Ribbon Cutting For Buladean Health Clinic
This “Little” Kitty Was Spotted in Yancey County
Red Breasted Grosbeak by Shayna Harris
Last Day of Winter…photo by Becky Whitson
Blacksmith Exhibition at Toe River Arts Kokol Gallery
Soaring Hawk…photo by April Truitt
Winter Shows Back Up…Photo by Shayna Harris
Signs of Spring
Parkway Playhouse Jr. Production
Sunset Over West Burnsville…photo by Ayla McKinney

Local News

Buncombe Woman Charged with Death By Distribution

The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Lauren Ann Russell, age 35, of Buncombe County, for Death by Distribution. The arrest comes after an investigation by the Detectives of the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the NCSBI, into the death of Sarah Mizell from a fentanyl overdose. Russell is being held in the Yancey County Detention Center under a $500,000 bond. ...(more)

Burnsville – Boil Water Advisory–Rescinded 3/31

The water consumers from Georges Fork to Micaville in the Town of Burnsville, in Yancey County are experiencing periods of low pressure and outages in the distribution system due to a water line break near 1560 East US Hwy 19E. Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for back siphonage and introduction of bacteria into the water system. Therefore, the ...(more)

McDowell County Sheriff’s Office Needs Your Help in a Recent Theft

(Press Release from McDowell Sherriff’s Department) The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office needs your help locating and identifying possible suspects in a recent theft. At 7am on 3/26/2023, a male and female suspect were captured on camera stealing several items from a construction site on Nix Creek Road. The suspects were driving the vehicle pictured. Anyone with possible ...(more)

Sheriffs No Longer Issuing Gun Purchase Permits

(Press Release from Yancey County Sheriff’s Department.  Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.) EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, any person seeking to purchase or transfer a handgun in North Carolina is no longer required to apply to the sheriff for a pistol purchase permit. All pistol purchase permitting laws in North Carolina have been eliminated by the enactment of Senate Bill 41, ...(more)

Community News

High Peaks Leads Challenging Hike April 8

Experienced, fit hikers are invited to join the NC High Peaks Trail Association for a rigorous, 9-mile hike on the flanks of the Black Mountains on Saturday, April 8. The hike will make a loop of the Bald Knob Ridge and Buncombe Horse Range Trails, and will feature a challenging climb of about 1,700 feet in elevation. Hikers will be treated to views of the rich cove hardwood forest near the ...(more)

Connect @ Your Library

Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday and Thursday 9a.m. to 7p.m. Saturday hours are 10a.m. to 1p.m. Donations: The library is accepting donations of relatively new, clean books. Please DO NOT leave donations in the book drop. Bring them to the circulation desk or drop them off at the Book Cellar Annex on the square. Donations in the book drop overstuff the box and ...(more)

Linville Gorge Wilderness Area has Updated Overnight Permits

Beginning in April 2023, those seeking overnight permits for the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area on the Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District can expect an updated reservation process. The system, which previously required individuals to reserve permits by calling the Grandfather Ranger District office, will now be available for advanced reservations on Recreation.gov. This change ...(more)

School News

Mitchell Middle FBLA Wins at State Competition

Students from Harris and Bowman Middle School FBLA chapters attended the State NC FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Leadership Conference in Greensboro from March 23rd to 25th. The FBLA state conference allows students to attend workshops, compete in competitive events and earn rewards for excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. Middle school FBLA students ...(more)

Micaville 5th Graders Complete DARE Program

Fifth Graders at Micaville Elementary School graduated from the Elementary DARE Program. They would like t thank Officer Vanessa Potter and the Yancey County Sheriff’s Department for providing the students with the skills they need and will need to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs and violent behavior. ...(more)

Yancey Board of Education 3/20 Meeting

The regular monthly meeting of the Yancey County Board of Education was held in the gymnasium of Micaville Elementary School on Monday, March 20, 2023 MCHP Update Mrs Lacosta Tipton presented an informational sheet to the Board highlighting MCHP’s school-based health programs which include oral health, behavioral health and Middle School health centers. These programs have provided oral care ...(more)

Business News

Mercy Urgent Care Partners with WNC Bridge Foundation to Provide MercyMe Memberships to Area Families

ercy Urgent Care is pleased to announce it has received partnership support from WNC Bridge Foundation to provide yearlong MercyMe healthcare memberships to 32 families in Western North Carolina. The recipients are primarily employees of nonprofit organizations in the five counties where Mercy Urgent Care’s eight facilities are located. “Mercy Urgent Care launched MercyMe in 2022 to provide ...(more)

Buladean Community Health Clinic Open House

Friday evening, March 17th  The Center for Rural Health Initiative opened the new Buladean Community Health Clinic, located within the Buladean Community Center. The public was invited to tour the clinic, meet the staff, learn about the Telehealth program and enjoy refreshments.  Vicki Garland is the Clinic Coordinator and Beverly Acuff is the Telehealth Clinical Coordinator. ...(more)

Yummi Yarns Modifies Store Hours

Beginning this Sunday, March 5th, until Friday, April 28th our store hours will be changed so that I may attend an eight week class at Penland School. A very generous anonymous donor has made this dream a reality for me. I still want to be available to help you (and be able to make enough sales to pay store rent and utilities) so the plan is this. Our hours will remain the same on Saturday ...(more)