The Town of Spruce Pine has issued a notice of discharge of untreated waste water. The discharge occurred on Tuesday, July 17th. It was an estimated 20,000 gallons at a leak on Altapass Road. The untreated wastewater went into Beaver Creek. The Division of Water Quality was notified of the event and is reviewing the matter. For more information you can contact the Town of Spruce Pine at ...(more)
(Press release from the Yancey County Sheriff’s Department) Two were arrested Tuesday, July 17th, as a result of an ongoing drug investigation into the illegal sell and use of drugs, being conducted by the Yancey County Sheriff Office. A search warrant was obtained by Investigators, and because of safety concerns for everyone involved and past activities at the residence, Deputies of ...(more)
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking participation in an online survey to gauge public opinion on opening 61 select game lands across the state for Sunday hunting. Since 1868, hunting on Sundays has been prohibited in North Carolina. However, in 2015, legislation was passed removing the absolute prohibition on Sunday hunting. In July 2017, the North Carolina General ...(more)
The Mitchell County Sheriff’s Department has arrested 25 year old William Matthew Murphy of Bakersville on suspicion of burning several buildings. Murphy was arrested on July 13th and charged with a Class H felony count of fraudulently burning a dwelling and another count of burning buildings. The charges according to Mitchell County Sheriff Donald Street are related to the July 6th ...(more)
The Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District has recently been awarded $80,437 from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to help purchase an easement on a 108 acre farm. Also from the same Trust Fund the southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy received $190,000 for a conservation easement on a 125 acre cattle farm in Mitchell County ...(more)
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is reporting that there were 40-50 dead fish near the Riverside Park area in Spruce Pine on Monday. Regional Supervisor Landon Davidson said the leak occurred at Quartz Corp. on Sunday afternoon that caused the fish kill. There was discharge from a hydrofluoric acid valve on the storage container that overflowed into a secondary containment ...(more)
A few months ago, Cynthia Lawing, a former Davidson College music department faculty, walked into Toe River Arts, introduced herself, and discovered that famed Hungarian pianist Lili Kraus once lived in the area and performed at the First Presbyterian Church in Burnsville. On Saturday, July 21 at 7pm, Lawing will offer a piano recital in the same church and on the same piano as was used by the ...(more)
Come chill with the tastiest BBQ in the southeast and the hottest bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana music! Join us in the cool Blue Ridge Mountains for the 7th Spruce Pine BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in Spruce Pine, NC on July 20 & 21, 2018. Low admission price – single day general admission is only $5/person, children 12 and under FREE. All festival activities, including ...(more)
Mitchell County Shepherd’s Staff will hold its “EMPTY BOWLS” dinner on Saturday evening, August 18th 5:00 pm-7:30 pm, at First Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, 125 Tappan St. For a $25.00 donation you will sample some of the best soups Mitchell County has to offer, in addition bread, non-alcoholic beverages and desserts will be served. Each guest will select a hand thrown “empty bowl” ...(more)
At 11 am on July 28, the Toe River Arts Dottie Owen Great Room/Gallery will host display of work from 61 accomplished Western North Carolina glass artists. Not since the 2012 “History of Glass” exhibit have so many glass artists come together in one room in our region. Their stories continue in “Sphere of Influence: Glass Artists of Western North Carolina” with a look back to how their ...(more)
The Classic Movie Club has selected for their July 23rd showing the 1946 MGM classic “The Yearling”. Based on the 1938 Marjorie Rawlins novel by the same name. “The Yearling” tells the story of a post civil war family and their struggle to survive in the Florida wilderness. It is also the story of their coming of age son “Jody” and his adopted mischievous pet deer “Flag”. The ...(more)
Penland School of Crafts will host an auction of student and instructor work on Thursday, July 19 at 8:00 PM at the Flex Studio on the Penland campus in Mitchell County. The auction will feature student and instructor work in clay, glass, metals, wood, textiles, printmaking, book arts, and other media. No admission charged. For directions and a map visit www.penland.org. For more information, ...(more)
All Yancey County elementary schools will be hosting Kindergarten Academy on Wednesday, August 15th and Thursday, August 16th. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to become familiar with their new school, classroom, teachers and friends. We look forward to seeing all incoming kindergartners at their school during this time. Transportation will not be provided so please pick up ...(more)
Virginia Hart, the longtime coach and professor who founded the Mars Hill University’s women’s varsity athletics program, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. The award, conferred by the Governor of North Carolina, is one of the most prestigious in the state and is awarded for “exemplary service to the State of North Carolina.” Hart was ...(more)
Liberty Hill Baptist Church will hold its annual Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. (rain or shine) on the church’s softball field. This is the seventh year that Liberty Hill has collected and will distribute school supplies to students from Mitchell, Yancey, Avery, and surrounding counties. School supplies such as backpacks, paper, pens, pencils, crayons, glue ...(more)
The all-volunteer eldercare network MY Neighbors is collaborating with Burnsville Wine to host a wine tasting from 4-7 pm on Friday July 27th. This event is free and open to the public over 21 years of age. Stop by for wine tasting, finger food and to meet some of the MY Neighbors members and volunteers. You might even be one of the lucky participants to be serenaded by Mary Dart and ...(more)
Grandfather Mountain isn’t about moving mountains; it’s about moving people. And the people have spoken. Again. This summer, Grandfather Mountain was inducted into the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame, having received five consecutive Certificate of Excellence awards since 2014, including 2018. In total, since 2012, Grandfather Mountain has received seven consecutive ...(more)
Thursday, June 14 Heritage Lumber held their annual Father’s Day tool event featuring Makita tools. Also this year Heritage introduces the new wood-fired Traeger grill. Makita reps were on hand for demo day where people could try out all the tools. The Father’s Day Sale continues with special pricing through Saturday, June 16th. Pictured Michael Ardell of WKYK interviews Heritage ...(more)
