A claustrophobic person would have had a difficult time exploring the Lost Sea (Cave's) Wild Cave Tour in Tennessee.

With a record of three games lost in a New York City high school tournament doesn't always have a positive outcome, but for the girls high school basketball team from Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) it was a win/win situation.

Andrea Narvaez-Santos of Rutherfordton has returned to classes at Rutherford Early College High School (REaCH) after competing in the Distinguished Young Women of North Carolina program in Greensboro last month. At the conclusion of the program, Andrea won a Preliminary Award in Fitness, and Overall Awards in Interview and Self-Expression.

Thirty-six days ago people were celebrating Christmas Day with gifts, meals, caroling, church services and family gatherings. But for some affected by Hurricane Helene in Chimney Rock Village and Western North Carolina, Christmas was certainly different than in Christmases past.