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Wednesday, 22 April 2009 16:41

Local activist arrested at Cliffside protest

Avram Friedman, leader of the Sylva-based air quality group the Canary Coalition, was arrested during a protest march in Charlotte Monday (April 20) against Duke Energy’s new Cliffside power plant proposed for Rutherford County. More than 400 marchers, including Friedman,…
Wednesday, 22 April 2009 16:39

When is it safe to plant?

By Jim Janke When is it safe to plant tender annuals and vegetables in Haywood County? The standard answer we give in the plant clinic is May 15th. Before then you risk damage from a frost. But is May 15th…
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 16:26

Haywood Chamber of Commerce helps businesses achieve green goals

When most business owners cast their eyes about the office — noting the reams of white paper spilling off the printer, the blinking lights on computers not shut down at the end of the day, the drafty crack under the…
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 16:25

Smokies brace for disease known to decimate bat populations

In response to a growing concern about a new malady that has killed an estimated 400,000 bats north of here and may be headed this way, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed all of its caves to public…
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 16:24

The Naturalist's Corner

Canaries in the coalmine As I passed the kitchen windows last Friday (4/10), a brilliant red streak caught my eye. I followed the streak to a branch in one of the large poplars at the corner of the deck. There…
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 16:08

Lake Junaluska Duathlon: Athletes give rave reviews to new race

Between blue skies and blue water, the inaugural Lake Junaluska Duathlon won over dozens of runners and bikers this weekend. “It’s basically the perfect set-up. I couldn’t imagine a better venue,” said Ken Howell, a racer who lives in Haywood…
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 15:48

The Naturalist's Corner

Watershed dreaming Last Saturday (April 4) was another sojourn into the town of Waynesville’s 8,500-acre plus watershed. The town initiated these watershed hikes back in 2007 to introduce town residents and other interested parties to this amazing resource that has…
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 15:48

Local couple recognized for land stewardship

John and Jane Young of Haywood County have been recognized by the North Carolina Forest Stewardship Program for their commitment to natural resource conservation on their land in the Upper Crabtree area of Haywood County. The couple wanted to bring…
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 15:31

The Naturalist's Corner

Caving moratorium sought Three weeks ago (Naturalist’s Corner 3/11) I wrote about a mysterious malady dubbed White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that has been decimating bat populations at various hibernacula across the Northeast and spreading south. Last week (3/26) the U.S,…
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 15:26

Finding a home for fresh water mussels

Barrels of mussels being bred at the state’s fish hatcheries are awaiting release into the region’s rivers, helping to restore these dwindling but important species. For decades, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has raised fish — some 8 million a…
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 15:25

Do not plant Bradford Pear

By Jim Janke We moved here from Chicago, where there are only two seasons: winter and road-under-construction.* By comparison, the extended spring in the mountains is wonderful. We have as many as 12 weeks of continuous bloom when redbuds, pears,…
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 15:18

Homecoming on the Pigeon River

After decades of paper mill pollution, the Pigeon River is coming back to life — literally. Aquatic biologists embarked on a mission several years ago to restore species that had been wiped out by chemical discharges from the mill. After…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:13

Appalachian Trail undergoes repair

A collaborative effort between public and private entities was responsible for repair work on a section of the Appalachian Trail that was damaged by a landslide in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The landslide was 10 miles from the…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:12

Burning scheduled at Cade’s Cove

Fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns of fields in Cades Cove on Tuesday through Friday, Nov. 9-12, if weather conditions permit.  Park managers plan to burn several tracts totaling about…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:12

Agricultural incentives offered in Haywood

Haywood County landowners can apply for cost-share grants to install practices that improve water quality on agricultural operations.   Practices eligible for funding include watering tanks, fencing, streambank stabilization, pastureland improvement, sediment control on agriculture lands, agri-chemical buildings, forest stand…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:11

Cataloochee opens for the season

Cataloochee Ski Area opened for the season on Saturday, Nov. 6, making it one of the first resorts in the east to start skiing for the fifth year in a row. The resort will open on Saturday and Sundays only…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:10

