Marsha Lee Baker: Military daughter and wife

Story co-produced with Daniel Reid Marsha Lee Baker’s story reflects the side of the military community that supports from behind the scenes. The families of service members endures alongside them and their own unseen scars. When service members are battling their demons, their families battle alongside them.  Marsha Lee grew up as what the military […]

Tom Baker: A wanna-be warrior

Story co-produced with Daniel Reid Tom Baker has suffered from PTSD for over 50 years. He enlisted in the Army and was overseas fighting in Vietnam at 19 years old. “Nineteen years old and you think you’re God’s gift to the war,” Tom said. “I wanted to jump out of airplanes. I wanted to get […]

Austin Summers: Overcoming Afghanistan and finding community

Story co-produced with Daniel Reid When people think of veterans, they think of people like Tom Baker. Yet combat trauma does not discriminate based on age. Austin Summers is a 25-year-old combat veteran. He served in Afghanistan for roughly six months and lost three of his friends.  Austin enlisted in October 2016 and shipped out […]

The untold stories of PTSD: The veteran community at WCU speaks about their military experiences

Story co-produced with Daniel Reid Many holidays are set aside to honor, remember and celebrate the courage of military members, active, retired and reserves.  From the civilian perspective, these holidays are three-day weekends off of work, cookouts with family and days to party.  For the military community, these holidays have a deeper meaning. Memorial Day […]

Women’s soccer wins SoCon championship, faced Alabama in first round NCAA tournament

The story was originally published in The Western Carolinian. After a historic season, WCU’s women’s soccer team traveled to Tuscaloosa to face off against Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.  The Catamounts lost to the Crimson Tide 2-0. The Catamounts capped off the Southern Conference Championship in winning fashion, defeating […]

Fall weather stifles turnout for the CMN motorcycle ride

In the crisp morning hours, bikers around Sylva joined together to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Saturday, Sept. 23. The ride started in the parking lot of the Sylva Walmart and went through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Leo Craig, the organizer, has hosted the CMN bike ride for roughly 20 years. He […]