Local

Hospital suspends visitors for inpatient unit over COVID-19

Hospital On Friday afternoon, Swain Community Hospital took steps to further limit the risks the novel coronavirus COVID-19 poses to patients and imposed visitor suspension at the inpatient unit at the hospital.

CANCELLED: Organizations pull the plug amid virus concerns

Despite Western North Carolina remaining clear so far of cases of COVID-19, an acute respiratory virus, Swain County residents are feeling the disruption of plans.

Swain Lady Devils soccer: Can they go further this year?

For an up and coming program in Swain County, last season was pretty impressive one for the Swain County High School Varsity Lady Devils soccer team. The Lady Devils were conference champions and went to the second round of the playoffs. In the regular season, the team was 16-3.

Swain High School baseball: season preview

Last year, the Maroon Devils baseball team did the best they could. They ended the season with a record of 11-10 overall, and were 11-5 for conference play. They did not make the playoffs. The Swain High baseball team has room to grow as a team in this upcoming season and do well in conference play.

School board may offer boost to teachers for extra work

The Swain County Board of Education held its regular meeting Monday, March 9. Items discussed included the plan to combat the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, trade time for teachers and possible changes to accreditation.

Target Date Set for Opening N.C. 28 After Slide

A highway in southern Swain County will remain closed for at least one week while N.C. Department of Transportation crews clear debris from a Thursday evening landslide. Division 14 maintenance engineer Wesley Grindstaff witnessed a sedan-sized rock and additional debris fall from a hillside on N.

Slide Closes N.C. 28 in Swain County

N.C. Department of Transportation officials from Division 14 closed the highway after noticing small amounts of rock and dirt in the road Thursday afternoon.

Soil & Water Conservation District helping Swain farmers

Swain County Board of Commissioners heard the 2019 annual report for the Swain Soil & Water Conservation District during their regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27. Creeden Kowal, Swain County Soil & Water Conservation district director, shared the year’s highlights.

Smoky Mountain Times earns NC Press awards

North Carolina Press Association members were honored during the 147th annual convention held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. Awards were handed out during an advertising luncheon and editorial banquet on February 27.

Town losing millions of gallons of water monthly

Huge losses of treated water totaling millions of gallons in the Bryson City water system have board members scrambling to figure out how and where the losses are occurring.