Hurricane Helene has had an incredible impact on Western North Carolina. Much of the area is still recovering and will continue to for quite some time. Cullowhee was lucky to be spared from the worst of the storm. While the university itself wasn’t hit hard, many of its people were. […]
Hurricane Helene
Warren Wilson College: Resilience in the Face of Hurricane Helene
Warren Wilson College, nestled in the picturesque town of Swannanoa in North Carolina, blends the natural beauty outside the classroom with strong community ties inside it. Nestled in the vast expanse of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this campus is like a nature resort with its rolling hills and serene landscapes. […]
WCU prepares for Hurricane Helene
This story was written on September 26, the day Hurricane Helene arrived in Western North Carolina. As the tropical bands of Hurricane Helene approach Western North Carolina, classes are canceled Thursday, Sep. 26, and Friday Sep. 27. By the time the storm reaches Cullowhee it is expected to be a […]
So much more than a building: Equestrian barn’s road to recovery
“It’s a feeling, it’s a family, it’s everything, it’s so much more than just a building,” Julia Collins, the coach for WCU’s collegiate equestrian team said, about her barn in Candler, NC. Collins has owned Over the River Farms for 25 years. For eight of those years, she has worked […]
A “Perfect Storm” the misinformation of Hurricane Helene
As Western North Carolina recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, misinformation and disinformation continue to spread through social media. The rumors and lies spread have created mistrust hindering effective relief efforts. “These rumors – or whatever they are – are usually presented as factual information when it is not […]
Professors navigate course changes amid unexpected university closures
All classes at WCU were suspended from Sept 26 through Oct 11 due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. WCU’s fall break, Oct 14 through Oct 18, continued as scheduled, leaving students out of the classroom for nearly three and a half weeks. To accommodate, professors had to restructure their […]
Marshall citizens spearhead post hurricane recovery efforts in their town
“The destruction is just the first chapter, but the real story is the way people have responded,” Josh Copus, owner of Old Marshall Jail Hotel and Zadie’s said. Marshall, a small town just north of Asheville, was one of the worst affected by the flooding on Sep. 27. Hurricane Helene […]
Lending a helping paw: How students have volunteered in the wake of Hurricane Helene
Cullowhee came out of Hurricane Helene with minimal damage, however many neighboring counties were less fortunate. Flooding and loss of utilities devastated communities across Western North Carolina and the cancellation of classes left many WCU students eager to get out and help. Every student had a different reason to volunteer. […]
“There was absolutely nothing normal or usual about this:” Historical flooding devastates Clyde
Kevin Massie watched as quickly moving floodwaters approached his home foot by foot. The water rose as the Pigeon River inched its way into the streets of Clyde, North Carolina. “In this area, it’s common to have several floods a year,” said Massie. In the 60 years Massie lived in […]
Cullowhee Community Garden still grows after severe flooding
Cullowhee Community Garden’s peaceful ambience is often enjoyed by gardeners, volunteers and visitors alike. The Cullowhee Creek flows behind it adding a cherry on top by making the soil more ideal for growing while providing the soothing sound of trickling water. What was once the perfect complement to the garden […]