The Appalachian Voice
Bridging the Economic Divide
By Kimber Ray Main Story Building New Opportunities For Women In Rural Appalachia Women aspiring to further their education and careers may find their path obstructed by a number of barriers, including domestic violence, biased gender expectations and low confidence. The programs listed here are a small sample of efforts to create more fair and…
Read MoreCampuses Compete for Gold by Being Green
By Carvan Craft Who said it can’t be fun to help the environment? By capitalizing on the spirit of sports rivalries, these three competitions have prompted colleges and universities to recycle, reduce electricity use, get outside and pounce on their chance to win. Growing Sustainable Students RELATED STORIES Greening the Ivory Tower: Smart institutions find…
Read MoreFive Schools Switch to Landfill Gas Power
By Carvan Craft Five colleges are putting the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” into practice with their initiative to use landfill gas for light and power. Hollins University, Emory & Henry College, Lynchburg College, Randolph College and Sweet Briar College are the first institutions in Virginia on track to meet all of…
Read MoreBored to Death
By Amber Ellis Originally from eastern Russia and northeastern Asia, the emerald ash borer found its way to southeastern Michigan through infested cargo ships in 2002 and quickly became North America’s most destructive forest pest. Since then, the invasive beetle has plagued forests in 22 states, including most of Appalachia and, as of June, five…
Read MoreThe Case of the Shrinking Salamanders
By Amber Ellis This year marked the hottest May and June in global record-keeping history, and it seems like salamanders across Appalachia are withering in the heat. A June study in Global Change Biology found that climate change may be having a negative effect on six Appalachian salamander species. According to the study, spells of…
Read MoreKeeping West Virginia Wild
Lovers of outdoor recreation and stunning scenery can now permanently enjoy expanded public access to the popular Gauley River. The 665 acres in Gauley River National Recreation Area acquired by West Virginia Land Trust this spring includes a gorge once intended for development. According to Brent Bailey, executive director of the land trust, “The importance…
Read MoreSouthwest Virginia is for (Outdoor) Lovers
By Amber Ellis On Sept. 13-14 in Abingdon, Va., the Appalachian Spring Initiative will host a regional expo to highlight southwest Virginia’s outdoor recreational opportunities. The initiative, which focuses on community development, has identified eight attractions as pillars of ecotourism in southwestern Virginia, including the New River, High Knob Recreation Area and the Daniel Boone…
Read MoreCamp Creek: Gateway to West Virginia Wonders
Just two miles away from busy Interstate 77, visitors to West Virginia’s Camp Creek State Park trade the hum of passing traffic for birdsong and the rushing chatter of waterfalls.
Read MoreNational Attention on Pesticides
By Amber Ellis A recent study from the University of California claims that pregnant women living within a mile of farms using popular agricultural pesticides were 60 percent more likely to have a child with developmental delays or autism. And new research indicates that pesticides are also a growing threat to pollinators and, by extension,…
Read MoreHead in Clouds, Feet on Trail: Kentucky’s Cloudsplitter 100
By Amber Ellis Come Oct. 4-5, folks from all over the United States and the world will be arriving in Pine Mountain, Ky. for the state’s first 100-mile race. The Cloudsplitter 100 is endorsed by USA Track & Field as an official mountain, ultra and trail-running championship. There will be accompanying races of 25, 50…
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