Latest Updates

Services for J. Ardell Sink

Services will be held Tuesday at 2 pm at Yancey Funeral Services  for James Ardell Sink, age 85, of Burnsville.  Mr. Sink passed away on Sunday, August 29th.  He was the Chief Operating Officer of Mark Media Inc. He and  his wife, Remelle owned and operated numerous radio stations across the Carolinas working side by side and received many community and broadcast awards like the North ...(more)

Mitchell School Board Votes New Mandatory Face Covering Policy

The Mitchell County Schools Board of Education met in an emergency meeting tonight, August 30. Mandatory face coverings are required indoors during school hours in all Mitchell County Schools buildings beginning Tuesday, September 7th. Parents may opt-out of face coverings for their child by completing an opt-out form found on the Mitchell County Schools website or your child’s school ...(more)

Statement from Brandon Pitman, Chair of the MC Board of Education

Mitchell County Board of Education has listened to the guidance from Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit (NCDHHS), Toe River Health Department as well as legal counsel from Campbell and Shatley, PLLC with great interest since the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. As many conversations around the pandemic have become political in nature, our board has desired to not let our ...(more)

Mitchell County Schools Switch to Remote Learning for One Week

Mitchell County Schools will close for students beginning Monday August 30 through the Labor Day Holiday.  Remote learning will be in place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, after a Teacher Workday already planned for Friday and the Labor Day Holiday Monday, the Mitchell County Schools will re open for in-person learning on Tuesday, September 7th. This action is due to the number ...(more)

New COVID Testing Site in Spruce Pine

The Mitchell County Health Department has a new COVID Testing Site in Spruce Pine.  The site will open Monday, August 30th from 11:00 AM-4 PM. The site is at First Baptist Church, 125 Tappan St, Spruce Pine. Follow the signs for drive through testing.  There will be no cost. The test will be a PCR test that is sent to the lab. Results take 24-48 hours. All are asked to go to this site instead ...(more)

Where to Access COVID-19 Vaccinations & Testing Locally

COVID-19 cases are rising precipitously in Mitchell and Yancey counties and local clinics as well as Blue Ridge Regional Hospital are filling with COVID-positive cases.   While we enjoyed a few months with low numbers, the pandemic has come rushing back.  As a public service, SEARCH (Sustaining Essential and Rural Community Healthcare) completed a list of locations where people can be tested ...(more)

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Lt. Governor Visits Yancey County About Flooding

On Thursday, August 26, 2021, North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson and North Carolina House Representative Mark Pless (District 118) met with several in county leadership to discuss the impacts of recent flooding from Tropical Storm Fred.  County leadership had been in contact with both the Lt. Governor’s office and Rep. Pless’s office since the flooding occurred to discuss the needs ...(more)

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Bridge Replacement on NC 197

Residents of Murchinson in Yancey County have been taking the long way over a gravel road since the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred washed out the approach to a bridge on N.C. 197. NCDOT crews are currently partnering with local landowners and a local bridge contractor to create access across the river by installing a low-water bridge and restore access by Friday. Division 13 Maintenance ...(more)

Dogwood Health Trust Donates $500,000 to Flood Relief

Dogwood Health Trust has given $500,000 to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for flood relief. The initial focus will be on small, quick grants to respond to immediate needs in communities hit hard by August 17th flooding from Tropical Storm Fred. Dogwood Health Trust interim CEO Dr. Susan Mims said the problems touch on all four of the group’s priorities — housing, ...(more)