Local

Submitted photo. Swain County Family Resource Center’s back-to-school drive kicks off in August. It will last throughout the duration of the school year.

Submitted photo. Swain County Family Resource Center’s back-to-school drive kicks off in August. It will last throughout the duration of the school year.

Family Resource Center

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Swain County Family Resource Center has served approximately 266 families, reaching 719 individuals in their households over the past year. Melissa Barker, program executive director, provided an annual report at the Swain County Commissioners meeting Aug.
Submitted photo. Swain County Board of Elections Director Adam Byrnes (left to right), Deputy Director of Elections Janna Hyatt and Elections Assistant Liana Crisp happily move into their new location.

Submitted photo. Swain County Board of Elections Director Adam Byrnes (left to right), Deputy Director of Elections Janna Hyatt and Elections Assistant Liana Crisp happily move into their new location.

Board of Elections moves to new location

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Swain County Board of Elections moved from its longtime 1422 Old US 19 location to the Swain County Business Education and Training Center Tuesday, Aug. 5. “The Board has wanted to move for years,” said Adam Byrnes, elections director.
Submitted photo. Amy Pickett Dodson is the new executive director of Restoration House WNC.

Submitted photo. Amy Pickett Dodson is the new executive director of Restoration House WNC.

Restoration House

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Restoration House WNC has appointed of Amy Pickett Dodson as its new executive director, marking a return to the role she first held during the organization’s 2016 foundation.
Submitted photo. Beau Busby, career advisor II for Jackson and Swain counties, works out of the Marianna Black Library location Tuesday, Aug. 12. NCWorks is open to Swain County residents at the library every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Submitted photo. Beau Busby, career advisor II for Jackson and Swain counties, works out of the Marianna Black Library location Tuesday, Aug. 12. NCWorks is open to Swain County residents at the library every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

NCWorks connects talent to jobs

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
NCWorks is a free workforce system supporting employers and job seekers regardless of education level, criminal history, disability and other employment barriers. NC Works is open to the public at Marianna Black Library Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Submitted photo. Bryson City Fire Department dispatches to a structure fire with entrapment at an apartment building on 5454 Ela Road at approximately 9:57 p.m. Aug. 10.

Submitted photo. Bryson City Fire Department dispatches to a structure fire with entrapment at an apartment building on 5454 Ela Road at approximately 9:57 p.m. Aug. 10.

Fire department rescues two from apartment fire

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Bryson City Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a structure fire with possible entrapment at an apartment building on 5454 Ela Road at approximately 9:57 p.m. Aug. 10.
Submitted photo. Swain County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Sale formally requests that the Swain County Board of Commissioners approve a resolution in support of an approximate 5-acre land purchase on Black Hill during a commissioners meeting Tuesday. The request was tabled for discussion.

Submitted photo. Swain County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Sale formally requests that the Swain County Board of Commissioners approve a resolution in support of an approximate 5-acre land purchase on Black Hill during a commissioners meeting Tuesday. The request was tabled for discussion.

School board requests land purchase resolution

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Swain County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Sale formally requested that the Swain County Board of Commissioners approve a resolution in support of an approximate 5-acre land purchase on Black Hill during a commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Alarka Park is due for upgrades as seen by this photo taken Saturday, July 19.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Alarka Park is due for upgrades as seen by this photo taken Saturday, July 19.

A new playground at Alarka

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Alarka Playground has failed inspections in recent years, calling for much needed updates.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. New Swain County educators gear up to launch the 2025-26 school year during orientation Monday, Aug. 4.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. New Swain County educators gear up to launch the 2025-26 school year during orientation Monday, Aug. 4.

Swain goes back to school

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Swain County Public Schools is off to a new start with numerous administrative and staff changes. Students start Monday, Aug. 18. To kick off the year, the following open house events are scheduled: East Elementary: Thursday, Aug. 14, from 1-6 p.m. West Elementary: Aug. 14, from 1-5 p.m.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Manager Lottie Barker pledges her allegiance to the American flag at a commissioners meeting Tuesday, May 6.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Manager Lottie Barker pledges her allegiance to the American flag at a commissioners meeting Tuesday, May 6.

Solving county-wide ‘problems’ with Lottie Barker

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Lottie Barker was appointed Swain County manager at a commissioners’ special meeting Dec. 2, 2024. Barker accepted the position with vast experience in budgeting, financial management, community relations and policy development- driven by an inner desire to “solve problems.
Photo/Brandon Jones. Brandon and Sarah Jones jump off the dock of their Fontana Lake home in summer 2023. The Joneses 360-square-foot floating cabin and surrounding 400-square-foot dock was completed in spring that year.

Photo/Brandon Jones. Brandon and Sarah Jones jump off the dock of their Fontana Lake home in summer 2023. The Joneses 360-square-foot floating cabin and surrounding 400-square-foot dock was completed in spring that year.

‘Keeping Afloat with the Joneses’ on Fontana

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Life is picture perfect for Brandon and Sarah Jones who have thrown away a white picket fence for water, spending their lives renovating floating cabins and living on the Fontana Lake at a relatively low rate, but do you have what it takes to “Keep afloat with the Joneses?