After the beautiful and familiar main street of Sylva N.C. provided the backdrop that helped secure Oscar wins for lead actors Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell last year, the 91 Academy Awards returned to close the 2019 award season with a few bumps along the way. When the originally planned host Kevin Hart dropped out […]
She Rambles Podcast Episode 1: Does Being Femme Mean Being Afraid?
Written story produced by Elise Holbrook. Podcast episode produced in collaboration with Drue Stinnett. Take a moment and think about your upbringing. Were you constantly and consistently taught to pay attention to your surroundings, or to be cautious in public, whether it be sticking to well-lit areas, having a friend of family member with you at […]
WCU students inspired to lead
Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 21, 2019. Michael Steele, who spoke to a packed crowd at the Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center during the chancellor’s list ceremony on Feb. 12, gave students inspiration to lead. Steele is known for being the first African-American elected to state office in Maryland as he […]
Fresh faces to the field bring victory in Cullowhee
Baseball season is back in full swing in Cullowhee, NC. The Catamount baseball team took on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies this past weekend and came out on top winning all three games versus the university in Michigan. The home opener revealed the addition of many fresh faces to the team. In the 2018-2019 season, 13 […]
Photo Story: 12th Annual Rock n’ Rumble Bouldering Competition
On a typical Saturday morning, Western Carolina University’s campus recreation center would be near empty with just a few fitness junkies enjoying a morning workout. This was not the case this past Saturday, Feb. 16 as spectators and competitors for the annual Rock n’ Rumble bouldering competition crowded around the CRC rock wall. Spectators at […]
Legendary photographer, Mark Haskett, retires
The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 14, 2019. How do you replace a legend? You become one. Harry Duke set the mold for photographic excellence at WCU. He was named the university’s very first staff photographer in 1974, and retired on Aug. 30, 1985. When the search to replace the […]








