Life of a Journalist 4: Summer in Cullowhee

As originally published in The Western Carolinian newspaper of Western Carolina University...

"This was my first full summer in Cullowhee and Sylva since coming to Western Carolina University in the fall of 2009.
Soon after exams were over, I moved into a two-bedroom mobile home near the heart of Sylva and began working on the summer issues of The Western Carolinian in my new home.

Never before had I experienced the mountains in the summer. I always spent my summers at my childhood home or in a big city like Raleigh. I must say that staying in the mountains was better.
For the first month, we avoided the nasty, oppressing heat and enjoyed cool mornings with heavy fog. For the first time in my life, I wore long-sleeved shirts and fuzzy pajama pants with bleating sheep across the fabric around the house until mid-June. My confused body shivered and formed small goose bumps until late into the summer. By the time I started wearing sundresses and shorts, half of the summer had disappeared.

Stuart playing in Bridge Park

The activities available here in the summer are more enticing than those in the city. There was river rafting, hiking, Fourth of July fireworks at Lake Junaluska, the Farmer's Market and all sorts of free concerts every week. Western Carolina University offered belly dancing instruction, the Sylva library had free movies and the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad celebrated Pioneer Weekend.
Meanwhile, work continued at The Western Carolinian offices with only two writers, one photographer, Ryan Alexander and myself. We were a small bunch, but we tackled whatever came our way. We didn't see each other as much as during the school year from scrambling around trying to pull a 12-page paper together with only four writers and little advertising. Still, it was enjoyable and somewhat relaxing because of how well we all worked together.
One of the biggest events we covered this summer was the public meeting about the future construction of Old Cullowhee Bridge. As a reporter, I presented the information through this newspaper as factual. As a resident of Jackson County, I was caught up in the emotion that flew around that room as several citizens came forward to passionately defend the Cullowhee Auto Service, which may or may not have to be demolished.
The whole idea of the construction caused a great stir in the community and will continue to cause one until construction is complete. Whether or not you use the bridge to get from one place to another, you will know someone who does. Old Cullowhee Road is a major artery of our little towns, and that bridge will cause strife whether or not it also causes the removal of a few local businesses. Right now, we wait and hold our breaths to hear the latest news of which alternate the NCDOT will chose as their preferred construction method (NOTE: After this was written, the NCDOT announced their decision. Cullowhee Auto Service has been saved!).
Right before school began, Co-Editor Alexander and I were going through Seminar Week, a week of staff bonding, team-building and training for staff members and ourselves. On the schedule, we had seminars like Media Law, Journalism Photography, Article Critique and Investigative Reporting.
Our speakers included former Editor-in-Chief and current Journalism Adviser Justin Caudell and Kelly Donaldson, a former writer for The Western Carolinian and current editor of the Crossroads Chronicle. Also during the week, the staff came together for movie nights, a welcome back party and hiking trips.
The week ended with Valley Ballyhoo on Aug. 18, where we united at a table to encourage new students to join our team in reporting Western Carolina University news. It was a busy, action-packed week in preparation for another amazing year at The Western Carolinian."

Painting at Claymate's in Dillsboro