Yancey County Schools to Participate in Statewide Tornado Drill March 4
02/25/15 12:11 PM
As part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 1-7, Yancey County Schools will practice its tornado and severe weather plans during a statewide tornado drill March 4 at 9:30 a.m. In 2014, the National Weather Service issued 81 tornado warnings for North Carolina and recorded 36 tornadoes that killed one and injured 34 people. Combined, the tornadoes caused more than $22 million (more)
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New Administrator at Mountain View Correctional
02/25/15 12:06 PM
The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Mike Slagle as the new administrator at Mountain View Correctional Institution. Slagle is a 20-year corrections veteran who most recently served as assistant superintendent for programs at Mountain View. He began his state service in 1994 as a counselor at a juvenile evaluation center. He has also worked as a program (more)
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New Principal Hired for Greenlee Elementary
02/25/15 12:02 PM
The Mitchell County Board of Education has hired Julie Weatherman as the new principal for Greenlee Elementary. Weatherman replaces retiring Greenlee principal Alan English. She will begin at Greenlee on March 1st. Weatherman was the Regional Positive Behavior Support Coordinator for the state’s 16 most western counties before talking the position.
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Slagle Resigns as Mitchell County EDC Director
02/23/15 04:40 PM
Bill Slagle has resigned as Interim Economic Development Director for Mitchell County effective March 9, 2015. Slagle has accepted a position as Regional Industry Manager of the Northwest Prosperity Zone for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Slagle has served as Interim Director since June of 2013. The search for a permanent director of the Mitchell EDC is continuing. Bill Slagle is also Chairman of the Mitchell County Commissioners.
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Harris Middle School Flooded
02/23/15 03:05 PM
Harris Middle School was closed today as a result of a main water line break during the overnight hours. As a result of this break the main boiler room at Harris Middle School was flooded. Both boilers and the main electrical panel were covered in water. The school’s maintenance crew, custodians, WNC Forestry representatives and members of the Spruce Pine, Parkway and Bakersville Fire Department are working to clean up and repair the problems. This is an ongoing process and at this time they are unsure how long it will be until power is restored.
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Man Arrested After Car Chase
02/23/15 01:22 PM
(Press Release provided by the Yancey Sheriff's Department)
On Saturday, February 21st, Yancey County Deputies received a call of a suspicious male at the intersection of Micaville Loop and 80 South. When Deputies arrived on scene 26 year old Raymond David Garland of Spruce Pine gave chase fleeing east on US19 to 80 North then to Arbuckle Road. The chase ended when Garland wrecked his vehicle on Arbuckle Road. After the chase Deputies discovered that Garland had broken into a vehicle parked at the intersection of Micaville Loop and 80 South. Garland was charged with felony flee/elude arrest, DWI, Breaking and Entering a motor vehicle, misdemeanor larceny, possession of stolen goods, 2 counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon on government official, reckless driving, unsafe passing, failure to yield for a stop sign, resisting a public officer, and no operator’s license. Garland remains in jail under a $25,000 secured bond and is set to appear in court on March, 3 2015.
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Insurance Deadline Extended for Those Who Pay Penalty
02/23/15 10:05 AM
People who discover that they have to pay a health insurance fee on 2014 taxes can still apply for help to pay for 2015 insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Between March 15 and April 30, the Marketplace will be open for enrollment for people who want to avoid a much higher fee at the end of 2015. The Bakersville Clinic’s free community service will be available throughApril 30 to help you understand how the Affordable Care Act makes insurance affordable and to help you apply for tax credits to pay for insurance. This service is not limited to clinic patients. You can call 828-678-0531 now for an appointment.
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Mitchell Deputies Respond to Home Invasion
02/20/15 02:10 PM
(Press Release from Mitchell Sheriff's Department)
Mitchell County Deputies have arrested Gregory Alan Street, age 56, of 463 Sparks Road, Bakersville on numerous felonies. At approximately 6:10 a.m., Mitchell County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to 29 Robin Hood Way near Ledger. The woman who lived at the residence with her three children called 911 and told the dispatchers a man had forced his way into her house with a long gun in one hand and a pistol in the other hand. (more)
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Water Issues in Bakersville
02/19/15 06:56 AM
Water crews in Bakersville were struggling with frozen pipes and looking for leaks yesterday along Highway 261. The city had to turn off the water in some areas to work on the problems. Mayor Chuck Vines was asking everyone in Bakersville to keep a small stream of water running from their faucets last night to avoid any more frozen pipes.
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NCDOT Clearing the Roads
02/19/15 06:54 AM
Across the state, 2,474 department employees are currently responding to winter weather, with 1,316 NCDOT trucks and 213 motor graders being used to remove ice and snow from the roads. (more)
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More Cold
02/18/15 07:02 AM
Old man winter continues its grip on Western North Carolina. Saturday afternoon, on Valentines Day the high was 38 degrees and then as we slipped below freezing in the evening we have stayed below the freezing mark. Record low temperatures are expected tonight and tomorrow night with low temperatures that may be near -10 in the higher elevations. During 2013 and 2014 the low temperature for February was 15 degrees, both of those years. January 8 of 2015 we recorded a low of -1. January 30 of 2014 the low was -7. Even though we are expecting more below zero temperatures we are still a long way from the all time record low of -25 on January 21st 1985.
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Yancey Woman Sentenced for Child Porn
02/16/15 11:24 AM
On Thursday, February 12th, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Tabatha Dianne Black to 210 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. According to court records, from May to June 2012, Black enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of it which she then distributed. Black pleaded guilty in June 2014 to one count of production of child pornography and has been in federal custody since April 2014. The case was prosecuted by Homeland Security, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office.
