JJ Frid, a senior forensic anthropology student, was able to work alongside the State Bureau of Investigation on a case in Cherokee County in February. Frid said that being able to say they worked with the SBI and having familiarity with how cases operate will be helpful whether they decide […]
Local
Greening Up the Mountains returns to downtown Sylva
Sylva celebrated its 27th annual Greening Up the Mountains festival Saturday, April 26. Downtown came to life as more than 150 vendors, demonstrators, cooks and crafters set up shop along Main Street. Greening Up the Mountains celebrates the coming of spring through Appalachian music, arts and crafts, food, live music […]
Feeding the Community
In a time when more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, Sylva’s Community Table serves as a beacon of resilience, community and hope. For over 20 years, the Sylva Community Table has been providing food for anyone who needs it in the Sylva community. The Community Table […]
Jackson County plans first middle school
Jackson County Public Schools is planning to build its first-ever middle school after receiving a $52 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction last September. Jackson County has long operated without a dedicated middle school, relying on K-8 schools to feed into the county’s only high school, […]
Cherokee Language Program expands
Last fall, WCU’s Cherokee Language Program received a significant grant from Cherokee Preservation Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports Cherokee language preservation efforts. The $223,014 grant, among other support from WCU and outside organizations, has allowed the program to develop into an official minor and certification program. “We’ve gotten a […]
Congressman Chuck Edwards holds town hall despite pushback
Congressman Chuck Edwards held a town hall meeting March 13 at the Ferguson Auditorium of Asheville-Buncombe Technical College. Edwards addressed multiple issues including Ukraine, federal program cuts and Elon Musk’s DOGE program. The town hall was split into three parts. Edwards spent the beginning talking about Western North Carolina’s recovery […]
Jackson County opens first indoor pools
After a long time coming it’s finally here, Jackson County celebrated the completion of its new aquatics facility on Saturday with a host of grand-opening festivities. “To finally have it come about has been a really big deal for Jackson County,” said Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hopkins. “We’re really […]
Catman’s legacy continues
“One word to describe Harold is legend,” said Kaleb Lynch, Catman2’s shelter director and close friend of the late Sims. This legacy of Dr. Harold “Catman” Sims Jr. lives on in Western North Carolina through Catman2 and the American Museum of the House Cat. Lynch and others have organized a […]
Securing the vote: An inside look into how voting machines are prepared
With misinformation about the voting process fogging the public’s perception of the voting process, the Jackson County Board of Elections provided an opportunity to watch the Express Vote machines be set up in preparation for elections. All Express Vote machines and DS200 tabulators are tested before being staged for transportation […]
Election season: What you need to know to vote this year
The general election is upon us once again. Despite damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina State Board of Elections did not extend voting registration deadline. Although the registration deadline has passed, voters can still register and vote during North Carolina’s in-person early voting period until Nov. 2. Election […]
