Local

Candidates stump at Bakersville forum

Candidates for Mitchell County Commission and Board of Education attended a candidates’ forum Tuesday, Oct. 18 hosted by the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce in the Bakersville Historic Courthouse. Questions were submitted prior to the event by community members and chamber members.

Mitchell's Rhonda Gouge to be honored with Heritage Award

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced this past week that six traditional artists from across the state, including Ledger’s Rhonda Gouge, will receive North Carolina Heritage Awards in May for their contributions to the state’s cultural vitality.

SEARCH meeting highlights pair of local projects

Sustaining Essential and Rural Community Healthcare recently brought together 50 people to shine the spotlight on the Mitchell County YMCA and Blue Ridge Partnership for Children’s “Moms and Babies” Project.

Out of this world

The International Space Station may be many miles away, but for Harris Middle School students, it was closer than ever during the “Ask an Astronaut” event on Oct. 11. Through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, students had a question-and-answer session with astronaut Robert Hines.

Toe River Arts Studio Tour is Nov. 11-13

For more than a quarter century, the annual Toe River Arts Studio Tour has intrigued those who make the journey to visit places of inspiration and creation. This year’s tour runs Nov. 11-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It’s a free, self-guided journey of the arts.

Officer approved

The smell of barbecue and the sound of bluegrass music drifted through Spruce Pine on Saturday, Oct. 8 during the 11th annual Spruce pine BBQ & Bluegrass Festival hosted by the Rotary Club of Spruce Pine. The festival started in Riverside Park just after 10 a.m.

Annual Halloween events will return to downtown Spruce Pine

The leaves changing and temperatures dropping in October can mean only one thing— it’s almost Halloween. The annual Spruce Pine Main Street Halloween events, including the merchant trick-or-treat, are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. and are slated to be as big as ever.

BRRH, officials proclaim October as ‘Paint the Town Pink Month’

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital recently held an event at the hospital to proclaim October as Paint the Town Pink month. The proclamation was created to help raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of getting breast cancer screenings.

SECU recognizes scholarship recipients at Mayland Dream Day

The member-funded State Employees Credit Union Foundation has provided funding for up to 30 local students to receive a $500 SECU Bridge to Career scholarship for study at Mayland Community College. On Thursday, Sept.

Class of 2027 gets its first taste of Mitchell High School

Graduation may be several years away for members of the Class of 2027, but future high-schoolers from Bowman and Harris Middle both got a close look at their future through a recent tour of Mitchell High School.