Local

Submitted photo. Lisa Towe (left to right), United States Navy Vet. Cynthia Womble, Maddie Haughn, Rosalind Ryan and Susan Roper at a Quilt of Valor ceremony to honor Womble’s 28-year military career at Marianna Black Library Tuesday, April 8. Womble retired as a Navy captain in 2017.

Submitted photo. Lisa Towe (left to right), United States Navy Vet. Cynthia Womble, Maddie Haughn, Rosalind Ryan and Susan Roper at a Quilt of Valor ceremony to honor Womble’s 28-year military career at Marianna Black Library Tuesday, April 8. Womble retired as a Navy captain in 2017.

Womble wrapped in Quilt of Valor

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
United States Navy Capt. Cynthia Womble was wrapped in a Quilt of Valor fashioned by the Swain Mountain Quilters during a special ceremony to honor her extensive 28-year military career at Marianna Black Library Tuesday morning.
Submitted photo. Mathematics Teacher Molly Lawless with her family in a recent photo at the U.S. Capitol. Lawless was selected as this year’s Swain County High School Teacher of the Year.

Submitted photo. Mathematics Teacher Molly Lawless with her family in a recent photo at the U.S. Capitol. Lawless was selected as this year’s Swain County High School Teacher of the Year.

Lawless named Swain High School Teacher of the Year

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Mathematics educator Molly Lawless was selected as this year’s Swain County High School Teacher of the Year, nominated and voted on by fellow-teachers. “I have spent years trying to create a space where students feel welcome, confident and inspired” said Lawless.
Photo/Kurstin Carroll. Catie Hogue-Millard holds son Thatcher in celebration of his second birthday at Darnell Farms March 2. Husband Chevy Millard has been by his family’s side throughout his wife’s health problems.

Photo/Kurstin Carroll. Catie Hogue-Millard holds son Thatcher in celebration of his second birthday at Darnell Farms March 2. Husband Chevy Millard has been by his family’s side throughout his wife’s health problems.

Miracle claimed

Sara Eisinger
Friday, April 4, 2025
Despite persistent head pain and worried mind, Catie Hogue-Millard faithfully smiled through a benefit on her behalf at Darnell Farms Saturday afternoon. “The intracranial pressure is really bad, so I can’t stand to even have my glasses on my head,” said Hogue-Millard.
Consul General of Israel for the Southeastern United States Anat Sultan-Dadon.

Consul General of Israel for the Southeastern United States Anat Sultan-Dadon.

Impact Church welcomes Consul General of Israel

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com A tallit prayer shawl hangs over the wooden cross at Impact Church where Pastor Robert Owen and his wife, Melissa, uphold the deep Jewish roots of their Christian faith.
SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. Michelle Lasky, ambassador at Swain County Chamber of Commerce (left to right), Denene Wolf, gym receptionist, Bibi Pride, gym owner, Monica Brown, chamber president, Ricky Sanford, chamber administrative coordinator, and Anthony Tedesco, personal trainer, gather to cut the yellow ribbon at Bryson City Health and Fitness Saturday, March 29. The chamber currently works with approximately 260 business owners.

SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. Michelle Lasky, ambassador at Swain County Chamber of Commerce (left to right), Denene Wolf, gym receptionist, Bibi Pride, gym owner, Monica Brown, chamber president, Ricky Sanford, chamber administrative coordinator, and Anthony Tedesco, personal trainer, gather to cut the yellow ribbon at Bryson City Health and Fitness Saturday, March 29. The chamber currently works with approximately 260 business owners.

Chamber ambassador program returns

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Swain County Chamber of Commerce reintroduced its chamber ambassador program over the weekend, extending its first invitation to community volunteer Michelle Lasky.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Grumpy Bear Campground owners Jerry and Karen Ciullo stand outside six brand new 18-foot-tall teepees along Tuckasegee River Monday, March 24. Hurricane Helene flooded the campground last September, taking its teepees down river.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Grumpy Bear Campground owners Jerry and Karen Ciullo stand outside six brand new 18-foot-tall teepees along Tuckasegee River Monday, March 24. Hurricane Helene flooded the campground last September, taking its teepees down river.

Teepees ready for guests

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Jerry and Karen Ciullo sold everything they had, leaving behind the only life they had ever known, to build Grumpy Bear Campground. “We moved in 2016 and built it from scratch,” said Karen Ciullo. “The only thing that was here was this house.
Photo/Joanna McMahan. Rylee Rawls, junior, reflects on win and reaching 400 career strikeouts against Tuscola Thursday, March 27.

Photo/Joanna McMahan. Rylee Rawls, junior, reflects on win and reaching 400 career strikeouts against Tuscola Thursday, March 27.

Rylee Rawls surpasses 400 career strikeouts

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com The Lady Devils softball team, led by pitcher Rylee Rawls, has done it again in a double-header against Andrews High School Tuesday evening. The final score in the first game was 13-0 and the final score in the second game was 19-1.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Amy Green, (front, l-r); Diane Jones, Morgan Thompson, Tammy Davis, (middle, l-r) Chris Roth, Bree Clawson, Christine Colcord, Connie Manly, Bronti Rudloff, Mike Shakar, Evan Hatch. (Back, l-r) Ricky Sanford, Ann Bullock, Dan Manley, Lisa Kim Fisher; Melanie Garuffi, Ann Marie Wright, Jeff Delfield, Toby Allman, Arthur Tribble, Nick Nichols.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Amy Green, (front, l-r); Diane Jones, Morgan Thompson, Tammy Davis, (middle, l-r) Chris Roth, Bree Clawson, Christine Colcord, Connie Manly, Bronti Rudloff, Mike Shakar, Evan Hatch. (Back, l-r) Ricky Sanford, Ann Bullock, Dan Manley, Lisa Kim Fisher; Melanie Garuffi, Ann Marie Wright, Jeff Delfield, Toby Allman, Arthur Tribble, Nick Nichols.

Swain County United Gift Fund gives back

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Representatives from community organizations out to make a real difference gathered for a luncheon hosted by Swain County United Gift Fund at United Community Bank last Thursday.
SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. More than 150 law enforcement officers, dignitaries, friends and family members wish Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy retiree, a happy retirement at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21. Gardner has 30 years of creditable law enforcement service.

SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. More than 150 law enforcement officers, dignitaries, friends and family members wish Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy retiree, a happy retirement at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21. Gardner has 30 years of creditable law enforcement service.

21 years of service: Gardner retires

News Staff
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Officers from every law enforcement agency in Western North Carolina attended the retirement party for Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21.