Application period open for crop loss disaster assistance in 2024: Farmers urged to sign up by the May 4 deadline
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced that the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program is open and accepting online applications through…
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Panthertown Map Association publishes 30th anniversary edition
Panthertown Map Association, the non-profit publishers of Burt Kornegay’s popular map, “A Guide’s Guide to Panthertown,” recently celebrated the publication…
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Central Haywood High School gets new tractor
The Haywood County Farm Bureau Board of Directors is proud to announce the sponsorship of Central Haywood High School’s new…
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WCU pitches new ‘Ballparks and Brews Tour’ for alumni, friends
The Western Carolina University Office of Alumni Engagement is stepping up to the plate and taking a swing at a…
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Join Franklin Bird club for Macon County walks
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at…
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Debris removal begins along Pigeon River
Equipment and personnel have arrived in Haywood County to begin removing debris at 22 sites along the Pigeon River. The…
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Smokies to reopen portions of The Cataloochee Valley April 4
On April 4 by noon, the National Park Service (NPS) will reopen portions of Cataloochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains…
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The Cradle of Forestry to reopen
FIND Outdoors is excited to announce the seasonal reopening of the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest on April…
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Repair homes now before bat pupping season
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) recommends that homeowners check now for bats that may be getting into their home and evict them responsibly…
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Some waterways remain dangerous post-Helene
Officials at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) report there are still areas that are unsafe to participate in water…
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Blue Ridge Parkway provides damage update
Hurricane Helene caused at least 57 landslides on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, damaging roads and trails across…
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EPA announces completion of Helene response in WNC
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the agency has completed its work supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the North Carolina Department…
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Governor Stein, Ag Commissioner call on USDA to allocate funds to farmers
On the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, Governor Josh Stein and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler sent a letter to…
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Whiteoak Sink group size limited for wildflower viewing
As Spring begins, Great Smoky Mountains National Park reminds visitors of group size limits during the popular wildflower season at…
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Invasive plant crew celebrates milestone
The Pisgah Conservancy’s Invasive Plant Management Crew celebrates one year of tackling non-native invasive species in the forest this month. …
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Word from the Smokies: In the fight against litter, volunteer organizations are key
Every year, millions of people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience its clear mountain streams, verdant views, and…
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What to do in the event of an animal encounter
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) offers helpful guidance when encountering wildlife as they become more visible this time of year. Black…
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WNC Orchid Society presents ‘Orchid Arcadia’
The Western North Carolina Orchid Society (WNCOS) and The North Carolina Arboretum will once again host one of Western North…
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Haywood to host hazardous waste collection event
Haywood County has partnered with Consolidated Waste Services and EcoFlo to hold its spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event from…
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Mainspring and partners protect Parkway views
The Conservation Fund announced that a critical property in the Great Balsam Mountains is protected as forest and natural land.
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North Carolina sees drought, widespread abnormally dry conditions
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has classified most of the state as abnormally dry, while 56 counties are…
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Haywood Community College Hosts Spring Boater Safety Courses
Haywood Community College and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer three opportunities for boater safety courses in Spring 2025. Classes…
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‘The fish that wears a feather’: Sicklefin Redhorse fish given scientific name
The Sicklefin Redhorse has a long history in the waters of southern Appalachia. But the fish wasn’t rediscovered and recognized…
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Word from the Smokies: Shedding light on the nature of venomous snakes
Southern Appalachia affords many opportunities to watch and learn more about our diverse species of wildlife. At my home near…
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HCC hosts environmental summit
Haywood Community College in Clyde will welcome multiple speakers, guests and partners to campus for the WNC Environmental Summit from…
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announces new ambassadors
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is welcoming a slate of community ambassadors to guide the next steps of its Blue…
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Reminder: burning trash is against state law
The open burning of trash, metal, plastic and all other man-made materials not only harms the environment and poses a…
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Wildfire season is here. Helene and DOGE could make it worse.
Limited resources and tricky topography already pose challenges. Now those problems have been exacerbated. When Chris and Sara Evensen bought…
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Word from the Smokies: Ranger-made goods add personal touch to park stores
Mike Meldrum could claim his current occupation as a third career — if he weren’t so careful to avoid calling…
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation earns Public Lands Alliance Award
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation received the 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award from the Public Lands Alliance (PLA) during the…
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Turn off lights to help spring migrants
Birds face a number of threats during their long migration journeys, but you can help by simply turning off unnecessary…
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Cherokee hosts heritage seed workshop
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Extension office is hosting a workshop to teach people about the preservation of heirloom…
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Sierra Club presents ‘International Birding and Climate Change’
Simon Thompson, an international birding expert, will discuss surprising effects of climactic changes on North Carolina’s and the world’s wild…
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Nurturing nature: Behind the scenes at Highlands Biological Station
Located atop “The Plateau” on the outskirts of downtown Highlands, the Highlands Biological Station is a world-renowned facility for academics,…
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North Carolina innovators aim to revolutionize flood prediction
A team of students from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics has developed an artificial intelligence-based flood modeling system…
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Asheville’s wildlife park reopens March 17
The WNC Nature Center will reopen to the public March 17, five and a half months after closing due to…
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Clean energy business grants available
The Mountain BizWorks Electrify Fund has launched to connect Western North Carolina businesses and nonprofits with affordable financing for clean…
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NCDA&CS offers free agronomic services for WNC growers
It has been months since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina and recovery is still ongoing throughout the region. Many…
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Masa youth photography winners on display at arboretum
The George Masa Foundation announced that the winning photographs from the inaugural George Masa Foundation Youth Conservation Photography Prize are…
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Waynesville looking for lifeguards
The Town of Waynesville Parks and Recreation is looking for 15 new lifeguards to train and certify at no cost.…
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Word from the Smokies: Ongoing monitoring builds knowledge of park’s environment
Every day at several locations around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, information about onsite environmental conditions is being added to…
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Word from the Smokies: Discover Life in America marks milestone in species inventory project
Mindy Fawver is retired from a career in commercial photography and graphic design, while her husband, Doug Bruce, works as…
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America's worst idea: Cuts to national parks put safety, economy, legacy at risk
Often called “America’s best idea,” the National Park System founded more than a century ago has given generations of visitors…
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RMEF helps conserve wildlife habitat in North Carolina
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supplied funding to help a collaborative partnership conserve 406 acres of habitat for elk, whitetail deer,…
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Underground storage tank loan program available for those affected by Helene
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management’s Underground Storage Tank Section (NCDEQ-DWM-UST), has launched the Bridge…
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Smokies Life receives national recognition for ‘Letters from the Smokies’
Smokies Life received national recognition at the 2025 Public Lands Alliance Partnership Awards for “Letters from the Smokies,” which was…
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Conservation access plan public session rescheduled
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) invites the public to attend upcoming forums to discuss implementation of a Conservation Access Pass currently…
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Haywood Waterways seeks feedback
Haywood Waterways Association is creating a strategic plan for which it is seeking input, advice and opinions from the public.…
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NHC offers ‘trail ambassador’ training
Join the Nantahala Hiking club this weekend for a training session to educate people how to become “trail ambassadors.” The…
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Haywood County Master Gardeners offer plant clinic
The planting season is getting closer, and Master Gardeners are available to answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and…
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