Local

Hitting all the right notes

Fred Rogers, the man known to generations as Mr. Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, famously said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Who are the helpers in our community?

Young wrestlers stand out at local tournament

The first of two off-season wrestling tournaments was at Mitchell High School earlier this month with wrestlers of all ages from Mitchell County and the Western Carolina Wrestling Club dominating the competition.

Fund for Mitchell County awards nearly $50,000 in grants

The Fund for Mitchell County awarded 12 grants totaling $49,500 to Mitchell County nonprofits in its recent grant cycle.  The Fund for Mitchell County, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, has awarded grants totaling $859,109.

Area students show out at NC FBLA Leadership Conference

Students from Mitchell High School, Bowman Middle and Harris Middle recently attended the North Carolina Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference in Greensboro where they networked, competed, learned and had fun.

We are the champions (of the pull)

A local team, made up of members of the Fitness Express gym in Spruce Pine, recently brought home a first-place banner from the Western North Carolina Charity Fire Truck Pull held at the WNC Ag Center.

Local interior design students visit App State

As part of the new interior design fundamentals course at Mitchell High, a group of students recently traveled to Appalachian State to learn about the university’s interior design program firsthand.  Mitchell’s interior design fundamentals course is in its first year.

Senate Bill 41 passes, big changes come to handgun purchases

Those looking to purchase a handgun in North Carolina will no longer have to obtain a purchase permit from a sheriff’s office in the state, a Senate Bill passed into law this past week says.

Medicaid expansion heads to Cooper for final sign-off

On Thursday, March 23, the North Carolina House gave final passage to House Bill 76, a bill to expand Medicaid, by a vote of 87-24. On Wednesday, March 24, the day prior, the vote was 95-21. The bill now officially goes to Gov. Roy Cooper's desk for his signature.

Mica Gallery to feature 25 guest artists in 2023

Mica Gallery of Bakersville is mixing it up this year.  In addition to presenting the work of its seven artist members, the gallery has invited 25 guest artists to exhibit throughout the 2023 season.

HB88 passes, primary elections on tap for Mitchell school board

House Bill 88 passed in the North Carolina General Assembly this past week, establishing primary elections for seats on the Mitchell County Board of Elections and thus transitioning that contest from non-partisan to partisan.