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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Bonsai Expo, Orchid Festival canceled
Two popular springtime events at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville won’t take place this year due to ongoing virus-related safety…
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Vehicle-free Wednesdays will continue at Cades Cove
A pilot project that last year kept Cades Cove Loop Road vehicle-free on Wednesdays will continue this year.
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Cub Scouts seeking new members
Despite the pandemic, Sylva’s Cub Scout Pack 999 has been staying active and is currently seeking new members to join…
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Masks required at Park Service facilities
Face masks are now required at all National Park Service buildings and facilities as a result of President Joe Biden’s…
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Race the slopes
A recreational racing program will offer skiers and snowboarders of all abilities the chance to push their speed with weekly…
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Plans ready for 150-mile Hellbender Trail
Local governments and residents of Western North Carolina have been working for years to improve and construct greenways. Now, there…
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Paper and the Pigeon: Canton mill’s wastewater permit up for renewal
As a college student in the 1990s, Callie Moore would frequently find herself driving along the Pigeon River on Interstate…
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WCU offers outdoor industry certificate program
A new professional outdoor industry certificate will be available through the Western Carolina University Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment…
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Bridge work prompts Greenbrier road closures
Two road sections in the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed for bridge replacement through…
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Spend the summer at Tremont
Registration is now open for 2021 summer and adult programs at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
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