Local

Spruce Pine Southern Christmas Show draws visitors to area

Soggy conditions didn’t prevent patrons from taking care of their holiday shopping and getting in the Christmas spirit during the third annual Spruce Pine Southern Christmas Show earlier this month in the Cross Street Commerce Center.

Cheers to 8 years

Mitchell County Commissioner Matthew “Vern” Grindstaff will soon sit in his last meeting. He decided not to seek another term on the board after serving for the past eight years. His fellow commissioners recognized him and his family during a recent regular meeting and presented him with a plaque.

MHS has annual veterans ceremony

The annual Mitchell High Veterans Recognition Ceremony brought together and celebrated 42 veterans and their family members on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The MHS Young Patriots Club sponsored the event and provided coffee and donuts. Adam Wheeler prepared a barbecue lunch.

And the winner is...

Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce members gathered in the Cross Street Commerce Center on Tuesday, Nov. 1 to eat, mingle and celebrate each other. The annual member awards were presented and comedian Kelly Swanson entertained the attendees.

Trick-or-treat!

Hundreds of trick-or-treaters were in downtown Spruce Pine on Monday, Oct. 31 for the annual Spruce Pine Main Street Downtown Merchants Trick-or-Treat. Most of the young ghouls and goblins stopped by the News-Journal office to get some candy before posing for a photo.

Becky Peterson has helped voters for more than 35 years

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?

Area voters select 3 new candidates for local office

Three incumbents and three new faces will occupy seats on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners and the Mitchell County Board of Education, local voters decided in the latest General Election finalized earlier this month.

Mitchell health science students use health sim lab bus

Mitchell High health science students in Katy Grindstaff’s class recently practiced on simulated patients using the Mission Health Sim Lab Bus, which traveled to the school for the occasion.

Mayland joins NJCAA, will initially offer golf, cross country

There’s a new mascot in town. Mayland Community College is now officially home to the Mayland Highlanders athletics program. MCC this past week announced its approved membership with the National Junior College Athletic Association— the governing body of community college sports.

Out at the polls

One-stop voting is open in Mitchell County at the Mitchell County Board of Elections office (11 N. Mitchell Ave., Room 108, Bakersville) and the Spruce Pine Fire Department (100 Firefighter Way, Spruce Pine). Both sites will offer one-stop voting from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Nov.