Ogburn recognized for education work

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina are pleased to announce that Blair Ogburn, senior naturalist and education coordinator at the Balsam Mountain Trust at Balsam Preserve in Jackson County, is the winner of the 2010 Outstanding Newcomer Award from The…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:08

Land Trust to hold fall celebration

The Land Trust for Little Tennessee will hold its annual Fall Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Mission Farm in the Hiawassee Basin. The day includes live music, activities for kids, a hayride, a…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:05

The Naturalist's Corner

East Fork Headwaters Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is still hoping for a Christmas present from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Most folk who follow conservation issues across the region are probably aware that CMLC and its partner, The Conservation…
Wednesday, 10 November 2010 21:03

SCC offers new program in wilderness therapy

Southwestern Community College has started a new degree program whose graduates will likely become the leaders in the growing field of wilderness therapy. The course work was designed in collaboration with area wilderness therapy providers such as Woodson Wilderness Challenge,…
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 17:37

Research outpost engages scientists and students under backdrop of the Smokies

There are few places where scientists probing the mysteries of the natural world would rather be. The sweeping vistas of the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, a remote outpost straddling the Cataloochee Divide, has lured researchers from across the globe…
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 17:35

Hiking and heritage converge in new trail guide

A new hiking book on Western North Carolina puts the regions trails in a new perspective. It weaves together the classic nuts-and-bolts trail instructions with history, stories and anecdotes of the trail and its surrounds. Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge…
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 17:15

The Naturalist's Corner

Crepuscular by nature The sun knows the secret. Beginning and end Are the beautiful times. The soft warm And sensual times. Dawning and setting The magic times Of life Of love Of every day. The sky began to brighten. Clouds…
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 17:01

Under siege: Saving the sequoias of the East

Jesse Webster consulted his GPS and eyed the tangle of rhododendrons stretching out of sight up the mountainside. Somewhere beyond the gnarled thicket lay a massive grove of old-growth hemlocks — at least that’s what aerial photos suggested. It was…
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 16:49

Smokies relies on outside support to maintain what makes it special

When Steve Woody and Barney Coulter got a mysterious call from Smokies Superintendent Randall Pope in the early 1990s asking to see them in his office, they dutifully, albeit curiously, complied. Neither were used to taking orders — Coulter as…
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 16:40

Do you have a gardening question?

By Jim Janke The purpose of Master Gardener programs is to increase the knowledge of horticulture among home gardeners. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained to answer questions about lawns, fruits, vegetables, trees and ornamental plants. Their efforts in getting information…
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 16:32

The Naturalist's Corner

What’s that buzzin? “Daddy, daddy, there’s a yellowjacket in the bedroom!” cried Izzy. And somehow, the dusty old synapses fired and I replied, “It’s not a yellow jacket, it’s a fly.” Now, I guess I could have been premature —…
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 16:25

School serves as model for dealing with runoff

Innovative techniques for dispersing runoff and protecting neighboring streams will be highlighted during a program at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 11, at Bethel Elementary School. The grounds of Bethel Elementary School incorporate many environmental features that protect water quality. Haywood…
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 16:16

You, too, can bike to work

Whether it’s for fitness, for fun or to save the planet, there’s plenty of reasons to bike to work. There’s also plenty of excuses not to. This week, The Smoky Mountain News sought out two people who make biking to…
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 16:14

Gate goes up, Gorge community blocked out

By Julia Merchant • Staff writer One day last October, Bud Dills, a longtime Nantahala Gorge resident, headed down to his favorite fishing spot. The area, located where the Nantahala River empties into Fontana Lake just past Wesser Falls, had…
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 16:03

The Naturalist's Corner

A decade of Birding for the Arts This past Saturday morning (May 2) more than 20 arts patrons and bird fanciers gathered at 8 a.m. under ominous skies at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre for the 10th annual (time sure…
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 16:04

The Naturalist's Corner

WNS impacts western Carolina caving The USDA Forest Service issued an order on May 21 closing all caves and abandoned mines on FS property — unless specifically posted as open — in its Southeastern Region 8. The states affected include…
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:55

