Thunderstorms were crossing the mountains in waves one morning in the spring, and while trying to get in my morning hike up the ridge after one passed, I got caught in the next. I knew the danger. Lightning strikes around 300 people a year in the United States, injuring most, killing one out of 10.

It starts the same way, most times — sirens in the distance, a frantic call, a body on the floor — but what happens next in Haywood County might soon look a lot different, thanks to a bold plan to reshape how local government responds to the addiction epidemic. 

Ellen Pitt has dedicated the last two and a half decades to combatting drunk driving in Western North Carolina, and the one of the latest fronts in that fight involves her quest to get courts to use continuous alcohol monitoring bracelets for defendants in “high-risk” DWI cases. 

The summer heat is here. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley and the N.C. Department of Labor are reminding employers and workers alike to take simple, effective steps to prevent heat-related illnesses on the job. 

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is providing guidance to livestock owners on methods to protect their animals from becoming prey to black bears. 

Black bears tend to consume a mostly plant-based diet and are attracted to livestock feed, such as grains and corn.

From childhood, we have learned that milk is a foundational food, growing strong bones and a healthy body. People likely remember the slogan “Milk, It Does a Body Good” and our meals being served with a glass of milk. Milk is a staple of childhood and a product families can confidently serve their kids.  

To the Editor:

I used to go to the old Jack the Dipper building between Cullowhee and Sylva. It was a produce stand at the time; the fellow running it sold great watermelons. Traffic was usually a problem (the spot is at the bottom of a hill, there are two intersections, a bend, a left turn lane, and a bridge). If things were too hectic, I just kept going rather than skid to a screeching halt. 

Haywood Community  College and the  North Carolina  Wildlife Resources Commission  will offer three opportunities for boater safety courses in Spring 2025. Classes will be offered from 6-9 p.m. April 2-3, May 7-8, and June 4-5 on the HCC campus  in the Walnut building, room 3322.

A bipartisan collaboration to bolster critical communication resources during natural disasters is gaining momentum in Congress after lessons learned during the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina last year. 

It’s been about five months since the 20-mile stretch of Interstate 40 in Haywood County up to the Tennessee state line has been shut down due to massive damage over a span of about three miles, but as of now, one lane of travel in each direction is expected to be restored next week.