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Follow the trail to the issues, conversations and information connecting the region. |
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Dear reader,
This week’s rain washed away the remnants of one of the largest snows in my recent memory.
Across the region, some spots saw as much as 14 inches of powdery snow. The snow forced many people to stay home and wait for the weather to improve because of impassable roads but luckily didn’t cause widespread power outages. Some schools remained closed or on delay through today.
School children found ways to pass the time. This snow provided sledding opportunities from the mountains to the coast including on the hill at Jackson County’s Old Courthouse. (and yes, the Christmas tree is still up.) |
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We kept hearing rumors that the state was out of salt for the roads, so I decided to talk with the state department of transportation who told us that the salt reserves dwindled to about half after these two back-to-back storms.
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Because of salt shortages across the country, the DOT is working to restock supplies and “making necessary adjustments to move supplies to areas of need.”
The department prioritizes primary roads (more about that below). Did you know that there are almost three times as many secondary roads in the region compared to primary roads?
Waiting—which is personally not my strong suit—for warm temperatures to melt my steep driveway was a special exercise in patience and planning, but I feel very lucky that our water only froze momentarily. I hope all of you stayed warm!
While we were snowed in, the news marched on with allegations of misconduct by the Graham County Sheriff, voter registration deadlines and much more.
What’s one of your open tabs this week? Send me an email of what you are reading. |
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Stay warm on the trails!
Lilly Knoepp
WNC Senior Reporter |
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Did NC really run out of salt? How the state decides which roads to salt in winter storms |
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Snow remnants were still visible in downtown Sylva on February 3, 2026. (Photo by Lilly Knoepp/NC Local) |
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NC DOT’s snow clearing policy says that its primary responsibility is to interstates and four-lane divided primary routes essential to the movement of intrastate and regional traffic.
“I’ve described it at times as a circulatory system within the body. You have to take care of your heart before you take care of your fingers,” NC Department of Transportation Western Communications Manager David Uchiyama said.
Primary roads and “essential” secondary roads are the first on the department’s list of priorities.
By Wednesday at 3pm, Uchiyama shared that 100% of interstates in both divisions were cleared along with 100% of primary roads and 95% of secondary roads in Division 13 and 95% for both primary and secondary roads in Division 14.
The 13th and 14th divisions cover Buncombe, Burke, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Yancey, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain, and Transylvania counties.
After this weekend, Division 14 has now used half of its salt and Division 13 has used 40%, he specified. |
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Read more... |
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Today, Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin D. Smith confirmed he will retire from office and not seek re-election. Smith, who was elected Sheriff in 2022, said that he was resigning to “focus on his family.”
However, District Attorney Ashley Welch released a letter today in which she formally requested that Smith resign on Jan. 28 alleging negligence and misconduct.
Just last week, Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit (pictured) was suspended following allegations of misconduct from the DA’s office.
While sheriff is an elected office, state law allows for a judicial process to suspend or remove sheriffs in North Carolina. Read more... |
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In response to the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation program, several North Carolina businesses and some municipalities are now Fourth Amendment workplaces. The designation means they’re trained to protect employees from unlawful federal overreach during immigration enforcement operations.
Read more... |
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How can I find out about road conditions? Can my employer make me come into work? Can I refill my prescriptions early?
These are just some of the questions answered in this winter FAQ.
Read more... |
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Tomorrow is the deadline! |
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Want to cast a ballot at the poll on Primary Election Day? Tomorrow is your last day to register to vote.
February 6 is also the deadline for registered voters to change their party affiliation before the primary election on March 3.
If you miss the deadline, don't worry. You can still register and vote during early voting in your county. The early voting period runs from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28. "Same-day registrants” must provide proof of where they live and show an acceptable form of photo ID. For more information, check out Register in Person During Early Voting. Find schedules at Early Voting Sites Search.
Reminder: Unaffiliated voters are able to pick either primary to cast a ballot. |
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Tomorrow is also the deadline for the 70,000 North Carolinians on a list of voters whose registration is incomplete, according to the state Board of Elections. Voters who don’t update their registration before going to the polls this year could be forced to cast a provisional ballot, triggering a review of whether their vote should count.
Want to know if you are on the list? Check for your name. |
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My Favorite Trail: Brandon Romstadt
Brandon Romstadt is Director of Health Communication for WNC Health Network and lifelong resident of WNC. |
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Welcome to a regular feature of The Trailhead: My Favorite Trail. Each installment will feature a WNC trail. This week, Brandon shared his favorite spot. Want to share your favorite trail for a future newsletter? Email me!
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Black Balsam Knob sits off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County. (Courtesy of Haywood County TDA) |
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The Trail: Black Balsam Knob
The 1.4 mile trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway is off of the Art Loeb Trail. The trail features Balsam fir trees and a panoramic view at more than 6,000 feet elevation. |
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Why it is my favorite
Romstadt says the trail was one of the first hikes because it offers a special sense of perception.
"It reminds me of looking at the ocean- the scale of nature reminds me that I (and my life ) are a small part of a much larger picture. Seeing the world from 6,200 feet up has a way of bringing unique peace to my chaotic brain," Romstadt said in an email.
His favorite memory on the trail was particularly foggy day.
"As I walked alone from the covered portion of the hike into the clearing, I was stopped in my tracks. I was stunned! I just stood there and watched as the fog descended the peaks of the panorama," he wrote.
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