Smoky Mountain News

OldTown Bank

Sat05252013

     Subscribe  |  Contact  |  Advertise  |  RSS Feed  |  Other Publications

Subscribe to this RSS feed
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:12

Meet, learn about llamas

It’s not everyday you get to have afternoon tea with llamas, those unusual but valuable pack animals that are showing up frequently now on our trails. The Cradle of Forestry in America will offer Afternoon Tea with Llamas at 11…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:11

Cowee Mound site of bird-monitoring work

Cherokee students and teachers have undertaken the first part of a long-term monitoring project of birds at the Cowee Mound in Macon County. A group with the Robbinsville-based Cherokee language camp in July participated in a breeding-bird sample survey at…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:25

Youth dove hunt to be held in Haywood

About 20 young hunters, accompanied by licensed-to-hunt adults, will take part in a dove hunt Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Mountain Research Station off Raccoon Road near Waynesville. There also will be a lunch and special educational sessions throughout the…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:25

Learn about Monarchs on the Parkway

Monarch butterflies are back. The first of the monarch butterflies have been spotted recently on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a key migration route for Monarchs on that long journey south to Mexico for the winter. A wave of monarchs will…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:24

Swain kid launch outdoor adventure club

Swain’s newest 4-H Club, the Outdoor Adventurers, waded into a mountain stream recently looking for salamanders, damselflies and other critters in a program led by Smokies Rangers Katrina Krebs and Will Butler at Smokemont Campground. Outdoor Adventurers 4-H Club youth…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:20

Moonlight Race makes a comeback

The Maggie Valley Moonlight Race this past weekend had 430 runners take to the street, a respectable comeback after a two-year hiatus, boding well for the likelihood the storied race will be on the calendar again next year. “It was…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:19

Cataloochee Ranch commemorates the chestnut tree

Come celebrate the return of the great American chestnut tree Saturday, Sept. 10, at Cataloochee Ranch outside Maggie Valley. This second-annual event features live bluegrass music by Hazel Creek, clogging demonstrations, crafts (including wood-turned bowls, pine needle baskets, stained glass,…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:18

HCC student turns business plan into business reality

Dustin Cornelison of Haywood County has turned his belief in living a sustainable and frugal lifestyle into an actual business. Drawing upon his past experience as a sustainability technician for an environmental education center and his skills as a welder…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:17

New heirloom corn strain discovered

It’s not everyday that someone gets credit for contributing a previously unidentified variety of seed to the national seed bank, but that’s exactly what’s happened at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, just over the Georgia state line from Macon County. A previously…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:16

Friends of the Smokies telethon tops $200,000

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park raised $201,209 through its 17th annual “Friends Across the Mountains” telethon — topping the $200,000 mark for the sixth year in a row.   The total for all “Friends Across the Mountains” telethons…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:16

Save seed with Frankebelle and the greasy-bean team

Macon County’s Frankebelle Scruggs and a local “greasy-bean team” from the Cowee community will show folks how best to collect and save heirloom seed Monday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. at Rickman Store. Many heirloom seeds have dropped in…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:16

Save seed with Frankebelle and the greasy-bean team

Macon County’s Frankebelle Scruggs and a local “greasy-bean team” from the Cowee community will show folks how best to collect and save heirloom seed Monday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. at Rickman Store. Many heirloom seeds have dropped in…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:15

Twenty promising crops to “farm” in the forest

Learn about turning your woodlot into a farm through a Mountain BizWorks workshop on Forest-Farming Practices from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, in Sylva. Novice and experienced farmers will be introduced to crops that can be grown on forest farms and…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:05

Feathered hurricane hunter

On Aug. 24 Chinquapin soared into the dangerous northeast quadrant of then category 3 Hurricane Irene. The Lockheed Martin C-130 – Hercules, a behemoth of an airplane originally designed for the military to transport troops and equipment like utility helicopters…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:03

Keeping the well full: WCU researchers probe fractured rock aquifers in the mountains

A maze of pores and rock fractures in the Appalachian Mountains make it one of the most complex hydrological systems on the planet. More than half the population here relies on groundwater, but the fundamental question of how many wells…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:39

