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 […]

Western Carolina’s Purple Thunder to perform at the NBA All-Star game

Western Carolina’s winter drumline, Purple Thunder, will travel to Charlotte, N.C. this weekend to perform in one of the variety acts as part of NBA All-Star weekend. What began as a fun performance act for talented drummers at Western Carolina has soon grown into one of the most anticipated performance groups of the winter season, […]

Jackson County courts enter the digital age

Story originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 14 Jackson County has implemented the Court Date Notification and Reminder Service that will allow users to gain easy access to criminal court information via email or text messaging. The North Carolina Judicial System launched the statewide service in October 2018. “The court system is trying […]

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in Western North Carolina

The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 7, 2018.  A new front in the war against a destructive black and brown insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, has been opened by Western Carolina University. Research focused in Jackson and Macon counties started last fall, led by Peter Bates and Angela Mech from […]

Smoky Mountain students aim for new heights

The story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 7, 2019. Part of a new class at Smoky Mountain High School will be taught at 400 feet above ground. Next semester, in fall of 2019, SMHS teacher Mary Henson will add a class on drone technology – one of the first in the […]