Outdoors
From mosquitos to medical school, WCU alumnus shares his story
Joe Davis, a double alumnus of Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s in emergency medical care and a master’s in biology, has had a unique higher education journey.
Local scout troop getting back on its feet
Scout Troop 318 of Waynesville, a troop with over 60 years of history, will be making a fresh start after being shut down by COVID. In addition to two former Waynesville mayors among its alumni, it produced hundreds of Eagle Scouts over its more than 60 years history.
Want to monitor water quality?
In 1996, the Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN) program was established as a water quality monitoring program for many Western North Carolina counties. In Haywood County, Haywood Waterways Association manages 25 sites on 19 streams. The program’s purpose is to provide long term water quality monitoring information to help leverage grant funding for water quality improvement projects.
Highlands to host native plant symposium
Highlands Biological Station is excited to announce the 2024 Native Plant Symposium, scheduled for Sept. 13-14. This two-day event will be packed with engaging presentations, tours, auctions and more, all centered around the beauty and importance of native plants.
Smokies announces Clingmans Dome closures
Clingmans Dome Road will be closed the mornings of Sept. 10, 12 and 16 to facilitate special educational programs for students at schools in Cherokee.
The road will be closed at midnight the night before each event and will re-open at 1 p.m.
Waynesville tennis courts to be resurfaced
The tennis courts located at Recreation Park at 285 Vance St. in Waynesville will be closed from Aug. 27 through Sept. 10 to allow for resurfacing (weather pending).
Hometown Pride: Bryson City welcomes home Olympic medalist
Evy Leibfarth may as well have been born on the river. Her parents met while working as raft guides on the Nantahala and had her on the water with them before she could even hold a paddle.
The Joyful Botanist: Weeds are flowers too
Writing these columns for the last couple of years has brought me so much joy that I have decided to celebrate by changing the name of my writings to The Joyful Botanist. And nothing says launching a new name than launching a revolution while you’re at it. So, let’s start a revolution!
WNC Sierra club to host talk on lithium mining, electric vehicles
Learn about the challenges and success of mining resources related to our transition to clean energy at the WNC Sierra Club.
Randy Francisco of the United Steelworkers Union will discuss ways that “environmentalists and labor can work together to ensure that workers and their communities are protected from harm from this mining.