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MCC Receives Grant to Establish Crafts Training Center
02/16/15 06:14 AM
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has announced an award of $15,000 to Mayland Community College for architectural designs to establish a heritage crafts training center on its Mitchell Campus.Mayland Community College is working to develop a center that would house training and classes in fiber arts, woodworking, ceramics and additional heritage arts and crafts. It would (more)
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Lawsuit Filed in Best Western Deaths
02/12/15 06:07 AM
Lawyers representing family members of a Washington State couple killed in the Boone Best Western in April of 2013 outlined their law suit Tuesday, February 10th, against a number of parties they believe responsible for the deaths. (more)
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Marion Police Looking for Robbery Suspect
02/11/15 01:47 PM
Marion Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect who they say attempted to rob a local convenience store Wednesday morning around 1:20 am and assaulted someone in the process. The attempted armed robbery took place at the Stop & Save #10, on 226 South in Marion. The store clerk told authorities that what appeared to be a black female, wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and tightened around her face, entered the store and demanded money. The suspect pulled a knife , came around the counter and a scuffle followed. The clerk received a minor cut from the weapon. A store patron realized what was happening and attempted to chase down the subject on foot, but the suspect escaped. No cash or property was taken. The suspect is described as a possible black female standing approximately 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighing over 200 pounds. She was last seen wearing a grey-hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black shoes. Anyone with information call the Marion Police Department at 828-652-5205.
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What to do after a Data Breach
02/06/15 10:03 AM
Tens of millions of Americans could be victims of the latest corporate data breach, this one at Anthem Insurance. Unknown hackers apparently stole personal identifying information (PII) from current and former Anthem customers, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other information that can be used for identity theft. (more)
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North Carolina Connections Academy Approved to Open in the 2015-2016 School Year
02/05/15 01:11 PM
Durham, NC - Families with children in grades K-9 from across North Carolina will have an exciting new public school option in the 2015-2016 school year. North Carolina Connections Academy (NCCA) has been approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education to deliver full-time, tuition-free, public education to students from across the state through a public virtual charter school pilot program. Information sessions for families are being planned across the state. (more)
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More Hwy 19E Project Set to Begin in February
02/04/15 02:08 PM
More of the Hwy 19E project is slated to begin in February. The contractor for the next section will be Wright Brothers Construction out of Charleston TN. The contract for this section is for $64,819,884.00. The project starts at the western end of the NC 80 Micaville Loop and ends at the start of the four lane section just west of Spruce Pine. The start date is February (more)
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Meeting To Discuss Forest Service Plans
02/04/15 07:19 AM
Barnardsville residents have concerns about the US Forest Service plans to open up the Big Ivy area to logging. The controversial draft plan will be discussed at a meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Big Ivy Community Center, 540 Dillingham Road in Barnardsville. (more)
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Deyton Elementary Receives $15,000 Grant
02/03/15 01:38 PM
Deyton Elementary School has been awarded a $15,000 Play Construction Grant from Dr. Pepper, Snapple and the National Non-Profit Kaboom. This grant money will be used to purchase and install a new piece of playground equipment for Deyton Elementary School. Principal Jennifer Gregory said about the grant, "We are very excited about making improvements to our playground. We want our students and the community to have a fun and safe place to play." "We appreciate the work of our PTO in helping us to receive this funding and look forward to working with the entire community on this project."
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Mitchell Deputies Uncover Meth Lab During Welfare Check
02/03/15 11:08 AM
(News Release provided by Mitchell Sheriff's Department)
Mitchell County Deputies charge a Buladean woman for manufacturing methamphetamine. Stephanie Tara Lujan, age 30, of 14764 NC 226 North, Bakersville faces several felony charges. Captain R.V. Wiseman said a call came into the Sheriff’s Office from the mother of Lujan. The mother said Lujan showed up at their house a few days (more)
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Bald Creek Elementary Awarded $80,000 NC Title I Reward School Grant
01/30/15 03:59 PM
Last week, Yancey County Schools was informed that Bald Creek Elementary School has been awarded an $80,000 NC Title I Reward School Grant. Bald Creek Elementary has been named a NC Title I Reward School for the 2013-14 school year, a distinction given to the Top 10% of NC (more)
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ECU Dental Facility Opens, Wind Destroys Tent
01/30/15 10:32 AM
The ribbon cutting for the new Eastern Carolina University School of Dental Medicine was held this morning at the new facility in Spruce Pine. The new 7700 square ft building is located on the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital campus. High winds at 8 o’clock this morning ripped the tent that was set up for the ceremony down and blew it up against the building. The fire department was able to get the tent off the building and the event was held in the lobby with approximately 75 people in attendance.
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ECU Dental Facility Opens in Spruce Pine
01/29/15 10:26 AM
The ribbon cutting for the new Eastern Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is tomorrow at the new facility in Spruce Pine. The new 7700 square ft building is located on the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital campus. Full time dental school faculty will staff the center along with dental hygienists and other support staff. Fourth year dental students will train at the center offering low cost dental care to area residents. With 16 dental chairs and brand new state of the art equipment the center will be able to accommodate 40 to 50 patients per day. Dental services will cost approximately 30% less than private practices. The center will serve Medicaid patients as well as other payment plans and offers sliding scale rates for those 150 percent below the federal poverty line. Tours of the facility begin at 9 am tomorrow. At 10:00 there will be comments from the Dean of Eastern Carolina, followed by the official ribbon cutting at 10:30.
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Man Killed in Crash Near Tennessee Border
01/29/15 07:01 AM
A North Carolina man was killed Saturday morning, January 24th, in a crash just inside Tennessee as his sedan collided head-on with a tractor trailer. The crash occurred on US 19E near the state line around 10 am when 37 year old John S. Mann, of Spring Lake NC, crossed the center line in his 2013 Toyota Prius. The small car hit the front of a 2007 Kenworth tractor trailer, driven by Howard C. Burleson, age 58, of Roan Mountain Tennessee. Tennessee Trooper Edward Tester said that John Mann was dead at the scene and that Burleson was injured in the crash. Burleson was hauling a load of grass seed which blocked US Highway 19E for some time due to the wreckage and the investigation into the fatality.
