Smoky Mountain High School spreads loves and breaks records on Valentine’s Day

Story co-written with Sara Stanley. Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 20, 2020 Smoky Mountain High School attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘most people hugging soft toys simultaneously’ on Friday, Feb. 14 in the school’s new gymnasium. Over 800 students and staff from SMHS and the Catamount School […]

Democratic hopefuls speak out in Sylva

Originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 13, 2020. The five Democratic hopefuls vying for their party’s nomination for the N.C. 11 congressional seat being vacated by four-term Republican Mark Meadows gathered in Sylva last Thursday to make their case to about 100 people in a forum at the Jackson County Public Library’s Community […]

State budget leaves steam plant out in the cold

Story co-written with Nicole Ellison. Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald on Feb. 20, 2020 Western Carolina University’s steam plant upgrade finds itself in hot water, thanks to the budget impasse in Raleigh. The steam plant is running on long-outdated equipment, with the youngest permanent boiler being 43 years old, officials say. The boilers’ […]

WCU student leader David Benoit campaigned in Iowa for Sen. Elizabeth Warren

As the primaries rage on and the Democratic presidential candidates continue to rally and campaign for voters, one student heavily involved in civic engagement has decided to help. On campus, David Benoit served on the Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator and currently holds a position in the executive board as the Association of […]

WCU LMP: Not so last minute

Story co-written with Nicole Ellison.  Last Minute Productions is generally an unknown organization on Western’s campus yet you may have been to one of their events. Founded in 1979, this year marks LMP’s 40th year of existence on WCU’s campus. LMP is in charge of The Drag Show, homecoming carnival, concerts on campus and many […]

‘Homeless to Harvard’ Liz Murray to Speak at WCU

Liz Murray lost her mother, dropped out of school and became homeless at the age of 15. Now, she is a successful Harvard graduate who inspired Lifetime Television’s original movie, “Homeless to Harvard.” Murray will be the keynote speaker for Western Carolina University’s ceremony honoring students who made the Chancellor’s List in fall 2019. The […]