Local

Submitted photo/ Governor’s office. N.C. Governor Roy Cooper talks with Spruce Pine Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hoag. On Tuesday, Oct.8, Governor Cooper traveled to Spruce Pine and was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Acting Administrator Kristin White and other state and federal officials to assess storm damage, thank volunteers and speak with people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Submitted photo/ Governor’s office. N.C. Governor Roy Cooper talks with Spruce Pine Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hoag. On Tuesday, Oct.8, Governor Cooper traveled to Spruce Pine and was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Acting Administrator Kristin White and other state and federal officials to assess storm damage, thank volunteers and speak with people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

FEMA: Apply now for financial aid

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Rachel Hoskins rhoskins@thefranklinpress.com Mitchell County was among 27 North Carolina counties that suffered widespread flooding, landslides and destruction, due to the Tropical Storm Helene, which moved inland after coming ashore in Florida on Sept. 26. N.C.
Special to MNJ/Judy Taylor. Flooding on Sept. 27 washed out a 60-yard stretch of State Hwy. 226 in Bakersville.

Special to MNJ/Judy Taylor. Flooding on Sept. 27 washed out a 60-yard stretch of State Hwy. 226 in Bakersville.

Bakersville facilites take a hard hit

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Cane Creek, a long-time flood hazard, washed out some 60 yards of State Hwy. 226 in Bakersville and shut down the town’s wastewater treatment capabilities in the Sept. 26 floods. Mayor Charles E.
MNJ Photo/ Megan Horn. As donations roll in to Mitchell County it takes an army of volunteers and community members to sort and distribute them.

MNJ Photo/ Megan Horn. As donations roll in to Mitchell County it takes an army of volunteers and community members to sort and distribute them.

Neighbors helping neighbors

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Megan Horn  CNI Newspapers    “Neighbors helping neighbors” is the focus of the Grassy Creek community as residents came together to support each other in the heartbreaking aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Photo/ Steven McCann. Panoramic shot showing downed timber on left and standing timber on right on Beans Creek Road.

Photo/ Steven McCann. Panoramic shot showing downed timber on left and standing timber on right on Beans Creek Road.

Buladean Brave

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Brian Brodrick Special Correspondent to the Mitchell News-Journal   Helene might have met her match in Buladean. At dawn on Sept.
MNJ photo/ Rachel Hoskins. A member of the Virginia Task Force Urban Search and Rescue team goes door to door checking on residents in flooded areas.

MNJ photo/ Rachel Hoskins. A member of the Virginia Task Force Urban Search and Rescue team goes door to door checking on residents in flooded areas.

The long road to recovery

Mitchell News-Journal
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Rachel Hoskins rhoskins@thefranklinpress.com “It’s as bad as anything the county has ever experienced in its history,” said N.C. Senator Ralph Hise sitting in the Spruce Pine Fire Department on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 1.
Submitted photo. Downtown Spruce Pine was flooded as Tropical Storm Helene rolled through Mitchell County on Sept. 26. The county continues to struggle without power, phone services or internet.

Submitted photo. Downtown Spruce Pine was flooded as Tropical Storm Helene rolled through Mitchell County on Sept. 26. The county continues to struggle without power, phone services or internet.

UNDERWATER

Mitchell News-Journal
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Rachel Hoskins rhoskins@thefranklinpress.com Seventy-two feet. Seventy-two feet is the distance between where the sidewalk that flanks the businesses along Locust Street in Spruce Pine begins to the edge of Sycamore Alley, which divides buildings between Locust Street and Oak Avenue.

No deal: Harris sale falls through

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, September 23, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The AMY [Avery, Mitchell, Yancey] Wellness Foundation confirmed Thursday that it will not follow through with a plan to purchase the old Harris Middle School building in Spruce Pine.

Water & sewer has budget surplus

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, September 16, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Although the department unexpectedly ran through its emergency repair budget recently, the Spruce Pine Water & Sewer Department had a budget surplus last month, according to a report by Finance Manager Crystal Young at the Town Council meeting last week.
MNJ Photo/Jana Malone. Mitchell County firefighters and other first responders held a parade and memorial service last week to honor first responders killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

MNJ Photo/Jana Malone. Mitchell County firefighters and other first responders held a parade and memorial service last week to honor first responders killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Mitchell honors first responders

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, September 16, 2024
Jana Malone janareneereports@gmail.com The Mitchell County Firefighters Association held its annual 9/11 Memorial Parade on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in honor of the first responders who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks.