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Submitted photo. Dr. Elena Ashburn, senior education advisor for education policy to Gov. Stein, reads to West Swain Elementary students Monday, May 19. Dr. Ashburn’s visit was prompted by an invitation from Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee member Lydia Sale, Regional Teacher of the Year.

Submitted photo. Dr. Elena Ashburn, senior education advisor for education policy to Gov. Stein, reads to West Swain Elementary students Monday, May 19. Dr. Ashburn’s visit was prompted by an invitation from Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee member Lydia Sale, Regional Teacher of the Year.

Learning about Swain Schools

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Dr. Elena Ashburn, senior education advisor for education policy to Gov. Stein, toured Swain County Schools to meet with students and faculty Monday. Ashburn’s visit was prompted by an invitation from Lydia Sale, Regional Teacher of the Year.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Remnant Restoration founders Michael and Rochelle Kramer lead a group of Christian missionaries in prayer on the corner of Mitchell and Everett streets Saturday, May 10. The couple will celebrate their five-year wedding anniversary May 28.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Remnant Restoration founders Michael and Rochelle Kramer lead a group of Christian missionaries in prayer on the corner of Mitchell and Everett streets Saturday, May 10. The couple will celebrate their five-year wedding anniversary May 28.

Prayers over Bryson

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Traveling “coast to coast with the Holy Ghost,” Remnant Restoration founders Michael and Rochelle Kramer led a group of Christian missionaries to Bryson City last week, preaching on the corner of Mitchell and Everett streets Saturday.
Submitted photo. Native-Brews Tap & Grill opens on Everett Street in Bryson City the first week of June.

Submitted photo. Native-Brews Tap & Grill opens on Everett Street in Bryson City the first week of June.

Native-Brews comes to Everett Street

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
One of  the first Cherokee women-owned breweries in the state is expanding to Bryson City. Native-Brews Tap & Grill opens on Everett Street the first week of June.
Photo/Lewis Fierle. Kallup McCoy II in Arkansas on day 40 of his transcontinental run across America for recovery. From the Atlantic to the Trail of Tears and Truist Park, he scheduled to arrive in Bryson City on day 55, Thursday, May 15.

Photo/Lewis Fierle. Kallup McCoy II in Arkansas on day 40 of his transcontinental run across America for recovery. From the Atlantic to the Trail of Tears and Truist Park, he scheduled to arrive in Bryson City on day 55, Thursday, May 15.

Recovery run

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Running 3,000 miles coast-to-coast in 62 days, Kallup McCoy II has endured pain, desert heat, rough terrains, sandstorms, tornados and snow to raise money for his men’s recovery nonprofit in Cherokee — RezHOPE Recovery & Consulting Services.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Barbie Barker buys two marigolds and dwarf cosmos from Sterlin Morefield (left to right), Dainger Rowlan, Charlotte Doughty and Elsa Hayden at the Smoky Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market Friday, May 9. Students have planted and grown more than 1,200 plants in their approximate 8-by-20-foot garden and two small, raised beds this school year.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Barbie Barker buys two marigolds and dwarf cosmos from Sterlin Morefield (left to right), Dainger Rowlan, Charlotte Doughty and Elsa Hayden at the Smoky Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market Friday, May 9. Students have planted and grown more than 1,200 plants in their approximate 8-by-20-foot garden and two small, raised beds this school year.

Planting for the future

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Mountain Discovery Charter School students have planted and grown more than 1,200 plants in their approximate 8-by-20-foot garden and two small, raised beds this school year — tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, basil, dragon fennels, chamomile, yellow pears, cucumbers, lettuce, watermelons and more.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sariah Hyatt becomes a Swain High School National Honor Society and GEAR UP L.E.A.D. student during the 2024-25 academic year. Hyatt said the L.E.A.D. program has helped her excel.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Sariah Hyatt becomes a Swain High School National Honor Society and GEAR UP L.E.A.D. student during the 2024-25 academic year. Hyatt said the L.E.A.D. program has helped her excel.

Proposed Whitehouse budget slashes GEAR UP

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
President Trump’s preliminary spending plan would cut education funding by $12 billion, according to the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request released May 2. TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs would be eliminated, sliced by $1.
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Swain County DSS new phone lines

News Staff
Thursday, May 8, 2025
The Swain County DSS is getting a new phone system. The transfer will not occur until May 22. If the Swain County DSS phone lines are down, the office is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. or people can email SocialServices@swaincountync.
SMT photo /Sara Eisigner. Gina Wiggins, UDO planning board member, reviews UDO with Town of Bryson City Board of Aldermen during a workshop meeting Tuesday evening. To review the latest Town of Bryson City Unified Development Ordinance, visit Bryson City Town Hall.

SMT photo /Sara Eisigner. Gina Wiggins, UDO planning board member, reviews UDO with Town of Bryson City Board of Aldermen during a workshop meeting Tuesday evening. To review the latest Town of Bryson City Unified Development Ordinance, visit Bryson City Town Hall.

Town seeks public input on Unified Development Ordinance

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Public input is encouraged as the Town of Bryson City Unified Development Ordinance nears completion.  “We are there to listen and we want everyone to have input,” said Brett Hackshaw, chair of the UDO planning board.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Emma Beasley of Robbinsville rides with the Ernie Treadway Rodeo at Great Smoky Mountain Event Park May 3-4.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Emma Beasley of Robbinsville rides with the Ernie Treadway Rodeo at Great Smoky Mountain Event Park May 3-4.

Bulls, barrels and mutton busting

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
A stampede of bulls, barrels and mutton busting took over Great Smoky Mountain Event Park over the weekend. Molly Treadway-Bryson of Ernie Treadway Rodeo said it was the third year the rodeo has come to Bryson City. “These people travel from everywhere and out-of-state,” said Treadway-Bryson.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Jim Parham, beekeeper at Smoky Mountain Honey, sells to Mark and Shawn Johnson at the Smoky Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market Friday, May 2. The market will continue through the last Friday in October.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Jim Parham, beekeeper at Smoky Mountain Honey, sells to Mark and Shawn Johnson at the Smoky Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market Friday, May 2. The market will continue through the last Friday in October.

Farmer’s market opens with food, arts, and crafts

Sara Eisinger
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Fresh eggs, honey, blueberries and jewelry galore packed the Aquarium Park campus during the first Smoky Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market of the season this past Friday. “We typically have between 10 and 17 vendors,” said Kerry Peek, Aquarium Park Manager.