Welcome To Adam Wells and Amy Kelly!
Please join us in extending a hearty welcome to two new members of the Appalachian Voices family!
Adam Wells joins the team as our Economic Diversification Campaign Coordinator based in Wise County, Va. working to bring clean energy and other economic opportunities to the region. Adam was a volunteer with us while working on his undergraduate degree at Appalachian State University, later working with Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and the Sierra Club on mountaintop removal in Southwest Virginia, and as a wilderness therapy guide before joining the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable in 2013. Adam lives on his family farm with his wife and their dog, where they enjoy spending time on beautiful mountain rivers.
Also new to the team is Amy Kelly, our Tennessee Energy Savings Outreach Coordinator, who will be working with local residents to build home energy efficiency programs. Amy earned her undergraduate degree from Maryville College and is completing a master’s degree in Community Development from GPIDEA. She worked with Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowement for five years, most recently focusing on community economic development models and aiding the region’s people in discovering their own power. A Tennessee native with roots dating back to the 18th century, Amy enjoys exploring the world with her beloved daughter and husband.
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Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
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