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Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students made up Swain Middle School’s Christmas concert. Pictured here is Swain’s sixth grade band members performing Up on a Housetop.

Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students made up Swain Middle School’s Christmas concert. Pictured here is Swain’s sixth grade band members performing Up on a Housetop.

Middle School Band Christmas Concert

News Staff
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   On Tuesday, Swain Middle School’s band held their annual Christmas Concert at Swain Arts Center.
Cynthia Womble, right, shares the library renovation plans during Coffee at the Library held Tuesday.

Cynthia Womble, right, shares the library renovation plans during Coffee at the Library held Tuesday.

Laying the groundwork for library renovations

News Staff
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   On Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, Cynthia Womble held the first of what she says will be several Coffee at the Library events at Marianna Black Library to get the word out about the renovation and expansion planned for Bryson City’s library.

Delivery workers’ busiest time of the year

News Staff
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   If you are like the millions of Americans across the country who do a lot of their holiday shopping online, you’ve probably become familiar with your delivery driver this time of year.
Officers from nine Western North Carolina counties attended a Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) bracelet training in Swain County last Tuesday. The device is used to detect alcohol from sweat and send the information to the DAs office for DWI offenders. The goal is to discourage impaired driving and help people stay out of jail and get sober.

Officers from nine Western North Carolina counties attended a Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) bracelet training in Swain County last Tuesday. The device is used to detect alcohol from sweat and send the information to the DAs office for DWI offenders. The goal is to discourage impaired driving and help people stay out of jail and get sober.

Law enforcement training held for CAM bracelets program

News Staff
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   On Tuesday, Dec.

State bumps Swain County to Tier 2 designation

News Staff
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Every year, North Carolina Department of Commerce releases its revised economic distress rankings for the state’s 100 counties. For 2023, Swain County was moved up to a Tier 2 ranking from the usual Tier 1 or most economically distressed.
Pictured from left is County Manager Kevin King, Commissioners David Loftis, Kenneth Parton, Kevin Seagle (chairman), Phillip Carson and Roger Parsons.

Pictured from left is County Manager Kevin King, Commissioners David Loftis, Kenneth Parton, Kevin Seagle (chairman), Phillip Carson and Roger Parsons.

Commissioners will begin meeting on Tuesdays in January

News Staff
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County Board of Commissioners met for a brief work session on Monday morning, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Swain County Administration Building following a swearing in ceremony for the newly appointed commissioners.
Erosion is obvious at this bench overlooking the river where the earth falls away at the edge of the bench.

Erosion is obvious at this bench overlooking the river where the earth falls away at the edge of the bench.

Bank stabilization project coming to Island Park

News Staff
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Heavy rainstorms in 2018-2020 caused water levels to rise on the Tuckasegee River and when the water receded, so too, did much of the banks along Island Park in downtown Bryson City.