves them, but nobody can…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:56

A cool summer job

Internships in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park gave not only students but teachers hands-on experience in science this summer. Teachers and students spent their summer in the field with park rangers, conducting environmental research and outreach with park visitors…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:56

Early registration for Haywood bike race

Take your passion for cycling to a new level during the Greater Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Blue Ridge Breakaway. The first annual Blue Ridge Breakaway, presented by MedWest, will take place August 21, 2010. Slated to be an annual…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:55

Wilderness Therapy program starts at SCC

A new program in Wilderness Therapy at Southwestern Community College caters to a rapidly-expanding sector in the outdoors job field. “In the past 10 years wilderness therapy has became a growing field in this area, and that opens up opportunities…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:53

Mount Lyn Lowry tract on Parkway preserved

A 35-acre tract of forested land next to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Haywood-Jackson countyline in Balsam has been protected thanks to work of the Conservation Trust of North Carolina and the help of private donors and land conservation…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:52

Canoe Club Cup this weekend

Whitewater clubs from across the Southeast will have their final showdown for the Canoe Club Cup at the Nantahala Outdoor Center Saturday, August 14. A downriver race starts at 10 a.m. Going into the final race of the three-race series,…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:51

Summertime blues

Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do cause there ain’t enough time for all the summertime blues. And by blues I mean all those wonderful summer wildflowers that run the gamut from lavender to blue to violet and purple.…
Wednesday, 11 August 2010 13:49

Fishing out of water

Gary Mann was working as a mortgage banker in Philadelphia when he read Cold Mountain during a trip to the beach. The book, written by his second cousin Charles Frazier, made his heart ache for Haywood County. “About the second…
Tuesday, 10 August 2010 20:36

Learn about the Smokies’ elk with “Bugle Corps” Volunteers

A special children’s storytime (adults are welcome) devoted to the elk of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. In attendance will be Patty Davis…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:36

On the beauty of hibiscus flowers

I had my first introduction to plants in the Hibiscus genus when I was a boy. Rose-of-Sharon was a common dooryard shrub in the piedmont region of Virginia where I grew up, just as it is here in Western North…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:36

Take your biking indoors

Too hot to road bike? Why not try a spinning class. While pedaling a stationary bike might not sound like the most exciting workout, the instructor in a spinning class leads the group through various drills and visualizations on the…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:34

News for birders

Birding workshop “Bird Watching for Beginners” will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Balsam Mountain Inn on the Haywood-Jackson counytline. The workshop will cover the basics of bird watching, including how to find and…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:33

New Smokies Audubon chapter forms

A new Great Smoky Mountains chapter of the National Audubon Society formed just a few months ago but can already claims a few hundred members in its ranks. The Great Smoky Mountains Audubon Society meets at 6:30 p.m. on the…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:31

Parkway to celebrate 75th at Waterrock Knob

A celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center between Balsam and Maggie Valley. The festivities, called “Blue Ridge…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:30

Snorkeling in mountain rivers offers window to the underwater world

Cool off with a snorkeling trip on the Little Tennessee River on Saturday, Aug. 14, while gaining a new perspective on aquatic life. Snorkeling reveals a whole new world of fish, mussels, salamanders and the like that live below the…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:29

Cherokee to host popular children’s trout derby

Hundreds of children will line the banks of the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee this weekend for the annual Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby. The trout derby — held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, at Island…
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 20:27

The un-hummingbird

Toni Mullany of Waynesville sent me an email the other day noting a guest scoping out her phlox. She described the critter thusly: “It is about the size of a large bumblebee. It is all black. It has furry head…
Monday, 02 August 2010 15:51

Folkmoot 5K race results

Folkmoot 5K overall results Folkmoot 5K age group results
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:18

Missing section of Mountains to Sea Trail gets shorter

Volunteers continue knocking out a new section of the Mountains to Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waterrock Knob. Working under the tutelage of trail builders with the Carolina Mountain Club, who have spent years tackling a missing…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:16

Park ranger programs offer window on Smokies

Before summer slips by, take in one of the many ranger guided programs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from naturalist hikes to history talks. Here’s a line of up of free programs on tap in the Smokies this…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:15

Lake Logan offers cool venue for hot race

Triathletes from across the country will descend on Lake Logan in Haywood County Aug. 7 and 8. The weekend line-up includes two triathlons — one longer and one shorter — with a combo of swimming, biking and running. There is…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:14

Talk to highlight convergence of art and nature

George and Elizabeth Ellison, the artist and naturalist husband-wife team from Bryson City, will give a talk called “Blue Ridge Perspectives: The Natural World Thru Words and Images” at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 in Highlands. George is a writer,…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:13

Program to ponder the mystery of Masa

George Masa was one of the greatest landscape photographers of Western North Carolina, but where he came from and what happened to the thousands of photographs he took remains a mystery even today. Known as the Ansel Adams of the…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:08

Bird’s the word

Are you a fledgling birder? Would you like to learn more about the feathered flocks that visit your feeder and grace your yard? Join Simon Thompson at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 8:15 a.m.…
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 13:04

Outdoor Mission Camp englightens and empowers city youth through wilderness adventure

Ruffin Shackelford led a group of boys, referred to his program by a juvenile court judge, deep into the Shining Rock Wilderness. That night one of the boys started beating up another, and when Shackelford separated them, the aggressor said…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:00

