 Read our current Slope Ordinance Policy Analysis, which discusses the trade-offs and outcomes behind these controversial pieces of legislation. Also of interest are the Jackson County slope ordinance documents, including: Read More
Southern Highland Reader
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Saul Williams to perform at Western Carolina University
12 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
CULLOWHEE–Western Carolina University’s Lectures, Concerts and Exhibitions Series will present an “Evening of Spoken Word” featuring poet, actor and musician Saul Williams on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. in the center’s Star Lobby and Fine Art Gallery with a performance by DJ Brett Rock [...]
Related posts: - Western Carolina University and the press
- Western Carolina University students invited to create election-inspired works of art
- WCU tops unbeaten Duquesne, goes 4-1; Williams is MVP
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Wilder speaks at WCU, addresses Harry Reid’s comments on race
21 Jan 2010 | 12:56 pm
CULLOWHEE – L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American elected governor in the United States, told a group of Western Carolina University students, faculty and staff that there is still progress to be made in terms of race relations, despite the historic election of Barack Obama as president in 2008.
Recent controversy over Senate Majority Leader Harry [...]
Related posts: - Are North Carolina’s race-baiting days gone?
- Writing and Books: Discussion of race, politics and the south at Western
- POLITICS: Cunningham re-joins race for Burr’s seat
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Hoops notes: White guys, good guys and too many guys
21 Jan 2010 | 11:08 am
From the because-I-just-can’t-help-myself department, here are a few basketball notes:
1. The Augusta Chronicle tells its readers that an entrepreneur’s plans to launch an all-white men’s professional basketball league in the southeast are meeting with an oddly tepid response.
In a statement, the All-American Basketball Alliance announced that “only players that are natural born United States citizens [...]
Related posts: - A championship hoops contender in Cullowhee
- SPORTS: Southern Conference hoops life without Stephen Curry
- WCU hoops teams have nice weekend
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Sylva coffee shop changes hands
20 Jan 2010 | 10:00 pm
Every town worth its grinds needs a coffee magnate, and now Sylva has one.
John Bubacz, owner of Signature Brew Coffee Company and Bubacz’s Underground on Main Street has purchased the competition — Shot in the Dark Cafe — from Lucy Silverman and Justin Goble.
Silverman and Goble were recently married, and she has taken work in [...]
Related posts: - Sylva’s City Lights Bookstore changing hands
- Food: Sylva notes from Heinzelmannchen Brewery, Spring St. Cafe, Guadalupe Cafe, Downtown Sylva Association
- A favorite Sylva gathering spot returns
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As we examine the field of economic development in the westernmost counties of North Carolina, we see three chronic and common problems in the areas of information, interaction and initiative. Information is literally everywhere. Thanks to the Internet, it often seems as if we are drowning in a sea of data – and while data is plentiful, meaning is not. Context is often lacking and without comparison, content alone is useless. What is needed is a “one-stop shop” approach to economic data; a single site where one could find selected and screened content that could then be sorted and compared to other counties or regions to gain context and displayed graphically for overall ease-of-use. This concept we refer to as a dashboard where, just like in your car, a glance at a few key indicators tells you everything you need to know – quickly and efficiently. Interaction like information before it, is another situation in which we are perhaps getting too much of a good thing. By interaction, we mean all the federal, state and local institutions that exist to assist counties in the process of economic development. We have reached a point where it is impossible to know all the players in the game; where there is no one place to go for a comprehensive overview of all the services currently available. Again, what is needed is a one-stop shop where economic developers can find a complete listing of all the agencies and organizations that may be of use to them in their work. We would take this one step further and create a network that would not just impart information, but allow for interaction amongst all these participants. Finally, we come to initiative and by this we mean that with only a handful of media outlets covering our vast region, every day successful initiatives go unheard and unsung by all except the few who were directly involved. There currently exists no reliable medium for communicating successful and important initiatives in the field of economic development. If such communication does occur, it occurs verbally and infrequently. What is required is a website, a sort of “Regional CNN” that would contain professionally-crafted profiles, in both audio and video formats that tell these success stories; that share these best practices and that encourage improved communication and collaboration in these westernmost counties. This then is the mission of the WNC Pulse: to provide access to a comprehensive economic indicator dashboard at both the regional and county level; to create a network where all the economic development practitioners can interact with one another and then to use our rich media skills to post profiles of individual successes and share best practices. Through better information, improved interaction and shared initiatives – we believe better decisions will be made, resulting in a better life for all.
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