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MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Smoke rises over the hills behind Poplar. A forest fire has been burning in the area along the Tennessee border for more than a week.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Smoke rises over the hills behind Poplar. A forest fire has been burning in the area along the Tennessee border for more than a week.

Poplar Fire burns 370 acres along Tennessee border

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
According to the most recent update from the U.S. Forest Service, the forest fire near Poplar has affected 370 acres of forest along the Tennessee border. As of Monday, the Poplar Fire was 90 percent contained.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Dr. Daniel Barron, the chair of the Mitchell County Historical Society, stands next to the Mitchell County History Bee’s high school winners. From left are Connor Miller (second place, Mayland Early College), Sam Jones (third place, Mitchell High School), and Grace Smith (first place, Mitchell High School).

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Dr. Daniel Barron, the chair of the Mitchell County Historical Society, stands next to the Mitchell County History Bee’s high school winners. From left are Connor Miller (second place, Mayland Early College), Sam Jones (third place, Mitchell High School), and Grace Smith (first place, Mitchell High School).

The History Bee returns with a future

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
How did the Toe River get its name? What retired MIT chemistry professor founded a free lending library in Mitchell County with over 10,000 books in 1885? How many generations of the Woody Family has built chairs in Grassy Creek?
MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. Gov. Josh Stein greets local government officials in Bakersville. Stein visited a home reconstruction site and spoke about disaster recovery.

MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. Gov. Josh Stein greets local government officials in Bakersville. Stein visited a home reconstruction site and spoke about disaster recovery.

Stein visits Mitchell

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Jaren Gragg MNJ Contributor   Gov. Josh Stein visited Bakersville to observe recovery efforts underway following the impact of Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm) in Mitchell County Thursday.
MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. About 50 people attended the Mitchell County Tourism Summit.

MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. About 50 people attended the Mitchell County Tourism Summit.

Fiddling Bear rebrand debuts at Mitchell Tourism Summit

Kiesa
Monday, March 23, 2026
Kiesa Kay MNJ Correspondent   When the Destination by Design team from Boone tackled rebranding Mitchell County, they began by asking what meant most here. From their nine months of study emerged a friendly fiddling bear, encircled by the words “Discover Mitchell County: Real. Mountain. Folk.
MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. The closing reception for the Student Art Showcase attracted art lovers of all ages.

MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. The closing reception for the Student Art Showcase attracted art lovers of all ages.

Student Art Showcase highlights creativity in Mitchell County

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, March 23, 2026
Jaren Gragg Contributor   Toe River Arts hosted a closing reception for the Mitchell County Student Art Showcase in the Owen Gallery last week. The exhibition, which ran for the past month, concluded with events on March 20 and featured artwork from students across Mitchell County.

$2 million ‘typo’

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
A representative of U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ office came to the Spruce Pine Town Council meeting last week to apologize for promising the town $4 million when Congress had actually only approved $2 million.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Emergency vehicles blocked off Lower Street (Locust Avenue) Thursday afternoon after a carbon monoxide scare.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Emergency vehicles blocked off Lower Street (Locust Avenue) Thursday afternoon after a carbon monoxide scare.

Carbon monoxide scare leads to evacuation

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
Two Spruce Pine businesses and a space undergoing renovation were evacuated Thursday following a carbon monoxide alarm. The air-contamination incident occurred midday Thursday on Lower Street (Locust Avenue).
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County resident Alex Glover examines the wreckage of a glider that crashed overlooking McKinney Mine Road recently.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County resident Alex Glover examines the wreckage of a glider that crashed overlooking McKinney Mine Road recently.

Glider crashes near Little Switzerland

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
A pilot survived a crash with minor injuries in the Little Switzerland area recently. The aircraft was a small glider that had been towed up into the air by another aircraft.