News

Commissioners agree to form affordable housing committee

News Staff
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County Board of Commissioners continued a discussion during its work session meeting on Thursday, Jan. 27 to follow the request of community members to form an affordable housing committee.
The pavilion at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park

The pavilion at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park

Cooperative Extension Office continuing to serve

News Staff
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County Cooperative Extension Office Director Rob Hawk was before the Swain County Board of Commissioners on Thursday evening, Jan. 27 to provide the annual report for the office for Nov. 2020-Oct. 2021.
Someone relaxes with a book at an overlook in the fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which saw record visitors last year.

Someone relaxes with a book at an overlook in the fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which saw record visitors last year.

Park sets visitation record with 14.1 million visits in 2021

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced the busiest year on record with 14,137,812 visits. Visitation exceeded the 2019 record by 1.5 million visits and 2020 visitation by more than 2 million visits.
A breakdown of lottery funds accessible to Swain

A breakdown of lottery funds accessible to Swain

Do Swain Schools benefit from NC Education Lottery?

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   You have probably heard of the North Carolina Education Lottery and that funds from it go to benefit North Carolina schools, but how much is actually given to schools and what can it be used for?
Vaccines and boosters are the most effective protection against the virus

Vaccines and boosters are the most effective protection against the virus

Omicron still going strong as month comes to close

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   While cases of Omicron have peaked in other parts of the country, spread of the virus is still going strong here in North Carolina.
the town installed three new metal picnic tables at the park

the town installed three new metal picnic tables at the park

Town has wrapped up Island Park cleanup

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Fresh gravel crunches underfoot, the sunshine peeking through the shadows of trees and shining on the trail is warm.

Filing to reopen Feb. 24 unless…

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Jessica Webb & Mia Overton   As of today, filing for the 2022 elections in North Carolina will reopen on Thursday, Feb. 24. While filing began on Dec. 6, everything got pushed back due to legal challenges over the General Assembly’s redrawn districts.
A few trees have already been cleared on the site for an animal control facility

A few trees have already been cleared on the site for an animal control facility

County working toward animal control building

News Staff
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   “If there’s something strange In your neighborhood Who you gonna call?” If it’s ghosts, then you know who to call, but if it’s a wild pack of dogs on the loose and you live in Swain County, you can’t just pick up the phone. Last Thursday, Jan.
Affordable homes are harder to find in the Swain County market

Affordable homes are harder to find in the Swain County market

Realtors: 2022 is still a seller’s market

News Staff
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Last year the real estate market brought good news to sellers in Swain County but a bleak outlook for buyers looking to move to the mountains and locals looking for a new home.