2023 Sylva Pride sets up for success

The 2023 Sylva Pride festival is again here. Hosted by Sylva and WCU’s own Beulah Land, this year Pride on Sept. 9 looks to be even bigger and better than last year.   Travis Roundtree, head of the Sylva Pride board, says he expects around 300 attendees this year. Though the anticipated rain may dampen […]

WCU Spring Commencement highlights student achievement

WCU Ramsey Center was full with happy audience holding signs, flowers and balloons while the graduating class of 2023 walked the stage. And it was a big class. According to WCU site, in three ceremonies WCU awarded 2108 degrees of which 1517 were undergraduate degrees. There were 842 first generation students who walked the stage […]

Student philanthropy organization toasts seniors

Student philanthropy organization, the 1889 Club, celebrated seniors at a toast on April 25. There were refreshments on the fifth floor of the Apodaca Science Building for students, faculty and Alumni. The organization was founded to encourage young alumni involvement. Current WCU students can join the organization with an one-time donation of $18.89. The Office […]

“A place at the table for everyone”

Beulah Land, a local drag queen, artist and advocate for social change talks about what it’s like being a drag queen.  She begins her day as any of us. Her daily job is working as a barista in downtown Sylva. But when the day draws to a close, Land gets to a different type of werk. […]

WCU forgotten: Story behind the Moore building

Western Carolina University is full of architecture both new and old. Among some of the historical buildings that are still in use are the Breeze Gymnasium, McKee, Albright-Benton, and the University Auditorium. However, the grandfather of historical buildings still standing on campus today is the Moore building. Unfortunately, Moore has sat silent for years and […]

Cullowhee Dam will have a facelift

Story originally published in The Sylva Herald, May 10 edition Repair or remove … that’s the decision facing local leaders about the Cullowhee Dam, owned and operated by Western Carolina University. WCU is waiting on an assessment and plan allowing consulting firm McGill & Associates to proceed in designing and bidding for repairs to the Cullowhee […]