Archives for February 2026

Profiles of candidates for Jackson County Commissioner seats in District 1 & 2

Story by Cory Vaillancourt. Re-publish of The Smoky Mountain News, Jan. 27 edition Unlike some counties in North Carolina, Jackson elects its county commissioners by district. Currently, District 1 is represented by Todd Bryson, who has decided not to run again. Four Democrats have filed for Bryson’s seat — John Herrera, Julie Painter, Casey Walawender […]

Library fight, taxes shape Jackson County commission races

Story written by Cory Vaillancourt, re-published from The Smoky Mountain News Amid growing financial concerns, Jackson County’s four Republican commissioners have spent the last few years fighting a culture war. On March 3, Primary Election voters will weigh in on their priorities.  Over the past four budget cycles, Jackson County commissioners have overseen a steady […]

Snow and freezing temperatures cancels classes … again

Jackson County woke up under a blanket of snow after a winter snow started Friday night, Jan. 30 and continued almost all day on Jan. 31. Many WCU students got their inner children out, spending the day sledding on campus or just enjoying the snow. According to the National Weather Service, snow is expected to […]

20 years of art at WCU Fine Art Museum

The Bardo Arts Center is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the WCU Fine Art Museum showcasing over five decades of art. The exhibit opened Jan. 20 and will run until July 2.   The exhibition features variety of mediums involving paintings, prints, drawings, and photography, with a focus on contemporary Native American and women artists.   Many of the works displayed in the exhibit come from the two predecessor galleries […]