Archives for February 2025

Blue Ridge to receive new gym, classrooms and cafeteria

Although not included in the top five priorities of the board, the Blue Ridge Elementary in Cashiers was acknowledged as needing a gymnasium alongside additional classroom and cafeteria space.  “We are happy to have our County Commissioners recognize that there are needs there but I don’t think we can really do anything else at this […]

Jackson County Board of Education details plan of new middle school and renovations to elementary buildings

A version of this story was originally published in the Sylva Herald Feb. 13 edition The Jackson County boards of Commissioners and Education held a joint meeting Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Southwestern Community College’s Burrell Building. Superintendent Dana Ayers led the discussion over various facelifts that many Jackson County schools will see in the upcoming […]

All the cool cats at Catman2

All the cool cats are heading to Catman2 in Cullowhee to check out all the kittens. Catman2 is a safe-for-life cage-free cat shelter at 637 Bo Cove Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723. The shelter was founded by Dr. Harold Sims, who passed away in November, 2024. His caretaker, Kaleb Lynch, is now in charge of Catman2 […]

Apodaca floods amid classes

Around 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Bonnie Ross, the Facility Management Housekeeping Department Manager, received a call from Chris Ammons about flooding on the first and second floors of the Apodaca Science Building. Ross was notified about a mechanical room causing leakage toward the backside of the building on the second floor that was seeping […]

What Title IX changes mean for WCU students

Western Carolina University students, faculty and staff received an email on Feb. 5 announcing a Title IX update. The email sparked confusion and anger across campus about what these changes mean for WCU students. “I got the email when I was in class and then I had to drive to work. I was really mad. […]

New plan might fill the donut hole in Forest Hills

Story originally published in The Sylva Herald Feb. 13 edition The 300 residents of the Village of Forest Hills could soon see their numbers double. Or more. Brown Haven Homes proposed a plan to build 180 single family homes built in the donut hole, a former golf course spanning about 73 acres surrounded by single-family […]