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Intervention and Prevention Services Funds Available
01/28/15 09:56 AM
The Mitchell County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) announces the availability of $67,832 in intervention and prevention funds for services to delinquent youth and those at risk of delinquency. JCPC funds require a local cash or in-kind match of 20%. Funds are dependent upon appropriation by the NC Legislature. (more)
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Graham Children's Health Receives NC 2015 Public Health Partner of the Year
01/27/15 10:13 AM
On Wednesday, the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors named Graham Children’s Health Services of Burnsville as the 2015 Public Health Partner of the year. This award was created to recognize organizations, businesses and professional associations that (more)
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Record Year at Asheville Airport
01/27/15 08:28 AM
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) served a record number of passengers in 2014: 378,124 passengers enplaned at the airport in 2014, and 378,301 passengers deplaned, an 11.5% increase compared to 2013, and a 2.3% increase compared to 2010, the previous best year on record. (more)
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Biddix Charged with Selling Marijuana
01/26/15 12:08 PM
(Press release from the Mitchell County Sheriff's Department)
Mitchell County Deputies have charged a Spruce Pine man for selling marijuana. Johnny Hubert Biddix, age 55, of 7394 US19E, Spruce Pine faces several felony charges involving the sale of marijuana. (more)
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Asst. Secretary of Commerce Coming to Mitchell County
01/26/15 11:50 AM
Dr. Pat Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Rural Development, North Carolina Department of Commerce will be in Mitchell County to review the area and the opportunities that exist for Mitchell County. Dr. Mitchell will be at The Market on Oak, located at 11 Crystal Street in Spruce Pine, Wednesday, January 28 from 11:30 to 12:15 for those interested in talking with her.
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Yancey Sheriffs Department Has Unique Patrol Car
01/26/15 10:03 AM
The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office has made a unique purchase of a new patrol car. The Sheriff’s Office contacted Burnsville Chevrolet to find a Police Package Caprice. Burnsville Chevrolet contacted Terry Lebonte Chevrolet in Greensboro about a car they had in stock.
(more)
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McDowell County Teen Father Charged with Child Abuse
01/23/15 07:23 AM
A McDowell County teen father has been charged after his 2-month-old son suffered bone fractures while in his care. 19 year old Byron Cole Pace is charged with felony intentional child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. According to the sheriff's office, Pace was watching the child while the baby's mother was at work. At some point the baby turned blue and was non-respondent. Deputies have not said what happened to the child that caused the injuries, but Pace's father says Byron accidently dropped the baby. The baby was released from Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville yesterday. Detectives say the boy sustained five bone fractures. The investigation continues.
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Dr Carl Mundy Dies
01/23/15 07:22 AM
Dr. Carl Mundy, 102, of Mitchell County passed away yesterday (thurs.1-22-15). Dr. Mundy was a World War 2 veteran, practiced dentistry in Buncombe county and retired several years ago to Mitchell County. He touched many lives and was highly respected.
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Mayland'€™s Anspach School Nears Completion
01/22/15 12:58 PM
The Yancey County Commissioners heard an update from Mayland Community College President Dr. John Boyd on the progress that has been made on the colleges’ new Anspach Advanced Manufacturing School during the regular business meeting on Monday night. Dr. Boyd told Commissioners that the $2.6 million project is nearing completion and that workers should begin moving furniture into the offices and classrooms this week. Boyd said that the heavy equipment and specialty units that will be used to train students in the latest manufacturing techniques would be installed in the next few weeks. The expansion of the Yancey Campus was sparked by a generous contribution from Yancey County resident Dr. William Anspach Jr. The Anspach School will offer a degree program in applied engineering with skill tracks in CNC programming, machining, robotics and design. Boyd expects the new school to begin offering classes at the beginning of February.
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Fees For Water Test Goes Up
01/22/15 12:51 PM
Allen Hughes, an Environmental Health Supervisor at the Toe River Health District came before the Yancey Commissioners at their recent meeting to inform them of new price changes for the service of analyzing water samples in Yancey, Mitchell and Avery Counties. He presented a proposal to ok the price hikes that are mandated by the state. The Board voted unanimously to approve the request. Hughes said that an increase in the cost of the bottles used to analyze water samples is the reason for the up tick in cost. The new fees will raise the cost of a microbiology total coli form P/A test from $50 to $75, move the fee for an inorganic chemistry full organic panel from the current $50 to $125 and organic chemistry test for pesticides, herbicides, petroleum products and volatile organic chemicals from the current price of $75 to $125. The price of a new well sample kit will remain the same at $75 and the well abandonment fee will rise from $25 to $50.
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Yancey Commissioners Get Wastewater/Sewer Update
01/22/15 12:47 PM
Yancey County Manager Nathan Bennett updated the Commissioners on the progress on the Micaville wastewater treatment plant and the remaining line work for the sewer project at the latest Commissioners meeting. He said that the company that is doing the construction of the plant has agreed to expedite the completion of the project so that the line work can be completed. Bennett said that plans are to begin the remaining line work by April 15 and that he expects the entire project to be completed by mid October.
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Avery County Woman Winner of $1 Million Lottery
01/20/15 12:26 PM
An Avery County woman has come forward to claim the $1 million dollar North Carolina Education Lottery ticket sold at the Murphy USA on Halltown Road in Spruce Pine. Rachel Hoilman, of Newland, matched all five white balls but not the red Powerball in the Jan. 3rd drawing to win the prize after purchasing the $2 Quick Pick ticket. Hoilman bought the $2 ticket at the Murphy USA on Halltown Road in Spruce Pine. In a release from the North Carolina Education Lottery, Hoilman said that, "It feels surreal to win something like this," and called it "A blessing. This money will help us and it will help others."
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Suspected Arson in Mars Hill
01/20/15 12:16 PM
The State Bureau of Investigation is on the scene of a suspicious fire in Madison County. The old Mars Hill School site on Bailey Street in Mars Hill was apparently set on fire on Sunday night. The 77 year old historical site was being used for storage for some instructional material for Madison County Schools. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The fire which was apparently set in several places, was able to be contained to the old gym.
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McDowell Man Busted for Drugs and Guns
01/19/15 01:49 PM
McDowell County Drug Task Force has charged Samuel Shannon Bolinger Jr., 28, of 733 Old Greenlee Road in Marion, with one count of felony possession of marijuana, one count of felony possession with intent to sell marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and felony possession of a schedule VI controlled substance. Officers seized 540.4 grams of marijuana, 66.4 grams of hash oil, three assault rifles and a large sum of money. The marijuana and hash oil appear to be medical grade. They also found four gallons and several quart jars of untaxed liquor that was turned over to Alcohol Law Enforcement. The investigation began back in 2013 when detectives received information from confidential sources. Bolinger was taken into custody at his parent’s home the same day as the raid, and jailed under a $40,000 bond. The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. Highway Patrol and the Marion Police Department were involved in the investigation.
