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Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Learning is an adventure at Swain Academy

News Staff
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Jacqueline McWhorter Contributor   Swain Academy students are making the most of their community adventures. Recently, they had the opportunity to tour the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and learn about the wide range of career paths it offers.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

Wehrloom Honey opens on Main

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Wehrloom Honey opened a new store and production facility on Main Street in Bryson City over Labor Day weekend. “Bryson City is where we make flavor infused honey, skin care products, vinegar, shampoo…,” said Aron Wehr, co-owner.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, run around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, run around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday.

Running for funds

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, ran around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday. Last year, the Fund Run raised approximately $19,000.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sisters Mary Parton and Dawn Dills are closer than ever outside the Swain County Administration Building Sept. 30. Dills received help from Swain Cancer Support along her path to cancer remission.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sisters Mary Parton and Dawn Dills are closer than ever outside the Swain County Administration Building Sept. 30. Dills received help from Swain Cancer Support along her path to cancer remission.

Dills: A Swain Cancer Support testimony

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Swain Cancer Support donated a total love offering of $28,000 last year. One of its recipients was cancer survivor Dawn Dills. “They gifted me a check for $1,000 to help with bills, gas, whatever I needed it for,” said Dills.
Submitted photo. Robert Loafman (left to right), Joyce Wilkie and Ted Goshorn celebrate the expansion of Edward Jones in Bryson City with Swain County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Sept. 18.

Submitted photo. Robert Loafman (left to right), Joyce Wilkie and Ted Goshorn celebrate the expansion of Edward Jones in Bryson City with Swain County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Sept. 18.

Minister finds new calling as financial advisor

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Swain County Chamber of Commerce threw a grand opening celebration last Thursday, marking financial advisor Ted Goshorn’s expansion of Edward Jones in Swain County. Goshorn offers financial services to anyone seeking to build the life they have always imagined.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Charlie Kirk vigil attendees sing “Amazing Grace,” light candles, listen to the televised memorial and shared testimonies about the many ways Kirk touched their lives in Bryson City Sunday, Sept. 21.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Charlie Kirk vigil attendees sing “Amazing Grace,” light candles, listen to the televised memorial and shared testimonies about the many ways Kirk touched their lives in Bryson City Sunday, Sept. 21.

250 attend Kirk vigil

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, 31, died Sept. 10 when shot while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, a conservative advocacy group and well-financially backed national organization.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger.   Addison Blankenship (left to right), Maddie Izquierdo, Caroline Freshour, Claire Freshour, Joylyn Stillman, Julianna Meraz-Quijada, Khloe French and Madison Mashburn wash the car of Ted Duncan, associate pastor at Bryson City First Baptist Church, at United Community in Bryson City Saturday, Sept. 20.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger.   Addison Blankenship (left to right), Maddie Izquierdo, Caroline Freshour, Claire Freshour, Joylyn Stillman, Julianna Meraz-Quijada, Khloe French and Madison Mashburn wash the car of Ted Duncan, associate pastor at Bryson City First Baptist Church, at United Community in Bryson City Saturday, Sept. 20.

Car wash funds soccer play

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Swain Youth Soccer Association team members from Swain County High School, Smoky Mountain High School, Cherokee Central High School, Jackson County Early College and Franklin High School raised money to play the game they love over the weekend.
Submitted photo. West Swain Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on Licklog Road in the Needmore Community at approximately 6:29 a.m. Friday.

Submitted photo. West Swain Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on Licklog Road in the Needmore Community at approximately 6:29 a.m. Friday.

West Swain fire fully engulfs house

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
West Swain Fire Department was dispatched to reports of a structure fire on Licklog Road in the Needmore Community at approximately 6:29 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19. Ervin Winchester, chief at West Swain Fire Department, was the first to arrive on scene. “It was fully involved,” said Winchester.
Photo/Joanna McMahan. Alexa Aldridge is crowned homecoming queen at half time Friday, Sept. 19.

Photo/Joanna McMahan. Alexa Aldridge is crowned homecoming queen at half time Friday, Sept. 19.

A queen rises: Tears to tiara

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Alexa Aldridge stole the spotlight, pretty in pink, as this year’s Swain County High School homecoming queen. “I was very surprised,” said Alexa, who stood arm-in-arm with her older brother, Braylon Aldridge, on the football field Friday evening.
Submitted photo. Qualla Boundary Missing Murdered Indigenous Women protestors stand together in silence as former Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran enters Swain County Courthouse Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Submitted photo. Qualla Boundary Missing Murdered Indigenous Women protestors stand together in silence as former Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran enters Swain County Courthouse Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Deafening silence as Cochran heads to court

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Qualla Boundary Missing Murdered Indigenous Women protestors stood together in silence at the Swain County Courthouse in resistance of predatory behavior Wednesday. Former Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran was indicted on a second-degree forcible rape charge by a grand jury on Monday, July 21.