More than 5 million pounds of litter collected this year
Collections from this year’s N.C. Department of Transportation Spring Litter Sweep totaled more than 1.4 million pounds, far surpassing the…
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Motorcyclist dies after Smokies crash
A Guatemalan man died following a motorcycle crash in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, April 18.
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Hike with Haywood
A series of hikes exploring Haywood County’s many trails is in full swing, with the next one offered Monday, May…
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Weighing the Pigeon’s future: Public hearing spurs robust turnout for and against paper mill permit
State of residence was the most visible dividing line in an April 14 hearing on the proposed terms for a…
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Bryson City teen joins Olympic team with history-making performance
Western North Carolina teenager Evy Leibfarth will represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo this year…
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Parkway gets new superintendent
Tracy Swartout will take over as superintendent for the Blue Ridge Parkway on May 23 following the departure of former…
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Buy national forest passes online
A new online platform now allows visitors to the Nantahala, Pisgah and Croatan National Forests to pay day-use and annual…
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Bear activity high in some areas
The Pisgah National Forest warns visitors to North Mills River, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, and Black Balsam and surrounding areas…
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Five-year bird survey seeks volunteers
Thousands of volunteer birdwatchers will mobilize this March for the first-ever N.C. Bird Atlas survey, a statewide community science survey…
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Weigh in on Canton’s paper mill permit
An online public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, will take input on terms of a proposed wastewater permit…
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Important Roan Mountain tract now in public ownership
A 91-acre area known as the Roan Mountain Gateway is now in U.S. Forest Service ownership after the Southern Appalachians…
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Art of the invite: Brevard business aims to increase Black participation outdoors
Earl B. Hunter Jr. describes his younger self as a “Good Times kid,” growing up on free lunch and government…
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Become a trail maintainer
Help keep WNC’s hiking trails in shape by joining on of the Carolina Mountain Club’s many ongoing maintenance crews.
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Weigh in on Waynesville greenway project
A new project in Waynesville involving the Richland Creek Greenway and new park property across Richland Creek in front of…
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Podcast series explores Black Appalachian music
A six-part podcast mini-series exploring the intersection of Black history and Southern Appalachian music through the Great Smoky Mountains Association…
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Park, Gatlinburg Police crack down on litter
A targeted law enforcement effort aiming to combat litter resulted in 37 stops including 25 verbal warnings and 13 citations…
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Take a stroll at the arboretum
The N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will resume offering guided trail walks this spring, with groups setting off at 1 p.m.…
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Even as a drive-thru, Winter Lights drew high attendance
The first-ever drive-thru Winter Lights experience at the N.C. Arboretum brought record numbers of people to see the bright holiday…
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Seagrass declining on N.C. coast
A recently published report shows significant loss in seagrass along the North Carolina coast.
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New StoryWalk in Cashiers
The new Cashiers Greenway Ramble StoryWalk is now complete, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, April 2, set…
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Year of the cicada: After 17 years, large cicada brood will emerge aboveground
This spring, the eastern United States will play host to one of nature’s great marvels — periodical cicadas, mysterious insects…
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Road closures extended in Greenbrier
A delay in supplies for the Ramsey Prong Bridge replacement project is causing an extended closure for Ramsey Prong Road…
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Invasive mussels found in aquarium products
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in commercially available aquatic moss balls in North Carolina, and consumers who have purchased…
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Read through the woods: Storybook Trail promotes literacy and nature
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park hopes to help visitors experience the Smokies story in a new way thanks to…
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Revamped Bryson City market to start in May
The farmers market in Bryson City is growing, with Swain County Cooperative Extension and the Swain County Tourism Development Authority…
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‘Twice the work’: Farmers report higher-than-expected 2020 sales, but also higher costs
When spring sprung in 2020, so did the Coronavirus Pandemic, forcing farmers to make life-altering decisions in the face of…
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New flower found in South Carolina
A new flower species has been found in a South Carolina county bordering the Western North Carolina mountains, according to…
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N.C. birds suffering from bacterial infection
A concerning number of goldfinch and pine siskin birds have been reported dead across the state over the past few…
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Newfound Gap Road named All-American Road
Newfound Gap Road has been designated an All-American Road, joining the Blue Ridge Parkway in claiming a designation that recognizes…
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Wildlife Commission approves rule changes
During its business meeting Feb. 25, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reviewed proposed rule changes and accepted 40 of them.
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Invasive mussels found in aquarium products
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in commercially available aquatic moss balls in North Carolina, and consumers who have purchased…
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Searching for safe passage: Group works for safer wildlife crossings on I-40
Growing up in eastern Kentucky, Frances Figart loved any chance to glimpse the diverse wildlife species roaming those Appalachian foothills…
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Ozone season begins
The 2021 ozone season began March 1, signaling the resumption of daily air quality forecasts across North Carolina.
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New operator chosen for livestock market
After 10 years running the WNC Regional Livestock Market, John Queen is retiring from the job, and the WNC Communities…
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Prescribed burns planned
A 175-acre prescribed burn is planned for this week along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Wears Valley to…
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Partnership will promote Black participation in outdoor rec
A partnership between the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and Brevard-based Black Folks Camp Too is expected to…
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Connect to the spirit of the Smokies
The “Spirit of the Smokies” certificate program is starting up again, offered by the University of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field…
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Bring knowledge to your home garden
A series of horticulture classes aimed at home gardeners will be offered in the New Year through Haywood County Cooperative…
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‘A trail for everybody’: YouTuber raises funds for Canton bike park
The first trails at Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Park will be ready to ride before the leaves drop this fall thanks…
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HCC grad wins military honors
A 1995 Haywood Community College graduate has received seven awards for his distinguished assistance to the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
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Paving begins on park road
A paving project expected to last through the end of November is now underway on the Great Smoky Mountains National…
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Riding high in Jackson: Proposed 35-mile trail system would be East Coast’s highest for bikes
A group of Western North Carolina mountain biking enthusiasts has unveiled plans to bring the highest-elevation mountain bike trail on…
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WNC claims two of 2020’s three most visited National Park units
Despite the pandemic — or perhaps because of it — Western North Carolina was home to two of the nation’s…
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New trail coming to Old Fort
The U.S. Forest Service wants public input on a proposal to build 42 miles of new trails near Old Fort…
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Pandemic changes trail season plans
With the pandemic still very much in effect as thru-hiker season comes around once more, trail season in Franklin will…
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Full closure planned for Cades Cove Loop Road
Cades Cove Loop Road will be fully closed for three weeks in September to allow crews to resurface the popular…
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Video shows impact of Smokies Hikes for Healing
A new video highlighting the Smokies Hikes for Healing program, a hiking series that Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent…
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Get ready for motorcycle season
Hit the open road virtually at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, for author Hawk Hagebak’s humorous take on motorcycling up…
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Groups praise reversal of Trump administration conservation funding policy
Conservation groups are applauding a Feb. 11 order from Acting Secretary of the Interior Scott de la Vega that rescinds…
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More land conserved in Hickory Nut Gap
A recently completed conservation project in Hickory Nut Gap connects to an existing 1,500 acres of conserved land in southwestern…
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