In search of hidden lookout towers

The line-up of hikes in the Lookout Tower Challenge spans Western North Carolina. Seven are located in the Nantahala National Forest, including Wayah Bald and Albert Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. Five more towers can be found in the Great…
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:51

Carolina Mountain Club challenges hikers to seek views from the top

By Peter Barr • Guest writer The Carolina Mountain Club is challenging hikers to seek out some of Western North Carolina’s most spectacular panoramas. The group’s new Lookout Tower Challenge rewards outdoor enthusiasts for completing hikes to 24 of the…
Wednesday, 03 November 2010 20:45

Wildlife Commission Pledges Support for East Fork Headwaters

The Commissioners of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission unanimously passed a resolution Thursday, pledging the agency’s support for the management and stewardship of the East Fork Headwaters, an 8,000 acre tract of biologically diverse land in Transylvania County. During meetings…
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 20:14

Maggie festival embraces all things trout

Maggie Valley will celebrate the trout heritage of the Smoky Mountain region with its annual Trout Festival, held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. One of the integral aspects of…
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 20:03

Casino donates money to national park non-profit

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino has donated $10,000 to Friends of the Smokies in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year. The contribution recognizes the value of having the most visited national park in the…
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 19:38

Garden records

By Jim Webb Don’t you wish you kept good records? I sure do. Those Elvis Presley 45’s, purchased the first day they hit the record store, would probably be worth a fortune now. Oh, well, what did I know in…
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 19:36

The Naturalist's Corner

Birds of a feather Yep, they’ll be flocking June 25 at 10 a.m. at the North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way in Asheville. The event will commemorate the publication of North Carolina Birding Trail’s Mountain Trail Guide. The…
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 19:20

Culture and history to take rightful place in new visitor center

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held this week for a new visitor center at the main North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside Cherokee. The new visitor center will showcase the cultural heritage of the region, from…
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 19:15

The Naturalist's Corner

Goodbye to a native son A light has dimmed in the universe. It was a light that shone with gracious comforting warmth yet it was sparked by a lucidity so radiant, so white hot, that it cut laser-like through the…
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 19:05

A race against time

While it’s hard to imagine as one gazes at the vast wilderness of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more than two-thirds of the lush forests were clear-cut by timber companies in a couple of short decades preceding the park’s…
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 18:52

Gorge outfitters debate direction

By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer A year ago, a group of more than 40 rafting outfitters gathered to discuss ways to boost declining visitor numbers in the Nantahala Gorge. The meeting, coordinated by regional tourism entity Smoky Mountain Host,…
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 18:45

Ivy covered walls

By Jim Janke When our house was being built it became obvious that we needed to hide two 40 feet long by 10 feet high retaining walls. These walls were the first things you noticed when looking at the south…
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 18:39

Study shows Gorge economic impact significant

The Nantahala Gorge contributes $85 million to the local economy each year, and is the primary reason many tourists make their first visit to Western North Carolina, according to the results of an economic impact study conducted by Western Carolina…
Wednesday, 03 June 2009 18:35

The Naturalist's Corner

Stop and smell the flowers Sure, we all hear it and we all think, “I’m gonna do just that as soon as I catch up.” And then next year we hear it again. Well thanks to a wonderful offer from…
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:24

Conversation – what conversation?

Regular readers of this column probably already know that I’ve run afoul of many regional environmental groups by questioning the environmental and ecological cost-benefits of placing industrial-scale wind farms on top of the mountain ridges across the Appalachians. In a…
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:20

Local authors proud of fishing trail map

Ask any fisherman what their favorite stretch of stream is and you may as well be asking for directions to the moon. They might tell you what stream they frequent, but as for an exact spot — well, that’s between…
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:17

WNC Fly Fishing Trail lures new anglers to Jackson streams

Alex Bell can’t resist striking up a conversation with fellow fishermen he encounters on the Tuckasegee. But lately, he’s had a motive behind his friendly banter. As an author of the new WNC Fly Fishing Trail, Bell is eager to…
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:12

