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“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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Recognizing the land during Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and respect Indigenous culture. This month also recalls the dark past of colonized land.  Land acknowledgements, formal documents honoring tribal homelands, are used by institutions across America, including WCU.   WCU sits on land that was, and remains, the ancestral and […]