News

Two more Covid deaths, community spread still high

Swain County’s death toll from COVID-19 is now at 21 people, including two additional deaths this past week. Like much of the United States and particularly the South, community spread is high in Swain County as the Delta variant continues to spread among the unvaccinated.

Covid disrupts sports schedules, community events

Given the past year and a half, every  student athlete and fan is having to be adaptable as the pandemic has wrought havoc on scheduling.

TDA pays tribute to fallen soldiers

The Swain County Visitor Center and Heritage Museum set up a touching tribute this week for the 13 soldiers killed at the Kabul Airport attack in Afghanistan on August 26. The display included the photo and name of each servicemember with a candle lit in their honor.

Ida bringing rain, flash flood watch

After Hurricane Ida tore a path of destruction through Louisiana and left much of the state without power, the tropical depression is making its way across the United States and through this region as it heads to the Northeast.   Today, Tuesday, Aug.

Suicide deaths outpace service deaths

Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A recent study by Costs of War Project, in an article by the Military Times, found that four times as many troops and vets have died by suicide as in combat. This distressing fact, sheds light on just what Veterans sacrifice for their country.

An encouraging message to soldiers

Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.

The sky is not the limit

Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Kierra Shook, 2020 graduate of Swain County High School and a sophomore at NC State University, will be moving onto the second round of the interview process for an internship with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

State to seek death penalty in Alarka murder case

The District Attorney’s Office declared it will seek the death penalty for two murder suspects for the death of Lenore Dawn Morris in Swain County Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 19. Morris, 70, died at her home located on Deep Gap Road on Aug. 14, 2020, in the Alarka community.

Covid cases continue to surge

Despite more than a third of the adult population of Swain County being fully vaccinated, the number of people testing positive for the respiratory virus continues to increase with the highly contagious Delta variant.

Don’t be a litterbug

Hannah Styles hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com   With Swain County’s influx of tourists and increasing homeless problem, trash continues to be a major issue for downtown. There are reports of trash and debris piling up under bridges and at surrounding parks, including Island Park.