WNCTIMES
Serving The Citizens of Western North Carolina Since 1995 
Connie Francis passed away at 87, closing the chapter on a life lived fully, loudly, and often, defiantly. Her voice, instantly recognizable on hits like "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," was just one facet of a woman whose journey epitomized ...
Hey friends! Happy Monday from right here in beautiful Western North Carolina! Mondays can sometimes feel like trying to push a boulder uphill, especially when you're still dreaming of the weekend's mountain adventures. Start lifting your mood right ...
Get ready for a celestial spectacle! This Thursday, July 10, 2025, marks the arrival of the first full moon of the astronomical summer, often known as the Thunder Moon or Buck Moon. If you're in Western North Carolina, you're in luck – this magnifice...
A student holds a small, strange-looking device that looks like a speaker aimed at a flickering flame. He flips a switch, a deep, rumbling sound fills the air, and poof—the fire vanishes as if snuffed out by an invisible hand.It seems like something ...
The world often tells us vacations are for couples, families, or groups of friends. But what if your soul is craving something different? What if you're yearning for an adventure that's solely yours – a "bravecation" where you step outside your comfo...
Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable; it places immense strain on your body's ability to cool itself. When sweating isn't enough, your core temperature rises, leading to potentially dangerous conditions like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and the mos...
Endangered Species Day, observed on May 16, 2025, is a day to raise awareness of endangered and threatened species and the vital work being done to protect them. Being a part of the conservation tale of the bog turtle, one of the most endangered and ...
Some musicians' songs have the sensation of a dialogue with a witty, witty, and brutally honest friend. Without a doubt, Jill Sobule was one of them. It just hits you differently when you learn that she died in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota, on...
The past wasn't just about "cool" fashion choices; it was also filled with awesome music and everyday objects that people used, relied on, and couldn't imagine living without. But to your modern eyes? They might look like alien artifacts, weird ...
Ready to rally the troops? Here are some Friendcation activity ideas adaptable to your corner of Western NC, tailored for different vibes and age groups, all designed for a 2-to-5-day getaway within about 50 miles of your home base:The Energetic Expl...
There's a certain magic to a Southern summer night. You know the one: where the air hangs heavy and warm, cicadas hum their twilight song, and then, slowly, one by one, tiny lights begin to wink on. For generations, these dancing pinpricks of light—f...
The Fourth of July. For many of us, it's a weekend of barbecues, sunshine, and dazzling fireworks lighting up the night sky. But for our beloved pets and the unseen wildlife around us, it's often a weekend of sheer terror, disorientation, and even da...
While the news of Brian Wilson's passing yesterday, June 11, 2025, at the age of 82, brings a bittersweet note, it's truly a moment to turn up the volume and bask in the incredible, sun-drenched legacy he leaves behind. Brian Wilson wasn't just a mus...
It's Memorial Day, and for many of us, that means firing up the grill, maybe hitting the lake, or just enjoying an extra day off. And honestly, there's nothing wrong with that! We all deserve a break. But as I sit here, thinking about the holiday, I ...
Ever wonder how the books end up on the shelves in your kid's school library? Usually, it involves trained librarians and teachers picking books they think fit the curriculum and are right for different age groups, following rules set by the local sc...
Because in These Hills, You Can Laugh, Cry, and Rebuild—All in a DayThe air's been thick lately in alot of places —with smoke, yes, but also grit and grace.We've been through it: Hurricane Helene left her mark, and now wildfires edge closer than...
Inspired by The Minimalists and that nagging pile of stuff you keep ignoring If you've watched The Minimalists: Less Is Now on Netflix, you know exactly where I'm going with this. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus remind us that our stuff — t...
A Town Hall Marked by Engagement and FrustrationTensions ran high at U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards' (R-NC) town hall in Asheville on March 13, where hundreds of constituents gathered to voice their concerns. Hosted at Asheville-Buncombe Technical...
Western North Carolina is still rebuiding after Hurricane Helene swept through in September 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Trees—nature's best defense against flooding, erosion, and extreme weather—were lost in staggering numb...
Tens of millions of federal grants recently canceled by the Trump adminstration directly support programs for teacher retention andtraining across North Carolina. Practically speaking, this implies that previously used vital financial suppo...
Connie Francis passed away at 87, closing the chapter on a life lived fully, loudly, and often, defiantly. Her voice, instantly recognizable on hits like "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," was j...
Hey friends! Happy Monday from right here in beautiful Western North Carolina! Mondays can sometimes feel like trying to push a boulder uphill, especially when you're still dreaming of the weekend's m...
There's a certain magic to a Southern summer night. You know the one: where the air hangs heavy and warm, cicadas hum their twilight song, and then, slowly, one by one, tiny lights begin to wink on. F...
Get ready for a celestial spectacle! This Thursday, July 10, 2025, marks the arrival of the first full moon of the astronomical summer, often known as the Thunder Moon or Buck Moon. If you're in Weste...
The Fourth of July. For many of us, it's a weekend of barbecues, sunshine, and dazzling fireworks lighting up the night sky. But for our beloved pets and the unseen wildlife around us, it's often a we...
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