Farm bill supports water quality efforts

If you are farming in Haywood County, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service is accepting applications to support efforts that improve water quality. Cost-share is available for practices include watering tanks, fencing, streambank stabilization, pastureland improvement, sediment control on agriculture…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:38

Don’t just own a forest, manage it for wildlife and tax benefits

Learn how to manage forests for wildlife and timber production, plus review tax strategies and estate planning at an upcoming workshop through The North Carolina Tree Farm Program. The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 15 beginning at 9 a.m.…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:38

Taste of the Market to feature Jackson farmers

The Jackson County Farmers Market will hold its annual “Taste of the Market” starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, featuring a variety of seasonal vegetables and local products. A simple solar panel will be on display. There will be…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:37

Professor to talk about human-animal relationships

Hal Herzog of Western Carolina University will discuss the complications of human-animal relationships, the focus of his recently published book, Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals. The event…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:36

Time to break out that camera

Shutterbug alert: A fall field photography program will run for four weeks starting in September in Haywood County. Class members will meet up Wednesday mornings in Waynesville then head into the field with group leader Bob Grytten, an award-winning photographer.…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:35

Blue Ridge Breakaway tops 400 participants

More than 400 riders participated in the second Blue Ridge Breakaway, held this Saturday (Aug. 20) in Haywood County. The Breakaway, sponsored by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, has four different rides for cyclists of varying fitness levels, including…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:35

Grant money to fund gardening research, education in Haywood

Need help paying for research or educational outreach about the environment, gardening or horticulture? The Haywood County Master Gardener Volunteer Association has money for either full or partial-matching grants. Deadline for applications is Aug. 31. Projects must further the association’s…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:34

Budding gardeners hone greenthumbs

Young gardeners from Junaluska Elementary School won first place recently in a landscape design competition at the N.C. Master Gardeners conference in Raleigh. The Junaluska school garden is planted, maintained and harvested by 40 first- and second-graders working with a…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:33

Testifying

I just wanted to shout an amen to brother George Ellison’s Aug. 10 Back Then column, “Late summer is an awesome time to botanize.” I am a big fan of a couple of those late summer beauties – cardinal flower…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:32

Get your horse vaccinated

A horse in the eastern part of the state tested positive this month for Easter Equine Encephalomyelitis, a warning to horse owners across North Carolina to keep their animals up-to-date on vaccinations. Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis is a viral disease that…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:31

Dahlia show coming to Waynesville

Three local dahlia growers in Haywood County, Jack Leatherwood, Johnny Trantham and Ken Zula, were recently visited by Southern Living Magazine and showcased in the Aug. edition of the magazine. Haywood County’s secret — the temperate climate of cool nights…
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 12:29

A great race makes a comeback

There aren’t too many road races in Western North Carolina with the storied history of the Maggie Valley Moonlight Race, sponsored this year by Mission Health System. Nor will you find many, like this one, that take place at night.…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:21

Ancient trails serve as basis of today’s transportation system

Want to understand and know about the Cherokee trails that shaped this region? On Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m., The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and the Village Green will bring Lamar Marshall to the Cashiers Library for a free community…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:21

Popular off-road triathlon coming up

If you are feeling tough and fit, then the Tsali Challenge is just the right event to showcase your paddling, running and biking skills. The annual race, for solo racers or teams, is set for Aug. 27 and Aug. 28…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:20

Hearing set next month on proposed hunting and fishing changes

There a few proposed changes being made to the state’s wildlife management and fishing regulations that would impact Western North Carolina. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted July 7 to take 55 proposed changes to public hearing, including one forum…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:19

Bears force shutdowns in popular areas

Increased bear activity in the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest has led to closings in Yancey County and at Mount Mitchell State Park’s family campground. The latest Yancey County closures are the Briar Bottom Campground, Black Mountain…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:19

Have a barrel of fun at the Rickman Store, plus learn a few things

Learn how to make your own rain barrel, create a stormwater wetland and about habitat rehabilitation projects in general at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, at Rickman Store in Cowee Valley. This event is in Macon County, part of…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:18

