The Night Sky in 2024 - Dr. Dan Caton

The Night Sky in 2024 - Dr. Dan Caton

Author: Mitchell County, NC Government September 2, 2025 Duration: 21:52
While the focus of our podcast has been the recovery from Helene‘s fury, there was more going on in the sky in 2024 than the hurricane. There was a solar eclipse, two auroras, and a comet that all appeared in our region last year. And the capper happened a month before Helene: a meteor exploded over Spruce Pine and Altapass setting off a big boom in the early morning hours of August 30 that startled a lot of folks. Today, Dr. Dan Caton of Appalachian State University joins us to talk about these events both from what happened and how historically events like these were treated in the past in terms of seeing them as omens. Of course, the events had nothing to do with Helene striking our area, but we thought you might like to take a look back at all the interesting events that appeared in our skieslast year.

Tune in to We Are Mitchell for a direct line to the ongoing recovery efforts in the North Carolina mountains. This isn't just a series of official statements; it's a collection of conversations and reports from the ground, born from a partnership between Mitchell County Government and WTOE Radio in Spruce Pine. You'll hear interviews with the people coordinating relief, updates on infrastructure repairs, and stories from neighbors helping neighbors as they rebuild after Hurricane Helene. The focus is on delivering clear, accurate, and timely information to citizens who need it most, cutting through the noise to provide a reliable resource. Each episode of this podcast serves as a community bulletin, documenting the challenges and the resilience of Mitchell County in real time. By listening, you gain insight into the specific steps being taken to restore normalcy and the collective spirit driving the process forward. This is essential listening for anyone connected to the region, offering a sober yet hopeful narrative of recovery, straight from the source.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

We Are Mitchell
Podcast Episodes
Fire Danger is High - Bryan Brewer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:15
Mitchell County Assistant Fire Marshal and Fire Coordinator Bryan Brewer joins us to discuss the dangerous wildfire conditions in our region, what the Burn Ban means and how it is being enforced, and steps to take to pro…
FEMA Deadline is March 25 - Sophie Phillips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:58
The deadline for filing appeals to FEMA on open claims is March 25, 2026. Mitchell Long-Term Resilience Group representative Sophie Phillips joins us to discuss the deadline and what options might be available to those w…
The Drought - Jason Boyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:00
WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer joins us to discuss the severe-level drought that our region has now been experiencing for several months and what that means both for pour weather and for the risk of wildfires in our regi…
Spring Wildfire Season - Bryan Brewer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:30
Spring Fire Season is upon us, and Mitchell County Fire Coordinator Bryan Brewer joins us to discuss the dangers that are out there again this spring and steps you can take to help prevent wildfires.
Tourism Summit is March 19 - Kelly Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:34
The second Mitchell County Tourism Summit is March 19. Tourism Development Authority Director Kelly Jones joins us to talk about the summit and the unveiling of a new branding initiative for Mitchell County tourism.
Landscape Recovery and Preparedness Open House - Zac O‘Donnell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:34
Damage to the streams, land, and trees, is a legacy that Helene has left in Western North Carolina. On Saturday, February 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, the Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development group is coordinating…
January 31 Winter Storm Update - Jason Boyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:52
The worst of the snow has passed us, but now dangerous cold is setting in WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer shares what to expect as we head for Sunday and a cold start to next week.
Here Comes Winter Storm #2 - Jason Boyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:48
Get ready because here it comes! Winter storm #2 is expected to begin in our area Friday afternoon. WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer joins us to share what they are expecting from this storm and the timeline for its effect…
RenewNC Deadline is January 31 - Stephanie Pitman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:19
The deadline to enroll for consideration by RenewNC for funds to help repair damage from Hurricane Helene is Saturday, January 31. Stephaie Pitman with the Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group joins us to talk abou…