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Suzette Englke, Foggy Moon Photography. Mike Drinkwater (Dennis White Business & Innovation Award Winner), Gina Wiggins (Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award Winner), Monica Brown (Chamber President), Lisa Leatherman (Duke Energy).

Suzette Englke, Foggy Moon Photography. Mike Drinkwater (Dennis White Business & Innovation Award Winner), Gina Wiggins (Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award Winner), Monica Brown (Chamber President), Lisa Leatherman (Duke Energy).

Partnerships pay off: Chamber celebrates successful year

News Staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
The Bryson City Chamber of Commerce welcomed a full house to the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City on Thursday, April 23, for its 2026 Annual Membership  Banquet, officially marking the start of the spring and summer season in Bryson City and Swain County.
More than 200 participants in the Far West Regional Special Olympics gathered in Swain County to participate in games.

More than 200 participants in the Far West Regional Special Olympics gathered in Swain County to participate in games.

Swain County hosts Special Olympics event

News Staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Swain County was honored to host the Far West Regional Special Olympics. The event brought together more than 200 athletes from across the region, including participants from Swain, Graham,  Cherokee, Macon, Clay, and Cherokee County.
Press photo/Shelby Powell. Swain commissioner Jay Kirkland reviews a budget request made by the Swain County school board in a joint meeting between the two boards.

Press photo/Shelby Powell. Swain commissioner Jay Kirkland reviews a budget request made by the Swain County school board in a joint meeting between the two boards.

School board requests $3.5 million from county

News Staff
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
SHELBY POWELLREPORTER Swain County schools is requesting nearly $3.5 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, and in late April met with commis-sioners to discuss the system’s greatest priorities.
Katie Myers / BPR News. James Sullivan and J.P Schmidt say the Chattahoochee National Forest would be less protected from wildfires if additional roads were built.

Katie Myers / BPR News. James Sullivan and J.P Schmidt say the Chattahoochee National Forest would be less protected from wildfires if additional roads were built.

These Southeastern forests could soon lose protection if the Roadless Rule is repealed

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
KATIE MYERS, EMILY JONES, JUANPABLO RAMIREZ-FRANCO, TIK ROOTOn a foggy winter day by the banks of the South Mills River near Brevard, North Carolina, outdoor guide Heath Cartee kicked at a bit of loose dirt and watched it fall into the frigid water.
Lorraine Bennett, Clay County Progress. Rob Tiger signs in for Thursday evening's town hall on the Roadless Rule. The meeting was held at the Historic Courthouse Beal Center.

Lorraine Bennett, Clay County Progress. Rob Tiger signs in for Thursday evening's town hall on the Roadless Rule. The meeting was held at the Historic Courthouse Beal Center.

Public meeting hears comments on Roadless Rule

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
LORRAINE BENNETTCCP REPORTER  About three dozen people showed up Thursday evening at Hayesville’s Historic Courthouse Beal Center to learn more about the Roadless Rule and voice their input.At issue was the U.S.
Photo/Katie Myers, BPR. Swain County Commissioners approved a temporary moratorium on data center construction on April 21.

Photo/Katie Myers, BPR. Swain County Commissioners approved a temporary moratorium on data center construction on April 21.

Swain County unanimously passes data center moratorium

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
KATIE MYERSBLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO Swain County Commissioners unanimously passed on April 21 a 12-month moratorium on new data centers in the county.This move comes after the community held a public meeting March 31, which drew 140 residents and 34 speakers to the county building in Bryson City.
Photo/Travis Long/News & Observer

Photo/Travis Long/News & Observer

Ferguson joins House

News Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Anna Ferguson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was sworn in as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives during a session in Raleigh, on Tuesday, April 21. Appointed by the Republican Party, she will represent District 119 and serve out the term of the late Rep.

MountainTrue supports HB369

News Staff
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Shelby PowellReporter@thefranklinpress.com The General Assembly is considering a bill that would remove restrictions on the number of offstreet parking lots required for buildings.The two-page bill can be viewed at ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2025/H369.