Tunnel greenhouses fend off winter’s grip

A workshop on how to build a simple greenhouse will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30, as part of the “Gardening in Cowee” series at the Rickman Store in Macon County. Vegetable growers can easily extend the gardening…
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:11

Thoroughly modern millipedes

By Jim Janke Every summer one or two people bring samples of ugly little insects into the plant clinic and ask how to get them out of their home. If the insects in the picture are also in your home,…
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 19:05

Hard-to-get taxonomists could make or break ATBI’s future

As the inventory of every living species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park trudges into its tenth year, it turns out the biggest hunt so far isn’t for obscure slime molds or nocturnal flies — it’s for taxonomists to…
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 18:51

Life in the richest place on earth

When Jim Lowe strikes out on his twice-monthly foray to check insect traps in the Smokies, he never knows just what is in store. Lowe runs various and sundry traps — tiny cups sunk in the ground, large mesh nets…
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 18:44

Volunteers keep the Smokies ticking

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts more volunteers than nearly any other park. Last year, 2,780 volunteers logged a total of 117,537 man-hours. They wielded Pulaskis on trails, handed out maps at visitor centers, donned historic costumes for heritage…
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 18:42

The Naturalist's Corner

Up in the air Western North Carolina senators Joe Sam Queen, Martin Nesbitt and John Snow might be wishing they had a wind turbine to cool down some of the heat they’ve been taking for throwing a kink into plans…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 01:04

1,000-acre milestone for new agricultural districts

In the three years since the Haywood County commissioners authorized a new “enhanced voluntary agricultural district” ordinance, 15 Bethel-area landowners have now placed more than 1,000 acres into the program.   “This total represents real progress in our efforts to…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 01:03

Celebrate food and dance on Nov. 14 with the farmers market

William and Sabrina Shelton of Shelton Family Farms and Ron and Cathy Arps of Vegenui Garden are sponsoring an end-of-the-season celebration for the members of their CSAs and the vendors at the Jackson County Farmers Market beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Nov.…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 01:02

GSMNP closures

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park began operating on its winter schedule Nov. 1, which includes the closing of seven of 10 campgrounds. Through the month of November, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, two miles south of Gatlinburg, will open daily…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 01:01

Updated free guide to invasive plants in southern forests

Gardeners, foresters, landowners and others concerned about nonnative invasive plants in the South can now get free copies of A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests by U.S. Forest Service Research Ecologist Jim Miller. The…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:59

Comments sought on combatting white-nose syndrome in bats

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking public comment on a coordinated national management plan to address white-nose syndrome, which is decimating bat species across the United States. White-nose syndrome has killed more than a million bats in the…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:58

Parkway closed and under repair

Traveling from Haywood or Jackson counties to Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway won’t be possible until spring as a portion of the scenic road has been closed for repair. The Parkway will be closed between Milepost 405 at N.C.…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:57

Keep your eye on the birdie

Last year around this time we talked about York University Professor Bridget Stutchbury’s groundbreaking research with migrating purple martins and wood thrushes (see http://www.smokymountainnews.com/index.php/news/item/1383-the-naturalists-corner). Stutchbury, her students and now other researchers — with the aid of some nano-technology — are…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:53

Headwaters tract deal hinges on Wildlife Commission

Kieran Roe, executive director of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, said that if the North Carolina Wildlife Commission does not commit to managing the East Fork Headwaters tract that the deal could fall through. “There’s a lot riding on what Wildlife…
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:43

WNC’s largest private tract headed for conservation

The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy has partnered with The Conservation Fund to purchase 8,000 acres in southern Transylvania County from former congressman Charles Taylor and family. Keiran Roe, executive director of the CMLC, described the tract as the largest privately…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:52

Brock gets break to study climate problems

Warren Wilson College chemistry professor John Brock was recently awarded a grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fund a sabbatical leave to study the human health impacts of climate  change in Appalachia and the southeastern…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:51

Camping in Cataloochee will require forethought

Cataloochee Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will re-open next year under a new advance reservation system. When the campground opens March 11, campers will be required to have made advance reservations through Recreation.gov. Historically, the popular but…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:51