Learn how to build a rain barrel

Learn how to build your own rain barrel at a Haywood Waterways Association workshop. Rain barrels are a great source of water for gardening, cleaning equipment and even flushing toilets. They are particularly important during drought conditions. They also help…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:17

The state of the Tuck

A workshop on the State of the Tuckaseegee River will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the Whittier Community Center. A series of short panel presentations and discussions on various elements and factors contributing…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:16

Photographer to talk about international project in Highlands

Clay Bolt, an award-winning natural history photographer, will be at the Highlands Nature Center at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. He will share the story of how he created an international photography project called “Meet Your Neighbours.” MYN is a…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:15

Get those cameras out for the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition

Shutterbug alert: The ninth annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is now open for registration and submissions. Amateur and professional photographers 13 years of age and older are encouraged to submit at www.appmtnphotocomp.org. The competition closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov.…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:14

Take a volunteer trail vacation on the AT

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Rocky Top Trail Crew is looking for horse packers and crew volunteers this fall to help maintain the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The ATC will provide food, tools, equipment, and professional…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:13

Hike Panthertown? Then help keep the trails up, too

Want to help keep Panthertown Valley beautiful and accessible? Volunteers are needed Saturday, Aug. 20, for a Trail Work Day. Volunteers will work on Overlook Trail, a popular hiking trail featuring magnificent long-range views of Panthertown, a 6,295-acre backcountry wilderness…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:12

Rankin Bottoms

I can always count on Rankin Bottoms Wildlife Refuge when I need a Loosiana Delta fix. This musky backwater with its willow groves, bald cypress, cottonwoods and buttonbush is the antithesis of the cool clear, swift mountain streams common to…
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 14:01

Going the distance: Bike riders fuel up right for Blue Ridge Breakaway

If you’re going to put on and sponsor what has quickly evolved into one of the region’s most popular road-bike events, it sure helps to have a qualified nutritionist on staff. When it came to stocking food and drink at…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 14:02

Haywood Fair to host farm fresh dinner and mini-market

The Haywood County Fair this year will feature a Farm Fresh meal to celebrate agriculture in Western North Carolina at 11 a.m. on August 28. Along with the Farm Fresh meal, local producers will be selling fresh produce, meat, dairy,…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 14:02

All about the local food movement in Macon

A talk on the local food movement will be held at noon on Thursday, August 11, in Franklin hosted by the League of Women Voters. Alan Durden of the NC Cooperative Extension Service will describe local food sources and tailgate…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 14:01

Foundation to hold banquet for 10th anniversary of reintroduction

An annual banquet and auction to benefit this region’s chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is set for Saturday, Aug. 13, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center in Asheville. The Great Smoky Mountains Chapter this…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 14:01

Tour nursery that caters to wildlife

Learn about plants that attract birds, butterflies and other wild critters on a field trip to Spring Valley Nursery in Macon County at 5 p.m. Monday, August 15. Horticulturist and Master Gardener Bill Messina has opened her nursery to the…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 14:00

Wild gardener comes to Sylva

Peter Loewer, a.k.a. the “Wild Gardener”, will present a program about native plants at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 30 at the Jackson County Public Library Complex. Loewer, a well-known writer and botanical artist, teaches art at AB-Tech Community College, the…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:58

Backpackers in the Smokies may soon pay for permits

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts the largest backcountry in the Eastern United States, yet for backpackers hoping to take in a slice of that wilderness with an overnight trip, finding a park ranger to help with logistics can…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:54

Learn drift boat how-to’s from retired WCU engineering prof

Want to know how to use a drift boat? There’s an opportunity to learn from an actual designer, builder and fisherman from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The presenter is retired Western…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:53

Walk to highlight Highlands fertile birding ground

A “Treasure Highlands” Bird Hike will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on August 18 by the Highlands Biological Foundation. Members of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society to some of the best birding spots around the Highlands Nature Center.…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:52

Cyclists breeze into Haywood with Blue Ridge Breakaway

A few hundred cyclers will test their endurance with the annual Blue Ridge Breakaway coming up August 20. A spectrum of routes — 24 miles, 40 miles or 65 miles — will take riders over the scenic countryside of Haywood…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:50

