Colonel Jonas is a fanatical and unrepentant Confederate who led a regiment called the Hellbenders in the recently ended Civil War. Similar to Edmond O'Brien's character in Rio Conchos, he is ...

YANCEY COUNTY — Just west of Burnsville, along the Cane River, Atley Cannon, 9, wades through the water covering the farm outside of his uncle's house. With a ball cap, camo pants and two BB ...

Their story may be an omen for the future of the rare southern Appalachian species. Colloquially known as "mud puppies," "snot otters," and "devil dogs," the rare eastern hellbender is just one of ...

LOUDONVILLE — The group scanned the river, searching for signs of the slimy, dirt-colored salamanders from its muddy banks. To actually see an elusive Eastern hellbender salamander, though, they ...