New district ranger named for Pisgah
The Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest has a new district ranger following the arrival of Dave Casey,…
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Competition raises $220,000 to support military members
A weekend of outdoor competition raised $220,000 in support of military members and their families at Mountain Falls Luxury Motorcoach…
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Volunteers remove a ton of garbage from Haywood creeks
More than a ton of trash vanished from Richland and Allens creeks following a volunteer cleanup effort this fall.
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Wildlife students recognized with scholarship
Two Haywood Community College students have been recognized for their leadership, scholarship and dedication to the wildlife management profession with…
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Data-driven analysis drives modern weather forecasting
Some things change, and some things stay the same. Thousands of years ago, humans developed visual and spoken languages to…
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Wildlife rides out the drought
From his vantage point on the banks of the Tuckasegee River, it’s not that hard for fly fishing guide Alex…
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Forest fires ignite the Nantahala as drought worsens
Nantahala District Ranger Mike Wilkins was headed to church Sunday morning, Oct. 23, when he got the call. A forest…
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Drought becomes extreme in far western N.C.
Even as Eastern North Carolina is reeling from flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew, Western North Carolina is plunging deeper into…
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Five fires burn the Nantahala
Fire season is just beginning, but already five fires are lighting up the Nantahala National Forest. About 130 people are…
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Paddlesports club gets national recognition
Nantahala Racing Club’s “superior performance and program development” earned it recognition as the American Canoe Association’s 2016 Stroke of Achievement…
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HCC lumberjacks take second at competition
The Haywood Community College Woodsmen’s Team took second place at the 2016 John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet this month,…
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High fire danger prompts burning caution in Western N.C.
Fire danger is increasing throughout the forests of Western North Carolina, necessitating caution for any kind of outdoor burning.
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Livestock producers prepare for hay shortage
Drought is continuing and frost has ended the growing season in much of Western North Carolina, so hay could be…
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Grab your waterfall calendar and support WNC
Seasonal images of Western North Carolina’s most exquisite waterfalls adorn a newly published calendar set to raise money for the…
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Take the 100-mile challenge
A statewide challenge to knock out 100 miles of hiking, walking, running, paddling, skating, horseback riding or rolling a wheelchair…
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Burn project proposed for Jackson County
A 956-acre prescribed burn is being proposed for the Nantahala National Forest in southeastern Jackson County, aiming to reduce wildfire…
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Mapping the Tuck: ‘Blue’ Trails project kicks off along the Tuckasegee River
Western North Carolina is rife with trails and maps to facilitate exploration of the mountain landscape, but an effort is…
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Failure to communicate?
Well it seems there was one and I’m sure it could have been my fault. Smoky Mountain News reporter Holly…
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Elk Bugle Corps gets a boost
A $3,500 grant from the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority will help enrich the elk viewing experience in the Cataloochee…
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New, free maps show the Smokies in greater detail
New U.S. Topo maps are out, and the quadrangles covering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park now display trails, campgrounds,…
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Environmental, economic leaders converge at WCU
More than 100 leaders from across Western North Carolina came together at Western Carolina University this month to talk about…
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Map publisher donates to maintain Tsali trails
A new map of Tsali Trails not only creates a better guide to the nationally known trail system on the…
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Smokies celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
The Smokies came to the Latino communities of Knoxville this month in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, with more…
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Locals make strong showing in grueling trail race
Local athletes figured prominently in the top places for the Naturalist Epic 25K/50K race held Oct. 8, a grueling undertaking…
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Daughters of the American Revolution brings forgotten forest to light
The sun had barely risen over the Pisgah Ridge, but the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Devils Courthouse pull-off was teeming — mainly…
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Western Carolina recognized for energy savings
Western Carolina University was among the 18 public colleges and universities recently honored by the state for leadership in reducing…
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Judge orders Fish and Wildlife Service to halt red wolf plan
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to halt its plan to transfer the reintroduced population…
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Congressman sits down with wilderness supporters
Congressman Mark Meadows (R-Cashiers) and a room of 30 wilderness supporters spent two hours discussing everything from ecology to U.S.…
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You’re going the wrong way – not
When you’re out chasing fall migrants and you either have a good internal compass or you’re somewhere it’s pretty easy…
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Grant dollars protect Haywood farmlands
Local acres were among those covered by $3.8 million the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded…
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Locals take top spots in Harvest Half
Local runners came out high in the rankings with completion of the Cherokee Harvest Half Marathon last weekend.
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Livestock you love: Bethel man carves out a life among alpacas
A cadre of curious animals gathers at the gate as Joe Moore, owner of Indian Springs Farms in Bethel, approaches…
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Protect your beehive
Mosquito spraying for Zika virus in other states has led some North Carolina beekeepers to ask what they can do…
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Red wolf reintroduction to cease in southeast N.C.
Red wolves will be removed from the majority of the five-county area of eastern North Carolina where they now exist…
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Parks and Rec master plan seeks input
Area residents who avail themselves of Waynesville’s recreational facilities and programs have a chance to shape their respective futures —…
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Big and wild
Big and wild can’t be big and wild if your mind and heart are small. A “real” public meeting —…
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Grant supports Cherokee-infused environmental education
Classroom lessons focusing on Cherokee culture and ecology of the Great Smoky Mountains will expand to schools in seven Western…
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Explore N.C. wildlife online
A revamped website is allowing people to discover North Carolina’s natural heritage in new ways through the N.C. Natural Heritage…
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Sales strong for Smokies plates
Sales of North Carolina Friends of the Smokies license plates brought in $118,240 to support the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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Woman dies following fall in the Smokies
A woman perished following a fall at the Newfound Gap parking lot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last…
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Dreaming of Toyko: Following competition in Rio, NOC paddler sets sights on 2020 Olympic medal
Much of America spent Aug. 5-21 with eyes glued to a television, cheering on athletes from all corners of the…
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Dreaming of Toyko: A conversation with Michal
Since the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Michal Smolen has been hopping continents to finish out the post-Rio racing season,…
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Park, tribe work to institute plant gathering privileges for tribal members
A meeting between leaders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians brought tribal…
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Fall color forecast a waiting game
September temperatures will make or break fall color quality this year, according to Western Carolina University’s new fall foliage forecaster…
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Emerald ash borer found in the Pisgah
An infestation of destructive emerald ash borers has been confirmed in the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest…
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Hiking for Hope: Robbinsville man raises $70,000 for children with A.T. hike
It was nighttime in the White Mountains, and Steve Claxton was pretty sure he wouldn’t make it till morning. Rain…
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Must have been an omen
When I checked my email Friday morning (9/9), I had a message from Chris Kelly, mountain wildlife diversity biologist with…
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Carbon offsets program starts
A relaunched carbon offsets program will give business, organizations and individuals in Western North Carolina a way to turn their…
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Homebuilding company wants to sell Plott Balsam tract for conservation
High in the Plott Balsams, there’s a swath of property riddled with panoramic views, sparking waterfalls and high-elevation solitude that…
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The value of a view: Thousands of acres added to the Parkway for Park Service centennial
It’s not unusual for Waterrock Knob, which boasts some of the best views on the Blue Ridge Parkway, to see…
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