Local

Pine Branch Baptist to join trash pickup effort

Pine Branch Baptist Church is throwing its hat into the ring of community clean-up in Spruce Pine. The church will join Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin and his department’s efforts to clean up the community during the next pickup day, scheduled for Thursday, May 19.

Officials talk support for Pine Line route

The grant funding for Mitchell County Transportation’s Spruce Pine route, the Pine Line, expires in February 2023, but county officials are already discussing how to keep it running well beyond that point.

Officials OK change in sheriff’s office architect

Mitchell County will begin negotiations with a new architect for its sheriff’s office construction project, the commissioners decided unanimously on Monday, May 2.

Mitchell native tabbed to lead Chamber

Mandi Polly is the next executive director of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce, the organization recently announced. Polly, a Mitchell County native, takes over for Patti Jensen who retired from the post in March.

Candidates get final words in at Bakersville forum

Candidates for Mitchell County Commissioner and Sheriff attended a candidates’ forum Tuesday, May 3 hosted by the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce in the Bakersville Historic Courthouse.

Late local correctional officer to be honored among peers in D.C.

Mitchell County’s own Bruce Trivett will be honored alongside more than 600 other fallen heroes on May 13 in Washington, D.C. during a special ceremony for National Police Week.

Pair meets in class at Mayland, starts massage practice

Determination. Dedication. Servant’s heart.  These are the characteristics of Kayla Daniels and Susie Lewis, owners of Alpha Massage Therapy. During the pandemic, the two took a huge leap. The pair, who had never met, enrolled in Mayland Community College’s massage therapy program.

Let the sparks fly

Sparks flew in downtown Spruce Pine on Saturday, April 30 during the annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival, which returned to the outdoors after going virtual in 2021 amid the pandemic.

A day in the life

The Mitchell Medics EMS team gets a call about a car wreck on a major highway in Mitchell County. Immediately, Mitchell Medics EMT and operations supervisor James Vance and his pair of helpers are off, speeding toward the scene.

Missed federal income tax deadline? It’s time to act

The federal income tax deadline has passed for most individual taxpayers. However, some haven’t filed their 2021 tax returns or paid their tax due. Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn’t earn enough money to be required to file.