Local

Swain County is getting $3,274,418 and has received $609,447 thus far.

Swain High's Ian Roper takes a tour at TekTone with Amber Mauthe, technical support manager, as part of the Kenan Fellows Program.

A pedestrian crosses Main Street toward Stonebrook Lodge. The Bryson City Planning Board has identified this section of Main Street as the best area to direct limited grant funding toward sidewalk repairs, in part because most of the utilities under the sidewalks have been upgraded unlike on the other side of the road toward Veterans Boulevard.

According to the county, the previous property owner is responsible for demolishing the old building on Black Hill Road where the school system plans to build a new middle school.

Apparently, things got heated last month when commissioners discussed the animal control shelter and staffing during a closed session. The shell of the building went up last week.

From left, Amy, Dell and Henry Hawk, of Lexington, S.C., enjoy a cooling treat of soft serve while decked out in their Independence Day best at Freedom Fest in downtown Bryson City. See more photos on 7A.

Tammy Williams and Ginger Frady with United Community Bank in Bryson City, speak at Swain Senior Center conducting a program on senior fraud