News

School admissions issue fueled by lack of teachers

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The school board’s recent decision to curb admissions for out-of-district students for some grade levels this year comes from a deeper issue: a lack of teaching staff, according to Superintendent Mark Sale.
Everett Street work will pause during Labor Day weekend and the road will be open to traffic.

Everett Street work will pause during Labor Day weekend and the road will be open to traffic.

Everett will be open for Labor Day weekend

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The town of Bryson City has managed to keep utilities work on pace even in spite of inclement weather this week, along with some other unexpected problems.
Larry Griffin /SMT The tiny homes on Highway 19 adjacent to the bus garage are owned by a new company called River’s Rest

Larry Griffin /SMT The tiny homes on Highway 19 adjacent to the bus garage are owned by a new company called River’s Rest

Tiny homes beginning of new rental operation

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Driving on Highway 19 near Ingles and the bus garage, one might notice a row of tiny houses that have mysteriously appeared on the side of the road.
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com  A new proposed change to the rules for appointing members to the board of the three-county Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees could put more power in the county commissioners’ hands. A resolution signed by the managers of the three counties under the umbrella of the Fontana Regional Library – Swain, Macon and Jackson – posits that the commissioners would be better suited to approve new Board of Trustees members as opposed to the local county library

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com A new proposed change to the rules for appointing members to the board of the three-county Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees could put more power in the county commissioners’ hands. A resolution signed by the managers of the three counties under the umbrella of the Fontana Regional Library – Swain, Macon and Jackson – posits that the commissioners would be better suited to approve new Board of Trustees members as opposed to the local county library

Commissioners puzzled over proposed library board changes

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A new proposed change to the rules for appointing members to the board of the three-county Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees could put more power in the county commissioners’ hands.
Work on boring under the railroad went on last week and this week as the town works on replacing the water and sewer lines under Everett Street.

Work on boring under the railroad went on last week and this week as the town works on replacing the water and sewer lines under Everett Street.

Downtown water switchovers for businesses to begin soon

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The utilities work on Everett Street in downtown Bryson City is progressing as planned, with town officials planning to start notifying businesses that they’ll be switching to the new water lines soon.
This NPS graphic shows how spending in the Smokies directly impacts sectors of the economy surrounding the Park.

This NPS graphic shows how spending in the Smokies directly impacts sectors of the economy surrounding the Park.

Smokies visitors contribute $2.1 billion to economy

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 12.9 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2022 spent $2.1 billion in communities near the park. That spending supported 32,590 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $3.3 billion.
The TDA’s van recently got a facelift with a new advertising wrap. The TDA uses it to deliver visitor guides to businesses outside of the downtown corridor and for regional conferences.

The TDA’s van recently got a facelift with a new advertising wrap. The TDA uses it to deliver visitor guides to businesses outside of the downtown corridor and for regional conferences.

Clampitt resumes effort for joint TDA

Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   North Carolina Rep. Mike Clampitt has taken up the effort once again to give Bryson City more influence in how occupancy tax collections are spent, after a similar effort went nowhere last year.
Swain has closed out-of-district enrollment for some grade levels at some of its schools including ninth-grade at Swain High

Swain has closed out-of-district enrollment for some grade levels at some of its schools including ninth-grade at Swain High

Schools close enrollment for out-of-district students

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Overcrowding at some local schools led the Swain County School Board to vote Monday night, Aug. 14, to cap admissions for new out-of-district students at those schools.
Construction takes place at the county pool where new buildings are being built including restrooms and meeting rooms.

Construction takes place at the county pool where new buildings are being built including restrooms and meeting rooms.

New pool bathrooms under construction

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Change is afoot at the Swain County Recreation Park.
Swain County Middle School has new leadership in Principal Ryan McMahan (right) and Assistant Principal Eric Stephenson.

Swain County Middle School has new leadership in Principal Ryan McMahan (right) and Assistant Principal Eric Stephenson.

New Swain County Middle School principals eager to uplift students

Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Ryan McMahan has stepped up to the job of principal for Swain County Middle School, with the goal of getting all his students to feel like leaders and move forward in life. “Middle school is a challenging time for students.