News

USDA changes impact local National Forests

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Shelby Powell reporter@thefranklinpress.com   Many changes at the U.S. Forest Service have been proposed or implemented since January that could change the management or makeup of the Nantahala National Forest.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Rhonda Jenkins rests on a sofa while visiting Swain Senior Center Oct. 3.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Rhonda Jenkins rests on a sofa while visiting Swain Senior Center Oct. 3.

Near-Death Experience: ‘Soon’

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Rhonda Jenkins laid lifeless for approximately 13 minutes as nurses and doctors at Mission Hospital worked to revive her on Nov. 29, 2021. In which time, Jenkins said she visited Heaven, met Christ and reacquainted with lost loved ones, returning with the message — “Soon.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church parishioner Bob Burns holds a “Pray to end abortion” sign next to Right Reverend Bishop Denny Trousdale from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church during the National Life Chain demonstration in Bryson City, organized by Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center, Oct. 5.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church parishioner Bob Burns holds a “Pray to end abortion” sign next to Right Reverend Bishop Denny Trousdale from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church during the National Life Chain demonstration in Bryson City, organized by Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center, Oct. 5.

Life Chain: Prayerfully standing for life

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Believers have congregated across the nation the first Sunday of October to prayerfully stand for life since 1987, and Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center stood with them. Elizabeth Kelly, WCPC director, said she sent invites out to area churches and posted to social media.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Windy (left to right), Scott and Owen Kribs after swearing in as a Swain County Sheriff’s deputy with Sheriff Brian Kirkland and District Court Judge Kristy L. Parton Oct. 3.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Windy (left to right), Scott and Owen Kribs after swearing in as a Swain County Sheriff’s deputy with Sheriff Brian Kirkland and District Court Judge Kristy L. Parton Oct. 3.

Kribs gets deputized

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
The effects of Down Syndrome Awareness Month can be seen every day of the year — between friends in classrooms, students and teachers, parents and kids… even local law enforcement. Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland was all smiles Friday, Oct.
Submitted photo. Amy Green, program manager BBBS of Swain County and Qualla Boundary, speaks at a Rotary meeting Sept. 11.

Submitted photo. Amy Green, program manager BBBS of Swain County and Qualla Boundary, speaks at a Rotary meeting Sept. 11.

Igniting the potential of young people

News Staff
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Leila Tvedt Contributor   Somewhere in Swain County, on the Qualla Boundary or in any of more than a dozen mountain counties around us, there are “Bigs” matched with “Littles.
Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Learning is an adventure at Swain Academy

News Staff
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Jacqueline McWhorter Contributor   Swain Academy students are making the most of their community adventures. Recently, they had the opportunity to tour the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and learn about the wide range of career paths it offers.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

Wehrloom Honey opens on Main

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Wehrloom Honey opened a new store and production facility on Main Street in Bryson City over Labor Day weekend. “Bryson City is where we make flavor infused honey, skin care products, vinegar, shampoo…,” said Aron Wehr, co-owner.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, run around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, run around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday.

Running for funds

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Mountain Discover Charter School students, K-8, ran around the quarter mile “school loop,” up its 100-foot incline and back down, to raise money for instructional supplies Monday. Last year, the Fund Run raised approximately $19,000.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sisters Mary Parton and Dawn Dills are closer than ever outside the Swain County Administration Building Sept. 30. Dills received help from Swain Cancer Support along her path to cancer remission.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sisters Mary Parton and Dawn Dills are closer than ever outside the Swain County Administration Building Sept. 30. Dills received help from Swain Cancer Support along her path to cancer remission.

Dills: A Swain Cancer Support testimony

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Swain Cancer Support donated a total love offering of $28,000 last year. One of its recipients was cancer survivor Dawn Dills. “They gifted me a check for $1,000 to help with bills, gas, whatever I needed it for,” said Dills.
Submitted photo. Robert Loafman (left to right), Joyce Wilkie and Ted Goshorn celebrate the expansion of Edward Jones in Bryson City with Swain County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Sept. 18.

Submitted photo. Robert Loafman (left to right), Joyce Wilkie and Ted Goshorn celebrate the expansion of Edward Jones in Bryson City with Swain County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Sept. 18.

Minister finds new calling as financial advisor

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Swain County Chamber of Commerce threw a grand opening celebration last Thursday, marking financial advisor Ted Goshorn’s expansion of Edward Jones in Swain County. Goshorn offers financial services to anyone seeking to build the life they have always imagined.