Local

Photo/Sara Eisinger. Jason Foster hugs his little girl, Fern Foster, during the chili cook-off at The Grove Church Saturday.

Photo/Sara Eisinger. Jason Foster hugs his little girl, Fern Foster, during the chili cook-off at The Grove Church Saturday.

Chili cook-off funds Warming Center

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
As a fundraiser for the Warming Center, which opened under freezing temperatures Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this week, The Grove Church held a chili cook-off Saturday. The fundraiser raised $3,000 plus a generous $5,000 donation from an anonymous source. Approximately 75 wristbands were sold.
Photo/Sarah Jones. Volunteers clean approximately 60,000 pounds of garbage from this year’s Fontana Lakeshore Trash Cleanup, hosted by Brandon Jones, Nov. 2.

Photo/Sarah Jones. Volunteers clean approximately 60,000 pounds of garbage from this year’s Fontana Lakeshore Trash Cleanup, hosted by Brandon Jones, Nov. 2.

Volunteers clean up Fontana

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Brandon and Sarah Jones organized the 8th annual Fontana Lakeshore Trash Cleanup at Fontana Marina Nov. 1-2. “This year, we cleaned from the dam past Sawyers Creek,” said Brandon Jones. “We had 90 volunteers; 50 the first day and 40 the second day.
Photo/George Carter. The oldest veteran in the room, United States Army veteran Edwin Shook, received the honors of cutting the 250th Marine Corps birthday cake at Camp Living Waters Monday, Nov. 10.

Photo/George Carter. The oldest veteran in the room, United States Army veteran Edwin Shook, received the honors of cutting the 250th Marine Corps birthday cake at Camp Living Waters Monday, Nov. 10.

Celebrating Marines

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
The 250th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration and Veteran’s Day Dinner turned out to be everything its organizer, veteran Sean Parish, had hoped for. Despite the town’s first snowfall of the year, approximately 65 adults and 15 kids attended the event at Camp Living Water.
Photo submitted. US Army Veteran Thomas Hosier of Elgin, South Carolina, and his new bride, Faye Haynes, of Camden, SC, marry at Swain County Court House Monday, Nov. 3. Julia Hunt officiated the Christian ceremony.

Photo submitted. US Army Veteran Thomas Hosier of Elgin, South Carolina, and his new bride, Faye Haynes, of Camden, SC, marry at Swain County Court House Monday, Nov. 3. Julia Hunt officiated the Christian ceremony.

Widowed and tying the knot at 80

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
It is never too late to find love as proven by United States Army veteran Thomas Hosier of Elgin, South Carolina, and his new bride, Faye Haynes, of Camden, South Carolina. The newlyweds tied the knot at Swain County Court House Monday, Nov. 3. Julia Hunt officiated the Christian ceremony.
Submitted Photo. Freda Drinkwater (left to right), Mike Drinkwater and Janice Edgerton, Executive Director of Region A Partnership for Children Oct. 29.

Submitted Photo. Freda Drinkwater (left to right), Mike Drinkwater and Janice Edgerton, Executive Director of Region A Partnership for Children Oct. 29.

Drinkwater named Champion for Children

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Mike Drinkwater, local contributor and property developer, was named Swain County’s Champion for Children in honor of Gov. Josh Stein’s Smart Start Month 2025 last Wednesday.
Kristen Nespoli

Kristen Nespoli

2026 Census Test coming to Swain

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Kristen Nespoli, partnership specialist for the United States Census Bureau, attended a Swain County Commissioners meeting to inform the public about the upcoming 2026 Census Test and summon prospective job applicants Tuesday evening.

Hines, King to fill aldermen seats

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Two open seats on the Bryson City Board of Aldermen were filled by aldermen up for reelection following the General Election Tuesday, Nov. 4. Alderman Tim Hines received a ballot count of 96 accounting for 41.03% of votes cast, while Ben King received 80 votes or 34.19% of votes cast. W.
Photo Submitted. United States Marine Corps Vet. Joseph “Gunner” Vasquez is a Swain County resident for whom the Marine Corps Birthday Celebration and Veterans Day Dinner Nov. 10 is named.

Photo Submitted. United States Marine Corps Vet. Joseph “Gunner” Vasquez is a Swain County resident for whom the Marine Corps Birthday Celebration and Veterans Day Dinner Nov. 10 is named.

Honoring veterans in our local community

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
With so many distractions in today’s fast-paced world, not all of us take the time to realize how we got here as a country. United States Marine Corps Vet.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Clerk of Courts Misti Jones swears Jason “Jay” Kirkland in as Chair of Swain County Board of Commissioners, alongside his wife, Aleisha Kirkland, Tuesday, Nov. 4.  

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Clerk of Courts Misti Jones swears Jason “Jay” Kirkland in as Chair of Swain County Board of Commissioners, alongside his wife, Aleisha Kirkland, Tuesday, Nov. 4.  

Kirkland takes oath of office; county supports MedAssist

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Jason “Jay” Kirkland was sworn in as Chair of Swain County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, Nov. 4.   Swain County Clerk of Courts Misti Jones conducted the swearing-in ceremony. Kirkland is married to Aleisha Kirkland. Together, they have one daughter and one granddaughter.
Photo/Doug Cochran. West Swain Fire Department arrives on the scene at a structure fire on Silvermine Road at approximately 7:53 a.m. Oct. 29.

Photo/Doug Cochran. West Swain Fire Department arrives on the scene at a structure fire on Silvermine Road at approximately 7:53 a.m. Oct. 29.

Fire on Silvermine

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
West Swain Fire Department was called out to a structure fire on Silvermine Road at approximately 7:53 a.m. Wednesday morning. The first apparatus arrived on scene at 8:06 a.m. Fire chief Ervin Winchester said that while the damage was minimal, it did reach the attic.