The Appalachian Voice
Navigating Long-Term Hurricane Helene Recovery: A Day-in-the-Life of a Disaster Case Manager in Cocke County, Tennessee
Chrissy Miller is a disaster case manager in Cocke County, Tennessee, who helps survivors of Hurricane Helene access resources, fulfill unmet needs, develop recovery plans and try to make sense of difficult situations. For Miller, who was also impacted by the storm, it’s hard to rein in the scope of her work.
Read MoreWhitewater Kayaking Race to Return with a Course Transformed by Hurricane Helene
Paddlers will soon return to the whitewater river of Western North Carolina for the world’s largest extreme kayaking event. After the destruction of Hurricane Helene sent the renowned Green Race on a yearlong hiatus, the paddling community is gearing up for the race’s 30th year on Nov. 1, which will look much different with the Green River’s course reshaped by the storm.
Read MoreSpotting Fall Warblers at Seven Islands State Birding Park
![“The hooded warbler is what I call my spark bird, which is [the bird that] gets you into birding,” Fox says. “You see a bird, and it gets you wondering what it is, and then suddenly you discover there's this whole world of birds that you didn't know about.” Photo by Kelly Fox](https://appvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HoodedWarbler-1024x682.jpg)
Birding enthusiasts may be able to spot these 36 New World warbler species at Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak, Tennessee, this fall migration season.
Read More‘We Certainly Have a Long Way to Go’
On the one-year milestone of Hurricane Helene, communities reflect on the challenges they still face on the long road to recovery. The storm caused significant destruction, but it also exacerbated existing issues. New instances of housing insecurity and mental health concerns bubble to the surface every day — and will for months and years to come. For those doing the arduous work of long-term recovery, it feels never-ending.
Read More‘King of the Darters’ Removed from Endangered Species List
The Roanoke logperch, a striking, large freshwater fish found in a handful of watersheds in Virginia and North Carolina, is no longer on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species list. It’s a sign of the fish population’s improvement. But some individuals and environmental and conservation organizations see its removal from Endangered Species Act protections — rather than moving from “endangered” to “threatened” status — as premature.
Read MoreContinuity of Connection: Museum Exhibition Features Contemporary Native Artwork About Indigenous Mounds
A new exhibition, “Homelands: Connecting to Mounds through Native Art,” at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, features contemporary art from four of the 11 Native nations with ancestral ties to UT land.
Read MoreAppalachia’s Funkiest Fungi
Don’t miss 10 of Appalachia’s funkiest fungi! From Bleeding Tooth Fungus to Dead Man’s Fingers, we’ve selected the weirdest of the weird fungi. Hopefully you can find and appreciate some of these beautiful and fascinating local residents in your neck of the woods.
Read MoreProtected Paths: Trails Through Public Lands
This series features lesser-known trails in Appalachia’s public lands. They show the beauty and significance of hiking on public lands.
Read MoreThe Long Trail Back: Public Lands Recovery After Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene devastated many of Appalachia’s most beloved natural areas. Thanks to federal, state and local partners and volunteers, many of these outdoor spaces have reopened. But full recovery is far from over. Current and looming federal budget cuts and policy changes have made already challenging land restoration work even more arduous.
Read MorePeople vs. Pipelines
Patricia Smarsh and Jeffrey Gilliam’s land is threatened by the Ridgeline Pipeline, a proposed methane gas project from Enbridge Inc.
Read More