house-finch-by-steve-b High Peaks Birders Lead Cane River Park Outing June 22
bikes-and-wheels-3 Ride Your Bike Around Town Square Saturday
the-red-velvet-cake-war-at-parkway-playhouse-2 Comedy “Red Velvet Cake War” at Parkway Playhouse This Weekend!
mtm-2 Mountain Time Mercantile Ribbon Cutting
s3-4 Click for more baby birds..photos by Shayna Harris
hh2 Trees and flowers
exhibit-bob-and-posters-2 Movie Posters and Theatre Memorabilia Exhibit
Who doesn’t love all the beautiful rhododendrons?
Beautiful Fox..photo by Mitchel Rote
april-truett-pilated-woodpecker_crop Pileated Woodpecker y April Truett..click for full view

Local News

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Marion Man Charged With Stabbing a Woman

On May 22nd McDowell County deputies responded to a Nebo residence for a possible breaking and entering in progress. When deputies arrived they found a woman who had sustained a stab wound. While checking the home, deputies saw a man fleeing the scene into a nearby wooded area. 51 year old Eddie Dean Prince was the man fleeing and he was later arrested and charged with felonious first-degree ...(more)

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Burnsville Fire Chief Niles Howell Honored

On June 7th at the Western North Carolina 2023 Salute to Heroes, the American Red Cross recognized local heroes, ordinary people who perform extraordinary acts every day. Burnsville Fire Chief Niles Howell was honored as a community hero for his continued, invaluable service to the Town of Burnsville and greater Yancey County. Chief Howell has been in the fire service for 25 years and served ...(more)

Spruce Pine System Pressure Advisory

System Pressure Advisory! The water consumers of the Town of Spruce Pine, in Mitchell County, are experiencing periods of low pressure in the distribution system due to water line repair. The area affected includes: FORTNER DRIVE, DOGWOOD LANE, PHILLIPS LANE AND LYNN STREET Periods of low or no pressure in the distribution system increases the potential for introduction of bacteria into the ...(more)

Bakersville Man Arrested

A Bakersville man throwing eggs at cars on Monday now faces several charges. Christopher Michael Gouge was arrested by officers from Mitchell County Sheriff’s Department and faces charges of misdemeanor breaking and entering, injury to personal property, resisting arrest, going armed to the terror of the people and felony breaking and entering with the purpose to terrorize or injure. Deputies ...(more)

Deadly Mitchell County Wreck

One person was killed and a 7-year-old was airlifted to the hospital after a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon. According to the Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred around 4 p.m., on N.C. 226 near Mitchell County High School. Troopers said Cynthia Boone hit a pickup truck from behind, then struck another vehicle head-on. Boone, 46, was killed and a 7-year-old in the car was airlifted to a ...(more)

Burnsville Town Council Approves New Budget

The Burnsville Town Council held a Public Hearing as a part of their June meeting and approved a budget for the new fiscal year.  The council approved a budget for 2023-24 in the amount of $5,125,948. Funded in the budget was an elevator for Town Hall, new flooring for the main hall of the Town Center, a new AWD police vehicle, public restroom renovations and a mowing contract for town ...(more)

Community News

Rotary Club of Spruce Pine Presents The Spruce Pine BBQ and Bluegrass Festival

Come chill with the tastiest BBQ in the southeast and the hottest bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana music! There will be lots of fun kid activities.  Join us in the cool Blue Ridge Mountains for the 12th Spruce Pine BBQ & Bluegrass Festival in Spruce Pine, NC on October 7, 2023, from 10 am – 6:30 pm, with a rain date of October 14th if needed. Low admission price – single day ...(more)

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Rhododendron Festival To Include Pageant, Crafts Fair, Street Dance, Car Show and 10K Run!

On Friday evening June 16, Bakersville will celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival. Beginning at 12 noon, the annual Arts and Crafts Fair will begin the festivities with fun for the entire family, food, and vendors. Music on Saturday by the Toe River Drifters, High Mountain Grass, Rock Creek Ramblers, and Susie Soloman and Friends and inflation fun for ...(more)

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Fundraising Yard & Bake Sale

Anna age 7 born without an ear is having surgery to get an ear. Elisha age 3 born with a heart defect and will need open heart surgery. All proceeds go to these two families for the trip and stay while these children are in the hospital. ...(more)

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Red Velvet Cake Wars Continue At Parkway Playhouse

In this hilarious show, by the same writers of last year’s hit, The Savannah Sipping Society, the eccentric Verdeen Cousins of Sweetgum, Texas are saddled with planning a family reunion despite being neck-deep in personal disasters. In the middle of arrests, psychological evaluations, and an oncoming tornado, the family’s horrid matriarch has challenged Cousin Gaynelle to a high-stakes ...(more)

Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Red Cross Blood Drives

Down the street and across the country, there are always patients in need of blood. Every two seconds someone needs blood in the U.S. You can help save lives by donating blood through the American Red Cross at the following convenient locations: Avery County: Friday, June 9th from 1:30 PM to 6 PM. First Baptist Church of Newland in the gym  Thursday, June 22nd from 2 PM to 6:30 PM. Banner Elk ...(more)

School News

Mountain Heritage Career Exploration Camps

Mountain Heritage is hosting Career Exploration Camps this summer.  All camps are FREE.  Please follow this link to find more information and register for the camp.  Open to rising 8th-10th grade. ...(more)

Business News

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Yancey Chamber After Hours at WKYK/WTOE June 15th

Join us June 15th for the Yancey Chamber of Commerce After Hours event at  WKYK/WTOE beginning at 5:30 pm. We invite all Chamber members to stop by and enjoy refreshments while you register to possibly win $500 in FREE advertising! We will also be drawing for 4 Soaky Mountain Waterpark tickets! And you will receive one of our new WKYK mugs! ...(more)

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Ribbon Cutting For Burnette’s Country Store in Spruce Pine

The ribbon cutting for a brand new store on Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine was held on Monday, May 29th. Burnette’s Country Store has opened in the old Southwest Trading location. Owners, Kirk and Samantha Burnette, along with their children Sage and Keen, helped the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon around 11 a.m. The store is a combination of the former Keen Outdoors (that was ...(more)

Compassionate Care WNC Recognized As One of the Best Places To Work

Compassionate Care WNC has been selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. The complete list of this year’s winners, in alphabetical order, is available at ModernHealthcare.com/bestplaceslist. Modern Healthcare will publish a special supplement featuring a ranked list of all the winners along with the October 2, 2023, issue of MH magazine. “An ...(more)