In the wake of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, “Rock For Relief: A WNC Flood Benefit Festival,” an all-day musical gathering for charity, will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, at a variety of venues in Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Sylva. 

We’ve had more than a week of picture-perfect fall days, usually a part of the recipe for a busy, successful tourist season. But there’s an unshakeable uneasiness among the business community since Helene, and especially in Haywood County. I hope elected leaders take note. 

With the North Carolina General Assembly’s preliminary $273 million relief bill in the rearview mirror, Western North Carolina Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) is looking down the road at the General Assembly’s next move — a billion-dollar relief bill coming Oct. 24. During a recent meeting with Haywood County officials, Corbin spent about an hour trying to learn what, exactly, the needs are.  

“I can promise you what you won't get,” Corbin said. “You won't get things you don't ask for.”

Tropical Storm Helene was predicted to bring significant flooding to Western North Carolina, but it's hard to fathom how much destruction has actually been wrought. As the storm developed, readers from around the area sent photos into Smoky Mountain News. Here's a look at some of them. 

• BearWaters 1 BearWaters 1
• BearWaters 2 BearWaters 2
• Thompson Cove Thompson Cove
• Downtown Clyde Downtown Clyde
• Clyde House Clyde House
• Clyde bridge Clyde bridge
• Coleman Mountain Bridge 1 Coleman Mountain Bridge 1
• Coleman Mountain Bridge 2 Coleman Mountain Bridge 2
• Frog Level flooding Frog Level flooding
• Maggie Valley landslide Maggie Valley landslide
• Wanyesville flooding Wanyesville flooding
• Macon County flooding Macon County flooding
• Canton Moose Lodge Canton Moose Lodge
• Downtown Canton Downtown Canton
• Waynesville Ingles Waynesville Ingles
•  

Haywood Waterways is calling for volunteers to take part in a county-wide cleanup event that removes tons of trash from local waterways and roadways. 

The annual Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. 

The annual “Thunder in the Smokies” rally will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. 

Americana/bluegrass sensation The Darren Nicholson Band will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. 

Tourism remains a critically important component of Western North Carolina’s economy. To ensure it remains strong well into the future, the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is fine-tuning a forthcoming destination master plan that focuses on underutilized assets and what visitors seem to really want — authenticity. 

The Haywood Community Band (HCB) will host its “All Summer Long” concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska.