Local

Submitted photo. Tristen Packer (left to right), Deb Stuart, Antionette Prisco, Anne Herzog and Nick Nichols, members of Rotary Club of Bryson City congregate in front of the Family Resource Center’s Christmas tree in December 2025.

Submitted photo. Tristen Packer (left to right), Deb Stuart, Antionette Prisco, Anne Herzog and Nick Nichols, members of Rotary Club of Bryson City congregate in front of the Family Resource Center’s Christmas tree in December 2025.

Town continues Christmas tradition

Sara Eisinger
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Deb Stuart Contributor   Bryson City’s tradition of Christmas giving is nearly as old as the town itself. In Jan. of 1889, the news told the story of the town’s people meeting in the courthouse, having music, sermons and stories.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Curtis Cochran, former sheriff, enters Swain County Courthouse Dec. 17.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Curtis Cochran, former sheriff, enters Swain County Courthouse Dec. 17.

Cochran’s hearing reset

Sara Eisinger
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Former Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran appeared in court for an administrative hearing related to charges of second-degree forcible rape, sexual battery, felonious restraint, soliciting a prostitute and assault on a female Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Submitted photo. First Baptist Church of Bryson City pastor Dave Hawes speaks at Blue Christmas, an event hosted in collaboration with churches from the Swain Pastors Association, at Grove Church Sunday, Dec. 21.

Submitted photo. First Baptist Church of Bryson City pastor Dave Hawes speaks at Blue Christmas, an event hosted in collaboration with churches from the Swain Pastors Association, at Grove Church Sunday, Dec. 21.

‘A rising tide lifts all boats’: Churches unite for Blue Christmas

Sara Eisinger
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Four local churches joined together in a multidenominational effort to bring the community together during the Christmas season, hosting a Blue Christmas — also known as a Longest Night — service Sunday at Grove Church.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Fire crews from West Swain Fire Department and North Carolina Forest Service respond to a brush fire at Deer Ridge Road and Marr Creek off Highway 28 South on the evening of Dec. 21, only to return the next morning.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Fire crews from West Swain Fire Department and North Carolina Forest Service respond to a brush fire at Deer Ridge Road and Marr Creek off Highway 28 South on the evening of Dec. 21, only to return the next morning.

FIRE ON THE RIDGE

Sara Eisinger
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Fire crews from West Swain Fire Department and North Carolina Forest Service responded to a brush fire at Deer Ridge Road and Marr Creek off Highway 28 South on Sunday evening. The call came in at approximately 5:53 p.m., and crews initially contained the fire by 10:30 p.m.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. County residents attend a regular commission meeting Dec. 16.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. County residents attend a regular commission meeting Dec. 16.

Swain County expands public participation in board meetings

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Swain County residents will now have increased opportunities to participate in local government with the introduction of town hall-style public comment periods during bi-monthly work sessions, occurring the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Manager Lottie Barker submits a 60-day resignation, officially accepted by the county board in a 4-1 vote during a meeting Dec. 16.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain County Manager Lottie Barker submits a 60-day resignation, officially accepted by the county board in a 4-1 vote during a meeting Dec. 16.

Barker resigns

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Swain County Manager Lottie Barker submitted her 60-day resignation last week, officially accepted by the county board in a 4-1 vote during a Tuesday meeting, Dec. 16. Commissioner Bobby Jenkins cast the lone dissenting vote.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Beth Cline, P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter director, addresses commissioners with concerns Dec. 4.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Beth Cline, P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter director, addresses commissioners with concerns Dec. 4.

Animal Services ordinance faces criticism, rejected by commission

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Swain County’s proposed 2025 Animal Services Ordinance, intended to replace the 2019 version, was met with strong opposition at a Dec. 4 public hearing and ultimately rejected in a 4-1 vote during a subsequent meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Principal Ryan McMahan (left to right), seventh-grade student Dakota and GEAR UP coordinator Taylor Rae Dodge Brown at Swain Middle School Tuesday afternoon. Johnson was nominated as a recipient of the Victor E. Bell Scholarship recipient.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Principal Ryan McMahan (left to right), seventh-grade student Dakota and GEAR UP coordinator Taylor Rae Dodge Brown at Swain Middle School Tuesday afternoon. Johnson was nominated as a recipient of the Victor E. Bell Scholarship recipient.

Gearing up for success

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
A seventh-grade student received life-changing news over the weekend – Dakota Johnson was nominated as a Victor E. Bell Scholarship recipient. “I found out on Sunday,” Johnson said. “I was excited. My grandma handed me the paper and it said congratulations.
Photo/Kent Maxey. Flooding in Bryson City in 2024 qualified the town for two grants aimed at improving drinking water and wastewater management.

Photo/Kent Maxey. Flooding in Bryson City in 2024 qualified the town for two grants aimed at improving drinking water and wastewater management.

Town awarded $9.8 million for water resiliency projects

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Bryson City has received confirmation of two 2025 State Revolving Fund Supplemental Appropriations related to Hurricane Helene, said Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton. The town was awarded $4,998,000 for Wastewater Resiliency Improvements and $4,758,300 for Drinking Water Resiliency Improvements.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Judy Allman and Karen Matthews embrace over stage 3 cancer diagnosis Dec. 3. Matthews owns a nonprofit known as Cancer Awareness Foundation.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Judy Allman and Karen Matthews embrace over stage 3 cancer diagnosis Dec. 3. Matthews owns a nonprofit known as Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Miracle on Main Street

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Weak and exhausted from chemotherapy treatments three days a week every three weeks, Judy Allman struggled to leave the house Wednesday afternoon. “You just get weaker, and I am a go-getter, so I had to get outside,” Allman said. She ended up at St.