A beloved lake in the mountains of western North Carolina that suffered significant damage during Hurricane Helene several months ago has started being refilled.

The town is working to return the lake to full pond at 990.5 mean sea level.

We would receive them as they came trundling down the sanctuary’s driveway in the funeral home minivan, we would haul their limp weight from gurneys onto our burial cart, we would wrap them in sheets ...