News

MNJ Photos/Sarah Atkins. Sen. Ralph Hise cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of the new YMCA facility. From left are Van Phillips, John Blackburn, Sarah Grimes, Williams YMCA CEO Trey Oakley, Hise, Mayland Community College President John Boyd and N.C. Gov. Josh Stein.

MNJ Photos/Sarah Atkins. Sen. Ralph Hise cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of the new YMCA facility. From left are Van Phillips, John Blackburn, Sarah Grimes, Williams YMCA CEO Trey Oakley, Hise, Mayland Community College President John Boyd and N.C. Gov. Josh Stein.

YMCA opens in Spruce Pine

Mitchell News-Journal
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Sarah Atkins seatkins05@gmail.com   Excitement brewed as rainy skies cleared Friday afternoon, and the new YMCA in Mitchell County celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. A public hearing will be held on July 29 at 6 p.m. in the old Bowman school building in Bakersville to discuss a proposed mine near this area of the Poplar community.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. A public hearing will be held on July 29 at 6 p.m. in the old Bowman school building in Bakersville to discuss a proposed mine near this area of the Poplar community.

Public hearing to discuss proposed mining

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed mine in the Poplar/Green Mountain area on July 29 at 6 p.m. in the old Bowman school building in Bakersville.

Fire danger

Mariel Williams
Monday, July 7, 2025
At a special called “fiscal” year-end meeting last week, the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners focused mainly on disaster recovery issues: Fire danger caused by the trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land) and recovery funding.
MNJ Photos/Steffen Silvis. A horseless carriage takes to Upper Street (Oak Avenue) adorned with patriotic bunting.

MNJ Photos/Steffen Silvis. A horseless carriage takes to Upper Street (Oak Avenue) adorned with patriotic bunting.

Spruce Pine’s 4th of July takes the 5th

Steffen Silvis
Monday, July 7, 2025
If July 4 was a day for family and friends to celebrate together over barbeques and picnic tables, the 5th was reserved for the community coming back together to mark the day collectively.

Agreement establishes Toe River library system

Mariel Williams
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Spruce Pine Town Council and Mitchell County Board of Commissioners both approved a revised agreement establishing the Toe River Regional Library System, allowing local libraries to continue operating following the demise of the Avery Mitchell Yancey Regional Library system.
Submitted photo. Executive Director Bill Slagle is the new leader of the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission.

Submitted photo. Executive Director Bill Slagle is the new leader of the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission.

EDC director looks to grow jobs, housing and new businesses

Noreen Nikolas
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
With a new executive director, Mitchell County’s Economic Development Commission is looking to create a foundation that ensures the success of the county’s business sector and furthers the community’s economic goals.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Emergency preparedness aside, the National Field Day is an opportunity for ham radio operators to learn technical skills from each other.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Emergency preparedness aside, the National Field Day is an opportunity for ham radio operators to learn technical skills from each other.

Preparing for disaster on the radio

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Members of the Mayland Amateur Radio Club met at the Springmaid Mountain Resort in Spruce Pine last weekend to partake in the annual National Amateur Radio Field Day, which occurs every year on the last full weekend in June.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. New Town Manager Daniel Stines reflects on the challenges facing Spruce Pine’s recovery, surrounded by artwork donated to his office by his children.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. New Town Manager Daniel Stines reflects on the challenges facing Spruce Pine’s recovery, surrounded by artwork donated to his office by his children.

Spruce Pine Town manager says focus is on moving forward

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, June 23, 2025
A few weeks into his new position as town manager, Daniel Stines is eager to help Spruce Pine along the road to recovery from Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land).