Originally published by The Sylva Herald Businesses along Highway 107 lay stark and empty as the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) prepares to widen the route between Cullowhee and Sylva. Graffiti coats the sides of once well-loved buildings and community staples as many businesses have closed or relocated to […]
Local
“We are still here”: Western Carolina University remains a Cherokee place
Originally published in The Western Carolina Journalist November is Native American Heritage Month, but it’s not just a heritage for the Cherokee people of Western North Carolina. It’s a living, vibrant culture. There are 547 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Native Americans were not automatically afforded U.S. citizenship […]
WCU alumna, Cherokee Center director named EBCI Secretary of Education – Press Release
CULLOWHEE – Sky Sampson, director of Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Center and alumna, has accepted the position of Secretary of Education for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Sampson assumed her role Oct. 23. “In my role at WCU, I worked closely with the tribe and I am excited to […]
Keeping an eye to the sky in Cullowhee
Birding, as it is formally known, is gaining popularity within the greater Tuckasegee area. Topher Stephens, a Caney Fork local, along with Sylva mayor Dave Nestler set out to create a community where they could enjoy their shared interest in birds. Together they created Tuck Birders, a club with a […]
Deep dives in Jackson County
Jackson County is currently constructing a 30,000 square-foot aquatic facility at the recreation center on Tilley Creek Road in Cullowhee. The facility will provide service to county residents who currently must travel long distances to swim. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2024 at a cost of $22 […]
Fall weather stifles turnout for the CMN motorcycle ride
In the crisp morning hours, bikers around Sylva joined together to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals Saturday, Sept. 23. The ride started in the parking lot of the Sylva Walmart and went through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Leo Craig, the organizer, has hosted the CMN bike […]
Tuckasegee River has more than just garbage
Originally published in The Western Carolina Journalist In the early afternoon, with mist still clinging to the waters of the river, hundreds of WCU students descend to the banks of the Tuckasegee river for the Tuck River Cleanup. Throughout the day, thousands of pounds of trash are removed. Digging through the muck and […]
How Sylva and WCU police are evolving modern policing
Sylva Police Department and Western Carolina University have partnered to change how policing is done with the new Community Care Program. This program is designed to fuse policing with social work. Senior or graduate level students studying social work are hired as interns. These interns, known as community care liaisons, […]
WCU’s University Participant Program taking national steps
WCU’s University Participant Program (UP) has high chances of being the first inclusive postsecondary education program (IPSE) to gain accreditation in the country. The UP Program is a two-year, on-campus living and learning experience for college-aged students with intellectual disabilities. UP students audit college classes, have an internship or job […]
Community Table helping with food wants and needs
The Community Table of Jackson County is a valuable resource for people who may need food assistance as well as people who may just want a plate of food that is not from the dining halls. The Table is located at 23 Central St., Sylva. Students may be put into […]