Local

Brian Center residents cozy up with blankets as they watch a special fireworks show on Thursday, Aug. 20. Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin raised funds to provide a show and ice cream for residents of the Brian Center and Mitchell House. (MNJ photo/Juliana Walker)

Brian Center residents cozy up with blankets as they watch a special fireworks show on Thursday, Aug. 20. Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin raised funds to provide a show and ice cream for residents of the Brian Center and Mitchell House. (MNJ photo/Juliana Walker)

Local senior citizens enjoy personal fireworks shows

Juliana Walker
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
SPRUCE PINE — Residents of the Brian Center and Mitchell House were treated to fireworks shows on Thursday, Aug. 20 and Friday, Aug. 21, respectively.  Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin, who organized the event, said he was happy to provide a short period of happiness to the senior residents.
Co-teachers of the year Justin Hollifield and Michelle Lord stand masked and distanced while being recognized for their accomplishments Friday, Aug. 21 at the Mitchell County Schools Central Office. Hollifield will represent the county at the state level in January. (MNJ photo/Juliana Walker)

Co-teachers of the year Justin Hollifield and Michelle Lord stand masked and distanced while being recognized for their accomplishments Friday, Aug. 21 at the Mitchell County Schools Central Office. Hollifield will represent the county at the state level in January. (MNJ photo/Juliana Walker)

Hollifield, Lord tabbed as co-teachers of the year

Juliana Walker
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
LEDGER — When Gouge Elementary third grade teacher Michelle Lord and Greenlee Primary kindergarten teacher Justin Hollifield arrived at the Mitchell County Schools Central Office on the morning of Friday, Aug. 21, they thought they were just attending another interview.
Greenlee Primary Principal Jason Hall and Gouge Elementary Principal Colby Calhoun hold one of their newly-created playground bags which are designed to allow students to play safaly amid the pandemic. (Photo by Mitchell County Schools)

Greenlee Primary Principal Jason Hall and Gouge Elementary Principal Colby Calhoun hold one of their newly-created playground bags which are designed to allow students to play safaly amid the pandemic. (Photo by Mitchell County Schools)

Area principals create new solution to pandemic recess

Mitchell News-Journal
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
LEDGER — Greenlee Primary School Principal Jason Hall and Gouge Elementary School Principal Colby Calhoun worked together over the summer to develop a safe way for students to enjoy all the fun of recess amid the ongoing pandemic.  The two came up with the idea of playground bags for each student.
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Executive Vice President Ken Karun with first flight tournament winners Lane Rosenfield, Neal Kepner, Alex Pittman and Nick Westmoreland. (Photo by Rocky Branch)

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Executive Vice President Ken Karun with first flight tournament winners Lane Rosenfield, Neal Kepner, Alex Pittman and Nick Westmoreland. (Photo by Rocky Branch)

Local golfers take home hardware during second annual Founders Day Tournament

Mitchell News-Journal
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
SPRUCE PINE — The team of Lane Rosenfield, Neal Kepner, Alex Pittman and Nick Westmoreland won the first place finish for the first flight Saturday, Aug. 15 during the second annual Founders Day Golf Tournament at Grassy Creek Golf and Country club.

DSS Board dismisses director

Juliana Walker
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
BAKERSVILLE — Sara Ross has been removed as Director of the Mitchell County Department of Social Services. In a special session on Tuesday, Aug. 25 the DSS Board unanimously voted to dismiss Ross. The motion passed 4-0 as board member Danny Burleson was not present at the meeting.
Bowman Middle School Counselor Crystal Robinson takes a student's temperature with a non-contact infrared thermometer as students arrive at school on Monday, Aug. 17. Students went back into schools for the first time since March and had two temperature checks before entering the buildings. (MNJ Photo/Juliana Walker)

Bowman Middle School Counselor Crystal Robinson takes a student's temperature with a non-contact infrared thermometer as students arrive at school on Monday, Aug. 17. Students went back into schools for the first time since March and had two temperature checks before entering the buildings. (MNJ Photo/Juliana Walker)

BACK TO SCHOOL: Area students return to schools for the first time since March

Cory Spiers
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The first day of the 2020-21 academic year in Mitchell County felt and looked decidedly different.  As they normally do for the first day of school, local students got off busses with fresh backpacks and school supplies in tow and others got out of the family car in the car dropoff loops.
The driveway up to the Richmond Inn in Spruce Pine sits ready for visitors to venture up for a stay. Owner Maggie Haskell said the pandemic has changed things drastically for her and her business. She said the pandemic cost her business several of its seasonal regulars. (MNJ photo/Cory Spiers)

The driveway up to the Richmond Inn in Spruce Pine sits ready for visitors to venture up for a stay. Owner Maggie Haskell said the pandemic has changed things drastically for her and her business. She said the pandemic cost her business several of its seasonal regulars. (MNJ photo/Cory Spiers)

Local hospitality industry perseveres through pandemic

Juliana Walker
Thursday, August 20, 2020
SPRUCE PINE — As restrictions regarding the ongoing pandemic ease and people are treating their cabin fever with vacations, the local hospitality industry is slowly but surely getting back on its feet after a big blow earlier this year.

Commissioners talk recreation league sports, EMS

Juliana Walker
Thursday, August 20, 2020
BAKERSVILLE — During its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 3, the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners discussed recreational sports and new EMS vehicles.  Recreation Director Brock Duncan spoke to the board about his hopes for recreational youth sports for the fall amid the ongoing pandemic.
Volunteers pose for a photo. before beginning work on a new substation for the rural Rhododendron Fire District. Bakersville Fire and Rescue started construction on the substation earlier this month. The substation will allow the department to provide continued protection to the Bandana community. (Photo submitted)

Volunteers pose for a photo. before beginning work on a new substation for the rural Rhododendron Fire District. Bakersville Fire and Rescue started construction on the substation earlier this month. The substation will allow the department to provide continued protection to the Bandana community. (Photo submitted)

Bakersville Fire and Rescue begins construction of new substation

Mitchell News-Journal
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Bakersville Fire and Rescue started construction earlier this month on a new permanent substation for their rural Rhododendron Fire District at the intersection of 4500 Block Highway and Water Street in Bakersville.  The substation is being built on a 1.
The Grove Church of Spruce Pine has settled into its new home on Upper Street in downtown Spruce Pine. (Photo submitted)

The Grove Church of Spruce Pine has settled into its new home on Upper Street in downtown Spruce Pine. (Photo submitted)

The Grove Church finds new permanent home

Mitchell News-Journal
Thursday, August 20, 2020
SPRUCE PINE — The Grove Church of Spruce Pine has settled into its new home on Upper Street in downtown Spruce Pine.  The church, which was founded in 2016 to serve Mitchell County and the surrounding areas, held its first worship services in the new space on Sunday, Aug. 16.