Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Sept. 24, 2020.  Like many other facets of life in 2020, COVID-19 is affecting various N.C. Department of Transportation projects, including R-5600. The project to reshape Sylva’s commercial corridor has been postponed from fiscal year 2022 to 2025. R-5600 is the DOT proposal […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Sept. 17, 2020.  As the fourth week of classes began for Western Carolina University students, many Husk residents were blindsided Sept. 8 by early morning flooding of their apartments. The Husk is an apartment complex mostly for WCU students off Little Savannah Road […]

The Saturday, Sept. 5 NC-11 Congressional debate between Democrat Moe Davis and Republican Madison Cawthorn featured words like “liberal lawyer,” “no experience” and “liar.” The ‘Best in the West’ doubleheader was hosted at Western Carolina University and organized by Blue Ridge Public Radio, Mountain Xpress and Smoky Mountain News. Night two centered […]

On Thursday, Sept. 3, Western Carolina University announced the expansion of its quarantine housing. In an email to village residents by the executive director of residential living, Bryant Barnett, there are more than 40 vacant rooms across four empty houses (700, 1790, 1900 and 2100) at The Village. The Village […]

As election day comes upon us, it’s crunch time for voters to decide who they want to represent them. Voters need to know who aligns more with their standards and look past the soundbites they hear from news outlets, social media and attack ads. Candidate profiles are extremely vital to […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Aug. 27, 2020.  BaShaun Smith, Western Carolina University’s associate vice chancellor and dean of students, has announced that students may face WCU Code of Student Conduct Violations if mask requirements are not followed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Shared community standards remind us that […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Aug. 20, 2020.  Move-in weekend is usually a joyous occasion for Western Carolina University students and their parents. For many occupants of The Husk and The Helm apartment complex, this has not been the case. The Husk and The Helm faced various code […]

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 […]

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 […]

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on June 25, 2020.  BaShaun Smith has served as Western Carolina University’s interim associate vice chancellor and dean of students since June 2019 but permanently accepted the position as of May 1. “I decided to stay at WCU because of the amazing students we […]