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MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Flooding from Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm) left Western North Carolina rivers and creeks filled with debris, which could cause additional flooding in the future. This photo was taken Sept. 28 on the South Toe River in Yancey County.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Flooding from Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm) left Western North Carolina rivers and creeks filled with debris, which could cause additional flooding in the future. This photo was taken Sept. 28 on the South Toe River in Yancey County.

Debris removal

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 25, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners voted to table making a decision on how to remove debris from waterways at its meeting last week.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. A chance 911 call, helpers visiting from Wake County, and quick thinking among neighborhood residents helped the victims of flash flooding in Brushy Creek get out alive. The Hurricane Helene-related flooding destroyed homes and cars in Grindstaff Trailer Park.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. A chance 911 call, helpers visiting from Wake County, and quick thinking among neighborhood residents helped the victims of flash flooding in Brushy Creek get out alive. The Hurricane Helene-related flooding destroyed homes and cars in Grindstaff Trailer Park.

Rescue in Brushy Creek

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com When Brushy Creek began to rise, Keydie Pineda, 18, was in a mobile home with her family in Grindstaff Trailer Park. “I was told that we need to go to another family member’s home because of the water coming,” Pineda said.

No charges for officers in excessive force investigation

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 11, 2024
The District Attorney’s Office released statements last week saying that the officers involved in two local excessive use of force investigations will not face criminal charges. In the first incident, Dillon Ledford was experiencing a diabetic medical emergency in the Walmart parking lot on Feb.
MNJ Photo/Eric Haggart. Mitchell County Schools is in the process of selling Deyton Elementary School to N.C. Baptists on Mission. The Baptist organization plans to use the building to house volunteers coming to help rebuild homes lost to Hurricane Helene. The organization expects to be involved in rebuilding for five to six years in areas in Mitchell, Yancey and Avery counties. Residents such as those in hard hit Relief, NC, pictured above, would benefit from the work of Baptists on a Mission.

MNJ Photo/Eric Haggart. Mitchell County Schools is in the process of selling Deyton Elementary School to N.C. Baptists on Mission. The Baptist organization plans to use the building to house volunteers coming to help rebuild homes lost to Hurricane Helene. The organization expects to be involved in rebuilding for five to six years in areas in Mitchell, Yancey and Avery counties. Residents such as those in hard hit Relief, NC, pictured above, would benefit from the work of Baptists on a Mission.

N.C. Baptists on Mission commit to rebuilding homes

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 11, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The old Deyton Elementary School building will be used as a hub for building homes for hurricane and flood victims if a planned sale to N.C. Baptists on Mission goes through.

Election results

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 11, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Dale Blevins, Lee Ellis and Harley Masters were the top three vote-getters in last week’s Mitchell County Board of Commissioners race. For the Board of Education, Sam Blevins and Brenda Sparks were running unopposed.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Attorney Beth Holmes, center right, is sworn in as a member of the Spruce Pine Town Council, while Mayor Phillip Hise (left) and Town Manager Darlene Butler (right) look on.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Attorney Beth Holmes, center right, is sworn in as a member of the Spruce Pine Town Council, while Mayor Phillip Hise (left) and Town Manager Darlene Butler (right) look on.

Holmes sworn in

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com New council member Beth Holmes was sworn in at the Spruce Pine Town Council meeting last week.   Watershed The council voted to accept a land donation. Holmes, an attorney, recused herself from this vote because one of her clients was involved.

Abundantly blessed

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Mitchell County is struggling to find space for donated hurricane relief supplies. The Board of Commissioners discussed the problem of not having enough space to store donated food, water and emergency items at a recent meeting.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Joyce, left, and J.D. Hoffman came to apply for Federal Emergency Management aid when the Disaster Recovery Center in Ledger first opened.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Joyce, left, and J.D. Hoffman came to apply for Federal Emergency Management aid when the Disaster Recovery Center in Ledger first opened.

Inside the FEMA center

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com On its first day in service, the Disaster Recovery Center operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Ledger was filled with flood victims looking for help.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Unsorted debris fills the parking lot next to the old Carolina Theater on Lower Street (Locust Street) in Spruce Pine. In order to get picked up and properly disposed of, flood debris is supposed to be sorted into three categories: wood/tree waste, construction debris and white goods (appliances). Those piles should be stacked on the right-of-way of state and town roads.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. Unsorted debris fills the parking lot next to the old Carolina Theater on Lower Street (Locust Street) in Spruce Pine. In order to get picked up and properly disposed of, flood debris is supposed to be sorted into three categories: wood/tree waste, construction debris and white goods (appliances). Those piles should be stacked on the right-of-way of state and town roads.

Free debris removal

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, October 28, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Local governments have arranged for storm debris to be removed as long as it is located on right-of-way alongside state and town roads. The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners discussed the debris removal terms at its meeting last week.