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MNJ PhotoSteffen Silvis. Mayland professor Dr. Sherry Sherman and students J.J. Woody (left) and Jason Snyder created an interactive game to draw attention to helping the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout.

MNJ PhotoSteffen Silvis. Mayland professor Dr. Sherry Sherman and students J.J. Woody (left) and Jason Snyder created an interactive game to draw attention to helping the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout.

Inaugural festival celebrates aquatic critters

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
“We’re running out of everything! Can you bring more supplies?” The young sales assistant at the Tractor Food and Farms booth didn’t sound panicked but rather elated at the fact that by 11:30 a.m.
MNJ photos/Rachel Hoskins. Felicity Miller and Zoe Hall of Spruce Pine dressed up as Hellbenders for the first N.C. Hellbender Festival in Spruce Pine this weekend.

MNJ photos/Rachel Hoskins. Felicity Miller and Zoe Hall of Spruce Pine dressed up as Hellbenders for the first N.C. Hellbender Festival in Spruce Pine this weekend.

All about the Hellbender

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The streets of Spruce Pine were packed as residents and visitors joined in to celebrate the Hellbender and the reopening of businesses on Lower Street.

County oks contracts

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners approved two engineering contracts and passed a resolution in support of the Mitchell County Economic Developent Commission in a recent meeting.
Festival graphic

Festival graphic

Hellbender festival set for this Saturday

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, August 25, 2025
The North Carolina Hellbender Festival will highlight the Labor Day weekend on Aug. 30, in downtown Spruce Pine. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the Eastern hellbender salamander and the rivers it calls home. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
MJN Photo/Noreen Nickolas. Bikers and automotive aficionados prepare for their journey from Bakersville to Morganton in the seventh annual Maggie’s Ride. Their participation is helping raise money for the Maggie Rae Young Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Maggie, age 6, who died in 2018.

MJN Photo/Noreen Nickolas. Bikers and automotive aficionados prepare for their journey from Bakersville to Morganton in the seventh annual Maggie’s Ride. Their participation is helping raise money for the Maggie Rae Young Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Maggie, age 6, who died in 2018.

Maggie’s Ride

Noreen Nikolas
Monday, August 25, 2025
Dozens of bikers and a variety of automotive enthusiasts hit the road for charity at the seventh annual “Maggie’s Ride” recently. The fundraiser was organized in honor of Maggie Rae Young, age 6, who died in 2018.
Submitted graphic. Smartphone users can scan this QR code to download the new Mitchell Ready app, a program designed to offer emergency alert information in real time.

Submitted graphic. Smartphone users can scan this QR code to download the new Mitchell Ready app, a program designed to offer emergency alert information in real time.

“Mitchell Ready” app offers emergency alerts

Mariel Williams
Monday, August 18, 2025
Mitchell County is now offering an app for smartphones to help residents stay aware of emergency events. Mitchell Ready is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, according to a Mitchell County Emergency Management release.
Submitted photo. SBI Agent Sarah Robinson often works with her K-9 partner, Kiraa, a human remains detection dog.

Submitted photo. SBI Agent Sarah Robinson often works with her K-9 partner, Kiraa, a human remains detection dog.

K-9 and commitment

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, August 18, 2025
Sarah Atkins seatkins05@gmail.com   Full of energy, Kiraa greets those she meets with a wagging tail and a smile. She loves to play, but she also loves working with her handler, Sarah Robinson. Robinson is a special agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.