Burn ban lifted; you need to have a burn permit to have a controlled burn

The N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning effective 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 2. The statewide ban went into effect March 21. The lifting of the burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue or lift […]

Bringing the Jedi life to WCU

You have probably seen lightsabers out by the Blue Ridge lawn around dinnertime on Wednesday and Saturday. The Catamount Saber Legion is sharing its love of Star Wars at WCU. The club has over 80 active members who regularly attend meetings. Club president, Gabriel Baker said that the Saber Legion started as a social experiment […]

Sylva bookstore City Lights makes it to 40

Story originally published in The Sylva Herald, Feb. 19 edition City Lights, Sylva’s independently owned used and new bookstore will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. It will be a proper birthday party with friends having fun with live music, refreshments and cake. Because of corporate bookstores, such […]

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 […]

Queer and Christian at WCU: navigating faith, identity and acceptance in local churches

Story co-produced with Callia Addikis “I think the biggest thing is how [being gay] set me back, with being able to love who I love, and not living my life based off of an artifact,” says Kinley Lewis, a student of environmental science at WCU.   WCU has a diverse student population, with students who […]

The unsung heros of election season

Jackson County Board of Elections this year had 115 election workers helping during the early voting and election day. These poll workers make the voting process easy and as stress free as possible. Often, they and the work they do can be overlooked. See the story bellow featuring two poll workers who worked at the […]