Three N.C. men fined for illegal possession of elk antlers, U.S. Forest Service reports

PRESS RELEASE (U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Forest Service) Three North Carolina men have paid fines to the United States District Court for the illegal possession of Elk antlers in the Pisgah National Forest, announced today Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making […]

USDA releases first-ever “agroforestry” guide for farms, woodlands

PRESS RELEASE from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agroforestry Center Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today released a first-of-its-kind practical agroforestry handbook that contains information to help establish, manage and market agroforestry projects that are profitable and sustainable over time. The handbook, Profitable Farms and Woodlands, is written for underserved and limited resource farmers […]

Election 2012: July 17 runoff features major races but interest, turnout “anemic”

How many North Carolinians know there’s a primary runoff election tomorrow, July 17, and how many will vote? Many statewide races are at play, including the governor’s race. But most people aren’t paying much attention, The Raleigh News&Observer reports: The voting will help determine the candidates on November’s ballot for five of North Carolina’s most […]

Toward a Clean Energy Future: WNCA offers free, Friday workshop series

PRESS RELEASE from Western North Carolina Alliance Free workshop series: Toward a Clean Energy Future — FREE four-session series sponsored by the Western North Carolina Alliance and Transition Asheville is being offered starting July 20. For more information on this series, contact Ron Martin-Adkins by calling 828-545-9114. Workshop Schedule: Session 1 — “Energy Efficiency” 7 […]

Sign campaign results in fewer wrecks, says National Park Service

FROM BLUERIDGENOW.COM (Hendersonville Times-News) An aggressive signage campaign has drastically reduced the number of wrecks along the Blue Ridge Parkway over the last 10 years, the National Park Service reports, making a leisurely drive along the National Park Service’s most-visited attraction a far safer experience. Signs warning drivers of possible hazards were placed along the […]

Study: Since 2002, large cuts in mercury emissions by North Carolina industry, power plants

PRESS RELEASE, N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources: North Carolina’s coal-fired power plants have cut their toxic mercury emissions by more than 70 percent since the General Assembly enacted the Clean Smokestack Act in 2002, according to a study the N.C. Division of Air Quality presented Thursday to the state Environmental Management Commission. The […]

Ashevilean Mike Morse wins grueling Grandfathe­r Mountain race, “The Bear”


From Linville to the foot of the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain, it’s just a five-mile run. But perhaps because the route has an 1,568-foot elevation change — they call this race “The Bear.” Asheville’s Matt Morse won the men’s division, taking the course in 32 minutes and 17 seconds. (photo by Skip Sickler)

Mountain bog preservation proposed in Transylvania, Henderson counties

excerpt from BlueRidgeNow.com (Hendersonville Times-News): A proposed national wildlife refuge that would protect rare mountain bogs could potentially include 12,592 acres in Transylvania County, commissioners heard Monday. Gary Peeples, of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, told commissioners his agency is looking at creating a 23,000-acre Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge that could eventually include […]

U.S. Forest Service fights 25-acre wildfire near Grandfather Mountain

PRESS RELEASE: The U.S. Forest Service, North Carolina Forest Service and Collettsville Fire Department are suppressing a 25-acre wildfire in the Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest. The wildfire is located near Sand Mountain in Caldwell County, about three miles north of the Town of Collettsville. The fire is 40 percent contained. Lightning ignited the […]

N.C. court weighs request for all GOP documents on redistricting actions

WLOS reports that the North Carolina Supreme Court is weighing a request that GOP legislators turn over all documents pertaining to the recent redistricting in the state. And the N.C. News Service reports, “Several groups, including the North Carolina Public Broadcasting Association and the state Press Association, are supporting the request to make the information […]

Asheville’s Sam Powers earns 2012 Economic Developer of the Year

PRESS RELEASE from the North Carolina Economic Developers Association The North Carolina Economic Developers Association selected Sam Powers, Director of Economic Development for the City of Asheville, as the 2012 Economic Developer of the Year in recognition of his outstanding achievement. “Sam Powers’ tremendous work ethic has resulted in significant revenue and job creation throughout […]

Sierra Nevada will start hiring early next year, Times-News reports

From BlueRidgeNow.com (Hendersonville’s Times-News): Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. officials say the employment process for the first jobs at its future facility in Mills River should begin early next year. The company plans to relocate about 10 employees from its base operation in Chico, Calif., to the Western North Carolina site, but all other jobs will […]

Beijing Review editor visits Asheville, Warren Wilson College

On Thursday, July 6, 2012, Beijing Review ‘s Ms. Wei Huang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the North American Bureau based in New York City, toured Asheville and, in particular, Warren Wilson College. In his “Learn Chinese Business” blog, Ashevillean Jonathan Poston described the visit: … Beijing Review is China’s national English news weekly; featuring, in English, […]

N.C. Utilities Commission will hold hearing, investigate ouster of Progress Energy CEO

The North Carolina Utilities Commission recently approved the merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy. But the surprise July 2 dismissal of Progress CEO Bill Johnson has been decried as a lack of good faith and the Utilities Commission has scheduled a July 10 hearing on the matter. The North Carolina attorney general is also […]

Computer check: Malware may cut Internet use for 64,000 in U.S. on Monday, July 9

The Associated Press (via BlueRidgeNow.com) reports: … tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday [July 9] unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago. Despite repeated alerts, the number of computers that probably are infected […]

Follow the money

In the months leading up to the May 8 primary, how did the Buncombe County commissioner candidates raise and spend money? Their initial campaign-finance reports provide a snapshot of how much was donated, who the contributors were, how much the candidates spent and what they spent it on. The next round of reports is due […]

Andy Griffith: “Everything that was good about N.C.,” says Gov. Perdue

Shortly after the news that actor Andy Griffith had died, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue released this statement: “North Carolina has lost its favorite son. Andy Griffith graciously stepped into the living rooms of generations of Americans, always with the playful charm that made him the standard by which entertainers would be measured for decades. […]