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Mission Health Wants to Construct New EMS Facility in Ledger
01/15/15 01:10 PM
Mission Health officials unveiled a plan last week to construct a new EMS base in the Ledger Community. The plan is to construct a 6,300 square foot, three garage EMS facility on county owned land along Forrest Service Drive near the Senior Center and health department. The new building is needed because the other EMS facility in Ledger was condemned recently due to the condition of the living quarters at the EMS garage. The new base would house two ambulances with an extra garage for future expansion. The project is expected to cost $1.1 million to construct with Mitchell County expected to pay $350,000 on the project over the next ten years while mission would take care of the remainder of the cost. At the end of the ten years the county would own the building and lease space to Mission. The board took no action on the plan but voted 4-1 to further research the possibility.
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Construction of New Gym and Community Center Put on Hold
01/15/15 01:07 PM
A plan to build a $1.6 million auxiliary gymnasium and community center on the campus at Mitchell High School has been shelved by the Mitchell County School Board. School Superintendent Dr. Rick Spurling said last week that due to the unexpected cost of the project and the negative feedback from the public that more time was needed to pursue more grant money for the project. Spurling noted that the construction plan was never a board of education driven project and that the plan would have a better opportunity to succeed if it was pushed by school level personnel and then approved by the school board. The plan has its supports as well as detractors. Ten people approached the educators during the public comment session of the board meeting and voiced their support for the project.
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Town Urged to Get Behind SmArt Program
01/15/15 09:37 AM
In a report from the Planning Board at the Burnsville Town Board meeting last week, Chairman Dean Gates told the Town Board that they have a golden opportunity to become something special among small towns in Western North Carolina, but everyone has to get on board and buy into the SmArt Public Art program to get things accomplished. (more)
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Town Passes Audit Review, Slows Down on Purchase of Land for Fire Station
01/15/15 09:28 AM
In a special meeting at the Town Center on Thursday night, January 8th, Sharon Gillispie of Young, Miller and Gillispie CPA firm told the Burnsville Town Board that finances in the annual audit review showed the town on good footing. Gillispie told board members that the assets of the Town of Burnsville exceeded its liabilities at the close of the fiscal year by $12,219.57 with a total (more)
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Greene Appointed Avery County Manager
01/13/15 03:00 PM
Avery County Finance Officer Tim Greene was appointed Avery County Manager at the Avery County Board of Commissioners meeting January 5th. Greene has been Avery County's Finance Officer and Assistant County Manager since September of 2003. All commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Tim. He resides in Spruce Pine with his wife, Vicki and son, Timothy.
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ASPCA Plan $9 Million Rehab Facility in Weaverville
01/13/15 07:17 AM
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is building a 35,000-square-foot animal behavior rehabilitation center in Weaverville. The $9 million facility will be located on approximately 13 acres at the old cement plant at 50 Murphy Hill Road. Plans are for ASPCA to use scientifically-based training and behavior practices to rehabilitate abused dogs. ASPCA aims to open the facility in two years, employing 30-35 people. They looked at venues along the East Coast before settling on this area. ASPCA has a $202 million operating budget and nearly 850 employees. Founded in 1866, they operate on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and must be protected under the law. Some of the 1.3 million dogs euthanized in shelters across the country each year are put down because they suffer from behavior conditions that are the result of cruelty, abuse and neglect. ASPCA started informally testing new behavior modification practices with abused dogs years ago and will be offering services not found elsewhere in the world.
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Shephard Charged with Child Abuse
01/12/15 02:18 PM
(Press Release from Yancey County Sheriff's Department)
On January 5th the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jon Kotj Shepherd, 21, of 275 Holcombe Branch Road, Burnsville and charged him with one count of Felony Child Abuse and one Count of Assault on a Child Under 12 Years Old. This arrest comes as a result of an investigation conducted jointly between the Yancey (more)
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911 Service Troubles
01/12/15 06:48 AM
First responders in several western North Carolina counties, including Mitchell, Yancey, McDowell and Buncombe were on standby Sunday morning because of an interruption to 911 service. Callers were having issues reaching the 911 center. The outage was blamed on Frontier Communications experiencing a widespread outage that was affecting 911 call centers around the mountains. The service was back to normal after a couple of hours of interruption yesterday. Emergency officials are reminding the public that in the case of an extended outage of 911 service local fire departments are put on standby and staffed in case of emergency need.
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Madison DOT Employee Honored
01/10/15 03:32 PM
A N.C. Department of Transportation employee was honored today for his quick-thinking, life-saving actions during a medical emergency. Richard Dean Griffin, a Madison County Bridge Department employee, received NCDOT's Extra Mile Award at the N.C. State Board of Transportation meeting in Raleigh. (more)
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Teachers Recognized for National Certification, School Board Appreciation
01/08/15 03:19 PM
In 2013-14, more than 4,000 teachers nationwide achieved National Board Certification through a performance-based, peer-review process similar to Board certification in medicine. To date, more than 110,000 teachers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have achieved the (more)
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Town of Spruce Pine Receives Grant for PRC Infrastructure
01/08/15 01:43 PM
The Town of Spruce Pine, Mitchell County Economic Development Commission, Mitchell County Board of Commissioners and the High Country Council of Governments have announced that the Town of Spruce Pine has tentatively been awarded an additional $318,000 to complete the expansion of infrastructure at PRC Industries located in Spruce Pine. The total estimated (more)
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Madison DOT Employee Receives Award for Life Saving Efforts
01/08/15 01:16 PM
On Thursday, a N.C. Department of Transportation employee was honored for his quick-thinking, life-saving actions during a medical emergency. Richard Dean Griffin, a Madison County Bridge Department employee, wasl be recognized at the N.C. State Board of Transportation meeting in Raleigh with NCDOT's Extra Mile Award. The award is given to employees who go (more)
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Grandfather Mountain Experiences Dry 2014
01/07/15 02:36 PM
LINVILLE, NC — After an immensely rainy year in 2013, Grandfather Mountain rainfall rebounded to below-normal precipitation levels in 2014, according to weather data collected at the Mile High Swinging Bridge. (more)
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Bakersville Water Issues
01/07/15 06:56 AM
Town Workers in Bakersville were scrambling yesterday to get water lines repaired before the artic freeze moved in. Bakersville Mayor and County Manager Chuck Vines says water began leaking from the reservoir on Dec. 31 but levels shrank significantly on Monday. About 60,000 gallons of water had been lost. Bowman and Geouge Schools were closed yesterday to help preserve water as town crews worked on finding leaks. Mayor Vines says an out-of-date 65-year-old pipe system is to blame. This is the third water shortage Bakersville has experienced in the last few years. Crews have repaired many pipes in the past, but this was the most drastic situation. The county does have plans to repair more pipes this summer, but the project is expensive. Only a portion of pipes will be replaced. Bowman and Geouge Schools are operating on a normal schedule today.
