Local

Downtown Spruce Pine will host the Hellbender Festival on Aug. 30.

Downtown Spruce Pine will host the Hellbender Festival on Aug. 30.

Council approves pay plan

Mariel Williams
Monday, August 18, 2025
The Spruce Pine Town Council voted to approve a new compensation schedule in its meeting last week. Council Member Rocky Buchanan voted against the new scheme, saying after the meeting that he does not agree with it.
Submitted photo. Thomas Johnson, Chief Cares, associate director, Heidi Chan, AmeriHealth, market president, John Blackburn, AMY Wellness Foundation, executive director, and Luke Howe, AMY’s executive director hold a check for $10 million.

Submitted photo. Thomas Johnson, Chief Cares, associate director, Heidi Chan, AmeriHealth, market president, John Blackburn, AMY Wellness Foundation, executive director, and Luke Howe, AMY’s executive director hold a check for $10 million.

$10 million investment slated to build housing

Noreen Nikolas
Monday, August 11, 2025
Representatives and community leaders recently gathered to recognize the $10 million fund that AmeriHealth Caritas, N.C., granted to the Chief Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm and developer of the Blue Haven housing community in Avery County.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Gloria Thomas of Poplar speaks to the Mitchell Board of Commissioners about her experiences living across from the controversial new Horizon 30 mine. The commissioners’ meeting last week was packed with citizens concerned about the mine.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Gloria Thomas of Poplar speaks to the Mitchell Board of Commissioners about her experiences living across from the controversial new Horizon 30 mine. The commissioners’ meeting last week was packed with citizens concerned about the mine.

Un-permitted mining in Poplar breeds anxiety, distrust

Mariel Williams
Monday, August 11, 2025
At the beginning of last week’s meeting of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners, Board Chair Jeff Harding asked County Manager Allen Cook to read a statement about a mining operation in the Poplar community that has continued in spite of a lack of official certification and multiple...

Town council considers new compensation plan

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Spruce Pine Town Council voted 3-1 last week to approve the first reading of a new policy on employee compensation. The new policy will be subject to a second reading and a second vote before it becomes official. Council Member Rocky Buchanan was the lone opponent of the new policy.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. After being closed for some time for storm repairs, the Penland Post Office is back in action, and Postmaster Rebecca Davis has returned to her home away from home.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. After being closed for some time for storm repairs, the Penland Post Office is back in action, and Postmaster Rebecca Davis has returned to her home away from home.

Neither snow nor floods

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Friday, July 11 was a particularly busy day at Penland’s U.S. Post Office, as artists and instructors leaving the Penland School of Craft’s latest two-week session descended on the building with packages of artwork that they wanted to mail home.
MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. “Regulations exist to protect the places and the things that cannot speak up and protect themselves,” said Trey Moore at DEQ’s public hearing last Tuesday. Moore came from his home in Erwin, Tenn. to comment on the impact of the Horizon 30 mine in Poplar.

MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. “Regulations exist to protect the places and the things that cannot speak up and protect themselves,” said Trey Moore at DEQ’s public hearing last Tuesday. Moore came from his home in Erwin, Tenn. to comment on the impact of the Horizon 30 mine in Poplar.

Locals push back on mining permit request by Horizon 30

(not verified)
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Sarah Atkins  seatkins05@gmail.com   “Our wildlife and communities are not for sale,” said Jeanne Miraglia at a public hearing last week on a controversial new mine.

County tightens belt while waiting on FEMA

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Mitchell County Finance Officer Mavis Parsley told the Board of Commissioners last week that she is asking department heads to hold back on some budgeted expenses until outstanding disaster recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are received.

‘We still have no bridge’

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
A resident of the Beech Creek development near Bakersville spoke to the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners last week, seeking help with bridge repair and debris collection. “I’m speaking for the six permanent residents that live in Beech Creek,” Andrews said. “We still have no bridge.