Outhouse Races return
A beloved winter spectacle in Western North Carolina, the 19th annual “Outhouse Race” will return to the slopes at 3…
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Learn how to become a master gardener
The North Carolina State Extension Office in Haywood County is calling on anyone interested to learn how to become a…
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DEQ releases data from preliminary PFAS study
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has released data from a preliminary study that found…
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Word from the Smokies: I-40 rebuild will affect wildlife safety along the river for decades
Editor’s note: This piece is the second of a two-part series exploring plans to rebuild I-40 through the Pigeon River…
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WCU outfitted with new Liquidlogic kayaks
Western Carolina University students are gearing up for their next adventures with fresh equipment, all thanks to a partnership that…
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State offers opportunity to support wildlife
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission invites 2025 North Carolina taxpayers to donate all or part of their state tax refund…
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Haywood seeks applicant for Greenway Advisory Council
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants to fill one bicycling community member position on the Greenway Advisory…
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Word from the Smokies: Plans for rebuilding I-40 spur concern for wildlife
Editor’s note: This piece is the first of a two-part series exploring plans to rebuild I-40 through the Pigeon River…
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By the numbers: NCDEQ invests in WNC following Helene
In 2025, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality supported communities recovering from Hurricane Helene, took actions to address PFAS…
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Tips sought to identify Smokies assault suspect
The National Park Service is seeking tips from the public to aid in the ongoing investigation of an assault that…
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Carolina Mountain Club announces new president
The Carolina Mountain Club announced Karen Schultz as its next president, serving a two-year term from 2026 through 2028. Schultz…
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NC air quality has vastly improved since ‘90s, DEQ report shows
North Carolinians continue to breathe the cleanest air in decades as emissions of harmful air pollutants like ozone and fine…
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Balsam Mountain Preserve receives golf award
Balsam Mountain Preserve received its first platinum award from the Association of Golf Merchandisers. The award recognizes clubs and facilities…
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Jackson County offers skiing at Cataloochee
Enjoy a full night of skiing or snowboarding at Cataloochee Ski Area with Jackson County Parks and Recreation on Thursdays…
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State sees widespread moderate drought
Much of North Carolina continues to experience moderate drought, according to the latest advisory from the North Carolina Drought Management…
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NC AG opposes rollback of PFAS protections
Attorney General Jeff Jackson is opposing a rollback of data collection and reporting about PFAS forever chemicals. Just months away…
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Virtual plant clinic in Haywood
Gardeners perhaps haven’t started planning yet, but N.C. State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions about lawns,…
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Word from the Smokies: Curious kids keep the letter writers busy
What do rangers eat for lunch? How did the Great Smoky Mountains get their name? Do rangers have to feed…
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WCU honors program matriarch with renovated suite
Three former members of the Western Carolina University women’s basketball team stepped up to the line to tip off the…
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‘Ranger of the Lost Art’ and the search for a vanished Smokies poster
The iconic adage “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” coined in 1939 by Winston Churchill, the famous…
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$1.1M in grants for flood resilience projects awarded
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint is partnering with the North Carolina Land and Water Fund…
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Land acquired for conservation near Cashiers
The Open Space Institute and Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust announced the acquisition of the 104-acre Peregrine Tract along the southern face…
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SAHC hosts sixth-annual Winter Hiking Challenge
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) will host its sixth-annual Winter Hiking Challenge in the first two months of 2026,…
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HCC to host spring hunter safety courses
Haywood Community College’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer two…
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The art of adventure: Outdoor 76 celebrates 15 years
Fifteen years ago, Main Street in Franklin was a pretty quiet place. It wasn’t hard to find a parking space…
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Word from the Smokies: Backcountry rangers hike to help
Backcountry rangers Lydia Williams and Jordan Gibeault have almost reached their destination, Kephart Prong Shelter, when they purposefully veer off…
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State warns of consequences of turning deer into pets
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is advising residents that it is illegal to keep deer as pets and unwise to…
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WCU brings holiday cheer with ‘Education Days’
Western Carolina University Athletics welcomed more than 1,000 Jackson County Public Schools students to campus for its annual “Education Days”…
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Macon library continues to support the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is celebrating 100 years and revamping its community supporters program. The Macon County Public Library has…
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Ski Cataloochee with Jackson County Rec
Winter weather has arrived in Western North Carolina and the snow guns are blasting at the Cataloochee Ski Area in…
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Celebrate the holiday season in the Smokies
Embrace the spirit of the season with two festive events at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this December. Visitors are…
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Macon Library hosts ‘mind, body, flow’ class
Macon County Library is hosting a “mind, body, flow” class. Classes are Tuesdays at 9 a.m. starting Dec. 16 in…
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NCDEQ launches WNC Recovery Grants
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has launched the Western NC Recovery Grants Program to help communities affected by Hurricane…
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After the storm: How collaboration is driving the Arboretum’s restoration
When Drake Fowler returned to the North Carolina Arboretum after Hurricane Helene, the extent of the damage broke his heart. …
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Over 1,000 acres protected in Haywood County
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has transferred 1,060 acres in Haywood County to the State of North Carolina to become…
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NOC wins ‘Event of the Year’ award
The Nantahala Racing Club and Nantahala Outdoor Center announced they have been honored with the American Canoe Association’s 2025 “Event…
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Browse a seed library
Dreaming of spring? Beat the winter blues by planting native seeds. Late fall and early winter are the perfect times…
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Turkey operation tests positive for bird flu
A turkey breeding operation in Wayne County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza. The positive sample was first…
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Large animal health enhancement grants awarded to Macon County veterinarians
Ten North Carolina Veterinary practices were recently awarded grants to help support their large animal practices. This $130,000 recurring fund was…
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Lost apples of the Smokies: Rediscovering the park’s apple harvest heritage
Growing up in Swain County, Nathan Dee Greene ate a lot of apples. The family had several trees of their…
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Officials warn of horse herpes outbreaks
State veterinary officials are asking horse owners in North Carolina to watch for symptoms of a highly contagious equine disease…
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Preparing property for bear denning season
Slumber time for black bears is quickly approaching, and in some cases, already happening. Now is the time to start bear-proofing residential…
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Free pesticide disposal in Haywood
Farmers, homeowners and small businesses in the region are invited to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted pesticides at a…
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Waynesville hosts holiday markets
Waynesville’s farmers market is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting holiday markets. The markets will run from 9 a.m.…
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Time with nature: Retired professor brings forest therapy to Jackson County
While our habits and hobbies outdoors may vary, it’s a point of pride for most in Western North Carolina that…
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Tis' the season: Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
Normally, when I’m interviewing storied Haywood County musician Darren Nicholson, we’d be talking either about an upcoming gig of his…
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Festival of Trees returns
The Summit Charter School Foundation announced that the 2025 Cashiers Festival of Trees will open on Friday, Nov. 28, at…
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Take nature journaling walk in Jackson County
Jackson County Recreation is hosting a guided nature journaling walk, during which participants will deepen observation and recording skills while…
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Make a wreath for the holidays
This year, folks in Haywood County will have the chance to embellish their homes with a one-of-a-kind wreath at the…
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Water quality grants awarded
The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) awarded 12 grants totaling $350,365 to environmental…
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