News

MNJ Photos/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County Recreation Department Director Brock Duncan cuts the ribbon on the new Recreation Center in Bakersville.

MNJ Photos/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County Recreation Department Director Brock Duncan cuts the ribbon on the new Recreation Center in Bakersville.

County opens new Rec Center in Bakersville

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Mitchell County held a ribbon cutting for its new Recreation Center recently. The new center is located in Bakersville beside the county’s administration building. Brock Duncan, director of the Mitchell County Recreation Department, spoke about the department’s importance to local youth.

Ohio man charged with kidnapping local teen

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
An Ohio man is expected to be extradited to North Carolina after allegedly kidnapping a teen in Bakersville. Christopher Biederman, 32, of Lima, Ohio was arrested by local law enforcement in Allen County Ohio last week.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Sheriff Donald Street cuts the ribbon on the new Mitchell County Law Enforcement Center.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Sheriff Donald Street cuts the ribbon on the new Mitchell County Law Enforcement Center.

Mitchell County unveils Law Enforcement Center

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Mitchell County belatedly hosted a ribbon cutting for its new Law Enforcement Center last week, with State Sen. Ralph Hise as the guest speaker.

Hyatt, Staton win Bakersville election

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Gary Hyatt and Matthew Staton won the two Bakersville Town Council seats up for election last week. Bakersville Mayor Charles Vines ran for re-election unopposed and will continue serving in that capacity. Spruce Pine also had a municipal election, but all of those races were uncontested.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Residents and visitors enjoyed the Blue Ridge Christmas Craft Stroll held at the Cross Street Commercial Center.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Residents and visitors enjoyed the Blue Ridge Christmas Craft Stroll held at the Cross Street Commercial Center.

Craft Stroll

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Fresh from the success of last month’s Spruce Pine Potters Market, the Cross Street Commercial Center played host last weekend to a crowded preview of the Christmas season.

Missing teen found in Ohio

Mariel Williams
Monday, November 3, 2025
A Bakersville girl was found in Ohio after an Amber Alert was issued for her over the weekend. The Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office said that the missing 15-year-old had been found in a Facebook post in the early morning hours of Monday.
MNJ Photos/Jaren Gragg. Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show sings at the Hilloween Benefit Concert.

MNJ Photos/Jaren Gragg. Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show sings at the Hilloween Benefit Concert.

Hilloween rocks Spruce Pine

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 3, 2025
Old Crow Medicine Show, along with Bandana Rhythm, took the stage at the Hilloween’s 2025 Benefit Concert, playing fan favorites such as “Wagon Wheel” to the many in attendance recently.
MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. Raelin Allen, of Renew NC, speaks at a recent “Town Hall Meeting” covering storm recovery in Mitchell County.

MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. Raelin Allen, of Renew NC, speaks at a recent “Town Hall Meeting” covering storm recovery in Mitchell County.

Town meeting supports ongoing flood recovery

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, November 3, 2025
Kiesa Kay MNJ Contributor Downed telephone poles, uprooted trees, smashed refrigerators, broken beams – much debris from Hurricane Helene remains more than a year after the flood, despite the efforts of county officials, the NC SMART Program, Crowder Gulf, and more.

Wickedly wonderful

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Ghosts, goblins and princesses will be wandering the streets of Spruce Pine on Friday as Downtown Spruce Pine hosts the annual trick-or-treating event. Festivities will get underway at 4 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis . From left to right, Jonah Crowder, Liam Knowles, Jude Williams and Rowan Knowles enjoy an imaginary ride in the “Scooby-Doo” Mystery Machine.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis . From left to right, Jonah Crowder, Liam Knowles, Jude Williams and Rowan Knowles enjoy an imaginary ride in the “Scooby-Doo” Mystery Machine.

MCC’s Halloween party breaks records

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Beginning in 2015, Mayland Community College’s early Halloween festival, Spooktacular, has welcomed children.