What is BrevardBeagle.com?

I’m glad you asked.

This is a hyper-local, digital-only multi-media platform for news, entertainment, events and business profiles exclusively focusing on Brevard and Transylvania County, North Carolina.

It is not a weekly newspaper or “town tooter”; nor is it your local TV station. This website aspires to be your one-stop destination to find out what is happening here. There is no print version, only what you read in this digital domain. At present there is only one full-time employee, unless you count the actual dog (more on him below) and he literally works for table scraps.

It is based in western North Carolina, but it is not about Hendersonville or Asheville. I have lived in Brevard since 2001 and worked for just about every news organization and publication in the area during that time. I was not born here, but after 25 years of living in town while laughing about and loving most of it I think I can count myself as more “native” than “newcomer.”

It’s not political and it’s not infallible

I am not here to debate local politics; I want to tell you the facts as I see them, and then you can decide how you feel about it. I don’t really care to know “how you did things” from wherever you are from, only maybe what someone did before in Brevard and how that worked out for everyone.

I am a registered independent, but I will listen to what all parties have to say at least once before they start to repeat themselves. Then I will respectfully back away and entertain another legitimate perspective to consider.

I strive for accuracy, transparency, integrity, and honesty in what is posted here. If I publish something that is factually incorrect, let me know and I will fix it in a flash.

If you read something that you don’t like, I will respectfully and briefly listen to your opinion. I may make a change or I may just listen and thank you for your time without promising anything.

These editorial decisions will be mine alone to make, and I will do so in a respectful amount of time depending on how you approach me about it. I’m not beholden to anyone (and really, you don’t want that in an editor, do you?)

Please keep your comments about what you see here civil and post them elsewhere. I “really, really” care about what you think, but I do not plan to moderate, approve or disprove of any comments on this site. “Aint’ nodody got time for that.” Face it, you can book time to do that somewhere else if that is something you have the time to do in Transylvania. Go nuts, but don’t make yourself sick about it. I know I won’t. “Take that to mean what you want, it probably does.” Okay?

Brevard Beagle Editor Jonathan Rich on WSQL Radio. Photo by Bart Shore / WSQL Radio

What’s causing all of this?

BrevardBeagle.com is the creation of a college-educated man with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a 30+ year career in journalism and public relations. I have a master’s degree in secondary education (high school English) and have worked in several school systems, including Transylvania County Schools.

I have also worked in a local butcher shop and probably delivered a UPS package or two to your house or place of business during several busy Christmas seasons. I am currently on the radio every weekday morning around 8 a.m. as part of the “Don and Ea Show” on 1240 AM / Q 102 FM / and WSQLradio.com. I also sell advertising for them if you need a radio spot for your business or event. For that, email JonathanRich@WSQLRadio.com.

I spend my money in our local businesses. I eat in local restaurants and drink in local bars. I have also been known to sing karaoke hits in many of those same establishments, but the less said about that the better.

I care about the future of our area. I am not a “watchdog,” “news beat” or undercover reporter. I usually wear a black baseball cap with a white lightning bolt on top so you can spot me in a crowd. I’m tall and more than a little rotund (but still working on that last part), so it really is easy to find me on the streets of Brevard if you are walking down them.

I may attend public meetings and events in person, or I may view them online or try to understand what happened from what is posted elsewhere on the internet. I will not take information solely from other avenues without attributing where I got it, but I may choose to keep some sources private to protect any repercussions of them sharing their perspectives.

Hard Times Thunderdog, aka “Times”, poses for his closeup at age 10. Photo by Jonathan Rich / BrevardBeagle.com

What about the dog?

I have a 10-year-old Beagle named Hard Times Thunderdog who is the mascot of this website. He is aware of how cute he is and that will probably only get worse now that he knows he has a website.

I welcome your information about local events and programs, but I will not just “copy and paste” it online. I will edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, style, and balance. That’s my prerogative and I will exercise it as I see fit.

How can I contact BrevardBeagle.com?

Email editor@brevardbeagle.com or follow us on social media (Facebook = BrevardBeagle.com)

Type whatever you want to share in an email, including how to contact you for more information, along with the best time to do so. I will respond when I can and do not need you to follow up right away unless there is a true immediate reason.

Why are you doing this?

I know this place. I love this place. I will write about this place and sometimes take pictures and videos of this place. Let’s “sniff out the latest in the land of the white squirrel” together and tell our friends and neighbors what is going on in Brevard and Transylvania County.

Sincerely and with hope,

Jonathan Rich
04/01/2026