Archives for February 2020

State budget leaves steam plant out in the cold

Story co-written with Nicole Ellison. Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 20, 2020 Western Carolina University’s steam plant upgrade finds itself in hot water, thanks to the budget impasse in Raleigh. The steam plant is running on long-outdated equipment, with the youngest permanent boiler being 43 years old, officials say. The boilers’ […]

Outhouse races return to Sapphire

Story published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 20, 2020 What do you get when you combine skis, racing and bathrooms? Outhouse races. Sixteen teams from all over the southeast built outhouses and raced down the snowy slopes in the 2020 outhouse races at Sapphire Valley Ski Resort. The only regulations were outhouses had to […]

WCU student leader David Benoit campaigned in Iowa for Sen. Elizabeth Warren

As the primaries rage on and the Democratic presidential candidates continue to rally and campaign for voters, one student heavily involved in civic engagement has decided to help. On campus, David Benoit served on the Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator and currently holds a position in the executive board as the Association of […]

WCU LMP: Not so last minute

Story co-written with Nicole Ellison.  Last Minute Productions is generally an unknown organization on Western’s campus yet you may have been to one of their events. Founded in 1979, this year marks LMP’s 40th year of existence on WCU’s campus. LMP is in charge of The Drag Show, homecoming carnival, concerts on campus and many […]

‘Homeless to Harvard’ Liz Murray to Speak at WCU

Liz Murray lost her mother, dropped out of school and became homeless at the age of 15. Now, she is a successful Harvard graduate who inspired Lifetime Television’s original movie, “Homeless to Harvard.” Murray will be the keynote speaker for Western Carolina University’s ceremony honoring students who made the Chancellor’s List in fall 2019. The […]

Be an educated voter

Voting can be overwhelming. From the different elections throughout the year to the basics like where to vote. Luckily, Jackson County is here to help eliminate any confusion. Jackson County Public Library in Sylva hosted “Voting in Elections: How and Why?” on Feb. 11, opening the first of three events to help those who need […]