Burnsville’s annual holiday celebration happens Dec. 13.
First round of lead tests for Asheville water customers comes back with encouraging results
“Out of 159 samples taken from mid- to late-November, nine had detectable levels of lead on the first draw,” said Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler.
Carmen Atwater discusses the impact Helene has had on local bees
“Fall is already a nectar scarce time of year, and the storm was immediately followed by our first frost, so it really was a triple whammy,” says Carmen Atwater, founder of Feral Farms.
Destroyed athletic facilities leave local sports leagues searching for new homes
Flood waters from Tropical Storm Helene decimated many of the City of Asheville’s premier outdoor athletic facilities, and officials don’t know when — or if — they will be repaired and restored.
City brings slander lawsuit against ParkMobile
“ParkMobile knows that it is spreading misinformation. ParkMobile knows that it is in the wrong. And ParkMobile has had every opportunity to stop. Yet ParkMobile refuses,” the lawsuit says.
From CPP: Asheville’s economy still reeling from impact of storm, water loss on tourism
October was a total loss for many restaurants and hotels, a month that usually promises the biggest profits of the year, thanks to leaf-peepers and other seasonal tourists.
City expects $39 million Army Corps of Engineers-led filtration system at North Fork Reservoir to start running Friday
The city and the Corps planned to start testing the system this week, and Asheville Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler said it should be operational by Friday.
Owners of historic homes face unique challenges of restoring storm-damaged properties
Many residents face the daunting task of cleanup and repair post-Helene, but those with historic houses have an added layer: preserving the area’s past for the future.
Amid retirement, community health remains top of mind for former MAHEC member
“Helping others is simply who I am,” says Jaquelyn Hallum, former director of Health Careers and Diversity Education at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). “Retirement hasn’t changed that — it’s just given me the freedom to focus on what matters most.”
Coalition takes aim at Helene-damaged homes
Asheville Regional Coalition for Home Repair, aka ARCHR, in collaboration with PODER Emma Community Ownership, Mountain Housing Opportunities, Community Action Opportunities and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
From CPP: Helene damage costs in NC more than $53 billion. Who will pay is unclear.
by Lucas Thomae, Carolina Public Press November 26, 2024 Without question, Tropical Storm Helene generated historic costs for North Carolina in terms of structural damages, disruptions to government operations and loss of human lives. Calculating just how expensive the storm was — and also figuring out who is footing the bill — is a trickier […]
Smart Bets: Winter Wonder Walk
An immersive winter storybook experience, lighted trail and holiday market help ring in the season at Adventure Center of Asheville.
Mission Health permanently shutters Asheville Specialty Hospital
The 34-bed Asheville Specialty included a comprehensive stroke center, dialysis services, physical and speech therapy, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, among other services, according to Mission’s website.
From CPP: ‘Worst’ year ever for farms in North Carolina
Farms tend to be located in the region’s fertile river bottoms, and when those rivers swelled and roared, they took crops, barns, bails of hay, miles of fencing, farm roads, cattle, farm equipment and acres of topsoil.
Couple finds a new life purpose in disaster aid
“There is so much destruction and so much need that it is very easy to get overwhelmed,” says Courtney Crouse , co-founder of Hell or High Water. “Making a difference to one person or family at a time is how we are operating.”
From CPP: Getting back on track with rail in NC disaster area
It will be difficult to estimate just how big of an economic toll the near-total loss of rail transport will have on the area. Loss of cheap and fast access to basic, bulky supplies like grain and timber is a reality that modern cities rarely have to face.
Rural water utilities in North Carolina are still reeling from Helene
For weeks after the storm, people had to boil anything that wasn’t poured from a bottle, and many of them drew from creeks and ponds just to flush their toilets.
Grassroots recovery teams anticipate future needs for WNC
All say they plan to stick around to help for as long as it takes the region to recover. And they stress that recovery will come in phases, requiring them to adapt their missions in order to support the community’s evolving needs.
Asheville mayor, Buncombe officials among delegation headed to D.C. to appeal for more Helene assistance
The delegation of regional officials traveling to Washington is believed to be unprecedented, but “we have literally never seen a disaster like Hurricane Helene,” Amanda Edwards, chair-elect of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, told The Watchdog.
Unstoppable: Efforts to end homelessness
“In the aftermath of Helene, Homeward Bound of WNC shifted to immediately address the safety of all our staff and the clients we serve through our homeless and housing services programs,” says Jessie Figueroa, the communications specialist of Homeward Bound of WNC
Asheville lifts boil water notice
“Asheville water customers can safely consume tap water again,” Asheville City Council member Sage Turner posted on Instagram and Facebook.