Downtown Sylva’s sidewalks transformed into a landscape of colors for the chalk walk, storefronts were decorated in pride flags and live music echoed from the Pride Festival from Sept. 5 to Sept. 7. The festival, active since 2021, became one of Sylva’s most visible events for the community and a place of acceptance in the […]
Mountain Heritage Day expands into days of celebration
September 7, 2025 by
Last September, Mountain Heritage Day was gearing up for the big 50th anniversary celebration, aiming to be one of the biggest festivals yet. However, just days before the planned events, WCU canceled the event due to Hurricane Helene’s arrival. This year, Mountain Heritage Day is back and bigger than ever with a week full of […]
Apple Festival boosts tourism in Hendersonville
September 6, 2025 by
The smell of cider filled the air as crowds brought life to Main Street in Hendersonville during the 79th North Carolina Apple Festival this Labor Day weekend. The four-day festival shut down Main Street as vendors filled the street with tents and booths to sell their goods. Apple farms throughout Western North Carolina sold fresh […]
Local election season kicks off with candidate forum
August 29, 2025 by
A version of this story originally published in The Sylva Herald, Aug. 27 edition.Story produced with Halle Stanley Indivisible Common Ground-WNC hosted a forum for candidates in the upcoming local elections to introduce themselves and answer common questions. Brooklyn Brownie, Joseph Waldrum, Dwight McMahan, Taylor Armstrong, Samuel McGuire and Calvin Autrey are running for town […]
Payton McNabb’s victim speaks out
May 17, 2025 by
This story was originally published in the Smoky Mountain News and written by Cory Vaillancourt. On May 2, 2024, a brief, awkward moment inside a women’s restroom at Western Carolina University was recorded, uploaded to social media, and sparked a flashpoint in America’s ongoing culture wars. At the center of the encounter was Payton McNabb, […]
Catamount grads reflect on graduation cap decor
May 14, 2025 by
Story originally published in WCU Stories written by Cam Adams. For Shondel “Junior” Granison, his graduation cap is more than a square board with fabric stretched across the top. It’s a symbol of accomplishment, but also a canvas for Granison to display some of what’s closest to his heart. “I’m also going to have a […]
