Local

Photo submitted. Asil Kabariti poses for a portrait in Gaza. Kabariti has been living as a refugee in Mitchell County, hoping for an end to the Gaza war.

Photo submitted. Asil Kabariti poses for a portrait in Gaza. Kabariti has been living as a refugee in Mitchell County, hoping for an end to the Gaza war.

Palestinian refugee finds home in Bakersville

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 15, 2024
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Contributor Asil Kabariti’s home sits on a hilltop at the end of a winding driveway surrounded by trees, flowers, butterflies, mountain views and deer. And this is where she has been able to heal.
Photo submitted. Cadee Boone, 16, shows her goat Bella, at NC Sheep and Goat Roundup in Winston Salem.

Photo submitted. Cadee Boone, 16, shows her goat Bella, at NC Sheep and Goat Roundup in Winston Salem.

Motivated teen builds farm, life skills

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 8, 2024
Sarah Atkins mnjreporter@gmail.com Sixteen-year-old Cadee Boone has been honing her livestock-raising and -showing skills for nearly four years. Boone began her farming journey with her grandfather, Wade Fortner, when she was just 12 years old. They began by hatching baby chicks and selling eggs.
MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. Samuel Clark, 6, and his brother James Clark, 8, enjoy playing at the splash pad at Riverside Park in Spruce Pine.

MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. Samuel Clark, 6, and his brother James Clark, 8, enjoy playing at the splash pad at Riverside Park in Spruce Pine.

Cooling off: Riverside Park is making a splash

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 8, 2024
Sarah Atkins mnjreporter@gmail.com A giant bucket hangs high over the Riverside Park Splash Pad, slowly filling up and then dumping water on the heads of all below without warning. Samuel Clark, age 6, and James Clark, 8, say that part is their favorite.
Shoppers and vendors line the streets of downtown Bakersville for annual community yard sale.

Shoppers and vendors line the streets of downtown Bakersville for annual community yard sale.

Bakersville Yard Sale

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 8, 2024
Sarah Atkins mnjreporter@gmail.com This past Saturday, hundreds of shoppers made their way to downtown Bakersville to find good deals and enjoy time with the Mitchell community. The Bakersville community yard sale has occurred every summer for roughly 15 years.

Water still brown in downtown

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 1, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The Spruce Pine Town Council discussed concerns about the quality of tap water in the downtown area at its regular meeting last week. The council met Monday, June 24.

$25.3 million budget passes

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 1, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $25.3 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year last week. Commissioners met Tuesday, June 25 in a special session specifically to vote on the budget.
Photo submitted. Mitchell County hosts Fourth of July celebrations this week. Adam Wheeler, shown, will be selling barbecue at both the Bakersville (Thursday) and Spruce Pine (Saturday) celebrations.

Photo submitted. Mitchell County hosts Fourth of July celebrations this week. Adam Wheeler, shown, will be selling barbecue at both the Bakersville (Thursday) and Spruce Pine (Saturday) celebrations.

Mitchell set to celebrate July 4

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 1, 2024
Macie Greene Mg8797@mhslive.net Mitchell County has an abundance of celebrations for Independence Day. On Thursday — the Fourth of July — Bakersville is holding its very own firework show, and on the sixth Spruce Pine is holding theirs, but that’s not the only festivities going on.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. A residence burned down on Rabbit Hop Road in the Penland area recently. No injuries were reported.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. A residence burned down on Rabbit Hop Road in the Penland area recently. No injuries were reported.

Fire destroys home

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, July 1, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com A Penland-area home burned down recently, with no injuries. Mitchell County Fire Marshall Andrew Brewer confirmed that there was a house fire on Sunday, June 23. Spruce Pine Fire and Rescue Chief Josh Boone said the fire resulted in a total loss.
MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. Marketgoers gather at the Pocket Park for live music from Jackson Grimm and The Bull Moose Party.

MNJ Photo/Sarah Atkins. Marketgoers gather at the Pocket Park for live music from Jackson Grimm and The Bull Moose Party.

Third Thursday

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Sarah Atkins mnjreporter@gmail.com   More than 20 vendors lined Lower Street (Locust Street) for Spruce Pine’s second Third Thursday last week. This local farmer’s market attracted vendors and guests from Mitchell and surrounding counties.
Submitted photo. Andi Creech was named 2025 NC Rhododendron Queen and Allison Fairchild was named 2025 NC Junior Rhododendron Queen at the annual North Carolina Rhododendron Festival. From left are junior runners-up Scarlett Burleson and Scout Stevenson, Fairchild, Creech, and queen runners-up Carly Sanderson, Kaylyn Fairchild and Jessie Grant.

Submitted photo. Andi Creech was named 2025 NC Rhododendron Queen and Allison Fairchild was named 2025 NC Junior Rhododendron Queen at the annual North Carolina Rhododendron Festival. From left are junior runners-up Scarlett Burleson and Scout Stevenson, Fairchild, Creech, and queen runners-up Carly Sanderson, Kaylyn Fairchild and Jessie Grant.

Pageants, crafts and cars bring crowds to annual Rhododendron Festival

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com   Andi Creech was named North Carolina Rhododendron Queen at the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville last weekend, with Allison Fairchild serving as Junior Queen.