News

Smoke damage is visible on the metal siding of the building that was formerly operated as a lumber company. The cause is still under investigation, but arson is suspected.

Smoke damage is visible on the metal siding of the building that was formerly operated as a lumber company. The cause is still under investigation, but arson is suspected.

Arson being investigated at structure fire at old lumber building

News Staff
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Swain County responders were dispatched to 134 Ela Lane off Hyatt Creek Road at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 for a structure fire. The building is vacant and previously operated as the Monteith Lumber Company. When responders arrived on the scene, the fire was about 10% involved. By 11:22 a.m.

Town takes simplicity as best approach

Jessica Webb
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
In its work session meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19, the Bryson City Town Board of Aldermen continued discussion on the introduction of a maximum building height restriction in town and on the town’s ordinance for garbage collection, primarily on how to handle commercial collection.
The Swain County Chamber of Commerce owns the domain for greatsmokies.com and has been paying for the visitor site since July. Previously, the TDA paid for the site.

The Swain County Chamber of Commerce owns the domain for greatsmokies.com and has been paying for the visitor site since July. Previously, the TDA paid for the site.

Swain TDA plans to invest in its own visitor website

News Staff
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
In the past, there was a tremendous amount of overlap between the Swain County Chamber of Commerce and Swain County Tourism and Development Authority, but efforts to create more clarity between the two—particularly when it comes to the budget— led the TDA to work to become its own destination...
Faculty and staff out from the virus

Faculty and staff out from the virus

Swain schools go remote for 2 week over virus

News Staff
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Swain County Schools announced Monday night the district would go to Plan C, full remote learning, effective immediately for two weeks, due to a rising number of teachers and staff people either testing positive or being close contacts and having to isolate for COVID-19.
Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Vaccines going to people 75+

News Staff
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Swain County Health Department started providing COVID-19 vaccines to those in Phase 1b, group 1, those 75 years or older, on Tuesday, Jan. 12. “I expect to be in this phase for the next 2-4 weeks,” said Alison Cochran, Swain County health director by email.
House in fall

House in fall

Real estate market is red hot

News Staff
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
In a year marked by economic uncertainties, the local real estate market in 2020 turned out to be an exceedingly good bet— with demand and sales western North Carolina hasn’t seen since before the 2008 recession, possibly ever. In Swain County, the market saw more than $50 million in sales in 2020.
Work to repair a section of US 74 where a spring underground had caused a slow landslide continues. NCDOT said the contractor is now beginning with the fill and the work should be finished in May.

Work to repair a section of US 74 where a spring underground had caused a slow landslide continues. NCDOT said the contractor is now beginning with the fill and the work should be finished in May.

Construction on 74 to continue through spring

News Staff
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
For people who drive the stretch of US 74 between Bryson City and Hyatt Creek, slowing into the one-lane pattern has become second nature. Work to fix an issue where a spring under the highway was creating a slow landslide began in fall 2019 and will continue through spring 2021. N.C.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad announced the addition of Engine #1009, a diesel locomotive.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad announced the addition of Engine #1009, a diesel locomotive.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad adds another engine to fleet

News Staff
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad recently announced the purchase of Engine #1009, a GP-38-3m Diesel Locomotive formerly housed at Western Rail Locomotive in Spokane, Washington where it was rebuilt and rewired.
ocal firefighters fight a fire that started in the basement floor below the old service station section of a vacant funeral home on Main Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.

ocal firefighters fight a fire that started in the basement floor below the old service station section of a vacant funeral home on Main Street in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Fire at vacant funeral home building in town

News Staff
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
A vacant Main Street building that usually goes unnoticed was the site of a huge response effort in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 2 when the building was reported on fire. The call went out at 2:09 a.m.