Franklin will again celebrate its appreciation of Appalachian Trail Hikers with the town’s first festival of 2013, April Fools Trail Days, on Saturday, March 30. This daylong event will take place in Historic Downtown Franklin and bring together AT hikers, locals and visitors for a great celebration featuring displays, workshops, live entertainment and fun, food and more.

“April Fools Trail Days was conceived, in part, by our designation as an Appalachian Trail Gateway Community,” said Linda Schlott, Franklin Main Street Program executive director. “We have a full day of fun planned and encourage everyone to come out and support the hiking community that makes such an impact on our town each year.”

Scientists search for colonies in the mountains.

In North Carolina, endangered Virginia big-eared bats are known from only two caves at Grandfather Mountain, where they hibernate. What has puzzled biologists for years is where these bats go in the summer to give birth. This spring a massive effort aims to answer that question.

About 12,000 Virginia big-eared bats are known to exist in four states and 400 of those hibernate in the Grandfather Mountain caves.

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On Sunday March 11, Macon Early College held a quarterly litter pick up on the Siler Road xtension. MEC students collected 14 bags of trash and two tires from the side of the road.

The amount of litter on the road has doubled since the new Wal-mart opened and the extension was completed. The clean up is part of MEC’s commitment to community service.

Plants expected to produce unusually vibrant colors, due to the mild winter and rainy weather

Springtime in Western North Carolina displays a beautiful illustration of color that lasts throughout the Summer.

The plants and trees are beginning to produce flowers which display vibrant colors such as pink, yellow, red, purple, blue, gold, and orange, which will exhibit more color than usual, due to weather conditions.