Local mill closure sparks fear into employees and residents alike

Canton is known for its iconic paper mill and even though the odor emitting from the stacks may seem foul to some, most Canton folks would agree it’s a familiar smell that reminds them of home. However, the reminiscent scent is slated to disappear in the coming months. According to an Asheville Citizens Times article, […]

WCU weighs food waste to bring mindfulness to students

WCU is in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, making it a hot spot for college students that both enjoy nature leisurely and for their careers. This was reflected in the “Earth Month” celebrations held by both Eco CATS and Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) rather than having just one day celebrating the planet.   On […]

Jekyll & Hyde: A showcase of ‘two-faced’ talent

Smoke filled the auditorium as dim red light was cast on towering set pieces, creating eerie shadows and excitable whispers from the crowd. As the narrator finished his introduction, the audience gasped, as an ensemble of 25 characters rushed to center stage, to erupt in intense song and dance. Western Carolina University has seen many […]

Whee Breathe’s check in on WCU’s air quality

Version of the story first published in print for The Western Carolinian. WCU’s Whee Breathe will add an analysis for the air quality on campus retrieved from Purple Air monitors by the end of the spring 2023 semester.   Whee Breathe is a club started by Dr. Sara Duncan, a biology professor and expert on air […]

39th annual Tuck River Cleanup highlight reel

With 405 volunteers and 2500 pounds of trash collected this year 39th Tuck River Cleanup is in the books as a success. The Tuck River Cleanup is one of the nation’s largest single day river cleanups. The event stretches 20 miles of the Tuckasegee river from Cullowhee to Whittier, NC.  This year, they removed 500 […]

Tuckasegee River has more than just garbage

In the early afternoon, with mist still clinging to the waters of the river, hundreds of WCU students descend to the banks of the Tuckasegee river for the Tuck River Cleanup. Throughout the day, thousands of pounds of trash are removed. Digging through the muck and traversing slime covered rocks, students remove old tires, beer […]