A coalition of environmental organizations has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop what they describe as an “illegal logging project” in the Nolichucky River Gorge, a scenic section of Pisgah National Forest. MountainTrue, in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity and represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, announced Monday that it is suing the U.S. Forest Service over logging operations the group says violate federal environmental laws and the

By: Staff The Mountain Buzz Over the past ten years, crime in Western North Carolina has shifted in ways that defy simple headlines. While some communities have seen notable spikes in violent incidents, others have experienced steady declines, resulting in a complex picture of public safety across the mountains. According to data from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, there is no consistent, region-wide in

Press Release Dr. Brian Mitchell, a beloved physician whose decades of service helped shape the landscape of healthcare in Western North Carolina, is the subject of a newly-released mini-documentary by local filmmaker Harrison Keely. Titled “Brian Mitchell – The small-town doctor who changed everything,” the film follows Mitchell’s journey from his childhood in Boston to his pivotal era at Murphy Medical Center, now known as Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. “Dr. Mitchell’s

Newly re-elected Mayor James Reid shared this photo on social media of his celebration with his family. ANDREWS, N.C. –  Voters in the Town of Andrews made their choices Tuesday night, electing mayor and two members to the Board of Aldermen in a pair of tightly contested races. James D. Reid kept the mayor’s seat with 51.75% of the vote, narrowly defeating Brandi Smith, who received 47.66%. Two write-in votes accounted for 0.58% of the total. In the Board of Aldermen race, wh