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One Million Dollar Powerball Ticket Sold in Spruce Pine
01/06/15 10:26 AM
A winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million was purchased at the Murphy USA on Halltown Road in Spruce Pine, according to a press release from the North Carolina Education Lottery. The player matched all five white balls in the Jan. 3 drawing, the release said. The person has 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim the prize at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. This is the second time in the last two weeks that a player in North Carolina has won $1 million playing the game; the other $1 million prize was won in the Christmas Eve Powerball drawing but has not yet been claimed, the release said. The ticket was sold at the Harris Teeter on South Tryon Street in Charlotte, the lottery says.
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Data Shows Yancey County Schools Making the Grade
01/06/15 09:53 AM
At the January 5th Yancey County Schools Board Meeting, Shane Cassida, Curriculum/Instruction Director, and Pete Peterson, Testing/Accountability Director, presented the preliminary results of the NC General Assembly’s School Performance Grades for the 2013-14 school year. The Department of Public Instruction has delayed the release of the official grades until February 5th, (more)
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Highway Patrol Reports DWI Numbers for 2014
01/06/15 09:37 AM
RALEIGH – With the beginning of a new year, the State Highway Patrol will be placing an emphasis on DWI enforcement and the reduction of alcohol related collisions. (more)
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Ledford Indicted for Sexual Child Abuse
01/05/15 12:38 PM
An adult has been indicted in a Yancey County court on three counts of sexual abuse with a child. The man, Jackie Lee Ledford, 35, of 218 Sampson Branch Road in Green Mountain, was arrested by Yancey County Sheriffs deputies and is being held in the county jail under $300,000 bond. The indictment accuses Ledford of engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 13, namely 7-9 years old, on three separate occasions from November 2009 to December 2011. Ledford has an extensive criminal history with numerous felony breaking and entering and larceny charges on his record. He will make his first court appearance on January 22.
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Slight or No Change in Unemployment Rate
01/01/15 06:45 AM
Mitchell, Yancey and McDowell counties were among the 8 North Carolina counties that saw no change in their unemployment rate from October to November according to recently released figures from the N.C. Department of Commerce. (more)
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Murder Charges for a Marion Man
12/31/14 07:05 AM
Marion Police have arrested 41 year old Jackie T. Agnew, a man accused of strangling his pregnant girlfriend and holding her at gunpoint Sunday night. Police say the assault on Monika Credle happened on Circle Street in Marion, but was not reported until Monday around midnight when officials from the McDowell Hospital called Marion police after she had a miscarriage. She was 17 weeks pregnant. Police say Agnew has been charged with murder of an unborn child. Agnew is also charged with Assault by Strangulation, Assault by Pointing a Gun, Assault on a Female, Assault in the Presence of a Minor and Interfering with Emergency Communications.
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Mission Health Restricting Visitors Due to Flu
12/30/14 03:42 PM
Mission Health is restricting visitors to its hospitals due to an increase in reported influenza-like illnesses throughout North Carolina. Only immediate family members over the age of 12 will be permitted in patient care areas. Mission Health is asking friends and family of patients to limit visitations based on recommendations from Mission Health’s infection prevention department. (more)
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Marion Police on a Manhunt
12/30/14 07:58 AM
Marion Police are searching for Jackie T. Agnew, a man accused of strangling his pregnant girlfriend and holding her at gunpoint Sunday night. Police say the assault on Monika Credle happened on Circle Street in Marion, but was not reported until Monday around midnight when officials from the McDowell Hospital called Marion police after she had a miscarriage. Investigators believe Agnew is still in North Carolina but could also have fled in a beige Toyota minivan to South Carolina, Georgia or Texas where he has friends and family connections. Agnew is wanted on warrants for Assault by Strangulation, Assault by Pointing a Gun, Assault on a Female, Assault in the Presence of a Minor and Interfering with Emergency Communications. Anyone with any information on Agnew's whereabouts is urged to contact the Marion Police Department at (828) 652-5205.
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Burnsville is SmArt Public Art Town
12/29/14 07:11 AM
The Burnsville SmArt Public Art program has caught the eye of the NC Arts Council whose officials were in Burnsville earlier this week going over the plan to enhance economic development through the arts in the town. Burnsville through the Toe River Arts Council was selected in a competitive process as one of only five communities in the state for the SmArt initiative. The project is being developed with funding from the NC Arts Council to hire a design consultant and public art consultant to guide the program that will include three Greenways to the town of Burnsville and a public art plan for the town. The plan also calls for local officials to work hand in hand with landscape architects from the NCDOT to make enhancements along the new four-lane through the town and attractive gateways into downtown Burnsville.
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School Property Vandalized
12/23/14 02:33 PM
Five former and current students are accused of vandalizing school buses in Yancey County over the weekend. Mountain Heritage High School principal Kevin Huskins reported that nine buses had graffiti and profanities sprayed on them. Mirrors and some windows were also spray painted. A wall outside the gym also had graffiti on it. Because of the ages of the suspects, their names are not being reported.
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Charlotte Man Arresting for Passing Fraudulent Precription
12/22/14 10:39 AM
(Press Release from the Mitchell County Sheriff's Department)
Mitchell County Deputies arrested Eddricco Lishaun Brown, age 34, of 601 Alpha Street, Apt. 3, Charlotte on four felony drug charges. Captain R.V. Wiseman said Brown entered the Bakersville Pharmacy and presented a prescription from Charlotte Eye, Ear, & Nose Association. The prescription was for 90-30 milligram (more)
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McEntire Appointed Chief District Court Judge
12/19/14 11:27 AM
Chief Justice Mark Martin has appointed Judge Ted McEntire as Chief District Court Judge for Judicial District 24, effective January 1, 2015. Judge McEntire will succeed Judge Gregory Horne, who will become a Superior Court Judge. District 24 includes Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey counties. Judge McEntire has served District 24 as a District Court Judge since 2009, and was an Assistant District Attorney from 1997 until being elected. He was a private attorney from 1995 to 1997, and graduated from University of North Carolina School of Law in 1995.
