It's almost time for the 3rd annual Mighty Four Miler race in Waynesville. This event is presented by The Corner Kitchen and benefits The Riley Howell Foundation. Riley is a Waynseville, N.C. native who was killed after tackling a gunman who opened fire in a classroom school shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 

The National Heritage Areas Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on Jan. 5, has implications for Western North Carolina. The act establishes a National Heritage Area System and a statutory framework for the NPS’s role in its administration, as well as designating, extending and authorizing studies for National Heritage Areas across the United States. 

A theme has been announced for the Outdoor Economy Conference coming up Sept. 18-21 in Cherokee — “Connecting the Ecosystem.”

U.S. Forest Service districts around the area are planning prescribed burns this spring to reduce wildfire risk and improve wildlife habitat, with dates depending on weather and fuel conditions. 

A new organic gardening class is open for registration at Western Carolina University, with the five-week workshop to be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays starting March 28. 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has received the 2023 River Champion Award from American Rivers for its leadership in pursuing removal of the Ela Dam on the Oconaluftee River. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is delaying the publication of the final revised red wolf recovery plan, which courts had ordered to be released by Feb. 28. That deadline has been extended to Sept. 29. 

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking public input on migratory game bird hunting seasons and species conservation plans for the bog turtle and southern hognose snake. 

Asheville-based rock/roots group The Get Right Band will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, March 17, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

The comedy production “The Second City Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to The Ultimate Date Night” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville has announced a call for interest for the newly launched Quilt Trails of WNC Business Project. 

To the Editor:

I liked Scott McLeod’s column last week, but disagree with the characterization of Pactiv Evergreen’s disastrous decision to close their Canton mill as a problem of “corporate culture.”

Join naturalist Scott Dean for a discussion and photos of our region’s native spring wildflowers. Dean will discuss natural history, adaptations for life in the mountains, and the folklore of these wondrous things. He will also talk about some of the animals that make the region their home.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced its second busiest year ever in 2022 with 12,937,633 visits. Last year’s visitation was more than 1.5 million above the park’s 10-year average and more than the visitation of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks combined. This marks the fourth time the park has exceeded 12 million yearly visits. 

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont has been awarded $25,000 from Lawson Family Foundation to support their efforts to connect people with nature through innovative pathways. 

Friends of the Smokies, an official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of “Get on the Trail with Friends and Missy,” led by former U.S. Olympian and fitness expert Missy Kane.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting local volunteers to ‘Adopt-A-Plot’ and track the seasonal change of trees, also called phenology.   

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will open approximately 1,000 miles of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters at 7 a.m. April 1.  

Wildlife biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking the public, particularly anglers as opening day of Hatchery Supported Trout Waters approaches April 1, to report any sightings of hellbenders and mudpuppies.

The process of termination (unwinding) of Medicaid coverage for those enrolled in the program because of the Covid Public Health Emergency begins on April 1, 2023. 

A 1,295-acre prescribed burn in the Yellow Creek area of Graham County could take place any time before April 15. 

Much of the maintenance on one side of the Spur Tunnel is complete, allowing contractors to begin work on the other side. Depending on weather conditions and arrival of supplies, the single-lane closure will switch to the opposite lane sometime between March 1-3.  

During a business meeting Thursday, Feb. 23, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted to adopt eight proposed rules related to wildlife management for the 2023-24 season.

The Great Smokies Eco-Adventure, a fundraising event for Discover Life in America, will be held Sunday, April 30, through Tuesday, May 2, near Gatlinburg. 

The 2022 Classic Hikes of the Smokies Series will start on Tuesday, March 14, with an easy-to-moderate 5.2-mile hike among the historic homes on Jakes Creek Trail in the Elkmont District. It will be the first of 10 monthly excursions guided by expert hikers this year. 

To the Editor: I was heartened to see the recent coverage that the Pilot Travel Center off of I-40 on Exit 24 received from WLOS in Asheville. In this featured segment, the dangerous situation that has developed from the lack of adequate pull-in access for trucks was highlighted.

David Green Edwards, 32, of Cherokee, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual contact with a minor. 

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority announced the hire of Kara Addy as its new Social Media Manager.

Jake Tallent vividly remembers the impact that the New Century Scholars program had on his life.

The 55th annual Juried Undergraduate exhibition is currently being showcased through March 24 at the Fine Art Museum in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. 

Dana Soehn, a 34-year employee of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park who has been part of its management team for the past decade, will be the next executive director and president of Friends of the Smokies. 

The nonprofit Quilt Alliance and the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will present two free “Community Quilt Days” in March.

Folkmoot USA has announced the second semester of its “Life Long Learning” education initiative. Conceived and sponsored by Dr. Darryl Nabors, Life Long Learning offers a variety of subjects tailored to our residents.

Tax season officially began at the end of January. While most people don’t particularly enjoy dealing with taxes, we can make our lives easier by being prepared. Below are five tips to better prepare you for this tax season and those in the future. 

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority has approved $13.7 million to fund 11 capital improvement projects at state parks, including $900,000 for maintenance facility renovations at Mount Mitchell State Park. 

Equine infectious anemia has been found in 19 horses located in nine counties, including Henderson County. Of the 19 horses, 17 have been euthanized to prevent further spread. 

Construction of 4 miles of new trail will soon be underway on the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest in Old Fort, part of a planned 42-mile trail expansion in the Old Fort area. 

To the Editor: I enjoy the articles written by Chris Cox. They are always thoughtful and thought provoking. I particularly appreciated his Feb. 8 article about meeting Jean Ellen Magers and beginning his work at Southwestern Community College. 

Megan Emily Tate, 28, of Sylva, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf last month and pleaded guilty to distributing a substance that contained fentanyl which resulted in serious bodily injury, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. 

An act of arson will cost James Ralph Brady, 55, of Cherokee, four years in prison, five years of supervised release and $10,000 in restitution. 

The immersive installation ”Courtney M. Leonard — BREACH: Logbook | CORIOLIS” is being showcased through May 5 in the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. 

For the next two years, Appalachian Trail users will experience delays at Stecoah Gap due to construction on Corridor K. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, which is the nonprofit partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, has confirmed new leadership to its organization. 

Access to the entire Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be closed from Feb. 13 until at least March 31 for flood damage repairs. 

Boone-based Destination by Design will be leading efforts to create an economic development plan tying together all 29 counties along the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor, following a decision by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. 

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act that became law on Dec. 29, 2022, included a major win for wildlife advocates — inclusion of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. 

To the Editor: I recently read in The Smoky Mountain News the article regarding the January 17, 2023, county commissioner meeting on the grant offered to Haywood County to help educate people about the safety of the COVID vaccine.