Professor honors fallen WWI soldiers through 'Last Post' bugle tribute

In the West Flanders region of Belgium, there are several thousand graves of British Commonwealth soldiers who never made it home from World War I. 

Honor flight brings hope, healing to veterans

For nearly two decades, a unique nonprofit with roots in Western North Carolina has helped to recognize veterans for their wartime service.

‘We never leave anybody behind:’ Vietnam veteran’s remains returned to Waynesville

For the first time in nearly 55 years, a Waynesville native and Air Force captain who didn’t return from his mission over Quàng Nam Province in South Vietnam is finally back among his family, friends and loved ones. 

Welcome Capt. Fred Hall home

Missing in action for more than 54 years, Air Force Capt. Frederick Mervyn Hall of Waynesville will return home for a memorial service and burial next week.

A hero comes home

America reckons with its legacy in Vietnam, one soldier at a time

Blaze on Muzik Bash

A celebration of life music festival is being held in memory of Kristian “Blaze” Keith on Aug. 28, at the Waynesville American Legion.

Confederate memorials still a monumental issue

For the second week in a row, many small Western North Carolina communities have seen demonstrations in response to the killing of North Carolina-born Minneapolis resident George Floyd at the hands of the city’s police force. 

Ode to Raymond Fairchild, ode to mountain music

First and foremost, Raymond Fairchild was one of the finest banjo players who ever walked the face of the earth. He had a storied reputation for incredibly strong and powerful pickin’ on the five-string instrument — a sentiment also said about his moonshine from behind closed doors. 

Last Sunday afternoon, Fairchild passed away unexpectedly at the age of 80. Though his music and influence will live on for generations, the bluegrass industry and Western North Carolina have lost a true original, one of the last of his kind in rural Southern Appalachia. 

Fingers like lightning: Remembering Raymond Fairchild (1939-2019)

Raymond Fairchild — a bluegrass legend in Western North Carolina — passed away unexpectedly Sunday afternoon at the age of 80, but his music and influence will live on for generations.

Race to honor UNC Charlotte hero: Mighty Four Miler will raise money for Riley Howell Foundation Fund

Hometown hero Riley Howell’s legacy will live on in the form a 4-mile race through the streets of the town he once called home, with the event raising money to support victims of violent acts like the one that took 21-year-old Howell’s life on April 30. 

The Mighty Four Miler will be held in conjunction with the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon, which started in 2015 and added a 4-mile race in 2017. Neither race was held this year after event organizer Haywood County Chamber of Commerce decided to discontinue it, but endurance event company Glory Hound Events later took on ownership of the race. 

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