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Mitchell High Plans New Multipurpose Gymnasium
12/19/14 11:23 AM
Mitchell High has announced plans to construct an auxiliary gymnasium on the campus in Ledger. The proposed 14,900 square feet facility would provide classrooms and athletic space for students and serve as a community area after school hours. The new gym will feature a basketball court surrounded by a walking track as well as a multi purpose room to be used for wrestling aerobics and other exercise classes. The building would also house a clinical area for the high school health and science program. The entire project is expected to cost $1.6 million.
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Spruce Pine Town Board Looks at Pool Hall Ordinance
12/19/14 11:21 AM
The owner of a Spruce Pine Restaurant that opened back in October has asked the Town Board to take another look at an old ordinance which prohibits consumption of alcohol of any kind on the premises of any business with pool tables or a billiard hall. The owner of the Lower Street Tavern, Roy Ledford, has several pool tables in the family oriented business and was not aware of the ordinance until the issue recently came to light. Spruce Pine Mayor Phillips Hise told Ledford that the Board would look into the situation before making a decision.
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Police Investigate Habitat Home Break-In
12/18/14 11:29 AM
Last Saturday morning officers from the Burnsville Police Department responded to a call of a breaking and entering at 127 Celo Street, a home under construction in the new Mitchell-Yancey Habitat Neighborhood. Officers met with two individuals with Habitat who were working on the home and were missing a number of tools that had been left inside. Officers investigated the residence and found evidence in the form of a credit card dropped on the floor that officers believe was used to gain entry. The credit card led the officers to a residence near Depot Street where they quickly recovered the stolen property and returned it to the group working on the Habitat home. The department expects to file charges after the investigation has been finalized, according to the Chief Brian Buchanan. Burnsville officers quickly recovered a truckload of equipment stolen from the nearly completed Mitchell-Yancey Habitat for Humanity home.
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Yancey County Gets Approval for Additional Ambulance
12/17/14 04:48 PM
Susan Odom from Mission Health told commissioners at their December meeting that Yancey will get badly needed expanded ambulance service, something the county has been requesting for several years. Odom told commissioners that she had been working on the expansion of EMS services in the county for nearly two years and that with the help of Yancey EMS director Clay Carroll, she was able to gather enough data from neighboring Mitchell and Madison EMS to show that the requested expansion by Yancey’s commissioners was necessary. Figures Odom presented to the commissioners show that since 2012 to date ambulances from the two neighboring counties accounted for some 524 transports of patients from Yancey County. On a regular basis, Mitchell or Madison EMS is on standby at the county line because all of Yancey’s ambulances are out on calls. With this data in hand Odom was able to convince Mission Health to expand a unit in the county to 12 hours per day, seven days per week. County manager Nathan Bennett told commissioners that since the increased expense for EMS service is already figured into the current budget the county can go ahead with the contract without a budget amendment. The board directed Bennett and county attorney Donny Laws to work on a contract amendment to allow Mission Health to extend services beginning Feb. 1, 2015.
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County Hires McIntosh as New Tax Assessor
12/17/14 04:46 PM
Yancey commissioners at their meeting last Monday approved the appointment of Danny McIntosh as the new tax assessor for the county. He will replace Jeff Boone who is leaving the position he has held for four years to return his previous job in the county mapping department. Boone has agreed to help the new tax assessor/administrator learn the job as the department prepares for the upcoming property tax revaluation in 2016. Property values are appraised every eight years. Commissioners said it was urgent to replace Boone quickly because the property revaluation process will get underway in January 2015. McIntosh, former Burnsville mayor and town employee in public works, police, and was fire chief. A businessman, McIntosh since 1986 has been managing partner and treasurer with GWP Inc., a locally based interstate trucking company.
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Yancey Man Charged with Shooting Dog
12/17/14 04:44 PM
A 30-year-old Yancey County man was arrested last week and charged in the shooting death of a neighbor’s dog. Jonathan Killian of Simms Fork Road in Burnsville is accused of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The family that owned the dog says they found their pet “Bandit” dead in the woods, near where Killian had been hunting in a deer stand. Bandit was a two-year-old Border Collie-Australian Shepherd mix. Killian told deputies that he shot the dog on purpose because he thought the animal was a stray, stating that he had seen several dogs that week running through the property where he was hunting. The property is owned by his father-in-law. The dog’s owner, Delane Ponder, told officials that the dog escaped through a gate when he went to feed and water the animal. It ran off into the woods and he soon heard the sound of a gunshot. The case will now go to the district attorney who could decide to raise the misdemeanor charge to a felony. Killian posted a $1,000 bond Saturday night and was released. He is set to make a court appearance on January 13.
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Burnsville Man Sentenced 21 Years for Child Pornography
12/17/14 05:17 AM
A Yancey County man charged with federal production of child pornography has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison without the possibility of parole. In August 2013, 28 year old Brian Wayne Moore, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents, a family member reported Moore's production of child pornography to law enforcement in May 2012. Court records indicate that after producing the child pornography, Moore distributed it to another person he met on the Internet who he believed to be a 16-year-old. Moore has been in federal custody since February 2013. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Moore was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve the rest of his life under court supervision after he is released from prison.