Forest service using new methods to save hemlocks

The U.S. Forest Service has begun using a series of new approaches to save hemlock forests under attack from the woolly adelgid. The new approaches include aerial application of an adelgid-killing fungus, use of the chemical dinotefuran in high-priority areas…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:49

Ancient road signs

Having followed Indians trails and routes for decades, I have learned that some fascinating cultural road markers and signpost elements were and still are to be found along the old travel ways. Two of the most interesting are trail marker…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:48

Farmers Market gives thanks to customers

Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market will host a customer appreciation event during the last day of its regular season on Saturday, Oct. 30, in the parking lot of the Haywood Arts Regional Theater at 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville. Several vendors,…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:48

Blue Ridge Parkway documentary airs

A new documentary about the Blue Ridge Parkway will air at 10 p.m. on Nov. 4 on UNC-TV. Documentary filmmaker Bruce Bowers and Bowers Media Group, Inc. produced the documentary, which is called, “The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Long and…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:47

Extension offers beef quality certification

The Cooperative Extension Service in Swain County will hold a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification program for beef cattle producers in Western North Carolina from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the Extension Center.  BQA is a voluntary…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:46

October nights

The clear night skies last week provided the perfect backdrop for this year’s Hunter’s Moon. The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, which is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. This year’s harvest moon…
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 20:45

The 1776 campaign against the Cherokee

By Lamar Marshall • Contributing Writer It was a crisp, cold day with snow on the ground when I pulled my old 4-Runner to the shoulder of U.S. 441 near the north side of the gap at the top of…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:33

DOT calls for outlandish litter

The Most Unusual Litter Contest is currently open to all who participate in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s fall Litter Sweep or a similar litter cleanup event. All entry forms are due by Oct. 31. The contest is sponsored by…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:32

Deep Creek cleanup planned

A Deep Creek litter cleanup will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, in conjunction with Make A Difference Day. Volunteers should meet at the Swain County Recreation Park on West Deep Creek Road at 9…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:25

Dangerous trash pulled from the river

Volunteers with the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River removed old car parts, iron pipes and other trash from Savannah Creek at the confluence with the Tuckasegee River this month. Upstream, two old bridge beams were pulled out of the…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:24

HCC Woodsmen take home prize

The Haywood Community College Woodsmen’s Team took first in the 2010 John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet and Forest Festival Day recently held at the Cradle of Forestry. The team competed against Montgomery Community College, North Carolina State University, Penn…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:23

Suli Marsh to undergo invasive plant purge

Approximately 20 volunteers and staff will converge at Suli Marsh on the Little Tennessee River Greenway from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, to eradicate exotic invasive plants smothering and crowding out native plants in natural areas.  …
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:22

Panthertown to hold workday

The Friends of Panthertown will hold its monthly Trail Work Day on Oct. 23. Volunteers should meet at the Salt Rock parking area at 9:30 a.m. Tools will be provided and no experience is necessary. The trail group will hike…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:22

Jordan named new top ranger

Clayton Jordan is the new Chief Ranger for Resource and Visitor Protection at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “I am honored and excited for the opportunity to join the team at the Smokies,” said newly appointed Chief Ranger Jordan.…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:21

GSMNP’s 10th superintendent dies

Former Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Merrill D. (Dave) Beal, 84, died on Sept. 21, at his home in Eugene, Ore. Beal’s final National Park Service (NPS) assignment was as Smokies superintendent from December 1978 to 1983. He also…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:20

Haywood Heroes 5K to make first annual debut

The Haywood Heroes 5K Road Race and 1-mile Fun Run honoring emergency service personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, in Canton. The race is sponsored by the Canton Lions Club…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:19

Aster-risk*

Blue, white, lavender and purple corymbs, racemes and panicles will glow from shadowy woods and blaze from sunny meadows from now until the first hard, killing frost. Asters comprise a large beautiful complex and challenging group of wildflowers to pin…
Wednesday, 20 October 2010 20:18

