News

MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. About 50 people attended the Mitchell County Tourism Summit.

MNJ Photo/Kiesa Kay. About 50 people attended the Mitchell County Tourism Summit.

Fiddling Bear rebrand debuts at Mitchell Tourism Summit

Kiesa
Monday, March 23, 2026
Kiesa Kay MNJ Correspondent   When the Destination by Design team from Boone tackled rebranding Mitchell County, they began by asking what meant most here. From their nine months of study emerged a friendly fiddling bear, encircled by the words “Discover Mitchell County: Real. Mountain. Folk.
MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. The closing reception for the Student Art Showcase attracted art lovers of all ages.

MNJ Photo/Jaren Gragg. The closing reception for the Student Art Showcase attracted art lovers of all ages.

Student Art Showcase highlights creativity in Mitchell County

Mitchell News-Journal
Monday, March 23, 2026
Jaren Gragg Contributor   Toe River Arts hosted a closing reception for the Mitchell County Student Art Showcase in the Owen Gallery last week. The exhibition, which ran for the past month, concluded with events on March 20 and featured artwork from students across Mitchell County.

$2 million ‘typo’

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
A representative of U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ office came to the Spruce Pine Town Council meeting last week to apologize for promising the town $4 million when Congress had actually only approved $2 million.
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Emergency vehicles blocked off Lower Street (Locust Avenue) Thursday afternoon after a carbon monoxide scare.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Emergency vehicles blocked off Lower Street (Locust Avenue) Thursday afternoon after a carbon monoxide scare.

Carbon monoxide scare leads to evacuation

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
Two Spruce Pine businesses and a space undergoing renovation were evacuated Thursday following a carbon monoxide alarm. The air-contamination incident occurred midday Thursday on Lower Street (Locust Avenue).
MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County resident Alex Glover examines the wreckage of a glider that crashed overlooking McKinney Mine Road recently.

MNJ Photo/Mariel Williams. Mitchell County resident Alex Glover examines the wreckage of a glider that crashed overlooking McKinney Mine Road recently.

Glider crashes near Little Switzerland

Mariel Williams
Monday, March 16, 2026
A pilot survived a crash with minor injuries in the Little Switzerland area recently. The aircraft was a small glider that had been towed up into the air by another aircraft.
MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. The Quartz Corp’s headquarters is in Drag, Norway. Its history in Spruce Pine began in 1957, and after several name changes and acquisitions became The Quartz Corp in 2011. According to the company, it mines exceptionally pure quartz used in solar panels, semiconductors, and fiber-optic cables. Another co-product of its quartz processing is the naturally occurring mineral sodium feldspar used in ceramic tile, sanitary ware, and glass manufacturing.

MNJ Photo/Noreen Nickolas. The Quartz Corp’s headquarters is in Drag, Norway. Its history in Spruce Pine began in 1957, and after several name changes and acquisitions became The Quartz Corp in 2011. According to the company, it mines exceptionally pure quartz used in solar panels, semiconductors, and fiber-optic cables. Another co-product of its quartz processing is the naturally occurring mineral sodium feldspar used in ceramic tile, sanitary ware, and glass manufacturing.

Quartz workers split on ousting union

Noreen Nikolas
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
On Oct. 14, 2025, union workers at The Quartz Corp in Spruce Pine filed a petition to decertify the United Mine Workers Local 0140 as their bargaining representative.
Submitted photo. Local activist Scott Ashcraft has filed a lawsuit to protect what he believes are important archaeological sites in local forests.

Submitted photo. Local activist Scott Ashcraft has filed a lawsuit to protect what he believes are important archaeological sites in local forests.

Saving sacred sites

(not verified)
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Kiesa Kay MNJ Correspondent   For thousands of years, the soil and rocks of Western North Carolina have been mined for minerals. Rivers foamed white with runoff and silicosis, white lung choked miners.
MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Mica Gallery President Robbie Bell helms a busy register.

MNJ Photo/Steffen Silvis. Mica Gallery President Robbie Bell helms a busy register.

For the love of animals

Steffen Silvis
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
“Well, it was there a minute ago.” Artist Vicki Essig had just pointed out a piece donated for the annual Art for Animals’ Sake fundraiser by a renowned local glass artist, but it had just been quickly whisked off to the cash register at Burnsville’s Mica Gallery.