Fingers still crossed
Status of the Lake Junaluska eagles remains a mystery, but I still have my fingers crossed for a successful nesting…
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One mile at a time: Long-distance run will raise money for SCC students in need
The first time Matt Kirby attempted the 72-mile Georgia Death Race, he almost didn’t finish. “I had a friend who…
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Haywood Waterways elects new president
Tim Petrea, program supervisor at the Waynesville Recreation Center, has been elected president of the Haywood Waterways Association.
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Environmental champions recognized
The Commission for a Clean County has announced the winners of its 2017 Community Pride Awards, which recognizes people and…
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Working for the watershed: Clapp steps down after 14 years as WATR’s director
It’s been nearly four decades since Roger Clapp, then a math and science teacher for a middle school in Virginia,…
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Weekday programs offered at Cataloochee
Tuesdays and Wednesdays offer special opportunities at Cataloochee Ski Area, with programs now available for homeschoolers and families.
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N.C. grants Atlantic Coast Pipeline permit
A North Carolina permit granted to the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline last week — given together with the establishment of…
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New trail complete near Asheville
A new trail in the budding Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail loop has been completed, getting the system one step…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Birds in the hand
The Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History in York, South Carolina, is one of the few year round banding…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Christmas vacation, part deux
The day after our water dance with manatees in Crystal River we headed across Florida to Merritt Island National Wildlife…
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Opening the gates: Lake Logan opens up to public recreation
Lake Logan is a familiar fixture of any cruise along Haywood County’s stretch of N.C. 215, an 80-acre expanse of…
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Many ways down the mountain: Adaptive ski program opens doors at Cataloochee
The sky is a flawless, cloudless blue over Cataloochee Ski Area as Mark Brogan, 37, suits up for a morning…
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Plunge prizes announced
Incentives aplenty await those who sign on to join The Plunge in support of environmental education 11:30 a.m. to 2…
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Conservation easement added at Sandy Mush
A new conservation easement in Boyd Cove will protect 88 acres adjacent to thousands of already-protected acres in the Newfound…
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Haywood Waterways recognizes water champions
Five “Water Champions” were recognized for their work to protect water quality in Haywood County during Haywood Waterways Association’s annual…
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Elk habitat projects underway on Silver Game Lands
When The Conservation Fund began acquiring the land that would eventually become the William H. Silver Game Lands near Maggie…
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Adventure through 2018: WNC offers excursions for every month of the year
When people praise the Smokies, it’s often the area’s status as a four-season bonanza of beauty that spurs the discussion.…
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A diverse portfolio: Seed bank works to protect genes of WNC plants
It’s been just about 10 years since the day Joe-Ann McCoy, then living in Iowa and working as the national…
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The eagles have landed
The eagles’ neighbors have known for months, observant birders and other Lake Junaluska regulars have either known or suspected, and…
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Parkway hires new superintendent
The Blue Ridge Parkway has a new superintendent following the hire of J.D. Lee, currently deputy superintendent of Florida’s Big…
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Three tons of trash removed in litter pickup
A trash cleanup on upper Scotts Creek in Sylva Saturday, Jan. 27, yielded more than 3.5 tons of trash hauled…
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Linked to the landscape: Community envisions Plott Balsams’ future
The doors opened, and the room filled — with hikers, bikers, ecologists, conservation workers, economic development professionals and Cherokee tribal…
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Women’s History Trail lands grant
A $740 grant from the Jim McRae Endowment for the Visual Arts will fuel efforts to create a Women’s History…
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Smokies sets visitation record in 2017
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park saw a record number of visitors for the second year in a row, logging…
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SCC instructor will guide outdoor leadership standards
Paul Wolf, leader of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership Program, has been chosen as a member of the international Association…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Will eagles dare?
A pair of mature bald eagles has been hanging out at Lake Junaluska for a few months now. I have…
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Input sought on Waterrock Knob planning
Ideas for the future of the land surrounding Waterrock Knob and Plott Balsam are welcome during a public hearing slated…
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State parks see record visitation
North Carolina State Parks has logged its fourth consecutive year of record visitation, with 19.4 million visits to the state’s…
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Breaking the backlog: Deferred maintenance in the billions for national parks
Drawing more than 300 million visitors each year, the National Park Service is both a reservoir of natural beauty and…
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Watery restoration: Waynesville and partners restore stream flows, aquatic habitat
Waynesville is in the midst of a makeover on three of its streams, and it’s a renovation that fish, crayfish…
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Land conserved along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Jackson
The Blue Ridge Parkway will soon acquire an additional 46 acres in Jackson County thanks to a pair of land…
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CMC recognized for Parkway service
The Carolina Mountain Club was awarded the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 2017 Enduring Service Award, recognizing the efforts of the club’s…
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2017 ends with slim wildfire count
In sharp contrast to the blazing wildfire season of fall 2016, December 2017 drew to a close with only one…
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Waynesville Rec sets attendance record
The Waynesville Recreation Center logged a record attendance for the second year running, with 180,611 visits in 2017.
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Bank supports education at Tremont
A $7,500 donation from SmartBank will help underserved kids experience the beauty of the Smokies through the Great Smoky Mountains…
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Preschool sports program open for registration
A program designed to help preschoolers have fun while developing sports skills is now open for registration at the Waynesville…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Swimming with mermaids
Christopher Columbus had a lot of misconceptions about where he wound up in 1492 and what he saw. Mermaids were…
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Resurrecting the truffle: Researchers look to learn about cultivation potential in N.C.
An Old World delicacy tied to myths of the supernatural, the truffle is often construed as a rare exotic, likely…
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Volleyball offered in Waynesville
Winter volleyball is starting up in Waynesville, with options available for pickup and team play alike.
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Bill aims to reauthorize Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
A bill to extend authorization of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area by four years has been filed in the…
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Appalachian Farm School returns
An eight-week training course for anyone interested in operating an agriculture-based business will kick off Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Southwestern…
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Cabbage patch kid
Third-grader Emily Prince, of Fletcher, won the North Carolina contest in the National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program when she grew…
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Hike the MST in nine minutes
A nine-minute tour of the 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail is now available from the comfort of any couch within reach of…
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District Ranger leaves Murphy
Angela Gee, district ranger on the Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts of the Nantahala National Forest, has left the position…
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Christmastime for birders: Cold weather can’t cool enthusiasm for Christmas Bird Count
At 8 a.m. on a December morning, the newly risen sun had barely warmed the air over Franklin from the…
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Information wanted on Elkmont fire
Tips are needed related to a human-caused fire that resulted in damage to cabins in the Elkmont Historic District of…
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Prescribed burning projects proposed in the Nantahala
A proposal to reauthorize prescribed burning on 19,038 acres in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties is open for public comment…
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Pigeon River Fund awards support water quality
Environmental groups across Western North Carolina got a boost from this fall’s Pigeon River Fund Awards through the Community Foundation…
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New Needmore Game Lands plan released
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has released the final versions of five game land management plans, including the plan for…
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Elk arrive at Grandfather
Three new elk have arrived at Grandfather Mountain State Park’s environmental wildlife habitats.
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