Eric Bartl, a kayaker chasing the thrill

The story was updated Nov. 20 for clarifications (in italics).  Eric Bartl, 22, is a junior at Western Carolina University who has been kayaking since he was a kid and now loves chasing the white water thrill. His parents were both very active and pushed him to do the same. He grew up in Ohio […]

Base Camp skydiving adventure

Author works for Base Camp.  “We have a problem,” said my instructor, Peanut, with no trace of panic in his voice. We had just opened up the parachute, and before he said this I was just screaming in excitement. Before I knew it, we were free falling …again. I was still clueless and continued  screaming […]

The one-man show Mercy Killers coming to WCU

Michael Milligan will perform his one-man show Mercy Killers on WCU campus at 7:30 pm, Thursday, Nov. 12, in in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. The play is a story of Joe, a beloved husband, who finds himself fighting the U.S. healthcare system while his wife is dying of cancer. The […]

Adding a star to the band’s flag

Who is Julia Sanchez? “Julia was a social butterfly. She was known for smiling all the time. She was determined. Julia never met a stranger,” said Julia’s mom, Dotty Sanchez. Julia is the new star of the Pride of the Mountain Marching band (POTM). Julia Sanchez grew up in Fuquay Varina, NC. When it was […]

Show Review: Mountain Faith @ WCU

One word was bouncing around my head during the Mountain Faith concert on Thursday night: precious. With the harmonies of biscuits-and-gravy angels, and lyrics as pure as a Saturday drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mountain Faith is everything and more you could hope for in a small-town band. Sam McMahan is the patriarch of […]

Coming up this weekend in Western Carolina Athletics

  Western Carolina Athletics  has a big weekend with Football, Volleyball and Basketball games happening on campus. The biggest game of the weekend is the final home football game against the Furman Paladins on Nov 7, at 3:30pm. If the football team beats the Paladins, the Catamounts would not have lost at home all season. […]