Local

Officers seize 60 pounds of marijuana during traffic stop

SPRUCE PINE — Officers from the Spruce Pine Police Department and Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, with help from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, seized 60 pounds of marijuana on Monday, Aug. 16 during a traffic stop on NC Highway 226.

Annual Run for the Hills car show draws scores to Poplar

POPLAR — The 14th annual Run for the Hills car show, hosted by Carolina PushRodz, brought hundreds of vintage and muscle cars, food vendors, raffles and a burnout competition to Poplar.  Hundreds of visitors packed the field to view the cars and support the food vendors.

Quartz Corp. volunteers complete projects

Eighty volunteers from The Quartz Corp. rolled up their sleeves and completed several key community projects around the region this past week as part of the company’s annual Volunteer Impact Day.

Commissioners table discussion on welcome signs

BAKERSVILLE — Mitchell County Economic Development Commission Director Mickey Duvall during the regular meeting of the Mitchell County Commissioners on Monday, Aug. 16 presented plans for new “welcome to Mitchell County” signs that will be discussed further in the future.

Maggie's Ride raises more than $4,500 for memorial scholarship

BAKERSVILLE — The memory of the late Maggie Young lives on through the annual Maggie’s Ride fundraiser and the 2021 edition of the event proceeded as planned. During the third year of Maggie’s Ride on Saturday, Aug.

Severe weather causes early closure of Mitchell schools

BAKERSVILLE — Heavy winds, rain and a tornado warning this past week sent Mitchell County schools into the earliest weather closure in recent memory on Wednesday, Aug. 18 followed by a two-hour delay on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Annual Run for Holland returns

SPRUCE PINE — The annual Run for Holland charity race was in full force on Saturday, Aug. 21, returning to the regular in-person format after being postponed and eventually going virtual amid the pandemic in 2020.

Empty Bowls fundraiser returns to in-person format

SPRUCE PINE — The annual Empty Bowls silent auction and dinner fundraiser was on in full force Saturday, Aug. 14 at Spruce Pine First Baptist Church.  Empty Bowls is the major annual fundraiser for local food bank Shepherd’s Staff.

Brad Ragan pool now open through Labor Day

SPRUCE PINE — The pool at Brad Ragan Park is set to open again through Labor Day after being closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and having its 2021 opening delayed due to equipment issues.  Spruce Pine Parks and Recreation Director Michael Wood talked about the reopening Monday, Aug.

Local artist featured in Crossnore

CROSSNORE — The Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery this past week hosted a special reception for Bakersville artist Germaine Galjour, who showcased her various paintings and creations at the gallery.