Moonshadow, moonshadow

I was all set to write about the annual summer fireworks displayed every August on that really big screen above our heads, brought to us free of charge by the comet Swift-Tuttle and sponsored by your universe. Then I looked…
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 13:45

Stand-off over the Chattooga nears finale

Paddlers are ever-so-slightly winning a tug-of-war over the Upper Chattooga River, a Wild and Scenic River that plunges off the Cashiers plateau. The U.S. Forest Service has agreed to allow limited paddling on some parts of the Chattooga headwaters, reversing…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:45

The many desirable and luscious traits of moss

A workshop titled “Go Green with Moss” will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, August 11, at the Highlands Biological Foundation as part of the Foundation’s Think About Thursdays series. Annie Martin, founder of Mountain Moss Enterprises, will…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:44

Master Gardeners form new organization for Jackson and Swain

Master Gardeners from Jackson and Swain counties have joined together to form the Jackson-Swain Master Gardeners’ Association. The group works to increase its own knowledge about gardening in order to be a better gardening resource for the community through education,…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:44

Smokies expands firewood ban

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ratcheting down its firewood policy for campers over fears of invasive insects and fungus that destroy trees. Firewood from six neighboring counties in Tennessee can no longer be brought into the park, specifically to…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:43

Smokies black bear license plates keep growing

The black bear license plate has had strong sales and has benefitted wildlife throughout the Great Smoky Mountain National Park this summer. The number of motorists sporting specialty Smokies license plates has been climbing impressively since the new plate design,…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:43

Race in the shadow of Fontana Dam

The Fontana Dam 5K and 10K race will be held on Saturday, August 27, along with a one-mile fun run. The race will be held along the shores of the Little Tennessee River below Fontana Dam. The course is relatively…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:42

Main Street Mile to blaze through downtown Waynesville

The second annual Waynesville Main Street Mile will be held on Friday, August 12. The race ends at the historic courthouse, and starts a mile up the street from it, making for a mostly downhill, one-way course. A post-race party…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:41

Another notch in the conservation of Yellow Mountain

Another 207-acre tract on Little Yellow Mountain in Mitchell and Avery counties has been saved from development thanks the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. The two organizations have purchased the tract, which takes in…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:41

Hundreds of athletes to descend on Lake Logan this weekend

Haywood County will be crawling with runners, bikers and swimmers this weekend for the Lake Logan Multi-Sports Festival on August 6 and 7. On Saturday, triathletes will do a swim-bike-run course that takes from the waters of Lake Logan to…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:40

Gone Fishin’ at the lake

A Gone Fishin’ program will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. Participants will meet at High Falls Parking Area in DuPont State Recreational Forest and take a hide ride to the lake. All of…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:39

Farm to School movement takes off in Jackson County

A Farm to School movement, an effort to get fresh, healthy foods in front of school kids, has taken off in the region, witnessed by more than 100 participants in a recent Farm To School Cooking conference in Asheville where…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:38

Haywood farmers bone up on business skills and planning

Nine Haywood County farmers and growers boosted their business planning with agriculture-specific training through Mountain BizWorks. Bethel farmer Skipper Russell, owner of Seasonal Produce Farm, said the course gave him tangible tools to diversify his markets. He has been farming…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:37

Haywood farmers market makes shopping festive

Haywood Historic Farmer’s Market will pull out all the stops this Saturday, Aug. 6, with a festival celebrating the full arrival of summer’s bounty, including long-awaited heirloom tomatoes and corn now in complete swing. Fresh fish and meat vendors will…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:36

OK, this polar bear walks into a Scottish bar…

That’s probably not the exact scenario but a recent article in Current Biology claims that most, if not all, of today’s living polar bears are descended from one Scottish brown bear. Mama bear lived in Ireland near the peak of…
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 13:35

The great outdoors: New Franklin outfitter store proves a big hit with enthusiasts

With the explosion of outdoor sports over the past few decades in Western North Carolina, perhaps it shouldn’t come as that big a surprise another outfitting store has opened in the region. But this one is different, in at least…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:25

Haywood Waterways lauds water quality heroes

The Haywood Waterways Association announced its water quality heroes for the year at its annual banquet in December. Here’s who won the three awards given out by the premier water quality group in Haywood County. Eric Romaniszyn received the Pigeon…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:22