Yellowroot, kingfishers and waterstriders

The upland waterways of the southern highlands provide one of the region’s most interesting natural areas. Unlike most upland habitats — which generally occur as blocks or patches — streams form long corridors that afford rich and varied niches for…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:59

Trail volunteers needed in Smokies

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting for volunteers for the Adopt-a-Trail program. A mandatory training program will be held on Saturday, July 31, on the North Carolina side of the Park for interested volunteers. Volunteers are asked to…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:58

Elk Foundation banquet to celebrate milestones

The Great Smoky Mountains Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will throw its annual banquet at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was integral to the reintroduction of elk…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:58

Imperiled fish returns to the Cheoah River

Stocking a river with one of the nation’s rarest fish is a slow and gentle process. On a recent summer day, biologist Steve Fraley lowered a clear-plastic bag full of water and 50 small, threatened fish called spotfin chub, into…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:55

WATR hosts walk ‘n talk

The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River will host a “Walk ‘n Talk” in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside Bryson City at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 23. Two retired WCU professors, Glenn Liming…
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 13:00

Goats who stare at trees

They not only stare at them, they eat them. Well, maybe not all trees, but woody browse in general. Hopefully, this penchant for woody invasives like Canada blackberry will make goats the perfect organic weed-whacker for protecting the grassy balds…
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 20:49

America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

Not even the looming shadow of the nation’s worst environmental disaster in two decades could spoil the mood at the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative listening session in Asheville last week. Recreation, conservation and preservation-minded environmentalists from all over Western North…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:25

“America’s Great Outdoors” comes to WNC

Whether you’re a birder or mountain biker, paddler or hiker, photographer or hunter, now is your chance to bend the President’s ear on the future of outdoor recreation in America. A series of listening sessions are being held across the…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:25

Hosta, hosta, hosta

The Dixie Region Hosta Convention will be in Waynesville Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, at Rux Gardens. Lovers of the shade tolerant plant will assemble for seminars, garden tours, vending and auction. Plant vendors will be set up…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:12

WATR holds meeting and annual Walk ‘n Talk

The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River members and all who are interested in clean mountain streams are invited to the WATR Summer Public meeting on Wednesday, July 21, at the Sylva Town Hall in Jackson County. The Watershed Association…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:09

Grants encourage creative use of forest resources

From bark shingles to edible mushrooms, entrepreneurs across Western North Carolina are being encouraged to tap the resources of the national forests for creative business endeavors. More than $1.2 million in federal stimulus money has been granted to 14 small…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:08

Bee balm

The girls love to surprise Mom with bouquets of wildflowers. The other day they came in with a handful of one of my favorites, bee balm. Monarda didyma, bee balm or Oswego tea, is a striking perennial wildflower common across…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:06

New toilets in Cataloochee Valley

Cataloochee Valley, a popular section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Haywood County, finally has restrooms. Cataloochee Valley offers a historical representation of an early mountain community with farmhouses, cemeteries, a church and school house. It also has…
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:02

Blue Ridge Breakaway to bring cyclists to Haywood County

The mountains of Western North Carolina are rapidly becoming the top destination for serious cyclists east of the Mississippi. The latest long-distance race to join the local cycling scene is the Blue Ridge Breakaway on Aug. 21, the first of…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 21:00

Jackson farmers roll out the welcome mat

A staggering 15 farms and gardens will open their fields and greenhouses to the public during the Jackson County Farm Tour held from 1 to 5 p.m. on July 10 and 11. Tour-goers will recieve a map and descriptions of…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:59

Parkway’s glories honored by Congress

A resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway is slated for passage by Congress. “The Blue Ridge Parkway offers some of the most spectacular mountain views in the nation, as well as an important source of income…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:58

Kick up your heels for Folkmoot 5K

A race with an international flare, the annual Folkmoot 5K, will be held on Saturday, July 31, in Waynesville. The 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s Fun Run is held in conjunction with the Folkmoot dance and music festival, which brings 300…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:57

Into the wild at Mountain Wildlife Days

Mountain Wildlife Days will bring a line-up of nature talks, wildlife programs and guided hikes to the Cashiers area on July 16 and 17. The annual event attracts outdoors lovers from across the region. Friday has a series of three…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:55

Bear country tutorial uses new medium to reach hikers

A new video podcast called “Day Hiking and Wildlife” has been created to educate hikers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — or anywhere in bear country for that matter — on proper etiquette. The podcast covers park rules,…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:55

Smokies gala a success

Smokies gala a successFriends of the Smokies raised $20,000 to support special projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the “Spring for the Smokies” gala held last month in Waynesville. More than 160 park supporters attended the fourth…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:54

Green spaces — good places

We were in Rock Hill, S.C., this past weekend enjoying our annual Fourth of July ritual of visiting my little sister. She has horses and a pool, and if we went anywhere else for the Fourth, we would probably have…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:53

State leaders fund land conservation despite tight budget

After a tenuous state budget debate, The Farmland Preservation Trust Fund emerged with $2 million in funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The Farmland Preservation Trust Fund helps permanently protect tracts of farmland by funding conservation agreements with working farmers.…
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 20:48

Ornithologist unravels mysteries behind song sparrow personalities

Last Thursday morning was atypical for song sparrow IR-IF. While defending his territory from the song of an intruding male, he landed in the net of Jeremy Hyman, a biology professor at Western Carolina University. Held tightly in Hyman’s hand,…
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