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Mars Hill University Acts to Preserve Ginseng
12/15/14 03:33 PM
Ginseng has been harvested for medicinal and commercial purposes in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina for as long as human beings have lived in the area. Due to this cultural and natural history, Mars Hill University attempts to grow a small amount of ginseng (more)
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Yancey County Christmas Tree Recycling & Holiday Schedule
12/12/14 01:32 PM
Don’t throw away your natural Christmas tree! Yancey County recycling and convenience centers will accept Christmas trees to be recycled. Trees must have all ornaments, tinsel, lights, hooks and wires removed prior to disposal at the center. Residents are encouraged to drop off trees in the designated areas at any of the county’s community recycling centers until (more)
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Altec Ribbon Cutting for New Expansion
12/12/14 01:07 PM
County and Town officials gathered at Altec on Thursday for a celebration ribbon cutting for the plant’s new addition to the design engineering department. The 8600 square foot addition will accommodate 45 employees and allow the company to keep expanding its work force that has (more)
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Improvements to McDowell County Rail Crossings
12/12/14 08:16 AM
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division has made crossing safety improvements at two intersections near Marion. (more)
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Holiday Booze It and Lose It
12/12/14 08:13 AM
The N.C. Department of Transportation and theGovernor’s Highway Safety Program will kick off the Holiday “Booze It & Lose It” campaign today, December 12th, at a news conference in Asheville. (more)
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Local Unemployment Rates Drop in October
12/11/14 07:03 AM
Unemployment rates decreased in 98 North Carolina counties in October, including several in Western North Carolina, according to data released by the N.C. Department of Commerce Tuesday. Yancey County experienced a 0.6-percent decrease to its unemployment, rate down to 5.6 percent in October. The county had 418 unemployed in its labor force of 7,455, according to the data. Mitchell had a 0.7-percent decrease with an October rate of 6.0 percent, There were 400 unemployed in the county’s labor force of 6.715 people. Avery County had a 0.5-percent decrease with an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. The county had 429 unemployed in its labor force of 7589.
Madison County had an unemployment rate of 4.4-percent in October, a 0.4-percent decrease. Madison had 444 unemployed in its labor force of 24,147.
McDowell County showed an unemployment rate of 5.7-percent, a 0.7-percent decrease. The county had 1,146 unemployed in its labor force of 20,070.
Buncombe County ‘s rate fell from 4.6 to 4.0-percent with 5224 unemployed in a labor force of 130,848. Graham County had the highest rate at 11.2 percent while Chatham County had the lowest at 3.8 percent, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce.
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Judge Horne Appointed to Superior Court Seat
12/11/14 07:02 AM
Governor Pat McCrory has appointed Chief District Court Judge R. Gregory Horne to the Superior Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Senior Resident Superior Court Judge C. Philip Ginn in Superior Court District 24. Judge Ginn will retire December 31. The 24th District covers, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Madison and Watauga counties. Judge Horne has spent most of his legal career in public service, first as an assistant district attorney, and for the past 10 years, as a district court judge.
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New Zoning Rules Adopted in Burnsville
12/11/14 07:01 AM
The Town of Burnsville adopted new zoning rules during the council’s regular meeting last week. The Planning Board had worked for over three years to update the outdated ordinance and redefine commercial districts around town. The amendments are consistent with the 2004 Burnsville land use plan and meet recommendations from NCSTEP and Small Town Main Street programs as well as recommendations from the Planning Board whose chairman said that the new plan protects peoples’ property and investments now and for the next 25 to 50 years. The zoning amendment hopes to establish quality commercial development as well as provide citizens with a clear and understandable set of guidelines and standards to follow while promoting tourism and protecting residential neighborhoods from inappropriate commercial development. Copies of the new zoning amendment and zoning maps are available at Town Hall during business hours.
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Burnsville Fire Department Finds Land
12/11/14 07:00 AM
The Burnsville Fire Department has found a new location to expand after a year of working with the Town Council and new Mayor Theresa Coletta on the problem of not having enough space and easy assess for firefighters. The Council has set in motion the process that will finalize negations on a 4 -acre track of land inside the town limits off the Hwy 19 Bypass. The fire department has paid down its debt and has been saving for a number of years to make the move to a better location and should have no problem purchasing the property they have in mind after negotiations have been finalized. The Burnsville Fire Department is currently located on North Main Street.
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Mitchell County Ranked as One of Top Ten Best School Districts in NC
12/09/14 11:35 AM
Best Public School Districts ranks 8,738 school districts based on dozens of key statistics and 4.6 million opinions from 280,000 students and parents. A high ranking indicates that the district contains great schools with exceptional teachers, sufficient resources, and a diverse set of high-achieving students who rate their experiences very highly. Congratulations to the Mitchell County Schools who rank number #9 out of 100 districts in NC through this study. more |
Henderson County Man Arrested on Drug Charges
12/05/14 12:38 PM
(New Release from Mitchell Sheriff's Department)
Mitchell County Deputies have arrested a Henderson County man on drug charges. Michael Tyson Gibson, age 45, of 5909 Green River Road, Zirconia, N.C. faces several felony drug charges. Captain R.V. Wiseman said just after midnight on December 4, Deputy J.B. Masters stopped a vehicle for erratic driving in NC 226 in the Ledger community. Gibson had pulled out of a driveway in front of (more)
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Results from I-40 Challenge
12/04/14 07:47 AM
RALEIGH - – The North Carolina State Highway Patrol and law enforcement organizations that participated in the “I-40 Challenge” during the Thanksgiving travel period, has released the results from the eight-state high-visibility safety campaign. (more)
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Fire Marshall Conducts Drills in Yancey
12/04/14 07:03 AM
If you are wondering about all of the fire whistles going off around Burnsville over the past couple of weeks, don’t panic Yancey County is not burning down. The Yancey Fire Marshall, Neil McCurry, has been conducting quarterly fire drills at area business and all county schools. The fire drills, mandated by the state, are randomly done to test the response of the various fire departments and the reaction of the community to the surprise emergency situations as they arise. Emergency Management said that the drills have gone very well so far and that the exercises have been a good training tool for both the fire departments and the public. The drills are expected to last the rest of this week according to Emergency Management.
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Yancey Board of Ed Sworn In
12/02/14 01:56 PM
Monday night, December 1st the new and reelected Yancey Board of Education was sworn in.
