News

Submitted photo. West Swain Volunteer Fire Department fights flames rising from a tractor trailer in the Nantahala Gorge Nov. 1, 2024.

Submitted photo. West Swain Volunteer Fire Department fights flames rising from a tractor trailer in the Nantahala Gorge Nov. 1, 2024.

3 fire departments: 1 team

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
On Sept. 11, 2001, 343 firefighters from the New York City Fire Department and Fire Patrol who ran toward burning buildings  gave their lives answering the call to duty.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Veterans Eric LaPlante, John Parris and Alex Parris remember 9/11 at a Friday night football game at Swain High School Friday, Sept. 5.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Veterans Eric LaPlante, John Parris and Alex Parris remember 9/11 at a Friday night football game at Swain High School Friday, Sept. 5.

Call of duty post-9/11

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, killed approximately 2,996 people, stunning America, but many answered a call to service. According to the Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs, between 1.9 and 3 million U.S.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter raises approximately $20,189 during its annual P.A.W.S. Wine Tasting fundraiser at Lands Creek Log Cabins Saturday, Aug. 30. A total of 95 businesses and individuals donated money and auction items to the cause.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter raises approximately $20,189 during its annual P.A.W.S. Wine Tasting fundraiser at Lands Creek Log Cabins Saturday, Aug. 30. A total of 95 businesses and individuals donated money and auction items to the cause.

P.A.W.S. raises $20K

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter raised approximately $20,189 during its annual P.A.W.S. Wine Tasting fundraiser at Lands Creek Log Cabins over the weekend. It was the first year P.A.W.S. Director Beth Cline organized and solicited donations in absence of her dear friend of 40 years, Yvette McClure, Feb.
Submitted photo. Tubers listen to live music at Deep Creek Lodge and Tube Outpost in July 2025. The lodge will host its second running free Deep Creek Community Day this weekend.

Submitted photo. Tubers listen to live music at Deep Creek Lodge and Tube Outpost in July 2025. The lodge will host its second running free Deep Creek Community Day this weekend.

Celebrating community

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Deep Creek Lodge and Tube Outpost will host its second Deep Creek Community Day Saturday, Sept. 6 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with activities set to kick-off at 11 a.m.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mike Shakar, Swain County United Gift Fund chair, meets with area nonprofits at United Community Bank Thursday, March 27, 2025.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Mike Shakar, Swain County United Gift Fund chair, meets with area nonprofits at United Community Bank Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Community Foundation to host Benefit Luncheon

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
The public is invited to support community nonprofits by ordering takeout during the Swain County United Gift Fund 2025 Benefit Luncheon at Bryson City Presbyterian Church Sunday, Sept. 14 from 12-1 p.m. Meals cost $10 per person.
Photo/Kent Maxey. Following Hurricane Helene, the Chamber froze membership dues in order to assist local businesses as they recovered from the storm.

Photo/Kent Maxey. Following Hurricane Helene, the Chamber froze membership dues in order to assist local businesses as they recovered from the storm.

Chamber to reinstate dues

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Swain County Chamber of Commerce froze membership dues following Hurricane Helene. “As a nonprofit organization, we rely on membership dues to continue providing events and programs for our community,” said Monica Brown, chamber president.
Submitted photo. An upward 225 visitors and congregants attend the 75th anniversary of Victory Baptist Church Sunday, Aug. 17.

Submitted photo. An upward 225 visitors and congregants attend the 75th anniversary of Victory Baptist Church Sunday, Aug. 17.

Glorifying God for 75 years

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Victory Baptist Church has worked to glorify God in Swain County since Aug. 20, 1950, when 17 devout congregants remodeled a garage to found a “premillennial, fundamental, independent Baptist church.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Light foot and vehicle traffic in the streets of Bryson City on the afternoon of Saturday, July 26.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Light foot and vehicle traffic in the streets of Bryson City on the afternoon of Saturday, July 26.

Summer tourism season ‘ups and downs’

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Spring and summer tourism season, which runs from April through Labor Day, trended behind 2-3%. Occupancy tax was up by 32% in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, beginning and ending in July, exceeding the Swain County Tourism Development Authority’s budget by just under 2%.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. The Fryemont Inn plays a monumental role in the lives of these four couples, Luke and Terry McBee, Mike and Honey Burrell, Charles and Sarah Jane Rice, and Joe and Lucy Fleming, as they celebrate their anniversaries.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. The Fryemont Inn plays a monumental role in the lives of these four couples, Luke and Terry McBee, Mike and Honey Burrell, Charles and Sarah Jane Rice, and Joe and Lucy Fleming, as they celebrate their anniversaries.

4 wedding anniversaries celebrated with French cuisine

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Love was in the air and so was the aroma of French cuisine at the historic 102-year-old Fryemont Inn Saturday, Aug. 23. Four happy couples celebrated their wedding anniversaries, surrounded by fashionably dressed Fryemont Inn dinner guests.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Al Desilets, Bryson City Pickle Ball organizer, returns a volley from Andrea Hachtel at a Swain County Recreation Park court Monday, Aug. 25. Bryson City Pickle Ball members play seven days per week.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Al Desilets, Bryson City Pickle Ball organizer, returns a volley from Andrea Hachtel at a Swain County Recreation Park court Monday, Aug. 25. Bryson City Pickle Ball members play seven days per week.

Pickleball popularity spikes

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Pickle ball participation has surged in Bryson City from only four players in August 2022 to a whopping 92 players three years later. The sport has turned into a daily routine for retired registered nurse Judy Manely, who recently celebrated her 84th birthday Aug. 17.