Month: July 2020

News

Maggie Valley protests to reignite Aug. 1

The July 18 march in Maggie Valley had managed to catch some Saturday afternoon rain, though it was less of a portent and more of an annoyance, I would imagine.  I wouldn’t know, I was sitting at home, watching the protest on Facebook live via Smoky Mountain News. A camouflaged […]

News

WCU students up in arms over 2020-21 housing agreement

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on July 16, 2020.  Western Carolina University’s 2020-21 Housing Agreement has left students angered and concerned for the upcoming school year. “Residents acknowledge that, in the event of such temporary closures, restrictions, and/or adjustments to the housing services schedule, WCU shall not have the […]

News

Factions War Over Sylva’s Confederate Statue

Editor’s note: JB is in favor of removing the statue but has attempted to present this article relatively free of bias. In the wake of the George Floyd protests, the 2017 call to remove the local confederate statue “Sylva Sam” from the steps of the old courthouse is reawakened and […]

News

WCU trustees drop Hoey name in unanimous vote

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on July 2, 2020.  Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved changing the name from “Hoey” to “University” on a campus performance facility. Hoey Auditorium was named after Democratic politician Clyde R. Hoey. Hoey, served in both houses of the state […]