(more)
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Mitchell Board of Ed Sworn In
12/02/14 01:33 PM
On Monday, December 1st Kathy Young, Angie Burleson and Gary Moore were sworn in to their new positions as Board of Education Members for the Mitchell County Schools. This ceremony took place at the Mitchell County Courthouse as Janet Cook facilitated the session. The first (more)
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Commissioners, Clerk of Court and Sheriff Take Oath
12/02/14 01:23 PM
The new and re-elected Yancey County Commissioners, Yancey Clerk of Court and newly re-elected Sheriff were sworn in Monday at the courthouse. (more)
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Estatoe Man Arrested for Break In at BP Station
12/02/14 09:29 AM
Mitchell Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a man for breaking into the BP Station on US 19E in the Estatoe Community. Timothy William Hyder, age 22, of 573 Golf Drive, Spruce Pine faces a felony breaking and entering charge. (more)
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Highway Patrol Reports Seventeen Fatalities
12/02/14 07:42 AM
RALEIGH – The Highway Patrol announced a preliminary number of seventeen (17) motorists who died on North Carolina highways during the Thanksgiving holiday period. The holiday period officially began at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26 and ended at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 30. (more)
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Zoning meeting scheduled for Dec. 4 at Town Center
12/02/14 06:56 AM
A hearing to receive public input on proposed town wide rezoning and amendments to the zoning map for the Town of Burnsville is scheduled for 6pm on December 4th at the Burnsville Town Center. The zoning map currently being used along with a map showing the proposed changes will be on display at the Burnsville Town Hall during regular business hours until the hearing. Copies of the maps are also available. The Town Council has ask the Planning Board to make changes and fine-tune old ordinances to fit changes that have taken place in the town over the past 45 years as the current zoning ordinances date back to 1969. The Town’s Planning Board has worked for the past three years on new zoning maps looking at making three commercial zones instead of the current two. All interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting.
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Mitchell County Designated a Tier 2 County by NC Commerce Department
12/01/14 01:16 PM
Mitchell County was raised from a Tier 1 to a Tier 2 designation for 2015 by the North Carolina Commerce Department. Mitchell was one of nine counties across North Carolina to change Tier designations. Tier 1 counties are the most economically distressed and Tier 3 counties are the least. Eligible businesses that are located in the lower tiered counties may qualify for some grant programs and larger tax credits than those located in the higher tiered counties. The rankings are based on an assessment of each county’s unemployment rate, median household income, population growth, and assessed property value per capita. Mitchell now joins Yancey, Madison and Avery Counties in the Tier 2 ranking.
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Unemployment Rates Down Slightly
10/30/14 02:59 PM
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 98 of North Carolina’s counties in September, increased in one, and remained unchanged in one. The September not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.1%. In Yancey County, the September numbers came in at 6.2%, a decrease of 1.0%. Mitchell County finished at 6.7%, down 1.0% as well. Avery was at 6.2% in September, dropping .08% and Madison wrapped up the month at 4.9%, a decrease of nine-tenths.
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Asheville Regional Airport's Main Entrance Change
09/29/14 10:31 AM
Asheville Regional Airport's main entrance will close Wednesday, October 8. All traffic will then access the airport through the south entrance at the light near Fanning Bridge Road, and this traffic pattern will be in place through early 2015 when a new main entrance will open. Signs will be posted to direct traffic. The closure of the main entrance is due to the North Carolina Department of Transportation project on Airport Road. The airport's main entrance will be relocated slightly south of its current location (at the light directly across from J&S Cafeteria and the Fairfield Inn), and is slated to open by January 2015.
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Yancey Animal Shelter will open Thursday
09/22/14 05:34 AM
The floor renovation project is running 2 to 3 days behind schedule. This has been a very difficult environment being there are so many corners and kennels to work through. Much of the floor grinding has had to be competed by hand which has taken tremendous time and effort. We realize this has been difficult for folks who have found stay animals and indeed tough on the animals needing sheltering. However we are just simply not in a position to reopen Monday as we had planned. The decision to keep the shelter closed until noon on Thursday, September 25, 2014 has been made. This will allow ample time for the epoxy to cure and for our cages to be rebuilt and reassembled without rushing and possibly damaging the new flooring surface. We have made a sizable investment in our floors. We must now make prudent decisions on using it. (Tim Tipton, Yancey Humane Society)
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On the Road, On the Water, Don't Drink & Drive Totals
09/03/14 04:36 PM
RALEIGH – The North Carolina State Highway Patrol along with the Division of Law Enforcement Wildlife Resources Commission have released the final totals for “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink & Drive” Labor Day campaign. (more)
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Rick Bacon Passed Away August 7th (more pics) 8/10/14
08/10/14 05:40 PM
Richard “Rick” Norton Bacon passed away Thursday, August 7th. Rick was living in Lumberton, NC but spent many years as a well known character in our community. He was the voice waking people up and sharing his “Bacon’s Bits” each morning on WKYK from the early 70s to late 80s. He enjoyed local sports broadcasting and he worked as Sales Manager at WKYK until he left to pursue his own endeavors beginning, the Toe Valley Shopper. Rick sold the Shopper to the Mitchell News Journal and went on to spend 26 years in the newspaper business across several states. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of this year. His online obituary, which was written with Rick’s flair for humor and sarcasm can be viewed here. Rick requested in lieu of flowers that you pass along an unexpected act of kindness in his memory.
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USDA Extends Deadline for ELAP Program
08/06/14 05:32 PM
The USDA has announced the enrollment deadline for the 2012 and 2013 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) has been extended to August 15, 2014. The new deadline gives livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers who experienced losses because of disease, adverse weather, wildfires or colony collapse disorder between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2013, an additonal two weeks to enroll in ELAP. For more information contact the Mitchell-Yancey FSA Office at (828)765-5049 or 682-0774.
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Micaville Accident
08/01/14 05:18 AM
A two car accident near the Micaville Loop on Hwy. 19E Wednesday afternoon sent three people to the hospital with injuries and snarled traffic for hours. The accident occured around 3:30 p.m. when a Subaru driven by 17-year-old Cody Buchanan of Burnsville crossed the center line and struck a 1995 Lincoln driven by 88-year-old Tommy Hollifield of Spruce Pine. The head-on collision sent Mr. Hollifield and a 13-year-old passenger in Buchanan's vehicle to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville while Buchanan was transported to Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. A passenger in Hollifield's vehicle, his wife Lillian, escaped without injury and there were no life threating injuries sustained in the incident according to NCHPD Trooper Fox who cited Buchanan for driving left of center.
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Rhododendron Queens Crowned 6/23/14
06/23/14 12:44 PM
The crowning of the 2015 NC Rhododendron Queens was held Saturday evening in Bakersville. Crowned Queen was Andrea Marie Hall and 2015 NC Jr Rhododendron Queen was won by Eaavan Corinne Smith. Andrea was the 2010 NC Jr Rhododendron Queen, she is 17 years old, (more)
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