News

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Joan Bailey sells customer Leah Frazier apparel at Pursenality Marketplace Oct. 11.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Joan Bailey sells customer Leah Frazier apparel at Pursenality Marketplace Oct. 11.

Pursenality returns

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Paula and husband Jeff Fuller reopened Pursenality Marketplace on 184 Everett Street Saturday, Sept. 27.  Pursenality originally opened under Matt Kirkland in 2005. The fullers purchased the business, then located next to Heavenly Fudge, in 2019. They remained in business only three more years.
Submitted photos. Aldermen candidates Tim Hines, W. Kent Maxey and Ben King.

Submitted photos. Aldermen candidates Tim Hines, W. Kent Maxey and Ben King.

Candidates talk

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Two seats on the Bryson City Board of Aldermen will be filled during the General Election, with three candidates to choose from: Tim Hines, Ben King and W. Kent Maxey. Incumbents Hines and King presently occupy the two  board seats up for election.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mike Tabor, Town of Bryson City street supervisor, helps remove the tree and root system from Bryson City United Methodist Church Oct. 7.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mike Tabor, Town of Bryson City street supervisor, helps remove the tree and root system from Bryson City United Methodist Church Oct. 7.

Patching sidewalks

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
The Town of Bryson City Board of Alderman meeting scheduled Monday, Oct. 6 was adjourned and rescheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Mayor Tom Sutton said the city is working to repair water leaks and patch sidewalks in the meantime.

USDA changes impact local National Forests

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Shelby Powell reporter@thefranklinpress.com   Many changes at the U.S. Forest Service have been proposed or implemented since January that could change the management or makeup of the Nantahala National Forest.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Rhonda Jenkins rests on a sofa while visiting Swain Senior Center Oct. 3.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Rhonda Jenkins rests on a sofa while visiting Swain Senior Center Oct. 3.

Near-Death Experience: ‘Soon’

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Rhonda Jenkins laid lifeless for approximately 13 minutes as nurses and doctors at Mission Hospital worked to revive her on Nov. 29, 2021. In which time, Jenkins said she visited Heaven, met Christ and reacquainted with lost loved ones, returning with the message — “Soon.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church parishioner Bob Burns holds a “Pray to end abortion” sign next to Right Reverend Bishop Denny Trousdale from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church during the National Life Chain demonstration in Bryson City, organized by Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center, Oct. 5.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church parishioner Bob Burns holds a “Pray to end abortion” sign next to Right Reverend Bishop Denny Trousdale from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church during the National Life Chain demonstration in Bryson City, organized by Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center, Oct. 5.

Life Chain: Prayerfully standing for life

News Staff
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Believers have congregated across the nation the first Sunday of October to prayerfully stand for life since 1987, and Western Carolina Pregnancy Care Center stood with them. Elizabeth Kelly, WCPC director, said she sent invites out to area churches and posted to social media.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Windy (left to right), Scott and Owen Kribs after swearing in as a Swain County Sheriff’s deputy with Sheriff Brian Kirkland and District Court Judge Kristy L. Parton Oct. 3.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Windy (left to right), Scott and Owen Kribs after swearing in as a Swain County Sheriff’s deputy with Sheriff Brian Kirkland and District Court Judge Kristy L. Parton Oct. 3.

Kribs gets deputized

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
The effects of Down Syndrome Awareness Month can be seen every day of the year — between friends in classrooms, students and teachers, parents and kids… even local law enforcement. Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland was all smiles Friday, Oct.
Submitted photo. Amy Green, program manager BBBS of Swain County and Qualla Boundary, speaks at a Rotary meeting Sept. 11.

Submitted photo. Amy Green, program manager BBBS of Swain County and Qualla Boundary, speaks at a Rotary meeting Sept. 11.

Igniting the potential of young people

News Staff
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Leila Tvedt Contributor   Somewhere in Swain County, on the Qualla Boundary or in any of more than a dozen mountain counties around us, there are “Bigs” matched with “Littles.
Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Photo/Susann McWhorter. Ashlyn Brown, Swain Academy student, tours Oconaluftee Job Corps in Sept.

Learning is an adventure at Swain Academy

News Staff
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Jacqueline McWhorter Contributor   Swain Academy students are making the most of their community adventures. Recently, they had the opportunity to tour the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and learn about the wide range of career paths it offers.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger . Julia Mildred buys honey products from Garrett Corsair, production specialist, at Wehrloom Honey’s new location in Bryson City Sept. 18.

Wehrloom Honey opens on Main

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Wehrloom Honey opened a new store and production facility on Main Street in Bryson City over Labor Day weekend. “Bryson City is where we make flavor infused honey, skin care products, vinegar, shampoo…,” said Aron Wehr, co-owner.