Local

The Swain County Courthouse handles all the criminal cases for the county, but some of them are taking long amounts of time.

The Swain County Courthouse handles all the criminal cases for the county, but some of them are taking long amounts of time.

Court cases continued while suspects sit in county jail for years

News Staff
Monday, July 10, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Murder suspects Daniel Sutton and Jeremy Solomon have been sitting in the Swain County Jail waiting for trial for the past three years. They’ve been there for around 1,499 days – over three years – since their arrests in 2019.
Some new housing in town could be the start of solutions to the county’s affordable housing issues.

Some new housing in town could be the start of solutions to the county’s affordable housing issues.

Airbnb’s decline comes as long-term rentals are still hard to find

News Staff
Monday, July 10, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A social media post from Swain County Schools last week asked for any community help possible in finding a place to live for a new teacher coming to the area.
Jimmy McNorrill and his son Tony at Jimmy Mac’s. The two were excited to spend 4th of July together.

Jimmy McNorrill and his son Tony at Jimmy Mac’s. The two were excited to spend 4th of July together.

Bryson City folks share thoughts on being AMERICAN

News Staff
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Pretty soon the streets of Bryson City will be lined with red, white and blue and, on the night of the 4th, the sky will be full of exploding fireworks. And Bryson City has been feeling patriotic.
Two kiosks at Deep Creek put in place by the National Park Service let people buy daily or weekly passes to park in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for longer than 15 minutes.

Two kiosks at Deep Creek put in place by the National Park Service let people buy daily or weekly passes to park in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for longer than 15 minutes.

Park It Forward reports success, locals still unhappy

News Staff
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The Park It Forward program implemented in March to mandate paid parking passes for those visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, was meant to help offset the rising costs and help with repairs, according to the National Park Service.
Town will have work beginning in July on sewer and water lines under Depot and Everett Streets

Town will have work beginning in July on sewer and water lines under Depot and Everett Streets

Town accepts bid for Depot sewer work

News Staff
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Bryson City Town Board of Aldermen held an emergency called meeting on Friday morning, June 23, where they unanimously accepted a bid for contract work for sewer and water improvements that will be made at Everett and Depot streets.

Commissioner Parton votes to eliminate TDA, gets shot down

News Staff
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   As of the Tuesday, June 20 Swain County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Commission Chairman Kevin Seagle will have a voting seat on the Swain County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), per new rules the county has passed for that board.
A fire occurred at 160 Brendle Road in the early hours Monday, June 19. The cause is under investigation.

A fire occurred at 160 Brendle Road in the early hours Monday, June 19. The cause is under investigation.

Structure fire destroys house on Brendle Cove

News Staff
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A fire in the early hours of Monday, June 19 had firefighters doing what they do best at 3:23 a.m. at 160 Brendle Cove Road.

Bryson City town board approves $4.9 million budget

News Staff
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Bryson City Town Board of Aldermen approved the fiscal budget for 2023-2024 during its meeting Monday, June 10 following a 15-minute public hearing where no members of the public spoke.

Swain has new BOE director

News Staff
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County Board of Elections agreed to hire a new director during the board’s meeting on April 17.
Bryson City town worker Logan McCall runs the residential recycling pick-up on Wednesday morning. He's pictured here collecting recyclables from homes on Hospital Hill.

Bryson City town worker Logan McCall runs the residential recycling pick-up on Wednesday morning. He's pictured here collecting recyclables from homes on Hospital Hill.

Take it to the curb: Bryson City has recycling program

News Staff
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   If you live in Bryson City and want to recycle, mark your calendars for Wednesdays, that’s the day the town recycling truck does its rounds to pick up cardboard, glass, plastic and paper products from residential customers.