Local

File photo. After months of requests from residents and local leaders, North Carolina has begun a program to help repair private roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land).

File photo. After months of requests from residents and local leaders, North Carolina has begun a program to help repair private roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land).

Bridging the gaps

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, May 19, 2025
The State of North Carolina will be offering disaster assistance through its new Private Road and Bridge Program, according to Mitchell County. The new program will assist property owners in Mitchell County with repairs from damages from Tropical Storm Helene.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. David Niven, right, of DT’s Blue Ridge Java speaks to the Spruce Pine Town Council about downtown flood cleanup past and present.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. David Niven, right, of DT’s Blue Ridge Java speaks to the Spruce Pine Town Council about downtown flood cleanup past and present.

Town buys land for new Public Works

Mariel Williams
Monday, May 19, 2025
The Spruce Pine Town Council voted to spend $500,000 on land to house the Public Works Department at its regular meeting last week. The vote was unanimous. Mayor Phillip Hise recused himself and left the room for the discussion, because he is related to the current owners of the land.

The long haul

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners discussed a variety of issues related to disaster recovery and other county business at its regular meeting last week.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Applicant Jeremy Gibbs speaks to community members about his interest in leading Mayland Community College, while search consultant Kenon Briggs, left, looks on. The Mayland Community College Board of Trustees has narrowed its president search down to three candidates — Gibbs, Robin Ross, and Aron Gabriel.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Applicant Jeremy Gibbs speaks to community members about his interest in leading Mayland Community College, while search consultant Kenon Briggs, left, looks on. The Mayland Community College Board of Trustees has narrowed its president search down to three candidates — Gibbs, Robin Ross, and Aron Gabriel.

Presidential candidates

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Mayland Community College staffers and others recently gathered to hear pitches from the three top candidates to replace President John Boyd.

Private property debris removal is here

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners approved a contract to begin removing storm debris from private property last week. Sign boards have been put up around the county to make sure everyone knows how to sign up to have storm debris removed from their property.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Spruce Pine Public Works employees work on repairing a sewer leak on Crystal Street.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Spruce Pine Public Works employees work on repairing a sewer leak on Crystal Street.

Spruce Pine ratifies new regional library agreement

Mariel Williams
Monday, May 5, 2025
The Spruce Pine Town Council voted to approve the Toe River Valley Regional Library System agreement last week. This summer, Yancey County will be leaving the AMY (Avery Mitchell Yancey) Regional Library, and the new Toe River Valley agreement will go into effect in place of the AMY agreement.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Organizer Adam Burleson gives opening remarks at the Run For Holland, assisted by his daughter Holland, for whom the event is named.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Organizer Adam Burleson gives opening remarks at the Run For Holland, assisted by his daughter Holland, for whom the event is named.

The Run For Holland returns

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, May 5, 2025
Steffen Silvis MNJ Correspondent   Early Saturday morning a crowd of around 200 converged on the grounds of the First Baptist Church in Spruce Pine for the 12th annual Run For Holland, the yearly charity race that raises both money for, and a greater awareness of, children with disabilities and...
MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. The Spruce Pine location of Ingles Markets has been closed since it experienced severe flooding during Hurricane Helene last year. The deli and bakery side of the store was reportedly hardest hit. This picture was taken in December.

MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. The Spruce Pine location of Ingles Markets has been closed since it experienced severe flooding during Hurricane Helene last year. The deli and bakery side of the store was reportedly hardest hit. This picture was taken in December.

Ingles’ silence on plans angers locals

Noreen Nikolas
Monday, May 5, 2025
Since Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land) ripped through Western North Carolina, Spruce Pine’s Ingles grocery store sits vacant.

Target practice gunshots unnerve workers

Mariel Williams
Monday, May 5, 2025
Last Wednesday, rumors spread rapidly that a school shooter had been seen at Penland School of Craft. Mitchell County Sheriff Donald Street released a statement that same day saying that no one had been injured and that officers were interviewing everyone involved.