News

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain Middle School students cross at the busy intersection of School Drive and Veterans Boulevard after school Monday, Aug. 18.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain Middle School students cross at the busy intersection of School Drive and Veterans Boulevard after school Monday, Aug. 18.

School bus and pedestrian safety

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Students who ride school buses are most at risk in the “danger zone” – outside the bus. Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland said drivers need to slow down and remain cognizant of the county’s many rural, curvy roads. “Sight distance is not great,” said Kirkland.
Photo/Kevin Hensley. A new search and rescue boat – for use in both Graham and Swain counties – was unveiled on the shores of Fontana Lake on Aug. 14. From left are Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit; Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Hendersonville), who helped obtain the funding to purchase the boat; and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland.

Photo/Kevin Hensley. A new search and rescue boat – for use in both Graham and Swain counties – was unveiled on the shores of Fontana Lake on Aug. 14. From left are Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit; Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Hendersonville), who helped obtain the funding to purchase the boat; and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland.

Swain, Graham buy rescue boat

News Staff
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Kevin Hensley Publisher, The Graham Star   Three months of speculation regarding the purchase of a new search and rescue boat was cleared up at a quick convergence of local and regional officials Aug. 14. Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland thanked Rep.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Louise Seagle (left to right), Adele Palmer, Melanie Gariuffi and Kaye Blue give time at Life Choice Pregnancy Center of Western North Carolina Aug. 19. The pregnancy center is a non-profit 501(c)(3), serving young pregnant women, mothers and fathers of unborn babies and young children in Bryson City and Robbinsville with an upcoming site at Christian Acts Church at the Crossroads in Whittier.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Louise Seagle (left to right), Adele Palmer, Melanie Gariuffi and Kaye Blue give time at Life Choice Pregnancy Center of Western North Carolina Aug. 19. The pregnancy center is a non-profit 501(c)(3), serving young pregnant women, mothers and fathers of unborn babies and young children in Bryson City and Robbinsville with an upcoming site at Christian Acts Church at the Crossroads in Whittier.

Hope for moms

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Moms-to-be are not alone thanks to Life Choice Pregnancy Center of Western North Carolina.
Photo/Michelle Cochran. A Faith-ful Petals backdrop of colorful wildflowers is picturesque for gardener Brylee Shuler, who basks under the July sun in Deep Creek. Shuler grew the garden in memory of her late father and baby sister.

Photo/Michelle Cochran. A Faith-ful Petals backdrop of colorful wildflowers is picturesque for gardener Brylee Shuler, who basks under the July sun in Deep Creek. Shuler grew the garden in memory of her late father and baby sister.

Faith-ful Petals

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Planted by green thumbs and cultivated with a heart as golden as the sun, Brylee Shuler, sophomore at Swain High School, has grown a wildflower garden in memory of her late father and sister – Faith-ful Petals: “A memory garden to serve as our reminder that every seed planted is purposely grown by...

Ashe returns to sheriff’s office as chief deputy

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
United States Air Force Vet. Jason Ashe returns to Swain County Sheriff’s Office as chief deputy, amid former chief deputy Brian Kirkland’s appointment to sheriff last month. “Jason’s experience is above no other,” said Kirkland. “He has run and supervised investigations.
Submitted photo. Swain County Family Resource Center’s back-to-school drive kicks off in August. It will last throughout the duration of the school year.

Submitted photo. Swain County Family Resource Center’s back-to-school drive kicks off in August. It will last throughout the duration of the school year.

Family Resource Center

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Swain County Family Resource Center has served approximately 266 families, reaching 719 individuals in their households over the past year. Melissa Barker, program executive director, provided an annual report at the Swain County Commissioners meeting Aug.
Submitted photo. Swain County Board of Elections Director Adam Byrnes (left to right), Deputy Director of Elections Janna Hyatt and Elections Assistant Liana Crisp happily move into their new location.

Submitted photo. Swain County Board of Elections Director Adam Byrnes (left to right), Deputy Director of Elections Janna Hyatt and Elections Assistant Liana Crisp happily move into their new location.

Board of Elections moves to new location

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Swain County Board of Elections moved from its longtime 1422 Old US 19 location to the Swain County Business Education and Training Center Tuesday, Aug. 5. “The Board has wanted to move for years,” said Adam Byrnes, elections director.
Submitted photo. Amy Pickett Dodson is the new executive director of Restoration House WNC.

Submitted photo. Amy Pickett Dodson is the new executive director of Restoration House WNC.

Restoration House

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Restoration House WNC has appointed of Amy Pickett Dodson as its new executive director, marking a return to the role she first held during the organization’s 2016 foundation.
Submitted photo. Beau Busby, career advisor II for Jackson and Swain counties, works out of the Marianna Black Library location Tuesday, Aug. 12. NCWorks is open to Swain County residents at the library every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Submitted photo. Beau Busby, career advisor II for Jackson and Swain counties, works out of the Marianna Black Library location Tuesday, Aug. 12. NCWorks is open to Swain County residents at the library every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

NCWorks connects talent to jobs

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
NCWorks is a free workforce system supporting employers and job seekers regardless of education level, criminal history, disability and other employment barriers. NC Works is open to the public at Marianna Black Library Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.