News

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Last week downtown Spruce Pine filled with a smoky haze as portions of McDowell County continued to burn in the North Fork Fire.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Last week downtown Spruce Pine filled with a smoky haze as portions of McDowell County continued to burn in the North Fork Fire.

North Fork Fire continues to burn; storm debris fuels flames

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 3, 2025
NEBO – There was minimal fire activity on the North Fork Fire over the weekend, according to a U.S. Forest Service. The fire remains at 644 acres and has increased to 65 percent containment.

Five year plan

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 3, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com At a recent meeting Mitchell County commissioners discussed personal priorities for the county’s next five years. Most priorities related to commonly-discussed issues such as disaster recovery and housing, but a few big changes were broached.
Photo submitted. Incoming Spruce Pine manager Daniel Stines, his wife Lauren, and their children are not strangers to Spruce Pine. Daniel has family roots in Yancey County.

Photo submitted. Incoming Spruce Pine manager Daniel Stines, his wife Lauren, and their children are not strangers to Spruce Pine. Daniel has family roots in Yancey County.

New town manager has ties to local community

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, February 3, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com The Spruce Pine Town Council voted Thursday to hire Daniel Stines of Blythewood, S.C. to be the new town manager. The council met in a special called meeting to choose a new manager.
Submitted photo. Janet Cook has retired as Mitchell County’s clerk of Court after 18 years.

Submitted photo. Janet Cook has retired as Mitchell County’s clerk of Court after 18 years.

Cook retires as Mitchell’s Clerk to Superior Court

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, January 27, 2025
Noreen Nickolas MNJ Correspondent On Sept. 27, 2024, Janet Cook retired after 18 years as Mitchell County’s Clerk of Superior Court, and her retirement party was abruptly canceled in response to unrelated events.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. State Sen. Ralph Hise speaks to the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and members of the community.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. State Sen. Ralph Hise speaks to the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce and members of the community.

Hise: Need to know exact business losses

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, January 27, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com State Sen. Ralph Hise focused on the lack of funding for small business disaster recovery and private road and bridge repair in a legislative update hosted by the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce last Thursday.

Cook says SPPD is “moving forward”

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Spruce Pine Police Chief Kasey Cook is pleased that the District Attorney will not pursue charges against police officers accused of use of excessive force. Cook spoke about the results of the investigation at a December Spruce Pine Town Council meeting.
MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. This new rockslide on Celo Knob in Yancey County will probably be a permanent feature on the landscape following Hurricane Helene.

MNJ photo/Mariel Williams. This new rockslide on Celo Knob in Yancey County will probably be a permanent feature on the landscape following Hurricane Helene.

Helene changed WNC landscape

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Mariel Williams editor@mitchellnews.com Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina wasn’t just destructive to man-made property, it made permanent changes to the mountains and streams themselves.
MNJ photo/Sarah Atkins. Rising waters moved cars, and even homes, down the rushing North Toe River during Hurricane Helene.

MNJ photo/Sarah Atkins. Rising waters moved cars, and even homes, down the rushing North Toe River during Hurricane Helene.

Fleeing the flood: Reflecting on initial reactions to the storm

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Sarah Atkins mnjreporter@gmail.com   As Hurricane Helene drew closer to Mitchell County, many were unaware of the magnitude of what was to come. The river began to rise, wind whipped through the valleys and trees snapped, falling like dominos along the mountainside.