Ancient footpaths of a lost era

Editor’s note: In April 2009, the non-profit organization Wild South was notified by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that it and partner organizations Mountain Stewards and the Southeastern Anthropological Institute had been awarded a…
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:58

The Naturalist's Corner

PETA - Cherokee bears part deaux I have been watching the story in Smoky Mountain News regarding PETA and the caged bears in Cherokee with some interest and have a couple of observations. First, reporter Julia Merchant states in her…
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 19:52

Threats on all fronts

Only the most farsighted and intuitive of those who labored for the creation of the Smokies could have foreseen the slate of environmental challenges that would be facing the park mere decades after President Franklin Roosevelt stood astride the North…
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 19:37

Cherokee youth re-enact ancient fishing practice

As 10-year-old Dayini Lossie stood on the shore eyeing the wide shallow waters of the Tuckasegee River last week listening to the marching orders for the exercise about to unfold, one word came to mind: awesome. Lossie had never heard…
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 19:35

The Naturalist's Corner

A note of interest The US Fish & Wildlife Service has extended the public comment period on its John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project through Aug. 5, 2009, and has included opportunities for public participation…
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:27

Fish weir Q&A

What is a fish weir? Fish weirs are long, low rock walls built in the riverbed, extending from opposite shores and shaped like a giant funnel pointing downstream. They are the visible remnants of an ancient form of community fishing…
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:24

Expedition maps prehistoric Cherokee fishing weirs

Lamar Marshall had been canoeing the Little Tennessee for years before he knew what a fish weir was. In retrospect, the low rock walls spanning the river are too symmetrical and too uniform to be a naturally occurring rock vein.…
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 18:17

Fish stew: better than it sounds

While today’s fishermen are partial to the big fillets like brook trout and small-mouth bass, Cherokee used even the tiniest fish, like silversides and shiners, drying them on long strings or making them into stews. Myrtle Driver, a Cherokee elder,…
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 18:04

New map leads the way to Haywood farms

Local residents and tourists have a new resource to help them support the farms and farmers of Haywood County. A recently unveiled brochure and map lists more than 30 locations to buy local produce, plants, trout, and more. The featured…
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:34

Rainforest style eco-adventure comes to the Nantahala Gorge

The Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tour will debut this month with a half-mile series of forest-enveloped ziplines, where people hang from a harness and slide along an overhead cable strung between platforms and trees. The course zigzags over 20 acres and…
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:33

Jackson farm and garden tour has it all

Farmers and gardeners in Jackson County are inviting the public to traipse through their garden rows during the third annual Jackson County Farm Tour and Garden Walk July 11 and 12. Tour-goers get a brochure of the 16 participating farms…
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:32

The Naturalist's Corner

New neighbors I have always had a good number of neotropical migrants nest every season in the woods around my home. The mornings and evenings are filled with the flute-like melodies of wood thrushes, various selections from the wide-ranging repertoire…
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 17:31

Hearing set for Little Tennessee discharge permit

A public hearing over a sewer discharge permit into the Little Tennessee River will be held on Tuesday, July 7, in Rabun County, Ga. Rabun County plans to convert a former industrial wastewater treatment plant at a closed-down textile mill…
Wednesday, 13 October 2010 21:02

Mountain Farm Museum comes to life

“An Evening on the Farm” will be held at the Mountain Farm Museum on Thursday, Oct. 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Old-timey demonstrations at the restored Appalachian farmstead will include hearth cooking and broom making. The Davis/Queen farmhouse will…
Wednesday, 13 October 2010 21:01

Stimulus money funds exotic plant eradication

A team of a dozen people will spend the next three years scouring the Cheoah River corridor in Graham County annihilating invasive plant species that are threatening the forest ecosystem. The work will cost $366,000 and is being funded with…
Wednesday, 13 October 2010 21:00

Workshop for environmental activists

A three-day workshop called “Inspiring Ourselves to Save the Planet: Courage in the Face of Melting Glaciers” will be held Oct. 21-24 led by Janisse Ray, environmental activist and author, at The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands. Both…
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