Public lands feel the pressure: a recurring theme

Conflicts over public land continued to heat up in 2009 as more people turn to outdoor recreation in WNC. More people equals more pressure on the national parks and national forests as they struggle to be all things to all…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:20

Boars and otters among Wildlife Commission changes

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is now taking public comment on several proposed changes to hunting and fishing regulations. The Wildlife Commission continues to lift restrictions on hunting wild boar as the exotic animal is increasingly recognized as a detriment…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:19

A look back at the year’s top environmental stories

The past year has been marked by some good and not so good news for the environment in Western North Carolina. This week, we look back at some of the top environmental stories of the year. On the horizon Duke…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:18

The Naturalist's Corner

Snowbirds are here No, I’m not talking about your Uncle Bernie and Aunt Esther from New York City. I’m talking about our feathered friends. The snowbirds that have returned en masse to feeders all across the country are dark-eyed juncos.…
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 16:12

Save the planet by changing your diet

By Rudy Beharrysingh • Professor, Southwestern Community College Editor’s note: This series of green living tips is provided by Sustainable Mountain Initiative, a Jackson County coalition of government officials and concerned citizens working together to lead the way toward a…
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 15:59

Dressing right for winter weather

By Doug Scarborough • Contributing writer With the winter season here, dressing appropriately to prevent cold injuries is often overlooked. Significant heat loss while exercising can be prevented by wearing the appropriate layers of waterproof and water-resistant clothing. The more…
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 15:56

A stellar year for Cataloochee’s elk

When the first batch of 25 elk were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park seven years ago, it was dubbed an experiment. Park biologists hoped, but weren’t sure whether the elk would thrive. Indeed, the early years were…
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 15:43

Was the night really that silent?

According to old Appalachian tradition, you don’t have to be named Doolittle to hear the animals. You just have to be in the right place at the right time. The right place would be a field or perhaps a barnyard.…
Wednesday, 17 December 2008 15:24

College students squeeze value out of trash

It took a team of Western Carolina University students just 10 days and dozens of discarded plastic bottles to design and build a product that is original, innovative, creative, useable — and award winning. Three seniors in engineering technology at…
Wednesday, 17 December 2008 15:22

Life in Hazel Creek: Mountain Discovery Charter School 8th-graders experience life as pre-national park settlers

Editor’s note: The following is series of student-written excerpts from a five-day camping trip taken to the Hazel Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trip was taken by eighth-grade students from Mountain Discovery Charter School in…
Wednesday, 17 December 2008 15:20

The Naturalist's Corner

Gun-toting tourist deters smarter than average bear Setting: A campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nightfall, Jan. 13, 2009. 911: Hello, 911, what’s the nature of your emergency? Caller: Hey, hey, hey, it’s an emergency in nature! 911:…
Wednesday, 17 December 2008 15:12

HCC serves up student-grown produce

This spring, the greens served in Haywood Community College’s cafeteria couldn’t have been more local — they were grown just outside on the college campus itself by horticulture students. The buy-local movement has taken off at HCC. In addition to…
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:39

National parks to lift ban on gun-packing visitors

Visitors could soon be toting loaded, concealed guns in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A long-standing ban on loaded guns in national parks has been lifted by the Bush Administration. Of 140,000 public comments that came in on the…
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:37

Smokies plate helps Friends help the park

The new specialty license plate for Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sporting a black bear against a mountain ridge line, continues to show record support among drivers. Friends of the Smokies brought in $338,280 from its special black…
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:24

Gear crazy: Outfitters brainstorm on holiday gift solutions

With only a couple weeks left for holiday shopping, local outfitters are stocked with solutions for the outdoor aficionados on your list. Even for the casual outdoors person, simply living in the mountains gives rise to the need for outdoor-related…
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:20

The Naturalist's Corner

Bees do it and die Honeybees are not native to the States. But these prolific pollinators arrived with the earliest settlers. With the changing agricultural landscape, i.e., thousands of acres of monoculture crops and the decimation of native pollinators through…
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:11

