After Tropical Storm Fred moved through Western North Carolina in 2021, litter cleanup throughout the East Fork and downstream along the Pigeon River was an unfunded effort, leaving local responsibility on the backs of property owners, volunteers and programs like Adopt-a-Stream.

The National Park Service will conduct additional design work and technical studies for Foothills Parkway Section 8D. This decision was based on feedback from subject matter experts and public comments received during a 30-day public comment which ended on Aug. 21. 

North Carolina Amateur Sports announced that the Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is headed to Jackson County Aug. 1-3, 2025.  Registration for the 2025 Mountain Ride is now open at ncsports.org. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an endangered species throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act. Eastern hellbenders are found in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. 

Most of North Carolina continues to experience moderate drought, according to the latest advisory from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council. 

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to apply for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance. 

Grammy-nominated Americana act The Secret Sisters will perform as part of “Salon Series” at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, in The Ruffed Grouse Tavern at the Highlander Mountain House in Highlands. 

Jam-rock ensemble Prophets of Time will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. 

“The Polar Express” train ride will roll down the tracks on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City.

Climb aboard one of the powerful locomotives and historic train cars as it departs the Bryson City Depot for the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus himself.

The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville. 

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville has announced the launch of the HCAC Helene Support Grant.

Designed to provide financial assistance to HCAC artist members who have been significantly impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the application process is currently underway.

Friends and alumni contributed more than $6 million to Western Carolina University during the 2024 GivingTuesday initiative, nearly quadrupling the previous record set last year and setting the stage for a corresponding challenge gift that would unlock significant additional funding for WCU athletics facilities renovations. 

The North Carolina Conference of the Global Methodist Church has made a transformative donation of $150,000 to Mountain Projects, demonstrating their commitment to aiding communities in need. 

The award-winning Land of the Sky Chorus will present “Harmonies of the Holidays,” a celebration of barbershop and a cappella vocal music at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. 

Americana/folk singer-songwriter Woolybooger will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin. 

The Haywood Community Band will host its “Sounds of the Season” concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 14, at the Calvary Road Baptist Church in Maggie Valley. 

A special stage production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Musical Extravaganza” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. 

Featuring Celtic/world musical ensemble Eireann’s Call, the “A Kilted Christmas” concert will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center. 

A beloved annual tradition, the “Christmas at Lake Junaluska” celebration will be held Dec. 13-15 at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center.

Enjoy carriage and trolley rides, Christmas lights, a hot chocolate bar, marshmallow roasts, music, a special service and more. 

The 41st annual “Lights & Luminaries” will return from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 13-14 in the streets of downtown Dillsboro.

Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song. Over 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios. 

The inaugural “Cold Mountain Christmas Craft Fair” will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Lake Logan Retreat Center in Canton. 

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) is under contract on 100 acres of raw and pristine land in Cashiers. Fully surrounded by U.S. Forest Service land, this property is visible from Whiteside Mountain and protects streams in the Chattooga watershed.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission today voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to advance Red Wolf recovery in the state.

Jackson County Recreation is offering four, five and six-week programs that will allow skiers to enjoy lessons under the night sky at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. Lesson times run from about 3-5 p.m., but skiers can hit the slopes afterward until 10 p.m. 

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources has honored 79 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water standards in 2023.

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has again classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry with a moderate drought now affecting the entire Smoky Mountain News coverage area other than a sliver of northern Haywood County. 

Youth soccer is coming to Jackson County next month.

Registration for spring soccer begins Jan. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. Registration fee is $65. Anyone born between 2011 and 2020 is eligible to participate. 

As a young boy, maybe 10 or 11 years old, Thom Brooks set foot onto Southwestern Community College’s campus in Sylva for the first time. 

His mother, Rhonda Brooks, worked full-time and had enrolled in some evening classes to better her life. Not only did young Thom have a front-row seat to his mother’s life-changing journey, he also got to participate in a class activity. 

Walking across the same stage on which they’ll one day receive their college degrees, seventh graders from Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties were inducted into the New Century Scholars program on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Myers Auditorium on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 

Rock icon Jason Bonham will bring his “Led Zeppelin Experience” once again to the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. 

Wayne Caldwell will present his latest work, “River Road,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. 

Featuring professional classical dances and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company, a magically festive, full-length stage version of “The Nutcracker” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University. 

Asheville rock-n-soul outfit Jesse Velvet will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville. 

Registration is now open for another season of Cataloochee programming through Jackson County’s recreation department. Lessons are tailored to skier based on skill level.

Dates for lessons are Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb 23. 

On Dec. 9, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin a rehabilitation of the 2.3-mile-long Cosby Entrance Road from Tennessee State Route 32 to the gate of Cosby Campground. 

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has again classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry with a moderate drought affecting three far-west counties and most of the eastern part of the state. 

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint is providing funding to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), Division of Soil and Water Conservation Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) to implement stream debris and sediment removal projects.

Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River (WATR) is holding a celebration and fundraising event.

The event, which a release noted will celebrate WATR’s “past, present and future,” will be held from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Innovation Station in Dillsboro. 

Western Carolina University announced the appointment of Matt Henley as the next director of Athletic Bands and director of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. 

Haywood County Recreation is offering a wilderness navigation course that will equip hikers with the basics of modern navigation required to not become lost in the wilderness. 

Haywood Waterways is hosting a cleanup session for Waynesville’s Richland Creek.

The cleanup will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7.

Meet at the Vance Street pavilion located along Richland Creek down the hill from the Waynesville Recreation Center at 550 Vance Street in Waynesville. 

Featuring bluegrass legends Shawn Lane & Darren Nicholson, the “Balsam Christmas Concert” will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Balsam Mountain Inn. 

Jackson County Americana/folk duo Bird in Hand will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City. 

The annual “Stecoah Arts & Crafts Drive-About Tour” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29-30 at featured studios in Bryson City, Stecoah and Robbinsville. 

In collaboration with Friends of the Smokies, the National Park Service (NPS) has a completed a three-year restoration of the Ramsey Cascades Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in the Greenbrier area, this popular trail ascends through beautiful hardwood forests to the 105-foot Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in the park.

Following a cold snap and a couple of inches of fresh snow, the Cataloochee Ski Area in Haywood County opened up for its 64th season on Nov. 23.

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has classified parts of Western North Carolina as being in a moderate drought.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) announced that nominations are now open for the 60th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards. This prestigious event, set to take place on May 3, 2025, honors the outstanding individuals, organizations and agencies whose work is making a lasting impact on the conservation of North Carolina’s wildlife and natural resources.