Asheville City Schools names new principal for Asheville High

Press release from Asheville City Schools: North Carolina native, Jesse Dingle, named Asheville High Principal; will assume duties next summer; district announces transition plan for the interim period Dr. Jesse Dingle, a 19-year education veteran who currently serves as principal of Virginia’s largest high school, will become the new principal of Asheville High School, arriving on June 19, […]

North Carolina-based wildfire teams winding down operations, moving to active fire areas

Update from the North Carolina Joint Information Center for Wildfires: Nov. 30, 2016, 5 p.m.: The wildfires that have spanned across the South were, and continue to be, fought by federal, state, local, tribal and volunteer agencies. The incident management teams and firefighters that have been working in North Carolina are beginning to ramp down […]

Former Mars Hill University president Max Lennon dies

Press release from Mars Hill University: A. Max Lennon, former president of Mars Hill College (now Mars Hill University), died Tuesday, November 29, 2016. Funeral arrangements are not yet complete. Lennon was a 1960 graduate of Mars Hill College, receiving his associate’s degree in agriculture. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal […]

Jackson County Farmers Market to hold Holiday Bazaar Dec. 10 and 17

Media advisory from Jackson County Farmers Market: The Jackson County Farmers Market in Sylva, North Carolina, will host their annual “Holiday Bazaar” during the last two of their 2016 Saturday morning markets, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. Shoppers will find an assortment of craft items, herbal products, beeswax creations, greeting cards, baked goods, woolen products […]

Isothermal Community College awarded grant from Carolina Farm Credit

Press release from Carolina Farm Credit: STATESVILLE, NC – Isothermal Community College was recently awarded a grant as part of Carolina Farm Credit’s Corporate Mission Fund.  Grant funds will be used to help finish construction of a barn and greenhouse to enhance the schools Agribusiness Technology degree program by providing a space where students receive hands-on training. […]

UNC Asheville students present research and community engagement projects Dec. 6

Press release from UNC Asheville: UNC Asheville students will present more than 190 research and creative projects and showcase their work in community service projects and internships at the university’s Fall Undergraduate Research and Community Engagement Symposium, on Tuesday, Dec. 6. All events are free and open to the public. Presentations of the students’ research […]

Thousands donate to Smokies’ fire relief effort on #GivingTuesday

Press release from Friends of the Smokies: WAYNESVILLE, NC – In less than 48 hours, thousands of individual donors contributed more than $100,000 to Friends of the Smokies in support of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on #GivingTuesday. One hundred percent of these donations will help meet the greatest needs of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, […]

Local man arrested for impersonating police officer

Press release from Asheville Police Department: (ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Nov. 30, 2016) – An Asheville Police officer on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 observed an older model tan Crown Victoria with North Carolina plates on Haywood Road in west Asheville flashing blue lights in the back window. It was determined that the vehicle was not an official […]

UNC Asheville winter commencement set for Friday, Dec. 16

Press release from UNC Asheville: UNC Asheville will hold its December 2016 Commencement at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at Kimmel Arena in the Sherrill Center on campus. Some 240 students are expected to earn their degrees in December. Featured commencement speakers will include UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Chemistry Sally Wasileski, recipient of […]

Asheville Fire Department advises caution using heating equipment

Press release from Asheville Fire Department: Asheville, NC – With the winter months upon us, the Asheville Fire Department is reminding homeowners about the fire dangers associated with heating equipment. Improper use of such equipment like portable space heaters, wood burning stoves and fireplaces can be incredibly dangerous, and their misuse is a leading cause of U.S. home […]

APD arrests juvenile suspect in series of downtown larcenies

Press release from Asheville Police Department: (Asheville, N.C. – Nov. 22, 2016) – Asheville Police have made an arrest in a string of larcenies from downtown businesses. A 13 year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with the seven larcenies that took place between Oct. 28 – Oct. 30. Officer Heavan Dunne noticed a […]

Dogwood Alliance marks two decades of defending Southern forests

As Dogwood Alliance celebrates its 20th anniversary, the local organization reflects on its accomplishments influencing the wood sourcing practices of some of America’s largest corporations. Now the group is poised to take on an even larger challenge: fighting European environmental regulations that Dogwood Alliance says are paradoxically endangering Southern forests.

Mission Health, community donate supplies to firefighters

Press release from Mission Health: ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 17, 2016) –  Mission Health caregivers and patients continue to donate supplies to help fire fighters and emergency workers who are battling blazes across western North Carolina. Mission Health set up donation boxes at each of its six hospitals and at its offices at Ridgefield Court in Asheville. […]

Suspect in Deaverview homicide taken into custody; second suspect still at large

Press release from Asheville Police Department:   (ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Nov. 17, 2016) –  Frederick N. Simpson Jr., 23, has been  arrested by the U.S. Marshall Service in Conyer, GA. Simpson had an open warrant for 1st Degree Murder in connection to the shooting death of 40-year-old Travis Dominick Mayfield. Police are still searching for a […]

Total fire acreage increases; weather conditions expected to present higher fire danger through coming week

Press release from National Forests in North Carolina, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.: CURRENT SITUATION Total large fire acreage is at just over 42,000 acres, an increase of 1,668 acres from yesterday. Containment has increased on all fires, particularly those on Nantahala National Forest. Fire crews around the region are working on containment lines ahead […]

Buncombe Senior Living seeks to relocate 60 adult care home beds

Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services: RALEIGH, N.C. – Buncombe Propco and Buncombe Opco have filed a Certificate of Need application with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to relocate 24 adult care home beds from Nana’s Assisted Living Facility and 36 adult care home beds from The Laurels of […]

Party Rock fire grows to 5,714 acres

Press release from North Carolina Forest Service: For Immediate Release 11/16/2016; 10:30 a.m. Contact: Fire Information Center, 828-513-2500 or 336-455-9641 Email: partyrockfireinfo@gmail.com The Party Rock Fire grew to 5,714 acres, but remained at 19 percent containment. Firefighters continue to secure containment lines and conduct burnout operations on the Party Rock Fire in advance of a […]

Appalachian Trail fire restrictions stretch from Georgia to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia

Press release from Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Appalachian National Scenic Trail to Implement Fire Restrictions from the US Route 33 crossing in Shenandoah National Park to Springer Mountain, GA. HARPERS FERRY, W.V. (Nov. 17, 2016) – The National Park Service (NPS) and Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announce that fire restrictions are in place along the Appalachian […]