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
February Town Hall Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:42
The February Town Hall meeting was cancelled due to weather on February 20. This is the first of two podcasts featuring information that was going to be presented at that meeting. Gabriel Johnson with the North Carolina…
Rhododendron Festival Returns - Misti Silver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:02
More good news! The North Carolina Rhododendron Festival will make its 78th appearance in Bakersville this June. Misti Silver with the committee organizing the event joins us to share what’s happening and the new locatio…
Blacksmith Festival Returns - Spencer Bost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:07
The 19th Annual Blacksmith Festival is returning to Lower Street in Spruce Pine April 26th. Spencer Bost with Downtown Spruce Pine joins us to discuss why the festival is coming back even with the damage to the buildings…
Bakersville’s Future - Andy Palmer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:51
Many are wondering what the future may hold for areas of Mitchell County. A group of interested citizens in Bakersville are meeting Thursday and Friday, February 20 and 21, to talk with the Design Assistance Team, a grou…
Hospitality House - Sean Morris & William Holley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Homelessness has been a big problem in our region for quite some time, and Helene has only made it worse. Today, we talk with Sean Morris and William Holley of the Hospitality House, a Boone, North Carolina-based agency…
NC DOT Road Update - Gabriel Johnson & David Uchiyama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:01
One of the most impressive feats pulled off during the recovery from Helene has been how rapidly the North Carolina Department of Transportation got roads opened and functioning again. On this program, we get an update o…
Thoughts on Helene - Mark Sudduth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
Helene’s wrath was surprising to many people, and Mark Sudduth who is a professional researcher of hurricanes and other weather, along with a serving as a reporter on Fox Weather, joins the podcast to share his thoughts…
Fire Danger in the Mountains - Andrew Brewer, Fire Marshal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:41
McDowell County dealt with three wildfires on Wednesday, January 29th which rapidly intensified due to both windy conditions and the fact that there is so much tree and vegetative debris on the ground due to Helene. Coun…
Tourism Stakeholders Meeting on February 13 - Kelly Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:54
Businesses and local leaders will gather on Thursday, February 13 at 8 a.m. at Cross Street in Spruce Pine for updates on recovery efforts from Helene focused on tourism and the businesses and locations that depend on it…
Preparing for the Cold Weather - Andrew Brewer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:26
As extremely cold weather arrives in Mitchell County later this weekend, now is the time to make preparations to protect you, your family, pets, and to be prepared if you lose power. County Fire Marshal Andrew Brewer joi…