Here come the seed catalogs

By Jim Janke Editor’s note: This is a regular feature on gardening by the Haywood County master gardeners. Look for it every other week.   Does cold weather cause gardening catalogs to stuff my mailbox? Or does the arrival of…
Wednesday, 03 December 2008 13:34

The Naturalist's Corner: Bad moon ‘risin

When we headed for the car after a glorious Thanksgiving dinner, the skies above Jonathan Creek were dark and clear, and the blue stars seemed close enough to touch. I could see Orion and the Pleiades and a couple of…
Wednesday, 03 December 2008 13:34

Biodiverse: WNC’s unique environment a major topic at multi-state economic development conference

The idea of using the region’s readily accessible natural resources in daily life is nothing new in the mountains, a place where people have traditionally turned plants and animals into everything from medicine to baskets to clothes. Today, officials are…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:49

Extreme dog action comes to Cherokee

Dogs performing aerial tricks and other extreme stunts will come to Cherokee for the Carolina Dock Dogs exhibition Aug. 5 through 7. There is also an open division for anyone 7 years or older and any dog 6 months or…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:48

Hundreds of children await Talking Trees Trout Derby on Aug. 6

Kids ages 3 to 11 will swarm the river bank at Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee for the 10th annual Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby on August 6. Fishing poles and gear are provided, as well as instruction from experienced…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:48

Learn angling tips from the pros

Owners of the region’s largest fly shops and fishing outfitters will share insight on local waters at the next meeting of the Plateau Fly Fishing Club, held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Cashiers library. Joe Street and…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:44

Swain 4-H’ers learn outdoor basics

Swain’s newest 4-H Club, the Outdoor Adventurers, hiked Clingmans Dome to the observation tower and participated in two Junior Ranger Programs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Students learned how to pack for a day hike, hiking basics, and…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:40

Scenic byway lands to get protection

North Carolina’s land trusts, including the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, have for a second time received federal funds to conserve land and protect views from 20 of the state’s scenic byways, including the…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:39

Hop on board tour to learn about beer brewing

Learn to put a little hop in your brew on a tour of Hop’n Blueberry Farm and Pisgah Brewing Company. The dual hop tour takes place Saturday, Aug. 6. Tickets are $8 per person and include two beer samples.  Pisgah…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:39

Heritage celebration held at Waterrock Knob

Appalachian crafters, old-timey demonstrations, Cherokee culture and mountain music will be celebrated during a special event at the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. “Blue Ridge Parkway:…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:38

Hunting safety courses planned at HCC

Learn how to be safe in the woods while hunting through a series of Hunter Safety courses at Haywood Community College. Haywood Community College’s Natural Resources Division and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will offer Hunter Safety courses Aug. 15…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:37

Campers get lessons in water quality

Young campers from the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville were given a hands-on lesson about water quality in rivers at the Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee. Haywood Waterways Association partnered with the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:36

Map leads the way to Haywood farm spots

The new 2011 edition of the Haywood County farm map and brochure has been released. The new publication lists more than 40 locations to buy locally grown plants, produce, Christmas trees, and more. The featured sites include farm stands, plant…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:36

Tour the trees of downtown Sylva

An opportunity to learn about the trees in downtown Sylva and surrounding areas takes place Thursday, Aug. 11, with a walking tour of the town’s “Tree Walk.” Peggy Hurt, member and past president of the Sylva Garden Club, will lead…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:35

Feeling dumb – go take a hike

A recently published study in Proceedings, an online medical journal of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that regular aerobic exercise like walking or hiking can improve the brain’s memory function and perhaps lessen the risk of dementia. As humans…
Wednesday, 27 July 2011 14:32

Old growth’s last stand: Joyce Kilmer Forest marks 75th anniversary

That the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County isn’t what it once was is true — the large hemlocks are dying or dead, victim of the hemlock wooly adelgid, a tiny insect that is changing the landscape of Western…
Wednesday, 20 July 2011 14:36

Run for Joyce Kilmer

A 5K and 10K race will be held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary events for Joyce Kilmer on Saturday, July 30. The races start at 8 a.m. from the Avey Branch Boat Launch A one-mile fun run will be…
Page 12 of 20