Commentary by Vickie L. Bradley: As members of the community it is extremely important that we are aware of national issues that affect our ability to receive health care services.

Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk announced on Wednesday, Nov. 18, the launch of a new effort by the Indian Affairs Indian Highway Safety Program and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services to help tribes keep drunk drivers off of their roads and highways.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today (Thursday, Nov. 19) released the annual independent audit of Indian trust fund financial statements.

To view a video of the Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Celebration held on Friday, Nov. 13: https://www.nc-cherokee.com/onefeather/videos/blue-ridge-parkway-11-13-09-part-1/

This fall, a Texas Tech University professor of anthropology will begin the difficult task of collecting the remnants of the near-extinct Comanche language, then creating a way it can be taught in a university setting.

Charges are pending against a Granville County, North Carolina man who is a suspected of shooting a bull elk inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

An official groundbreaking was held for the new TOP Building on Monday, Nov. 16.

With the simple passing of a torch, one historic unit of the National Park Service ended their 75th Anniversary year and another began.