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MNJ Photos/Noreen Nickolas. Volunteer Roby Summerfield, on left, shows Sonny Smith how to make a poster with a letterpress, while his father, Eric Smith watches.

MNJ Photos/Noreen Nickolas. Volunteer Roby Summerfield, on left, shows Sonny Smith how to make a poster with a letterpress, while his father, Eric Smith watches.

Penland opens up to community

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, March 3, 2025
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Correspondent It took several months after Helene to remove trees from 14 buildings, repair roofs, and clear blocked roads, but with help from the community and staff, Penland School of Craft in Bakersville was able to resume normal operations, and open its doors to the public...
Submitted photo. Sinkhole Creek Farm in Bakersville is a Self-Guided Farm Tour participant.

Submitted photo. Sinkhole Creek Farm in Bakersville is a Self-Guided Farm Tour participant.

Self-guided farm tours coming to Mitchell County

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 24, 2025
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Correspondent NC State Extension will be observing and promoting “Small Farms Week” by organizing self-guided farm tours in Mitchell County in March. Farms that are participating in the self-guided tours will be open on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29.
Submitted photo. North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, second from left, visits with local business owners at DT’s Junior Java.

Submitted photo. North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley, second from left, visits with local business owners at DT’s Junior Java.

Labor Commissioner discusses storm damage

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 24, 2025
  North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley visited Spruce Pine last week to meet with small business owners and learn about the community’s concerns related to Helene recovery and to see, firsthand, the ongoing rebuilding process.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Six fire departments responded to a house fire off of Humpback Mountain Road Friday, but the structure could not be saved.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Six fire departments responded to a house fire off of Humpback Mountain Road Friday, but the structure could not be saved.

Fires claim homes

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 24, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Six volunteer fire departments worked together to extinguish a home that burned to the ground just off Humpback Mountain Road Friday, one of three separate unrelated incidents.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Mitchell Senior Center in Ledger, North Carolina will be permanently closing as of 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Mitchell Senior Center in Ledger, North Carolina will be permanently closing as of 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.

Mitchell FEMA center to close

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 17, 2025
The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Mitchell Senior Center in Ledger, will be permanently closing as of 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, according to Mitchell County officials.
MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. Charles Vines, Bakersville mayor, updates the community on Helene recovery. Vines was one of several speakers at a recent tourism summit.

MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. Charles Vines, Bakersville mayor, updates the community on Helene recovery. Vines was one of several speakers at a recent tourism summit.

Tourism summit updates stakeholders

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 17, 2025
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Correspondent Mitchell County’s Tourism Development Authority (TDA) held a summit to update colleagues on the progress Mitchell County’s tourism industry has made since Helene and what needs to be done going forward.

Oliver Anthony show planned for Spruce Pine

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 17, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The Spruce Pine Town Council has tentatively approved plans for an Oliver Anthony concert on Lower Street (Locust Avenue) on April 5. “Oliver Anthony” is a stage name, borrowed from Anthony’s grandfather.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. According to County Manager Allen Cook, Mitchell County has more debris from Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land) than any other county in the state. This picture was taken in the Toecane area.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. According to County Manager Allen Cook, Mitchell County has more debris from Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land) than any other county in the state. This picture was taken in the Toecane area.

County increases debris collection to meet demand

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 10, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Mitchell County is extending its contract with Southern Disaster Recovery and adding a contract with CrowderGulf Disaster Recovery & Debris Management in order to cope with extensive hurricane damage.
Submitted photo. Owner Chris Nash stands in the landslide wreckage that smashed into Mitchell Lumber Company in September.

Submitted photo. Owner Chris Nash stands in the landslide wreckage that smashed into Mitchell Lumber Company in September.

Committed to rebuilding

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 10, 2025
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Correspondent Despite the massive losses, the difficult task of raising restoration funds, and concerns about future flooding, several downtown business owners are optimistic about the future and eager to rebuild after Helene.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Last week downtown Spruce Pine filled with a smoky haze as portions of McDowell County continued to burn in the North Fork Fire.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Last week downtown Spruce Pine filled with a smoky haze as portions of McDowell County continued to burn in the North Fork Fire.

North Fork Fire continues to burn; storm debris fuels flames

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 3, 2025
NEBO – There was minimal fire activity on the North Fork Fire over the weekend, according to a U.S. Forest Service. The fire remains at 644 acres and has increased to 65 percent containment.